Five Time Regressor Walks the King’s Path - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
[Congratulations. You have leveled up!]
[A few more Constellations recognize you.]
As the wound in my hand disappeared after I leveled up, I invested all my stat points into agility.
Like this, leveling up would restore your injured body.
With this, it doesn’t matter how much you get hurt.
“Oh, don’t go too far! If you’re too far from the stairs, you won’t be able to get in before 12 o’clock!”
I continued with my stats while turning a deaf ear to Igor’s advice that I occasionally heard.
I felt my body becoming a little quicker, perhaps because I increased my agility.
To test it out, I quickly stomped my feet twice. Just in time, a Glass Rabbit appeared and got destroyed by a kick.
The Glass Rabbits won’t counterattack until 12 o’clock.
So I started going around breaking Glass Rabbits. One by one, other newbies started to test their skills on the Glass Rabbits.
‘As for Igor…’
I turned my head to see Igor swinging an ice-like spear and hunting a Glass Rabbit.
Was it the F-rank skill, [Spear that Froze Up in the Cold]?
It was a huge advantage for Igor to wield a weapon familiar to him.
For a while, we continued breaking Glass Rabbits. My level stopped rising as soon as I hit level 10.
The experience for Glass Rabbits stopped at level 10, which is why my level stagnated.
“Everyone, it’s time! Let’s move on to the next Floor!”
Igor’s voice rang out, and people followed his guide. They started moving up the stairs to the next Floor once more, while I followed behind, muttering…
“We’ll meet again, ‘Mocking Cinderella’.”
[The ‘Proprietor of Floor 1’, ‘Mocking Cinderella’, questions your words.]
Soon enough, you will be very surprised.
[Congratulations. You are the 10871th to clear Floor 1.]
[The ‘Proprietor of Floor 1’, ‘Mocking Cinderella’, rewards you in celebration of your clearing.]
With the reward, I entered Floor 1.5 and encountered a familiar sight.
I let out a bitter sigh. I was back in the Floor I had lived in for five years during my first regression after another five years.
I didn’t want to return here, but I’m back.
“Good work, everyone. You all must’ve received your reward for clearing Floor 1, so make sure you check it. And for those who want to go up, then rest. I’ll see you again in the center square in front of those stairs.”
Here and there, people sighed in relief with Igor’s briefing.
But there were a few whose eyes shone, and they turned away to chat with people they’d just gotten close to.
“This is doable.”
“Skills are awesome. Fire shoots out from my hand like in manhwas.”
“I think we can clear Floor 2 quickly as well.”
Some began to feel confident and made hasty judgments, just because they were able to clear Floor 1.
There were some who were greatly impressed by the power of the skills they’d never used before.
Seeing all kinds on board, I felt the danger of newbies once again.
Gaining confidence as they form a group.
‘A few will die on the next Floor.’
Humans tend to easily think they wouldn’t die until death has already arrived.
I know that because I felt it too.
“Mr. Igor! You were amazing! I feel like we could clear Crown Road with you here!
“Haha, it’s nothing. You also worked hard, Ms. Heo Na-Yeon.”
I scoffed.
Look at them talk.
The voice of the office worker eagerly buttering up to Igor rang out.
That woman had been following Igor a lot.
Her twinkling eyes, and the twisting of her body.
The furtive, constant small bouts of physical contact.
Since Igor didn’t seem to dislike it, it seemed to me there would be a rebellion sooner or later.
“I would like to receive the reward item.”
‘Let them revolt if they wish. I don’t care.’ With that thought, those words left my mouth.
Immediately after I spoke, a sword appeared in my hands and words formed in front of me.
[Long sword has been given as a reward for clearing Floor 1.]
Receiving the long sword, I removed it from the sheath and clicked my tongue as I checked the blade.
If they were going to give me something, they should have given me a dao.
TL/N: Dao is a type of single-edged Chinese sword.
Swords like this don’t suit me. That damn Constellation.
Anyway, I wore the long sword on my waist. Might as well use what I got.
Others seemed to have received various weapons as rewards like me.
‘Let’s invest the last points into strength.’
I should at least have enough strength to swing a long sword.
I clenched my hand.
The highest level I ever reached was 561.
I thought it was almost impossible to reach any higher than that.
However, the one who led us, Emperor, had a level of 999. With such overwhelming power, that was how he was able to lead us to Floor 99.
Though even he couldn’t handle being ganged up on by Yashin, and ended up dying.
‘Come to think of it, did the 2nd-rank guy, the one who established Yashin, die?’
Amongst the regressors, Yashin ranked 2nd after Emperor. He was also the one to establish the Yashin Guild.
There were rumors saying he was dead, but having met him before, I knew he wasn’t one to die so easily.
‘Emperor… Still, it’s a bummer. He was the most exceptional human among the regressors.’
As much as I’ve stood on the frontlines with him, I’ve only talked to him a couple of times.
This was the problem with regression.
Whatever we do, it all becomes part of the past.
‘A person has to live in the present progressive.’
Yashin and their guild members betrayed us because they were refugees, failures, and sick people back on Earth. Those who didn’t want to return for various reasons.
“That, soldier… take… him out.”
My ears perked at the mention of ‘soldier’.
I was the only one wearing a military uniform among the newbies, so my eyes naturally turned that way.
Heo Na-Yeon, Igor, and a few others were talking amongst themselves.
Considering Heo Na-Yeon was the only woman in that group, it was definitely her voice.
‘Is she trying to retaliate?’
Hmm, trying to drive a wedge, huh?
I was going to leave this newbie group anyway, but they’re creating something entertaining.
“Alright, shall we start heading up?”
I heard Igor as I was gripping the long sword’s hilt.
I’m sure Floor 2 is the ‘Garden of Fate’, administered by ‘Negligence of Fate’.
Similar to Floor 1, the pattern was monster hunting.
It’s an easy level of difficulty, so we should be able to proceed without any problems.
…Is what I believed.
“KYAAAAA!”
“That p-person.”
“Bullets, dodge!”
Until newbies started dying off in droves on Floor 2.
“How come…”
I muttered, my voice mixed with surprise and annoyance.
The rattling of the train, with an old redwood interior.
Gunshots mixed in with the screams of people. A cactus was pointing a gun at us from beyond the door.
And…
A Sahara Worm, bigger than the train itself, was furiously chasing us.
Floor 2, ‘Garden of Fate’, administered by ‘Negligence of Fate’.
[You have entered Floor 2, Stage ‘Desert Train’, administered by ‘Arid Wilderness’.]
Had changed to ‘Desert Train’.
* * *
Before entering Floor 2.
People who were excitedly hunting Glass Rabbits on Floor 1 were looking forward to whatever would happen in Floor 2.
There was a kind of safety device in their heads.
The existence of Igor, who had already cleared Floor 2 in the past. Skills, a powerful ability they’d never experienced before.
The combination of the two boosted their morale.
Of course, not everyone was like that.
The simpletons were too dependent on their skills, but a handful were on high alert, looking around.
‘Those guys are more likely to survive until the next regression.’
Maybe it’s because I experienced regression five times, but I’ve got good eyes for people.
I shook my head.
‘My old habit keeps making an appearance.’
I’ve made associates, joined guilds, and stood on the frontlines, so I knew.
Even with someone as great as Emperor by my side, Crown Road couldn’t be cleared.
‘I can only trust myself.’
This time, I will walk this road by myself.
I shouldn’t forget this.
As soon as I climbed the rest of the stairs with determination, I was once again engulfed in white light.
I had entered Floor 2.
Rattle rattle.
For a second, I heard something unfamiliar.
The sound was reminiscent of a train running on rails, so I wondered…
The ‘Garden of Fate’ was famous for the sound of bugs.
But all I hear is… rattling?
The light faded and I blinked several times, until a message popped up in front of me, who failed to understand the situation.
[You have entered Floor 2, Stage ‘Desert Train’, administered by ‘Arid Wilderness’.]
‘Arid Wilderness’.
At that moment, I was appalled by the name of a Constellation I didn’t recognize.
Bang!
The sound of a gunshot.
“Ah, Aakk!”
A guy who hastily opened the door to the other train car was hit by a bullet from further in.
“A g-gun?”
“KYYYAAAAAAA!”
The train was engulfed in chaos, thanks to the newbie who collapsed in a pool of blood.
I quickly hid behind a seat instinctively.
I pushed right up against the back of the seat and peeked over. Standing there was a cactus, one dressed as a cowboy with a pistol in his hand. He was strolling toward us.
I frowned.
“What’s this?”
I was sure.
The Constellation administering Floor 2 had changed.
The Floor 2 I’d challenged during the past four regressions had completely transformed.
[‘Arid Wilderness’ welcomes you.]
[‘Arid Wilderness’ presents the conditions for clearing Floor 2.]
[‘Bang Bang!’ The sound of gunshots ring loud. The train you are boarding, the Lolores Express, was attacked by a group of Cactus Bandits. But hey! Looks like this train may hold a secret. From behind, a huge Sahara Worm is chasing the train you’re riding! It may soon swallow it whole with you aboard! Save the Lolores Express from the Cactus Bandits, separate the Sahara Worm from the train, and get to Floor 2.5 safely. The hint is located in the engine room.]
I frowned once more.
‘Sahara Worm?’
I’m pretty sure this guy has a level of around 150, so it’s a monster meant to appear past Floor 20.
KUGUGUGUGU!
As soon as I finished reading the conditions issued by ‘Arid Wilderness’, the earth shook.
Outside the window, there was an incoming Sahara Worm, which seemed to be a hundred times larger than the train. It was stirring through the desert, and those who noticed it had faces full of horror.
“Everyone, protect yourself first!”
With office worker Heo Na-Yeon’s urgent shout, people rushed behind the seats.
She seemed to realize that standing up would make one stick out like a sore thumb and end up a beehive thanks to the cactus’ gun.
However, people weren’t any less worried.
They knew that hiding was pointless, as the Cactus Bandit would soon reach their hiding place.
“What the hell? Why did Floor 2…?”
Among those taken aback by the change, there was Igor.
Seeing the current situation on Floor 2, he seemed like he couldn’t make proper decisions.
Of course that was the case.
Even I was surprised for a moment.
‘Although I don’t know what happened.’
As the conditions have changed, it was the end for this group.
I’m sure all the newbies will die here.
“Mr. Igor!”
‘Let’s try to escape, or clear this Floor even by myself,’ I thought. I was just about to stand up when Heo Na-Yeon called for Igor.
“We have to quickly find some solution!”
Her urging made Igor’s face scrunch up.
“First, someone has to break through.”
And when Igor looked around, everyone in the car looked away and kept silent.
Nothing unexpected there.
Everyone here was a newbie. Facing an opponent with guns, there was no way they could break through.
“Mr. Igor.”
Heo Na-Yeon urged again, causing Igor to bite his lip and stand up.
Still, as if he had a sense of responsibility, he crossed over seats and stood closely against the entrance wall, where the two cars of the train were connected. The cactus would soon cross over.
Stomp stomp.
The Cactus Bandit’s footsteps echoed.
The tension in the air was high. Igor gestured with his hands to create his Frozen Spear.
The cactus was right at the entrance when Igor made his move.
“Huh?”
But instead of throwing his spear, he grabbed the person right next to him, throwing them in front of the cactus that passed through the entrance.
