After returning, He became the greatest returner of all time.

Episode 13

Episode 13: The Thorn Forest (3)

Tiring.

A system message popped up along with a notification sound.

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[Event Quest 01 – ???]
Title – Clear the Thorn Forest!
Clear Conditions – Cross the finish line within the given time!
Time Limit – 5 minutes
Reward – [Next Stage Challenge Ticket!]
If you fail – [Minus Stat 2P]
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Clearing the thorn forest was as simple as it looked.

You just have to cross the finish line within the time limit.

As I close the quest window, a brown-feathered bird flies down from the sky and lands on a tree.

The message that comes to mind next.

[Starts stage 1 of the Thorn Forest Dungeon.]

After a while, a countdown begins with numbers floating in the air as a message flashes indicating the start.

And a bird that closes its beak and puffs out its chest as the numbers decrease.

3… … .

2… … .

1… … .

The scream of a bird will soon be heard at the end of the countdown.

“Beep!”

It’s the starting signal.

The moment the sharp sound of birds chirping rang in my ears, I stamped my feet.

Pavat!

One step, two steps, three steps.

I was on the dirt road in three steps.

And at that moment, I hear the sound of mechanical devices moving and meshing together.

Clink. Clink.

It’s the sound of the set traps working.

Then, the dark weapons shot out like heavy rain.

All kinds of thrown weapons, from arrows to javelins, hatchets, and javelins, were flying toward me, trying to block my path.

But the overall difficulty level is easy for me.

‘I think I can get through this with my eyes closed?’

● : Lie!

… … Well, that may be a bit exaggerated.

Due to the lack of sense stats, you have to open your eyes to avoid it now.

Of course, that’s not important.

This is like eating a piece of cake for me.

So, without a moment’s hesitation, I broke through the traps blocking my path.

* * *

“… … .”

Oh Woon-hyeok was now at a loss for words.

Oh Woon-hyeok, who had been so confident and saying things like “dog X” until just a moment ago, was gone.

It had been a long time since he had lost his smile, and soon he lowered his legs that had been on the desk to the floor and leaned forward against the back of the chair.

It wasn’t that I consciously changed my posture, but rather it happened naturally due to an unknown sense of anxiety.

“Ha. Being scared is pretty fun. I’ll bet on this flavor.”

Oh Woon-hyeok raised the corners of his mouth with the aforementioned expression.

Currently, this swordsman has passed the first and second stages of the five stages of the thorn forest, and has now passed the third stage.

“Honestly, things have been okay so far, but will it be like that in the future?”

The fourth stage we are about to face is different from the ones we have seen so far.

Only 1 percent of all challengers have cleared stage 4.

Poison arrows pouring from all directions, the ground sinking in, and poisonous snakes emerging from everywhere.

It’s going to rain down traps.

Avoiding all of those traps and crossing the finish line within the time limit was something only those with abilities far beyond the average 1-star player could achieve.

‘There’s no way you could clear it. Thanks to you, it was fun.’

That is why Oh Woon-hyeok was confident of victory.

But the swordsman has just cleared that too.

[Congratulations!]
[You have cleared stage 4 of the Thorn Forest Dungeon!]

Oh Woon-hyeok cleared the 4th stage, which he thought was impossible.

-Wow! This is seriously crazy!

-How long has it been since you cleared stage 4?!

-ㅅㅂ The rookie I’ve been looking forward to has come out after a long time! I’m going to subscribe right away!

-What? Which guild does this person belong to?

-Now let’s go to stage 5!!!

-What kind of gear do I need to match to achieve this level of movement?

-I think he must have put at least a billion won into the golden spoon item.

-What are you talking about, you fell asleep? Just by looking at his movements, he’s just a talented guy.

-Wow, isn’t this a movement that’s only possible with high stats?

-F*ck!! I tore it!!

-Everyone sees the unconquered strategy as X. No matter what you set the items to, unless your talent is a level 1, it’s absolutely impossible. This guy is really a total talent.

-Really, his movements are on a different level from other guys.

“… … .”

The corners of Oh Woon-hyeok’s mouth trembled as he looked at the chat window filled with praise. At first glance, it was a mockery mixed with tension.

“What the f*ck? This is fucking hilarious.”

Yeah, I admit this one.

To be honest, I was a little surprised.

I didn’t know you could do it this far.

He was an orphan who had nothing and no parents.

How much money would a guy like that have spent on items?

Still, it was truly an incredible talent to have cleared up to stage 4.

“Even so, it would only end here.”

I thought the same thing a little while ago, but this time there really is no exception.

So far, there have been players who cleared stage 4, but no player has cleared stage 5.

Is it for nothing that experts say that the Thorn Tree Forest dungeon is a dungeon that even a 1st-star player cannot clear?

All of the players who have cleared the four stages so far were either well-known for their natural talents or were highly regarded in top guilds.

Among them, there were some who invested hundreds of millions of won just in items.

But even they couldn’t get past stage 5.

It is a wall that can never be overcome with talent alone.

That is why Oh Woon-hyeok has not thought about his defeat at all. Until now.

“I thought it was a mutt, but if you train it well, it can be useful.”

But why is that?

Although I am certain that the swordsmanship will fail, I feel needlessly anxious.

An unknown sense of anxiety was rising from deep within my chest.

Sweat was even seeping from my palms.

Oh Woon-hyeok tried hard to ignore that feeling and just bit his thumbnails day and night.

“Hoooo.”

Kim Gyu-seon carefully exhaled, watching to see if anyone was listening. This was because he was watching the video of the swordsman with feelings completely opposite to those of his direct superior, Oh Woon-hyeok.

Kim Gyu-seon’s gaze, slightly raised, turns toward the team leader’s office beyond the partition.

‘I really want to see that kid get his nose cut off.’

​

I think if that really happens, I’ll have no more wishes.

My heart was already beating like crazy.

But honestly, the chances of that happening were very low.

Even though you’ve done very well so far.

How do you clear stage 5?

But… … .

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t seem like there’s no possibility at all.

‘Something is different.’

There have certainly been players who have cleared Stage 4 over the past three years, but none have done it as cleanly as the swordsman just now.

So, even though I expected it to fail, I also had a feeling of hope.

It wasn’t just Kim Gyu-seon’s idea.

Beyond the window, Oh Woon-hyeok’s head also looks tense for some reason.

Viewers were also eagerly anticipating Geomshin’s next challenge.

So, everyone is trying to encourage him to take on the challenge by poking at his pride, so that he won’t give up.

-If you give up here, you’re not a man.

-If you want to go, leave two pairs of shoes behind.

-Are you scared?

-Honestly, this is enough to show your talent. So are you scared?

-Thank you for your hard work so far. So are you nervous?

-Ignore the listeners and just do whatever you want. So, are you scared?

-If this continues, I’ll get angry and say I won’t do it. So are you scared?

“The final challenge is… … .”

Kim Gyu-seon, who was scanning the chat window, quickly focused on the video at the sound of Geomsin’s voice, which was hard to hear.

It seemed like he was going to talk about the final challenge.

The mouth of the swordsman, who had been focusing the viewers for a moment and taking a deep breath, slowly opened.

“I’ll decide in 10 minutes.”

​

What a nerd!

Are you kidding me, waiting for 10 minutes?

Kim Gyu-seon knew better than anyone that Geomshin would challenge him, but his behavior still made him swear.

Not even 1 minute, but 10 minutes is too much.

But in the end it turned out to be right.

[Gabago donated 1,000 won.]
[If you don’t do the challenge, you’re my boyfriend. Lol.]
[Gaesoli donated 20,000 won.]
[Waal! Wal! Wal! What? Wal! Wal! Wal!]
[Beon-ana donated 5,000 won… ]

​

Those who believe that I will take on the challenge and pressure me with support.

​

-You will receive a 10,000 won mission upon clearing stage 5!

-I’ll participate too! I’ll give you 10,000 won when you clear stage 5!

There were even people who gave missions with the condition of clearing the level.

It was a very enthusiastic response considering the number of viewers was over 100.

But the reaction wasn’t just coming from within.

The number of viewers was increasing rapidly.

Those exploring the deep sea seemed to be sucked in as they scrolled down.

The quest was

‘If you’re a veteran who watches the broadcasts of first-star players, you can’t help but come in.’

In the blink of an eye, the number of viewers was approaching 200.

It’s not a huge number in absolute terms, but considering that it was a live broadcast by a 1-star, unknown player, it was a huge number.

But what’s more surprising is the swordsman’s attitude.

‘Is this your first time on a broadcast?’

Even the most courageous person would feel pressured if 200 people watched their video.

But the swordsman is sleeping on a chair with his arms crossed.

-What? The challenge is already over?

-Aren’t you broadcasting?

-What is he doing?

The attitude is that it doesn’t matter whether the newly introduced viewers complain or not.

If you want to see it, then see it. If you don’t want to see it, then don’t see it.

Rather, it was a situation where viewers came forward and defended such a swordsman.

Kim Gyu-seon felt that the swordsman’s attitude was like confidence.

You guys will have no choice but to see it.

A significant number of viewers felt the same way, as expectations were rising overall.

* * *

I got up from my seat only after the 10-minute break that was guaranteed by default in the thorn forest had passed.

It was finally the last stage.

“Then let’s begin now.”

A moment later, I was in front of an ashen forest.

The huge trees that filled the ash-gray forest had bare branches as if it were midwinter, and their tips were sharp like needles and thorns.

So the name of this dungeon is Thorn Forest.

I stared at the place that seemed like a graveyard for trees. Then, the message window I had been waiting for appeared.

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[Event Quest 01 -???]
Title – Clear the Thorn Forest!
Clear Conditions – Cross the finish line within the given time!
Time Limit – 5 minutes
Reward – [Fame 30][Stat 5P][Title (B-Grade)]
Failure – [Minus Stat 2P]
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The clear conditions were the same as before, but the rewards were different this time.

‘You’re giving me 30 fame and a B-rank title with 5 stat points.’

It’s a reward so dense that just looking at it will make you full.

-Wow! It’ll be so delicious if I clear it.

-But I can’t wake up

-Yeah, 100% failure each

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ When are you going to encourage me?

-I told you to try, I didn’t say you could break it.

-Devil’s children

-What’s wrong with him? Why is he so relaxed?

-F*ck, but why do I feel like I’ll clear it?

-The reward is really great. It’s better than the first place in the Mekke.

-Suddenly my heart is pounding?

-It’s been awesome so far, but honestly, it’s impossible. Even Lee Chang-hyuk couldn’t do this.

-No one has been able to wake up for 3 years since Lee Chang-hyuk left haha

The chats of those who had confirmed their rewards were coming in at a rapid pace.

That means there is a lot of interest.

However, the overall atmosphere was skeptical.

From the beginning, the viewers’ expectations were based on the fact that I was challenging the 5th stage.

At this point, it seems more correct to say that I’m looking forward to my failure rather than clearing the dungeon.

‘No matter how great my skills are, I think it would be impossible to clear stage 5.’

So, a glorious death, and minus 2 stats.

This is probably the beautiful ending that most viewers want.

Of course, I had no intention of living up to that.

[Starts stage 5 of the Thorn Forest Dungeon.]

A message appears indicating the start.

[3… … 2… … 1… … .]

The countdown continues.

Meanwhile, I concentrated my nerves on my toes and tightened my muscles all over my body. Like a tautly pulled bow, I was ready to shoot at any moment. The arrow caught in it was me.

and.

“Beep!”

I was shot with all my might.

Failure wasn’t on my mind at all.

There’s no way it can fail.

By the way, my secret to clearing the thorn forest is… … .

‘It’s in the fact that I am a regressor.’

It may sound funny, but I knew better than anyone what it meant.