The Hero’s Party Members Treat Me Well for Some Reason

18 – Let’s Experiment

A few days after obtaining regeneration, I immediately conducted various experiments.

First, I needed to determine the level of my abilities to determine how far I could utilize them.

The subject for the experiment…of course, it was ‘my body’.

Well, it’s called regeneration from the name itself.

“Ugh…”

I tried emitting life energy with the Holy Sword and even hit the wall with my whole body to cause bruises.

Every time, droplets of blood would splatter around.

Seriously, do I have to self-harm just to test one ability…

I felt a slight self-reproach, but thanks to [Pain Resistance], I was able to endure quite well.

Fortunately, the effectiveness was considerable. Superficial wounds, cuts, and bruises would heal in the blink of an eye.

As expected of a skill, even if it’s a replica, it had the basics.

Of course, because it’s a skill, magic power was consumed each time I regenerated, but it wasn’t too much considering the efficiency.

With such a satisfactory answer, I immediately proceeded to the next experiment. After all, this is the essence of regeneration…

“Do it, do it, do it. I really will do it…”

Inside the peaceful demon realm, I shouted while placing my finger on a rock.

And in one hand, I tightly clenched the resplendent Holy Sword, aiming it directly at my thumb.

My experiment was simple.

A single cut of the sword will be enough to finish the experiment.

I will try cutting my finger.

Then, I will verify if it regenerates even after being severed.

If it does regenerate, I will measure how long it takes.

In order to use regeneration more effectively…this was an experiment that had to be conducted at least once.

But eventually, I was just a human, and when I tried to cut my finger, I couldn’t help but feel fear.

My right hand, holding the Holy Sword, was trembling.

The more I thought about it, the more I reassured myself.

I can do this.

My preparation is perfect.

My pain resistance level is considerably high, and even if I get cut, my regeneration skill will take care of it.

Even if regeneration fails, there are Holy Maidens and top-tier potions nearby, so healing is always possible.

So, all I have to do is close my eyes and cut.

Just cut, but…

“…I can’t do it.”

In the end, I had to put down the Holy Sword.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find the courage.

To cut my own finger with my own hand.

I’m not a madman, and I’m not a masochist, so how could I do it?

“I shouldn’t keep thinking like this.”

My resolve continued to weaken.

Considering the fights ahead, cutting a finger should be a minor sacrifice, but hesitation crept in.

“Okay, I’ll pass on cutting it myself.”

Regrettably, I decided to give up on cutting it myself.

I can’t do it right now, so what should I do?

The only fortunate thing is that there’s another way to cut the finger, [Sacrificial Power].

In fact, it’s one of the main reasons I chose regeneration.

Fighting while sacrificing my body with this ability should be quite impressive.

If regeneration can heal the severed part, it’s essentially an infinite production system.

Of course, I didn’t think about the mental torment I would endure in the meantime, but the synergy is undeniably the best.

Plus, I don’t need to cut it with my own hand; I just have to say the word.

The psychological difficulty is much easier than before.

Thanks to that, I found it much easier to execute than before.

“…I offer my left thumb, and I increase my level.”

The moment.

Swoosh!

My thumb disappears, and bright red blood starts to flow.

It’s like a clean cut, as if it were ordered after being traced on a drawing board.

At the same time, a status window appeared before my eyes.

[Experience points have slightly increased!]

I could only curse in pain and frustration.

“Damn it… Argh…”

It hurts!

No matter how much my pain tolerance has increased, this really hurts!

But apart from the pain, the skill [Regeneration] worked diligently.

Swoosh!

The blood that was gushing like a fountain subsides, and new flesh slowly grows. Severed bones and veins are reorganizing.

After about a dozen seconds, my severed thumb was completely healed.

I couldn’t help but marvel after briefly complaining about the pain.

“Haah, haah… Oh.”

Indeed, even if it’s a replica, it must be a skill of a Four Heavenly Kings.

I was paying a fair price for it.

Seeing how quickly it healed even a severe cut like this.

In contrast, my original skill [Sacred Sacrifice] only seemed to curse.

I definitely asked for a level up, but the experience points only increased slightly.

Even though I sacrificed a part of my body…

‘Is the infinite production system limited?’

For now, I do become an infinite production system.

Anyway, the experience points did increase.

However, the efficiency is too poor compared to what I gave up…

It’s as if the Sacred Sacrifice was saying this:

The value of what is reborn cannot be greatly appreciated.

So bring something bigger.

“You piece of crap.”

He was a little bastard.

I realize it again.

This is definitely a powerful skill, but it is not absolute.

A risky skill based on high risk and high return.

··· Anyway, I was able to learn about the skill [Regeneration] with this.

With this, it will definitely help in battle.

Satisfied with obtaining such data, I stood up from my seat.

Then suddenly, a thought came to my mind.

‘Wait, as long as it’s not the worth of regeneration. Can’t we definitely extract efficiency?’

For example, instead of just sacrificing a part of the body, what if we can sacrifice it ‘permanently’?

We may be able to extract efficiency almost at the level of lifespan···.

“Hmm···.”

No.

Let’s not think about it.

What benefit is there in winning to that extent?

I don’t want to fight desperately and suffer permanent loss to my body. I immediately erased the thought from my mind.

It’s time to return to the party now.

*

“Hero! Why are you so late! Didn’t I tell you to gather immediately after personal maintenance time?”

“Well, I’m sorry. I had some business to take care of.”

“I don’t think a stupid hero who can’t even keep time deserves the title.”

As I returned to the party, Camilla and Lily started complaining.

They’re making such a big fuss just because I was a few minutes late.

After finishing the experiment, I immediately returned, but I couldn’t help being a few minutes late.

I guess it’s because I live alone and don’t have much personal time. I had to do the experiment all at once, and it took quite a long time.

‘But I can’t hit a wall and burn my sword in front of my teammates.’

If I show such a ridiculous behavior in front of my teammates, my impression will surely plummet. Well, I have a bottom-tier impression anyway.

“···What’s that blood on your clothes?”

As I was thinking like that, the saint asked beside me.

Following her gaze, I looked down at my sleeves, which were stained with droplets of blood.

I tapped my forehead inwardly.

“Ah.”

It seems like my blood had splattered towards my clothes during the experiment.

I was too busy and didn’t check properly.

“No matter how I look at it, it looks like blood…”

“Ahahahaha, it must have splattered while you were rushing. Come on, let’s focus on packing. We have a lot to take with us.”

I said that and quickly tucked my sleeves inward. If I let something like this slip, it could become tiring.

The curse of distortion on my body can also cause misunderstandings.

I can already imagine it. A magician ranting about who killed someone, a thief muttering suspiciously, and a knight asking about the source of the blood…

If I tell the truth, they probably won’t believe me because of the curse of mistrust.

“Well, just thinking about it makes my head ache.”

Avoiding such a tiring situation is the best plan.

Fortunately, it seems like the saint didn’t question or reproach me properly.

She just stared at my left sleeve for a long time…

The voice of the saint murmuring quietly with a frown is heard.

“What the hell are you doing…”

It seems like I can’t avoid the saint’s suspicious gaze.

However, since she’s not saying anything to the other party members, it seemed like she was quietly trying to figure it out.

That’s a relief.

Because what I’m doing right now is more important than the source of that blood.

Our warrior party had just finished their personal resting time and was now in the process of organizing their belongings.

We should leave for a new place soon.

We could be there for at least a few days or up to several months, so we need to pack systematically and rigorously.

Now that there’s hardly any rest time left, I need to prepare myself mentally as well.

That’s right.

We’ve finally arrived.

The fortress of the first of the Four Kings, King Balkan of Insects.

The Fortified Meeting Ground.

It looks like an enormous and majestic building, shining with a dark luster.

It’s so vast and massive that it looks more like a country than a fortress.

In fact, it was a phrase that wasn’t much different.

With hundreds of thousands of worms residing in his kingdom, it was already no different from a country.

In reality, we are entering an enemy country that has practically tens of thousands of enemies with just five people.

There is only one goal.

To seize the backbone of the king who is reigning in the center.

Even just hearing it makes me nauseous from the difficulty…

“But what can we do?”

We have to. It’s to clear this damn game after all.

That’s how we entered the stronghold of King Chung.