RCMT-Chapter 7

Ch.7 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

‘This Talent Detector thing really is fascinating.’

Though it’s nothing new, the abilities of Bluestone, especially Julie Pearson who invented Artifacts, are astonishing.

Why?

‘Because Artifacts are items not included in the System.’

System rewards, Items.

Tower relics, Relics.

These are all contained within the System’s boundary.

But Artifacts are not.

Of course, their performance falls short of the former two, but it couldn’t not be fascinating.

‘Anyway, the Double Talent showing up on the Talent Detector was expected… nothing particularly surprising.’

People were making a fuss about a genius appearing, but honestly I was indifferent.

Because I had already experienced this before my Regression.

‘Status Window.’

At my whisper, the System window appeared.

[Status Window]

Name: Kang Si-woo

Race: Human

Level: 17

Class: Tamer

Talent: Empathy (C), Beast’s □□ (?)

Skills: Taming Lv.3 (F), Blue Wolf’s Step Lv.2 (C), Nest Lv.1 (F)

Stats:

―Strength: 16 (+2)

―Agility: 32 (+3)

―Stamina: 5 (+1)

―Magic Power: 20 (+2)

The Double Talent I had before Regression was ‘Empathy (C)’ and ‘Beast’s Friend (A),’ these two.

But after Regression, for some reason the latter had changed.

Both its Rank and name.

‘Anyway, I’ve confirmed this one is at least S-Rank or higher.’

Since the first die showed the talent ‘Empathy (C)’, the second die must have shown the talent ‘Beast’s □□ (?)’.

‘Coming to take the test, I’m learning good things about myself too.’

Isn’t it said that knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle?

To fight enemies, I first needed to know about myself.

I had a premonition that this Player test would be a good opportunity to gain hints about myself.

“Applicant Kang Si-woo. You have completed the first test. We will move to the second test site.”

“Let’s do that.”

As the commotion subsided, a guide approached and spoke to me.

I gave a brief bow to the officials and followed him.

The place he guided me to was a staircase leading underground.

“You’ll have to go down a bit, but it’s not very deep.”

The guide probably said that to reassure me, but I knew the truth.

‘150m underground isn’t deep?’

The second test takes place in a cavity 150m underground.

Because.

‘The second test uses that precious thing I mentioned earlier.’

A Tower relic of unknown origin.

Relic.

One of the many reasons Players throw themselves into the Tower.

Actually, Artifacts could be said to be close to imitations made following these Relics.

But whether it was precious or not, I had to take the test, so I walked down the stairs following the guide.

Thud, thud.

“……”

“……”

In the past, I took regular tests so I moved with many applicants. But now spending this cozy time alone with just the guide was awkward beyond measure.

‘If I had come with Ms. Seo Gyeoul, it wouldn’t be this awkward…’

Being nauseous would be better than being awkward.

As I endlessly descended the spiral staircase with no windows or doors, such idle thoughts appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

How long had I walked like that?

“……”

“……”

Finally, we arrived at a steel door.

[No Entry Except Authorized Personnel]

The guide opened the door familiarly with a card key.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here too.’

When we opened the door and entered, a white space that was neither too wide nor too narrow greeted us.

And in the center of that place, five pitch-black boxes like black holes were lined up side by side.

“I’ll guide you to the first box.”

Following the guide’s guidance, I stood in front of the nearest rectangular box.

I stared at that box intently.

‘Record Casket…’

Commonly known as the Coffin of Records.

It was such a precious Relic that there weren’t even 100 of them on Earth. Still, Korea was among those who possessed many.

“Have you received guidance about the second test before?”

Creak―

The guide asked me while opening the box.

“Yes, of course.”

“Then I’ll explain briefly. Still, briefing is mandatory according to our manual.”

Indeed, his explanation was concise.

1. The ‘Record Casket’ is a virtual world.
2. The ‘Record Casket’ records information about Players who enter.
3. All ‘Record Caskets’ are connected to each other.
4. Test takers must compete in rankings with ‘recorded Players’ from that time.

(However, Levels are adjusted to match the applicant.)

‘In other words, you have to fight Players from their newbie days.’

Ultimately, it was a place to compete purely in each person’s ‘potential’.

‘Previously, I only managed to reach around 100th place…’

Still, it was a global ranking.

So that was a rank worthy of A+ grade.

‘But regret is still regret.’

Since my profession was Tamer after all, the variance in strength depending on the tamed Magic Beasts couldn’t help but be large.

At that time, there were few usable Magic Beasts on Earth. No, I thought there weren’t any.

That was why I quickly entered the Tower after taking the Player test in the past.

‘But now the situation is different from then.’

Because I’m a regressor.

So my goals also couldn’t help but change.

No, more precisely they’re being added.

‘Not only a high rank, but there’s definitely something I must obtain here.’

Everyone knows the Record Casket only as a ‘colosseum’ for the second test, and uses it that way.

However.

Record Casket.

In fact, this thing’s true use is something else.

‘Exchange of information.’

This thing was made for recording in the first place.

So it possesses an unimaginably vast amount of information.

That’s why when it discovers new information it doesn’t know…

‘It pays the price. That’s what I need to obtain.’

How did I know this?

I didn’t want to know.

The Archmage and archaeologist, Gober Merlin.

‘To me, he was just a wretched old geezer who repeated and repeated and repeated things until my ears bled…’

―Si-woo, listen to me for a moment… You won’t listen? Oh my, everyone! This young whippersnapper won’t listen to a dying old man’s last words! How has the world come to… You’ll listen?

―Ahem, right. Take a look at this Relic. This is called the Record Casket… You’ve already heard it ten times?

―Players’ information is contained here. A very precious treasure. But sometimes this thing spits out information in return… You’ve heard this twenty times?

―The method is to give it enticing information that it doesn’t know either. Then you can choose and take a Player’s information sleeping in the Record Casket.

―How about that? Isn’t it amazing?!

‘…Please stop!!’

As I drove out Merlin who was chattering noisily in my head, the guide spoke to me.

“Then you may enter.”

As soon as his permission fell, I lay down in the box.

The box was quite large so it wasn’t cramped.

“I’ll just ask a few simple questions before the test starts.”

“Yes.”

“Kang Si-woo, is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“What is your Class?”

“Tamer.”

“Ah, Tamer… Pardon? Tamer… you said?”

The guide seemed to be asking back how someone with that profession cleared a non-precursor Gate.

“Ahem, I apologize. Then what is your current Level?”

“Level 17.”

“……”

‘Right. That’s the normal reaction.’

A newly awakened Player cleared one Gate and came out as Level 17? Even though they’re a Tamer?

To exaggerate, it would feel similar to giving birth and having a full-grown adult pop out instead of a baby.

The guide seemed to panic, but whether he was well-trained or not, he proceeded with the test to the end.

“…All questions are finished. Then are you ready?”

“Yes, let’s go right away.”

“Then, I will proceed with the second test. Please note that officials will be watching separately in the audiovisual room.”

That was also a fact I knew.

They would probably be watching closely to see whether I was just all talent and no substance.

‘Let’s go.’

Creaaak―

As the box door closed, deep darkness arrived.

***

When I opened my eyes, I saw a white clearing.

‘A virtual world…’

Anyone would immediately recognize that the underground clearing from a moment ago was a place made imitating this virtual world.

It was the mysteriousness of Relics that Artifacts couldn’t imitate.

After a moment, windows identical to System messages began appearing.

[Beginning to record user’s information.]

[5…4…3…2…1]

[1 unidentified code discovered!]

[Analyzing…]

Ttiring!

[Analyzing…]

Ttiring!

[Analyzing…]

‘What, why is it acting like this from the start?’

I was surprised by its reaction, but I had a hunch.

The only element that suited the word ‘unidentified’ for me was ‘Beast’s □□ (?)’, after all.

[Unidentified code, analysis impossible judgment.]

[However, detected that unidentified code is related to user’s soul.]

[Interesting discovery!]

[Awarding 1 ‘Record Transfer Ticket’ as compensation.]

‘…Huh? Already like this?’

Record Transfer Ticket.

What I absolutely wanted to obtain here.

If I have this, I can make one of the records stored in the Record Casket my own.

‘I had prepared information separately to feed it, but I didn’t know it would flow like this.’

Well, two is better than one anyway.

I smiled pleasantly and slowly loosened my body.

[Recording all user information except unidentified code.]

[Adjusting all stored Players’ Levels to 17.]

[A total of five battles will take place.]

[This is to measure and record the user’s combat ability.]

[Beginning recording.]

Ttiring!

An alarm like a boxing time bell rang, announcing the start.

‘Now is the time to focus on combat.’

I thought about it before coming in, but I don’t think I need to roll up my sleeves from the start.

‘Anyway, since I’ve already revealed that I’m a Tamer, why should I…? If I release Geri and Freki anyway, they’ll auto-hunt, so.’

Right, I definitely planned to do that.

But as a new message appeared, my mind changed 180 degrees.

[Your opponent is ‘872nd Place, Jang Seong-han’.]

A large build and an iron mace befitting it.

A face that made me want to punch it.

A smile spread across my lips without me realizing.

“Wow, fuck! Thank you, Mr. ‘Record Casket’. I’ll take the test diligently.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I kicked off the ground.

Karambit already gripped in both hands.

Jang Seong-han swung his weapon horizontally, timing it with my charge.

Whoong―

The iron mace flew toward my face making a heavy sound.

‘Other guys would get scared and step back but…’

Not me.

If I do what he wants, I’ll just be led around.

‘At times like this, you get closer.’

I rather took a large step forward.

There’s no need to even use the ‘Wolf’s Step’ skill.

‘Magic Power would just be wasted.’

Whiiik―

My hair fluttered in the wind created as the iron mace grazed past.

Now it’s my range.

“Time to die.”

I sprang up like a coiled spring.

The Karambit became fangs and tore into Jang Seong-han’s nape.

Blood didn’t spurt.

It just disappeared as data fragments scattered.

“Now I feel refreshed.”

I muttered while sheathing the dagger.

[872nd Place, Jang Seong-han is defeated.]

[Confirmed that user’s combat ability is far superior.]

[Referencing this record for next matching.]

[Matching…]

[Your opponent is ‘104th Place, Liam Gamwell’.]

The Record Casket seems to have rated my combat ability quite highly.

For the opponent to jump from 800th place straight to the 100s.

‘Liam Gamwell, Archer Rank 1 in England.’

Moreover, that name was a name I could never forget.

In the past, the Player who first taught me the bitter taste of defeat was that bastard.

Precisely not that bastard but his replica.

‘Anyway, revenge… I should get it, right?’

But he’s not an easy opponent.

For Tamers, Archer is a very unfavorable Class in terms of compatibility.

‘The difficulty will gradually increase anyway, so I can’t start whining already.’

Due to the Record Casket’s characteristics, it matches you with more difficult opponents based on information updated each round.

Whiik―

As I was organizing my thoughts, I suddenly heard the sound of arrows.

“…?!”

The bastard drew his bowstring as soon as he appeared.

Right. Since we’re not on terms where greetings are needed, this is correct.

“Keong―!“

“Grrr―“

Geri, who appeared sensing danger, swung his indigo tail and deflected the arrow.

Meanwhile, Freki rapidly charged and had already gotten right under the guy’s chin.

‘That won’t be enough.’

If you’re an excellent Archer, your body movements are also top-notch.

As expected, Liam leaned back and dodged Freki’s attack.

“Geri, you help too!”

“Keong!“

Geri, who disappeared at the same time as its response, suddenly appeared from under Freki. As if it had teleported.

Naturally, it’s a skill effect.

[Two Are One]

―Rank: S―

―Level: Max

―Information:

1. A pair of souls can always be together anywhere without being separated.
2. [―Lock―]
3. [―Lock―]

‘As expected of an S-Rank skill.’

With the first effect, they can enter the Nest together, and when fighting they can use teleportation-like abilities like that.

“Kwang―!“

At the unexpected ambush, Liam’s thigh got bitten.

And Geri absolutely never lets go once it bites.

Liam struggled and tried to escape but…

‘An Archer who loses mobility is just prey.’

Following that, Freki bit the guy’s opposite leg.

Then Liam became completely bound.

I didn’t miss that moment.

Puk!

The Karambit’s sharp blade dug into the guy’s heart.

[104th Place, Liam Gamwell is defeated.]

“Phew…”

At least I kept my promise with Seo Gyeoul.

Total score A+ is confirmed.

Now there are three fights remaining.

The number of times I need to win.