Regression Is Too Much

Chapter 129

​Chapter 129 Entering the 11th Floor.

As soon as I opened my eyes, tall trees filled my view. The ground, covered with moss-like grass, lay thin and green like a carpet, while the cool, earthy scent tickled my nose.

Cold sunlight streamed through the dense trees. Judging by the time, it seemed like morning—the mist hung low, and the grass brushing against my ankles was damp with dew.

“Wow. This has a vibe.”

If I were to compare it to Earth... it felt warmer than Norway but cooler than France. It was exactly like a Danish forest—pleasantly chilly yet with a faint warmth lingering in the air.

“Haa...”

Taking a deep breath to savor the natural aroma, I lowered my gaze to check my condition.

“This again?”

The leather armor I was wearing had become so familiar it was almost tiresome. It seemed to be the default equipment provided upon entering the tower, at least until I equipped something else.

Other than that, everything was in order—my transparent gloves, my sword sheath, my subspace inventory... everything was intact.

After completing my physical check, I took another deep breath, but this time for a different purpose.

“Ji-won!!!”

-Ji-won, Ji-won, Ji-won, Ji-won, Ji, Ji, Ji...

My loud voice echoed through the crisp morning air. Was it a good idea to yell like this without even understanding the nature of the 11th floor yet? Of course not. Drawing attention like this could lead to unexpected consequences—it was plain reckless.

If I weren’t a regressor, that is.

Yes, if I weren’t a regressor.

Ji-won and I had agreed on this beforehand: if we couldn’t see each other right after entering the 11th floor, I would call out to find her. With her sharp senses, Ji-won would pick up on my voice and find her way to me quickly.

“Now then...”

Now it was time to try the elixir. I opened my personal subspace and smoothly retrieved the elixir. This moment—right at the start of the 11th floor—was perfect for testing its effects.

I had planned to drink the elixir only if my cold symptoms worsened, but I had no idea if it would work. Testing it now, when there were no immediate risks, was the best course of action.

Why didn’t I copy and drink it back on the 1st floor instead of waiting until now?

It was for a similar reason the pill I received as a reward on the 1st floor.

Just similar… Not exact reason because even if the pill was copied and consumed multiple times using the 1st floor’s abilities, it didn’t stack its effects. The elixir, however, couldn’t even be copied at all—it seemed the tower had placed restrictions on it.

Well, if the elixir could be copied, it would have been absurdly broken. Once someone obtained an original, theoretically, every player in the world could drink the elixir endlessly by copying it.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

I uncorked the elegant glass bottle and drank the elixir slowly, savoring each drop. The cool sensation started in my throat, spreading throughout my body, sending a pleasant shiver through me.

By the time I finished the bottle, the effects were astounding.

“Wow, so this is an elixir?”

The lingering cold symptoms were completely gone. The tickle in my throat, the slight fever, and the overall fatigue had vanished as if they were never there. My body felt like it had returned to a pure, untouched state.

As expected, this was the power of the elixir. Even the name carried an air of superiority compared to ordinary potions. Yes, an elixir had to be effective—it was the ultimate healing item in a fantasy world, after all.

Satisfied with the results, I nodded, but then I sensed a presence nearby.

“Jun-ho!”

“Oh, you’re here?”

“Yeah, it wasn’t far.”

The presence belonged to none other than Ji-won, who had just arrived. Since our starting locations were close, it hadn’t taken her long to get here.

“Did you come from over there?”

“Yeah. Next time, it’s your turn to come find me.”

“Got it.”

The elixir’s effects were confirmed, and I had also verified that the 11th floor allowed multiple players to proceed together. Most importantly, Ji-won was with me. Whatever challenges awaited us here, I was confident we could clear them with ease.

With a satisfied smile, I bit my cheek lightly.

You have been injured. Regressing to the moment you first entered the 11th floor.

***

“What are you seeing?”

“Over there. Don’t you see that wall-like thing?”

“…I don’t see anything.”

“It’s fine. Honestly, if Bung-Bung hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have noticed it either. It’s so faint.”

After meeting with Ji-won right after regressing, we were walking along a bumpy dirt path. According to her, something awaited us at the end of the trail, but no matter how much I squinted, I couldn’t see a thing.

<11th Floor>

- Clear Condition: Purchase a Transit Stone and submit it to the Angel.

“Purchase?”

Right on cue, a message window appeared. What caught my attention was the instructions to purchase the Transit Stone.

It wasn’t about obtaining it, or finding it—it specifically said to purchase it. The word “purchase” implied a transaction, and transactions inherently required communication between intelligent beings.

“Does that mean someone from another realm is acting as a shopkeeper?”

Ji-won shrugged lightly.

A purchase usually points to the presence of a store or a merchant. Or, who knows, maybe there’s some kind of vending machine around here.

“Ah, now I can see it too.”

While exchanging ideas and walking aimlessly, the “wall” Ji-won mentioned came into view. No, to be precise, it wasn’t a wall but a barricade made of wood.

“Oh…”

Logs sharpened to pointy tips were stacked tightly together, forming an imposing and somewhat menacing wall. The word fortress immediately came to mind—wasn’t this exactly how medieval fortresses looked?

“Looks like we’re supposed to get the Transit Stone here.”

The message window’s mention of a “transaction,” combined with the path cutting through the dense forest, made it clear: this floor carried the scent of civilization. It felt similar to being transported to another world like on the 2nd floor.

“…Where’s the entrance?”

“Let’s just keep walking until we find it.”

Following the fortress’s perimeter in search of an entrance, we eventually came across a large wooden gate. As expected of fortress gates, it was tightly shut, but a smaller side gate next to it was open, allowing people to come and go.

“Whoa.”

Wait, not people.

The creatures were about as tall as my waist, with thick beards, and their entire bodies rippled with muscles.

“Dwarves.”

The dwarves I’d seen countless times in fictional works were now alive and breathing before me. Seeing Yetis and goblins was fascinating, but this was on a whole different level.

“Ahem, hello there?”

I addressed one dwarf, who had just exited the wooden fortress with a large bag slung over his shoulder. I figured that since I could communicate with goblins, dwarves should be no different.

“…”

However, the dwarf ignored me completely. As if I were invisible, he walked past without a glance.

“…Excuse me?”

What the—? Was he deaf? Or could he really not see me? Was this some gimmick of the tower? I grabbed his arm to stop him.

“…!”

Swat!

The dwarf forcefully yanked his arm away, as if I had contaminated it with something filthy. He shot me a sharp glare before walking off again.

“…What’s his problem?”

“This is… unexpected.”

What was going on? I didn’t think a first meeting would start with such hostility. Was he having a bad day? Or were dwarves naturally like this?

Curious, I approached another dwarf and attempted to strike up a conversation. The response was just as frosty—a curt, dismissive rejection.

It was now certain: dwarves didn’t like us.

“…Hmm.”

“…”

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Something was off, something we weren’t understanding. Ji-won bit her lip lightly, while I let out a contemplative hum.

“You there.”

“?”

“Did you just arrive? No, you must have just arrived.”

​Near the wide road connected to the main gate, a voice called out to us.

“…Should we check it out?”

“Let’s go.”

As we headed toward the source of the voice, we found a group of people wearing leather armor like ours, huddled together and crouched near the road. If they were simply resting, we might have thought nothing of it, but…

“…What’s going on here?”

Their condition was dire. Their cheeks were hollow, their bodies were covered in grime, and their hair was not just matted but practically hardened. The term ragged fit them perfectly.

Judging by their identical armor, they were players like us. But if they were players, their condition didn’t make sense.

It’s been three months since the first tutorial began, but reaching the 11th floor already marked them as top-tier players. After all, even Ji-won, the strongest player in Korea, had just entered the 11th floor.

Even if they’d been summoned to the tower a month earlier than us during the initial tutorial or a similar period, their presence here would normally indicate great skill. These were not people who should look like beggars.

“…Ji-won?”

One of them recognized Ji-won, their eyes widening in surprise. The person, seemingly the group’s leader, dusted themselves off as they stood up.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Felix Hoffmann.”

The man who introduced himself as Felix Hoffmann was a striking German with dull blond hair and blue eyes. Of course, his “striking” features were assuming he wasn’t caked in grime.

“Ji-won Choi.”

Felix and Ji-won exchanged a light handshake. When the handshake ended, Ji-won’s glove was smeared with black soot.

“…”

Felix Hoffmann. The name sounded familiar. I’d seen it on the internet before—he was supposedly Germany’s most accomplished player. What was someone of his caliber doing in such a state here?

“…I assume you’re wondering why we’re like this.”

Perhaps reading the questions in our gazes, Felix brought up the topic I had been pondering.

“To put it simply, there’s been a lot going on, but the core issue boils down to one thing.”

Felix’s voice, though steady, carried an undeniable weight.

“…The 11th floor has become impossible to clear.”

The thick despair in his tone was unmistakable.

– – – End of Chapter – – -

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