The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 113

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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 113
113. Level 60
By the time the players began drawing blades against one another as expected.
‘It’s time to make my move.’
Ryu Min slipped away as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
Then, using invisibility, he changed his appearance without anyone noticing.
Into the form of Lost Yak.
‘If I help the dwarves as Black Scythe, my betrayal of the traitors will be exposed.’
Remaining invisible, Ryu Min observed the situation unfold.
He was waiting.
For the moment the traitors would attack the dwarves.
‘Once the purge begins, they’ll grow anxious. Then, fearing exposure, they’ll try to kill the dwarves first.’
Unlike other merchant groups, the Dwarf Merchant Group had so few members that identifying traitors would be remarkably easy.
Having lived through the past repeatedly, Ryu Min knew this operation would occur beforehand.
‘They usually start purging around waves four to six, but this time it’s a bit delayed.’
Such variables were within acceptable margins, and Ryu Min could simply wait hidden in invisibility.
Waiting for the prey to take the bait.
‘Finally, they’re moving.’
Ryu Min’s eyes caught the traitors in motion.
Having already memorized their faces and reading their thoughts, he could discern their intentions with ease.
‘They’re targeting Hammer, the dwarves’ leader.’
Four traitors were aiming for Hammer.
Ryu Min drew the ring-pommel sword he’d prepared in advance.
Naturally, he didn’t unsheathe his scythe—there was risk of exposure.
Without his primary weapon, his performance would suffer somewhat.
‘Four weaklings below level 30 aren’t even worth the effort after a meal.’
Stopping the traitors’ assault posed no real challenge.
Tap, tap, tap—
They moved.
Ryu Min, waiting invisibly beside Hammer, did not reveal himself.
‘Not yet. I need to time this dramatically. That way, I can maximize Hammer’s favor.’
The traitors rushed at Hammer simultaneously.
“Warriors of the Other World! What is the meaning of this sudden chaos?”
Hammer, unaware he was the target, continued talking earnestly.
Only then did he notice the blades aimed at him, but by then it was too late.
Or so he thought.
Clang!
As Ryu Min parried the blade, his invisibility shattered.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Uh, um. You are….”
“Hide behind me. These brutes are after Hammer.”
After feeding Hammer an appropriately dramatic line, I glanced both forward and back.
Two ahead, two behind.
Four traitors had Ryu Min and Hammer surrounded.
Each radiating a convincing bloodlust.
“Who the hell is this guy? Where’d he come from?”
“Don’t interfere. Scram, unless you want to die.”
These pups—the kind who would’ve tucked tail long ago if they’d seen Black Scythe’s face—snarled at Ryu Min instead.
“No time for this. You die too.”
“You brought this on yourself trying to save a dwarf. Don’t blame me.”
In a flash, all four lunged simultaneously as if they’d rehearsed it.
It was an angle that couldn’t be blocked without four blades.
But.
Clang, clang, clang, clang—
Ryu Min deflected every sword strike in a blur of motion, then drove his blade through a traitor’s chest.
Squelch—
“Gah—hack!”
“You see.”
Drawing the ring-pommel sword, I immediately knocked aside the weapon of the one behind me and slashed across his shoulder.
Rip—
“Ahhhhh!”
“I show no mercy to those who draw steel with genuine intent.”
The remaining traitors panicked as two fell in an instant.
But what truly horrified them was the sudden sight of their own bodies.
Their headless bodies, stumbling and collapsing to the ground.
Thud—thud—
Only after two heads hit the floor did Ryu Min finish speaking.
“You brought this on yourselves. Don’t blame me.”
No answer came from the already dead.
The nearby players marveled at Ryu Min’s skill.
“Wow, who is that?”
“That’s incredible technique.”
Because I wore Lost Yak’s face, no one suspected Black Scythe.
Especially since I carried different swords and wore different armor.
“That’s impressive. He actually saved the dwarf.”
“How did someone with that skill stay under the radar?”
“Now that you mention it, that is strange.”
Confusion quickly shifted to understanding.
With over two hundred people in the group, it wasn’t unusual to have never seen someone before.
Looking down, I saw Hammer the dwarf still catching his breath, his heart still racing from the shock.
It seemed he hadn’t anticipated being attacked by an escort—not even a monster.
“W-what is the meaning of this?”
“There is a traitor hidden among our team.”
“A t-traitor?”
“The spectacle of us attacking one another moments ago was to root out the traitor.”
Understanding at last, Hammer nodded and stroked his beard.
“A traitor among the warriors of the Other World? We nearly faced catastrophe.”
“Hammer! We must lodge a complaint with the Temple immediately!”
“Precisely! Those we were meant to protect have turned against us!”
“How are we to reach our destination like this….”
“ENOUGH!!!”
Hammer’s thunderous roar silenced the protesting dwarves in an instant.
His voice was so powerful that even the players who had been stabbing at one another ceased and turned to look.
“Is this truly the moment to quibble over such matters? Who do you think is most confused right now—the warriors of the Other World who now know a traitor lurks among them?”
“….”
“….”
Hammer looked up at Ryu Min.
“You have saved the life of this humble dwarf. I would be honored to know the name of my benefactor.”
Hammer waited for an answer, his eyes gleaming in a way that belied his rugged appearance.
As Ryu Min, I couldn’t simply reveal my true identity as Black Scythe.
Especially not with everyone watching so intently.
‘If I lie about my nickname, I’ll lose any chance of gaining the dwarves’ favor.’
A difficult predicament.
‘But there is a way.’
Others might not know, but there was a system designed precisely for this moment.
Titles.
I selected one of the many titles I had acquired and pressed ‘Reveal’.
[The Forerunner]
Above my head, a title appeared instead of my nickname.
While I could hide my nickname, I could not hide my title.
The players’ eyes widened in surprise.
“What? What is that?”
“Why can we only see that person’s nickname?”
“We don’t have one?”
The players, unfamiliar with titles, mistook it for a nickname and voiced their confusion.
‘Of course they wouldn’t know—they’ve never obtained one.’
Titles were rarer than runes, so I understood their bewilderment.
That was when Hammer’s expression shifted to shock.
“Wh-who are you? The Forerunner?”
It seemed the title was visible to him as well.
‘But for the inhabitants of the Other World, it carries a different meaning.’
For players, it was merely a string of characters replacing a nickname.
‘These creatures seem to attach some significance to it.’
As if there were an internally established narrative, they would react whenever a title was revealed.
“So you are the One Who Strides Ahead.”
“Ah, that explains it!”
“One Who Strides Ahead. Your reputation precedes you.”
Upon revealing the title, the atmosphere shifted to something more deferential.
For Ryu Min, there was nothing to lose by playing along with their rhythm.
“Is that so? I hardly think I’m that renowned.”
“Haha, how humble of you, One Who Strides Ahead.”
Hammer burst into hearty laughter before his expression turned serious, and he conveyed his gratitude.
“Thank you for saving me, One Who Strides Ahead. Without you, I would have become a skewered corpse, sprawled carelessly across the stone floor.
The very thought is absolutely horrifying.”
Watching Hammer shudder, Ryu Min asked just to be sure.
“Is it necessary for me to share my name?”
“What significance would a name hold? You already possess the renown of One Who Strides Ahead.”
Ryu Min nodded in acknowledgment.
‘So I can indeed substitute my title for a nickname.’
Now, whenever I encountered another dwarf, revealing this title alone would earn their favor.
As if to prove this point, a message materialized at that very moment.
[The dwarves’ reputation toward One Who Strides Ahead has risen from ‘Neutral’ to ‘Favorable’.]
I had successfully garnered their goodwill as intended.
‘This is the true benefit of a title.’
Even as I smiled at the message, the work of identifying traitors continued.
However.
“Shriek—shriek!”
“Shrieeek!!”
A sudden orc assault brought the identification work to an abrupt halt.
This time, I defended the dwarves from the orcs not as Black Scythe, but in the form of Lost Yak.
It was a deliberate action to further solidify their goodwill.
And indeed.
-With One Who Strides Ahead here, we’re truly reassured.
-Their combat prowess far exceeds that of our other warriors.
-If they would use a weapon I crafted, it would be the greatest honor.
The dwarves observing my combat continued to marvel in silence.
I could only sigh at the hunting speed that fell short of my usual performance.
‘Since the dwarves are watching, I can’t even dispel the transformation. I’ll have no choice but to hunt this wave with the halberd.’
Though I complained about the hunting speed, the difference wasn’t truly significant.
With the scythe, I would have killed four in a single strike, but with the halberd, the tedium of needing four thrusts was the only inconvenience.
‘Still, if I can build goodwill with the dwarves and receive compensation, that’s all the better.’
Once the escort mission ended, Ryu Min would likely grant me the reward I sought, but I accumulated more reputation just to be safe.
There was no harm in being thorough.
At that moment, a welcome message appeared before Ryu Min’s eyes as he finished off the orc.
[Your level has increased!]
[Your rank has risen from ‘Expert’ to ‘Master’.]
[You can now use the Duel Challenge function.]
Reaching level 60, my rank ascended to Master.
Along with this came a new function called Duel Challenge, which proved to be quite useful.
‘I could wager items against each other in combat, or even stake promises and fight over them.’
In essence, both parties would place collateral and engage in a one-on-one duel, with the victor claiming the stakes—a function far more applicable in reality than in the Other World.
[In celebration of your rank ascension, the Death’s Seal skill is enhanced!]
[Death’s Seal additional damage increased from 140% to 160%.]
[In celebration of your rank ascension, the Death’s Night skill is enhanced!]
[Death’s Night range increased from 1,000m to 1,500m.]
[In celebration of your rank ascension, the Moonlight Island skill is enhanced!]
[Moonlight Island area damage increased from 1,200% to 1,800%.]
My existing skills were strengthened in succession.
While gratifying, my attention was drawn to a new skill instead.
[Additionally, you have learned the Reaper-exclusive skill ‘Crimson Moon’!]
[The next skill will be automatically learned when you reach level 99.]
[Exclusive Skill – Crimson Moon]
-Effect: For 10 seconds, the cooldown of Moonlight Island is reduced to 1 second. You must wait 24 hours before using Crimson Moon again.

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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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