The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 145

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 145
Chapter 145
The moment Count Zapin arrived at his territory, he readily sent Jin-woo off when the latter mentioned going to the Dungeon, even assigning a guide to escort him to the entrance.
Then he settled onto the sofa in his Office, sinking into its embrace.
With a soft whoosh, the plush sofa enveloped the Count’s body.
He gazed at the ceiling, feeling its comfort.
How would this turn out?
He couldn’t shake the feeling that success wouldn’t come easily.
Why?
‘It’s a legend that hasn’t yielded even a single clue in hundreds of years.’
Could a mere traveler truly unravel what had resisted so long?
That seemed even less plausible.
Yet if this traveler possessed the skill to arrive here faster than any before him…
Perhaps things could be different.
But precisely because of that, I couldn’t afford to lower my guard.
My thoughts ran in the opposite direction.
‘If someone of such caliber fails, then other travelers would be beneath consideration.’
Was I overthinking from sheer anxiety?
Count Zapin was lost in far too many thoughts.
“Sigh…”
I exhaled deeply and rubbed my brow.
Feeling the tension ease somewhat, I settled more comfortably into the sofa.
As my posture relaxed, my mind followed suit.
It was wise to consider the possibility of the traveler’s failure.
But abandoning hope altogether would be foolish.
That was the conclusion Count Zapin had reached.
It was certainly the right one.
For now, I could only await the results.
But was even that tedious?
Count Zapin turned to the Butler beside him and asked.
“What do you make of it?”
“…Are you asking about that traveler, sir?”
“Yes, what was your impression?”
“…I hardly know what to say, but when I glimpsed the Imperial Knight Order’s commander from a distance, I felt something similar.”
“Hmm.”
Irreverent words.
If any of the Emperor’s inner circle or the Imperial Knight Order heard such a comparison, they would bristle.
Yet Count Zapin nodded in agreement.
He understood what the Butler meant.
It wasn’t to say he possessed comparable strength.
Yet, he gave off a distinctly different impression.
That didn’t mean he was weak, however.
Even now, he possessed an absolutely tremendous aura.
Count Zapin had formed his assessment of Jin-woo accordingly.
A man with the power to lay waste to his own territory single-handedly.
“He was certainly formidable, I’ll grant you that.”
At Count Zapin’s words, the Butler bowed his head respectfully.
But that was all.
He neither denied nor refuted the assessment.
The Butler had sensed the same impression himself.
Perhaps that was why?
The Count found himself curious about Jin-woo.
“Hmm, I should make some inquiries about whether anyone knows this man.”
“He didn’t seem like someone unfamiliar with renown, so he may well be quite renowned.”
“Yes, look into it for me.”
“Very good, my lord. I shall see to it at once.”
When the Butler departed and I was left alone in my Office,
I murmured softly to myself.
“A legend, then….”
My house had not risen in rank for generations.
Though we possessed an illustrious heritage, none of my ancestors had produced a truly formidable powerhouse, leaving us perpetually bound to the rank of Count.
We should have ascended to Marquis long ago.
But if this Dungeon were cleared this time, might something truly change?
I chuckled bitterly at such musings.
When had I grown so old?
In my youth, I had scorned such legends and strived earnestly to rise through my own strength alone.
I was counted among the most capable of the illustrious Count Zapin’s line, and I had accomplished considerable deeds.
Was I not a Count regarded as benevolent as well?
Yet even so, it had come to naught.
Elevation in rank was no simple matter, true enough.
But I felt my achievements far outweighed the resistance I faced.
And so I had begun to contemplate legends.
I never imagined I would come to rely upon them so.
My younger self could never have conceived of such a thing.
“How amusing, truly.”
What was elevation in rank, after all?
What made it reduce me to such wretchedness?
I had grown weary pursuing my house’s long-cherished ambition.
Yet had I not finally obtained a thread of hope that never existed before?
Now I need only wait a little longer.
What if I fail this time as well?
‘I suppose I’ll have to give up in my generation.’
Count Zapin wore a bitter smile, thinking the same thoughts as his ancestors before him.
Though he didn’t yet know how things would turn out.
Just then.
One of the Attendants who had been tasked with guiding Jin-woo came rushing over urgently and bowed his head.
What could it be?
“What is the matter?”
Could something have happened to Jin-woo?
The moment such worry crossed his mind.
Sure enough, the Attendant spoke.
“That person entered, and the Temple began trembling strangely before its exterior started to change.”
“Its exterior?”
“Yes, that’s correct!”
This hadn’t happened once in the past several centuries.
No one welcomed sudden changes, after all.
It would be natural to feel uneasy.
But why was it?
The Count, who couldn’t wipe the smile from his lips, called out to the Attendant.
“I shall go as well—guide me there.”
“Yes!”
* * *
There was one proverb I favored.
Strike while the iron is hot.
Just like that saying, I preferred to handle matters immediately whenever they arose.
My current situation was no different.
The moment I arrived at Count Zapin’s Territory, I declared I would head straight to the Dungeon, and Count Zapin readily agreed.
He even wore a satisfied smile, as if this was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
I was guided all the way to the Dungeon’s entrance.
But I couldn’t receive any guidance beyond that point.
“We can only go this far. If we try to proceed any further, we’re blocked by some incomprehensible force.”
“I see, then.”
It didn’t look like the Dungeon’s entrance from the outside.
But it seemed to serve as a kind of entrance to house the Dungeon.
And as the Count had mentioned, there were several inscriptions written here.
Since the Count had already explained the inscriptions.
I didn’t need to examine them any further.
From here on, I’d have to go alone.
I let out a quiet chuckle and stepped inside.
So this was truly the Dungeon that even Barmondo couldn’t break through in the past.
I wondered what it would be like.
I entered with anticipation.
And then a message appeared.
[Welcome to the Temple of Combat.]
“The Temple of Combat?”
Not the Temple of Fighting?
From what I saw on the way in, I definitely saw the name God of War at the entrance?
Suddenly the God of Combat?
Then wouldn’t that be the God of All Combat?
No, wait—is that the God of War?
As Jin-woo stood bewildered by this unexpected message.
Another message appeared.
[The Temple of Combat consists of a total of three trials.]
[If you pass all trials, you will inherit the power of the God of War.]
[The power of the God of War refers to one of the skills possessed by the God of War, and we inform you that its might surpasses any other skill.]
Jin-woo smiled faintly upon reading that message.
Before, they called it the Temple of the God of War.
Now they’re calling it the Temple of Combat, which is also amusing.
Pass three trials and inherit the power of the God of War.
It was too good to be true.
Above all, I knew well enough.
Just how extraordinary the God of War’s skills were.
From Fusion Combat to Sky-Splitting Strike.
Every single one was an incredible skill.
And now I had the chance to obtain one more.
How could I possibly pass this up?
I was right to come here.
As Jin-woo thought this and eagerly awaited the start of the trials.
Another message followed.
[The power of the God of War is sensed from this user.]
[Hidden Class, God of War (鬪神) is confirmed.]
[The trials will be modified.]
[The difficulty of the existing trials will be significantly increased.]
[A Quest is generated.]
[You obtain the exclusive Quest: ‘The God of Combat, Third Step’.]
I would have been disappointed if this didn’t appear!
As expected, there was a hidden piece related to the God of War.
The difficulty has increased, but that’s actually better.
The rewards will grow proportionally.
With that thought, Jin-woo quickly examined the newly generated Quest.
The name was similar to the Quest I had obtained during my second advancement.
The only difference was the number had increased from two to three.
In other words.
‘Is this a class advancement Quest?’
A third advancement.
It made sense, given my level.
My level had already far surpassed one hundred.
For any other class, a third advancement at this point would be natural.
But this was the first time I’d seen a conditional third advancement like this.
Not that I was complaining—good opportunities were good opportunities, after all.
With that thought, I opened the Quest window.
[God of War, Third Step]
*Description: The God of War, the deity of combat, never ceased fighting at any moment, it is said.
The God of War is literally a god who loves combat and excels at it more than anyone.
Unlike the God of War, this deity focused purely and solely on fighting—on combat itself.
Whether it was one against many or one against one, the distinction mattered not.
In such combat, the most essential element is none other than training.
The Temple of Combat is a temple meant to nurture the still-weak God of War.
Grow stronger here.
*Mission: Clear all trials of the Temple of Combat
*Reward: Increased combat power, acquisition of class skill
*Only users of the God of War who have completed the God of War, Second Step can undertake this.
Quite a lengthy message.
But summarized, it was simple.
Train and grow stronger.
The problem was….
‘Stronger here?’
I was already overwhelmingly powerful.
And now I was being told to grow even stronger?
Well, there was nothing wrong with that.
But I felt a chill run down my spine.
If the message was telling me to grow stronger, then conversely….
‘Doesn’t that mean the trials will be proportionally more difficult?’
In other words, the trials would be adjusted to match my current power.
So this was a difficulty increase.
I felt a slight chill.
Now I understood why Barmon hadn’t cleared it.
As I steeled my resolve and prepared myself mentally.
A message appeared.
[The trials will begin shortly.]
As Jin-woo read the message, he assumed a ready stance.
Before Jin-woo, something like a shadow materialized.
A figure identical to Jin-woo appeared.
Surely not?
Not something straight out of a manga?
That’s what I thought, but…
[From now on, you must face your own shadow.]
[All skills are sealed. You may only fight using your raw stats.]
[The shadow’s control and ability can draw out the user’s maximum potential.]
[Due to increased difficulty, the shadow is also equipped with the same weapon.]
Ah, so that’s why.
Why no one had ever cleared it before.
If the difficulty hadn’t been increased, it would have been unarmed combat.
But Jin-woo didn’t think even that would be easy.
Why?
Obviously.
How many people could truly push themselves to their absolute limits?
Probably not many.
A fight against someone who could utilize their maximum potential?
The outcome was as clear as day.
In other words, it was exactly like something out of a manga.
Jin-woo chuckled softly as he gazed at the shadow.
So this is troublesome?
Not at all.
I rather like it.
Jin-woo smiled and simply raised his hand.
Tap, tap.
He provoked the shadow as if beckoning it to come first.
The shadow spoke instead.
[You’re weaker, so you come first.]
“Oho.”
It can even talk back with wit.
Without access to skills, I couldn’t fight at full power.
But with stats alone, I could fight to my absolute limit.
Satisfied with that, Jin-woo bounced lightly on his feet.
A body growing lighter.
I loosened up my body and checked my condition.
There was nothing wrong.
In fact, it felt perfect.
Perhaps it was because I faced such an exhilarating situation?
My body felt impossibly light.
“Then I’ll begin.”
And so the trial commenced.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————