The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 100
100. Round 7 Concludes
‘I’ve finally obtained what I desired most.’
I can use Dominion in reality?
That means I can control someone exactly as I wish, perfectly.
‘I’ve already decided who to use it on.’
I was smirking, my lips curling upward, when I felt eyes upon me.
Nine Angels who had lost the wager.
‘Damn it, Black Scythe took first place again!’
‘How does that bastard always end up in first?’
‘Did his strategy get leaked or something?’
I was beyond exasperation—I was furious.
I wanted to burst their heads like balloons on the spot, but unfortunately they lacked the assassination ability to do so.
They’d already squandered it early on, claiming they needed to seize the initiative.
Likely ninety percent of the Angels wouldn’t have assassination abilities.
[Hehe, why do you look so sullen?]
As Priscilla approached with a smile, the Angels shrank back like dogs caught in the rain.
[Oh, no. It’s nothing.]
[You all have no objections to me becoming king, right?]
[Y-yes. Priscilla is king now.]
[Right. Our Priscilla—what do you want to do now?]
[Who will you assign as guide?]
[Wait, wait. Before I answer your questions.]
Priscilla’s eyes turned cold.
[All of you, kneel before me.]
◀ ROUND 7 ENDED ▶
[All Districts]
└Survivors: 3,463,533
[District C2-ESKA003]
└Survivors: 2,461
[Your soul will soon transfer to your original dimension’s body.]
[Round 8 begins at midnight on August 1st, 2022. We shall meet in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]
* * *
“Phew.”
The moment Ma Gyeong-rok returned, the first thing he did was look around.
“Is this… a hotel?”
Surely this wasn’t an illusion too?
With that thought, I pinched my cheek repeatedly as I surveyed the room.
Just to be safe, I even made a phone call.
“Director An, you’re back?”
-Director! You’re safe.
“This isn’t reality, is it?”
-Pardon? It is reality, Director.
“Are you certain?”
-Absolutely certain. The tally results came through, and even a congratulatory return message appeared.
“But how can we be sure? Even that could be nothing more than a fabricated illusion.”
-Come now, surely that’s not possible. Ah, wait—what if it actually is? What do we do then?
An Sang-chul felt his anxiety spike as he listened to the director’s words.
“Come to my room for now.”
-Understood.
Ma Gyeong-rok soothed his nerves with whiskey, as was his custom.
*Clink.*
He held the whiskey glass and gazed out at the landscape beyond the Hotel.
Watching the lights embroidered across the darkness always calmed my mind.
‘Have I truly returned to reality?’
After being deceived by illusions so many times, it felt unreal.
Or rather, I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.
Doubt crept in endlessly.
The psychological damage Ma Gyeong-rok had suffered was immense.
‘What I saw was an illusion?’
The image of my brothers pressuring me, urging me to jump from the Rooftop, surfaced in my mind.
It was an illusion I never wanted to experience again.
‘Could it have been a vision of the future instead of an illusion?’
The thought that this might be what lay ahead only deepened my anxiety.
I resolved to grow the Company quickly and earn my father’s recognition.
*Knock, knock.*
“Come in.”
An Sang-chul entered and bowed respectfully.
“Director, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I’ve been burned by illusions so many times that I’m having trouble distinguishing reality from them for a moment.”
“What kind of illusion could have been so—”
“…”
Ma Gyeong-rok drank his whiskey in silence.
An Sang-chul, realizing his mistake, bowed again.
“My apologies. I spoke out of turn.”
“Let’s just say I had an unlucky dream.”
*Glug.*
Ma Gyeong-rok turned and poured whiskey into another glass.
“But are you alright, Director An?”
“Ah… I’m not entirely fine either…”
“What kind of illusion did you see?”
“That is….”
An Sang-chul couldn’t bring himself to say it.
That Ma Gyeong-rok had strangled his neck.
“Just a dark story….”
“Well, I suppose everyone experienced something similar.”
Ma Gyeong-rok, who had thrown back a mouthful of whiskey, frowned.
“Even though I survived, I feel absolutely filthy. Ha.”
With a self-deprecating laugh, he suddenly recalled someone.
“Do you think the Prophet survived the illusion as well?”
“I was wondering the same thing, so I called them on the way here—and they’re alive.”
“Is that so? Well, it would be strange if the very person who warned against being seduced by temptation had died.”
Ma Gyeong-rok nodded as if acknowledging the obvious, then a doubt struck him.
“But that’s odd. If the Prophet knew that escaping temptation was the solution, shouldn’t they naturally have ranked first across all districts?”
“Huh? You’re right about that.”
“But when I checked the rankings, there was no username that appeared to be the Prophet.”
First place across all districts was, as always, Black Scythe.
Second place was his fiancée, and third was himself.
He didn’t know the Prophet’s username, but it was certain they weren’t in the rankings.
“If they were the Prophet, they would have rejected the temptation immediately… Did they intentionally delay clearing it?”
“I have no idea.”
It was a puzzling matter, but they didn’t know.
That if one is aware an illusion is an illusion, the progression doesn’t occur at all.
That the Prophet surviving was a logical contradiction from the start.
“Well, we’ll find out when we meet them later.”
Ma Gyeong-rok decided to get some sleep and dismissed An Sang-chul.
“Then rest well.”
“You too, Director An.”
After An Sang-chul left, Ma Gyeong-rok lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“….”
The psychological impact was severe.
He wanted to sleep, but his eyes remained wide open.
That night, Ma Gyeong-rok stayed awake with open eyes.
He was afraid he might have nightmares.
* * *
At lunch, Ryu Min met with Min Ju-ri for a meal.
It was to convey information about Round 8 early on.
‘Did I ask to meet too soon? She seems in terrible shape.’
Min Ju-ri’s mental state was far worse than he had anticipated.
“Ju-ri. What’s wrong? No appetite?”
“Ah, no. It’s delicious, it really is….”
Regardless of taste, the psychological shock had been considerable.
Round 7 had been an incredibly difficult round for Min Ju-ri.
Ryu Min subtly probed to read her thoughts.
“What? Was the fantasy that distressing? Did it torment you that much?”
“I, I don’t know….”
Min Ju-ri, unable to bring herself to speak, hung her head low.
If she lifted it now, her flushed face would surely be exposed.
‘Ah… it wasn’t anguish—it was embarrassment.’
Having read her thoughts, Ryu Min found himself flustered, clearing his throat awkwardly.
It seemed that despite his own advice, she had struggled to resist the temptation.
“Whatever that fantasy was, forget Round 7. It’s already in the past.”
“Y, yes, you’re right.”
“Anyway, I have something to tell you about Round 8.”
Ryu Min prophesied as he usually did.
Jeffrey was nearby using invisibility, but there was no need to be cautious.
I was deliberately speaking for him to hear.
‘He’ll probably relay my prophecy to Christine.’
Given Christine’s nature, she wouldn’t believe a single prophecy alone.
Therefore, it didn’t matter if he overheard.
To earn Christine’s trust, it was actually better to let him listen.
“So you’re saying NPCs appear in Round 8?”
“Yes. Whether they’re artificially created NPCs or actual entities from the Other World, I’m not sure.”
This time, Ryu Min explained the strategy in as much detail as possible.
Unlike Round 7, Round 8 had many elements for gaining experience.
In other words, it was a round where one had to clear various challenges to raise their level as much as possible.
Ryu Min was currently providing assistance for that.
“And there’s one more thing you should know.”
“What is it?”
“In Round 8, you won’t be able to travel together with Black Scythe.”
“What? Why?”
I explained the reason for that as well.
Min Ju-ri’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t accept it.
“Why exactly? Black Scythe…?”
“I don’t know why he makes that choice. I only see the future, after all.”
Ryu Min spoke shamelessly, looking at the bewildered Min Ju-ri.
Suddenly, the fantasy she had experienced before came to mind.
Her, stabbed by a blade and exploited because I had learned her identity.
‘That’s just a fantasy. Nothing more than a meaningless dream.’
There would be no danger from Min Ju-ri knowing my identity.
‘I won’t allow that to happen.’
Ryu Min made a vow to himself, again and again.
He would never put those around him in danger.
* * *
“In this world, there is only God to trust. All of you, repent and be saved!”
“Oh God!”
“I believe, I believe!”
Leaving behind the prayers of countless believers, Nathan returned to his office after the service ended.
Christine was waiting for her father with an oddly sullen expression on her face.
“Hmm? When did you arrive?”
“Just a moment ago.”
“Well then, what did you want to say?”
“Shouldn’t you ask about Round 7 first?”
“I already heard about it through Jeffrey. It’s a peculiar round filled with illusions, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“What illusions did you see?”
“An illusion involving you, Father.”
“Me?”
“You were being threatened by your believers. I was placed in a situation where I had no choice but to take my own life.”
“…How truly wicked sorcery this is.”
“It was done by the Angels you trust, Father.”
“No, that cannot be. Those creatures are demons wearing the faces of angels. Satan often appears before us in familiar forms.”
“Then this isn’t God’s will at all?”
“Of course not. Are you lacking in faith? Or have you been bewitched by demons?”
“It’s just… seeing an illusion where the things I believed in betrayed me made my heart feel unsettled.”
“Unnecessary worries. You are the Messiah and Savior that God has sent to this chaotic world. Focus only on raising your level and saving people. Do not entertain any other thoughts.”
“Yes….”
“And about that prophet you mentioned before.”
“That Korean?”
“Yes. When I asked Jeffrey, it seems that person’s prophecies have proven somewhat accurate.”
“‘Do not be seduced by temptation,’ right? That’s correct. To be honest, I didn’t believe it at first, but it turned out to be the key to clearing the Quest.”
“It would be wise to get closer to that prophet.”
“Father?”
Christine’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected suggestion.
It was not something she would expect to hear from her conservative father.
“You’re going to trust him just because one prediction came true?”
“If the prophecy is accurate, there’s no harm in receiving his help, is there?”
“But it could have been mere coincidence….”
“I had Jeffrey investigate, and he doesn’t seem to be a particularly dangerous person.”
“You had him investigated?”
“He was just an ordinary-looking prophet who went back and forth between home and the company.”
“….”
Christine didn’t blame her father for conducting the background investigation.
Rather, she understood it.
She knew it was because of her own difficulty in trusting people.
It had been the same before she accepted Ma Gyeong-rok as her fiancé.
‘I had Jeffrey conduct a thorough background check on him for an entire week.’
Since nothing particularly suspicious had surfaced at that time, she had accepted him as her fiancé.
“Does Father believe we absolutely need his help?”
“Your fiancé is receiving it too, isn’t he? You’re even conducting business together.”
“But there’s a possibility he could be a con artist….”
“Then how about we do this, Christine?”
Jeffrey returned at precisely the right moment.
“Jeffrey. What are you suddenly talking about?”
“I’ve just obtained information about Round 8 from that man.”
Obtained was a generous word—I had merely overheard it—but such details hardly mattered.
What mattered was the information itself.
“Round 8? You mean he gave a prophecy?”
“Yes. This time he spoke quite in detail. If Christine remains skeptical, she could make her judgment after experiencing Round 8 herself.”
“Hmm. That’s not a bad idea.”
“I think that would be best.”
But shortly after, the three of them realized they didn’t need to eavesdrop at all.
A call came from Ma Gyeong-rok, who felt too sorry to keep the prophecy to himself.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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