The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 166

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

Episode 166
166
The Magic Tower.
It’s easiest to think of it simply as a tower of mages, a place where magic is researched.
But what if that Magic Tower became a Dungeon?
What sort of monsters would emerge?
A Mage Spirit?
Or perhaps golems created by mages?
Or maybe monsters of unknown origin?
Don’t fight it.
They’re all correct answers.
I watched the golem charging at me and the monster of unknown origin.
Despite their ponderous appearance, they moved with considerable speed.
I stepped back lightly to evade, and a fist crashed down like a bombardment where I’d been standing.
The golem’s fist had fallen.
Its power was formidable.
For just a moment, the ground trembled.
But that wasn’t all.
Whoooosh!
Boom!!
A fireball came hurtling down, burning something in its path.
As I tried to evade it, it suddenly detonated in mid-air.
Bursting through the thick black smoke, I retreated and surveyed the battlefield ahead with an expressionless face.
Legard and five other knights were engaged with one golem.
The remaining golem, the monster of unknown origin, and…
-Kill the intruders.
A creature that appeared to be a Mage Spirit, drifting in spectral form.
I shook my head at the sight.
The monster of unknown origin looked like a chimera created by a mage.
But it lacked all the unnatural aspects a typical chimera should have.
I suspected it had naturally evolved over a long time surviving in this place.
This was my first time encountering such a thing.
Well, it’s possible.
I watched the golem and chimera charge at me with interest.
Creatures moving according to commands from the Mage Spirit.
‘Even in death, it retains command authority.’
That was rather intriguing.
Watching the wolf-like beast-form chimera charge, I raised my sword as well.
Not a common blade like when I faced Knight Legard, nor an ordinary weapon like when I faced Yu Ji-a—but Gram, my primary weapon, the magic sword.
Gripping Gram, which possessed immense magical power, I smiled wickedly.
Now that I think about it, is this the first time I’m using Dark Light Sword Technique on Gram?
It does seem like the first time I’ve used it in actual combat.
This should be interesting.
With that thought, I gazed at Gram, whose blade already boasted a violet hue, and activated Dark Light Sword Technique.
The Sword God watched as the blade rapidly darkened, letting out an impressed “Oho” in admiration.
Just then, a beast-type Chimera came charging forward.
Seeing the teeth bared to bite me through its distinctively long canine snout, I swung my blade with a casual whoosh.
The motion was so leisurely it resembled nothing more than swatting a fly.
But was it in that very moment?
Whoosh! Crackle.
The blade swung, and an alien sound echoed through the space.
The Chimera didn’t comprehend what that sound was, still lunging to bite me.
But something didn’t make sense.
My body wasn’t moving as I willed it to.
I wanted to move my legs and dash forward with explosive speed.
Why wouldn’t it move?
And why was my vision spinning?
Nothing but incomprehensible things were happening.
But soon, it could think no further.
As its body was severed and blood erupted, I stamped my foot against the ground.
Cracks instantly formed where my foot met the earth.
Crack!
In that fleeting instant, a spiderweb of fissures spread across the ground.
As I lifted my foot, my form vanished like a mirage.
Whoosh!
I disappeared in an instant, only to reappear before the Golem.
The Golem recognized me and tried to move quickly, but naturally, I was far faster.
I swung my blade with the same leisurely ease.
As the blade curved, a black arc was drawn through the air.
Following that trajectory, it intersected with the Golem.
And then.
Crackle.
The Golem was cleaved along the black arc.
Whether its core was severed in that single strike, the light that had blazed in its eyes extinguished completely.
Without sparing another glance at the now-lightless Golem, I shot forward toward the Mage Spirit at the very back.
I moved in an instant, as if against my own will.
It wasn’t merely fast movement—it was literal teleportation.
The startled Mage Spirit began weaving hand seals to cast magic.
But my blade was faster.
Crackle, crackle.
A sword wielded in a horizontal figure-eight, like a Möbius strip suspended in the void.
The blade carved a trajectory through the air as it severed the Mage Spirit’s two hands.
A power that cuts through the uncuttable.
Witnessing this, the Mage Spirit felt a wave of vertigo and attempted to retreat backward.
After all, he existed as a spirit.
If he withdrew and observed from a distance, he could simply regenerate his hands.
But Jin-woo seized spatial dominance over the fleeing spirit.
The spirit found itself in a position where retreat was no longer feasible.
It was then that Jin-woo opened his mouth toward the spirit.
“Hey, can spirits communicate?”
-Screech!
Indignant, it attempted to cast magic by any means necessary.
But unable to form hand seals, the spirit could only unleash the most rudimentary spells.
Though at close range, they posed no real threat.
Jin-woo simply dispersed the magic with a sword strike and observed the spirit.
Communication did seem possible, after all.
Yet the spirit showed no sign of cooperation.
‘There must be some way…’
Should I just sweep through all the monsters and move on?
It wouldn’t be difficult.
Of course, there’s no guarantee it will remain easy indefinitely.
Still, Jin-woo was confident.
The real problem was those five knights.
Anyway, I could just kill them all—so why attempt conversation?
Well, it’s an obvious reason, isn’t it?
‘There’s definitely something here.’
Clearing the Dungeon outright wouldn’t be difficult, but since it’s connected to the Ancient Empire, there must be something hidden.
Especially for someone like me who possesses a Title.
『Emperor of Antiquity』
→Irregular Title.
→A Title obtainable only by those who achieve overwhelming results at the Temple of Combat.
→Grants access to the secrets held by the Emperor of Antiquity.
→Item efficiency related to the Ancient Empire increases by +200%.
→Quest rewards related to the Ancient Empire increase by +200%.
If I use the Emperor of Antiquity Title and the Emperor’s Seal I possess, I might be able to obtain something more, wouldn’t I?
That’s what Jin-woo, who had been reaping sweet rewards all this time, believed.
The spirit seemed unaware of the Emperor of Antiquity Title, so that wasn’t it.
Only one thing remained.
The Emperor’s Seal.
Jin-woo recalled this and retrieved the Emperor’s Seal from his inventory, displaying it to the thrashing spirit.
So I observed the spirit’s reaction.
As expected, it didn’t disappoint.
-W-what is this!?
The spirit’s eyes widened in genuine astonishment.
Yes! That’s it!
I chuckled inwardly at my own intuition and spoke toward the spirit.
“So, feeling more inclined to talk now?”
My premonitions were never wrong.
Sure enough, the spirit’s reaction was far from ordinary.
Moreover.
The moment I revealed the Emperor’s Seal.
The Golem and Chimera’s attacks ceased.
The five knights didn’t understand the sudden turn of events.
But seeing me converse with the Mage Spirit, they wisely adjusted their actions.
Meanwhile, as I displayed the Emperor’s Seal, the Mage Spirit gazed upon it in amazement, examining it from every angle.
Naturally, the Emperor’s Seal was genuine.
Thus the Mage Spirit shook its head and unconsciously murmured.
-Huh, this cannot be.
The way it looked at me was as though it couldn’t believe what it was seeing.
So, shall we hear what this is about?
I gazed at the Mage Spirit, ready to listen to whatever it had to say.
The Mage Spirit, seeing me thus, cautiously broached the subject.
-This is a matter I cannot judge unilaterally, but the Emperor’s Seal has been sufficiently verified. Ah… now I see it—you possess a noble soul.
Only now did it recognize the Irregular title: Ancient Emperor.
It would have been better to notice from the start.
Well, at least it knows now.
I smiled faintly, thinking it was fortunate enough, and nodded.
Then the spirit continued.
-I shall arrange for you to meet the Tower Master. Please follow me.
The Tower Master.
Straight to the boss then.
Even if things go wrong here, it doesn’t matter.
I can fight the boss directly.
I smiled with satisfaction at this prospect.
The knights watched anxiously as I followed the spirit.
But they all murmured helplessly.
“W-what’s happening?”
“I-I have no idea.”
“Shouldn’t we follow him?”
“Y-yes, we should.”
There seemed to be nothing worthwhile about remaining in this place.
More than anything.
If I stayed here much longer and became separated from Jin-woo, wouldn’t these docile golems attack us again?
The moment such worry crossed their minds, the knights could survey their surroundings.
And there it was—an absolutely staggering number of golems and chimeras.
More than that, countless spirits gazing down at them from behind those chimeras and golems.
For knights like themselves, dying in battle was acceptable.
It could even be considered glorious.
But reality differed from such knightly ideals.
To die surrounded by this many monsters.
Everyone unconsciously swallowed hard.
Death was impartial to all.
Fear was only natural.
Gulp.
Despite such fear gripping them.
They could only marvel at Jin-woo, who had somehow managed to calm those spirits.
How on earth had he convinced them?
They hadn’t been able to see during the battle.
“We understand he’s incredibly skilled, but….”
“To think he actually persuaded the spirit of an ancient mage.”
“I never could have imagined it.”
“Truly worthy of one who resolved the curse passed down through the Count’s house.”
“….”
Unlike the other knights’ reactions, Legard remained silent.
Though he didn’t seem to be thinking anything particularly different.
Rather, he was walking in Jin-woo’s wake.
His gaze fixed on Jin-woo’s back.
At first, he had thought him an arrogant traveler.
But after crossing blades with him directly, he felt he understood something.
It was evident that Jin-woo possessed confidence beyond measure and believed he could accomplish anything.
One might call it the pinnacle of arrogance if they heard such a thing.
But Legard knew better.
Jin-woo’s skill was equally extraordinary.
‘He dismantled my swordsmanship far too easily.’
Because he had shattered his own technique.
Of course, overwhelming power could achieve such a thing.
But that wasn’t what had happened.
It wasn’t merely about raw power.
He could distinctly feel it.
Jin-woo had overwhelmed him through superior swordsmanship itself, ultimately defeating him.
They all marveled at the power emanating from Jin-woo.
Yet.
‘If we proceed like this, it could actually become dangerous.’
Such thoughts crossed their minds.
But Jin-woo still appeared utterly composed.
More than anything.
His expression spoke volumes.
That whatever came, he would handle it.
Faced with such unwavering confidence.
Even Legard had no choice but to acknowledge it.
‘Regardless of what happens, I need only trust and follow that man.’
Though he had remained silent when the others gave their assent.
Having clasped hands with him before anyone else, he trusted him more than anyone.
“Let’s follow quietly.”
“Very well.”
“It feels reassuring to go anywhere with him.”
“Indeed.”

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