Human,
You might wonder why I did what I did.
To be honest, I rather liked human.
Even if we were different species, you were the first to treat as an individual.
Yet, it’s also true that I loathe humans.
You might have trusted , but I deceived you – not once, but several tis.
I once claid that the young goblins playing tag in the maze had released the monster’s seal.
That was a lie.
In reality, it was humans.… To be precise, the humans who went into the ancient maze looking for treasures were the ones who released the monster.
In the past, I was powerful enough to successfully seal one of the monsters.
But there were two. As I sealed one, my clan t its doom.
Truthfully, my clan had escaped to this island to avoid being hunted by humans…
Ironically, it was an island we fled to avoid humans, and yet, on the sa island, we t our end due to them.
Human, I was lost.
And the mont I was about to kill myself in despair, I heard a voice filled with magnificent will.
It promised a chance to exact my revenge on humans.
Human,
I was already told that this place is a special realm referred to as the “Tower.”
I knew even more things:
That each of my life was granted only 7 days.
That once all humans were either dead or escaped, I would be reborn, devoid of past mories.
That the golden talisman held significance for humans.
And that in my demise, a ans for the humans to survive will be summoned.
Human,
Truthfully, golden talismans were not necessary for the ritual.
I had lied.
Human,
Do you know?
As soon as I ca to my senses, I knew that if I unsealed the monster, it would allow to vanquish more of your kind.
But even if I would co back to life after death, I still maintained the seal and assisted the humans until the very end.
You might wonder why.
Actually, my reason for aiding humans was rather straightforward.
I desired for humans to grapple with hope.
While they deserved a savage end at the monster’s hands, I wanted them to triumph, to taste pure joy.
For I knew the depth of despair felt after such elation is unparalleled.
And I wanted the humans to feel exactly what my clan felt.
Human,
Due to my fondness for you, there was a mont when I hesitated to drag you into the pit of despair
But, human, I believe I’ve shared that my sense of sll is acute.
And from you, I detected the familiar scent of my kin’s blood.
Honestly, the fate of my kind is of little concern to now.
They are now tethered to the Tower, dood to perish and be reborn in an endless cycle.
Though I know that humans kill even their own kin to survive.
I was still disappointed to know that you, too, were no different from the rest.
O human,
I really hoped you would experience the despair I felt when I had decided to end my life….
But human, then, why… I’m sorry…?
.
.
.
The voice of the Goblin Shaman, emanating from the shattered stone, ca to an end.
The place where I sat was the very ground where everything began.
The goblin shaman’s voice had ended long before evening, but I was still blankly staring at the fragnts of the stone.
“It’s okay.”
I was indeed caught off guard, but this was just a transient phase.
“I’ll just have to regress.”
In the next round, I just need to make the first move.
Then, I won’t have to suffer another surprise attack from that creature.
“Keep your ntality strong.”
I just faltered at the end.
Considering what I gained in this round, it was a successful venture.
A trendous amount of achievent-level experience. Rapidly improved traits. And even the knowledge of the tricks associated with the Minotaur and the Goblin Shaman.
The outco may not have been favorable, but in terms of gains, this round surpassed all others.
If I can obtain the sa emotions from the sa person after regression, by rely repeating this round similarly, I can beco trendously stronger.
And after about 100 repetitions, I’d probably be able to kill the Minotaur with just a toe. That’s why…
It’s okay.
Yeah, it’s okay.
“Damn...”
It’s not okay.
My ntal state feels as though it’s shaken by a direct hit.
The Goblin Shaman’s last words, “I’m sorry,” keeps echoing in my head.
I failed. I was defeated.
This too... felt like the will of God.
I always thought that the Goblin Shaman is too weak.
When soone so weak and near death desperately asks for help, it might be in human nature to assist without much suspicion.
But after all, he’s a goblin. Being weak doesn’t an he’s kind.
Inside the Goblin Shaman... was a heart filled with malice towards humans.
The fact that he liked was all the more revolting.
...because I, too, quite liked the Goblin Shaman.
“Should I regress?”
The survivor group is already in chaos.
After accepting the situation, everyone seed like a ticking ti bomb ready to explode.
Hope brought people together, but despair tore them apart.
So ti ago, a massive brawl broke out over suspicions of soone hiding a golden bead. It only ended when Park Cheol-jin intervened.
Afterward, everyone dispersed on their own. They didn’t forget to give hostile glances as they left though.
From hero to traitor, it happened in a re mont.
Firefighter Park Cheol-jin tried to comfort , saying, “It’s not your fault,” but there was an emptiness in his eyes.
Honestly, in this situation, it’s strange if soone’s ntal state remains intact.
In an instant, we lost 22 golden beads.
The portal, our ans of salvation, was created within a toxic swamp.
The hope of advancing to the next floor shattered.
Of course, we’re still alive.
But... for how long?
Soone could suggest surviving and procuring food by killing goblins.
But the number of goblins is not infinite.
Eventually, the goblins on this island will run out, and all that will remain for us is a future of starvation.
“...There’s no answer.”
No matter how much I think about it, there’s no solution. This round is dood.
Just as I was about to punch myself in the chest,
“I’ve found you.”
Those familiar footsteps. That familiar voice.
“Why are you sulking here?”
It was Choi Ji-won.
Considering her impending doom, Choi Ji-won looked remarkably calm.
“...What are you doing here? Food’s about to beco scarce.”
I blurted out curtly, not liking the situation.
“...Food? Ah. You’ve been here the whole ti.”
Choi Ji-won shook her head in disbelief.
“They committed suicide.”
“...What?”
“The goblins. They all threw themselves into the swamp. I think the Goblin Shaman had sothing to do with it. Seems like he has the ability to control other goblins.”
“...”
It appears the Goblin Shaman knew that by killing other goblins, we could obtain food and golden beads.
He’s ticulously screwing us over.
Bravo. Impressive, Goblin Shaman.
“…”
“…”
Neither Choi Ji-won nor I said a word.
As I ntioned earlier, I could just regress. That’d be the end of it.
I wouldn’t make the sa mistake again. I’m not a fool who’d keep repeating past mistakes.
But... after I regress, what’d happen to this world?
It would be perfect if everything resets with my regression. It would be as if none of this ever happened.
But what if... only I regress and this world continues to exist as it is?
Then, the people in this tiline would starve to death in terrible despair.
All because of my poor judgnt.
I wasn’t thick-skinned enough to just dismiss it with, ‘This world? Who cares?’.
‘Is this the burden a regressor must carry?’
Now I sowhat understood why death regressors who’ve regressed for more than 10 rounds go insane.
It’s maddening to think that one decision to regress doesn’t just affect this tutorial, but the lives of people across the entire world.
“Choi Ji-won.”
“Hmm?”
Maybe that’s why.
I felt a powerful urge to confide in soone.
“I’m a regressor.”
“...A regressor?”
“Not just any regressor. I’m a pathetic type who regresses after taking just one hit.”
Regardless of whether she was listening or not, I poured out the mories I held.
The story of waking up in the tower for the first ti.
The story of regressing after getting cut by grass.
The story of regressing due to a goblin hiding in the bushes.
The story of learning swordsmanship from Choi Ji-won as I regressed repeatedly.
The story of getting misunderstood as a pervert by Choi Ji-won, getting hit, and regressing again.
The story of acquiring traits from other people’s emotions.
And thus, the tale of how I finally reached this point in this round.
Pouring everything out was sowhat relieving.
“…Sorry.”
But the relief was short-lived as a thick wave of realization hit .
Logically, who would believe such a tale?
What? A regressor? Soone regressing from a single injury?
The idea of going insane from the stress of imminent death seed more plausible.
I wouldn’t have any defense even if she decided to cut down right there and then.
But all Choi Ji-won did was nod slightly.
“I see. That makes sense.”
I could tell from her voice. She genuinely believed .
“…Why?”
If I were in her place, I wouldn’t have.
I truly couldn’t fathom why she believed my words.
Without answering, she gently stroked my sword that lay sprawled on the ground.
“Your swordsmanship. It was too good to be true.”
“…Swordsmanship?”
“I’ve wielded a sword my entire life. But, a new trait gave you my style? There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize the swordsmanship I’ve learned all my life, right?”
“…Haha.”
In the past, she was suspicious about my swordsmanship and made regress dozens of tis.
Now, my swordsmanship served as evidence for Choi Ji-won to believe in my regression.
“Co on. Get up.”
She stood up, brushing off her pants, and took my hand to help up.
“…Where are we going?”
“You’ll know when we get there. It’s right nearby.”
As she said, our destination was both nearby and familiar.
The vacant lot.
To be precise, the corner of the vacant lot where both Choi Ji-won and I used to practice our swordsmanship.
“Grab your sword.”
Choi Ji-won spoke calmly.
“From now on, I’ll teach you everything I know about the sword.”
– – – End of Chapter – – –
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