"My dad was a Kendo instructor. My mom passed away giving birth to me," says Choi Ji-won in a calm voice.
"Strong... righteous... kind... fun... my dad was more than a good father to me."
A promising kendo player, Choi Chul-soon, and his only daughter, Choi Ji-won.
Since she had respiratory problems from a young age, Choi Ji-won had more days resting at home than going to school.
She often lay in her room, listening to the laughter of peers from outside.
Could anyone not feel sorry for Choi Ji-won?
"My dad suggested I try Kendo. He said if you find joy in sports, your health will naturally improve."
Within her limits, Choi Ji-won was able to learn Kendo.
Initially, Kendo started as a pastime in the backyard.
As time went by, at some point, Kendo became Choi Ji-won's only hobby.
Moreover, thanks to Kendo or perhaps the medicine she took, Choi Ji-won regained her health.
In middle school, thanks to her good looks, she was able to make many friends.
But no matter how many friends she made, the most precious time for Choi Ji-won was practicing Kendo with her dad.
Because, to her, her father was a parent, a teacher, and a role model.
"My father always told me not to play with a live sword, to always be humble. Those with power should be generous. An upright mindset completes a righteous martial artist. You can't save everyone, but never turn your back on those in front of you. Never do something you'll regret."
The title of a righteous person suited Choi Ji-won's father, Choi Chul-soon.
After Choi Chul-soon subdued a robber in a convenience store, there was no one in the vicinity who didn't know him.
When he walked through the market, merchants would give him food, and passing students would bow to him.
Everyone respected Choi Chul-soon.
Until something happened during Choi Ji-won's third year in high school.
"My father... he passed away saving others," Choi Ji-won said, cautiously touching the handle of her bamboo sword.
"A gas explosion in a villa caused a fire... and my dad was the first to discover it."
On average, it takes about 5 minutes for a fire truck to arrive at the scene.
After making a report on his phone, without hesitation, Choi Chul-soon rushed into the flames.
He successfully saved four citizens from the fire.
But he couldn't save himself.
I remember this story. I saw it online. I even left a comment on YouTube saying, "May he rest in peace."
I didn't know that was Choi Ji-won's father.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm okay."
Choi Ji-won's face was surprisingly calm, considering she was talking about her parents' deaths.
"In fact... I resented my dad. While saving others is important, shouldn't he have saved himself?"
He rescued so many people.
But he couldn't save himself and his daughter.
"Weren't others precious, and I wasn't? I just couldn't understand..."
The media praised him, and there was an endless line of people coming to pay respects.
But that didn't comfort the heart of Choi Ji-won, who had lost her most precious person.
And so, she locked herself up at home.
The backyard, room, wardrobe, bamboo sword - all reminders of her dad.
For over a year, that was Choi Ji-won's entire world.
"I resented my father. He must have known the high probability of dying. He could have just lived and atoned by saving more people."
"But then I wondered..."
Why did my dad make that choice?
Knowing the high probability of dying, why did he jump into the flames without hesitation?
Holding her bamboo sword, lost in thought, Choi Ji-won suddenly came to a realization.
"I just thought, 'whatever happens, happens.'"
Choi Ji-won said with a chuckle, "Protecting the construction site? Simply because I can. The strong should protect the weak."
"Why did I lure Minotaurus? I was simply curious. I wanted to know what it feels like to sacrifice one's life for others."
"… I see."
"But now, having faced Minotaurus together, I understand my father. He didn’t ignore me."Choi Ji-won, always with a smile.
“There are moments when I felt that if I didn't step forward, I’d regret it for a long time. Moments when it seems better to take the risk than to regret it later on.”
“So, you remain calm because…”
“Right. I don’t regret my choice. Even though we lost, we did our best.”
Throughout the time I've known her, Choi Ji-won here on this empty lot seemed more humane than ever.
"Whew, that's refreshing."
A joking Choi Ji-won.
“Now, it’s your turn.”
She handed me the reins of the conversation.
"…Sigh. What should I say?"
I felt compelled to say something, but words failed me. I had no particular tragic backstory.
"…Honestly, there's not much to my life."
"But still, share it. I'm curious."
"... Okay."
I began to talk, but my story was rather bland.
Born in Korea.
Went to school. Made some friends.
Took the college entrance exams, went to college.
Just a typical story of a 20-something male born in Korea.
A completely ordinary life.
But, sharing such a mundane life story with Choi Ji-won, I felt more at ease. Just having someone to empathize with can bring comfort to a person.
“I listened. I feel like I understand you better now.”
Choi Ji-won closed her eyes and nodded.
And the setting sun cast a warm glow on her face.
It was quite beautiful.
I shifted my gaze back to Choi Ji-won after watching the sun for a while.
"...Hey, Ji-won."
"Hm?"
"Do you have any golden beads left?"
I fumbled in my pocket and pulled out a golden bead.
I have 3 in total. I returned the one Choi Ji-won gave me and gave two to the goblin shaman, leaving one.
“If you do... shall we swallow them?”
“...What?"
"If, by chance, Ji-won, you have even one golden bead left, what if we both swallow them and move to the next stage? I don't know whether the next stage will be easy or hard. But what's certain is I can get Ji-won's full support. Of course, all the others would starve to death. I know logically that going back is the right thing to do. But what if, when I return, this world remains? Either way, these people will likely starve. The outcome is the same. Besides, I didn't want to give up my connection with Ji-won. She was the first to open up about her life to me, and vice versa. She's the first person in the Tower who truly understood me.
"If I return, you'll become a total stranger. You'll forget everything we’ve talked about.”
I was always alone in the repetitive cycles of return. Slowly, the bond I built with Ji-won was being chipped away. I didn't want to destroy the tower we built together. Having felt human warmth, I feared becoming alone again.
"...
Ji-won didn't respond.
“Think about it. Even if I return and we become friends again based on my knowledge, would we be able to have such a swift cooperation? Looking at it long-term…”
As I was trying to persuade her,
“Pfft... Hahahaha!”
Choi Ji-won suddenly burst out laughing.
“Jun-ho, do you know what your face looks like right now?”
"... What is it?"
“You look like you can't believe what you're saying.”
“Now I feel like I fully understand you.”
I subconsciously touched my face. What was my expression for her to say that?
“Kim Jun-ho… you're fascinating. Initially, I thought you were a saint, like my father, but the more I listen, the less I believe that.”
Choi Ji-won, smiling cunningly.
"Sometimes you seem kind, sometimes you're like a lunatic, sometimes smart and calculating... right now, you seem geeky and selfish."
"... People are like that, aren’t they?"
"Right. That's how people are."Choi Ji-won stood up from her seat, turning her back to the twilight, and flopped down next to me.
"But what's fascinating about you is… even so, you're always pondering. In the stories you've shared, you were always deep in thought."
"Contemplating about characteristics or the detailed conditions of regression. Pondering on how to escape from the void. Thinking about how to gain my favor. Figuring out how to defeat Minotaurs without harm. Wondering what happens to this world when you regress."
With a soft touch, Choi Ji-won laid her hand on my shoulder.
"I may be impulsive, but once I've made up my mind, I see it through. But you? You keep pondering and thinking until the very end, searching for a better solution. We seem to be opposites in that way. It's intriguing."
From her belongings, she pulled out a golden bead.
"Now, let's think, Jun-ho. If we both swallow these beads and overcome all the prepared trials to move to the first floor… Would you regret it?"
If I regress, nobody knows whether the others would starve to death or regress with me.
But if we just swallow the beads and head to the first floor, they're doomed for sure. Memories with Choi Ji-won in exchange for the certain deaths of others.
Would I... regret it?
"...Come to think of it, I think I would," I finally managed to say with a shaky voice.
"I thought so too," said Choi Ji-won, locking eyes with me. I could feel emotions pouring out of her.
"That's one of your strengths. You're always thinking and trying to find a better way."
- Curiosity [A]
- Naturally, opposites attract. People feel an inexplicable curiosity towards you and instinctively pay attention.
"You're wavering right now. Hold onto your sanity. Don't stop thinking. Don't give up. Surely, you can find an answer you'll be content with."
She was wearing a bright, radiant smile I had never seen before. It must've been a combination of her genuine encouragement, a farewell, and a refusal.
"I'm... looking forward to it. I'm curious about how you'll find the answer you want. I'm eager to see the future you'll shape."
Her smile was so beautiful, and the twilight so blinding that I unwittingly closed my eyes tight.
"Alright. I promise, I'll show you."
I already knew what I had to do.
*Thud!*
[You've taken damage.]
[You'll regress to the moment you first entered the 0th floor.]
- The regressee's emotions have exceeded the threshold.
- Storing the memory of the target.
- Target: [Choi Ji-won]
- Upon meeting the conditions, the memory will be restored.