Chapter 9 …
There’s a saying called the butterfly effect.
It’s the idea that something as trivial as a butterfly’s wings flapping can eventually cause a storm, leading to massive, unforeseen consequences.
It may sound like a joke, but Jang Su-nam, who has experienced regression six times, knows all too well that it isn’t wrong.
Through those regressions, he has witnessed countless times how small, seemingly insignificant actions completely changed the future.
In the first round, a man became a guild master, but in the second round, he never reached that position simply because he had shared drinks with Jang Su-nam.
In the third round, a beggar starved to death, but in the fourth, surviving off a single coin Jang Su-nam had given him, he later became a great tycoon.
In the fifth round, a naïve hunter he once partied with—after being neglected in the sixth—ended up becoming his worst enemy.
All of it stemmed from my actions.
No matter how many times he regressed, the world itself flowed in the same way.
The only difference was that Jang Su-nam’s choices became the butterfly effect, shifting the world’s trajectory each time.
I wonder how this meeting will change the future this time.
Just the fact that he delayed leaving the tutorial zone until after 100 days had already caused the future he knew to diverge drastically.
He had never seen these NPCs before, yet their armor and clothing were familiar—because they matched the style of the Rynesis Empire.
“Would you… like to purchase?”
The younger of the twin maids asked cautiously.
Though it looked as if they were revealing their hidden inventory out of gratitude, in truth, it was due to the effect of Su-nam’s current title.
[Title]
Princess Aria’s Trust
Effect 1: Gain access to hidden shops of NPCs friendly with Princess Aria.
Effect 2: Greatly increases affinity with NPCs friendly with Princess Aria.
That’s a solid effect.
Even while showing him their hidden items, the twins watched him anxiously—because the Skill Enhancement Stone cost a staggering 120 coins.
NPC shop prices were fixed by the system. Even if they wanted to repay his kindness, they still had to sell at that steep price, which clearly troubled them.
No question—I’m buying this.
It wasn’t just any item, but a Skill Enhancement Stone. No matter how expensive, it had to be bought whenever possible.
And for Su-nam, 120 coins was hardly a burden.
“Since you’re our lifesaver, we’ll give you a 10% disc—”
“Are you insane?”
Whack!
““Ow!””
Su-nam flicked both twins on the forehead with his hands.
The younger one gave him a resentful look as if to say, I didn’t even say anything, why me? but he ignored it.
“If it weren’t for me, you two would’ve starved to death. And now you want to give up your commission? Do you have a death wish to starve again?”
That would just make his help meaningless.
Besides—
“There’s no need for a discount. It’ll be applied anyway.”
[Title]
Savior of Strangers
Effect 1: 10% discount at NPC shops.
Effect 2: NPC affinity never decreases.
The price list instantly updated with a 10% discount across the board.
“What?! The shop prices… changed? How is this even possible…?”
Titles weren’t visible unless the system explicitly showed them. The maids had no way of knowing.
“It’s just… something that exists.”
Su-nam purchased the Skill Enhancement Stone for the discounted price of 108 coins.
But… is this all the hidden shop offers?
He decided to switch back titles, just in case.
[Title]
Princess Aria’s Trust
Effect 1: Access to hidden shops of NPCs friendly with Aria.
Effect 2: Increases affinity with NPCs friendly with Aria.
The moment he did, the younger maid hesitated noticeably.
There’s more.
The description said he could see hidden shops, but not that they would always appear.
Then I’ll bait her.
Feigning ignorance, Su-nam asked:
“Price doesn’t matter—do you have anything better hidden away?”
“U-um!”
As soon as the price burden was lifted, the younger maid reacted immediately.
“Benefactor, I actually… also have a secret list.”
Hesitantly, she revealed it. Inside was another Skill Enhancement Stone—but this one was priced at 200 coins, so high she had been too ashamed to show it earlier.
Perfect!
Su-nam grinned inwardly and switched back to Savior of Strangers, knocking the cost down to 180 coins.
He purchased it and immediately upgraded his skills.
“I’ll raise my skill levels. Open the menu.”
“Yes, Benefactor. Switching now.”
Su-nam upgraded both Absolute Map and Illusion Summon to +3.
His summoned creatures now gained new abilities—for example, a goblin that once fumbled with a sword could now wield basic swordsmanship.
That tide elemental I left to guard Aria should finally be able to act like a proper bodyguard now.
Satisfied, Su-nam checked the map’s new stats.
[Absolute Map (SSS) +3]
Range: 700m radius
Marks aberrations
Marks hunters
Marks dungeons, towers, gates, and bases
Now this actually deserves to be called a map.
At that moment, a man clad in armor, having recovered much of his strength, approached.
“I am Raul of the Rynesis Imperial Guard. And these are…”
One by one, ten guards introduced themselves: Han, Jonam, Dilai, White, Gilbert, Drai, Henderson, Rizoram, and Sabam.
Not that Su-nam needed to memorize them—the Regressor’s Diary would record everything automatically.
“Benefactor, forgive my rudeness earlier. I am the elder twin, Lina Lanes, maid of the Imperial Palace.”
“And I am the younger, Lisa Lanes.”
Unlike the guards, the maids carried surnames—likely a sign of their noble birth.
“I’m Jang Su-nam. In my homeland, the family name comes first—so my surname is Jang.”
“You’re a noble, Benefactor!”
Clang!
The guards bowed deeply, while the maids only dipped their heads lightly—clearly confirming their noble status.
“This nation abolished its class system long ago. In this twisted world, what meaning does noble birth hold anyway?”
“…You’re right…”
Raul’s expression turned bitter. Their world too had lost all hierarchy when the gods’ trials began, nations collapsing as rulers lost control of their people.
Only the Rynesis Empire, long beloved by its citizens, had endured longer than most.
“Benefactor,” Lina approached cautiously.
“Have you perhaps heard any news… of Princess Aria Rynesis?”
A familiar question.
From the 1st through the 6th regressions, Su-nam had always heard this plea from Rynesis NPCs—and witnessed their madness or despair when they learned of Aria’s death.
“We beg you… ever since the tutorial boss was defeated, we’ve heard nothing of her.”
The NPCs looked to him with desperate eyes.
This time… they’ll actually see her alive.
Su-nam smirked.
“Don’t just ask me. Ask her directly.”
“…What?”
He gestured to his side. Mini-Tide, understanding the cue, opened a portal.
On the other side, a familiar young woman stared back in confusion.
“Su-nam? Opening a portal? Did something happen—”
As Aria stepped through, her eyes widened.
“Lanes sisters?! And the guards too?”
““Princess!!””
The guards and maids erupted in joy. Even the burly men teared up, struggling not to cry—showing just how beloved Aria truly was.
Strange… there should be other royals as well.
In any world where the gods’ trials ended without reaching its conclusion, the survivors became NPCs—even the dead, reclassified by their natural strength and relocated accordingly.
Yet Su-nam had never once heard of any other Rynesis royals besides Aria.
Possibilities:
They hadn’t yet been relocated to Earth.
They were placed somewhere undiscovered and died.
They had died even before the trials began.
I’ll worry about that later. Honestly, the fewer royals besides Aria, the better for me.
With Aria as the sole surviving princess, the Rynesis people’s loyalty could be concentrated entirely on her—something that would work to Su-nam’s advantage.
“Benefactor Jang Su-nam,” Lina said after some conversation with Aria.
“Her Highness told us of all you’ve done.”
This time, she bowed deeply.
“I will never forget your countless blessings.”
At that moment—
[Hidden Achievement: “One Who Bestowed Three Consecutive Blessings upon NPCs” Acquired.]
What?!
Su-nam’s eyes widened.
Three consecutive acts of grace? No wonder he hadn’t seen this before.
Apparently, feeding them, reuniting them with Aria, and having rescued Aria herself all counted as separate blessings.
Does this grant a title too?
Not all achievements did—but just in case, he checked the system.
[Title]
The Benevolent Saint
Effect 1: Title effects can be toggled on/off without equipping.
Effect 2: All owned title effects stack simultaneously.
Title effect stacking?!
Normally, only one title could be equipped at a time. He had spent entire regressions swapping back and forth to squeeze out every possible benefit.
But now? Every title he possessed would apply simultaneously.
While others could wield just one title, Su-nam could wield them all.
This power… this changes everything!!!
Quests he had once abandoned across past regressions flashed before his eyes—especially those treasure chests that forced a choice between two rewards tied to equipped titles.
Now, I could claim them all at once!
The Benevolent Saint was absurdly powerful. If titles had ranks, this one would be EX+ tier.
This 7th round… is going to be extraordinary.
Delaying his exit from the tutorial by 100 days had been the perfect move.
It let him meet starving NPCs, bestow blessings, and gain this miraculous opportunity.
I should bless them even further.
Aria already had plenty of coins thanks to him, but goodwill was best stacked as high as possible.
“Aria, use this for them.”
He handed her 1,200 coins, calculated as 100 per person.
“Su-nam… thank you.”
Aria’s smile softened as she clasped his hands tightly with both of hers.
The maids exchanged startled looks, clearly misunderstanding—but Su-nam didn’t care.
“To receive the help of such a man… I am truly fortunate.”
“….”
Her words made him recall the countless times he had found her corpse in past lives.
Fortunate? If anything, she was far from it.
“…Since the numbers are just right, make them your first guild members. I’ll summon you again if needed.”
“Yes!”
After bowing respectfully, Aria led the twelve NPCs back through the portal.
The Tide elemental, waiting by the portal until the very end, gave Su-nam a small nod before disappearing as the portal closed.
* * *
Shortly afterward, Su-nam arrived at his true destination—Sacred Heart Bread, a once-famous bakery in Daejeon.
The building had transformed into a massive tower, standing tall as a zone of anomaly.
A sweet smell…
The scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the air. The reason was simple—
“Screeech!”
“Kiiieeek!”
Roaming the zone were monsters known as the Necro-Bakery.
Their bodies were grotesque—made of pudding that revealed human organs within, or cakes and pastries adorned with human limbs.
And yet, disgustingly enough, they exuded a mouthwatering aroma.
A truly perverse type of aberration.
From here on, it won’t be easy.
This place was a branching point, one that could decide an entire ending.
Staring up at the towering Sacred Heart structure, Su-nam thought to himself—
The zombie apocalypse… First, I’ll stop that.
