episode_0015

[Upon satisfying the escape conditions by clearing the game, the game will immediately end, and you will return to reality.]

[Escape Condition 1: The capture rate of all heroines must exceed 95 percent.]

[Escape Condition 2: You must defeat the final boss, ‘Draken’.]

[If you fail to meet the escape conditions upon clearing the game, you will return to the starting point.]

Just looking at it, the system window that drains your energy appears before you.

It’s the same window you’ve seen before.

“Keyak! The enemy of our father! Keak!”

“Sigh…”

And then, a somewhat nostalgic voice reaches you,

“I’m sorry. This time, I’ll send you off in one stroke.”

Swish.

Simultaneously with the swing of the sword, blood scatters into the air.

As I step aside, the decapitated goblin’s body falls in front of my feet.

Not a drop of blood stains my body.

[Achievement Unlocked]

[First Monster Hunt Successful!]

[As an achievement reward, you receive ‘Stat Boost Potion’ x1.]

The achievement window I’ve seen once before pops up again.

It seems like achievements are being reset.

So, what about the stats?

[Stats]

[Strength: 9 (-5) *Penalty applied for Paladin class]

[Health: 7 (-5) *Penalty applied for Paladin class]

[Mana: 12 (-5) *Penalty applied for Paladin class]

[Agility: 18 (-5) *Penalty applied for Paladin class]

[Luck: 4 (-5) *Penalty applied for Paladin class]

Naturally, the stats have been reset to their initial state.

My physical condition feels much weaker.

I’ve literally returned to the past.

“My initial traits remain the same.”

The Paladin, who annoyingly imposes penalties, is still present.

It seems like the initial traits might be fixed as a Paladin rather than randomly assigned each time.

Since the window indicating the assignment of Paladin traits didn’t appear, maybe it regressed to a point after the initial trait was determined.

But the situation is not entirely hopeless.

My memories and senses remain intact.

And above all…

[Traits with a synchronization rate over 90 percent will be automatically restored.]

[Trait: Dakia Style (lv.9)]

[Mastery of the forgotten ancient one-handed swordsmanship. Understanding of one-handed swords increases.]

I successfully extract one swordsmanship trait.

Among the three swordsmanship traits, only Dakia Style had surpassed level 9.

It’s a natural outcome when returning with full memory.

The other two swordsmanship traits were more like skills fired off mechanically rather than mastered, hence they seem unrecovered.

It’s a bit of a hassle, but I’ll have to go through the trait acquisition event again.

“The advantages of regression are quite significant. With this, I should be able to break through.”

I tuck the Stat Boost Potion into my pocket and raise my Luck stat.

If the level of the swordsmanship trait is above 9, I can carry it over to the next round.

With the starting point not changing with each restart, there are no variables.

This seems doable.

“I was too foolish in the first round.”

My play in the first round was filled with tricks.

The idea of entrapping heroines solely with swordsmanship was fundamentally flawed.

Of course, it could lead to ensnaring multiple heroines quickly.

As the one who wrote the story, I know all about the heroines’ personalities, preferences, and intricacies.

It’s like looking at the answer sheet and solving a test.

However, going that route would only result in insincerity, Yuriya exuding a stalker vibe, and Yerina developing anger management issues.

A straightforward approach is necessary without tricks.

Participate naturally in events guided by the game, make contact with the heroines, and get closer through affinity-building.

Only then can you meet the heroines not as mere dependents or obsessive individuals but as lovers.

“I need to play the game in the conventional way it demands.”

In the first round, I was a highly suspicious character.

While I had honed my swordsmanship to a remarkable level, my stats were inadequate, and my combat skills were even worse.

However, I know too much.

To anyone, wouldn’t it seem like I’m the final villain or someone equivalent?

The fact that the achievement window hasn’t popped up since a certain moment, maybe it’s because I skipped and surpassed the early stages altogether.

This time is different.

I’m going to play the protagonist, not the final villain.

Since I confirmed there are no other possessors in this world besides me, there’s no need to hesitate.

Properly starting from low-level hunting grounds and gradually building up experience.

Getting stronger, earning money, and building a reputation.

In the first place, hunting moderately is advantageous for the heroine’s strategy.

Thanks to the game system, hunting can be used as an excuse for infidelity.

For example, if you swiftly slit the throat of a Minotaur, which takes about a week to hunt, you can save a week for later.

“Let’s go. Oh, I almost forgot Blin’s club.”

[Achievement unlocked]

[First loot obtained!]

[As an achievement reward, the skill ‘Insight’ is granted.]

The plan is roughly set.

Now, let’s begin.

Since the first round and strategies have changed significantly, honestly, I’m not very confident.

Still, if I persist for about three turns, won’t I clear it?

“Hey, you bastards! Why can’t you understand what I’m saying!”

“Guest, please leave.”

I got stuck right at the low-level hunting grounds.

I momentarily forgot, these adventurers were not your average lunatics.

They kept insisting I hunt slimes instead of going after werewolves as I intended.

It seems remnants of essential preliminary quests in the game are still lingering in the tutorial area.

It was driving me crazy.

With a swordsmanship skill at level 9, I was cutting slimes, mutant mushrooms, giant rats…

Feeling like it would never end, I quickly escaped the low-level hunting grounds.

“Sigh…”

Eventually, I reached the high-level hunting ground, the dungeon.

Dungeons are scattered sparsely throughout the continent according to the setting.

Due to the monsters and traps inside, nobody dares to enter.

However, simply leaving it alone isn’t an option because the source of the final boss’s power is the dungeon.

While exploring the dungeon and seizing treasures, I’ll also destroy the core of the dungeon.

And the basic premise is to defeat the weakened final boss after all dungeons are destroyed, but…

“Am I crazy? Going to kill myself.”

As long as the escape condition of a harem ending exists, I won’t have to go defeat the final boss.

However, to achieve the harem ending, I must break through the dungeons.

Since the interior is far from safe, tension rises.

Having only worked on the romance part, I have no idea what to expect inside the dungeon.

“Sigh. This could go on forever. Let’s just go.”

“Oh, attempting the dungeon?”

“…Yes. Who are you?”

“A passing traveler. Your equipment looks impressive, but I sense no magic power within you.”

“… ”

Just as I was mustering courage to enter, I was stopped by an old man.

Magic.

Come to think of it, magic does exist in this world.

Although I’ve seen heroines use it multiple times, I’ve never tried it myself.

To sense magic, one must meditate, but I was stuck right there.

“I don’t think magic suits me well.”

“Haha. You’d die quickly if you entered without knowing how to use magic.”

“… ”

Though it smelled fishy, I couldn’t ignore his words.

Magic’s utility in this world surpasses imagination.

Despite ignoring it due to laziness until now, perhaps it’s time to focus and learn.

“I’ll teach you some basic magic to survive in the dungeon.”

“How much will it cost?”

“Forget it. What kind of grandeur does this old man seek to charge you for?”

For three days, I learned various miscellaneous spells from the old man.

By the way, on the first day, I spent the whole day meditating while getting hit with a stick.

Thus, the magic I learned was ignition magic (used to light torches), unlocking magic (used to open locked doors and boxes), clairvoyance magic (used to see traps beyond walls or floors), and so on…

They were nothing remarkable, just miscellaneous spells that would be somewhat helpful.

“I think I can start moving on to more advanced magic now.”

“You there. Give it up. You’re a lost cause when it comes to magic. If you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of others, learn only inconspicuous spells like a thief.”

“······.”

Spouting nonsense again.

I’ll have to learn flashy and cool magic in some remote place later.

Maybe I should learn ice magic from Yerina.

In my opinion, I have the perfect disposition to be a wizard.

I dislike pain.

“There’s nothing more to teach you. Get lost to the dungeon right away.”

“Sir, may I ask for your name?”

“I said get lost.”

“······.”

This old man gives me a strange feeling of déjà vu.

Although he clearly exudes the aura of a former knight or archmage, since he doesn’t want to reveal it himself, I decided to stop prying.

Who knows, he might turn out to be a homeless beggar with a thief background.

I’ll have to deduce his true identity through repeated regressions.

Anyway, after spending four days by the old man’s side, I headed towards the dungeon.

As the old man said, the inside of the dungeon was harsh and unfriendly.

If this were a game, a prickly trap would not just slightly reduce your health; once pricked, it would lead to excessive bleeding and infection, acting as a killing machine. If you opened a door incorrectly, you would be surrounded by monsters all day, and if you took the wrong path, you’d end up trapped in a maze.

If I hadn’t learned magic, I probably would have met my end here.

“Next, please come in.”

“Hello, ma’am. My name is Eugene.”

“Yes, what. Go ahead.”

“······.”

“You said go ahead?”

Knight escort interview day.

The moment I faced Jill again.

I cannot forget the dry look in Jill’s eyes as she looked at me like any other commoner.

Jill Dainer, who had erased all our memories, was right in front of me.

At the moment our eyes met.

It seemed like Jill recognized me, as she slightly trembled, but maybe it was just my imagination.

Jill parted her quivering lips.

“What are you doing?”

“······.”

Perhaps it was just my imagination.

After all the insults I threw at Jill, it seems like she has developed some affection for me.

Deep down, I hoped she remembered me.

Looking at Jill, who had completely forgotten about me, my heart ached.

I feel like I understand why regressors break down.

It’s okay to face difficult dungeons repeatedly, but the pain of seeing someone you knew become a different person accumulates in your heart.

“I will begin.”

I made up my mind.

From now on, I won’t give my heart to anyone.

It’s better for my mental health that way.

I will act diligently in lovingly portraying the main heroines, ensuring that I never develop feelings for them.

Only then can I continue to challenge without my heart crumbling and getting trapped in this game.