The Regressor Takes Action (6)
The Regressor Takes Action (6)
Initials M.Z. The name is Michael Jeter.
In about two months, he would be appointed president of the American Player Association.
Not much is known about his ability, how strong he is, or exactly what he did... but I heard he was appointed president because he received absolute support from the American player community.
Also, I remembered seeing a wall poster Michael Jeter had put up on Floor 2.
The gist of it was: take a potion after getting a Silver or Bronze reward, and then use that potion for intense training.
Whatever the case, Michael Jeter seemed like someone who wanted to help humanity. So I began reading his post with anticipation.
<My experience on Floor 2 was deeply unpleasant. The City Master almost killed me.>
If you're a friend reading this, it means you've already cleared Floor 2, right? First off, congratulations. Were the wall posters I put up still there? If they'd fallen down, I'd be a little heartbroken.
Friends. I think Floor 2 I experienced is quite different from the one you did. I went past a Gold reward and got a Platinum reward. Oh, it was a truly horrible experience.
At first, when I saw a murderer get struck by lightning and reduced to ash, I thought this floor was extremely sensible. The ways to get Bronze- and Silver-grade badges were incredibly easy too. I even thought for a very brief moment that, as the zealots say, this tower might be a blessing, not a trial.
But, as with everyone, getting a Gold-grade badge was the real challenge, because the nobles gave us tasks that involved harming others.
I don't know how you all judged it, but I thought it was a trap. Whether what created this tower is truly God, or something pretending to be, either way it was made to judge us, right? So a task to kidnap someone else made no sense to me.
So, before I knew it, I subdued the noble. I thought he was just a monster disguised as a noble. But inside his chest, there were about three golden boxes and Platinum badges. I asked some other residents, and they said these golden boxes were like Aladdin's magic lamp, able to make an unlimited number of badges.
So I just gave the golden box to a resident. I gave the silver box he originally had to the fallen noble. It would've been nice if the story ended with me taking down an evil noble like that, nabbing the Platinum reward, and living happily ever after. Michael lived happily ever after securing the Platinum reward.
Oh my god, I had no idea that once you get a badge, a huge symbol would appear above your head. Nor did I realize people would block my path by exploiting the rule that players can't use violence against each other.
I swear to the heavens, it was a mistake. I wasn't trying to use violence; I was just trying to lift the man blocking my way and put him down behind me. But I forgot how much stronger I'd become, and I never imagined his ribs would break.
Yeah, I committed violence. And I got struck by lightning from the City Master too. (Ah, you know about the City Master, right? I figure if you've chatted with the residents, you do.) It was an incredibly electrifying experience. The only minor issue was that I should have been knocked unconscious for about twelve hours after being struck by lightning, but I endured it. Even the City Master burst out laughing.
Since I managed to endure the lightning, I asked something I'd been curious about. I argued that the Gold-grade missions were too unreasonable. After hearing me out, she just flicked her fingertip and said, 'If you want to change the rules, come at me.'
As you know, I'm pretty good at physical work, right? But even though I charged at her until I collapsed from exhaustion, I never managed to touch her even once. Then I took a single hit, and it hurt so much I thought I'd die. Luckily, she said 'Murder is not permitted' and just let me go. It was a truly humiliating experience. She could have killed me a hundred times if she'd wanted to. If anyone out there has invented a time machine, I hope they don't mess around on Floor 2.
Oh, and by the way. I don't like the gloves I got as a reward. If anyone has a B-rank or higher item or a Spiritual Medicine, please contact me. I'm willing to trade.
Xxx - xxxx - xxxx
-Oh my god, you really almost got into huge trouble.
-Jeter, speaking as your fan, isn't trading items dangerous?
-Friend, you're worried about Michael right now? I can tell you didn't go through the Tutorial with him.
-That was a fascinating story, Jeter.
(...)
The comments continued on and on after that. I don't know what Michael Jeter did in the Tutorial, but he seemed to have a legendary standing within this community. Judging by the reactions in the comments, everyone trusted him completely.
And the confidence that permeated his post. The tenacity to endure the City Master's attack. The competence to have attempted replacing the nobles before I did.
I, being a Regressor, knew Floor 2 inside and out. Michael Jeter had figured all that out in one go.
M.Z. He was definitely the kind of talent who deserved to be the Player Association President. I got the feeling I could trust his future posts.
"More than that..."
Beyond showing that she was combative, the City Master's words 'If you want to change the rules, come at me' hinted at something else.
The possibility that, if she wanted to, the City Master could change the rules of Floor 2 to some extent.
Before I regressed, when I'd talked about changing the Gold-grade missions, her answer hadn't been 'I can't,' but rather, 'There's no need to change them.'
In other words... if I could succeed in persuading the City Master, it meant changing the rules was possible.
A few plans flickered through my mind and kept vanishing... and I decided to pick the most rational option among them.
"...I should at least try, right?"
Since fighting her is impossible for me anyway...
First, I'd try to reason with her nicely.
[You have taken damage.]
[Regressing to the moment you first entered Floor 2.]
***
As soon as I regressed, I went straight to find the angel in the plaza.
"Angel."
"Yes!"
"If the City Master wanted to, could she change the rules of Floor 2?"
"...All of a sudden?"
The Angel was flustered for a moment, but still answered me, likely deciding to be faithful to their duties.
"I know Archangel Raphael granted her a certain level of authority. Yes, that would be possible."
"...Then, could she even change a rule like 'climbers must get along with each other'?"
"That cannot be done. It's a core rule. Even though authority was given to the City Master, it's only partial! Fundamentally, she is also just a part of Floor 2, you see?"
"...What about you?"
"I'm just a guide! I'm a contract worker!"
A dangerous curiosity—'what would happen if I hit this angel?'—raised its head, but... I decided to restrain myself.
It would be terribly troublesome if a trait like 'Angel's Curse' suddenly appeared among my traits, wouldn't it? Traits are retained even after regressing.
Anyway, I had gotten confirmation from the Angel that the City Master could change the rules to some extent.
"...I hate repetitive work."
From here on, what I did was identical to the last cycle.
First, I collected the Bronze-grade Badge Generators, used them as a foundation to increase my influence. I swallowed up one street, then moved to expand into others.
Maybe because I didn't act exactly the same, the speed of collecting badges was a bit slower than last time... but the outcome was the same. I ended up facing the exact same situation.
"It's a pleasure. I am the City Master."
The City Master appeared in an instant, using 'Flash Step'. I asked her why she had dedicated the city to God, and the same answer as last time came back.
"Since this city is rich in resources, a true utopia could be created here."
Up to this point, you could say it was the same as the last cycle...
But this time, my attitude was different.
In the last cycle, I just let her bullshit philosophy slide, but this time, I intended to refute her head-on.
"You... have you ever made an effort to understand the thoughts of the residents?"
"...?"
"The residents aren't understanding others; they're simply suffering. Did those people want to understand others? Isn't that right? You emphasize understanding, understanding so much. Yet you yourself don't even try to understand others. You just cross your arms and watch them suffer from a distance."
While she claimed she wanted others to understand each other, she herself never showed any sign of trying to understand them. I was pointing out that contradiction.
"Stop this madness. Or, wouldn't it be only logical for you to also be ensnared in these shackles of 'understanding'?"
"...I'm not sure what you're getting at. Why should I have to understand them?"
But the City Master just tilted her head in confusion.
"These people... are all residents of my city, aren't they?"
"...What does that matter?"
"I am the Former City Master. Isn't it only natural I do as I please?"
"..."
"Ah, let me add a bit of explanation for you, Climber... This city is an independent autonomous district. What that means is, all the people of this city are my property. Do you understand now? I want an ideally functioning city; I never meant that I would become a part of it."
I understood that this city was a city-state. But her entire way of thinking was completely different.
The City Master saw her residents as her possessions. Therefore, she felt no guilt whatsoever and had no need to seek their consent.
"You are a Climber. So I respect you. Because you are not under my jurisdiction. Therefore, you must also respect my jurisdiction."
"..."
"Now then, here, I'll give you a Diamond Badge... put down that sack and just go. Or will you fight me and win freedom for the residents?"
The City Master pulled a Diamond Badge from the leather pouch on her right hip and showed it to me, waving it.
Every argument I had prepared by racking my brain lost all meaning in the face of her 'Resident Ownership Theory.'
I felt it with certainty. Persuading the City Master is impossible.
As is always the case with crazy people, her own logic was rock solid.
In the end, the only thing I could do here was to receive the Diamond Badge and clear Floor 2. For now, I still intended to acquire the 'Heart of Lightning' trait.
[You have cleared Floor 2.]
[Please select your Diamond Reward.]
"...Okay."
So, you have no intention of changing your mind easily.
You just have to brawl it out to be satisfied, is that it?
If that's the case... fine.
Then I have no choice but to resort to extraordinary measures myself.
After selecting the 'Heart of Lightning' trait and cramming its usage into my head, I stomped down hard on my thigh.
[You have taken damage.]
[Regressing to the moment you first entered Floor 2.]
***
"Hoo..."
Before the annoying black man could speak to me, I trudged over to a corner of the plaza, sat down cross-legged, and plopped onto the floor.
For the sake of humanity, the structure of Floor 2 needed an overhaul.
A clever plan to liberate the residents. A method that would allow people to get Gold rank rewards or higher without having to commit sins.
At the same time, a method that would let me squeeze the absolute most out of the Diamond rank reward.
I had one plan in mind.
And the starting point of that plan was simple.
"...She's late."
Wait.
I would claim this spot in the plaza and wait endlessly.
Until the most brilliant talent I know reached Floor 2.