To tell the truth, Hans had lost all reason to fight since he set foot on the 40th floor, because that was also the time when his mother and sister died due to not being treated in time.
In his entire life, that was the thing Hans regretted the most.
Now, he had become a top 1 Ranker, had money, status, power, and was praised and admired by everyone, but to him, all of that was nothing.
They couldn't even bring his mother and sister back to life.
If that was the case, what was the point of having all of that?
"...So tired." Hans muttered.
He was about to die.
Suddenly, a cold and sharp spear pierced through Hans' chest, quickly penetrating deep inside, and eventually, successfully piercing his weakly beating heart.
No matter how strong a person was, once the heart was destroyed, that person would definitely die.
Before death, all were equal.
Just like that, ignoring the screams, the curses, the cries of the people watching the battle, Hans - now just a lifeless corpse, fell straight to the ground.
His body was covered in dust, but it didn't matter.
He was dead, and a dead person didn't need to care about anything else.
Or at least, that was what Hans thought.
Before the moment the fire in his heart completely extinguished, he heard an extremely familiar mechanical voice ringing from within his brain.
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained a new Ability!]
[Your new Ability is called Regressor]
[You will return to the past after you die! It can only be used once. At the same time, all your stats will return to the way they were!]
[And! A part of your memories will be sealed.]
[Good luck, Top 1 Ranker - Hans Varun.]
***
July 8, 2025.
Opening his eyes again, Hans realized that he had regressed.
"Really? I have been resurrected?"
An uncontrollable bright smile appeared on his face, but then, it was quickly swept away by the harsh reality.
Yes, he had been resurrected, but for what purpose?
In his previous life, he was the strongest, but now, he had returned to being an ordinary person.
All of his Abilities and Rank had gone.
The biggest reason why Hans Varun could become as strong as his previous life was because in a few weeks, he would be given an extremely powerful Ability called [Sword Saint].
But on the same day he received that Ability, Hans received a notice from the hospital, saying that his mother and sister's condition had worsened.
That was also the day he felt hopeless the most.
Hans - an ordinary person who was lucky enough to receive a powerful Ability, had to earn money to pay off his family's huge debt, and also pay for his mother and sister's treatment.
And no matter how many Tower Creatures Hans killed, it was still too late.
Well, it was true that he still had some memories from his previous life, knowing what would happen, but the amount of money he needed was still too much.
"...I should have remembered the winning lottery ticket back then."
The sky was clear and bright, completely opposite to Hans's current mood - only darkness.
'Why, Tower? Why did you give me the chance to go back to the past, knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to change my family's fate?'
Could it be… the Tower wanted to make Hans suffer in regret and despair once again?
However, at that moment, he received a call from the hospital.
'Hmm? What is this? In my previous life during this time, did I receive a call from them?'
Although he still felt skeptical, he accepted the call.
"Hello, what's the matter?"
[Is this Hans Varun's number?]
"Yes, that's me. Is there something wrong with my family?"
Hans was worried, his hand also unconsciously clenched, as if he wanted to crush the phone right now.
[They're all fine, even better than usual. I just wanted to tell you that just now, a guy came and paid for all the medical expenses for your family.]
"Huh?" Hearing those words, his mind went completely blank.
[Your family is currently undergoing surgery, the success rate is also quite high, so you don't need to worry too much.]
[...Congratulations. You truly have a good friend.]
"..." Hans was still dazed, standing still as if he was dead.
Wait, what the hell was going on?
At this time, did anyone pay for Hans' family's medical expenses?
Absolutely not!
Then why…
Why was this past so different from the past he knew?
The past changed? But why?
Millions of questions raced through Hans's mind.
But now, he didn't want to find out the answers anymore.
He only needed to know that his family was fine, and was being taken to surgery.
This time, they wouldn't die again…
Just thinking about it, hot tears started to flow from the corners of his eyes.
Many passersby stopped, feeling curious about his strange actions. Some even took pictures and videos to post online.
[...Hey Hans, are you listening to me? I know you're shocked, but at least listen to me to the end.]
"Wait, miss! May I ask who that guy is?"
Yes, Hans wanted to know the identity of that person. He wanted to repay him!
Kindness without receiving anything in return was the scariest thing, and he didn't want that at all.
Moreover, Hans didn't even know who that guy was, making things even more suspicious.
[What's wrong? Isn't that person your friend? But I don't know his name. Oh right, I think he's sitting at the cafe next to the hospital.]
[If you hurry, you'll probably make it in time to meet him!]
[Oh and by the way, he's very handsome, just like you. So it probably won't take you long to find him.]
[Good luck, Hans.]
***
In a cafe near the hospital, Kael was sipping an espresso, waiting for that person to arrive.
As someone who had gone to the final arc of the game and completed it, he naturally knew what the situation was like for the protagonist, Hans Varun, a regressor.
He had a mother, and a sister who was seriously ill.
But, even after being given a chance to do everything again, he still couldn't save them.
What a pitiful person.
And Kael had successfully taken full advantage of that opportunity to make Hans owe him a favor, to have a key to enter his life.
What did he do?
Simple!
All he had to do was sell the house, sell everything, and use all the money in his account to pay for Hans' family's medical bills.
This wasn't stupidity, it was investment!
Money could be earned back easily, but to be able to get acquainted with the main character, to make him owe him a favor was another story.
'You should feel lucky to have met me, Hans.'
While Kael was still feeling pleased with his own actions, outside, the sound of running and panting suddenly rang out very clearly.
With a victorious smile, he muttered:
"It's time to meet the main character."