The Regressor Reflects (3)
The Regressor Reflects (3)
If I had to summarize my Tower strategy up to now, it would be this.
First, I spend a long, long time on a floor. Or I regress an absurd number of times. Or maybe I wait for help from someone else. Anyway, I linger on each floor and find a proper solution.
Then, once I've piled up enough experience and information—once I feel I've established a perfect strategy—I regress and conquer the floor in a single burst. To an outside observer who hasn't experienced the loops, it looks like I step into the Tower and clear it in an instant. That's the method I've been favoring. The faster you climb the Tower, the fewer variables you introduce.
"Why am I so unlucky?"
But if the standard for judging 'how much stronger you've become' is based on the moment you first entered this floor, then from my perspective, I'm at a crippling disadvantage. It's like Zeno's paradox—the stronger I get, the higher the threshold for clearing this floor will climb.
"Hmm..."
Of course, it's not like there's no solution. If I add a slight variation to the strategy I've been using, it might be possible.
"What variation?"
Choi Ji-won tilted her head as she asked. I shared my plan.
"It's..."
"It's?"
"I don't train at all."
"...?"
The core issue is that my training raises the baseline for strength.
But what if I never train? What if I do absolutely nothing and just stay put on this floor?
That would give me ample time to gather information. I can dissect every hidden element on Floor 16, savor them, and only then start training.
"...But wouldn't that be a loss in terms of 'strength'?"
"I think expecting to clear this floor multiple times is arrogant in the first place."
Other people rate me highly, but I know myself. I'm not a genius. I'm not a dullard, either. If you had to label me... I'm just below the level of a prodigy. Practicing swordsmanship on my own and attaining enlightenment is impossible for me.
"So, I've got one shot. One proper clear of this floor. That's all I get."
The more I regress, the longer it will take to clear Floor 16. Therefore, I have to clear it in one go.
"Of course, this is all just my guess. The threshold might actually be lower than I think."
"That's true."
"So I need your help, Ji-won. Could you try to figure out roughly what the threshold is for this floor?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah. You're a genius."
The more time a dullard like me spends on this floor, the more it hurts my chances... but what about Choi Ji-won? If anyone could repeat this floor and just keep getting endlessly stronger, it's her. And while she's at it, she can give me a little intel.
"So, to summarize my role from now on..."
I'd be like Choi Ji-won's kept man. Doing absolutely nothing.
**
One week since entering Floor 16.
For the first time in a long while, I spoke those familiar words.
"...Status Window."
[Name: Kim Jun-ho] [LV:68]
[Traits]
-Regression [EX]
-Flash Step [S]
-Heart of Lightning [S]
-Curiosity [A]
-Awe [A]
-Hero [C+]
-Meditation [C]
-Swordsmanship [A] [Specialization Recognized]
-Cold Affinity [A]
-Strange Atmosphere [E]
-Quick Reflexes [C]
-Excellent Cardiopulmonary Endurance [C]
-Right Mindfulness [C]
"Hmm..."
Not much had changed. My Achievement Level had gone up (I still don't really know how that works), and a few traits had been added.
Ah, the rank increases for the Hero trait and Swordsmanship were a bonus. I have no idea what the 'Specialization Recognized' next to Swordsmanship means.
"But I'm already A-rank?"
I'm only on Floor 16, and my Swordsmanship is A-rank. Am I really at that level? Later, if I reach something like EX-rank, will I be slicing through time itself? What rank is Choi Ji-won? S-rank, probably?
Oh, you're wondering about the trait you don't recognize among the new additions? That's 'Right Mindfulness,' the trait I picked up with the C-rank Trait Selection Ticket on Floor 15.
- Right Mindfulness [C]
- A righteous, unwavering mind that moves straight toward its goal. You will not be shaken.
Reading the description, it doesn't sound like Descartes' theory of passions, but closer to the Buddhist concept of right mindfulness. It's similar in nature to 'Indomitable,' a mental support trait I was considering when I had the A-rank Trait Selection Ticket. Was it really called Indomitable? Well, it's not important. I just need to know it'll help me.
"*Whew.*"
Using the fallen leaves as a bed and savoring the scenery, I felt sleep creeping in. The swaying orange trees were beautiful.
Right now, I was on a small side path near the training cave. I was taking it easy.
I'd learned a few things while staying on Floor 16.
First, clearing Floor 16 doesn't mean you have to leave immediately. Specifically, once you scratch the stone to meet the Clear Condition, you exit by speaking to the Angel.
I found this out because quite a few players had cleared the floor a while ago but hadn't left. They'd hang around in a training ground or workout area and teach other players their insights. Naturally, it wasn't out of pure goodwill.
"Come on, potions. Anyone who's made it this far is swimming in potions."
"Ugh..."
They spread their insights to others in exchange for items. However, a great warrior isn't always a great teacher, so there were plenty who snatched up the items and failed to give proper instruction.
And since the truly great teachers left Floor 16 quickly to ascend the Tower faster, you could safely consider everyone who remained as the dregs. Bad actors, looking to fleece the naive.
Oh, and speaking of other people, I've heard that clearing Floor 16 takes about a month on average. But individual variation is huge, and anyone who's made it to Floor 16 right now is basically a top-tier player, so I don't think you can generalize from that.
"I heard that Michael Jeter fellow cleared it in a single day."
"A day? Damn, no wonder he's the Association Chairman."
"..."
I overheard that while eating, so I can't take it as hard fact.
And second, this temple is enclosed by a massive, spherical barrier.
About three days after arriving here, I got curious whether this floor was an entire world incorporated into the Tower, or some kind of fragment the Tower had arbitrarily chopped off. If it's a whole world, shouldn't there be people here besides the Angel and the players?
If there were a high mountain peak, I'd climb it and look around, but this place is generally just gentle forest. Getting up anywhere high was impossible, so I left the temple and ran in a straight line. I figured if I just kept going, I'd eventually hit something.
"...It's blocked?"
After running for a while, a semi-translucent white barrier blocked my way. I could tell there was more forest beyond it since it wasn't completely opaque, but passing through was impossible.
It's not that I didn't think about slicing it with my sword, but... it was likely impossible anyway, so I just came back quietly. If I were an overpowered monster from the distant future, I might have tried it.
Lastly, this floor wasn't a floor that prevented 'conflict'. It's not like Floor 2, where murder is impossible.
Apparently, in the past, there was a lunatic who tried to kill people to gain enlightenment... but he was quickly subdued by a combined assault from other players.
Anyone who makes it to Floor 16 at this point might be a lunatic, but they're the kind of lunatic with some sense, so intentional killings are rare. And even if they happen, the culprit gets caught quickly since everyone here is a prodigy.
Then what about unintentional killings? That's obvious. An unlucky accident during a spar.
The proportion of martial artists among the people staying on Floor 16 wasn't high. If someone with no background in combat has made it this far... you have to assume they're a real-combat fighter, forged by being tossed around and beaten down as they climbed the Tower.
If you throw a secret manual at a real-combat fighter and tell them to train, not only is it completely alien to them, but many of them can't even grasp the deeper principles contained in the text when they read it.
"So then... how am I supposed to get stronger?"
"Hmm..."
The answer the players struggling with this came up with was simple.
"Hey, you wanna fight?"
They decided to get stronger the same way they always had: through real combat. Once an agreement was made, people would slip away into some secluded part of the forest and fight for their lives, and the number of people who died in unlucky accidents during that process wasn't small.
Honestly, I don't even consider that the problem. The real problem was... Choi Ji-won.
"Choi Ji-won. Would you spar with me just once? I feel like I could gain some insight if I fought you."
"Could I please ask you for one duel? We're both women..."
"Draw your sword! Come at me!!!"
"...Please, all of you, just go away..."
Everyone wanted to raise their martial realm through the golden goblin that was Choi Ji-won, who had suddenly appeared among them. Choi Ji-won didn't have the slightest interest in doing that. Because of this, she fled to a private cave in the mountain. Fame is a painful thing.
The reason I'm staying near her private cave is to swat away the idiots trying to bother her. There really are crazy bastards who track her all the way to the cave demanding a fight.
Oh, what's Choi Ji-won doing right now?
"Aaaaaaaargh!!!"
*Clang!*
A hysterical scream and a sharp metallic ring came from behind me.
The sound was coming from inside the cave I was guarding.
That's right. The hero. The genius. The pride of South Korea, Choi Ji-won...
"It's so frustrating!!!"
Had, shockingly, hit a wall.