The Returner Wants Complete Victory

1 – 001. Guide

Ziing-

My head was ringing and my mind hazy.

The memories of 37-year-old Eun-woo Jin who had finally obtained the Soul Stone across countless timelines were now overlaying 21-year-old Eun-woo Jin who had been summoned to this world like a kidnapping.

The inheritance of memories.

While I’d anticipated a high probability of this happening given it was regression rather than literally rewinding time, indescribable emotions washed over me upon returning to my weakened past self after losing all the strength I’d built up.

I have to repeat those hellish 7 years again?

Though it’d be fortunate if it was just a repetition.

To win without losing anyone, it might have to be an even more difficult 7 years…

No, that’s wrong.

These weak thoughts are because my body has weakened.

I’m the guy who screwed over the dog-like gods who toyed with our fates.

I steeled my mind thus.

“Excuse me, do you happen to know what’s going on here?”

A man beside me tried striking up a conversation.

The weakened sense of reality from the regression after-effects felt restored.

The spacious auditorium was filled with confusion.

Having been summoned so abruptly without proper explanation, it was only natural.

A businessman in a suit, a tattooed slob in jogger pants, a woman in cat pajamas who seemed to have been brought here while sleeping…

The ages ranged from teens to people in their 40s, and the variety in attire made the atmosphere feel even more chaotic.

Since the stage was still empty, it must be before the ‘Guide’ appears.

It really did feel like I had precisely regressed to the moment I was first summoned.

When I ignored the man who had spoken to me, he grumbled about asking a question and not getting an answer before moving away.

It’s about time for that entrance.

Pop!

At that moment, all the lights simultaneously turned off.

“Wah!”

“What the, so sudden!”

The auditorium filled with people’s startled voices.

Shortly after, as if a play was about to start, rays of light gradually spread from the front stage.

A man was standing in the center of the wide stage.

As people’s gazes gathered on him, the man slowly opened his mouth.

“Everyone, pleased to meet you. I am the Guide who will be guiding you all. I look forward to working with you.”

The man in a black suit and homburg bowed politely as he looked over the seated crowd.

His face was concealed by a white mask with a smiling expression, so his true feelings could not be discerned.

From noble mtl dot com

“Who are you!? How dare you do this…!”

“I have a job interview to get to, let me out of here quickly!”

The brief quiet was shattered as shouts erupted here and there, starting with one man.

In the first loop, I had joined the crowd in spewing reckless fury.

Looking back, it was practically suicidal behavior. An involuntary chuckle escaped me at the thought.

If the Guide wasn’t a gentleman, all the people shouting now would be dead.

He would have at least killed some as examples before starting.

Tap.

But the man who had introduced himself as the Guide simply tapped the floor with his cane once.

As if a mute button had been pressed, the auditorium instantly fell into dead silence.

Unable to speak, confused people looked around at each other.

“You must all be very perplexed right now. Wondering where this place is, and why you’re here.”

The Guide’s voice rang out alone in the quieted auditorium.

“First, this is not Earth. It is another dimension called Prola. Amazingly, it is a world at war with monsters, not humans. You have been dispatched here as mercenaries for such a world.”

“While you may feel you were suddenly pulled here against your will, that is likely not the case. Personally I believe it to be a scam, but in some form or another, consent must have been obtained from each of you.”

That was true. At the time, I had casually signed up because I desperately needed tuition fees for my younger sister, and they offered a large sum.

“Ah. Protesting that it’s unfair will be useless. I am in the same boat, having been brought here against my will.”

The Guide let out a dry laugh.

Perhaps because only the Guide’s voice could be heard after silencing all other sounds, most people were already focused on his words.

“You all seem a bit more prepared now. Shall we proceed in order then? Please take out your cell phones.”

Everyone hastily pulled out their phones from pockets and bags.

Having experienced the sudden summoning and the Guide’s magical power to silence everyone, people are easily overpowered by such mysteries.

Just then, someone raised their hand. It was the woman in cat pajamas I had briefly noticed earlier.

“Ah. It’s probably on you somewhere. Please look thoroughly, everyone.”

It seemed she had wanted to say she didn’t bring a phone, but the Guide responded as if used to the question, answering before even hearing it asked.

The cat pajama woman rummaged around her body and produced a phone from her hat.

“While it appears a cell phone, it cannot function as one. It is closer to a medium embodying divine power, so it cannot break and has infinite battery. Oh, just hearing this probably makes it sound like a glowing brick, right? But no, it isn’t that.”

Was that supposed to be a joke? Not funny.

Others seemed to feel the same, as no one laughed.

The Guide awkwardly scratched his mask as if embarrassed.

“Let me explain. When you turn on the phone, six apps will appear – Status, Missions, Achievements, Map, Emotions, Shop. Please click on Status first.”

▶ Status

1. Basic Information

– Name: Eun-woo Jin (Male, 24)

– Alias: ─

– Job: ─

– Affiliation: ─

2. Stats

– Strength: 12

– Agility: 11

– Perception: 10

– Vitality: 14

– Magic: 0

[Available Points: 117]

《See More》

3. Traits

─

4. Equipped Gear

─

As expected, the pathetic Status greeted me.

Strength 12, Agility 11, Perception 10, Vitality 14, Magic 0. A crap total of 47…

It was incomparably weaker than in the past when all stats easily surpassed 100.

No wonder my body feels heavy as a waterlogged sponge.

Thanks perhaps to the Soul Stone’s influence, the Free Points that should have been 0 were instead 117.

Spending it all now wouldn’t even recover half my regressed strength, but using it after finishing growing will let me obtain power surpassing the first loop.

117 Free Points that can be allocated anywhere. That will be my trump card.

Sensing everyone was ready, the Guide began explaining.

“Now, you’ll see everything except name is blank under Basic Information. No need to worry about filling the blanks, you’ll slowly do so going forward.”

“Please look at the Stats. There will be variation, but women will likely have lows around 6, adult men around 10. Magic will be 0 for all.”

“Pressing the Stats will show exactly what each governs. I recommend avoiding pouring all your points into one Stat – that is dangerous.”

“Especially those who directly choose a combat Class, I suggest evenly raising all five Stats. Though mages require almost no Strength, making it easier Stat-wise, there are aspects difficult to overcome with Stats alone, so it isn’t for everyone.”

“Oh, a world with magic here? Surprising, right? The no voices now, that’s all magic! hahahaha.”

Everyone was absorbed in looking through their phones.

A few seemed to feel it was like a game, wearing slightly excited expressions.

Laughable.

Soon they’ll be thrown into a bloody battle where people beside them die.

Just this one ‘Status’ is enough to make them take this world lightly like a game, deluding themselves into thinking they’re the protagonist… Thinking of such people, I felt pity rather than contempt.

Have I been broken already?

“Alright, close Status and click on Achievements please. Not Missions, skip one section over to Achievements.”

Perhaps due to the game-like system, perhaps thanks to the Guide’s nagging, people’s tension seemed to gradually loosen.

“There are four main ways to raise your Stats – Training, Missions, Achievements, and Gear. Of those, what you must focus on are Achievements.”

“There is a limit to how much you can raise your Stats through Training. It varies by person, but usually caps around 20-30. Especially Magic has huge innate deviations, so no matter how hard some work, they cannot surpass 10.”

“But Stats of that level are absolutely impossible to survive in Prola.”

“The average combatant has all Stats exceeding at least 40. They too started around 10 like yourselves. So how did they surpass 40?”

▶ Achievements

[Hunt Chimera Soldiers – Stage 1 – 0/10] – [Reward: +1 Strength]

[Hunt Commander Chimera – Stage 1 – 0/1] – [Reward: +1 Agility]

.

.

[Discover Unappraised Relic – Stage 1 – 0/1] – [Reward: +1 Magic]

.

.

[Explore New Territory – Stage 1 – 0/1000 sqm] – [Reward: +1 Vitality]

As I had guessed from the Status, fortunately the Achievements had also reset.

Other than my memories, there was nothing left to prove I was from the first loop. The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Completing Achievements will grant you Stat Points depending on the type. Along with Missions, these will be the greatest driving force behind your growth.”

The explanation of the apps continued.

─ The Map automatically updates any areas you’ve visited. You can also update through sharing with others, but unless necessary, it’s best not to sync Maps because of Achievements.

─ For Emotions, just point the camera at an item like you’re scanning a QR code. Very easy, right? Oh, just in case, items already bound to someone else won’t show anything no matter how curious you are and try scanning them. Don’t cause fights over it.

It was all information I already knew, so I only half-listened.

“Now, let’s open the Shop.”

▶ Shop

– Contribution: 0

– Favorites: ─

– Available Items:

Cash ($)

Potion of Eternal Life – 10,000 Contribution

Potion of Rebirth – 30,000 Contribution

Spring of Wisdom – 5,000 Contribution

.

.

.

“While the Store sells items usable here, it also has ones with no use. For example, dollars. The imperial coins issued in ancient Prola are used internationally here, so dollars are useless. But why are dollars even there?”

Unlike his earlier rambling, the Guide spoke with some gravitas now.

“When coming here, you were all likely promised something.”

“It may have been money, or a miraculous potion for a family member with an incurable disease, or some other irresistible offer.”

“All actions you take for this world become Contribution that accumulates. And the day you die fighting, you’ll be able to return to Earth.”

“Then, with the Contribution built up, you can purchase items from this Store. What you desperately needed. You’ll be able to obtain it.”

Absurd lies.

He hasn’t died and returned to Earth himself, and there’s no contact from people who have supposedly returned, so how can he state that with such confidence?

If you die, you’ll return to Earth.

How many tossed away their lives lightly because of those words?

Is it around 3 years now since the first Earthlings came to Prola…?

It will take a few more years before cross-verification with later arrivals reveals the dead do not return to Earth, but by then it’s too late.

The Ancient Evil is detaining the souls of you Earthlings. Kill it, and everything will happen as promised.

Because of Irene’s lies wearing the mask of Izra, we had no choice but to advance to our deaths clutching this final hope, even knowing we had been deceived thus far.

If I had not met the real Izra who was sealed on Earth, I too would have been exploited to the end.

I felt blood trickling from my tightly clenched fist.

But the Guide was still speaking confidently, and the hypnotized people were busy searching the Store.

“Of course, you don’t have to wait until returning to Earth to use it. If you need something while living here, buy and use it whenever. I expect more Points will drain away like that. hahahaha.”

Clap!

The Guide exaggeratedly stretched his arms out and clapped.

The gazes of the people distractedly browsing the Store returned to the Guide once more.

“This concludes the basic explanation.”

“Now, finally, everyone please open your Missions tab.”

“Let’s begin the tutorial.”