The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 182

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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 182
182. Christine in Peril
Christine cried out at Douglas, who had seized her wrist and was running headlong without direction.
“L-let go of me! What are you doing!”
“It’s dangerous! Come this way, quickly!”
At Douglas’s urgent shout, confusion flooded Christine’s mind.
‘He wasn’t trying to betray me?’
When someone taciturn suddenly acts out of character, it naturally raises suspicion.
She had thought Douglas was conspiring with some organization to betray her, but it was a misunderstanding.
‘He was actually trying to save me.’
She could tell just from watching him grip her wrist and pull her away from the approaching mob.
“Follow me! We’ll be caught if we don’t hurry!”
“Y-yes, I understand.”
Christine mustered every ounce of strength she had and fled, pulled along by Douglas’s hand.
She ran forward without even a chance to look back.
She wanted to ask what was happening, but there was no time.
All she could do was focus on putting as much distance as possible between herself and the mysterious mob.
Ten minutes must have passed.
Douglas finally came to a halt.
“Phew, I think we’ve put enough distance between us. They’ll have a hard time catching up, if at all.”
“Huff… haa…”
Christine, too breathless to respond, knelt down and gasped for air.
Still, as her breathing steadied somewhat, she found the presence of mind to look around.
‘Where are we?’
The place where the two of them caught their breath was a forest—location unknown.
They had run so frantically that she couldn’t even determine which direction they’d come from.
“I used Perimeter Scan, and it looks like we’ve definitely lost them. Thank goodness, Krishi.”
“Douglas. You know who those people are, don’t you?”
Douglas, who had been silent for a moment, nodded.
“Yes. They’re a group called the Despair Cult.”
“The Despair Cult?”
“It’s a pseudo-religious organization born from the ideology of plunging the world into despair. As a burgeoning religion in the United States with a strong negative worldview, it’s a major organization with over 200 player members. The cult leader is a necromancer with the nickname John Delgado.”
Christine’s mouth fell open as she listened to the explanation.
“H-how do you know so much about them?”
“That’s…”
Douglas, hesitating, confessed as if in absolution.
“The Despair Cult approached me to join them.”
“What? You’re serious?”
“Yes. Do you remember Berber, one of the new recruits I received a few months ago?”
“Berber? Of course I remember him. I even greeted him today.”
“That man is a cardinal-level executive in the Despair Cult. He infiltrated as a spy to monitor Krishi from the beginning.”
“What?”
Christine couldn’t help but be shocked by this revelation.
‘B-Berber was… a spy for the Despair Cult?’
Not only was this the first time I’d heard of the Despair Cult, but I’d never even dreamed there was a spy among us.
In that instant, wariness flickered across Christine’s eyes.
Could I really trust the Paladin standing before me?
He said he’d received an offer from the Despair Cult?
Douglas seemed to notice the shift in my expression and smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. I was offered to betray Krishi and join the Despair Cult, but I only pretended to accept. It was to gather information on who dares to target the Saint.”
“Ah… So they’re targeting me? Why?”
“Since I’m still a low-ranking member, I haven’t uncovered the reason yet. What I do know for certain is that they’ve set today as the day to kill Krishi. You can see that from the fact they mobilized 200 followers, can’t you?”
“So… all those people came to kill me…?”
“It’s more likely to eliminate your faction than to target Krishi directly. I’d wager they’re locked in a fierce battle right now.”
Christine snapped to attention at those words.
“I… I need to go back.”
“What?”
“My comrades are in danger. If I intervene, I can save them.”
“That’s impossible. It’s far too dangerous. The enemy outnumbers us two to one.”
“But…!”
“If Krishi steps forward, we might be able to turn the tide of battle. But don’t you think they know that?”
“…”
“The enemy isn’t foolish. The moment they spot Krishi, they’ll prioritize targeting you. Stepping in now is far too risky.”
“But I have my dominion ability. So somehow…”
“Doesn’t dominion become useless against opponents with high enough levels? And with only ten uses, how do you plan to face 200 people?”
“…”
“Waiting here safely while observing the situation is how Krishi survives. Why would I have fled with only you if that weren’t the case? If you step in now, you’ll play right into their hands.”
“Sigh…”
Every word he spoke was undeniably true, so Christine couldn’t bring herself to argue further.
‘Why are they targeting me? What did I do wrong…?’
Overwhelmed by confusion, Christine wrapped her arms around her head and sank down.
No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t recall doing anything offensive.
I’d never even had contact with the Despair Cult in the first place.
‘The cult leader is a Necromancer? Is that even a real class?’
Since we operated in different regions, I’d never seen them on the rankings.
‘I didn’t know the reason, but now I know there are enemies trying to kill me.’
Everything aligned with what the Seer had said.
‘Then the person who saves me from this crisis must be…’
Christine stared quietly at Douglas.
The Paladin praised among my comrades as the Saint’s Knight.
He was the prince on a white horse from the prophecy who would save her.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“Oh, no. I’m just grateful.”
With him, she could truly trust.
Wasn’t he playing the role of a double agent, pretending to join the Despair Cult even now?
Thanks to him, she’d escaped the crisis.
“Don’t mention it. Who else would protect Krishi if not me? Hehe.”
“I’m truly grateful. You saved my life.”
“I only did what was necessary. By the way, is your wrist alright? I didn’t grab too hard, did I?”
“You were just trying to get me out of there quickly. I’m fine.”
“Still, let me take a look. It would be a shame if such a beautiful wrist got bruised.”
Douglas took Christine’s hand and examined her wrist carefully.
As he fidgeted with her hand, Christine’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘What is he doing? At a time like this?’
An odd current ran through the moment.
No, it was clear he was trying to steer things in that direction.
“That’s enough. I’m fine, really.”
Christine, unwilling to let the atmosphere turn strange, withdrew her wrist and cut him off.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence suddenly fell between them.
Christine had never been interested in men to begin with.
No matter how much he’d saved her life, romantic feelings would never develop.
“Thank you for saving me, Paladin.”
“Paladin….”
Douglas’s demeanor became unsettling.
“Why are you suddenly calling me by my class instead of my name?”
“What? That’s….”
“Are you drawing a line? Do you hate me that much? Even after I saved your life?”
“….”
“You find the idea of us becoming lovers so repulsive!”
Douglas shoved Christine as he shouted.
“Yelp!”
The difference in strength was too great—she couldn’t help but fall.
And she couldn’t stop him from pouncing on her with bestial speed.
“What—what are you doing!”
“What am I doing? Forget the pathetic act. Now that it’s come to this, let’s drop the pretense.”
“What are you talking about….”
Crack—!
It was a slap meant to bring her to her senses, but Christine was too stunned to think clearly.
“Hey, you bitch. I saved your life by betraying the Despair Cult, and you’re giving me the cold shoulder? Huh? Do you hate me that much? Huh?”
His tone had completely changed, and the gentle expression that had graced his face moments before had twisted into something vile and menacing.
Douglas—who should have been a noble paladin, a knight of the saintly ideal—spoke and moved with the vulgar mannerisms of a street thug, so crude that one might mistake him for a common criminal.
“I’m asking you.”
Slap!
“What? Not answering? Your pride hurt? Huh?”
The situation was so absurd that I couldn’t even muster tears.
I could only glare at him with cold, piercing eyes.
“Ha, so you can make that face too?”
Douglas laughed with a sickening sneer, his eyes gleaming with avarice.
“Actually, I like it better. There’s no flavor without a little resistance, right? Hehehehe.”
“…What are you saying?”
Instead of answering, Douglas activated a skill.
Whoooosh—
The paladin skill “Holy Restraint.”
Golden chains erupted from the air, binding Christine’s limbs.
Lying there, I couldn’t move an inch.
“Release me this instant!”
“Not even a polite request—just commands. Let’s see how long that pitiful pride of yours lasts.”
Douglas flashed a sinister smile and buried his face in Christine’s chest.
“Why, why are you doing this! Stop it. We’re family!”
“Hehehehe, family?”
Douglas lifted his face with a contemptuous laugh.
“Are you trying to be funny? You don’t actually think those fools who follow you are family, do you?”
“…”
“They worship you as a saint and serve you, so you’ve lost touch with reality. We’re just bound together by mutual benefit. Moving with you, a Priest, increases our survival odds. You’re the same way. You probably have some rune that grants experience when you help people. That’s why you heal for free. Isn’t it?”
“…You knew all along.”
“Of course I did. How else could someone without a single offensive skill level up? Anyone with a brain would figure it out. And yet—family? What family between people with no blood relation?”
“But…we’ve endured rounds together. We’ve overcome difficult situations.”
“True. But people are colder than you think. Even if you’ve walked through life and death together, the moment there’s no benefit, they’ll stab you in the back. Just like I’m doing now.”
Douglas chuckled wickedly and pressed his face against Christine’s neck.
She recoiled in disgust, but Douglas only seemed to enjoy her reaction more.
“Mmm, you smell good.”
“Stop, stop this!”
“Stop what? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment? It’s been torture holding back all this time.”
“…”
I never imagined that this supposedly holy paladin harbored such filthy desires.
Watching Douglas’s eyes rake over my body with malicious intent, Christine’s face grew desperate.
I’d tried using Domination before, but it hadn’t worked—his level was too high.
“Please, stop! This won’t benefit either of us!”
“There’s nothing good about that. Just wait a moment. I’ll let you taste paradise.”
“You really think you’ll get away with this? Since you’ve taken me, the Despair Cult won’t leave you alone!”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ll just assault you here and then hand you over to the Despair Cult as if I caught you late. Hehehehe.”
“You think such an obvious lie will work? If I’m caught by the Despair Cult, I’ll tell them everything I heard. So release me now. Then we can pretend this never happened….”
Christine trailed off mid-sentence.
‘He’s not listening to a word I’m saying.’
His unfocused eyes were fixed only on my body.
Seeing him exhale excited breaths, he seemed to have lost his mind.
Despair washed over Christine’s face.
I tried to persuade him any way I could, but no words seemed to matter in this situation.
I could feel that instinct was dominating his mind over reason.
“Hehehehe… Yes, yes. Stay still. I’ll make it fun for you soon….”
That was when it happened.
Douglas’s head snapped to the side.
A third party’s movement had registered on his presence detection radar.
“Who is it? What bastard….”
Douglas stood up to kill the intruder, then fell silent.
His expression hardened like stone, and goosebumps erupted across his back.
“Ah, ah….”
Because none other than the leader of the Despair Cult stood before him.
“So you were here, you rat bastard.”
The necromancer John Delgado approached with a terrifying gaze.
‘Damn it, this is completely screwed.’
While cursing inwardly, Douglas bowed and closed the distance.
He was planning to strangle the leader the moment he let his guard down.
“Master, you’ve arrived? Hehehehe.”
“What are you doing here? I clearly ordered you to bring the Saint.”
“Ah, well, you see….”
Douglas had no chance to respond.
Crack-!
An Undead Servant that had appeared from behind was gripping Douglas’s head.
“You don’t need to answer. The price for disobeying my orders is death alone.”
Crunch-
Douglas’s neck twisted a full 360 degrees as he collapsed to the ground.
At the same moment, the golden chains dissolved and Christine was free, but she couldn’t move recklessly.
Another Undead Servant, skeletal in appearance, had pressed a blade against Christine’s throat.
‘What, what is this? I didn’t sense them on my detection radar at all?’
As if reading Christine’s thoughts, John Delgado spoke softly.
“My servants have no physical form. Therefore, they don’t register on presence detection.”
“My familiars have no physical form. Therefore, they won’t be detected by presence sensing.”
“Y-you’re then the Necromancer John Delgado….”
“So that horny traitor spilled everything about me while he had the chance.”
John Delgado was a lean American man.
A typical mage class—robes and staff in hand.
At first glance he appeared weak, but the aura emanating from his summoned servants was anything but ordinary.
‘Each of his summons feels like it could match a player.’
After all, hadn’t he dispatched Douglas with ease?
“It doesn’t matter if you know my identity. You’re going to die by my hand right now, Saint Krishi.”
“W-why are you….”
“You can ponder that slowly once you reach heaven.”
Snap—
A flick of his fingers was all the command needed; the Undead Servant raised its blade.
‘Am I really going to die like this? Just as the prophecy foretold…?’
Christine’s vision went white in that instant, but it was no illusion.
Crackle—!
A brilliant white and blue bolt of electricity struck the Undead Servant behind her, obliterating it entirely.
Caught off guard by the sudden death of his summon, John Delgado’s brow furrowed as he turned his head.
Christine likewise lifted her gaze toward the direction the lightning had come from.
And she saw.
Truly, who her white-horse prince had been all along.
‘That person is… could it be?’
A man wielding an enormous scythe was walking toward them.

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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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