The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 22

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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 22
Episode 22
‘I suppose that’s about all of it.’
Jin-woo gazed upon the newly acquired titles.
A total of six of them, no less!
I’d gained six additional stat points as well—now that’s what I’m talking about.
Did you think I obtained titles with mediocre effects?
Hardly!
『Fortifier』
→First Title
→Bestowed upon the first user to attempt enhancement
→Enhancement success rate increased by 5%
『Breaker』
→First Title
→Bestowed upon the first user whose item was destroyed due to enhancement failure
→Item destruction probability upon enhancement failure decreased by 10%
→When striking an opponent’s item, increase its durability loss by 10%
『Gifted Herbalist』
→First Title
→Bestowed upon the first user to learn the gathering skill from an apothecary
→Quality and potency of gathered herbs increased by 10%
『Born Miner』
→First Title
→Bestowed upon the first user to learn the mining skill from a miner
→Quality and potency of ore obtained through mining increased by 10%
→Mining time decreased by 30%
『Iron Wall』
→First Title
→Bestowed upon the first user to avoid critical damage for 12 consecutive hours
→Pure base defense increased by 100%
*Equipment defense is not increased.
『Guided by the Blade』
→First Title
→Bestowed upon the first user to complete the Warrior Guild’s swordsmanship curriculum
→All swordsmanship skill efficiency +10%
First, Fortifier and Breaker.
These two are titles unobtainable in the Beginner Village.
You need to enhance for the first time, but the enhancement system isn’t available until the next village.
I’m not sure why that is.
Who knows?
So they’re just trying to prevent beginners from spending real money as much as possible?
I’m not sure about that.
Anyway.
Breaker is quite a good title as well.
A title that increases the range of durability reduction!
At first glance, it seems meaningless, but it’s not.
‘I could even break an opponent’s weapon during combat.’
Now when that happens, there’s another new title.
I’ll examine that one later.
Talented Herbalist and Natural-born Miner.
These are decent titles.
Similarly, they’re skills that can only be obtained in this Village.
Unlike Butcher, they’re quite easy to acquire.
Titles obtained by gathering and mining.
Not bad, but I’m not planning to work in production.
So they don’t have much practical value.
Though I do have some interest because of Title Hunter.
Lastly, those two are really excellent.
‘Iron Wall and One Blessed by the Sword’s Guidance are truly exceptional.’
Iron Wall wasn’t a title I deliberately pursued.
It was obtained by not taking a critical hit for 12 hours.
I didn’t even know it existed.
But for something like that, the effect was quite remarkable.
Basic defense increased by 100%!
Heh, that’s precious.
Next is One Blessed by the Sword’s Guidance—an incredibly powerful title.
All sword skill efficiency increased by 10%.
Anyone can see that’s a good effect.
I’ve obtained everything I can get from here.
So what comes next is obvious.
‘The eccentric alchemist of Felsia, Parson.’
A Quest that Tensor, the errand boy I met before, had acquired.
Since he was quite famous for introducing these kinds of Quests before his regression.
I already know the entire route.
The problem is that it’s quite demanding.
There’s also the disadvantage that I haven’t even reached level 30 yet.
Well, it shouldn’t be a major problem anyway.
Why, you ask?
‘The Dignified One’ exists.
This means I’ll receive treatment befitting a noble regardless!
Ugh! I’m a nobleman!
I let out a quiet chuckle and stepped into the street.
‘This should be about right.’
True to its name as a free city, Felsia was remarkably expansive.
Truly a city in every sense of the word.
Though I’d reach a point later where even this would feel cramped.
But that’s a concern for later.
For now, I should focus on finding my way.
One careless moment of distraction and I’d end up somewhere entirely different.
By concentrating on the path, I managed to locate it.
‘Here it is.’
A rather weathered sign.
The sign read [Parson’s General Store].
Perhaps it was tucked away in such a remote alley?
The stench of filth was quite pungent.
That peculiar reek you encounter in areas frequented by the homeless—
That very odor permeated the air.
But who was I?
Number one in fortitude!
If it was a place with a hidden piece!
A man who’d dive headfirst even if covered in filth!
This was nothing to me!
‘Let’s go in.’
Creeeeak. Creak, creak.
The door opened with a spine-chilling squeal.
How long had it been since this thing was oiled?
But honestly, I wasn’t bothered by a shop like this.
I’d actually feel disappointed if a place like this didn’t make such a sound.
Stepping inside the shop, a musty odor wafted toward me.
Mold?
No, it was something damper and closer to that acrid stench.
The source of the filth outside seemed to originate from here.
As I surveyed the shop with a sense of discovery—
A voice called out from within.
“Who are you?”
Is this guy insane?
When someone enters a shop, you assume they’re a customer.
Yet he immediately asks who they are.
Well, I suppose it’s possible.
He’s Parson, after all.
“Ah, this is my first time in this city, so I got lost. I was wandering through an alley when I spotted this shop and curiosity drew me inside.”
A sufficient explanation.
Yet an old voice emerged, tinged with suspicion.
“You made it all the way here?”
Suspicion was entirely warranted.
After all, I’d deliberately spread the stench of filth to keep anyone from entering.
And I already knew the identity of that old voice quite well.
Predictable.
Parson, the eccentric alchemist of Felsia.
It’s him.
As expected.
An elderly man emerged from within, his wrinkled face deeply furrowed with suspicion.
The way he walked across the creaking wooden floor seemed somehow unnatural.
Was it because I already knew the answer?
‘The way he uses that cane looks odd.’
Considering the end of the Quest, it made sense.
Anyway.
I hadn’t come here for the Quest today.
My level was too low, and I’d judged it too difficult to attempt right now.
I’d just buy some items and leave.
That’s what I was thinking when—
Parson’s eyes suddenly gleamed with sharp intensity as he addressed me.
“Kekekeke, quite a rare-looking adventurer you are. This old man failed to notice.”
“Huh? Oh, no, that’s not—”
“Keke, so what brings you to buy?”
His eyes suddenly gleamed with sharp intensity?
Out of nowhere?
My level should still be low.
Parson’s abrupt reaction caught me quite off guard.
But this was actually favorable.
Normally, he’d be cautious on a first visit and wouldn’t engage in conversation readily.
That’s why I’d needed to come here repeatedly to buy items and gradually build affinity.
A higher level would have helped too, of course.
For various reasons, I’d nearly given up.
So the effect of ‘Noble One’ was working after all.
This was good.
Since things had come to this, I’d push forward directly.
“Ah, yes. While I’m not particularly knowledgeable about alchemy, I do have a decent eye for quality. Looking around, all the items here are of better quality than what I’ve seen at the Alchemist Guild.”
“Ho? You can tell?”
A reaction I normally wouldn’t get without significantly raising affinity first!
Kheh! This feels amazing.
Ah, but reality’s hitting me a bit.
I came back in time thinking I’d do some dating too, but seeing how pleased the old man is with me, I’m getting this happy about it instead.
Something, something.
No, never mind.
I pushed aside the melancholy and refocused on the game.
The items here are actually far superior in quality to those at the Alchemist Guild.
Their effects are better too.
That’s why Tensor frequented this place so often and built up intimacy with Parson.
“Of course. Everything here looks quite effective.”
“Kheh kheh kheh kheh.”
That distinctive, unsettling laugh.
It was the kind of laugh that looked ominous to anyone who heard it, but I laughed heartily.
“Ha ha ha! You’re truly amazing, sir!”
Praise should be given even louder!
Yes!
They say praise makes even whales dance.
I laughed like a madman.
Parson stared at me as if wondering what kind of lunatic had walked in, then spoke quietly.
“Stop laughing.”
“Ah, yes.”
Even Parson, known as the eccentric of Felsia, found me irritating.
Anyway.
“In any case, I’m grateful that a precious person like you appreciates my alchemy. So here’s the thing—I’ll give you some useful items.”
Here it comes.
The scent of a Quest!
Kheh!
As I took a deep breath to catch the scent, the stench of filth stabbed into my nose.
Ugh, it’s too realistic.
But that’s not what matters anyway.
“What? You’re giving me something so precious for free?”
“Kheh kheh, I’m grateful that you value it so highly. Well, if you feel burdened, could you perhaps help me with something?”
As Parson finished speaking, a notification chimed.
Ding!
This is it!
This is what I was waiting for.
[Quest ‘The Old Man’s Suspicious Proposal’ has been created.]
[Do you accept?]
Of course, yes!
The moment I accepted it in my mind, the Quest window appeared rapidly.
[The Old Man’s Suspicious Proposal]
*Description: While wandering through the alleyways, you discovered a peculiar shop.
But what’s this?
Inside the dilapidated shop that looked ready to collapse at any moment, I found an array of potions crafted through alchemy.
They appeared to be of considerable quality.
As I conducted business with those items, I earned the old man’s favor.
The old man said he would provide me with several items in exchange for granting him a favor.
Let us hear what the old man requests.
*Objective: Listen to the old man’s request and complete it.
*Reward: Obtain the linked Quest “The Old Man’s Suspicious Research,” several alchemical items
The quest’s objective is simply to grant the old man’s request.
A straightforward quest.
Before my regression, Tensor mentioned that the old man’s request was to obtain the noses and ears of goblins in the vicinity, didn’t he?
Such a simple request.
I can complete it right away.
Go ahead and tell me!
What is your request!
“Kekeke, then could you bring me three orc hearts?”
“Gob, huh? O-Orcs?”
“Hmm, what? Can’t you do it?”
The old man’s eyes, already narrow, grew even narrower.
This doesn’t look good.
I need to respond quickly.
“No, no—orcs are more than sufficient.”
“Kekeke, that’s right. That’s how it should be. A person of your stature would naturally find that trivial.”
“Of course! Leave it to me.”
“Then here are the potions I’ve crafted. Once you bring me the orc hearts, I’ll provide you with more.”
“Yes! I’ll return shortly.”
“Kekekekeke.”
I left the shop accompanied by the old man’s eerie, wheezing laughter.
Quite unsettling.
But more importantly—orc hearts?
‘The quest content has changed?’
The quest itself remains the same.
The name was identical, after all.
Even the linked quest’s name was the same.
Yet the content differs.
Something is happening here.
Well, doing the obvious would be tedious anyway.
Regardless, I’m certain to gain something from this.
Isn’t that right?
Let me review the patterns so far.
Looking at the parts where the content changed in Hidden Pieces or the Hidden Dungeon?
Haven’t the rewards been enhanced as well?
Huh?
‘This is it.’
Absolutely!
As the linked Quest progresses to its end, Parson’s true identity is revealed.
The eccentric alchemist of Felsia, Parson’s true identity.
He was a dark sorcerer who modified himself and became a chimera.
Well, I don’t quite remember those details, but once I kill Parson, what I get is the Fallen Alchemist’s Ring!
Now that’s a truly lucrative Hidden Piece, this one.
Especially ring Hidden Pieces are rare.
What? I already have the Verdant Unbreakable Ring, you say?
You can equip up to ten rings, so what are you even talking about!
More is always better!
Then shall I put in some effort?
‘I didn’t expect to be hunting orcs already. But they’re still beneath Orc Karan.’
I’ve already defeated the named boss Regenerating Orc Karan, so what’s there to fear from these common orc bastards?
Then shall we go quickly?

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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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