The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 33

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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 33
Episode 33
Upon entering the Guard Headquarters, they treated me with utmost hospitality.
The Guard Corps was well-equipped, so the treatment was excellent too.
They even served tea with various buffs attached.
This is amazing.
As I sipped the tea and noticed the buffs taking effect, I was delighted.
Parkin smiled softly as he watched me and spoke.
“It seems the tea suits your taste.”
“Haha, it appears to be quite fine tea.”
“Ah, I’m honored you think so highly of it.”
No, this really is excellent tea.
If the buff increases attack power by 10 for 30 minutes.
That’s incredibly good tea.
What do you mean you don’t know what to do with yourself?
This is genuinely excellent tea.
In that case, I need to make the most of my time.
I should hurry and hunt while the buff is still active.
I need to maximize this benefit!
Just then,
“Since it suits your taste, would you like me to prepare some for you to take?”
“Oh, I’d be very grateful for that.”
Most people would at least offer a polite refusal.
I’m not like that.
You’re offering?
Then I should accept right away.
After receiving the tea leaves, I moved on to the main topic.
What’s important is the skill book after all!
“I was able to finish sooner than expected.”
“I was quite surprised as well. We believed it was a location where a Black Mage was present, but I never imagined you’d arrive so quickly… You’re truly remarkable.”
“Haha, not at all. Rather than that…”
I explained the quest details quite thoroughly for the reward.
Including the master the Black Mage mentioned and the Skull Golem that shouldn’t have existed.
Naturally, Parkin was quite shocked to hear about the Skull Golem.
And upon hearing that I had defeated that Skull Golem…
“Wow! You’ve already defeated that creature?! Though Gruen vouched for you, this is… It feels like I’m meeting someone from legend. I’m honored to serve you.”
Parkin bowed respectfully.
Ugh, this is burdensome.
Well, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant though.
In any case, I continued relaying the details.
The self-destruct patterns of the other Skull Golems and the named Skull Golem that differed from them.
Parkin’s expression grew increasingly grave as he listened.
And finally, what the Black Mage had said.
“It seems something unusual is occurring.”
“Yes. And in the process, I obtained a ledger.”
“Remarkable! A ledger as well!?”
“And initially, I was uncertain about it, so I didn’t present it. But this as well.”
“Gasp!”
With that, I handed over Parson’s Chimera research journal as well.
The organizational ledger of Felsia Black Mage and Parson’s Chimera research journal.
To anyone’s eyes, these were extremely important Quest items related to the Black Mage.
After reading through it for quite some time, Parkin regarded me with a serious expression.
A considerably grave expression at that.
What kind of additional compensation would he offer?
I allowed myself to hope.
Parkin spoke first.
“This matter appears to be beyond my authority to resolve.”
“Pardon?”
This bastard?
Was he backing out suddenly?
Just as anger began to surge within me.
Parkin continued.
“First, I’ll handle the basic compensation myself. Please accept this.”
“Huh?”
Wasn’t the original reward supposed to be just one skill book?
Why is there so much?
What is all of this?
As I stood bewildered.
The message informed me.
[You have obtained the Quest reward.]
[You have obtained experience points.]
[You have obtained the Rare item ‘Random Skill Book’.]
[You have obtained the Rare+ set item ‘Felsia Guard Gauntlets’.]
[You have obtained the Rare+ set item ‘Felsia Guard Boots’.]
[You have obtained the Rare+ set item ‘Felsia Guard Armor Legs’.]
“I’ve prepared pieces that don’t overlap as much as possible. I wish I could offer more, but please forgive me for being able to provide only this much.”
This… this is more than enough, isn’t it?
The rewards are far exceeding my expectations.
Wait, why are they giving me Felsia Guard set pieces?
This is incredible.
Before my regression, just wearing two sets of those would have people calling me silver-spoon-fed.
It’s insane.
Truly.
‘This is quite an excellent set.’
You can tell just by looking at the grade.
A Rare+ set item, no less.
This is genuinely top-tier compensation.
And on top of that, a Rare-grade random skill book.
Well, I already have a Unique-grade random skill book, but still.
There’s no reason to dismiss a Rare one.
How much profit am I getting from a single quest?
I’m so satisfied I’m about to burst.
This is too good.
But the chilling part wasn’t over yet.
“And this is….”
Parkin handed back the ledger and journal as he spoke.
Why is he returning these?
For a moment, I looked at Parkin with confusion.
Then Parkin continued.
“Please deliver this directly to the Mayor.”
“Pardon?”
“If I were to take it, my contribution would inevitably seem larger.”
“Ah.”
That makes sense.
If the Guard Captain took it, it would be hard to say I did this entirely on my own.
So he wants me to take it directly to the Mayor?
This is crazy, seriously.
If this happens?
‘I’ll be able to build a direct relationship with the Mayor?’
In other words.
‘I’ve gotten closer to the Demon Sword!’
Gulp.
The buildup is already developing this quickly?
The momentum is too good.
“Yes, it must be you who takes it, not me. The Mayor would want it that way as well.”
“If you insist that strongly, I understand.”
“Here is my identification badge. If you take this with you, you’ll be able to meet with the Mayor.”
As Parkin handed over his identification badge, he spoke.
A message that had ended appeared again.
[A linked quest ‘The Mayor of Free City Felsia, Marquis Jihokin’ has been generated as a quest reward.]
[Mayor of Felsia, Marquis Jihokin]
*Description: Having defeated the dark sorcerer and obtained the organization ledger of Felsia Black Mage, you immediately sought out Guard Captain Parkin.
However, Parkin insisted that if he took it, the credit would become his own, and told you to bring it directly to the Mayor instead.
If you bring it directly to Felsia’s Mayor, you might discover something else entirely.
And perhaps there would be additional rewards?
*Quest: Bring the organization ledger of Felsia Black Mage to Marquis Jihokin, Mayor of Felsia, tomorrow morning.
*Reward: Varies based on Marquis Jihokin’s satisfaction.
Now that’s what I call bold.
No beating around the bush—it just hits you straight on.
I’ve always appreciated this kind of directness.
I examined the quest with quiet satisfaction.
The contents were outstanding.
‘All quests involving nobility work like this.’
A structure where rewards change based on the noble’s satisfaction.
But I could be certain of one thing.
I would receive the maximum reward.
Why, you ask?
Because I had Parson’s chimera experiment journal.
With that, satisfaction would be at its absolute peak.
Without question.
Marquis Jihokin, who despises dark sorcerers, would certainly be satisfied.
‘And most importantly, I can visit the Mayor’s Mansion.’
This was truly significant.
After all, he was nobility.
In fantasy RPGs, there’s no NPC more important than a noble.
Naturally, the Pantheon was no exception.
Establishing a connection with a regional noble?
Activities in that region become genuinely convenient.
‘In extreme cases, you can even access hidden hunting grounds that only nobles can enter.’
Hunting grounds that cannot be entered without noble status.
Every region has at least one or two of them.
Moreover, such places grant exceptional experience.
Before my regression, I didn’t work so hard to establish connections with nobility for nothing.
And now, I was finally achieving that very thing!
This is so sweet I think my teeth might rot.
“Then, I’ll trouble you to arrange it for tomorrow morning.”
“Of course.”
I wanted to go immediately, but it was nighttime.
Showing up at the Mayor’s Mansion unexpectedly in the middle of the night?
That would be unwise.
I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen next.
After receiving firm instructions from Parkin, I turned to leave the Guard Headquarters.
Parkin, the Guard Captain, along with the other guards gathered to watch me depart.
Wait, surely not…?
“Everyone! Salute to Jin-woo, who saved Felsia! Loyalty!”
“Yeeees, siiir!”
Good grief.
Being treated with such respect was nice.
But the feeling was peculiar nonetheless.
Still, it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.
Satisfied, I stepped outside.
The items I’d received were substantial.
Yet my footsteps felt light!
This was wonderful.
‘I need to examine these right away.’
My pace quickened with each step.
It absolutely wasn’t from embarrassment.
Probably.
* * *
What did I do once I stepped outside?
Obviously, I had to check them out first!
The Felsia Guard set.
I’d never even obtained this before my regression.
And here I was, getting three complete sets already.
I knew the effects roughly, but this was my first time seeing them directly!
Time to unbox!
『Felsia Guard’s Gauntlets』
*Grade: Rare+
*Defense: 40
*Durability: 100/100
*Equip Requirement: Completed at least 1 Quest in Free City Felsia, Level 30 or higher
→Attack Power +20
→Skill ‘Guard’s Strength’ Available
『Felsia Guard’s Boots』
*Grade: Rare+
*Defense: 45
*Durability: 110/110
*Equip Requirement: Completed at least 1 Quest in Free City Felsia, Level 30 or higher
→All Speed +5%
→Skill ‘Guard’s Swiftness’ Available
『Felsia Guard Armor Leggings』
*Grade: Rare+
*Defense: 60
*Durability: 130/130
*Equip Requirement: Completed at least 1 Quest in Free City Felsia, Level 30 or higher
→Maximum Health increased by 10%
→Skill ‘Guard’s Vitality’ becomes available
『Felsia Guard Set』
*Grade: Rare+
→All stats +10 when 2 pieces equipped
→Ignore 10% of all monster defense when 3 pieces equipped
→Skill ‘Guard’s Solidarity’ becomes available when 4 pieces equipped
→Skill ‘Guard’s Protection’ becomes available when 5 pieces equipped
*Effects apply proportionally to the number of pieces equipped.
*Currently wearing 3 pieces
From gauntlets to boots to armor leggings.
Each piece came with its own skill attached.
The Guard series skills.
Individually, they weren’t particularly outstanding.
They were only Normal grade skills after all.
But since they were buff skills!
They were quite useful!
‘I can now boost strength, agility, and health.’
My options had expanded considerably.
And the set bonuses were remarkably good too.
Heh, so this was why it was called the golden spoon set.
I’d been so envious of it back then.
And now I’m obtaining it like this.
It feels surreal somehow.
I’m genuinely proud.
Now, shall I check the main prize?
『Random Skill Book』
*Grade: Unique
→Upon use, grants a random skill of Unique grade or higher
『Random Skill Book』
*Grade: Rare
→Upon use, grants a random skill of Rare grade or higher
Two items confirmed.
I wonder what will come out.
I’m getting at least one Rare skill and one Unique skill, after all.
Why am I getting so tense over this?
Heh.
No point dragging this out—let me just open it.
So then….
‘First, I need a sacrifice.’
I wonder if there’s another madman out there who’d offer up a Rare item as a sacrifice.
Anyway!
Compared to Unique, a Rare is definitely just a sacrifice!
No hesitation—let me just open it!
[Consuming Rare item ‘Random Skill Book’….]
“Open!”
I activated it before the message could even finish displaying.
Then came a soft, ethereal blue light effect.
Watching the magic circle burst and the subtle effects scatter, I could be certain of one thing.
This was a Rare skill!
And sure enough!
[You have acquired the Rare skill ‘Fireball’.]
“Fireball?”
『Fireball』
*Grade: Rare
*Level: 1
→Creates a sphere of flame and hurls it forward.
→MP Cost: 100
→Cooldown: 45 seconds
Looking at the skill description.
It’s not a bad skill at all.
Not that I was unfamiliar with it anyway.
Among offensive magic, it ranks quite high in tier—a solid skill.
Most mages favor this skill too.
Without it, you’re not even considered basic, and high-tier parties won’t take you.
But….
‘I’m accumulating quite a few magic skills, aren’t I?’
Is it because my MP is so high?
Well, my magical power is high too.
That could be it.
Phew, so now comes the main event.
A Unique-grade Random Skill Book, no less.
“Phew.”
Honestly, an even higher grade?
I’m not even hoping for that.
No matter how much the Epic grade increased because it was the first epic.
An Epic is still just an Epic.
It’s genuinely difficult.
In other words, what I’m hoping for is a Unique grade.
And among those, a good skill.
Please!
Please, please!
“Phew, let’s do this!”
[Will you use the Unique item ‘Random Skill Book’?]
This time, unlike before, I read through the entire message.
Yes, sincerity is necessary.
Before, it was a sacrifice.
Now it’s different.
But can something like this really be called sincerity?
Regardless, I’ve done my part with sincerity.
“I’ll use it.”
I called out reverently.
A dark violet aura began flowing from the skill book.
Wait, dark violet?
Something feels off.
A thick, viscous purple aura tinged with black flowed out steadily.
It looked ominous and foreboding.
The liquid-like aura that poured forth gradually stained the ground and filled the space around me.
Gulp.
An aura that looked sinister at first glance.
Just as I didn’t want to approach it.
The aura gathered in one place and began taking shape.
A woman wearing a massive robe.
But she didn’t appear to be a living being.
Ash-gray hair and skin.
Most notably, eyes stained black where the whites should have been.
And crimson pupils at that.
‘Was Pantheon a horror game?’
As I grew slightly drowsy at her witch-like appearance, she smiled and vanished.
Then a dark violet magic circle appeared.
The newly formed magic circle spun violently, spreading dark violet light in all directions.
An ominous effect.
Gulp.
As I swallowed hard.
A message appeared.
[Congratulations! You have acquired the Epic+ skill ‘Asir’s Curse’!]
“What?”
Asir’s Curse?
Insane!
No wonder the effect was so ridiculous.
What? Do I know this skill?
How could I not?
It was far too famous in the future.
The signature skill of the Demon Barmon!
But wait, is this real?
Is this really Asir’s Curse?
Let me open the skill window just to be sure.
『Asir’s Curse』
*Grade: Epic+
*Level: 1
→Transfers all damage received by the user to a designated target.
*However, MP consumption from Asir’s Curse cannot be transferred.
→MP decreases by 1% per second
→Cooldown: 1 hour
Yeah, that’s it.
My head’s spinning a bit, isn’t it?
Ah, it’s from happiness, I suppose?
That seems to be it.
I’ve truly obtained an incredible skill.

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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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