episode_0035

“Regression.”

“!”

“Regression.”

“!?”

“Regression.”

“Ugh!”

“Regression.”

“Ugh~!”

Every time the word “regression” was mentioned, Seongyeon shuddered.

Like Sun Wukong trapped in a golden hoop, he screamed and his face turned pale.

Poor guy.

“Have you been reading this kind of stuff?”

The shelves of our guild leader, who had just finished moving, were filled with materials necessary for work or novels.

Mostly [regression stories]. If not, then [romance stories].

Surprisingly, there were even some yan-dere stories mixed in with [male-oriented harem stories].

“What’s with your taste? Surprising coming from you.”

“Don’t look~!”

Regression stories are probably like reference books.

Evidence of struggling to confirm one’s situation and to break the curse.

“Where did you find this? Who told you!?”

“The Knight of Pure Love. The way he talks is so different that it’s hard to tell which side is his true nature. Why, haven’t you met him?”

“-No.”

“At least not this time?”

“Don’t say it like that. I’m really scared right now. I don’t know when you’ll die, so I’m mentally prepared to pass out at any moment…”

Seongyeon’s aura gathered around his neck.

If I die, he’ll commit suicide immediately.

“Hey, release your aura, crazy guy. What are you doing?”

Truth be told, I’m trembling too.

How far can I go with this?

How far can I question?

I don’t know.

“But this case is the first time, so mentioning regression itself is abnormal…!”

“I came to tell you, so please stop with the extreme actions. What’s the point of blowing up your head instead of mine?”

“B-but!”

We’re both clueless.

First, I dove headfirst into the unknown.

“How did I know and why did I hide it here? Curious, right? I’ll tell you everything that happened right after the clear, so listen carefully.”

“Okay….”

I revealed to Seongyeon what I saw back then.

Without hiding anything about the situation.

That the Apostle gave me memories I didn’t know, that my head suddenly exploded with strange memories, that I’m cursed and Seongyeon, the regressor, is trying to save me.

The reason I’m exploding is because of a specific NG action. And even the reason is absurd, that I heard a secret from someone else.

“Did the Apostle tell you everything?”

“Yes.”

“It’s impossible! He’s supposed to be on Topju’s side! But why… even though you know about regression, you’re fine! The situation is strange!”

I’m an exception.

In reality, things turned out this way.

“Let’s summarize. Are you hiding a secret from me, and I have to dig it up myself? Will it explode if I find out in a different way?”

“That’s right… it’ll be difficult. You’d realize it right away if you were sober, but I’m under a curse…”

“You came to the Golden Tower to break free from this curse?”

“Misunderstanding. It might seem that way now, but my reason for setting foot in this tower was more pathetic.”

“Because of personal grudges?”

“Similar. But if I say this, I might really… die.”

“……”

Pathetic.

The reason why a regressor climbs the tower is the same in any novel.

To conquer the tower with cheats and reap the rewards.

What reward did Seongyeon want?

It’s frustrating that we can’t understand each other even though we know everything.

“I have so many questions to ask. Why am I cursed, what’s your secret, how many regressions have you gone through and what have you done in between.”

“……”

“It’s so frustrating that you’re almost hitting the mark but can’t say it.”

We’re almost there.

Close to the answer, on the verge of scratching it.

The discomfort that I couldn’t reach made my teeth grind.

“Damn it.”

I got up from my seat and poured myself a cup of coffee.

Cheap instant coffee. But it tasted good because of the sweetness.

We both stayed silent for about 5 minutes.

Seongyeon was reevaluating the line of how much she could say, and I had to wait for that.

……….

Was it at that moment?

[Top Player ‘Aphrodite’ is watching over you.]

“Eek!?”

“Ahh!”

I spit out the coffee I was drinking, and Seongyeon screamed at my actions.

It seems like she didn’t see the system window that appeared in front of me.

“Top Player!”

“What, Top Player!?”

We both stood up at the same time.

Why now, of all times?

When I was trying to reconcile with my friend!?

“W-What, really? Are you the Top Player!?”

[Top Player ‘Aphrodite’ confirms your question.]

The response was quick…!

They’re watching in real-time!

“Ugh!”

Seongyeon’s face turned pale, and she immediately got up from her chair and covered her head.

Judging by her reaction, Seongyeon must have encountered this before through multiple regressions.

A god who cursed my friend…

And of all things, claiming to be a god with a particularly strong reputation within the created world…!

“…Seongyeon?”

“Something strange is happening! You shouldn’t tell others about regression…! It’s one of the NG actions you mentioned, but since the Seat directly conveyed it to you, you didn’t die as usual…!”

“So, did you come down here yourself!?”

I asked again, this time in a more formal tone.

[Top Player ‘Aphrodite’ affirms all of that.]

[They say they feel very strange right now because they didn’t expect their Seat to betray them.]

[They are currently considering how to handle this situation.]

As I pondered how to handle this, I quickly knelt down on one knee.

I broke out in a cold sweat. My nerves were so sharp that I could vividly feel the sensation of my hair standing on end.

[First of all, congratulations on conquering the Tower.]

[However, they point out that you relied on regression again.]

[It’s difficult to judge whether you circumvented it or legitimately cleared it.]

“…Ugh!?”

Seongyeon fell silent.

It wasn’t good.

My friend had been too submissive to this god for too long.

“How many chances do you think you’ll have to talk to the Top Player!”

I licked my lips.

I wiped my mouth, greased my throat, and gathered my courage.

“Top Player, if it’s okay, could you please tell us how our idiot here managed to bypass and get caught?”

“Changgi…!?”

I stepped forward.

Seongyeon, who was bowing her head, had to protect this guy instead.

That’s the only way this story can move forward.

[………….]

[I will answer.]

[The sinner used a man in their strategy to clear the 10th floor.]

– A man?

[They took advantage of the fact that there was no Administrator at the 10th floor gate.]

[Once the challenger stepped into the gate, the test would automatically begin.]

[Realizing the gimmick, the sinner, who had a preference for same-sex relationships, used a man.]

[Among the 499 female buttocks, there was only one male mixed in….]

So they cleared the 10th floor just like that.

I never thought you could clear it that way.

Well, that’s true…?

“Excuse me. Isn’t the purpose of this Tower love? Strictly speaking, isn’t homosexuality not a sin? Shouldn’t we be more understanding in that regard?”

“Changgi….”

Even though she called me from behind, I boldly stepped forward.

I had no choice but to move forward, even if it might backfire.

[Hmm.]

[That’s a valid point.]

The other party hesitated.

I thought they would get angry, but their tone changed slightly.

[Looking back, it could have been solved by preparing an Incubus, and they affirm their mistake.]

“…I’m sorry! He just blurted it out on his own! Changgi, you should apologize too!”

[No, there’s no need for that.]

[It was a good suggestion.]

[If it’s a valid suggestion regarding the Tower, we will provide feedback.]

[I’m not that harsh of a god, and I apologize for that.]

Fortunately, we were able to communicate.

With this, we can somehow make it work.

“Let’s butter them up first and then bring it up.

“Thank you, Topju. It must be because you are sincere about the Tower that my friend couldn’t forgive the foolish thing he did. So, isn’t that why he was cursed?”

[What are you trying to say?]

[Persuasion is futile.]

[To sinners, punishment fitting for sinners is given.]

[No matter what you say, my mind will not change.]

– Got caught.

At the point of the response, there is room for conversation.

Somehow, my mind was very clear, and the [Clear Reward] I received from the knight earlier shone in my heart.

“No. I have no intention of persuading. I just want to apologize to you.”

I don’t know why it’s shining.

It’s as if someone is controlling me, my tongue and body moved on their own.

[Apology, is it.]

“Why are you apologizing? What do you know to apologize for? Why?”

“I dare say, based on the knowledge that bastard brought back, he bypassed the gate and did that, right? That’s why he got angry and cursed.”

[Yes. I cursed at that time.]

[He bypassed up to the 50th floor.]

“And even in this round, countless fools appeared and bypassed up to the 50th floor.”

[Is this a coincidence?]

“…Did you do it?”

“I didn’t do it this time.”

“But my friend did cause trouble for you, Topju. He was the one who started bypassing the Tower. He’s the one in question. In fact, he messed up half of your Tower, didn’t he?”

[Yes. That’s correct.]

[I destroyed the Tower I manage and shattered the concept.]

[Almost half of it.]

[I think the bypassing of the 50th floor in this round was influenced by something he did in the previous round.]

“Then it’s natural to be angry. I have no intention of making excuses about this. He did something wrong, so I have no problem apologizing.”

The [Clear Reward] inside me muttered.

“And… I vaguely feel that the reason this guy messed up the Tower is because of me. So, if I apologize, it wouldn’t be strange, right?”

[That’s correct.]

[But how do you…?]

I don’t know.

I’m just speaking as guided by the [Clear Reward] inside me.

It advises me to show sincerity is important.

Flattering the gods won’t work.

It robbed me of my shame and gave me the spirit of prostration.

“Judging by your reaction, Topju, my guess seems to be correct. So, I apologize again for being associated with this guy. I’m truly sorry. I will sincerely apologize here.”

It’s okay to be disgraceful. It’s a matter of life and death.

I take off all my clothes and prostrate naked.

The worst humiliation as a man… but the other party is a god.

………

…How will this turn out?

[…………]

[…………]

[………………]

At this timing, the system window did not move as I prostrated naked.

But I feel its presence. It’s close to us.

I desperately refrained from using the oracle.

[Do you have no pride?]

A small question appeared in front of my nose as I lay on the ground.

I don’t move.

“Pride is out the window. No matter how much my friend regresses… right here, at this moment, my life and my friend’s life are at stake. I’m so frustrated that we can’t talk about why this happened in such a situation.”

The frustration is really overwhelming.

Actually, I don’t know why I’m prostrating right now.

I’m doing it instinctively, like throwing myself into the fire.

[If you’re frustrated?]

“A friend who appeared after several years approached me as if we had seen each other yesterday. Then, out of the blue, he introduced a woman to me and told me to go up the tower, almost forcing me. I was really angry when he told me to climb the tower out of the blue, but I thought that if I climbed it, I would find out why he sent me there. But I still don’t know anything. He said it would explode if I spoke, so what should I ask?”

[Is that so?]

[Weren’t you angry?]

“I was. He came and I hit him a few times. But hitting someone doesn’t solve anything, does it? Thanks to him, while I was at my wit’s end, the Tower Lord appeared.”

I begged him to please listen.

“I am so desperate. You won’t have any fun if I torment Sangyeon as much as he tormented me, right? Then I will make Tower Lord laugh in his place.”

I begged him again.

“I will do anything you ask as long as it doesn’t involve harming others. I will do as you say.”

I begged him.

“So please, let us talk. I beg you, Tower Lord.”

Silence.

A spectacle to the point of wondering if it was necessary.

Only my shining heart, gleaming with [clear rewards], knows why I am doing this.

[You don’t need to make such a spectacle.]

[That scoundrel you call a friend is flying away because of you.]

[Even your regression was due to your own greed.]

[All these sins were committed because of your foolish friend.]

[Yet, do you go to such lengths for that sinner?]

“I want to hear the story directly and then get angry and forgive him. If he apologizes, I will forgive him in the end.”

[What do you believe and forgive the sinner for?]

[Don’t you still know anything?]

“If that damn guy was really a bad guy, he would have acted even more maliciously. I don’t know much about his curse, but can’t I do something about it? Either avoid the Tower of Gold altogether, or leave me alone whether I live or die, right?”

[I won’t deny that.]

[There were much harsher methods available.]

[Making you a slave might have been easier to move you.]

[………….]

[Hmm….]

She gradually approached the Tower Lord’s tone.

She is contemplating.

Then she moved to Sangyeon, who was rubbing his head while moving the system window.

Then a mocking sound suddenly came out.

──Her true nature has appeared.

[He is kneeling naked and begging for forgiveness.]

How do you feel right now?

“I feel like my heart is being torn apart.”

“He is doing that because of you.”

How do you feel?

“I feel like I want to strip naked right now and go out into the street and rub my head against the Tower….”

[You are receiving the worst humiliation as a ■■.]

“You, who resorted to tricks to get what you wanted, are giving disgrace as a gift to ■■.”

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Enjoy it.]

How much has accumulated for Sangyeon?

She treated me quite lightly, but she was merciless with Sangyeon.

Yet, this seems to be going well….

I had a feeling that something like this would happen.

[You have given the worst humiliation that ■■ can experience by showing ■■ to ■■.]

[Not because you asked for it, but because you voluntarily sacrificed your pride and dignity for ■■.]

[For that little scoundrel, without even knowing the circumstances, you are acting as if it’s friendship.]

[Failing to repay the benefactor who saved you, you instead gave this level of humiliation….]

[How does it feel to have repaid the favor in reverse, ■■?]

“I’m so embarrassed… I want to scratch my throat right now… I want to die… Tear my whole body apart… Throw me into a new life….”

[No. If you die, you’ll just come back.]

[I won’t let you die this time.]

[Absolutely not.]

“Please kill me… I don’t want to implant those memories in Chang-gi….”

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[I don’t want you to die.]

[Look at your face, feeling refreshed inside?]

[No matter how many times you repeat that you don’t like it, does it not sit well with your heart?]

[But seeing him beg voluntarily and your heart tearing apart is truly worth watching.]

[The sight of you being torn apart by the same feelings of ■■ is always a pleasure to see.]

[Get excited that I’m above this arrogant thing.]

It’s scary.

Keeping silent in case it catches your eye, another change occurred.

Suddenly, the system window started shaking.

[…Tsk. The Holy See is being noisy next to me.]

[I was thinking about what to do after seeing you die 100 more times….]

Holy See, is he a knight of pure love?

He was called by the Top Master earlier, is he next to him now?

[Alright. I’ll show mercy and let it go just this once.]

[He’s a good-looking man even in my eyes.]

[I feel sorry for you thinking you’re suffering because of this little guy….]

“….Huh?”

[Be happy. I’ll loosen your curse.]

[But, I’ll leave one. You know what I’ll leave, right?]

[I’ll remove the remaining curse when you conquer this tower.]

[Understood?]

“!”

Seong-yeon hit his head.

“T-Thank you! Really, thank you!!”

[Thank your ■■. Who would have thought you would go this far for friendship without even knowing you’re a ■■?]

“Or is it because of repeated regressions, instinctively trying to protect you?”

“Hmm.”

“Even if you lose your memory, does your soul leave a trace….”

“That’s that… hehehe.”

They’re watching me.

They’re giving great significance to simply protecting friendship.

There was a faint scent of a knight of pure love from this side of the Top Master.

“I am the Top Master ‘Aphrodite’. The owner of the Tower of Love.”

“I’ll always be watching over your twisted love.”

With a final word thrown at Seong-yeon, the system window disappeared.

Along with it, a golden light lingered on Seong-yeon.

“Ah…!”

They said they would ease the curse.

I don’t know how much they eased it, but Seong-yeon’s face brightened like never before.