The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 123

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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 123
123. A Plausible Excuse
“Hello, Ryu Min. Or should I call you the Prophet? Whichever makes you more comfortable?”
At Christine’s words, Ryu Min gave a slight shrug.
“Call me whichever you prefer.”
“Do you have time for a conversation? Well, not just a moment—something a bit longer.”
“Of course. Please, sit. Christine.”
With Ryu Min’s permission, Christine took the seat across from him.
Jeffrey stood beside her, as if standing guard.
Ryu Min’s gaze naturally shifted toward him.
“Won’t the gentleman beside you sit as well?”
“That’s not necessary.”
Jeffrey spoke curtly, but Christine raised her eyebrows and gave him a subtle hint.
‘Jeffrey, didn’t we agree not to do anything that would make the Prophet uncomfortable?’
Reading that look, Jeffrey cleared his throat and corrected himself.
“If it’s acceptable, I’ll sit.”
“Of course. Please, make yourself comfortable. There’s no need to be cautious.”
Ryu Min smiled reassuringly, but Jeffrey’s expression remained stiff.
He was never one to smile easily in front of others.
Sensing the awkwardness, Christine quickly introduced Jeffrey.
“This is Jeffrey, our cathedral’s butler. He’s been with my father since childhood, so he’s practically family.”
“I see.”
Ryu Min already knew who he was.
The assassin who had tailed him on Nathan’s orders last time.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ryu Min.”
Technically it wasn’t their first meeting, but he deliberately mentioned it and extended his hand.
He was testing his reaction, and Jeffrey unexpectedly grasped it with an uncomfortable expression.
“I’m Jeffrey.”
‘The fact that he’s uncomfortable means he has some conscience.’
Reading his inner thoughts, he didn’t seem like a bad person at all.
Most surprisingly, his feelings toward Christine were unexpected, but Ryu Min chose not to mention it.
He had no desire to disrupt this meeting either.
“What brings you to Korea, Christine? Did you come to go on a date with Ma Gyeong-rok?”
“Well, that wouldn’t be bad, but I came to meet you. Ryu Min.”
“Me?”
“You said before, didn’t you? That I’d be in danger when Round 11 arrives.”
Christine asked with a serious expression.
“I wanted to hear the details about that. Would you tell me?”
“Hmm.”
Ryu Min deliberately adopted a contemplative expression.
Right now, as a prophet, I held absolute leverage in this negotiation.
If I dragged this out, they’d only grow more desperate.
Sure enough, Christine stared at me with anxious eyes before she finally couldn’t help herself and spoke.
“I’m not asking to hear it for nothing. I’m prepared to pay a fair price for the prophecy….”
“No payment is necessary.”
I wanted Christine to hear the prophecy without compensation.
It would burden her heart with debt far more effectively that way.
“But this concerns a person’s life. I cannot accept nothing in return.”
“Ah… then….”
“I’ll tell you. Specifically what will happen. I’ve been reluctant to speak in detail because I feared it might influence the future, but on reflection, I suppose I can share somewhat more.”
I pointed out the specific details Christine wanted to know.
“I don’t know what Round 11’s Quest will be. However, based on the scene I witnessed, there will be a faction that refuses to acknowledge your existence, and they will attempt to harm you.”
“In what manner?”
“It’s difficult to put into words. Let’s just say your life will be in danger.”
“If my life is in danger, does that mean it will be saved again?”
“Yes. As I’ve said before, a savior will appear to rescue you.”
“Who is this person?”
I shook my head quietly.
I couldn’t say in front of Ma Gyeong-rok that Black Scythe would be the one to save her.
He would undoubtedly become jealous.
“I cannot tell you, just as before. My words could influence the future. In fact, even speaking this much is precarious.”
“Still, it would help to know who they are….”
“If I reveal that name, the future could change. You might not be saved and could die instead.”
“….”
“What’s certain is that you must not miss the person who saves you at that moment.”
“Are you telling me to cling to them?”
“Put bluntly, yes. Put kindly, it means to nurture that connection. If you miss that opportunity, the life I’ve saved will end before Round 15 even arrives. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Hmm….”
Christine’s thoughts grew heavy.
‘I’ll be attacked by a faction that refuses to acknowledge me?’
Who could have imagined such a tragedy would unfold in Round 11?
“Can’t you tell me who this faction threatening me is?”
“No. It’s something I cannot determine from the scene I witnessed alone.”
Disappointment crossed Christine’s face.
‘It would be better if I knew who was threatening me….’
At least someone like a prince on a white horse would save me, but it would be preferable to eliminate the danger beforehand if possible.
‘Or should I let the future unfold as it’s meant to, so I can forge a connection with this savior?’
Deliberately facing crisis and waiting for the rope to descend?
If I hadn’t known, it would be different, but now that I did, it would take considerable courage.
“Don’t worry too much, Christine. Simply let fate flow as it will.”
“But….”
“What could be more futile than worrying about a future that hasn’t even arrived? Perhaps my vision of the future is wrong. The future shifts moment by moment based on present outcomes.”
“….”
“That’s why I don’t concern myself overmuch with it. I’m merely offering a warning. Isn’t surviving the next round more important than fretting over what dangers might lurk in Round 11?”
Christine nodded, acknowledging the logic in those words.
What could be more foolish than inviting worry upon oneself?
There was no need to dwell on events that hadn’t yet come to pass.
Not for now, at least.
“Since we’re on the subject, allow me to share information about Round 9’s Quest.”
Ma Gyeong-rok, Christine, and Jeffrey’s attention converged upon me.
Information about the next round—exactly what they’d been hoping for.
Soon, the awaited details flowed from my lips.
All three focused their attention entirely on me.
Though they pretended otherwise, each of them hung on my every word, unwilling to miss a single detail.
“Hmm, Round 9 doesn’t seem particularly difficult.”
“Indeed. If we wish, we could select an easier difficulty and clear it.”
I nodded in agreement with their assessment.
“Round 9 allows difficulty selection just as Round 8 did. The choice is yours.”
“If that’s the main Quest, what about the sub-Quests?”
I shook my head with an expression suggesting I didn’t know.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t see that far into the future.”
Of course, it was a lie.
The sub-Quests had to remain mine alone.
Yet someone harbored doubts about this claim.
“You saw all the way to Round 11, yet couldn’t see Round 9’s sub-Quests?”
Jeffrey voiced this skepticism.
His tone carried unmistakable distrust, but I paid it no mind.
After all, I held all the cards.
Even if I called filth gold, they’d have no choice but to believe me.
“The future doesn’t work such that I can see any moment I desire. I can only perceive information up to the next round and fragmented events beyond that.”
With such an explanation, Jeffrey had nothing left to say.
What could he do when I claimed I couldn’t see the future?
In that moment, Christine shot Jeffrey a pointed glance, signaling her disapproval.
‘Jeffrey, did you really have to show such obvious suspicion?’
‘My apologies.’
Jeffrey blinked in acknowledgment of her silent reproach.
‘Still doubting me, are they.’
I decided I needed to reveal more information.
“By Round 11, players from across the entire world will be mixed together. You’ll be performing Quests alongside players from other nations.”
“Ah… with other countries?”
“Then we could all meet each other?”
“That’s correct.”
I didn’t deny it.
Not all zones would merge, but some countries would mix together.
“Then could we meet a player called Black Scythe in Round 11?”
Christine’s question caught me off guard.
While no player was ignorant of Black Scythe’s name, I hadn’t expected her to show interest.
‘If I’m not careful with my answer, Ma Gyeong-rok might get jealous.’
I peeked into Ma Gyeong-rok’s thoughts and found nothing troubling there yet.
He was simply thinking of it as an opportunity to see a celebrity.
“Of course. You’ll be able to meet Black Scythe in Round 11. Though you’ll meet Representative Ma much sooner.”
“Me?”
“Yes. When the next round begins, all zones in South Korea will be consolidated into one.”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes widened at this unexpected revelation.
“Really?”
“Yes. Since we lack sufficient players, South Korea will generate only a single zone. That means you’ll all be in one place—Black Scythe, Representative Ma Gyeong-rok, An Sang-chul, Seo A-rin, and others.”
“Then we’ll be able to see you, Prophet Ryu Min, in the next round as well?”
‘That’s problematic. I’m Black Scythe.’
The words rose to my throat, but I wasn’t the type to let them slip out.
“Of course, you’ll see me as well. However, it would be troublesome for us to meet and act together simply because we’re in the same zone.”
“Why is that?”
“If those I’ve made prophecies to meet with me and work together?”
I shook my head subtly to indicate that wasn’t quite it.
“The future could change if I’m not careful.”
It was a plausible excuse.

* * *
A prophet’s word is law itself.
Especially when that prophecy has hit with 100% accuracy every single time.
There’s an underlying assumption that the next prophecy will also come true.
No doubt whatsoever.
Even if they pointed at feces and called it soybean paste, or at cola and called it poison, people could only believe.
Anyone who had heard prophecies multiple times and benefited from them would be the same.
‘If I meet someone who has heard a prophecy, the future could change. A convenient excuse.’
I mentioned that zone integration would occur in Round 9, along with this very excuse.
I couldn’t allow those who had heard my prophecy to come looking for me.
‘Besides, as long as I keep my mouth shut, my face will be different, so they’ll never find me.’
That’s why I hadn’t revealed my nickname until now, lest they ask to meet.
Besides, would they even believe me if I said Black Scythe now?
‘Even if they don’t believe, I shouldn’t tell them. I need to make them thoroughly convinced that the Prophet class exists.’
Well, seeing that no one objected to my excuse, it seemed I’d already conditioned them enough.
Everything was going according to my plan.
‘There’s no easier target to deceive than a loyal ally.’
Later, when the number of people dwindles to a point where it’s obvious at a glance, my identity will be exposed.
‘Before that happens, I need to prepare a way to hide my nickname.’
I had all the plans in place, so there was nothing to worry about.
I just needed to execute them when the time came.
Just then, a text message arrived on Lost Yak’s phone that I was holding.
[A seller you’ve marked as interested on Player Place has uploaded an item.]
Upon reading the message, I smiled.
‘Looks like Ju Sung-tak uploaded an item.’
Curious about what it might be, I opened the PulPul app.
I navigated to the interested sellers section and clicked on Ju Sung-tak’s ID, revealing the items he had uploaded.

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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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