Chapter 124

    [...Wait.]

    “...Huh?”

    I have no idea how many times I’ve regressed by now. I never counted, and even if I had, I would’ve forgotten by now.

    “...You... you can talk?”

    But this was the first time my clone had ever spoken to me. Literally the first time. Until now, he’d just muttered to himself. Suddenly, he was speaking human words, so naturally, I was shocked.

    “Why... why now, all of a sudden?”

    I didn’t even consider the possibility that he might be pretending to talk as a trap. Traps or one-time betrayals don’t hold much meaning for a regressor. And besides, my opponent is myself. If he were going to set a trap, he wouldn’t have done it so crudely.

    [...]

    “...Hey, why’d you start talking and then stop?”

    The clone fell silent again, but this silence was different. It wasn’t the usual silence filled with madness; it was the kind of silence where he seemed to be carefully choosing his words as if language itself was foreign to him.

    [...]

    “...”

    After a long pause, he finally spoke again, and his question was simple.

    [...Is this your first time?]

    “...What do you mean?”

    [It’s your first time.]

    The clone slowly nodded as if understanding something. This might be the first time he’d spoken to me, but it felt like he was talking about something else entirely.

    [Sit.]

    With that, he plopped down onto the ground. I hesitated, but eventually, I sat down as well. After making sure we were both seated, the clone began to speak.

    [Why are we fighting?]

    “...Because you attacked me?”

    [And why did I attack you?]

    “...How am I supposed to know that?”

    [That’s what I want to talk about.]

    A faint smile spread across the clone’s face.

    [My memory is hazy... but I’ll explain as best as I can remember.]

    The story my clone began to tell... was nothing short of shocking.

    ***

    Clone’s Perspective:

    Entering the 1st Floor

    [...1st floor?]

    When I came to my senses, I found myself surrounded by darkness. I stretched out my foot and tapped at the space in front of me, feeling something solid. Looks like I’m trapped somewhere.

    [Sss...]

    Just moments ago, I had sliced through a Minotaur with a single slash and stepped into the portal that had formed above the Goblin Shaman’s corpse. And now, I’m here, suddenly, in this dark space.

    This tower really doesn’t give you a moment’s rest, does it?

    [It’s okay. Let’s calm down.]

    There’s no need to panic. Just like I handled the tutorial, I can overcome this if I take it one step at a time. After all, it’s only the first floor. Surely, it won’t be anything too extreme.

    I took a deep breath and waited quietly. Gradually, the darkness around me faded, replaced by a bright light shining from all directions.

    [Ugh...]

    As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw what appeared to be a white temple. The pillars surrounding me resembled something out of ancient Greece, though slightly different—pure white columns supporting a grand temple.

    [...]

    Just a moment ago, I was in an open field in the tutorial, and now, a temple? I stood there, slightly dazed by the drastic change in environment, when a message appeared in front of me.

    1st Floor - Clear Condition: A monster resembling your image has appeared. Defeating it is your only way to survive.

    [...A monster?]

    In the distance, I spotted a silhouette. Is that supposed to be the monster that looks like me? It seems my task for this floor is to defeat that creature over there.

    [Hmm...]

    Reluctantly, I twirled my wrist, gripping my sword tightly, and began to approach the silhouette. I didn’t know much about the structure of this floor yet, but following instructions seemed like the best course of action. As long as I clear it adequately and don’t move to the next floor, there’s still a chance for a flawless completion.

    At the same time, it seemed like the creature had noticed my presence, as it began to walk towards me as well. We both approached each other and in no time, the distance between us closed.

    [...]

    “...”

    You’ve been injured. Regressing to the moment you first entered the 1st floor.

    ***

    [So, you’re saying you don’t remember any of this?]

    “That’s right.”

    [Looks like we don’t share each other’s regressions...]

    Surprisingly, the 5th-floor Junho didn’t remember any of this. When he tried to cut me down instantly, just like before, I barely managed to calm him down enough to talk.

    [Now it’s your turn to try regressing. If you’re the clone, you won’t be able to regress, right?]

    “That’s true... but, hold on. Something’s bothering me.”

    5th-floor Junho propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought, his eyes darting around as he pondered something. Suddenly, he jolted upright.

    “Hey.”

    [...?]

    “How are we supposed to clear this?”

    [Huh?]

    Come to think of it, he was right. If both of us can regress regardless of who’s the clone, this fight could go on forever.

    To defeat the other, we’d inevitably need to resort to violence, but since we both regress whenever we take damage, an actual fight would likely result in an endless loop.

    “Hm...”

    [Hmm...]

    I started to feel like we were seriously screwed... but then, a decent idea popped into my head.

    [But does victory really have to be physical?]

    “?”

    [What if... we count it as a win if one of us gives up?]

    “Let’s test it.”

    Both of us, having reached an agreement, dropped our swords to the ground, focusing entirely on conceding defeat to the other in earnest.

    ‘I lost. He won. I am the clone. I am defeated.’

    As I closed my eyes tightly and concentrated, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

    “Hey.”

    [...?]

    “Try touching that.”

    5th-floor Junho gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. Following his gaze, I saw a blue portal hovering in mid-air. That portal must lead to clearing the 5th floor.

    “If you ask me, I’m a hundred percent sure you’re the clone. I just got a message saying I cleared the floor despite my thoughts of losing. Did you get anything like that?”

    [...No.]

    “Go ahead, touch the portal.”

    [...]

    I reached out toward the blue portal, just as he suggested... but nothing happened. Was the portal broken?

    No. Deep down, I already knew. I knew that I was the clone.

    5th-floor Junho’s memories were too vivid, too real. They weren’t something the tower could have fabricated on a whim.

    “...I’m sorry.”

    [...]

    “Listen... should I clear the floor and then come back after regressing? Maybe there’s a way I can bring you out with me...”

    He looked at me with a hint of sympathy, his expression a bit somber.

    But whether he felt sympathy or not didn’t matter. A terrifying idea had just crossed my mind.

    [Wait.]

    “...Huh? What?”

    [Don’t go yet.]

    A way to use this situation to ‘my’ advantage.

    – – – End of Chapter – – -

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