episode_0019

Episode 19. The Beginning of Revenge.

It was not a proposal to be decided easily. The unknown is always full of variables, and human life is only one.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

But she was a returner. She had multiple lives.

“Even if there is danger, I’ll explain it to you ‘later.’”

A fearless display of using the advantages of regression! She’s much more proactive than before.

I answered with a delighted smile.

“Good.”

Sarah moves, cutting through the bushes with a gallant stride. Her dignified appearance made my heart feel secure.

Walking slowly, I looked back. The light emanating from the plains was fading. It’s getting darker.

I looked at her again.

‘Reliable.’

***

It wasn’t long before we spotted a new monster. In fact, it didn’t look that new.

Clack, clack clack.

‘Weapon, and a little taller.’

On the surface, it wasn’t a big difference. But it was different when we actually entered the battle.

Thud! Slash!

“······!”

Once, just once, Sarah’s swordsmanship missed.

She clearly aimed for the neck and swung, but the shield held by the skeleton happened to turn the trajectory of the strike.

Thanks to that, the skeleton’s forehead was split in two. Anyway, it died.

“Behind! Three!”

She shouted. I immediately stretched my fingers back and repeated.

PheeEEE─

Index, middle, ring finger. A total of 3 were spread.

Thud thud!

A small message pops up in the corner of my vision. I could get rid of it altogether, but I didn’t turn it off to confirm the disposal.

‘From now on, it’s melee combat.’

I unleash the long sword I drew like a ray of light. After dealing with the skeleton on the right, the guy on the opposite side rushed in.

‘Is his intelligence a little higher too? It’s weak, but still.’

After blocking the guy’s mace with the shield, I rotate clockwise and cut his neck.

Too bad. I aimed for the skull. The bigger the attack, the lower the hit rate.

Whoosh!

Anyway, that was the last skeleton. I shook off the dust towards the ground.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Okay.”

It’s getting quite dark. I’d like to continue hunting using her regression, but…

‘The subject of regression is Ms. Sarah. I can’t arbitrarily interfere.’

Everyone has their own line, and if you cross it, even a docile person will show their fangs.

She also feels pain. I couldn’t force her to die.

Thump.

Thump.

“······.”

Walking down the road, I looked to the side. For some reason, it feels like she’s walking closer than before.

Rustle─

To the point where the fabrics rub against each other. It wasn’t just my imagination.

“······.”

It wasn’t a big deal.

***

There was nothing special on the way to the inn. The men who will attack us tomorrow were also not seen.

“As usual, please give me something that sells well.”

“Okay. I understand.”

After ordering a meal, a strange silence lingered between her and me.

Only the clattering noise covered the air, and the conversation began only after the food came out.

“Do you remember the native and the modern man we saw before?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“Tomorrow, watch carefully. They will definitely launch an attack.”

“I am aware. I learned a new magic today, and I have enough chance of winning.”

It was the moment when the fraudulent nature of regression was revealed. Even if time goes back, the status window is maintained, and this also applies to gold.

I immediately learned the magic that I had in mind as the second priority. It will surely be useful in tomorrow’s battle.

Anyway, that’s not what’s important now.

“I think you’ve had a hard time. Regression, it must have been no ordinary task.”

Humans are social animals, and the beginning of human relationships starts with empathy.

Emotion is more important than reason, and listening is more important than solutions.

Her eyes widened.

“······Thank you. No one believed me. I felt like a glass wall was built.”

“It is indeed a power that goes beyond human common sense. There’s a tower that summoned us, so there’s no reason why a god shouldn’t exist.”

“······.”

“Someone transcendent used their power to block people’s ears, and I was able to recognize the regression by chance through the blooming of traits. It’s luck.”

“Luck······.”

She gently closed her eyes. A somewhat hazy expression. It was as if she was wandering through a dream.

Soon, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Apart from the trait, Mr. Johann easily believed what I said.”

“Ah, that’s······.”

Because I definitely experienced the regression you caused, more than a dozen times.

······I couldn’t say that. While I was choosing an appropriate answer, she continued.

“It’s not just luck. The gift of the tower and the essence of Mr. Johann are combined······.”

“······.”

“It’s fate. Not luck, but fate.”

Her eyes were so clear when she said that, that I couldn’t easily open my mouth.

Silence was more valuable than hastily making up words.

“······.”

“······.”

We played with our dishes again.

***

The next morning, as soon as we finished our meal, we headed to the outskirts. After finishing the inspection with familiar greetings, we came outside.

“Ms. Sarah. Are those the guys?”

It’s so vivid that I even remember the location of the mole on their face, but I ask as if I’m confused.

“Yes. That’s right. Let’s go as usual. As usual.”

Following her words, I headed to Marim without even giving them a glance.

Is it because I’m conscious of them, I can feel their gaze flying behind me.

It wasn’t unpleasant. Because it wasn’t a threat.

‘I’m looking forward to it. How much karma will be reduced.’

I was just drooling. Even their gaze smelled sweet.

3 skills. High stats. Experience. In every aspect, they were superior to them.

Thump.

Thump.

Starting with entering the forest, the sensations that made my back tingle gradually faded.

“They’re being blatant.”

“That’s right.”

It goes without saying, but her expression was frighteningly calm.

······Not long after, the strong men who were watching Johann and Sarah opened their mouths.

“Let’s go. I don’t think they noticed.”

“Hehe, I understand.”

They imagined a pair of lovers. The pale skin made them look like rabbits.

Two slender rabbits who didn’t realize the existence of the predator. A viscous saliva gurgled down the throats of the wild dogs.

***

Slash!

I butcher the skeletons in a place not much different from where I hunted yesterday.

Knowing the existence of the attackers, I led the battle with a focus on melee weapons as much as possible.

In fact, when I fought them, if I had enough magic power, I might have been able to seize the victory. It’s a weak possibility, but still.

“Hoo!”

Thwack!

I bend my hip joint and take a step back. The skeleton stumbles back with a refreshing sound. It’s not like she’ll miss that opportunity.

Slash!

The moment an intangible line was drawn in the air, the skeleton kissed the ground.

Now there are no monsters left here. We pretend to put the long sword in its sheath…

‘Magic Missile.’

“Huuup!”

She was in charge of the charge, and I was in charge of the interception. All actions were according to plan.

PheeEEE─

It looked like a taut clothesline was stretched out. In response, the bushes where they were hiding shook violently.

“We’re caught! Scatter!”

But it was too late. They didn’t know that Johann and Sarah had recognized them, and this resulted in a fatal surprise attack.

Above all, it’s Johann who saved his magic power. The basics of battle are, above all…

‘I’ve grasped all their capabilities. Now! Unleash the best firepower!’

Preemptive strike. He pours out as many as twenty magic missiles.

Wham wham wham wham!

A series of explosions ring out. Magic power increased through hunting, level 2 skills, and the amount of magic power stored.

All elements combine to shake the battlefield.

Clang! Thwack! Clang clang clang!!

Sarah wasn’t just standing still. There were those who died due to Johann’s performance, but there were more who were alive.

Their condition wasn’t perfect either, but to her, they looked no different from sick chickens.

“You, bitch! Ughhhh!”

“Cut her down in one go! She’s just one girl!”

The enemies weren’t just taking hits either. Led by the leader of the group, Po-Bao, they brandished their weapons at her.

However, the magician’s stage has not yet ended.

“Dig.”

A new skill purchased with the money I saved. It was only a level 1 skill, so its power was weak.

Digging only about 1M of ground was the best I could do. But it was effective in a chaotic battle like the current situation.

Crack!

The ground opens with a strange sound. It’s difficult to look under your feet while fighting a battle where life and death are at stake.

Even more so when facing a top-notch swordsman like Sarah. The strong men scream weakly and fall into the gates of hell.

“Ugh! Hwaaa! I can’t, I can’t reach the ground!”

It’s only a pit that barely reaches their waist. However, the sudden downward shift in gaze was effective in causing panic.

Stab! Stab!

Sarah put holes in their windpipes as if she were ice fishing.

It would have been fine if they barely came to their senses and attacked her. But it was useless.

‘Shield.’

Thud! Thud!

It’s not like Johann wouldn’t have predicted this fact. He already ‘remembers’ all of their armaments and martial arts.

What kind of attack methods they mainly use, whether they are left-handed or right-handed.

Johann’s perspective was already different from theirs. It’s the difference between a game player and pieces.

PheeEEE─ Aaaagh!

Johann scanned the direction of the battle with an inorganic expression.

‘It’s over.’

As he said, the balance of victory was tilted towards Johann.