263 - Regression Is Too Much

263 – Proven by the Regressor (3) “Hahaha!” Raucous laughter echoed through the mountains. Tiny birds and wild animals peered cautiously before fleeing, while larger creatures skulked from afar, bolting at the sight of the group's imposing presence. A band of bare-chested, blonde men and women led the way. Trailing behind were five more men and women. Naturally, those at the forefront were the 'warriors,' while those following were the players. “Ck…” An Italian man clicked his tongue. “I’m no soldier. If I’m going to take down these evildoers, can’t I make a little noise about it?” “What… doesn’t anyone have any sort of plan?” “Hey, what would a gymnast know?” “Quiet.” While the players discussed matters that only they were privy to, I focused on something else entirely. “Ji-won.” “Huh?” “Are you going to be okay?” “With what?” “Killing the sorcerers.” From the 25th floor onwards, the tower allowed the explicit killing of 'people.' Despite being under the tower's influence, there was an instinctual resistance to killing people, a tendency I suspected would trouble Choi Ji-won, given her strong aversion to taking lives. “To be honest, I don’t like it. But what choice do I have?” Choi Ji-won calmly answered my question. “I’m not sure if there’s a trick to it… When a mission blatantly demands someone’s death, there’s not much room for maneuver. I suppose we should be thankful they’re targeting evil people or those who seem to be asking for it.” Choi Ji-won’s stance was clear: if this was a mission, then there wasn’t much that could be done. She wisely cautioned against the danger of normalizing such acts through repeated exposure and becoming desensitized to killing people. She maintained her composure and reassured me. “Don’t worry.” “Really?” “Yes.” With light-hearted banter, we continued on our way. At first, the group trudged through the snow. Around noon, the leader called for a halt, prompting the players to stop as well. “Everyone! Your stamina is commendable!” The Captain spoke while wiping the sweat from his brow. His upper body, muscular and quivering, was flushed red. “I haven’t even been walking for that long.” “Walking in the snow is no easy feat! Seems I underestimated it! I acknowledge your strength!” The Captain, patting the shoulder of a nearby player, declared a break and distributed bread. The warriors relished it. (Of course, none of the players partook.) “Where does the bread come from?” “Huh?” In the end, unable to suppress my curiosity, I directly questioned the Captain. “Do you know how to make bread? Doesn't seem like it.” “Of course not!” “Then where does the bread come from?” Normally, this would be an argumentative statement, perhaps a rebuttal, but... should these people be labeled naive, or simply foolish? For some reason, I felt that he would give me a straightforward answer, so I asked him directly. “Hah!” As expected, the Captain answered without hesitation. “I found it beneath the snow!” “… Pardon?” “The snow here is thick! If you search diligently, you often discover useful things! We make the most of it!” “No, isn’t that a bit strange?” A French woman suddenly raised her voice. “If you dig through the snow, will you find rice, wooden cabins, and glass windows?” “That’s right!” “… “ I anticipated a more logical answer, but I had nothing further to say to the Captain who promptly admitted it. After all, the conversation was unfolding between those deemed intellectual. “Leader! Captain!” At that moment, another warrior came running with a grin as wide as a hamburger. “What is it?” “I found it! Meat!” “Meat?” “Meat!” “Eat to your heart’s content!” In fact, even before the Captain issued the command, the people had already started devouring something. It was the carcass of a deceased reindeer. “Delicious!” “Fresh!” The tribespeople eagerly tore into the reindeer's innards and consumed them on the spot. While it was true the snow preserved its freshness, it was far from a pleasant sight. “… “ “… “ None of the players were weak enough to vomit outright. However, that doesn’t mean they were entirely unaffected. Their expressions were clearly contorted in discomfort. It was impossible for civilized people to watch such a spectacle without feeling uneasy. “Not eating?” I asked offhandedly, as the Captain maintained his stance despite swallowing repeatedly. “I’m the Captain! The Captain must set an example! So, he must show restraint!” The Captain thumped his chest as he spoke, much like before. At this point, my curiosity had breached all boundaries. “What’s your reason for opposing the black sorcerer?” These people exhibited traces of civilization, yet also retained a sense of savagery. Though some semblance of morality was ingrained within them, it appeared rather arbitrary. They lay somewhere between barbarians and the civilized. It felt as though I was witnessing a bizarre amalgamation. Thus, I inquired about the underlying reason. What was their reason for opposing the sorcerer? “He is the enemy of our clan.” The Captain, still staring at the reindeer's carcass, responded solemnly. “My father, his father, and his father before him. The very first father as well. They all perished challenging the sorcerer. They sought to kill him and ascend to the divine.” “… “ “The sorcerer is our nemesis. He must be slain. Our clan exists to eradicate the sorcerer, and this desire runs deep.” “… Does it hold any meaning if you die?” “Meaning? I’m unsure what meaning there would be. Even if I perish, it’s of no consequence.” The Captain patted his lower abdomen. "I have three sons and two daughters. They will challenge the sorcerer once again. If not myself, then my children, and if not them, then their children. Someday, we will defeat the evil sorcerer and restore peace to our clan." “… “ "Even if we fail, there will always be another chance. There's hope as long as we don't give up. One day, we will succeed. Today's failures are merely the foundation for tomorrow. The evil sorcerer will certainly die." In the Captain's eyes as he spoke these words, there was a resolute determination. I sensed an untainted will. A bright, clear, and unwavering resolve. His steadfast determination to achieve this goal was evident. “… What has the sorcerer done?” “Hmm?” “What did the sorcerer do to warrant such sacrifice across generations, from ancestors to descendants...? Do you really hate him? What's the reason?" The Captain chuckled heartily. "I don't know." “…?” "Does it matter? I learned it from my father. That person must die. He's an evil bastard. He's supposed to be a corpse. I'm a warrior. So I follow what was taught to me. It’s nothing strange." By then, all that remained of the reindeer carcass were the skin and bones. Normally, they might have preserved the hide, but these people were about to engage in a battle, risking their lives. The Captain raised his voice and called out, ‘Let’s go!’ “It's unsettling.” “Kind of gives me the creeps.” Watching the scene, the players waved their hands dismissively. There was something deeply unsettling, but that feeling stemmed from not understanding why. The Captain had strong resolve but lacked free will. He had the strength to move forward, but not the foresight to understand the path ahead. Like a robot programmed to march towards fiery destruction, they threw themselves into a future filled with ruin. All in the hope that one day, success would be theirs. There was much I wanted to say, but I chose not to voice it. Not only would it not help undo the deception, but it was also mere speculation. "Let’s focus." For now, the sorcerer. That was a concern for later. ** A whole day had passed, bringing nightfall once more. “There!” The group, having pushed onward relentlessly, finally reached the mountain. A cold, indefinable aura seeped from the mountain’s slopes. In the distance, a cave exuding dangerous energy came into view. “Is anyone having any trouble?” “None at all!” “Then let’s move out!” “Wow!!!” No lengthy speeches, no final preparations, no strategy sessions. The warriors charged towards the cave. The players exchanged brief glances before following suit, rushing forward. At the entrance of the cave, a heap of human bones lay scattered. The warriors charged in, paying no heed to the grim sight. As we ventured deeper, the floor revealed half-decayed corpses strewn about. The warriors cast aside the bodies as if showcasing their remarkable bravado. However, since they had not reached the ‘superhuman’ tier, sacrifices were inevitable. Naturally, this went unnoticed. Sharp bones jutted up from the floor. Three warriors fell instantly. A massive hand suddenly emerged from the wall. Two warriors were seized. A colossal fish, constructed entirely of bones, blocked the path. Four warriors succumbed to massive blood loss. “Wow!!!” “Let’s go!!!” The deaths of their companions neither frightened nor deterred them. The warriors continued to charge ahead just as they had at the start. Meanwhile, the players could only pray for the cold corpses to rest in peace. So they ran, ran, and ran again. “We’ve arrived!” “There’s the bastard!” Finally, the warriors skidded to a halt. The deepest part of the cave. In the barely discernible darkness, a silhouette emerged. Once magic flared within my gaze, its full form was unveiled. “Is that it?” A black robe. A staff crowned with a skull. Ice shards protruded all over its form. An aura of death loomed ominously around it. First and foremost, the creature displayed signs of extreme transformation. Its skin was a ghastly purple, wrinkled and distorted in numerous places. It resembled something more akin to a human cocoon than a human being itself. I could ascertain its identity even without confirmation. It was the sorcerer. "You won’t feel any remorse for killing this one." I adjusted my grip on the sword. For I had a strong inkling that this creature, too, had relinquished its ties to humanity.