The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 160

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 160
160
Since childhood, Yu Ji-a had constantly heard praise for being good at games.
Especially when she outperformed boys, the satisfaction was considerable.
After all, gaming had always been known as something men excelled at more than women.
So when Yu Ji-a received such compliments, she felt genuinely pleased.
Being good at studying?
Being well-behaved?
All compliments were welcome, but praise regarding gaming was what she treasured most.
Perhaps it was because her much older brothers only paid attention to her when she played games?
Regardless of the reason now.
The fact remained that I loved gaming.
Because I loved games and excelled at them.
My pride had naturally become quite considerable.
‘I’m better than most men.’
Such thoughts were inevitable, and truthfully, they weren’t unfounded.
Whatever game I played, if skill mattered.
I could reach the highest ranks or climb to respectable leaderboard positions.
Thanks to this, I was able to preserve and nurture the pride I’d cultivated since childhood.
But what was this?
Naturally, I had to acknowledge that there were those superior to me.
Especially within the Pantheon.
While I had the potential to reach high-ranker status, anything beyond that seemed impossible.
At the moment I’d reached this conclusion.
I saw Jin-woo’s video.
At first, I thought perhaps he was just lucky, progressing rapidly through fortune?
That’s what I believed.
But I was wrong.
The control displayed in those videos transcended art—it was nothing short of miraculous.
And so I became a fan of Jin-woo after watching his videos.
‘I want to become like that person.’
I’d always strived to accomplish whatever I set my mind to.
But could I truly become like him?
On that matter, I remained deeply skeptical.
Then came that moment.
My close older sisters forcibly dragged me out, saying there was a group meeting.
Honestly, I didn’t want to go.
I thought it would be more beneficial to just play the Pantheon and level up.
But since my sisters asked, I went anyway.
And sure enough, there were two people who looked like they’d be tedious.
And then.
‘He’s decent-looking, I’ll admit, but gaming was still more fun.’
Though one thing about him was rather special.
Yu Ji-a came from a wealthy family, so seeing Jin-woo’s subtle styling, she thought he at least knew how to present himself.
But that was all she thought of it.
Yet what was this?
Jin-woo seemed to be quite skilled in the Pantheon as well.
He was in a city that couldn’t be reached unless you were among the vanguard.
Yu Ji-a began to take interest.
When she mentioned she was in the city too.
Watching others make a fuss over Gia’s story.
She had some pride to spare, after all.
Of course, those thoughts all crumbled when they went to the arcade.
Since Jin-woo had also reached the city.
She wanted to see just how impressive his skills were.
She wanted to know who was stronger.
‘I’ll win, won’t I?’
She was surprised to find someone she’d met by chance was unexpectedly skilled.
But she’d rarely encountered anyone better than herself in her circle.
So she believed Jin-woo would fall short of her abilities.
That’s what she thought and believed.
But what was this?
She lost so devastatingly.
Absurdly so.
The first loss?
She was so shocked she actually approached him to ask how he’d done it.
He identified techniques she didn’t know and used them.
Those unfamiliar with them might think he was using cheap tricks.
That’s how the old arcade games were.
But in a virtual reality arcade, such things aren’t tricks.
‘It’s all skill.’
You needed both the analytical ability to identify such techniques and the skill to execute them.
Was that why?
She grew increasingly interested in Jin-woo.
And when they agreed to meet in the Pantheon, how thrilled she was.
If he was that skilled in the arcade.
How exceptional would he be in the Pantheon?
With such thoughts, they met.
And she discovered Jin-woo was Hwang Kyung-ma-jeol.
‘This is absolutely insane.’
Above all, thanks to him, I was able to obtain the Yellow Dragon, and now I’ve even reached the Celestial God.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of this was thanks to Jin-woo.
Just look at what’s happening now.
A battle with Garuda that I could never have imagined facing alone.
Yet even in that battle, I feel no sense of being overwhelmed.
With a weapon I don’t normally use, he’s actually dominating instead.
Most of all.
‘He’s not using a variety of skills.’
He wasn’t using the crimson vapor or the sword’s violet aura that I’d seen in videos before—he was overwhelming Garuda with pure stats and control alone.
If I had fought that monster Garuda instead?
Gia shook her head at the thought.
Even if both she and the Yellow Dragon had rushed at it, it would have been quite difficult.
But Jin-woo was simply overwhelming it.
‘He’s truly amazing.’
She admired his control with genuine awe.
If it were someone else surpassing her like this, she might have felt a twinge of jealousy.
But this was an overwhelming level of control that transcended such petty feelings.
Control so remarkably superior that it inspired admiration rather than envy.
And to think I’m receiving help from someone like Jin-woo, and we’ve become this close.
Yu Ji-a swallowed hard, feeling an odd sensation, as she watched Jin-woo deliver the finishing blow to Garuda from a distance.
He manipulated a massive bolt of lightning and unleashed it upon Garuda like divine punishment itself.
In that moment, Yu Ji-a felt the initial affection she held for him developing into something deeper.
‘Ah.’
I don’t know much about love.
But the fact that Jin-woo is dating me, and I deliberately denied it.
And the disappointment I felt at his lack of reaction.
That must be a feeling stemming from affection.
I could finally understand it.
Upon realizing that I think of Jin-woo more deeply than I expected.
My face flushed crimson.
“Ah, oh my.”
And to finish off Garuda with such a cool display.
Isn’t this unfair?
But I can’t let it show.
Though her face had reddened, Yu Ji-a clapped vigorously as she watched Jin-woo, who had defeated the final boss.
And.
“Oppa, you were truly the best! That was so cool!”
She cried out, pouring both her fandom and personal affection into her words.
Hearing that, Jin-woo chuckled softly and nodded.
And when Jin-woo had defeated Garuda.
The Celestial Statue was exhibiting strange behavior.
But Gia paid it no mind, her gaze fixed solely on Jin-woo.
* * *
As the Celestial Statue began to emit increasingly brilliant light,
Jin-woo realized it was about to grant him a reward.
I wonder what kind of reward it will be?
With such anticipation, I gazed upon the statue.
Messages rapidly materialized before me.
The first message to appear was quite lengthy.
[You have annihilated all the sealed Celestial People of antiquity.]
[You have acquired an unimaginable amount of experience points.]
[Level Up!]X3
[You have acquired additional stat points.]X3
“Oh.”
Even for Jin-woo, experience points sufficient to raise three levels was considerable.
Now at level 126, Jin-woo let out a soft chuckle and nodded to himself.
In truth, at this point, my level hardly mattered anymore.
What? Isn’t a higher level better?
That’s true enough.
But isn’t this gap becoming excessively wide?
It’s a level other players would struggle to reach.
Yu Ji-a’s current level is around the early 60s.
Judging by her recent level-up, she seems to have reached the early 60s as well.
It appeared that I had consumed the majority of the experience points based on contribution.
Considering this, I thought Barmon and Gia might actually have lower levels than me.
I’ll have to ask them later.
Anyway.
‘Even the top rankers have half my level.’
That’s just a figure of speech.
It’s not merely a twofold difference.
In reality, the difference in power could be said to increase exponentially.
Honestly, this situation was somewhat burdensome for me as well.
Content would become scarce, and there would be less to enjoy going forward.
I thought I should exercise some restraint,
but now I’m not so sure.
If I had considered this from the start, I shouldn’t have monopolized the rewards.
Jin-woo let out a soft chuckle and nodded.
Well, that’s neither here nor there.
What’s the next reward?
It wouldn’t make sense if this was all I received for assisting the Celestial God’s Quest.
The moment Jin-woo thought this.
Another message appeared.
[You have overcome all trials and eliminated all Celestial People.]
[Due to trials exceeding expectations, you have completed all Quests on the path toward becoming a Celestial God.]
[Player ‘Lin’ has advanced to the class of Celestial God.]
‘Oh.’
Jin-woo watched in admiration as the Celestial Statue blazed brilliantly before melting away and flowing into Gia’s body.
So that’s what a class advancement looks like.
Obtaining the Yellow Dragon and even acquiring such a powerful class from the God Series.
To be honest, even Barmon and Han Yu-na might not be easy opponents now.
As for Kaiser, I’m estimating he has a God Series class that commands legions.
It seemed Gia alone could sweep through at least some of those forces.
‘Insane.’
Thinking about it, Jin-woo suddenly realized something.
My faction was actually quite substantial.
I couldn’t command all those who revered Kaiser.
But Han Yu-na, Barmon, and Gia?
I could unite these three.
Exceptional players and at least two major Guilds.
Thinking about this, Jin-woo chuckled softly.
‘So it wasn’t just Kaiser who had a legion.’
With that thought, Jin-woo felt the need to help Han Yu-na and Barmon soon.
Of course, if anything about the Ancient Empire came up, I’d have to check it out first.
There hadn’t been any contact yet.
Isis would be completed soon anyway.
Once I obtain that, helping other players’ Guilds wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
As Jin-woo was thinking this.
He received a reward as well.
[The Celestial God’s aide has also demonstrated tremendous accomplishments.]
[Therefore, a reward comparable to that of a Celestial God is granted.]
[You acquire two top-tier skills related to your class.]
Only two?
One might think that.
But.
These are top-tier skills related to my class.
My class is none other than God of War.
Two top-tier skills from the God of War class?
Obtaining skills that can only be acquired by clearing God of War-related class Quests or Dungeons is an enormous reward in itself.
Especially since clearing God of War-related class Quests or Dungeons is far more difficult than this.
If it had been a God of War-related Temple?
If that had been the case, Jin-woo wouldn’t have been able to win so decisively while wielding Mjolnir as he did now.
In any case, upon obtaining the reward, Jin-woo found himself acquiring something unexpected.
He had obtained something he never anticipated.
[You have acquired Skill: 【Dark Light Sword Technique】 and Skill: 【Struggle】.]
“What?!”
Two out of the five skills he had chosen from the Cave back then.
He had obtained both of them.
Something that should have been impossible.
Yet here he was, acquiring them like this.
The harvest exceeded his wildest imagination.
As Jin-woo gazed at those skills, he found himself looking at Gia without even realizing it.
‘Wow, I’m actually getting these.’
Honestly, he had chosen three skills back then, but he had certainly regretted not taking the other two.
Yet now he was obtaining them like this.
Jin-woo chuckled softly, thinking he had made the right choice in helping her.
Indeed, they say virtue is its own reward, don’t they?
With that thought, Jin-woo quickly reviewed the skills and, feeling even more satisfied, then looked at Gia, who still seemed bewildered after her advancement.
There was much for her to confirm right now.
Let her take her time.
He could wait a moment.

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