The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 219

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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 219
219. Irongray
While others deliberated over their choice of region, Russell selected the Albitz Kingdom without hesitation.
‘Mr. Ryu told me. Don’t bother with anything else—just wait for Black Scythe in the Albitz Kingdom.’
Though I’d heard the strategy for Round 13, The Seer said there was no need to undertake Quests.
As a Blacksmith class, he’d said I could raise my reputation more easily than others if I got along with the dwarves.
‘He told me he’d explained the detailed method to Black Scythe. It’s something that absolutely requires his help.’
That’s why I’ve been waiting here endlessly.
Nearly an hour had passed.
‘C-could it be that he’s not coming?’
Just as anxiety crept in about being stood up, a dark silhouette appeared in the sky.
“What is that? Whoa!”
The creature, fluttering wings like a demon, descended gracefully before Russell.
It was none other than Black Scythe.
“Russell Daniel?”
“Y-yes, that’s me. Are you Black Scythe?”
Due to the nature of the Fantasy World, nicknames weren’t visible, but I could sense that this was Black Scythe.
“That’s right. I’m Black Scythe.”
“I-it’s an honor to meet you.”
“Don’t mention it. The Seer told me about you two being close, so I’ll take special care of you.”
“Did The Seer really say that?”
When Black Scythe nodded, Russell felt genuinely moved.
‘I never knew Mr. Ryu thought of me that way… He truly is a saint.’
Russell suddenly recalled what Ryu Min had told him.
‘When you meet Black Scythe, prove your worth, right?’
Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to strengthen his relationship with Black Scythe, Russell gathered his courage.
“I-I heard that you could help me grow, Black Scythe.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“If you don’t mind, would you help me? I want to grow faster.”
“Hmm…”
“In exchange, I’ll cast a buff to help with hunting! Just let me see your weapon for a moment…”
When Russell approached and gestured for the weapon, Ryu Min’s brow furrowed.
“You want me to hand over my weapon?”
“Oh, no. You don’t need to give it to me—just let me touch it.”
Russell gently raised his hand toward the scythe and chanted the skill.
Then a remarkable message appeared before Ryu Min’s eyes.
[Due to the skill ‘Weapon Refinement’, weapon attack power increases by 150%.]
[The buff persists until the end of this round.]
‘The attack power increases this much?’
I’d heard vaguely about the Blacksmith’s skills, but this was my first time actually receiving such a buff.
“Your weapon’s attack power has increased, hasn’t it?”
“Indeed. I’m surprised by how much it went up.”
“Haha, you haven’t seen anything yet. Would you let me touch the armor this time?”
Ryu Min nodded in approval, and Russell placed his hand on the armor.
Then a message appeared that was even more astounding than before.
[Due to the skill ‘Equipment Refinement’, the armor’s options increase by 10%.]
[The buff persists until the end of this round.]
‘What? The options increased?’
Ryu Min pulled up the information window for Thanatos’s Black Demon Armor he was wearing.
‘Defense 2,200, all stats +1.1 per level, 73.7% evasion chance on hit?’
The options had genuinely improved by 10%.
“The options increased, didn’t they? I can apply buffs to all parts this way. Oh, except weapons and accessories, of course.”
“Really?”
“Since we’re on the subject, let me do it for you. This way.”
After buffing the helmet, gauntlets, and boots, the options improved by 10%.
It wasn’t a massive increase, but the ability to enhance options held real significance.
‘If the options involve probabilities like the Black Demon Armor, couldn’t I potentially push them close to 100% with the right approach?’
I never knew a blacksmith could possess such a skill.
Seeing my expression of amazement, Russell laughed with satisfaction.
“Surprised? I never imagined the Equipment Refinement skill I learned at level 60 would be this effective.”
“Repair, Weapon Refinement, Equipment Refinement… what other skills do you have left?”
“Ah, there’s a skill called Material Crafting, but it’s not a buff skill so it’s not particularly useful. It’s literally just gathering junk items to create higher-tier materials.”
Ryu Min nodded in acknowledgment.
Materials could simply be purchased with money, so I had no need for them.
Russell might need it, though.
‘Well, Weapon Refinement and Equipment Refinement alone make this a sufficiently helpful profession.’
“So, has this been helpful?”
“Quite helpful.”
Watching my satisfied expression, Russell silently cheered to himself.
He had definitively proven his value.
“Come. I’ll help you grow further.”
“Thank you. But, where are you heading…?”
“According to The Seer, I need to go to a place called the Cargago Mountain Range. I’m supposed to find a dwarven city there.”
“Do you know the way?”
“I do. I have some connections with the dwarves.”
Ryu Min grinned and changed his title to ‘The Pathfinder’.
As strange letters appeared above his head, Russell’s eyes widened.
“What’s that above your head?”
“You’ve never seen one before, it seems. It’s called a title. It comes with various effects. The Seer told me you’ll get one too if you strengthen your relationship with the dwarves.”
“Ah, I see.”
“We don’t have time to dawdle. Let’s go now.”
“Um….”
When Russell Daniel spoke up again, even I couldn’t manage a pleasant tone.
“What is it now?”
“W-well, are you perhaps planning to fly like you did before? I, I have a fear of heights….”
“Don’t worry. We’ll walk. The dwarf city is underground.”
* * *
Near the Albitz Kingdom lay the Cargago Mountain Range.
And beneath it stood Irongray, the dwarf city that anyone who knew anything was aware of.
Clang—clang!
The sound of metalwork echoed from all directions.
“Wow… so this is the dwarf city….”
“Close your mouth. You’re staring like something’s wrong with you.”
The dwarves frowned and glared at Russell Daniel as he looked around in wonder.
Though they actively traded with humans and didn’t bar entry, humans were still undeniably outsiders.
They had no reason to welcome someone gawking at their city as if it were a zoo.
Whether Russell Daniel knew this or not, he gazed at the dwarves’ work with fascinated eyes.
‘No, it’s less fascination and more… burning passion in his gaze?’
Perhaps it was the joy of meeting fellow craftsmen in the same metallurgical trade?
Enthusiasm practically radiated from Russell Daniel’s entire being.
“Look at that. The hammer strikes are pure art. Not a tremor at that precise angle. Wow, look at those hand movements. The metalworking technique is incredible. They must be crafting plating for armor. How do those small, thick hands execute such delicate work… Oh, are all those pieces displayed in the back handmade? I’d love to touch one….”
“Russell Daniel. Snap out of it and come over here.”
“Ah, my apologies. Haha….”
I led Russell Daniel, who was as distracted as a cat in a fish market, to Irongray’s largest smithy—Hammerfall.
“Here we are. Let’s go in.”
“Ah, w-wait a moment. Something just appeared in my vision….”
Russell Daniel’s gaze was fixed on empty air.
A Sub Quest had appeared.
“A quest to work as an assistant at Hammerfall for 3 hours has appeared?”
“What’s the reward?”
“Relations with dwarves become very favorable, and all skills improve by one tier. However, it says only the blacksmith profession can accept it.”
Clear one quest and I pass the round while upgrading skills.
‘There’s no sweeter sub quest than this. Though only Russell Daniel can do it.’
Though he’d need to work for 3 hours, it was short compared to other players.
‘Others would need at least 6 hours for reputation work.’
In that sense, second place in this round’s rankings was essentially secured for Russell Daniel.
‘Assuming he actually gets hired, that is.’
Simply walking into the smithy and saying he wanted to work as an assistant wouldn’t cut it.
Why would they trust a human who showed up out of nowhere with no connection to them?
He’d be lucky if he just got kicked out instead of having his ass booted.
‘But there’s nothing to worry about. I’m here.’
Ryu Min opened the blacksmith’s door and gestured for Russell to enter.
“Wow…”
Russell gasped in continuous amazement as he took in the colossal scale of the forge at a glance.
Just then, a youthful-looking dwarf approached and asked with a gruff expression.
“What brings humans to this place?”
But that was only momentary.
The dwarf who had been looking at Ryu Min suddenly wore an expression of surprise.
“Oh? Ah, aren’t you the Forerunner?”
Ryu Min nodded.
A dwarf who didn’t know me acted as if he did, but it no longer surprised me.
I simply felt anew the magnificence of the reputation system.
“I’ve come to meet Hammer, the blacksmith of Hammerfall.”
“Master Hammer? Please wait a moment.”
The young dwarf who rushed off soon returned with a burly dwarf whose beard was thick and unkempt.
It was Blacksmith Hammer, whom I had met face-to-face in Round 8.
“Oh, the Forerunner graces our Irongray with a visit! I’ve been hoping to see you!”
Perhaps because my reputation was ‘very favorable,’ Hammer gave me an enthusiastic welcome.
“Rather than this, let me take you somewhere quieter. It’s far too loud here.”
“Let’s do that.”
The moment I followed Hammer to a relatively quiet lounge, I introduced Russell.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Russell Daniel, someone I hold dear.”
Russell was inwardly flustered by the word ‘dear,’ but quickly responded with understanding.
“P-pleased to meet you. Please call me Russell.”
Due to the height difference, they simply nodded at each other rather than shake hands.
“Pleased to meet you. By the way, Forerunner, what brings you to our city?”
“I was just about to discuss that. Would you be willing to employ this friend here?”
“Employ him?”
“Just for today as an assistant. He’s eager to learn from the dwarves who are the finest in blacksmithing techniques. Despite appearances, this friend has considerable skill in metallurgy.”
At the mention of a kindred spirit, Hammer’s gaze fixed on Russell.
“Have you any experience in blacksmithing?”
“Yes, though my experience is only six years, I know the basics of the work.”
“What items have you crafted?”
“Well, there are many. Longswords, daggers, bracelets, protective gear, chairs, armor, and so on. I’d say I’ve made just about everything.”
“Hmm? At that level, you’ve surpassed intermediate skill?”
Hammer regarded Russell with eyes full of amazement.
Reading his thoughts, he seemed quite pleased.
‘The interview is a pass.’
With this, I could set aside worries about employment.
And sure enough.
“Very well. Since the one who came before introduced you, I’ll make an exception and hire you as temporary support—just for today.”
“Th-thank you so much!”
“However, it’s getting late, so I can only offer three hours. Will that work?”
“Yes, of course!”
Russell lit up like an eager student, and Hammer found his enthusiasm rather endearing.
In fact, he seemed so pleased by the passion that he looked eager to whisk Russell away to work immediately.
“Will you begin working right now?”
“Yes, yes!”
“What will you do, the one who came before?”
“My business here is finished, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
At those words, Russell quickly approached and bowed in the Korean fashion.
“Thank you for your help. Without you, Black Scythe, an opportunity like this would never have come my way.”
Without the introduction from Ryu Min, whose reputation was stellar, this Quest would have been impossible.
“I will repay this kindness. Truly, I will.”
“I’ll remember that promise.”
Now that I’d created a debt, Russell would treat me favorably from this point forward.
“Oh, before I go, there’s something I need to discuss with Hammer.”
“With me? Is there something you need?”
“I heard that Irongray has a merchant selling some special materials.”
“What sort of materials are you looking for?”
Ryu Min listed out each of the material items needed for the Godly-grade combination to Hammer one by one.
As Hammer heard the materials, his expression shifted noticeably.
“Ahem… where on earth did you hear about those…?”
“I have fairly extensive connections. Do you have those materials?”
“We do. We do have them, but…”
“Can you sell them to me?”
Hammer, who had always been accommodating, wore a troubled expression for the first time.
“The thing is… those are items we procured with considerable difficulty, so I can’t simply give them away…”
“I’m not asking for them free. I’ll purchase everything.”
“These materials carry quite a hefty price tag…”
“Don’t worry.”
I smiled faintly.
“Gold is something I have in abundance.”

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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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