12 – Keys and Locks

Hold the key.

The chains and padlocks that restrained Han Seo-yeon appear.

Let go of the key.

Then the chains and locks disappear in an instant.

… Just looking at the situation, it’s clear that this key is related to Han Seo-yeon.

‘Why did you give me this key?’

Han Seo-yeon, who had a strange expression on her face, approached first, probably because she had been thinking about the unexpected reward for a long time.

“Why is that?”

“Hmm…I can’t feel the equipment I received as a reward.”

“That on your shoulder?”

As I said that, Seoyeon Han glanced at my cape and slightly raised her eyebrows.

“I got a pretty good one.”

“Oh. Really?”

“But I don’t think the equipment suits you?”

What?

“What’s the effect?”

“Wait a minute.”

Han Seo-yeon, who had been looking for a notepad and a pen somewhere, quickly moved her hand.

▷Hermit’s Cloak (Heroic)

– Dexterity +3 Luck +2

– Stealth (B+): Stealth/concealment is possible using special fog.

– Axial (A): Teleports a short distance.

Then he handed it to me using the item’s status window.

A concise explanation attached next to it is a bonus, probably because there is no function like the status window to explain it.

… Anyway, the skill set is really strange.

I felt that my body was getting lighter, but I thought it was real assassin equipment.

“Still, even if it’s not good enough, it’s an item that can be used up to the third floor. An assassin would have been better.”

Han Seo-yeon offered a deep consolation, but she wore four legs on her back like a regressive social misfit.

Ah.

Anyway, it’s complicated in my head.

“…I thought this was the reward I wanted the most.”

“Looking at the effect, it’s not at all.”

As Han Seo-yeon said, there was no way I wanted assassin equipment.

Because I understand my role well.

… Perhaps it could be said that he read his desire to leave this tower.

‘Well.’

I don’t think the Tower will give you such an outrageous reward.

So this cloak is ‘you’ll need it later’?

Is the key ‘what I wanted’?

… It’s hard.

How comfortable it would be if you marked it properly in the reward room.

Maybe he was trying to make me think about this.

“Are there any other rewards?”

“Um…”

All those concerns were blown away by the ensuing question.

“Whoa.”

“?”

I hesitated a bit, but finally took the key out of my pocket.

After all, Seoyeon Han and I are a team even if we don’t like it.

Because Han Seo-yeon was closer than before, I flinched a little when her chain and padlock suddenly appeared.

Maybe it’s because I’m a little nervous.

“This is it.”

I held it out, trying not to show it.

What will be the reaction?

You won’t react as violently as when you first showed me the status bar, right?

Han Seo-yeon was looking blankly at my fingertips… At first, he seemed calm.

Thank you.

“Do you know what it is?”

“Know and go to sleep…what are you looking at?”

“Huh?”

Han Seo-yeon’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her dissatisfiedly with her arms crossed.

“No, can’t you see this?”

“…I don’t think I’m kidding.”

“Huh true.”

I checked the small key in awe.

A typical, plain-looking metal key that looks like something out of a game.

There is some connection with Han Seo-yeon, but I cannot see Han Seo-yeon.

‘What the hell is this?’

I think I’ll have to write it to Han Seo-yeon in the end.

I was reluctant to use it right away because I didn’t know what would happen.

‘Because New Year’s Day will come soon.’

Han Seo-yeon, who wants to keep the secret of her return, won’t be happy if something happens.

“Let’s talk about this later.”

“…Once I get it.”

“Good.”

Fortunately, Han Seo-yeon nodded as if she understood my intentions.

However, the expression still seemed to be questionable, so I quickly changed the subject.

“So, what did you come up with?”

“No big deal, just a vampire ring and a sword.”

“It’s normal.”

“This is normal.”

You can understand the effect of the vampire ring just by hearing the name… If it wasn’t for a strange object, the sword would be perfectly usable.

I felt like I brought exactly what I needed, so my stomach hurt for no reason.

Maybe what I wanted was something I used before returning.

Because you wouldn’t have wanted it as vaguely as I did.

“The sword glows slightly and sharpens when an evil foe is around.”

“It doesn’t seem like much when you explain it like that.”

“Well, the effect itself is okay.”

As you say.

The explanation is a bit so so, just looking at the black handle on Han Seo-yeon’s waist, it looked like a work of art.

It would be quite beautiful if there was light there.

“I envy you.”

“By the way, most of the rewards obtained from the tower are bound, so I can’t give them even if I want to.”

“Eh.”

As we were chatting, Seol-i appeared with a flushed expression.

She was wearing a necklace that hadn’t been seen, and because of her characteristic thoracic curve, it looked as if it were on display.

… An ominous necklace that seemed to be made of some kind of bone.

What did you get?

And under that necklace stand, he was holding a book.

Looking at the luxurious leather cover, it seemed like something was written on it.

“Welcome.”

“Oh, brother!”

“Why are you so happy?”

I approached Seol-i, who had been strangely in a good mood before.

“We were just talking about the reward. I’m this cloak and he’s—”

I summarize the conversation so far to Seol-i, who came late.

When explaining Han Seo-yeon’s sword, she rolled her eyes toward it as if she was somehow uneasy.

I wonder if it’s a little greedy because it looks like a work of art.

It was very commendable to express disinterest by abruptly averting one’s eyes.

“Oh, and Seol-ah, who suffered a lot among the most disgusting undead.”

“Uh, ah, um, ehehehe…What?”

“What reward did you get?”

“Uh…a necklace that can store the beings once ruled, and this book.”

“Ooh.”

I was amazed at its excellent performance.

A truly exclusive item that greatly reduces her weakness of being able to fight properly only when she gathers troops through domination.

“Then what about books?”

“The book…”

Sul suddenly muttered and hesitated.

Why?

Silence came for a while in a slightly puzzled situation.

Unexpectedly, it was Han Seo-yeon who cut him off.

“I don’t know yet. Why don’t you go to the appraisal center?”

“Oh yes!”

“We’ve already been, so let’s go.”

“Uh uh, yes.”

“Yes, thank you…”

Sulli answered quickly and left the seat as quickly as he did.

“What’s wrong?”

“You are all talking about what to do.”

“…?”

“My eyes are the second most important secret after regression.”

“Oh.”

I think so.

I haven’t been to an appraisal center, but I know all the effects of the equipment.

It’s absurd that the other person was Seol, but if they weren’t together, they would have thought it was strange enough.

“Sorry. Sorry.”

“Anyway…It takes quite a while to get to the appraisal center. Let’s talk about the fourth reward.”

“Good.”

Nodding my head, I followed Han Seo-yeon and sat down on the waiting room sofa at the front desk of the hotel.

With the key out.

“Still can’t you see?”

“Yes.”

“Even by browsing information?”

“Uh.”

It’s strange….

“First of all, it’s a key.”

“The key?”

“Yes.”

I got a pen and drew a key on a memo just in case, but it seemed like he didn’t know this time either.

If you’ve come this far, you should tell me.

“Every time I pick up this key, I see something strange.”

“What is it?”

“…The chains and locks that hold you back.”

From noble mtl dot com

“……!!!!!”

Seoyeon Han listened to my words and was silent as if she didn’t understand.

Isn’t that why I’m approaching embarrassingly?

“You see that?”

“Uh, uh uh.”

“Why is that… How can the top…”

She held onto Han Seo-yeon’s shoulder and slightly restrained her as she pressed her face in disbelief.

“Calm down.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Do you think you know what it is now?”

Han Seo-yeon nodded her head after pondering for a while.

“Surprising…But it looks like something related to my return.”

“Really?”

“But the tower’s administrators won’t know about my return…”

She was still in disbelief, and her gibberish was quite a shock.

So I waited for a while, and as a regressor of hers, I was able to face her who quickly returned to her original state.

“I don’t know the details of my regression, but there is some kind of limitation in this regression.”

“Constraints?”

“Yeah. It’s a bit complicated, but that’s how it’s called.”

It’s a restriction.

Is that the identity of chains and locks?

“It’s also why the managers don’t notice my regression.”

“Oh, come to think of it, Gabriel didn’t know at all.”

Even though the ordeal even mentioned regression, Gabriel only talked about Han Seo-yeon’s behavior in the waiting room in an ‘unnormal way’ and moved on.

When I see my name being called, it seems like I’m peeping at the status window in my own way.

“But at the same time it also limits my power.”

“Power?”

Why is that?

“I’m not sure about this, but I’m guessing it’s because wielding too much power itself jeopardizes the secret.”

“I see.”

To keep a secret, it’s best to keep it out of question.

The feeling of doing anything to keep the secret of return.

“Could this key unlock that restriction…?”

I don’t think I can solve it then.

“Yeah, but it’s not completely solved, maybe only part of it.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Well, I can’t count the number of locks I see now.

If it’s solving one of them, it won’t change much.

“Then what should I do?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Mmm.”

“The choice is yours.”

After saying that, Han Seo-yeon closed her eyes.

“Because you are the owner of the key.”

Marge sees her with her eyes closed like a princess waiting to be kissed by her prince.

Can I solve this?

Who knows, wouldn’t it be meaningful to put restrictions on her that even she, her regressor, can’t do anything about?

After thinking about it for a while.

I knelt down and unlocked the most prominent neck lock.

– Click.

At the same time, unknown magical powers begin to gather around Han Seo-yeon.

I realized while feeling the fragments of that power.

This key is the reward I most wanted.

─The Regressor Bus.

Maybe more than just a bus… That it was what i wanted

At the premonition of eating raw food, I smiled happily.

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