Chapter 33 - The Regressor Is Conditionally Strong (2)

“Goblin Shaman. I need your help.”

“... Kerrk?”

The Goblin Shaman looked at me as if to say, Who the hell is this guy? He frowned and twitched his nose, then gave a little snort of laughter.

“Kerrrk... Human. I am a dying goblin. You seem to have chosen the wrong person to ask for help, human.”

Then he broke into a fit of coughing. He still didn't seem to understand what I meant.

“... Shaman.”

“Cough... Krrrk...”

“I'm a regressor. This isn't the first time we've met.”

“...?”

“You told me everything. The ancient dungeon. The human adventurers. The voice of a god. How you came to this tower.”

“... Kerrk. Human. You speak nonsense.”

The Goblin Shaman turned away, playing dumb, but I clearly saw his cloudy white eyes waver.

“I'm serious! This is our third time meeting. Do you have any idea how much trouble you put me through when you dove into the swamp with the golden orbs?”

Slowly, I told him the story of my experiences in this tower. From the moment I first came to my senses, to my delight at obtaining the Regression trait, all the way to hearing the recording he'd left on a stone after he stabbed me in the back.

I thought I'd put a fair amount of effort into telling my story, but...

“... And what do you want me to do about it, human?”

The Goblin Shaman scratched the back of his head.

“Get to the point. Kerrk. I could release the monster's seal right now.”

He thrust his staff at me threateningly.

“... Calm down.”

As he said, if the shaman released the Minotaur's seal here, I'd have no choice but to regress. But he hadn't done it. That meant he was at least somewhat interested in my story.

“What do I want? It's simple.”

I remembered how the Goblin Shaman had made all the other goblins kill themselves, eliminating our source of food.

“The goblins on this island. Bring every last one of them here.”

“... Kerrk. And then?”

“My trait makes me stronger when I fight to protect someone. If I'm protecting all the goblins, I should be able to blow that monster away in one hit.”

“... Keh keh.”

The Goblin Shaman let out an incredulous laugh.

“... Human. Are you perhaps an idiot?”

He waved his free hand dismissively.

“I hate humans. I am maintaining this seal because I want humans to suffer. Human.”

“... I know.”

“Then do you take me for a fool, human? Why should I help humans?”

“...”

He was right. The Goblin Shaman had no reason to help us. If anything, he'd enjoy watching us suffer. He had no reason to help.

But instead of answering, I silently held my hand up to his nose.

“... Human. What are you doing? Kerrk.”

“Smell it.”

“... It just smells like a human hand. I don't know what you want me to smell. Kerrk.”

“That's exactly my point.”

“... Kerrk?”

SNIFF, SNIFF. SNIFF, SNIFF.

His nostrils flared as he sniffed my hand again.

“... Kerrk.”

He seemed to have realized what I was getting at.

“No smell of blood, right?”

This run, I hadn't killed even the weakest goblins swarming through the undergrowth. I'd only knocked them all unconscious.

I remembered how the Goblin Shaman had once told me I reeked of his kin's blood. Well? No smell of blood this time. Help me out, would you?

“... Kerrk.”

The Goblin Shaman hung his head.

“That means nothing, human. You simply haven't killed my kin in this ‘run.’”

“... That's true.”

“And even if you defeat the monster and move on to the next stage... I will lose my memories and wait for other humans to come. Kerrk. I will plunge those humans into despair.”

“That's true too.”

“Then, human, there is no reason whatsoever for me to help you now. You will even kill me after defeating the monster. I am no fool, human.”

“Why wouldn't there be a reason?”

I shrugged as if his words made no sense.

“You said you'll lose your memories and be reborn once we move on, right? You're going to die anyway. What's the harm in dying a little early?”

“... You must be insane, human.”

The Goblin Shaman gave a hollow laugh. But I knew he wasn't particularly attached to life anyway.

“Besides... wouldn't it be nice to have just one run where humans and goblins don't hurt each other?”

“...”

At my words, the Goblin Shaman went still.

This tower forced us to kill one another. Humans to survive, goblins to avoid being killed.

And I was asking him to put a stop to it, just once. For everyone's sake.

“... Kerrk.”

The Goblin Shaman slowly closed his eyes.

“Kerrk. You are an idiot, human. Brazenly asking me to die for you. This is nothing but meaningless nonsense.”

He opened his eyes and looked in my direction.

“And... I am an idiot too.”

With a faint chuckle, he flicked his hand.

“I will do as you ask, human. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if no one died, just once.”

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

“I will release the seal, human.”

“Wait just a little longer.”

My whole body was burning hot. I felt slightly dizzy, but it wasn't unpleasant. It felt like I'd drunk myself completely senseless.

“Everyone, please wait just a little longer. I need to concentrate.”

Some two hundred people stood behind me. Much like the previous run, I'd successfully persuaded the people in the clearing and brought them here.

What about Choi Jiwon's objections? When I insisted I had a solution, she somehow ended up agreeing. Though she did threaten to cut me down if it looked like I was trying anything stupid.

“... Are we really going to be okay?”

“He said we'd be fine, so...”

For some reason, the people were trembling and casting nervous glances around. The reason was simple. A horde of hundreds—no, thousands—of goblins stood massed behind them.

What had given me the idea that Hero would activate for goblins was simple. Would Hero activate if I protected a humanoid race like elves or dwarves?

Probably. They were sentient beings, after all. Then what about goblins? The Goblin Shaman had actively communicated with me. No one could deny that he was a sentient being.

There was no reason the trait wouldn't activate for goblins. Of course, there was a chance the Goblin Shaman was a special case, but...

“Kerrk, kerrrrk...”

“Keh keh, kerrk? Kerrrrrrk.”

The goblins were chattering noisily in their own language. Ordinary goblins were cruel, hideous monsters that harmed humans, but...

-Hero [C]

-In times of crisis, people think of you. You grow stronger when fighting to protect someone.

They, too, were each a “someone.” In other words, my trait worked on them.

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

[The Hero trait's effect activates!]

“I think I'm ready now.”

Feeling I'd finally adjusted to the power overflowing within me, I signaled the Goblin Shaman.

“Kerrk. Then I will release the seal, human.”

The purple ropes connected to his staff snapped.

“Grrrrrr...”

The Minotaur slowly rose to its feet. It repeatedly clenched and unclenched its hands as if in disbelief, then picked up its axe.

“GROOOOOOAR!!!”

“A-aaaargh!”

“Aaaaaah!”

The roar was deafening. Its two enormous eyes were unmistakably glaring at me. Its muscles rippled, gathering the strength to smash me to pieces.

Before, I might have fled in terror at its overwhelming presence... But now, I knew instinctively. That wasn't an excited warrior's battle cry. It was the howl of a frightened beast.

“You can feel it too, huh?”

STEP. STEP.

Twirling the sword in my hand, I began walking toward the Minotaur, one step at a time.

THUD. THUD.

“G-grrrroooar!”

With every step I took toward it, the Minotaur backed away a little farther. Even a child could tell it was scared.

“... Haha.”

This wasn't a monster designed to be beaten. It was merely a device that existed to impose a time limit on Floor 0 and stir up conflict among the people. Even Choi Jiwon, a monster beyond comprehension herself, had said she couldn't guarantee victory against the Minotaur.

And that absurdly powerful monster was fleeing from me in fear. That fact felt so good that I couldn't help laughing.

I suddenly glanced back, looking for Choi Jiwon.

“...”

Her face was rigid as her eyes swept over me again and again.

To think the day would come when she looked at me warily. I'd said I'd catch up to her someday, but actually doing it felt incredible. Sure, this was only a temporary power boost... but a win was a win, wasn't it? All that grinding had paid off. I felt proud.

“GRAAAAAAAH!!!”

THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD.

Apparently seeing an opportunity when I turned my back, the Minotaur charged like mad. I smoothly spun around on the spot to face it.

“Come on.”

Perhaps because I was concentrating, time seemed to slow little by little. I tighten both hands around my sword. I recall Choi Jiwon's teachings.

My target... is its neck. It's covered in muscle, but as I am now, I can do it. No, I can do it easily.

Because right here, right now, I was a Hero.

I lightly spring off the ground. Swing my sword in one fluid motion. And by the time both feet settle gently onto the ground...

-[Amazing Achievement Notification!]

-You have successfully defeated the hidden boss, ‘Minotaur, Demon of the Labyrinth’!

-There are no casualties! Bonus achievement EXP will be awarded!

-A special reward will be awarded to [Kim Junho] for making the greatest contribution!

The Minotaur's head rolled across the ground.

A Word from the Author (Afterword)

Thank you for reading!

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