After I stood up, I looked around. The people did not pay attention to me at all. The hostile and fearful eyes aimed at me were also gone.
If there was one good thing about my skill, it would definitely be this. I had the ability to make everyone forget about everything I did, but at the same time, it was also a curse.
The angel made his speech and disappeared. At the same time, I went to Park Jihye before she even sat down to do the meditation pose.
"Jihye, I know about 'Nari'".
"What? Do I know you?".
"The you in the future did".
I explained to her that I was a regressor and about our past encounters. At the end, I told her about my dilemma.
"I see".
She looked like she was thinking of what to say. But I knew it was hard to suddenly give the answer to the problem I was having.
"The problem you are having is that you are treating every regression as not something serious".
"What?"
"I mean that every regression for you is just another attempt to try again."
"But isn't that how every regression works?"
"In theory, yes, but that is also what is causing your problem.
Because you think that regression is just a tool to try again. That at the same time makes you do some inhuman things, because if you regress, everyone just forgets what you did".
She is right; that is why I have been threatening these people all this time. Because they would just forget when I regressed anyway.
"And if you keep doing these inhuman things, you get used to it. And at some point, you might cross a line that you never wanted to".
Maybe that's why I snapped last regression.
"Therefore, you need to treat every regression as something serious. Something that can't just be wiped from everyone's memory, as you will always remember what you did.
That's why you need to keep saying to yourself, 'If I didn't have the ability to regress, would I act this way?' And if the answer is no, you do not do that".
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
I think I know where she was going with this. And she was right. I kept treating regression as something that could just be tried again if I did something wrong.
That's why I threatened people because I didn't want to spend time getting close and, in the end, I snapped.
Therefore I should treat every regression as a serious attempt to actually clear the floor.
This can make me more careful about not hurting someone on purpose unless the situation really needs it.
The whole situation last time could have been resolved peacefully. There was no need for me to suddenly attack them.
I could have shown them that I was strong in a different way. But because I was so used to threatening people, in the end I chose that method because it was easy for me.
If people do not want to tell me something in the future, I shouldn't mindlessly threaten them.
Rather, if they didn't want to tell me, it was because there was something wrong with me.
'I should treat almost every regression as if I didn't have the regression skill to begin with'.
Because of the new solution, I felt a lot better mentally. Each time I regress, my body reaches its peak form, but my mental health does not.
Every day, just killing monsters or training makes me very mentally tired. That's why I need to do something different.
'I need a break'
While everyone was risking their lives on this floor, I decided that I would take a break.
"Hahaha".
I laughed out loud, and Park Jihye looked at me confused.
"Why are you laughing?"
"I have decided that I need to take a break. Which is funny for me because while people are risking their lives, I have decided to take a break instead".
"I see. It's good to take a break sometimes".
She knew about my situation, but I thought she would get angry. Wasn't she the one who told me to treat every regression as a serious attempt?
Taking a break was doing the complete opposite.
"Why aren't you angry?".
"Hmm, I also wonder why I am not angry".
"?"
"I will probably never understand how you feel, but if you feel that, you need to take a break. You should do that".
"I don't understand; didn't you tell me to treat every regression as a serious attempt?".
"I did say that, but you have the ability to try again and again. You are the one who has the highest chance of clearing this tower. That's why, if you need a break, take it. Because when you regress, everything resets anyway".
I looked down on the ground.
'But if I take a break, wouldn't people die for no reason?'
Maybe I shouldn't take that break after all.
As I had that thought, Park Jihye must have read my mind as she responded again.
"Taeho, you are going to see a lot of people die in the future. So do not worry over regressions where everyone died, because the only thing that matters is the regression where everyone lives".
"..."
"The only one that will remember is you; therefore, you need to be mentally strong. And that is why I recommend taking that break".
Why was she helping me so much? Isn't this technically the first time she met me?
"Why are you helping me so much?"
She looked deep into my eyes, and she smiled a little. The smile looked a little painful and hopeless at the same time.
"Because, just like how I am helping you, in the future, I hope you can help me".
As she said that, she turned around and was about to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't want to see you regress, so I am leaving".
'How did she know I wanted to regress?'
I didn't stop her as I saw her enter the forest.
At the same time, I walked to the pile of weapons to pick up a dagger.
"I guess my break starts now".
I stabbed myself in the eye.
[Skill activation]
- Perfect Clear[X]
[Returning to the moment you first entered this floor]