4. Round 1 Begins
[Random Rune Fragment]
-Category: Consumable
-Grade: Unique
-Effect: Obtain a random rune.
-Usage Restriction: Level 1 or below
-Description: An event item created to provide to players. Cannot be used after leveling up, so use without saving.
[As you can see, the Random Rune Fragment is a one-time item. It can only be used at level 1 and is the only item given at the start.]
People looked at the angel with curious eyes at her explanation.
Only Ryumin, who was like a veteran of a hundred battles, maintained an expressionless face.
'They probably don't know what's what yet. Neither how to use items nor what runes are.'
Runes are consumable items that can occasionally be obtained when killing monsters or completing quests.
'In game terms, it's like a passive skill.'
When you use a rune, it's engraved on your body and you can gain the corresponding ability.
Of course, the more the better.
There's no limit to the number of runes you can obtain.
'If you can obtain many, that is.'
Since runes had a drop rate equivalent to unique items, they weren't easy to get.
'The reality is not even getting 10 throughout all 20 rounds.'
But this was only for ordinary people.
'In my case, I had 30 runes in my last regression.'
With a unique class job and many runes, he could become overwhelmingly strong.
Although he had to disappear ridiculously in front of the boss room without even showing his skills.
'This time must be different. As it's the last chance, I need to grow overwhelmingly more than any other regression.'
Not just 30 runes, but 50, 100, and so on.
He needs to obtain them like crazy and become uniquely strong.
[You can use the item by holding it in your hand and saying 'Use' in your mind.]
As the angel taught how to use it, the runes in people's hands disappeared one by one.
'Use.'
As Ryumin used it too, the rune fragment shattered with a "pssst" sound.
[You have used the Random Rune Fragment.]
[Congratulations! You've obtained the 'Time Reversal Rune'!]
[The obtained rune is automatically engraved on the player's body!]
Though the rune was engraved, there wasn't even a hint of expectation on Ryumin's face.
He knew what message would appear shortly after.
[Remnants of the rune remain in the player's soul.]
[Engraving has failed due to the rune's characteristics.]
Engraving failure.
It was an expected result.
If it could be newly engraved, he could regress infinitely.
'I knew it wouldn't work, but it's still disappointing. Especially since this is really the last regression...'
When Ryumin first regressed and used the rune fragment, he thought he might get a different rune.
But it wasn't so.
'I tried using it with a time delay, and even deliberately using it in the next round, but...'
No matter what he did, the result was the same.
As if it was predetermined, only the Time Reversal Rune would appear.
'So the engraving failed every time.'
Unlike others, he couldn't engrave it, but he didn't think it was a loss.
He still had the experience and knowledge from 99 regressions.
But then an unexpected thing happened.
[Confirmed as the 100th time reversal through remnants of the rune engraved on the soul.]
[Obtained the title 'Last Time Reversal User'.]
'What? A title?'
Though the engraving failed, he obtained a title.
As this was the first time this happened, a momentary look of bewilderment crossed Ryumin's face.
'Is this a title given only on the 100th regression?'
It seems they noticed it was the last regression by seeing the accumulated rune remnants.
A new title was registered in the title field that had been marked as 'None'.
Ryumin lightly touched the title and an information window popped up.
[Title - Last Time Reversal User]
-Acquisition Condition: 100th acquisition of Time Reversal Rune.
-Effect: When you die, you can remain as a soul for 1 minute on the spot. You can revive with full health at the desired timing. One-time ability, title disappears upon revival.
'Revival?'
At first, Ryumin didn't know the difference between titles and runes.
Both had effects like passive skills.
But now he knows.
That titles are a higher concept than runes.
'As such, they have better effects than runes and are harder to obtain.'
He obtained such a title instead of a rune.
It could only be beneficial.
Moreover, unlike runes, titles can be made to appear below the nickname if desired.
In other words, you can show off your existence by displaying it to people.
'It's better to hide the title of Last Time Reversal User though.'
Of course, there's no problem as the ability applies even if the title isn't revealed.
'Revival, huh. I've obtained something amazing.'
Even Ryumin, who had regressed 100 times, had never heard of or seen a title with revival ability.
'Among jobs, Priest can use a revival skill, but...'
He had never seen it as a rune or item.
Moreover, it recovers all health, making it a superior ability to the usual revival skills that only recover 30% health.
'Although the title disappears after reviving once, that's still great.'
In a dead-end situation where he can no longer regress, a revival ability is like rain in a drought.
[Has everyone engraved their runes?]
People nodded at the angel's words.
Some had excited expressions, perhaps having obtained good runes, while others were frowning.
[Judging by your expressions, it seems there's a mix of joy and sorrow. Whether you got a good rune or a crappy one, accept the result. That's your human luck. Kekeke.]
The laughter was grating, but no one expressed dissatisfaction in front of the angel.
Probably because of the intense first impression.
[Now that the rune engraving is done, shall we start playing in earnest?]
As the angel spread her wings as if signaling, a message appeared simultaneously before people's eyes.
◀ ROUND 1 ▶
└Kill 100 goblins per person
[All Areas]
└Participants: 1,801,029,290
└Achievers: 0/900,514,645
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└Participants: 10,286
└Achievers: 0/5,143
"Kill 100 goblins?"
"Those goblins that appear in games?"
"What's 'this area'? Does it mean where we are?"
As people who confirmed the quest murmured, the angel nodded.
[That's right, the goblins you know. And Area ESKS45-5 refers to the group you belong to.]
The angel suddenly smiled meaningfully.
[I prepared something easy since it's Round 1. You can return to Earth just by killing 100 goblins. Quite simple, right?]
'Whether it's easy or not is something you know only after experiencing it.'
But ridiculously, not many people thought like Ryumin.
"Aren't goblins extremely weak monsters?"
"Right. They appear as mob enemies even in games."
"It's not as big a deal as I thought."
"I thought it would be an extremely difficult quest."
People regained their composure as it didn't seem as difficult as they had worried.
'If you underestimate it like that, you'll be in for a big surprise...'
Knowing the goblins' abilities, Ryumin could only shake his head at the situation.
[Everyone seems confident? Then shall we skip further explanations and go straight to the practical? Kyohohoho!]
As the angel flapped her wings joyfully.
Tssst-
Tssst-
Monsters the size of elementary school students appeared beyond the prairie.
They were those goblins seen in novels or games.
"What's that? Goblins?"
"Haha, it really feels like we've entered a game."
People weren't very scared despite the appearance of monsters.
They were far away, but more than anything, the goblins reaching up to their waists looked easy to handle, like seeing children.
Perhaps because they felt at ease?
Eventually, someone even appeared who denied reality.
"This can't be a dream, right? Like a lucid dream I've only heard about."
"Has the virtual reality game I've only seen in novels already been commercialized? Were we kidnapped without knowing and are being tested?"
"Oh? That makes sense."
As only game-like situations kept occurring, their sense of reality and judgment became blurred.
They even had the composure to question the angel who had looked so frightening before.
"Angel! Aren't you going to give us weapons or something? They're holding weapons."
[Weapons?]
The goblins visible in the distance were all holding daggers or clubs.
Seeing this, the angel smiled mockingly at the humans.
[There's nothing like that. Figure out how to catch them with your bare hands or not. Ah, one more thing to add.]
Tssst-
Tssst-
"Huh?"
[Not all the goblins have been summoned yet.]
Twice as many goblins as before appeared one after another beyond the prairie.
At a glance, green monsters filled the view, outnumbering the humans.
[So far, 50,000 goblins have been summoned.]
"Fi-fifty thousand?"
[10,000 humans versus 50,000 goblins. Seems doable, right?]
As the number gathered exceeded five times, people finally started to get tense.
[Now then, humans and goblins? Fight as if you're going to kill each other.]
As if understanding the angel's words, the goblins who had only been glaring started to move.
"Kyaaah!"
People in the front rows flinched at the recklessly charging goblin horde.
Seeing goblins running with weapons in hand, they couldn't help but be scared.
'Well, people often get scared even when a dog runs at them, let alone monsters with knives...'
Nodding as if understanding people's feelings, Ryumin stepped forward.
At this sudden action, people's attention focused on Ryumin.
"Look at that person."
"Is he walking alone?"
Ignoring the murmurs behind him, Ryumin waited for the goblins to come closer.
He wasn't doing this simply to get attention.
'I'll clearly show my presence in front of people.'
First impressions are important.
To prevent annoying flies from swarming, he needed to show his strength here.
'Especially catching the angel's attention is important.'
For that, a bit of performance was necessary.
"Hey, you!"
"There! It's dangerous if you get close..."
People who were about to shout that it was dangerous soon closed their mouths.
Thwack-!
He accurately hit the face of the goblin running ahead with a clean back kick.
"Kieee..."
The goblin with a broken hooked nose grimaced only for a moment.
Thud-
Ryumin grabbed its head with both hands and twisted it.
Crack-
Leaving behind the goblin dying with its tongue sticking out with a chilling sound, Ryumin stood up.
After taking the dagger the goblin was holding.
Stab- Stab-!
The dagger stabbed and pulled out of the neck and back of a nearby goblin.
Before the goblin could fall, Ryumin's body aimed for the next target like lightning.
Stab- Stab-!
A deflating sound came from the chests of two goblins.
In an instant, four goblins had already died.
His movements, flowing like water without any waste, were reminiscent of a skilled killer.
"Kieeek!"
The fellow goblins rushed in angrily, but Ryumin's dagger was faster.
Stab-stab-! Stab-stab-!
Green blood splattered everywhere, but Ryumin swung the dagger without caring.
It was truly a scene of massacre.
At that overwhelming display, nearby people gaped with their mouths open.