Chapter 56-57 – Tower Forgives

"Regression."

"!"

"Regression."

"!?"

"Regression."

"Huh!"

"Regression."

"Nuh~!"

Seong Yeon shuddered every time she mentioned regression.

She screamed like Goku in a DBZ, and her face fell blue.

"Have you been reading this?"

The bookshelf of the guild leader, who had just moved in, was full of materials and novels needed for work.

Mostly [Recurrences]. Otherwise, [Romance].

It may be surprising because of its nature, but [male-oriented harem drama] is mixed with the famous yandere drama that I am familiar with.

"What is it that you like this? It's surprising for someone like you."

"Don't look~!"

Recurrences are probably like reference books.

Evidence of my struggle to confirm my situation and lift my curse.

"Where did you know that? Who told you!?"

"A knight of pure love. A strange constellation whose speech changes so much that you don't know which one's true nature is. Why, have you never met that constellation?"

"No?"

"At least this episode of time?"

"Please don't say that. I'm so scared right now. I don't know when you're going to die, so I'm mentally preparing to pass over at any time.

Seong Yeon's auditors were gathered.

It's was around her neck.

"If you die, I will commit suicide immediately."

"Uh, oh, release the auror, you crazy bastard. What are you doing?"

Actually, I am also shaking inside.

How much can I say?

How far can I ask?

I don't know.

"But this is the first case like this, and the fact that you mentioned regression itself is abnormal!"

"I came here to tell you that, so please stop acting so extreme. What are you going to do by blowing up your head instead of mine?"

"Yeah, but!"

It's the same here, as we don't know anything.

First, I hit the ground running.

"Are you curious about how I knew and why you are here? First, I'll tell you everything that happened right after clearing, so sit down, and listen carefully."

"Yes…"

I told Seong Yeon what I saw then , without hiding anything from the situation at the time.

That the constellation gave me memories I didn't know about, that it was a strange memory where my head suddenly exploded, that I heard that there was a curse on me, and that Seong Yeon, a returner, was trying to save me.

The reason I explode is that I did certain NG behavior. Even the reason was ridiculous, because I heard a secret from someone else.

"Did the constellation tell you everything?"

"No."

"B-It's impossible! That's right, the constellations are on the tower owner's side! But why… You're still fine, even though you know about my returnee power! The situation is strange!"

"Let's sum up the story. You're hiding some secret from me, and I have to find out for myself? What if I find out about it some other way?"

"That's true… But it will be difficult. If you were sober, you would realize it right away, but you are cursed.

"You send me to the Golden Tower to escape this curse?"

"Oh, you're wrong. And may seem that way now, but the reason I first set foot in this tower was a bit more sinister."

"Is it because of self-interest?"

"It's similar. But if I say this, I really... might die."

"…"

It's dirty.

The reason why the returnee climbs to the top is the same in all novels.

This is to gain rewards by targeting the tower with cheats.

What kind of reward did Seong Yeon want to get?

It's so frustrating that even though we know everything, we can't communicate with each other.

"There are so many things I want to ask. Why there is a curse on my body, what your secret is, how many times you have regressed, and what you have done in the meantime."

"…"

"It's so frustrating not being able to say something even though I got so close to the answer."

We're almost there.

Close to the answer, just before scratching.

Still, my teeth gritted at the discomfort of not being able to reach her.

'Fuck.'

I got up and made coffee. It was cheap mixed coffee. But it tastes delicious after the sugar kicks in.

We remained silent for about 5 minutes.

Seong Yeon was measuring 'how much she can say' and I had to wait for it.

…

…

[Top owner 'Aphrodite' is watching you.]

"Phew!?"

"Huh!!!"

I threw down the coffee I was drinking, and Seong Yeon screamed at my eccentricity.

I don't think I saw the system window that popped up in front of me right now.

"Tower owner!"

"What, tower owner!?"

We both jumped up at the same time.

What, at this timing?

This time when my friend and I are trying to reconcile!?

"Really? Is it really the tower Owner!?"

[Tower owner 'Aphrodite' agrees to your question.]

The answer is fast!

Watching it in real time!

"Ugh!"

At this, Seong Yeon's face turned blue, and she immediately got down from her chair and bowed her head.

Judging by her reaction, it's not the first time Seong Yeon has seen the tower owner.

She must have met her several times as she continued her journey.

This is the god who cursed my friend...

After all, even in her creations, she calls herself the name of a strong god at the end!

"… Seong Yeon?"

"Something strange has happened! You shouldn't hear about regression from others! It's one of the NG actions you mentioned, but since the constellation relayed it directly through you, you don't die like usual."

"So you came down in person!?"

I changed it to an honorific and asked again.

[Tower owner 'Aphrodite' affirms all of that.]

[She says she feels very strange right now, never knowing that her own constellation would betray her.]

[She is contemplating what to do with this.]

While she was wondering what to do with this, I hurriedly got down on one knee.

A cold sweat broke out. My nerves become so sharp that I can vividly feel the tips of the hairs on my head.

[First, congratulations on conquering the tower.]

However, I point out that we relied on regression this time as well.

It is difficult to determine whether this was bypassed or legitimately broken.

"… Wha!?"

Seong Yeon closed her mouth.

It wasn't good.

My friend has been so manipulated by this god that she is discouraged.

'How many times did she get a chance to talk to the tower owner?'

She sucked her lips. She then smeared her saliva and greased her neck to gain courage.

"Tower owner. If it's okay, can you tell me how my idiot friend got detoured and got caught?"

"You prostitute…!?"

I stepped forward.

Seong Yeon, who was bowing her head, had to protect this guy instead.

Only then can this story move forward.

[… …]

[I will answer.]

[The criminal Seong Yeon used men to conquer the 10th floor.]

-Man?

[She took aim at the fact that there was no manager at the 10th floor gate at the time.]

[The test starts automatically when the challenger steps into the gate].

[The criminal realized the gimmick and brought in a man with homosexual tendencies.]

[Out of the 499 buttocks, only one had a man in it.]

[So she just cleared the 10th floor.]

I never thought you could attack it that way.

Huh, that's right...

"Excuse me. Isn't the purpose of this tower about love? Strictly speaking, homosexuality is not a sin either. On the contrary, isn't it something that should be protected?"

" Hong Chang …"

Song Yeong called me from behind, but I boldly stepped forward.

I may be behind, but I have no choice but to do it.

[Hmm.]

[Okay. That makes sense.]

The tower owner person agreed.

I thought she would get angry right away, but she wasn't, and her tone changed slightly.

[If you think about it, she admits her mistake, saying that it could have been done by preparing the Incubus.]

"… I'm sorry! He talked freely! Prostitute, you apologize too!"

[No. There is no need for that.]

[It was a good opinion.]

[I will provide feedback on suggestions for the tower if they are legitimate.]

[I make excuses by saying that I am not a harsh god].

Fortunately, she made sense.

If you do this, anything will work.

Then… Let's flatter.

First, let's make the tower owner feel good and lift it up.

"Thank you, tower owner. Because you are so sincere about the tower, you couldn't forgive my friend for the foolish thing she did. Isn't that why you cursed her?"

[What do you want to say?]

[Persuasion is useless.]

[The punishment that suits the criminal was only given to the criminal.]

[No matter what you say, nothing will change my mind].

I was caught.

There is room for conversation at the time of the answer.

Somehow, my mind was very clear, and the [clear reward] I received from the knight earlier shone in my heart.

"No, I don't intend to persuade you. I just want to apologize to you."

I don't know why it shines.

My tongue and body moved as if someone was controlling me.

[Apology?]

[Why are you apologizing?]

[What are you apologizing for knowing?]

[Why?]

"I dare say, this damned bitch, did she bypass the gateway based on her regressed knowledge? That's why the tower owner got so angry that she cursed her."

[That's right. Then I cursed her because of her insincerity.]

[At that time, she took a detour up to the 50th floor].

[And in this regression time episode too, countless foolish people appeared and took a detour up to the 50th floor.]

[Is this a coincidence?]

"Did you do it?"

"I'm not the one in this time episode."

"But it's still true that my close friend did something terrible to the tower owner. It was this bitch who stopped the first attempt at bypassing the tower. This bitch is also the one who is suspicious. In fact, she ruined half of the tower owner's tower."

[Yes. That's right.]

[She destroyed the tower I managed and destroyed the concept.]

[A whopping half of total floors.]

[I believe that the reason the 50th floor was bypassed in the current episode was because something was done in the previous time episode, which affected the current episode.]

"Then, of course, I think it's okay to be angry. I have no intention of making excuses for this. It's true that that bitch was in the wrong."

The [clear reward] inside me spoke.

"And… I have a vague feeling that the reason that bitch messed up the tower was because of me. So wouldn't it be strange if I apologized?"

[That is correct.]

[But how…]

I don't know.

I am just speaking as [clear reward] guides me.

My brightly shining heart continues to advise at this moment.

First of all, it is important to show sincerity.

Flattering God doesn't work.

At this moment, I took away my shame and gave me the spirit of a five-body fighting spirit.

"Looking at the tower owner's reaction, it seems my guess was correct. That being said, I apologize again, as I am in a relationship with this girl. I am truly sorry. I will apologize here and there with all my sincerity."

It's okay to be humble. Because it's life-threatening.

Immediately, I took off my upper and lower clothes and went to bed naked.

The worst humiliation as a man... The opponent is God.

….

… How will it come out?

[….]

[….]

[… ….]

The system window did not move, perhaps because the naked Dogeza was unexpected at this timing.

But I feel its presence. It's close to me.

I might be seen if I used the auror, but I was desperately trying to control myself.

[Do you have no self-esteem?] 

A small question appeared right in front of me as I was hitting my head on the floor.

I don't move.

"Pride takes a backseat. No matter how much my friend regresses... Here and now, at this time, my life and my friend's life are at stake. In such a situation, I want to know why this happened and the circumstances, but I can't talk to each other. It's frustrating."

The frustration has really gone too far.

Actually, I don't even know why I'm doing this right now.

I'm doing it instinctively, like when I threw myself into a fire.

[What if you say it's frustrating?]

"A friend of mine showed up after a few years and approached me as if I had just seen her yesterday. Then she introduced me to a girl and told me to go to fuck her, almost like she was forcing me to do so. I was furious that she told me to climb the top, but if I did, why did she send me? I thought I would know, but I don't. Why should I ask a question if I tell them?"

[That's right.]

[Are you not angry?]

"I got hit. Sure enough, she came and hit me a few times. But hitting me doesn't solve anything. Thanks to that, in the midst of all the trouble, the owner of the tower showed up."

I hit my head to beg.

"I'm so desperate. Seong Yeon is torturing me so much that she won't have any fun."

I hit my head again.

"It's okay to dance naked. If you tell me to run outside in this state, I will run. As long as I don't harm anyone, I will do whatever you tell me."

"So please, please allow us to talk. I earnestly pray to the owner of the tower."

It's so disgusting that I wonder if it has to go this far.

Only my heart, shining with [clear reward], knows why I am doing this.

There is no need for you to be so begging.

Returning also happened due to my own greed.

All these sins happened because my friend did something foolish.

Still, do I do that much for that sinner?

"Because I want to hear the story directly from her and be rightfully angry. It turns out that she has died several times without my knowledge and that I have even been induced by this person once or twice in my life, right?"

[That's right.]

[What are you going to do after getting angry and talking?]

"If we talk... And she says she's sorry... I will forgive her in the end."

[What do you believe in and forgive sinners?]

[You still don't know anything, do you?]

"If that damn bitch was really a bad girl, she would have acted even more viciously. I don't know much about her curse, but isn't there something we can do? There could be a way to avoid the Golden Tower altogether, or just leave me alone whether I die or not, right?"

[I will not deny it.]

[There were plenty of more severe methods.]

[It might have been easier to move if she made you a slave.]

[… …]

[Hmm…]

I gradually got closer to making begging own tone of voice.

I was worried.

Then, the system window moved to Seong Yeon, who was bowing her head.

Then suddenly there was a sound of ridicule.

──True nature appeared.

[Your ■■■■■■, is kneeling naked and begging for forgiveness. How do you feel now?]

"I feel like my heart is breaking."

[He's doing that because of you.]

[How does it feel?]

"Right now, I feel like I want to get naked... Go out into the street... And bow down against the tower..."

[As a ■■■■■, you are the one who is suffering the worst humiliation.]

[You played a trick because you wanted to■■■■■, and you receive humiliation as a gift.]

[LOL]

[LOL]

[Be cheerful.]

How much has Seong Yeon accumulated?

She treated me quite lightly, but she was merciless towards Seong Yeon.

Still, this is going well.

I somehow had that feeling.

[I gave you, ■■■■■, the worst humiliation that ■■■■■ could experience by insulting ■■■■■.]

[It's not because I asked him to; he voluntarily put down his pride and dignity for ■■■■■.]

[I don't know the circumstances, but he is doing this out of friendship.]

[You may not be able to repay your benefactor for saving your life, but you humiliated him to this extent.]

[Hey, how does it feel to return the favor?]

"I'm so ashamed... I want to scratch my hair right now... And commit suicide... Tear my whole body into pieces... And throw them as birdseed..."

[No. When you die, you return.]

[I won't kill you this time].

[Never.]

"Please kill me... I don't want to give Changgi those memories.

[LOL]

[I don't want you to die].

[Look at your face. Are you feeling refreshed on the inside?]

[You won't like it even if you repeat it thousands of times, right?]

[But it's really worth seeing him voluntarily beg and your heart breaks.]

[It's always nice to see the same ■■■■■ heart being torn apart by ■■■■■.]

Get excited that I'm on top of this cheeky thing.

It's scary.

As I kept quiet for fear of being noticed, another strange thing happened.

All of a sudden, the system window started shaking.

[… Tsk. The constellation is making noise next to me.]

[I tried to think about what I would do from then on after seeing you die 100 more times.]

'Constellation, perhaps a knight of pure love?

'She said the top owner was calling you earlier, so is she next to me now?'

[Good. I will show mercy and spare you just this once.]

She seems like a nice girl to me.

[It makes me feel sorry to think that you are suffering without knowing anything because of this girl.]

"… Huh?"

[Rejoice. I will lift your curse.]

[However, I will leave one behind. You know very well what I will leave behind, right?]

[The remaining curse will be erased when we conquer this tower].

[Do you understand?]

"!"

Seong Yeon hit her head.

"Thank you! Really, thank you!!"

[Thank you to your ■■. Who would have thought that he would do something like that for friendship without even knowing that you were ■■?]

[Or is it because of repeated regression that I am instinctively trying to protect you?]

[Hum.]

[Even if you lose your memory, does a trace remain in your soul? .]

[That's it… Hehe.]

She was watching me.

It's just a friendship, but it means something big.

Although it was a little, the owner of this tower had a similar scent to the Knight of Pure Love.

She was 'Aphrodite', the tower owner. [The owner of the Tower of Lust.]

She will be watching her twisted love at any time.

Lastly, the system window disappears after throwing a word at Seong Yeon.

With that, the golden light stayed on Seong Yeon.

"Ah…!"

Did she say she alleviates the curse?

I don't know how much it has been alleviated, but Seong Yeon's face has become brighter than ever before.