The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 125

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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 125
125. Ryu Min’s Request
Before heading to the Warehouse.
Ma Gyeong-rok was walking through the nighttime streets.
It was because of Ryu Min’s call, asking him to come out to the Alley for something he needed to discuss discreetly.
‘What could he possibly want to tell me at this ungodly hour?’
If he had something to say, he could have just done it over the phone, yet here he was summoning me like this?
And at such a late hour at that?
Ma Gyeong-rok found the Seer’s uncharacteristic behavior puzzling.
That puzzlement only deepened after meeting Ryu Min.
“Ah, Seer. So you were here.”
“….”
“By the way, you said you had something to tell me?”
“….”
Ryu Min didn’t even bother responding, merely setting the mood.
‘What on earth could be so important that he’s building up the atmosphere like this?’
Looking at his expression, he seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders—utterly grave.
“Director. This is sudden, but I have something to confess.”
“A confession?”
At the word “confession,” Ma Gyeong-rok’s mind raced through various possibilities.
‘Surely not that.’
The worst-case scenario crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
It was the kind of development that only happened in melodramatic dramas.
“The truth is, I know your secret, Director.”
“…A secret?”
Wariness immediately flashed across Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes.
“As you know, I’m a Seer. Because of that, I inadvertently glimpsed your future. That’s when I saw your secret.”
A long sigh escaped from Ryu Min’s lips.
Ma Gyeong-rok had no idea that this was meticulously calculated acting.
“You’ve been hunting in reality as well…haven’t you?”
“….”
“I know. That you selectively hunt only criminals, not ordinary people. That’s why I don’t think poorly of you, Director. Of course, I don’t consider you an enemy either. If I did, we wouldn’t have been working together all this time, would we?”
“….”
“But I haven’t considered you a complete ally either. Knowing that you indulge in murder as a nightly hobby, it would be a lie to say I’m not cautious.”
Though unspoken, Ma Gyeong-rok understood.
Regardless of the target, murder makes one a murderer.
From an observer’s perspective, it could only be repugnant.
Because that was the natural reaction.
And Ma Gyeong-rok had anticipated all of this.
Though he never expected him to confess so bluntly and directly.
“Prophet. Have you ever killed an insect?”
“….”
“Of course you have. Even if not recently, as a child you must have torn off insects’ limbs out of curiosity. Children who don’t understand the pain they inflict tend to commit cruel acts without even realizing they’re being cruel.”
“….”
“I did exactly that. As a child, I killed countless insects. They were filthy, after all. I had this ingrained belief that anything disgusting and repulsive should be crushed underfoot. That mindset persisted into adulthood. I saw people wearing nothing but human skin—beneath it, I perceived only revolting insects swarming everywhere.”
This time, Ryu Min fell silent.
“I decided to start cleaning up insects in high school. Once I learned I was a chaebol heir, there was this parasite clinging to me, trying to leech off my wealth. I found him so repulsive that I couldn’t resist the impulse—I disposed of him. It was simple. Money could accomplish anything.”
“….”
“That’s when it began. I started actively cleaning up insects from that point on. I know it sounds psychopathic to say this, but honestly, it was exhilarating.”
“….”
“Since then, I’ve lost count of how many I’ve killed. Let’s just say the number exceeds what I can count on my fingers and toes.”
Ryu Min stared at Ma Gyeong-rok, his expression uncertain, as if he didn’t know what face to make.
Ma Gyeong-rok continued, as though he still had more to say.
“Is this what people commonly call psychopathy? I’m not entirely sure if that’s accurate, but one thing I’m certain of is that I don’t harm ordinary people. You’re aware that I only deal with those who emit a revolting stench, aren’t you?”
“….”
“Prophet. When I first met you, I suspected something. If you can see the future, wouldn’t you also be able to see this hobby of mine? If so, have you been turning a blind eye all this time despite knowing? Why?”
“….”
“I was curious, but I never asked. I didn’t want to expose my own shame and damage my image. Yet I never expected you to be so forthright about it first.”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s face, speaking in a low voice, was more serious than ever.
“You knew I was a murderer and condoned it, didn’t you? What’s your reason? Why didn’t you report me to the police?”
“I’ll be honest with you.”
Ryu Min feigned a tense expression as he spoke.
“I lacked confidence. I had no confidence I could defeat you in a fight, nor could I bear the consequences that would follow.”
“….”
“Besides, there’s no evidence left, is there? Would the police even believe me if I spoke based on my ability to see the future? And even if they did, could it serve as evidence?”
“Then why are you revealing this to me now?”
As Ryu Min broached the main topic, his expression grew more serious.
“I’m asking Director Ma to help with garbage disposal.”
“What do you mean? Surely you don’t…?”
“Yes. The garbage you’re thinking of is exactly what I mean. Where I am, garbage is overflowing. I desperately need Director Ma’s assistance.”
The cleanup specialist Ryu Min was referring to was Ma Gyeong-rok.
When it came to extorting dark magic from humans, there was no one more suited for the task.
“Have you heard of Player Cafe?”
“Yes. Isn’t it a cafe where only Players can register?”
“You’re aware of it. Yet you’ve never considered joining?”
“Online gatherings don’t appeal to me. Even if I joined, I wouldn’t have time to meet offline. But why are you suddenly bringing up the cafe…?”
“The truth is, this cafe is actually teeming with murderers.”
“What?”
Ryu Min smiled faintly and began explaining in detail.
Player Cafe’s murder interview methods and the tactics they used to ensnare Players.
It was information that couldn’t be known without joining directly.
“So… parasitic vermin infesting the Cafe.”
Disgust flickered across Ma Gyeong-rok’s expression.
His face showed the desire to kill those filthy creatures on the spot.
“But how does the Prophet know all this? Surely you didn’t join yourself…?”
Ma Gyeong-rok suspected even more than just joining.
It was certainly information that couldn’t be known unless one held an executive position.
“Please set aside any misunderstandings. I have never joined. I simply happened to meet an executive-level player from that place and glimpsed their future.”
“Ah. In that case…”
The suspicion vanished from Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes.
“So if I understand the Prophet correctly, all players who joined the Cafe called Player Cafe passed a murderous interview, and they’re all trash that needs to be disposed of? And you’re asking me to handle them now?”
“Correct. The murderous interview was completely abolished after the executives changed, but the existing members all bear suspicion of participating in or condoning murder. Considering both present and future, they’re a group we cannot overlook.”
“Why entrust this to me instead of reporting it?”
“Even if reported, realistically they’d be impossible to punish. Most evidence has been destroyed, and since they’re Players, we can’t confine them by force either.”
“That’s true.”
“That’s why I need your help, Director Ma. There’s nothing quite like taking lives to accumulate dark power for a Dark Knight, is there?”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You know quite a bit about my profession as well.”
“Of course. Prophecy reveals various information.”
Ma Gyeong-rok nodded and asked again, as if confirming.
“Specifically, what would you like me to do?”
“Kill all the trash from Player Cafe. Lure them to quiet places, and you can go relieve stress while accumulating dark power. You won’t be able to kill them all in one day. There are enough of them to take several months.”
“How will you lure them?”
“We’ll scare them with wanted posters featuring their composite faces, then lure them with an offer to help them escape abroad. I’ve already turned one of their executives to my side, so there shouldn’t be any problem securing personnel.”
“Hmm.”
Though he didn’t show it, Ma Gyeong-rok was genuinely surprised by Ryu Min’s proposal.
‘He had a concrete plan all worked out?’
He’d been harboring a slight suspicion this might be a joke.
He’d even prepared a foolish laugh in case the Prophet suddenly flipped the script with a “surprise!”
‘Now I understand. The Prophet is 100% serious right now.’
If he was serious, things changed entirely.
‘This is an opportunity. A chance to easily obtain dark power.’
The Dark Knight profession demanded tremendous amounts of dark power.
Like a luxury foreign car with excellent performance but high fuel consumption.
It was overwhelmingly stronger than other ordinary professions, but that burden was undeniable.
‘The Prophet is saying he’ll reduce that burden for me?’
All I had to do was place a spoon on an already prepared table.
It was an irresistibly appealing proposal.
There was no reason to refuse.
Yet Ma Gyeong-rok paused slightly.
There was an element holding him back from readily accepting.
It was none other than a sense of burden.
This wasn’t the covert killing he’d been conducting alone—this was murder executed in joint operation with the Seer.
Sharing the stigma of murder meant the burden would inevitably differ.
Ryu Min was well aware of this fact.
‘He’ll need some motivation.’
Nothing grandiose was required.
A gentle push, and he’d move on his own.
Ryu Min retrieved an item from his inventory.
“Please take this.”
“Huh? This is….”
Suddenly receiving something, Ma Gyeong-rok was bewildered.
“It’s a Dark Magic Potion. I thought you’d need it, Director Ma.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Ma Gyeong-rok notice the item’s options and was surprised.
It was truly a potion made for him.
“It’s a bribe. I’m not asking you to help for free, so don’t feel too burdened.”
“Ah….”
The feeling of receiving an unexpected gift.
In that instant, Ma Gyeong-rok’s burden vanished.
“You’ve already set the table, and now a gift like this too….”
“Though I call it a table, it’s not easy work.”
“I’ll use it well. Seer. Leave the garbage disposal to me.”
Ma Gyeong-rok and Ryu Min smiled with satisfaction simultaneously.
* * *
“Gaaaahhh….”
Ma Gyeong-rok tapped the face of the player who was breathing his last.
“Is this all?”
“Ughhhh.”
“Answer me. You don’t have anything else?”
“N-no, sir…. I’ve coughed up everything in my inventory….”
Ma Gyeong-rok surveyed the items spread before him and asked once more.
“You’re certain?”
“Y-yes, I’m certain. Ughh. P-please….”
The player’s body trembled violently.
“Get this monster off me… Arghhhh!”
Dark Aura clung to the man’s lower body like a leech, slowly devouring his life force.
The pain was unbearable, but the terror of being devoured alive by the beast was far greater.
“Understood. I believe you.”
Ma Gyeong-rok gathered his energy.
The sword blade was consumed by dark aura.
“As promised, I’ll give you a clean death.”
“Th-thank you….”
Before the player could finish speaking, his head fell to the ground.
Ma Gyeong-rok stashed the sword he’d swung into his inventory.
‘They were going to die anyway. Taking a few items shouldn’t be a problem.’
A satisfied smirk played across Ma Gyeong-rok’s lips.
He’d collected far more items than expected.
Most of them were meant for the Prophet.
‘If you’re from South Korea, there’s a certain camaraderie that comes with it.’
Ma Gyeong-rok grinned wickedly and activated Trace Erasure.
Five corpses vanished as if they’d never existed.

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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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