The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 91

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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 91
Episode 91
Eltura.
A city at the southernmost point of the Inkarun Empire.
Before regression, Jin-woo heard the name “Hidden City” far more often than Eltura.
Why a hidden city?
Simple enough.
‘Because it’s a damn nightmare to find.’
After leaving the Beginner Region, most players could travel directly to the next area.
Since they could ride in carriages.
Felciana and Small City Marganti were such cases.
But for the city after that, players had to find their own way.
In other words, guides only took you to the next area.
Well, naturally, the city after Felciana and Marganti also had a carriage system for travel.
But it was expensive and didn’t match the level requirements.
Most players wanted the thrill of adventure anyway, so they usually pioneered the path themselves.
Eltura, by location alone, was one of three cities within Garn Territory.
So it was famous?
If it were, would they call it the Hidden City?
‘It’s damn near impossible to find.’
It was located in a region named the Humid Mountainous Region due to its surrounding terrain.
The Humid Mountainous Region.
Just hearing the name, you’d think it was a mountain densely packed with trees, wouldn’t you?
Correct.
The trees were so thick that even sunlight barely penetrated, making it easy to lose your way.
That’s why Eltura was a region most players found difficult to discover.
But who was Jin-woo?
The master of the Magic Sword who could teleport anywhere!
Since I could just teleport directly, there was no way to get lost.
But arriving wasn’t the end of it.
Finding the city itself was something anyone could do with enough effort.
No matter how dense the forest, the city existed—how could anyone fail to find it?
But that wasn’t the real problem.
‘The city itself is far too closed off.’
Usually, cities welcomed players who found them.
But Eltura was the opposite, or so I’d heard.
In fact, they typically drove players away.
But who were the players?
Weren’t they the type to charge headlong at any hint of opportunity?
Of course, there were players who succeeded in entering Eltura through sheer determination.
But that’s not how it turned out.
Players who expected to claim at least a hidden piece or two, if not treasures of gold and silver, had no choice but to lower their heads and slip away from that place.
Despite its reputation as a hidden city, there wasn’t a single hidden piece to be found.
There was even information suggesting that because no one searched for it afterward, it had truly become a hidden city.
‘That’s right—I excluded it too because there was nothing worth taking.’
That’s how I remembered it.
Yet somehow, clues about the Apostle’s second advancement were hidden here all along.
Well, something of that magnitude would have to be concealed to warrant such secrecy.
It made sense that I didn’t even know the Apostle class existed, given how thoroughly it was hidden.
After all, I didn’t know either.
Regardless, I had accepted the Quest.
I needed to find the Temple in that place.
The problem was how to get inside.
‘Sigh.’
The city was visible in the distance, but as mentioned before, it was a closed-off place.
I’d be fortunate if they didn’t chase me away on sight.
Would I even be able to enter?
The moment the cooldown expired and I logged back in, I arrived at Eltura, already wrestling with the problem.
Should I just attempt to slip in recklessly?
I had teleportation available, and I could infiltrate from the air as well.
But I immediately shook my head.
‘That’s not a good move.’
If I snuck in and incurred their displeasure, who knew what might happen? I wasn’t about to do that.
Better to face rejection at the front gate than to risk something worse.
Should I just try confronting them directly?
If they refused, I could always figure out my next move then.
Yes, let’s go.
I made my decision and headed toward the city entrance.
Even from a distance, I could see soldiers standing guard over the city gates with formidable vigilance.
As expected of a place housing a temple devoted to the Apostle.
Just look at how muscular they are.
‘This won’t be easy.’
These were soldiers whose physiques suggested they could give me a real fight if it came to that.
Ugh, I was genuinely starting to feel nervous.
But what was there to be anxious about?
I’d approach with confidence!
With that thought, I stepped forward toward the city gates.
The soldiers, sensing my approach from afar, raised their eyebrows with expressions of bewilderment.
Ugh.
This reminded me of when I first met Gruen.
Of course, Gruen was far more terrifying.
If I had to compare it, it felt like facing multiple versions of that intimidating presence—utterly overwhelming.
These were oppressive faces that felt real, not like something from a game.
“A-ahem. I’m a foreigner who ended up here by chance, but… would it be alright if I entered the city?”
Just to be safe, I spoke those words while gripping the noble’s insignia that Marquis Jihokin had given me, ready to produce it at any moment.
No matter how insular a city was, they wouldn’t ignore a noble’s insignia from another kingdom.
I prayed that my assumption was correct.
As I spoke, their expressions suddenly crumpled.
Had I said something wrong?
I swallowed hard without realizing it.
“Did you just say you want to enter our city?”
“That’s what I heard too.”
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
Something felt off.
Should I have shown the noble’s insignia first?
While I was seriously contemplating this, they suddenly broke into grins and nodded.
Well, I wasn’t sure if “grin” was the right word—it looked more like the expression someone makes before killing—but at least it didn’t feel negative.
Though it was certainly oppressive.
“A brother has come! How could we not welcome him!”
“A brother who serves the same God of Battle is always welcome!”
“W-what?”
These burly men suddenly became friendly.
What on earth were they talking about?
I stared blankly at them, bewildered.
At my expression, the burly men tilted their heads in confusion.
As if asking why I didn’t understand.
“Aren’t we brothers?”
“Brothers?”
“Aren’t you a believer who serves the God of Battle?”
“Ah!”
I suddenly understood why they’d become so warm.
A believer who serves the God of Battle.
That meant there was a Temple dedicated to the God of Battle in this place.
In other words.
‘Does the entire city worship the God of Battle?’
The entire population were religious believers devoted to the God of Battle.
No wonder they were being so friendly.
“Does the entire city believe in suicide?”
All city dwellers are believers who have faith in self-sacrifice.
Well, that’s why he’s being so affectionate.
They must have sensed the aura of a god of war emanating from Jin-woo.
Offering an awkward smile, Jin-woo answered quickly.
“Yes, yes. That’s correct. I too walk the path of combat.”
“Oh! A noble soul indeed!”
“Brothers are always welcome here! Come in at once!”
Welcomed with such fervor, I stepped into the city.
A message appeared.
[You have arrived at a new city.]
[Through the First Title ‘Pioneer’, you gain an additional stat point.]
Since it was a new city, I received one additional stat point and entered the city without delay.
And throughout the streets, I could see residents throwing punches at one another.
Thwack! Crack!
Bang!
“Come at me!”
“Hahahaha! I’ll show you just how superior I am!”
“Arghhhh!”
They clashed and fought with one another.
Yet all of them fought in one-on-one matches.
This differed considerably from what Jin-woo had heard.
For some reason, there were many strong-looking people in the city, but I had remembered hearing it described as a dignified place.
No, at every corner at least one or two people were fighting.
Residents battling with full force as if every spot were a ring.
“Hmm.”
Some of their techniques were impressive enough that Jin-woo could learn from them.
Quite combative and vibrant, one might say?
In any case, that was the nature of this city.
Perhaps that’s why the Temple of the god of war exists here.
As Jin-woo pondered this,
someone approached him.
What is this?
For a moment, I wondered if they were coming to challenge me to a duel.
But that wasn’t it.
“I sensed your presence from afar and have come to greet you. At last, one who walks the path of combat has arrived.”
An elderly man without a muscular build, yet possessing a taut, slender physique that radiated vitality.
The old man, dressed in monk’s robes, bowed his head toward Jin-woo.
Caught off guard by the sudden greeting, Jin-woo returned the bow with slight bewilderment.
“I, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Forgive my late introduction. I am Tiben, a servant of the god of war. I have the honor of serving as the high priest of the Temple.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Come, the streets are too noisy. Please follow me.”
“Yes, of course.”
I answered Tiben and followed him out.
A message appeared before me.
[You have cleared the class-exclusive Quest, ‘God of Combat, Second Step (1)’.]
[The subsequent class-exclusive Quest, ‘God of Combat, Second Step (2)’ has been generated.]
[God of Combat, Second Step (2)]
*Description: Eltura—the holy land of the God of Combat and the only city that worships the God of Combat.
It is said that the continent’s sole Temple of the God of Combat stands there.
Receive an explanation from Tiben, the bishop of the Temple, and undergo a trial deep within the Temple.
*Objective: Undergo the trial.
*Reward: Second class advancement, additional rewards based on trial results
*This Quest can only be obtained by those who possess the Mana Weapon.
‘Oh! Already?’
I didn’t expect things to progress this quickly.
I didn’t think a message about second class advancement would appear so soon.
Honestly, the path to becoming a God of Combat didn’t take that long.
But now, after taking this trial in this Quest, I’ll advance to second class immediately.
Most of all.
‘Additional rewards based on results, no less.’
This was truly exciting.
My heart racing with anticipation, I followed Tiben.
Soon enough, we arrived at the Temple.
However, the Temple looked quite familiar.
I was certain I’d seen it somewhere before.
Before regression?
No, that wasn’t it.
‘Wait, this is…?’
Surely this was the Colosseum I was transported to when I defeated the weakened raid boss as my final Quest before becoming a God of Combat.
It looked exactly like that Colosseum.
Of course, it was smaller than that one.
But it was unmistakably similar.
If I was taking a trial, it would definitely be held inside that structure.
Thinking about it, I let out a small chuckle.
I wondered what kind of trial it would be.
In any case, I obediently followed Tiben into what appeared to be an office room within the Temple.
Tiben, seeing me, pointed to a chair and spoke.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Yes.”
“Hehe, it is truly an honor to meet you this way.”
“Not at all.”
“Any devotee who accumulates ascetic practices is always welcome. The Trial of the God is not something easily overcome, after all.”
Jin-woo nodded along appropriately, offering his agreement.
Then Tiben provided an explanation.
“A trial occurring after hundreds of years—I can only say it is truly an honor that such an event unfolds in my generation.”
“Hmm, that is certainly possible.”
A trial after hundreds of years?
That meant…
‘Can NPCs also obtain God-series classes?’
It felt like I had just learned something crucial about the system.
But that wasn’t the priority right now.
Jin-woo filed the information away in his mind and listened carefully to Tiben’s words.
“The path to becoming a God of Combat has always been arduous, or so I have heard. This trial will be no exception. I urge you to set aside all attachments, return to your origins, and overcome this trial with fortitude.”
Upon hearing Tiben’s words, Jin-woo asked with a puzzled expression.
“W-wait? What exactly does that mean?”
“Yes. All of your stats will be reset, and you must face the trial relying solely on your innate abilities.”
That sounded familiar somehow.
All stats reset?
And furthermore…
“Moreover, you will be unable to use any of your skills. You must rely only on basic techniques to face the trial.”
“W-what?”
Isn’t this exactly…?
Isn’t this the exact same condition as the tournament coming up soon?
Jin-woo fell silent, contemplating this revelation.
‘Is this the god’s way of telling me to practice?’
If I use this to refine my control?
Actually, this is perfect.
‘I should sharpen my control skills.’
In that moment, Jin-woo—already soaring with the latest capsule technology—had been granted an unexpected opportunity to train.

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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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