The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 21

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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 21
Episode 21
I hummed cheerfully as the carriage rattled along the road.
Lalalala~.
The melody spilled from my lips unbidden.
Why was I in such a good mood, you ask?
What? Drop items? As if!
Regenerating Orc Karan is a pauper, plain and simple.
Even though he’s a regional boss—a gatekeeper no less—he dropped nothing?
Ah, but you don’t understand how these things work.
‘Regional bosses rarely drop items.’
So why was I so elated?
Obviously—there was a quest reward!
Most regional bosses across all zones offer no drops.
In other words, they’re stingy.
But there are exceptions.
Bosses holding Hidden Pieces naturally grant them upon first clear.
Regenerating Orc Karan fell into that category.
In exchange, the quest reward was generous.
Truly beyond imagination!
‘They probably do it this way to maintain fairness—otherwise drop items would be unfair.’
It’s not a bad system.
But what about Hidden Pieces, then?
Would those who clear it first get the same as those who clear it later?
There has to be differentiation.
Being first in a game is brutally difficult.
Thinking of it as simply reaping rewards for going first is half-correct, I suppose.
Getting ahead and harvesting benefits isn’t wrong, after all.
So does everyone who goes first reap those benefits?
Of course not.
Obviously, reaping rewards requires both skill and effort.
Plus a touch of luck?
You can climb a certain distance with effort and skill alone.
But to obtain something truly exceptional, luck is essential.
Just like me!
Jin-woo examined the item he’d received as a quest reward while thinking these thoughts.
『Regenerative Root Breastplate』
*Grade: Hero
*Defense: 60
*Durability: 100/100
*Equip Restriction: Stamina 50 or higher
→Upon equipping, recovery speed increases by 15%
→Durability auto-recovers
‘I knew it, but the performance isn’t that impressive.’
Of course, that’s only in my situation.
For regeneration, I have the life-steal title ‘Bloodthirsty One’.
And I even have reserves to supplement it.
Plus, I have Verdant’s Eternal Guard too.
A whopping five minutes of invincibility.
With that, is there really a need?
Not desperately necessary, I’d say.
So I’m selling it right away?
No way!
It’s nice to have!
‘Even if the effects overlap, having it is far better than not.’
There’s a reason the saying goes “more is always better.”
It’s really nice to have!
Besides, it’s Hero-grade, which is above Rare.
I can use it for now and sell it later for a profit.
It’s really good.
Selling something with options like that on day one would be suspicious anyway.
I’ll use it for a while and then sell it.
How much would I get if I sold it early on?
Before regression, something like this went for roughly two to three million won.
It must be much more expensive now, right?
Just thinking about it feels good.
‘The early market prices were insane.’
Anyway.
That wasn’t why I said I was lucky.
It’s because of a different item!
『Orc Karan’s Regenerating Bloodthirsty Axe』
*Grade: Hero+
*Attack Power: 170
*Durability: 150/150
*Equip Restriction: Warrior-class, Strength 100 or higher
→When attacking with the bloodthirsty axe, 20% chance to recover 5% of damage dealt as health
→Targets hit by the bloodthirsty axe have a 10% chance to fall into the abnormal status ‘Bleeding’ (maximum stack: 5).
‘This is insane, seriously.’
Isn’t this too good, even if it’s good?
Originally, the quest reward would only be the ‘Regenerating Root Breastplate’.
But where did this axe suddenly come from?
Is this the first-time clear reward?
I don’t recall the Mountain Guild ever using anything like this before.
Which means!
‘First kill bonus for defeating the hidden boss Argon before anyone else!’
Wow!
Even luck doesn’t work out this well!
I defeated the hidden boss and got the hidden piece too.
And now a first-time bonus on top of that?
This is seriously incredible! Absolutely incredible!
The vampiric option itself is rare, you know.
And look at the grade too.
Hero+ grade!
Actually, just looking at the options alone, they could sell for more than a Unique-grade weapon.
‘Before regression, something like this went for nearly ten million won.’
So I’m going to sell it?
Am I insane?
Why would I sell that?
No matter how expensive, I’m not selling this.
Someone might ask why I’d use an axe when I have sword skills.
But here’s the thing.
Option extraction.
‘I can extract the option and embed it into any weapon I want.’
The only downside is that the target weapon needs to be the same grade or higher?
As long as that condition is met, it doesn’t matter.
Normally, finding a sword that’s Hero+ grade or higher would be like plucking a star from the sky.
But I already know about this.
It exists in the Free City Felsia.
The Demon Sword Gram.
I can’t obtain it right now.
Even if I could, I can’t use it without a sword master.
Anyway, once I put the vampiric option into that blade, it’ll be absolutely magnificent!
‘For now, it’ll serve as a secondary weapon in my inventory.’
I’m leaving with two excellent items in the end.
This is too good.
Well, there was no first-time graduation title for the Beginner Region.
But I’m not disappointed.
Why not?
Pantheon values the beginning more than the ending anyway.
So naturally, there will be a title when I first enter Felsia!
That’s just how Pantheon works.
‘I wonder what title it will be.’
I knew I’d receive a title, but I had no idea which one it would be.
This is honestly something to look forward to.
A cheerful hum escaped my lips.
Hmm-hmm-hmm.
“My, you seem to be in quite the mood, Hero?”
“Ah, well, I suppose I am. Haha.”
I must have looked incredibly pleased for the Coachman to strike up a conversation.
But why was I riding in a carriage anyway?
Wasn’t it obvious?
To reach the next area—Free City Felsia.
Traveling back and forth to the Hunting Grounds already consumed enough time; without a carriage to reach the next region, I’d be dead on arrival.
That’s essentially what it meant.
Having such a convenient means of transportation was a blessing.
And having a Coachman who didn’t require me to drive myself? Absolutely luxurious.
I could simply lie back in the carriage and arrive at my destination.
Just like now.
“We’re almost there. Look, you can see the city walls ahead.”
“Ooh!”
At the Coachman’s words, I leaned my head out to peer outside, and a magnificent city wall came into view.
A sight I’d witnessed before my return.
Yet it felt entirely different.
The towering wall was so immense that I had to crane my neck back painfully just to see its peak.
The grand fortification and the soldiers who defended it.
And from the wide-open gates emanated an unmistakable pride.
A pride that declared they were ready to protect this city at any moment.
A city of truly majestic splendor.
That was Free City Felsia.
‘I’ve been here before, but it feels different somehow.’
Was it because there were no other players?
Or was it because I’d arrived before anyone else?
The anticipation only deepened my excitement.
And with it came the memory of the first Hidden Piece I needed to obtain.
It wasn’t a Hidden Dungeon.
This time, it was a Hidden Quest.
The process was somewhat complicated.
It was a chain quest, after all.
‘The eccentric alchemist of Felsia, Parson.’
Obtaining this quest was difficult in itself.
It’s a Hidden Quest that can only be obtained by clearing multiple Quests.
In the past, the errand boy Tensor had obtained it, hadn’t he?
Now that I think about it, didn’t I see him not long ago?
In any case, that fellow certainly loves Quests.
He became famous precisely because of this Quest.
The Eccentric Alchemist Quest.
I know all the routes, so it’s doable, but there’s something nagging at me.
‘I haven’t even reached level 30 yet.’
My level is insufficient.
Level was quite important when undertaking Quests.
Wasn’t it the very first criterion NPCs used to judge users?
Considering that, it would inevitably be difficult.
First, I need to enter the castle and assess the current situation.
The timing is different from before my regression.
I should identify what’s changed first.
While I’m at it, I’ll claim all the First Titles I can get.
It was then that Jin-woo was laying out his plans so methodically.
As the carriage rattled through the castle gates, something unexpected unfolded.
“Excuse me, but are you perhaps an adventurer from Nen Village?”
“Huh? Yes, that’s correct, but….”
What’s going on?
I haven’t done anything yet?
Jin-woo stepped out with a slightly tense expression.
There was no benefit to looking suspicious to the city’s Guard Soldiers.
Since I had no idea what this was about, I got down quickly.
Then I could see Guard Soldiers lined up in formation.
Gulp.
What on earth is happening?
Am I being arrested?
Damn.
As Jin-woo tensed with that expression, the Guard Soldiers emanated a fierce aura and asked.
“Your name is perhaps….”
“Ah, I’m Jin-woo. Is there some problem?”
I should speak as respectfully as possible.
Respectfully.
There’s no benefit to being arrested.
As Jin-woo answered so carefully, the lined-up Guard Soldiers moved in unison.
With sharp sounds, they clenched their fists.
Huh?
Suddenly?
What should I do? Anything at all?
No, all the guards here must be over level 100. What could I possibly do?
Am I just going to die like this?
Just as Jin-woo was thinking such thoughts, an unexpected voice rang out.
“All hail the adventurer recognized by Lord Gruen!”
Clang! Clang!
Whoooooosh!
Crack!
I thought they were attacking with their fists clenched, but instead they raised their fists to their chests in salute.
Huh?
Wait, wait a moment?
Did they just say Gruen?
“It’s truly an honor to meet you, Jin-woo.”
“Pardon?”
“My master—ah, I mean, I’ve heard much about you from Lord Gruen.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
“I am Parkin, Guard Captain of the Free City Felsia.”
What a shock.
So he was Gruen’s disciple.
He should have mentioned that earlier.
I nearly got forced logged out from the surprise.
More importantly, a Guard Captain?
That’s a higher rank than I expected.
Though looking at the armor, he did seem to hold considerable status.
But I was too startled earlier to examine it closely.
And what’s with the formal address?
“I’m not a knight, though?”
“That matters little. Anyone recognized by my master deserves such treatment.”
“Ah, is that… so?”
“Yes! Absolutely! If there’s anything you need while in Felsia, please tell me!”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Not at all! Then!”
As Guard Captain Parkin’s greeting concluded, the guards parted to let me through.
And as I passed, they saluted while saying “Hail!”
Most of all, they said to tell them if I needed anything.
This feeling was oddly pleasant.
A ticklish sensation in my chest.
If it had ended there, I would have simply moved on.
[You have become the first to leave the Beginner Region and enter a city.]
[You have acquired the First Title ‘Pioneer’.]
[You have entered the city for the first time, receiving the Guard Corps’ utmost hospitality.]
[You have acquired the First Title ‘The Honored One’.]
[You have acquired a First Title.]
[Through the Title Hunter effect, you gain an additional 2 stat points.]
I’ve barely set foot in the city and I already have two titles?
I need to check this right away.
『Pioneer』
→First Title
→Granted to the first user to enter a city
→Gain +1 additional stat point each time you arrive at a new city
『The Honored One』
→First Title
→Granted to the first user to enter a city with the Guard Corps’ utmost hospitality
→Receive treatment equivalent to nobility from most NPCs
This is quite excellent.
More than anything, ‘The Honored One’ is better than I expected.
Pioneer is pretty good too.
Ah, this tastes sweet, so sweet.
My start is incredibly favorable.
I should keep going at this pace.
Should I try to acquire the titles I need to get first?
If I get complacent, someone else might snatch them away.
I can start the quests after I’ve claimed all of these!
I need to grab everything greedily~.
‘The blacksmith first!’

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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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