Regression Is Too Much

The key points of the ‘report on 4th floor’ given to me by Yoon Jung-hyun were as these:

1. If we don’t try to protect the otherworlders, the difficulty level won’t increase any further.

2. The moment we attempt to protect the otherworlders, the difficulty level skyrockets.

3. Even if we prepare in advance for the appearance of monsters, a new monster will appear the next day, rendering our preparations ineffective.

The first and second points are beyond my control. Since we’ve already decided to save all the otherworlders, the increase in difficulty is something we have to accept.

But the key point is the third: even if we prepare in advance, our efforts will be nullified the next day.

“So, you’re saying we should prepare in advance but not use everything at once.”

In my opinion, the ‘joint defense’ tactic has enough potential to be used on the last day. It’s the recommended defense method for the 4th floor, and it was effective in the previous round as well.

“Since we’re on the highest floor, breaking a few walls won’t make it collapse. If you’re really worried, you can leave some walls intact. The key point is to create space.”

What’s there to hide? I explained everything that will happen in the future. A monster will appear at dawn on the third day, and every time we try to block them, the difficulty will increase. (I didn’t mention that the otherworlders seem to be the targets.)

Therefore, my plan is as follows: On the third day, we’ll face the first wave with our individual skills to the fullest. We’ll use every trick in the book and do our best.

Will it be tough? Of course, it will be. But thinking in reverse, the third day is the most manageable. If we prepare thoroughly and use everything we can, including magical tools, we can defend without blocking the passageways.

Once we get past the third day, things get easier.

On the fourth day, we block the castle passageways. Just like the third day in the previous round, we’ll block as many passageways as we can and hold out in the remaining ones. Since this method is already proven, there should be no casualties.

However, if we wait until the fifth day, slimes that melt the broken bricks will appear and catch us off guard like before. This is where the ‘giant room’ we’re preparing comes into play.

Unbroken bricks won’t melt from the slime. If we can block the narrow entrance of the giant room connecting the rooms, we should be able to hold out easily.

Does it sound simple? That’s because it is. But this strategy can only be derived if you fully understand all the mechanics from the start.

I am in a position where I have returned after experiencing the future. But do I only know from my own experiences? Thanks to Yoon Jung-hyun’s report, the samples cover dozens of rounds.

It would be incompetence not to be perfectly prepared. Knowing the future and still failing would make me an idiot, wouldn’t it?

“Then, Mr. Joong-hyun and Mr. William Smith, please have the players prepare with their hammers. But we won’t start right away.”

““Understood.””

“Good.”

“And Baron Jorge... since we don’t have materials because we didn’t break the 4th floor, just do what you can for now. Block the main gate by today.”

“Got it.”

After quickly giving my orders, I issued the guest dismissal order. The three people left the room.

Only after confirming they were far enough away did I let out a sigh of relief.

“...Better than I expected.”

I had been observing their reactions the entire time I was talking. I was curious about how people would react when I spoke definitively about my knowledge of the future.

From what I saw, the reactions were split down the middle.

Half were thinking, “I don’t know what this crazy guy is talking about, but considering what he just showed, he seems incredibly strong, so let’s pretend to listen!”

The other half were thinking, “Hmm... does he really know something? Is he speaking from actual knowledge? It’s too detailed to be a bluff, and he’s very confident. Just in case...”

I didn’t expect them to fully believe me. Believing everything right away would make them fools. The fact that they were suspicious actually proved they weren’t idiots.

Anyway, unless a major problem arises, everyone seems to be following my lead. If things continue this way, their doubts will peak on the second day, and by the third day, when the monsters appear, public opinion will swing in my favor. It’s all according to plan.

“Wow, but this feels so refreshing.”

A strange thrill tingles in my chest.

This is the first time in my life I’ve openly shared my knowledge of the future. I’ve always been cautious about revealing that I’m a regressor, but now that I’ve done it, it feels incredibly liberating.

If it’s this easy to get things done by openly acting like I know everything, maybe I should just reveal that I’m a regressor in the future as well. It feels foolish to have hesitated all this time.

In web novels, there’s often a plot where “transcendents are watching, so never reveal that you’re a regressor.” But I didn’t have anything like that. If there were such conditions, something ominous would have appeared long ago to warn me.

So, even after reviewing the plan again, the design is perfect. Now, it’s just a matter of execution.

“...Oh, right.”

I almost forgot.

There was one last thing I needed to prepare.

***

“Yo, heave! Yo, heave!”

When I arrived at the main gate, demolition work was in full swing. Since the construction on the 4th floor hadn’t started yet and we lacked materials, they were breaking down the gate first.

“Baron Jorge.”

“Philip, if you throw the debris like that, someone else... Oh, what is it?”

Baron Jorge turned to look at me, interrupting his instructions. It was a bit abrupt, but I decided to get straight to the point.

“The people summoned to the tower. Do you know all of them?”

“Of course, they’re all my subjects.”

When the otherworlders died, Baron Jorge mentioned each of their names as he buried them. It was proof of his deep concern for his people.

“Then, among those summoned now, is there anyone you must absolutely save?”

“...?”

Though he couldn’t hide his surprise at the sudden question, he still gave a proper answer.

“...There are about three.”

Luke, a young man with exceptional skills. Phil, a boy scheduled to enter the academy. Milia, a girl with a natural talent for weather prediction.

The three people Baron Jorge picked all had promising futures. But only three.

“I need five. Choose two more.”

“...If I had to choose...”

“Oh, and bring them here right away. I have something very important to discuss with them.”

“Understood.”

Thus, five selected otherworlders stood in front of me in a line.

Of course, they all had expressions that said, “What on earth is going on?” And it was understandable.

They were suddenly summoned to the tower, told to enter the castle and put on cold-weather gear. Then, they were abruptly made to work. And now, in the middle of their work, they were told to come here? It was a series of incomprehensible events.

“Alright, I’ll explain as we walk. Baron Jorge, please come along too.”

“...Alright.”

Leading the six otherworlders, I walked into the castle and climbed the stairs. As we walked, I couldn’t help but start a conversation with Baron Jorge.

“Baron, let’s say a very rare and delicious apple has grown in your land. It’s a variety so precious that you don’t know when you’ll get another one.”

“...And?”

“Everyone wants this incredibly sweet apple, but there’s only one. If everyone desires it so much that your land isn’t functioning properly... how would you handle that?”

“Hmm...”

Baron Jorge pondered as we ascended the stairs. By the time we reached the third floor, he finally spoke.

“I would feed the apple to the livestock.”

“A precious apple? Why?”

“If the apple is that valuable, a fight is bound to break out over it. Even if it’s handled fairly, resentment will build in secret. It’s better to feed it to the livestock and remove the cause of conflict, even if it’s regrettable. At least there won’t be any disputes.”

“I thought the same.”

Saying this, I led the six otherworlders to a small room on the fourth floor. The players’ construction would start soon. We were running out of time.

“But why are we here...?”

Baron Jorge asked in a slightly trembling voice. He had no other option but to follow me, yet now that we were here, a sense of foreboding seemed to grip him.

“It’s nothing serious...”

With a strong kick, I pushed against the thin wall with my heel. The wall collapsed with a loud crash.

“Ah! Ahh!”

“Whoa! What the...!”

The otherworlders crouched in fear, thinking I was demonstrating my strength, but Baron Jorge watched intently, trying to understand what I was doing.

“This... this is...”

“I’m going to get rid of it too. The apple.”

- Vrooom.

As the wall collapsed, a blue portal was revealed. The portal shimmered with a strange light.

Incredible Achievement Alert! - You’ve discovered a hidden escape route.

- Passing through the portal in front of you will clear the 4th floor. (Remaining capacity: 5 people)

“Here we go.”

Without hesitation, I threw one of the otherworlders into the portal.

“U-woahhh!”

The man vanished into the portal with a bizarre scream. His name was probably Luke.

“Wow, this actually works.”

I wondered if otherworlders could pass through the portal since players could. It turns out they can.

Feeling reassured, I tossed the remaining four otherworlders into the portal.

Five people have passed through. The escape route is closing.

The portal slowly disappeared after swallowing a total of five people.

Dusting off my hands, I looked at Baron Jorge, whose mouth was agape.

“Precious apples are only going to cause fights if we keep them around.”

In a previous round, a fight broke out because of this portal. Someone even got hurt.

But ta-da! The portal is gone. Now, there’s no reason for the players to fight over it.

It’s good for me, and it’s good for the players. Isn’t this what you’d call a good deed?

– – – End of Chapter – – -

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