The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 4

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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 4
Episode 4
“Ooh! My stamina increased!”
Right, how could I forget about this?
A system that exists in any game.
A bonus stat occasionally granted when you exert your body.
Let me check exactly how much it went up.
Originally, all stats should be 5 each.
That’s just how early-game stats work.
I opened my status window.
[Jin-woo]
*Level: 1
*Titles: 『Faster Than Anyone』and 3 others
*Strength – 5
*Stamina – 7
*Agility – 5
*Mana – 5
‘Heh.’
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
I hadn’t even obtained a First Title that boosts stats yet.
And my stamina already jumped by 2.
It might seem small, but nothing could be better than this.
Even when leveling up, you only get 5 points.
Considering that, 2 was a number I couldn’t ignore.
‘They say hardship leads to joy—this is exactly it.’
Wait, did I even struggle that much?
I just ran a little bit and I’m calling it hardship?
I have no shame.
Still, getting this reward in the middle of exertion—how could my spirits not lift?
Unfortunately, there was no First Title.
But if I expected that, I’d truly have no conscience.
Actually, since I don’t need it, getting anything is a gain, right?
‘Sigh, what a shame.’
That was a shameless thought, but a shame is a shame nonetheless.
Well, there’s more to gain ahead anyway.
I’ll be patient for now.
In any case, I’ve come to the Training Grounds—I should do what I came here for.
As I approached the Training Grounds, loud shouts echoed from all around.
There weren’t many people, but their voices were quite powerful.
Who else would be shouting here like this?
Predictable.
What else would there be besides the Village Guard?
‘Might as well take a look inside.’
As I stepped toward the entrance of the Training Grounds,
someone called out from behind, stopping me in my tracks.
“What brings you here?”
A soldier guarding the Training Grounds.
He didn’t look particularly strong, but naturally he was more powerful than me.
Though this was a beginner village and starting area, NPCs weaker than players were rare at this point in time.
A giant clad in armor, his scarred face and muscular frame radiating authority, questioned me with a voice laden with suspicion.
Most people would shrink back under such pressure, but I was hardly most people.
“I’ve come seeking an audience with the Guard Captain.”
No beating around the bush—just a straightforward approach.
As expected,
the burly Guard Soldier’s expression darkened.
Even in a situation that would make most people’s knees buckle, I simply smiled.
Did I have nerves of steel?
Or had I left my courage with an insurance company?
When the Guard Soldier eyed me with considerable suspicion, I retrieved the Village Chief’s letter of recommendation from my inventory.
“Hmm? That is…?”
“A letter of recommendation from the Village Chief.”
“I see. Then you must be…?”
“Yes, an adventurer.”
“Ah, I see.”
The Guard Soldier’s suspicion finally melted away.
What would he have done if he hadn’t lowered his guard?
I had the Village Chief’s letter of recommendation right here!
Heh heh heh heh.
“I’ll deliver your letter of recommendation to the Guard Captain, so wait here for a moment.”
“Yes, understood.”
What if he just pocketed the letter?
Such a thought crossed my mind, but I wasn’t worried.
Naturally, the system had already confirmed it wouldn’t happen.
Ding!
[Quest ‘Guard Captain of Nen Village’ is in progress.]
The system had acknowledged it.
All I had to do was wait patiently here.
Still, was it really necessary to leave me standing around awkwardly like this?
Though I suppose it’s unavoidable from a procedural standpoint, leaving a guest standing like this…
Are they truly just an NPC?
Anyway, he’s inflexible.
I suppose that’s what happens when a stranger walks into the Training Grounds.
Still.
It’s equally annoying.
But I can’t let my irritation show.
There’s no benefit to upsetting an NPC.
How long did I wait after that?
A burly Guard Soldier brought someone over.
Or should I say… a person?
‘No matter how many times I see it, I can’t get used to it.’
The Guard Soldier who had seemed so imposing now looked almost cute by comparison—such was the overwhelming presence before me.
A face covered in scars and muscles that looked ready to burst from the skin.
The height alone appeared to be nearly two meters.
Ugh, I’d probably lose it if I ran into this at night.
This is something I really can’t adjust to.
“So you’re the one the Village Chief recommended?”
“…Yes.”
Ugh, this is terrifying.
Even as a ten-year veteran, I can’t handle this.
Despite knowing I came here at the Village Chief’s invitation, I flinched for a moment.
How am I supposed to endure this?
Look at him now.
Stroking his chin with that “hmm” expression.
If he threw a punch with that arm, I’d be dead on the spot.
Gulp.
While Jin-woo entertained such ridiculous thoughts,
the Guard Captain looked over the letter of recommendation and extended the hand he’d been stroking his chin with.
For a moment, I thought he was about to strike.
“I’m Gruen, Guard Captain of Nen Village.”
“…I’m Jin-woo.”
Gruen’s extended hand.
Should I even take it?
I worried my limbs might be torn clean off, but I boldly grasped his hand and shook it anyway.
There was no way that would happen.
‘I never thought I’d actually meet Gruen.’
Gulp.
If you didn’t know about Gruen of the Deron Kingdom, you hadn’t really played Pantheon.
He wasn’t famous just because of that menacing appearance.
Well, it had some influence, admittedly.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
Gruen Wizen.
The first name that came to mind when thinking of the Deron Kingdom.
He had even earned the title of Guardian.
There were many episodes in his history, but it could be explained simply.
Former Commander of the Royal Knight Order.
People had once questioned why someone of his stature served as merely the Guard Captain of a beginner village, but regardless, he was undoubtedly a major figure.
Had I not watched videos of Gruen’s exploits during the Deron Kingdom’s past wars?
The overwhelming presence he displayed back then.
Shiver.
It was enough to make my body tremble involuntarily.
How could a person fight like that?
Though looking at him, he hardly seemed human.
‘I was recommended to come here to meet such a legendary figure.’
Coming to this place was no accident.
Meeting Gruen held considerable importance in my plans.
There might not be much I could accomplish immediately, but once I built a certain level of rapport, I would have no regrets later.
Definitely.
In any case, as we shook hands, a notification chimed.
Finally, the message I had been waiting for!
Ding!
[You have cleared the Quest ‘Guard Captain of Nen Village’.]
[You obtain ‘Guard Captain Gruen’s Teachings’ as a reward.]
[You can receive the reward directly from Guard Captain Gruen.]
If this were the only message I had been waiting for, I would be disappointed.
Another notification chimed, and another message appeared.
Ding!
[You have cleared a Quest for the first time.]
[You obtain the First Title ‘The First Problem Solver’.]
『The First Problem Solver』
→First Title
→A title granted to the first user to clear a Quest
→Quest Rewards +10%, Increased Quest Acquisition Rate
Heh!
Meeting Gruen alone was legendary, and now a First Title too!
There was no way my mood could be bad!
This was the fifth time seeing this screen, yet it never got old.
Well, a First Title deserved that much.
If this were the end, I wouldn’t even be celebrating.
The message itself made that clear.
It said to receive the reward directly.
Now it’s time to acquire Basic Swordsmanship!
As expected.
“You’ve got more backbone than I thought. I like it. Follow me.”
“Yes.”
To be honest, answering without hesitation in front of someone of his caliber was enough to demonstrate backbone.
Look—even the Guard Soldier standing behind him is nodding in agreement.
That’s how intimidating he is.
Jin-woo followed Gruen to a corner of the Training Grounds where countless training dummies were arranged.
It was a familiar place.
‘I used to conduct a lot of skill experiments here before.’
The Training Grounds existed for exactly this purpose.
Though things are completely different now.
“What weapon do you wish to train with?”
“A sword.”
I answered Gruen’s sudden question without hesitation.
There was no point in wavering at a moment like this.
As expected, Gruen nodded subtly.
He seemed pleased by my conviction.
This is how you earn points.
Before regression, I had experience with swords and was familiar with them, but that alone wasn’t the reason for my choice.
It was because of my class advancement.
‘Now that I’ve regressed, all the hidden classes are within my grasp.’
Among them, the class I had chosen was sword-related.
In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the supreme sword-related class.
Of course, obtaining it would be somewhat difficult, but at this rate, it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
Sword Master.
Initially, it wasn’t a class that received particularly high praise.
It was merely one among many hidden classes.
Even the user who obtained this class thought the same way at first.
The class trait was nothing special beyond being able to use all swords.
But in the end, that assessment proved wrong.
‘That single trait alone makes it a truly broken class.’
This revelation would come much later in the future.
The ability to use all swords.
In other words, it meant being able to use even swords that only specific classes could wield.
Holy swords or divine blades that only the Hero class could use.
And even demon swords that only demon king-related classes could wield.
This single trait alone elevated the user of this class to a global superstar.
Of course, there were hidden traits beyond this as well.
Awakening hidden traits wasn’t easy, but who was Jin-woo?
‘I know it all, that’s what I mean.’
Hehehehe.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
While I was grinning away like that.
Gruen glanced at Jin-woo and smirked.
“Seems you’re already excited about learning the sword.”
“Of course. It’s both my beginning and my end.”
“That’s a satisfying answer.”
He seemed pleased with the reasonably convincing response.
It resonated because it was genuine—neither false nor an attempt to impress.
Even as an NPC, he possessed perfect artificial intelligence, no different from a real person.
Moments like this really are eerie, I tell you.
Before named NPCs like Gruen, there are times when you must speak truthfully.
It’s as if they see right through you.
Of course, it’s probably a system mechanic, but it’s uncanny nonetheless.
“Anyway, since you’ve brought the letter of recommendation, I’ll teach you swordsmanship.”
“Yes! I’ll study diligently!”
That’s what I said, but I’m not really learning.
Well, isn’t that right?
If I were actually learning swordsmanship, why would skills even exist?
Of course, if someone who truly understands swordsmanship uses a sword skill, there are additional effects.
But without it, there’s no real problem.
It’s just a system where skills are generated automatically as you listen to instruction.
There’s nothing special you need to do.
Newcomers to Pantheon do get deflated here, though.
All caught up in that martial arts fantasy of master and disciple.
But if it worked that way, it’d be too inconvenient.
However,
“A sword isn’t mastered by simply swinging it with your arms. You move based on the power that comes from solid lower body strength.”
“I see.”
“Always remember—the foundation of the sword comes from your lower body.”
“Understood.”
Listening to him, quite useful information flows out.
Of course, as a ten-year veteran like me, I already knew these facts.
But there’s no harm in reviewing.
If I listen earnestly like this, my affinity with him increases too.
It’s all part of the plan, you see!
Anyway, as I listened intently, he seemed quite satisfied.
That pleased smile of his….
Ugh, I’m afraid it’ll haunt my dreams.
Well, since my affinity has increased, it should be fine, right?
“Seems like you’ve got the gist of it in your head.”
“Yes, I’m keeping it in mind so I won’t forget.”
“Good attitude. Now, try wielding a sword.”
Gruen’s commanding words.
But I had no hesitation as I grasped the wooden sword and lifted it.
Then an alarm and message appeared.
It was the message I’d been hoping for.
Ding!
[Upon swinging the wooden sword at the scarecrow, you will acquire ‘Basic Swordsmanship’.]
But.
‘I can’t be satisfied with just this!’

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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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