The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 21

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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 21
21. Debate
“Why not kill them? Simple. There’s no benefit in it.”
“Benefit?”
An Sang-chul looked disappointed, as if that wasn’t the answer he’d expected.
“Still, wouldn’t that leave behind future problems….”
“Future problems?”
Ryu Min glanced at Hwang Yong-min’s gang.
Every last one of them avoided his gaze.
I’d certainly accomplished my goal of instilling fear in them.
“Can those kinds of people even become future problems? I’m not so sure.”
“Hmm….”
“And reducing the population doesn’t benefit anyone, does it? It just means fewer slots for achievers.”
“Ah…!”
In this Game, only half of the survivors could advance each round.
So if the number of survivors decreased, the number of achiever slots would decrease accordingly.
‘Black Scythe is right. There’s no benefit to reducing the population. If the total population drops, the quota drops with it.’
A spark of interest flickered in An Sang-chul’s eyes.
‘To grasp even such minor details… his understanding of the Game is exceptional.’
Skill, nerve, ruthlessness—and a sharp mind to match.
Though he didn’t show it, An Sang-chul felt genuine admiration welling up inside.
“I understand your position, Black Scythe. Then we won’t concern ourselves with such trash either.”
The delinquents let out sighs of relief at the news they wouldn’t be killed after all.
It felt like stepping down from the gallows.
“The business is finished. I’ll be going. I’m a busy man.”
As Ryu Min turned to leave, An Sang-chul urgently called out to stop him.
“Wait, Black Scythe! If you could give me your account number, I’d like to offer compensation in the real world….”
“Not necessary.”
Ryu Min coolly refused and walked straight into the Forest, disappearing from sight.
An Sang-chul stood there dumbfounded, having never expected such a rejection.
‘He helped us without asking for anything in return….’
Witnessing such a lack of greed, An Sang-chul felt genuine admiration bloom within him.
‘I need to report this to the director as soon as I get back.’
When he turned his head, the ones who’d ambushed him were groaning in pain.
He wanted to kill them, but following Black Scythe’s logic, there was no profit in it, so he restrained himself.
Besides, he was aware of Seo A-rin watching from beside him.
“Let’s go. A-rin.”
“Yes….”
An Sang-chul spat once toward Hwang Yong-min’s gang before leaving the area with Seo A-rin.
* * *
While some players hunted in the Forest to level up.
The Clearing was the site of a heated debate.
Or rather, it resembled a marketplace where vendors hawked their wares.
“Cast your votes for me! I’m confident I can do an excellent job as the district representative!”
“No, that’s wrong. I’m far more capable than that small-time nobody! Vote for me instead.”
“What? Small-time? You bastard….”
“What did you just say? Bastard? I’m about ready to rip that small-timer’s head clean off.”
“You two over there! Stop fighting! We can barely afford to waste our strength, let alone squander it on this!”
“That’s right. Anyone who gets riled up so easily has no business being representative. I should be the one leading us. Support me!”
“Forget all that—my father is a congressman! Wouldn’t it make more sense for someone like me to be representative?”
“What nonsense. Your father’s a congressman? Prove it, you bastard!”
Shouts and curses flew back and forth across the Clearing.
Perhaps because they had altered their appearances through customization, many spoke without any filter.
Then a youth with an earnest face began clapping to calm the crowd.
It was a youth with the nickname [Min-cho Youth].
“Everyone! We shouldn’t waste time on meaningless arguments like this—we need to elect a representative quickly! We only have two hours left!”
His voice was loud and resonant, drawing everyone’s attention to him.
“So how are we supposed to choose a representative?”
“Do you have a good idea?”
As the crowd turned their ears toward him, the youth laughed inwardly.
‘It’s working. The Rune of Persuasion is taking effect!’
When I first drew the Rune of Persuasion from a random rune fragment, I was disappointed.
It was a worthless rune that didn’t work on monsters.
‘The description said it wouldn’t work if communication was impossible, right?’
But with people, it was different.
No matter what I said, people listened and acknowledged my words.
That was the nature of the Rune of Persuasion.
‘It’s not an overwhelmingly broken rune, though.’
The description only stated that it increased the probability of persuasion succeeding.
My words didn’t always work.
‘Still, how fortunate is this? Thanks to the Rune of Persuasion, I easily passed the first round!’
In the first round, I used people as shields to easily hunt one hundred goblins.
Without the Rune of Persuasion, I could never have passed so safely.
‘The downside is that it doesn’t work on opponents with higher levels….’
Fortunately, everyone who passed was level five.
Excluding those who entered the Forest, my persuasion worked on all of them.
‘If I play this right, I can become the district representative. Heh heh.’
I was laughing to myself when the crowd pressed me.
“Min-cho Youth! Tell us already! Don’t you have a good idea?”
“I do.”
“What do you mean!”
“Why don’t we narrow down some candidates first? We could select about five and then vote only among them.”
“Hmm. That’s not a bad idea?”
“You’re right—this chaotic mess of everyone just asking to be chosen won’t get us anywhere.”
The crowd nodded, agreeing with the youth’s suggestion.
But there were dissenting voices.
People whom persuasion hadn’t swayed.
“But who decides the candidates? By what criteria?”
“Exactly. If you’re not nominated as a candidate, you have no chance at all, right?”
“Wouldn’t it be fairer to just draw lots?”
Despite the objections from several people, the youth never lost his smile.
‘If persuasion doesn’t work the first time, I’ll just keep persuading. That’s all there is to it.’
As long as we’re at the same level, the rune of persuasion will always work.
In the end, things will proceed according to my will.
And sure enough.
“How would we even make lots in a place with no paper or pens? And how would we control five thousand people?”
“Well….”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
As the youth persuaded them again, those who had objected swallowed their words and nodded in agreement.
‘It’s so easy to manipulate these sheep, isn’t it? Hehehehe.’
The youth continued with a smile.
“Then shall we narrow it down to five candidates? If anyone knows someone worth recommending, raise your hand and name them one by one. But you can’t nominate yourselves—otherwise everyone would want to be a candidate.”
“Ah….”
“That makes sense.”
“Tsk, I was about to nominate myself….”
People nodded at the reasonable argument, but that was all.
No one stepped forward to nominate a candidate.
When they had to point out someone else, no one came to mind.
‘I can’t just hand the representative position to just anyone.’
‘So who should I nominate?’
‘I don’t want to see anyone but me become the representative….’
‘Does it even matter if it’s not me?’
Silence fell over the gathering of five thousand.
Since they were all strangers to one another, no one had an obvious choice to point out.
And no one wanted to nominate someone else.
‘Just as I expected, it’s quiet. Even I wouldn’t want to nominate someone else. Hehe.’
Min-cho Youth felt pleased as the situation unfolded exactly as he’d anticipated.
‘At this rate, the candidates will inevitably narrow down to the most conspicuous people.’
With no suitable candidates emerging, the probability that I—currently the most prominent—would be mentioned was high.
Let me wait a bit longer, as expected.
“I recommend Min-cho Youth as a candidate!”
Fortunately, someone raised their hand and nominated me.
‘Bingo! Hehehehe.’
Min-cho Youth suppressed the laughter threatening to escape and asked.
“You’re recommending me? I never expected this. May I ask why?”
“Well, I think it’s best if the representative is someone with leadership and fairness.”
“Huh…? You think I’m like that?”
“Yes. That’s how it looks to me. You’re controlling the situation well right now, aren’t you?”
‘Hehe, one more fool added to the list.’
The youth laughed, but it was merely a laugh of gratitude for the compliment.
No one knew he was sneering inwardly.
“I’m so grateful for such high praise. It’s a bit overwhelming, but since you’ve taken the time to recommend me, I’ll accept the candidacy. Is there anyone else who would like to nominate another candidate?”
“I recommend Black Scythe.”
The youth didn’t lose his smile even at the emergence of another candidate.
This too was something I had anticipated.
‘The top-ranked player from the last round couldn’t possibly be left out of the candidates.’
Black Scythe had drawn so much attention early on and the ranking results were overwhelming, so it was expected that he would be mentioned.
Moreover, wasn’t he the one receiving attention from the Angels?
‘At least the top three from this zone whose nicknames have been revealed will become candidates.’
As expected, someone raised their hand to nominate the second and third-ranked players.
‘Life is Documentary in second place and Black Flame Dragon in Right Hand in third.’
Though less well-known than Black Scythe, they were undoubtedly top-tier powerhouses.
It would have been stranger if they hadn’t been mentioned.
“That makes four candidates. What about the remaining spot? Is there no one else?”
When silence fell, Min-cho Youth smiled and quickly moved forward.
The fewer candidates, the better.
“Very well. So we’ll narrow it down to four candidates… Before we vote, why don’t each of you come forward and make a statement? You can present your platform or make a pledge. Then let me start first.”
Min-cho Youth cleared his throat and looked around at the crowd.
Thousands of gazes were fixed upon me.
‘Persuading these fools is child’s play.’
If I could speak before all these people, I was confident I could even win against Black Scythe.
“Ahem, speaking before so many people makes me quite nervous. But out of respect for the person who nominated me, I’ll say a few words. If I become the zone representative, I’m confident I won’t disappoint you…”
“What bullshit is this bastard spouting?”
At the cold water poured on his words, Min-cho Youth turned his head to look toward the source of the voice.
‘Who is this?’
A man with a menacing expression walked out from among the crowd.
His nickname was Life is Documentary.
‘Isn’t this guy ranked second in this zone?’
His gait, which seemed ingrained with a thuggish swagger, and the way he spat like a delinquent made one naturally frown.
“Damn it. This is so damn annoying I can’t stand it.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Hey, Min-cho Youth. Do you think the world is yours to play with?”
“Why are you suddenly barging in like this?”
“Just a few words and people fall for it like fools—the world must seem pretty pathetic to you, huh?”
Min-cho Youth didn’t show it, but internally he was quite startled.
The man’s words carried the implication that he knew about his ability.
‘What? How did he find out? Or… is it just a coincidence?’
While he was reeling, the man shook his head side to side, his displeasure evident.
“Who the hell are you to decide the district representative, you manipulative bastard? You think everyone’s going to fall for your pathetic three-inch tongue? You worthless piece of shit?”
“That’s quite harsh for a first meeting! Words are a person’s face and character. Must you speak so viciously?”
Min-cho Youth spoke with a serious expression, but internally he was laughing.
‘He’ll apologize any second now, no doubt about it.’
The power of persuasion was that formidable.
But it seemed it wouldn’t work on this man.
“Shut your trap, you old-timer trying to lecture me? You want to die?”
“I… I…”
“What’s with the stammering, you disgusting bastard?”
“Your words are… quite harsh, aren’t they?”
“Harsh? Talking to scum like you deserves worse than this.”
Min-cho Youth couldn’t help but be flustered.
‘My persuasion isn’t working?’
He tried again, but the man continued spewing curses.
He didn’t even seem sorry.
‘What’s going on? Could it be…?’
In that moment of confusion, Life is Documentary spoke to the crowd.
“Listen up, you bastards! Forget about candidates and all that crap—vote for me! If you don’t, you’ll all die. Got it?”
At that blunt declaration, Min-cho Youth let out a snort of laughter.
“Wow, this guy’s completely shameless, isn’t he? Does he really think people will listen to that? I can’t believe this.”
Unless he had a persuasion rune like his own, there was no way brute force would work.
But such thoughts were fleeting.
“You’re laughing at me?”
The scowling man instantly drew a dagger and drove it into Min-cho Youth’s abdomen.
“Ugh!”
“Didn’t I tell you? Mess with me and you die.”
Slash! Slash!
The man rose to his feet, his face smeared with blood, having stabbed the fallen Min-cho Youth repeatedly.
A chilling silence.
The crowd froze in an instant at that gruesome murder scene.
“If you don’t vote for me, you’ll all die like this bastard.”

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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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