The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 169

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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 169
169. Game Friend
I found Ju Sung-tak through Hwang Yong-min’s face.
With my Tracking skill, it wasn’t difficult to follow him.
“We meet again?”
“You, you bastard… Ugh!”
Ju Sung-tak tumbled into the house from my kick, scrambling to regain his footing.
‘Curse of Terror!’
I glared and cast fear upon him.
[The opponent resisted the fear.]
[Failed to cast Curse of Terror.]
It was as useless as before.
“Don’t be so scared. I’m just here to talk.”
Thud—
I closed the entrance door and chuckled.
But to Ju Sung-tak, even that smile seemed like mockery and ridicule, so he couldn’t help but bristle.
“You’re messing with me! Talk? You said you’d kill me if we met again, you bastard!”
“Oh my, my words really hurt your feelings, didn’t they? Sorry. But at the Sect, you attacked me first without warning. You admit that, right?”
“That’s bullshit, you made me like this… Ugh!”
I kicked again, and Ju Sung-tak rolled across the living room floor.
“Blaming others since earlier. Even after what happened at the Sect, you still haven’t come to your senses.”
Ju Sung-tak was beyond redemption.
He was a murderer who’d killed dozens before even becoming a Player. What more could I expect?
‘I kept him alive because his trait was useful, but this won’t work. I should eliminate any potential variables.’
Seeing Ju Sung-tak glare at me as if he wanted to kill me, I was glad I’d followed him here.
“Fine. I’ll give you a chance for revenge.”
“What?”
I didn’t answer further and manipulated the system window in the air.
Soon, a message Ju Sung-tak had never seen before appeared before his eyes.
[The opponent with nickname ‘Shit Idiots’ has challenged you to a duel.]
[Duel Type ▶ Non-lethal Simple Sparring]
[Opponent’s Victory Condition ▶ Touch 100 times]
[Shit Idiots’ Victory Condition ▶ Touch even a single hair]
[Upon Victory ▶ The loser becomes a slave and serves the winner as master for life, obeying all commands]
[Opponent’s Penalty ▶ All equipment and skill usage forbidden]
[Shit Idiots’ Penalty ▶ None]
[Do you accept the duel under the above conditions? Y/N]
“What is this?”
Seeing him bewildered at receiving a duel challenge for the first time, I explained kindly.
I needed him to accept the challenge so I could force his hand.
“It’s a duel function, and it’s simple. If you touch even a single hair on me, you win. Conversely, if I touch your body a hundred times, I win. The loser becomes a slave to the winner. How about it? Simple, right?”
“If I touch you even once, I win?”
“That’s right. In exchange, I won’t equip any gear or use any skills.”
Ju Sung-tak examined the system window once more, deliberating.
‘So if I touch even a hair on this bastard, I can make him my slave?’
It was a completely one-sided bet.
The only issue was whether to actually go through with it.
“You’re really going to duel me under these conditions?”
“Can’t you see?”
“How can I trust you? You could break your promise.”
“How could I break it, you idiot? The system forces my actions, just like dominion.”
“….”
Ju Sung-tak fell silent.
Seeing the system window appear made it seem trustworthy.
And the odds looked favorable too.
‘Even if I’m a mage-type, there’s no way I can’t touch him once while he tries a hundred times.’
If I land fear even once, the game is over.
Of course, I’ve never actually tested how he resists it.
‘If worse comes to worst, I can use corpse explosion too. There are plenty of options.’
Just because I’m a magic user doesn’t mean I only leveled intelligence.
Since there are many situations where I need to engage in close combat or escape, I’ve also invested a decent amount into strength and agility.
No matter how fast he is, I was confident I could touch him at least once.
“So? Are you going to do it or not?”
“Why are you suddenly making such a proposal to me?”
“Why else?”
Ryu Min let out a short laugh.
“Because I feel sorry for you.”
“What?”
“Because it’s pitiful watching you struggle without the skills to back it up, so I’m giving you a chance. Even throwing in a handicap for myself. Didn’t you know?”
“….”
“A guy who claims to have leveled intelligence, yet his head doesn’t work at all. Your brain isn’t just for decoration, you know. Tsk tsk.”
‘This son of a bitch….’
Here I was, ranked 2nd and 3rd in All Districts, being mocked like this.
It was humiliating.
“So? Are you going to do it or not?”
“Let’s do this, you bastard.”
[The duel has been established.]
[The duel between the two will begin in 10 seconds.]
An infuriated Ju Sung-tak took the bait without hesitation.
Unaware that this was a fight with nearly zero chance of victory.
‘Another slave added to my collection.’
Ryu Min’s lips curled into a cruel smile.
* * *
The economy trembled as 22% of the global population vanished.
The world had become a place where people feared venturing outside because of the Players.
Streets grew desolate, and small business owners lamented their plummeting sales.
But the industry hit hardest was none other than gaming.
The primary demographic for game content was ages 15 to 29.
‘Still, popular games seem to be holding on. They keep running their services.’
Even as user bases halved and other games faced extinction, the famous AOS game maintained its unshakeable first-place position.
For Ryu Won, confined at home with nothing else to do, it was a blessing.
He finally had the chance to play all the games he’d always wanted to try.
‘But after playing for several months, I’m getting tired of it.’
After more than nine months of self-imposed isolation at home, gaming like a shut-in, I’d moved beyond boredom into genuine disgust.
‘I know it sounds ungrateful compared to before. But it’s really difficult….’
Even eating delivery food three times a day had lost its appeal after the initial novelty wore off.
The only things that kept me going were my older brother’s presence and my gaming friend.
‘Since I can’t make friends in reality, I might as well make them in games.’
My gaming friend and I clicked instantly.
He was responsive to everything, never got angry once, and he was genuinely skilled.
On days when I felt suffocated and depressed, playing with him melted my stress away.
He was nothing like my classmates who ostracized and bullied me.
I believed he was a true friend, even if only online.
Until we met in person.
“You’re Ryu Won?”
“Yeah, you’re Bang Tae-wan?”
“Finally met you. Nice to meet you, you bastard.”
Before I could even react to the sudden profanity, Bang Tae-wan threw an arm around my shoulder.
He reeked of a typical delinquent.
“Why, why are you like this, Bang Tae-wan….”
“Don’t talk to me casually, you bastard. I’m two years older than you, asshole.”
“What? In the game you said we were the same age….”
“I was just bullshitting to get close to you. Come on, follow me. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”
Bang Tae-wan flashed a sinister grin and dragged me along.
I tried to resist, but it was impossible.
His strength was no joke—it felt like a boulder was resting on my shoulder.
‘Wait, if he’s two years older than me… is he a Player?’
He was a Player.
A veteran who’d survived through the tenth round, no less.
Gulp—
My tension far outweighed my panic.
A Player was far more dangerous than an ordinary criminal.
Based on his actions, it seemed he harbored ill feelings toward me.
‘Damn it… I should’ve just stayed home like my brother said.’
Regret came too late.
Ryu Won had been dragged away by someone he’d trusted as a friend.
Along the way, I’d glanced around the streets, but even in broad daylight, there wasn’t a soul I could call for help.
“Get inside, you bastard.”
Before me, shoved forward, lay not a PC Bang but a dead-end Alley.
What could delinquents possibly want in a place like this—somewhere they’d just smoke cigarettes?
I didn’t even want to think about it.
“W-why are you doing this, T-Tae-wan?”
“You bastard, I’m two years older than you and you’re still talking casually? And don’t you dare say my name so carelessly, you asshole. It pisses me off.”
“W-what on earth are you—”
Crack!
My vision flashed white as my head snapped to the side.
My cheek swelled up, and blood dripped from my nose.
“You want to die? I’ve been catering to your feelings, crawling around, and you still think we’re friends?”
“…”
“Why am I doing this? You don’t know? Well, I guess you wouldn’t. I’m a damn good actor. I’ve been holding back the urge to tear you and your brother to shreds.”
“My… brother?”
I’d mentioned having a brother in The Game, but I’d never gone into detail.
I certainly had never introduced him to anyone.
With no connection between them, there was no reason for any grudge.
“What did my brother ever do to you…?”
“Heheheh, you still don’t get it, do you?”
Bang Tae-wan’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were terrifyingly wide open.
Eyes that truly wanted to kill.
“Hey, you know Bang Tae-gyu, right?”
“Bang Tae-gyu? Who’s that…?”
“Bang Tae-gyu, you asshole. Remember? He was in your class, spent nine months in the hospital after getting beaten by your brother, my younger brother, you bastard!”
“Oh.”
I remembered.
Even though it wasn’t that long ago, I’d forgotten.
That delinquent who’d driven my school days into despair.
His name was Bang Tae-gyu.
“Seeing your expression, you remember now. I’m Bang Tae-gyu’s older brother, Bang Tae-wan.”
“…”
“Do you know how much hell I went through trying to find you? I even hired a Detective Agency, did all sorts of crazy things, but couldn’t find you. If I’d at least had a photo, I could’ve used a tracking skill, but without even that common picture, I suffered so much. At least I managed to find out your Game ID—that was a blessing. And now, finally, we’ve met like this.”
“S-so everything you did being friendly with me was all…?”
“It was all an act, you bastard. To meet you offline. But that guy kept flaking out? Every time I asked to meet, he’d whine about how it was dangerous and he couldn’t leave the house. Damn it.”
Now I understood.
He wasn’t a gaming friend or anything like that.
Just a thug who had approached me with calculated intent to get revenge on my brother.
“Your brother’s name was Ryu Min, right? Is that bastard living well? After I broke my younger brother’s fingers and arm, is he living well?”
“….”
“Don’t tell me he’s already dead? I’ve been waiting so long for the day of my revenge. Well? Answer me, you bastard.”
“….”
Ryu Won sealed his lips shut as if zipping them closed.
‘I can never tell him anything about my brother….’
Crack—!
His jaw snapped to the side, blood spraying before he could react.
“Hey.”
Bang Tae-wan glared at him with terrifying eyes.
“Not talking? You think I’m easy? You think this is a joke?”
Crack—!
His head whipped to the other side.
Blood trickled from his clenched lips.
“Answer me. Is your brother alive or not? If you don’t talk, I’ll hit you again.”
“H, he’s dead….”
“Dead?”
Ryu Won nodded while feigning a stubborn expression.
The only way to prevent harm from coming to his brother was to say he was dead.
“Yeah, there’s no way he could’ve survived to round ten without being a genius like me.”
Bang Tae-wan, who had been nodding as if that made sense, now wore a troubled expression.
“So what do I do now? I was planning to use you to lure that bastard out and kill him, but if he’s already dead…. My revenge is ruined?”
When he seemed to abandon his revenge, Ryu Won felt a wave of relief wash over him.
But it was short-lived.
“I guess I have no choice. Since your brother’s gone, I’ll just have to kill you instead.”
“Wh, what?”
“Why are you surprised? If the older brother did wrong, the younger brother should be punished in his place. You know about guilt by association, right?”
Ryu Won panicked as the target suddenly shifted to him.
“If you’re lying, tell me the truth right now. Your brother’s alive, isn’t he? You made up that he was dead to protect him, didn’t you? Huh?”
“….”
“Not talking? Then you’ll die in his place. Think you can’t do it? I’ll break your fingers and arm just like what happened to my younger brother, and then I’ll snap your neck. Got it?”
“….”
“So tell me. Where is he, this bastard named Ryu Min?”
“M, my brother….”
A faint sigh escaped from Ryu Won’s trembling lips.
“H, he’s already dead….”
“This bastard won’t stop lying till the end.”
Bang Tae-wan’s face crumpled without mercy.
“Seems you’re not ready to talk yet. Fine. Let’s break your fingers first and hear your answer again.”
“No, wait…!”
The moment Bang Tae-wan grabbed Ryu Won’s fingers to bend them.
“What are you doing here?”
At the sound of Nol’s voice, Bang Tae-wan turned his head.
Some woman was staring at him with an irritating smirk in her eyes.
“Damn it. Mind your own business and get lost.”
“I wasn’t asking you, asshole.”
“What?”
Bang Tae-wan was about to flare up in bewilderment.
Then a pink hue swirled in the woman’s eyes.
Suddenly, Bang Tae-wan’s arms went limp like a soulless doll.
‘What just happened?’
Ryu Won, wearing a bewildered expression, could only be startled by the woman’s next words.
“Are you alright, Young Master?”
‘Y-Young Master?’
She was speaking as if she knew me.

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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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