I Found the Regressor With My Reflexes

38 – War (0)

Not long after, the orcs informed us that they would join us in our expedition.

The decision was made sooner than expected.

Perhaps the circumstances were not so bad.

The Corruptors destroyed the village, but the damage was not as great as expected because they were aiming for life rather than wealth.

… To put it a little more bluntly.

Because the number of mouths to eat has decreased and the food problem has been solved.

The only problem left was the supplies needed for camping.

We solved that by sweeping all kinds of camping supplies from the waiting room.

Like that.

The ‘Giant’s Footprints’ expedition was formed in a strangely smooth way.

“We head for the footsteps of giants!”

─With a powerful cry, they left the village.

* * * *

Fortunately, the scale of the group of corrupters is not that big.

After a failed raid, a new raid did not immediately follow.

This continued until the expedition came close to the giant’s footprint.

At that subtle peace, the tension of the expedition was slightly relaxed.

It was the regressor who caught the discipline.

“You found this while reconnaissance?”

“Uh.”

“It hurts…”

The reconnaissance team led by Seoyeon caught the corrupted monster.

It was a horned leopard I saw once.

This guy is impressive with eyes that turned red from congestion.

The horns were much more ferocious as they twisted and cracked here and there, as if they had a tumor.

… Of course, the leather was also dirty.

“For now, I’ll tell Haktan, let the scouts get some rest.”

Recon.

Actually, the reconnaissance was a group of climbers who were dragged into the jungle by Seo-yeon to improve their skills, as a half-excuse.

Everyone was included except me, the commander, and Seol-i, who was learning magic from the orcs.

Not everyone has hidden pieces like us, so you should adjust the intensity of your training carefully….

“It’s okay to roll still more.”

“…Do it in moderation, in moderation.”

Regressors without blood and tears did not.

Although everyone is following me by using evil somehow.

That seemed to be the limit.

‘Ugh.’

What do you expect from people on the first floor?

… Actually, I am also a climber on the first floor.

Anyway.

Currently, other climbers do most of the chores like setting up tents and preparing meals.

It’s annoying when those people stretch out because they’re having a hard time.

‘So what? .’

Wait a minute and roll your head.

I came up with a small idea.

“Still, it would be nice if a scouting party could follow me to explain the exact situation.”

“Then I’ll send Lee Seon-hwa.”

“Ah, we can just go with you and me.”

“….”

“Are you going?”

She was the one who noticed her shallow alterations in an instant and glared at me, as long as she wasn’t there, the reconnaissance team could rest.

“After…yes.”

She glanced at the reconnaissance team holding her breath behind her, and finally nodded her head with a sigh.

I knew it would be like this.

“Then let’s go right away.”

So we headed to Haktan.

“The Great Coercion…!”

“Thank you…Thank you…Thank you….”

“…I need to work harder.”

“No, lady, then die!”

… Soon a small commotion came from the tent.

I thought it would be better to rest even a little longer than that.

In the midst of that, Lee Seon-hwa couldn’t understand why she was so disappointed.

Is it because I just pointed out Seoyeon instead of you?

‘It would be better not to compete with Seoyeon.’

Let her glance at her as she thinks.

Golden eyes moved towards me.

“It was too soft a decision.”

“No, even pretending is the limit.”

“Humanity develops from the point of crossing the limit.”

“No matter how much you do, you have to leave enough energy to cook.”

An absurd silence returned at the last words, but I was confident.

Surprisingly, Seol-i can’t cook, and a regressor who doesn’t care as long as he can eat calories.

The combination of the two… Because it left a pretty big scar on my taste and mental world.

So this was a necessary trick for my mental health.

As I endured the gaze with a steel will that I could never yield.

“Brother!”

We finally arrived at Haktan’s tent.

“What’s up?”

“That’s—.”

I held out the corpse of the corrupted beast – the corrupted witch beast – that I had brought with him.

That explanation was enough.

“…Corruption didn’t only happen to orcs.”

“But…it didn’t seem like it was possible.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Seoyeon’s explanation was as follows.

“There were several corpses of similar species around the Fallen Tree, but the cause of most deaths was unknown.”

“You’re saying he didn’t die of trauma?”

“Alternatively, there is a possibility that there is some kind of rejection reaction to the corruption.”

“Right.”

Seoyeon nodded in affirmation of Haktan and me.

“But… over time it may be possible to completely corrupt some species.”

… I’m saying it as if it were speculation.

Ordinary regressor’s speculation is infinitely closer to the truth.

“If the expedition is delayed, the army of the corrupters could grow even larger.”

“Maybe.”

Let me take him naturally and sort things out.

“Huh.”

Haktan, who heard me, gave an incomprehensible laugh.

“Honestly, I thought I was in too much of a hurry, but if I hesitated, I could have been in trouble.”

Literally.

If time goes by without stopping them.

Really, the whole world might be filled with corrupted things.

“That bastard’s corruption…I’m sick of it now.”

“I agree, brother. Anyway, we’ll speed up tomorrow.”

“Hmm.”

It will be a little difficult for the climbers who have suffered so far….

Through the training under the guise of reconnaissance, your stats must have gone up.

Think of it as a substitute for a good rest today.

The way back.

Saying that, Seoyeon also rarely agreed with my words.

Fortunately, you still have a human heart.

* * * *

Since the day I first met the fallen beast.

Maybe it’s because they sped up and made a fuss?

Or is it because we are getting closer to the enemy base?

I personally think it’s the latter—but regardless of the reason.

Raids began to increase in frequency.

“These bastards won’t die!!!”

“Aim for the neck, if it’s difficult, cut off the limbs to stop the movement!”

“Yes, yes…!”

Besides, since most of them were fallen beasts, the expedition gradually began to stiffen.

‘I’m starting to feel that it’s not normal.’

Fortunately though, these corrupt beasts weren’t particularly tamed.

Hey, is it normal ferocity now that the usually ferocious beast has even been corrupted?

The Corruptors were also corrupt, but they seemed unable to tame them.

Of course, just releasing the corrupt beasts was threatening enough, but—

“Brother. At 6 o’clock there’s a bunch of monsters!”

“It’s three o’clock!”

“Come back at two o’clock!”

This side, Seol-i, the human radar, was holding on.

“Well done Seol-ah. You’re the best, really.”

“Ehehehe.”

If it wasn’t for Seol-i, there would have been quite a lot of injured.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Seol like that.”

“Really?”

“Do you know what happened between the two of you?”

“I know.”

“Could you please tell me…”

“No.”

“….”

Including Lee Seon-hwa, who is having trouble talking to Seo-yeon over there, of course.

There was also the virtue of our reconnaissance team keeping the position well.

Anyway, we were making our way through the jungle step by step.

As if to prove him, the tall trees around him were gradually shrinking.

… This means that the plains are approaching.

And the expedition finally reached the border between the jungle and the plain.

“Stop!”

First of all, we decided to rest instead of going out to the plains.

The open plain was the reason this side was at high risk of being discovered.

There was no objection.

Everyone was desperate for a break.

… It was highly likely that tomorrow would be the day of the decisive battle.

In the evening, everyone went to bed early because they were so tired.

“Let’s go.”

Seoyeon dragged me out when I was about to rest.

… Are you seriously trying to reconnaissance now?

I was a little dissatisfied.

It was necessary, and knowing that there would be no point in resisting, I followed without words.

Let’s set foot on the open plain while hiding in the cloak like that.

[You have arrived at the giant’s footsteps!]

A notification in the status window appeared.

And then.

[You can reach the portal to the waiting room on the 2nd floor.]

I came up with a rather interesting notification.

It’s a portal.

Where is it——I looked around casually.

Only dry grass swaying gently on the plain.

The portal was not visible.

‘… Doesn’t it appear right in front of you?’

Well, if it really is just to reach the giant’s footprints.

Seoyeon didn’t even try to meet the orcs, nor was she satisfied with the expedition.

Then, where is the portal hidden?

Because I’m so worried.

Seoyeon kindly informed me of the location of the portal with a kind hand.

My eyes naturally went there.

“Damn it.”

The swear words came out on their own.

The portal… Far away

Because it was right in front of the faintly visible village of the corrupted.

‘I really never get tired of this tower.’

I was just thinking about it.

“Haa…”

It’s better than being in the center of town.

In the first place, in order to reach the location where the portal was located, I had to prepare for a collision with the corrupters.

I’m just standing still because I’m dumbfounded.

Seoyeon chanted slowly, as if she was about to get down to business.

“Barmun, the fallen warrior.”

“Haetumak, an elite fallen warrior.”

“Hatmar, an elite fallen warrior.”

“Harvan the Outcast.”

“Each ability is in the mid-30s for Barmun and mid-20s for the rest.”

Enemy name… So, information about enemies to be aware of.

“About a hundred fallen orc warriors and mages combined.”

“Of course they all have the power of corruption.”

… Even the approximate number of enemies.

I was amazed to see such a thing when reading information.

At the same time, I was worried.

… The number here should be around sixty at most.

“Too many.”

“That’s right. I can’t win.”

Let’s inadvertently spit out our worries.

The cool answer came back, embarrassingly.

So.

… I couldn’t help but ask.

If it was an unwinnable fight in the first place, why did you have to bring the expedition here in the first place?

How can I reach the portal?

Let’s deny the answer that suddenly comes to our mind and ask the question.

Seoyeon also came up with the answer she had expected.

“We have to move to the portal while the two fight.”

“… Ha.”

“There are additional rewards for each of you if you catch the previous bosses…But you’ll have to compromise in a reasonable way.”

I was silent for a while at her attitude of speaking without any inspiration.

She had no intention of blaming her.

That was the first answer I came up with.

However, her mouth was bitter ─ so she just rolled her head for a while.

Is there really no way?

“You really can’t win?”

“I have to spend quite a bit of time to catch Barmun.”

… In the meantime, our lives cannot be guaranteed.

I could tell without having to listen to what was said behind the scenes.

Then what should I do?

After thinking for a long time under the darkness of the night.

In the end….

I decided to make the best choice I could.

After that.

Deepening night.

Climbers have left the expedition.