The plan is simple.
Spend as much time as possible in the open field, getting close to the ponytailed woman.
Unlike other cowards, even with her ample strength, she doesn't leave this field.
I don't know why. Is it truly to achieve 100,000 sword swings in search of the hidden piece? Or perhaps she has a noble cause, like protecting the weak.
But none of that matters.
What's important is that she's good with a sword.
"The gods created this tower to punish foolish humans," said the fairy, going on about something.
But my gaze was fixed solely on the ponytailed woman in the corner.
She looked indifferent but with a hint of anxiety, gently stroking the sheath of her sword.
"...What's that?"
I felt something off as I kept staring at her. It felt like I saw something that shouldn't be there.
Like I missed something crucial.
"Well, that's enough background. Pick whatever you like from here..."
The fairy, done with the explanation, drops weapons in the middle of the field.
"Ah."
I realized the source of my discomfort.
The fairy hasn't handed out the weapons yet, so why does she already have a sword?
When I was summoned to the tower, I only brought what I had with me.
Clothes, wallet, and the burger coupon in my pocket. My phone, which I left on the charger, was nowhere to be found after being summoned.
This means only the items you have at the time of summoning are acknowledged.
So, was she mad enough to carry a sword in the real world?
"...No, think differently."
It's actually a good sign.
To carry a real sword in reality, you'd need... a weapon's permit? A sword license?
I've heard you need the government's permission to possess a real sword.
Though I'm not sure, that process probably isn't easy.
And yet, a young woman possesses a real sword?
It's reasonable to assume she knows how to handle it professionally.
Meaning she didn't just become skilled with a sword after entering the tower.
I was right to decide to learn swordsmanship from her.
And so, I stared at the ponytailed woman for a long time.
"Status check!"
Now is crucial.
How will she, who is generally emotionally reserved, react when most people shout their status?
Reading her expression was challenging, but I was intently focused on her.
First, surprise.
Eyes slightly widened, as if wanting to say "Really?"
Then, contemplation.
Her gaze lowers, and her grip on the sheath tightens.
Finally, determination.
She moved to the edge of the field, seeming a bit embarrassed, and appeared to mumble "status check."
Immediately after:
"!!!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
She quickly looked around, startled.
"...What was that?"
It was a surprisingly strong reaction from the usually indifferent ponytailed woman.
What did she see in her status that surprised her so much?
Or do other people's status screens differ from mine?
Maybe they have stats, a shop, or other features.
Perhaps I don't have those because I have the OP ability to regress.
Overwhelmed by this sudden realization, I momentarily lost sight of the ponytailed woman.
"Hey."
"...Yes?"
A cold female voice came from behind me.
It couldn't be. It just couldn't.
Hoping against hope, I slowly turned around.
Slap!
With a sharp shock, my vision was forcibly shifted by about 80 degrees.
"Freaking pervert."
The ponytailed woman briskly walked away, brushing her hands.
Did I just get slapped? I'm in total shock.
I moved my tongue slightly and tasted blood in my mouth.
Wait, blood?
[You have taken damage.]
[Returning to the initial point of entering the 0th floor.]
"Damn it! Where am I?!"
"Damn..."
Waking up, the first thing I did was curse.
Why did I get hit? Because I looked like a creep? I genuinely have no clue. Throughout all my regressions, I've never been slapped like this.
Alright, think rationally.
There must be a difference between then and now. Something has changed, hence the ponytailed woman's reaction changed too.
The only difference between then and now is... my passionate observation of her.
"Ah."
The great Schrödinger once said:
"Merely observing can change the outcome."
Could it be that she slapped me because I was observing her so intently?
"...Let's try."
The basis of an experiment is repetition.
And I have plenty of time.
After regressing about six times, I finally became certain.
The ponytailed woman did slap me because I was staring intensely at her. When I was playing with the dirt on the ground, she didn't come to hit me.
However, the key point is that she always realized I was staring only after she checked her status window.
What could her special ability be?
Does she have a hyper-sensory skill? One that needs to be toggled on and off through the status window?
I decided to run one more experiment.
Currently, people are starting to leave the open field in pairs or groups.
The firefighter guy hasn't left yet, and the ponytailed woman is still swinging her sword passionately.
I cautiously approached.
"Hello?"
The person I addressed was a short-haired woman I remembered from before. She had a cute face and had once asked if I had any food, so she left an impression.
"...What do you want?"
She seemed a bit wary, almost suspicious of me.
"Oh, nothing serious. Just wanted to chat for a moment."
I felt sorry for the short-haired woman, but she had to be my test subject.
She was positioned at the exact opposite side from where the ponytailed woman was practicing with her sword.
"It's a crucial matter... could you lend me your ear?"
"...It better be important."
Hesitantly, the short-haired woman leaned in.
In a whisper, I said:
"You seem to like milk cartons."
"...What?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Your hips are of a type that would bear children well."
I made the most vulgar sexual harassment comment I could muster.
Just as the short-haired woman was about to scream in horror,
Thump!
"Argh!"
With a powerful impact, I was thrown into the bushes.
My back hurts like hell. I can't feel my toes.
Turning my head, I saw the ponytailed woman slowly retracting her extended leg.
"...Trash like you doesn't even deserve my sword."
Her face filled with disdain.
[You have taken damage.]
[Returning to the initial point of entering the 0th floor.]
"...Just regress me already."
My back still hurts. Is this phantom pain?
Getting kicked made me realize that regression upon death might not be such a great ability after all. If just a kick feels this painful, imagine dying.
"But I'm sure now."
It was a voice so soft that not even animals with the best hearing could detect.
And we were pretty far apart.
But the ponytailed woman rushed over, kicked me, and then scorned me.
This means she heard what I whispered to the short-haired woman from that distance.
What does this mean?
After the ponytailed woman checks her status, she can detect every movement in the open field.
Even while she's practicing with her sword.
I don't know the rank of her skill, but it has to be at least SS rank, right? Showing such a monstrous ability right after entering the tower.
But the mystery is solved.
When I asked the ponytailed woman to teach me the sword, she cut me off.
She knew all along that I was faking.
She probably knew everything about my every move and tactic.
Considering this, it's no wonder she refused.
Smack!
I slapped my shoulder as if blaming myself.
[You have taken damage.]
I could have been under surveillance, but I wasn't the earnest young man willing to sacrifice himself for others.
[Returning to the initial point of entering the 0th floor.]
This time, I didn't look at the ponytailed woman. I listened to the fairy's explanation with passion. I had to be extra careful. < Tutorial Stage >
- Clear Condition 1: Somewhere within the forest, there is a 'Golden Bead' hidden. If you swallow it, you can advance to the next stage. However, there are only 50 beads in total.
- Clear Condition 2: If you defeat the boss, Goblin Shaman, a portal will be created that allows you to move on to the next stage.
While people were reading the announcement, a momentary silence descended. This was my chance.
Clap! Clap!
"Everyone!"
I stood up and clapped a few times to gather everyone's attention.
"My name is Kim Junho! Please, lend me your ears for just a moment!"
The ponytailed woman.
Do you like good guys?
If so, let me be the good guy this time.