The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 117

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

The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 117
117. The Elf’s Reward
I didn’t alter my face.
I knocked out the traitors while still wearing Black Scythe’s appearance.
‘These bastards are already dead men walking. Whether I kill them or not doesn’t matter.’
Elves are colder than one might expect.
Especially toward assassins who target the princess.
That’s why I didn’t bother hiding my identity.
After all, I’d be the only traitor left alive anyway.
Tap, tap—
I prodded the unconscious figures with my foot.
One had a severed wrist; the other two seemed intact.
‘They’re definitely out cold.’
I struck the nape of their necks with a hand chop, channeling 464 Strength.
If they suddenly came to, they wouldn’t be able to expose Black Scythe as a traitor.
Thump, thump—
As Yugrito approached, I lifted my head.
“….”
He didn’t ask who I was.
First, he needed to calmly assess the situation.
Yugrito’s gaze shifted to the young knight standing nearby.
“Jerif.”
“Yes!”
“Did you see what happened?”
“Yes! Four warriors from the Other World suddenly attacked the carriage carrying the—uh, the young lady. One of them was killed by gravity magic, and the other three were defeated and knocked unconscious by this person here.”
“Is the princess safe?”
“The—uh, the young lady is safe….”
“No need to hide it. Her identity’s already been exposed anyway.”
“Ah, yes! The princess is safe. She’s resting inside the carriage now, still quite shaken.”
“So what you’re saying is that this warrior from the Other World saved the princess?”
“That’s correct. If this person hadn’t stepped in when they did, the princess would have been in serious trouble.”
At those words, Yugrito bowed deeply to me without hesitation.
The recruit wouldn’t lie, so it was proven that the person before him was a benefactor.
“Thank you for saving our princess. If I may be so bold, might I have the honor of knowing your name?”
I considered using my title but decided against it.
There were no traitors standing here, and unlike the Dwarf Merchant Caravan before, there was no need to hide my name.
“Black Scythe.”
“Black Scythe….”
Yugrito didn’t seem bothered by my casual tone.
Instead, he murmured the name as if committing it to memory, then bowed once more.
“Thank you again, Black Scythe. I apologize, but could you explain the situation? I don’t understand why the warriors from the Other World targeted the princess.”
Ryu Min nodded and offered a brief explanation.
The werewolf assault was winding down anyway, and this moment mattered more than hunting.
It was an opportunity to strengthen relations with the Elves.
Yugrito’s eyes widened as he listened to the explanation.
“A traitor? You mean there are traitors even among the warriors of the Other World?”
“That’s right.”
“Could they have made a pact with the Demon Archduke Plunictos?”
‘Demons? No, they joined hands with Angel.’
Ryu Min brushed it off vaguely.
“I’m not certain about that, but I suspect complex interests are at play.”
“Ah… Then perhaps you wish to secure custody of these individuals?”
“No. They’re not my concern.”
“In that case, may we dispose of them according to our laws?”
“Do as you wish.”
Yugrito looked down at the traitors and drew his sword.
Slash—slash—slash!
Three swift strokes separated their heads from their bodies.
Ryu Min stared in surprise, and Yugrito answered without being asked.
“Those who target the princess face immediate execution.”
He could have interrogated them without killing them, but he showed no mercy.
‘The testimony of an assassin cannot be trusted—that’s Elven law.’
Elven law was terrifyingly harsh.
Though I already knew this.
“Black Scythe, thank you so very much for saving the princess.”
‘How many times is he going to thank me? Just hand over the reward already.’
His gratitude was clear, but shouldn’t he show sincerity through compensation?
I worried briefly about not receiving a reward, but such concerns would prove unfounded.
Saving the princess was a debt the Elves would spend their entire lives repaying.
“Kreeeegh!”
The last remaining werewolf fell, and the situation came to an end.
“Phew, they’re all dead…”
“Look over there. Black Scythe is talking with an Elf.”
The players who had repelled the assault finally began to notice Ryu Min conversing with the Elf.
“Really? But aren’t those corpses over there players?”
“What happened?”
“Did the Elf kill them?”
“Yes! I saw it earlier! That Elf suddenly slashed their necks like this!”
Yugrito sighed softly upon hearing this.
“Sigh… If we leave this as is, misunderstandings will only grow. May I explain the situation?”
“As you wish.”
The moment Ryu Min gave his approval, Yugrito stepped forward.
“Warriors of the Other World. I suspect many of you are curious about what has just transpired.”
His voice carried through the players’ ears via a wind spirit.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Yugrito, Commander of the Elsorium Knight Order. And these individuals are not merchants or carriage drivers—they are knights of Elsorium.”
The moment he revealed they were not merchants, the players began to murmur among themselves.
“We were not traveling to transport goods. Our merchant identities were merely a smokescreen to protect the princess. I apologize for the deception, however brief it may have been. While I cannot divulge all the details, I assure you we speak truthfully. I humbly ask for your understanding.”
The elves had no desire to damage their relationship with humans.
That was why the knight commander came forward to clarify the misunderstanding himself.
‘Whether this is a fabricated setting of this world or an actual one, there’s no way to know.’
Yugrito continued speaking.
“Unfortunately, under the cover of a monster attack, there were those who sought to harm our princess. The dead humans here are those assassins. According to Black Scythe here, they were traitors.”
“Traitors?”
“Wait? The traitor count really did decrease!”
Looking at the personnel status, the traitor count had dropped to one.
Though I never imagined that sole remaining traitor would be Ryu Min.
“I won’t ask why there are traitors among you. From your reactions, it seems you’re confused as well. In any case, had it not been for Black Scythe, our princess might not have survived. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude once more to Black Scythe.”
‘No, please stop thanking me already.’
As Yugrito bowed to Ryu Min, the words he had been waiting for finally came from the knight commander’s lips.
“Black Scythe. I have a gift I wish to give you.”
Yugrito produced something from his garments and offered it.
Ryu Min accepted it without hesitation, and a smile finally bloomed across his face.
[You have received ‘Elixir of Hyperregeneration’ as a reward from Yugrito, Commander of the Elsorium Knight Order.]
[Elixir of Hyperregeneration]
-Classification: Consumable
-Grade: Legendary
-Effect: Bodily regeneration for 10 seconds
-Usage Restriction: Master Grade or higher
-Description: For 10 seconds, your body regenerates instantly no matter how grievously wounded. However, we assume no responsibility for mental collapse from the pain.
‘Finally. I have it. The Elixir of Hyperregeneration.’
From the description alone, it was clear this elixir rendered one virtually invincible for ten seconds.
‘If I time it right and use it well, I could come back to life dozens of times over.’
It was as though I had gained extra lives.
Since this was an item I needed to use in Round 15, I carefully stored it in my inventory.
“How generous of you to offer something so precious. I’m grateful.”
“What in this world could be more precious than the princess’s life? We elves are indebted to Black Scythe in a way we can never repay.”
[The elves’ reputation toward Black Scythe has risen from ‘neutral’ to ‘favorable’.]
Seeing the reputation change notification that had just appeared, Ryu Min smiled broadly.
“In any case, I’m grateful.”
“That’s something we should be saying to you.”
At that moment, a newly appointed knight who had been waiting in front of the carriage approached Yugrito.
“Jerif. How is the princess doing?”
“She was startled, but she’s much better now. By the way, after I explained the situation to her, she said she wanted to personally greet her benefactor.”
“The princess wishes to? Very well. Black Scythe. This way, please.”
As Yugrito and I approached the front of the carriage, Yupinelsia descended as if she had been waiting.
But the moment she stepped down, an intense reaction erupted from those around us.
“Gasp!”
“Wow, damn.”
“What…”
It was because her beauty was so striking that even Angel herself would have to step aside.
“Hello. Warrior from the Other World. I’m Yupinelsia of Elsorium.”
“Call me Black Scythe.”
Ryu Min spoke to the princess in casual speech.
Yet the princess and the elves showed no displeasure whatsoever.
‘Now that my reputation has shifted favorably, nothing I do will cause problems.’
As long as I didn’t betray them, I could live my entire life receiving the elves’ respect.
“I heard you saved me. I truly don’t know how to repay such a debt…”
“You need not repay it. I merely did what was right and proper.”
Elves love words like duty and natural order.
Ryu Min had deliberately chosen such language to build goodwill.
‘If I give the rule-conscious elves a proper impression, it will help me in many ways.’
Sure enough, the way Yugrito and the knights looked at me shifted subtly.
Though they called me a lifelong benefactor, humans were ultimately just humans.
But with this statement, the boundary they had drawn around humanity became slightly fainter.
‘I just need to gradually increase goodwill from here. Especially if I build favor with the princess, it would be ideal.’
I already knew what the elf princess liked, so it wouldn’t be difficult.
“Princess, please stay inside the carriage. I will guard the outside. Even if it costs me my life.”
“Th-th-th-thank you.”
Rather than feeling burdened by my words of protecting her with my life, Yupinelsia, her cheeks flushed, hurriedly entered the carriage.
A faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
Seeing this, Yugrito approached with surprised eyes and spoke.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the princess smile like that.”
“Is that so?”
“It seems she feels reassured by your words that you will protect her.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
Ryu Min, who had been lost in thought, spoke to Yugrito as if to say there was nothing to worry about.
“I will protect the princess, so focus only on moving to the destination.”
“If you would do that, we are grateful.”
Yugrito, smiling faintly, headed toward the front lines reassured, and the battle resumed.
“Kyaaaagh!”
“Kyaaaah!”
The monsters continued their assault on the elves and humans, and with each wave, I accumulated experience points with my scythe.
Throughout thirty waves, the monsters never once managed to approach the princess.
Because Black Scythe stood as an impenetrable barrier.
Yugrito approached, moved by such reliable strength, and offered his respect.
“I always knew Black Scythe was no ordinary person, but I never imagined you were this formidable.”
“Is that so?”
“Thanks to you, we were able to escort the princess safely. I’m grateful.”
Despite his words of gratitude, Yugrito’s expression betrayed a hint of reluctance.
The time to part with his benefactor was drawing near.
Yupinelsia, aware of this reality, poked her head out from the carriage window.
“Um… Black Scythe.”
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“That… never mind.”
The princess, reconsidering her thoughts, timidly poked her head back out again.
“W-will we meet again someday?”
I spoke matter-of-factly.
“Of course. Just don’t forget me until then.”
“…”
Yupinelsia wore a dazed expression for a moment before retreating inside without a word.
‘How embarrassing for her.’
This elven princess had an unexpected fondness for such sentimental remarks.
Soon, the time arrived.
[Time until Destination: 00:00:00]
As the countdown reached zero, Yugrito halted the carriage and delivered a crisp farewell.
“Warriors of the Other World. Thank you for your hard work. We shall never forget the grace you’ve shown in protecting us to our destination. May we meet again with smiles on our faces.”
Clop-clop, clop-clop—
The carriage procession moved forward, and Yugrito offered me a final nod of acknowledgment.
Yupinelsia, leaning from the carriage window, gazed at my receding figure with the shy expression of a young maiden.
[You have safely escorted the Elf Merchant Caravan to their destination.]
[You have completed the Elf Merchant Caravan Escort Quest.]
[Experience rewards will be distributed shortly for successful escort completion.]
[The experience granted equals twice the amount from monsters hunted by you and your party members.]
As the quest concluded, the experience reward arrived.
‘I’ve reached level 78.’
A satisfying level gain.
More importantly, I’ve built reputation with the elves and obtained the elixir I desired—what more could I ask for?
As the time to part drew near, Heo Tae-sik’s expression beside me turned wistful.
“Black Scythe, it’s a shame we have to say goodbye now.”
“A shame? We’ll see each other again next time.”
“Ah.”
His words struck Heo Tae-sik with such emotion that his expression went blank, as though captivated by something once more.
“Um, will I be able to see you again?”
Um Jun-seok beside him stammered out the question, and Ryu Min nodded.
That alone was enough for him to bare his teeth in joy.
He had transformed from a mere candidate follower into a true one.
‘Should I head to the Human Merchant Caravan next?’
Ryu Min’s form vanished.
One final caravan remained.
Not one to protect, but one to destroy.

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