The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 235
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 235
235. The Archangel’s Proposal
‘Hey, Angel? Angel?’
Simple Mukbang called out internally several times, but Angel offered no response.
‘Can’t you hear me?’
It seemed Angel could only transmit her own thoughts, not read his.
‘What business could you possibly have with me?’
Simple Mukbang stopped walking and turned to look back.
The people on the Grassland had become as small as ants—they’d traveled far indeed.
‘What are you doing out here away from everyone’s eyes? Could it be…?’
A smile bloomed across Simple Mukbang’s face.
‘Are you giving me a hidden reward in secret?’
Hadn’t his relentless efforts all this time earned recognition from the Angels?
That’s why they called him away privately to grant him a reward.
Such hopeful thoughts persisted until the Angel descended from the sky.
[Why are you grinning like that, human?]
“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Hehe. Anyway, what business do you have with me…?”
[It’s not I who has business with you—it’s the Archangel.]
“The Archangel?”
[For reasons I don’t understand, the Archangel wishes to meet you. Consider it an honor.]
Simple Mukbang inwardly cheered with delight.
‘I knew it! I knew it was a hidden reward!’
He wanted to shout and run about recklessly, but he exercised restraint in the Angel’s presence.
Still, he couldn’t help the corners of his mouth from rising.
[Why do you keep smiling?]
“Ha, well, I’m just happy thinking about meeting the Archangel.”
[You seem to understand something. Shall we go meet the Archangel?]
“Yes!”
[Hold my hand for 10 seconds. I’ll transport us to the Heavenly Realm.]
“Oh.”
The Angel’s hand, held for the first time, was soft.
Her gentle smile felt like warm spring sunlight.
‘Ah, Angel. I think I’m falling in love…’
The moment those eternal 10 seconds passed, Simple Mukbang could no longer continue his thoughts.
It wasn’t merely because a world as radiant as the Heavenly Realm unfolded before his eyes.
An incomprehensible message appeared in crimson letters, streaming across his vision.
[You have abandoned your position during a round.]
[If you do not return to the progression location within 1 hour, your player status will be revoked.]
[Time remaining until status revocation: 00:59:59]
“What? W-what does this mean? Status revoked? Angel, I’m getting a strange message…”
Simple Mukbang fell silent the moment he saw Angel’s face.
The warm, spring-like expression had vanished, replaced by a sinister smile.
[Kekeke, you foolishly followed along like an idiot?]
“Angel…?”
[What do you mean ‘Angel’? You pathetic human vermin. Don’t look at me with those disgusting eyes.]
Angel’s speech pattern, which had been consistently formal until now, had transformed entirely.
There was no reason to speak formally in the Heavenly Realm.
Leaving the shocked Simple Mukbang behind, Angel murmured toward empty air.
[Yes, yes. I’ve just brought him. Ah, yes, I’ll be waiting.]
As if finally grasping the situation, Simple Mukbang’s expression twisted.
“You… you deceived me! This wasn’t a reward!”
[Are you insane? When did I ever say I’d give you a reward? Besides, I didn’t lie. The Archangel really does want to see you—that part was true.]
“What?”
At that moment, radiance erupted before his eyes.
He reflexively blinked, and a different angel came into view.
A strikingly handsome male angel with wings and bearing that bore no comparison to the guide.
[This lowly servant bows before the exalted Archangel.]
[Rise, Millen.]
[H-huh?! You… you even know my name. I… this is an honor!]
Simple Mukbang watched as the angel who had been snarling moments before now wore the expression of a shy girl, and reality crashed down on him.
It was like watching his own infatuation from an outside perspective.
[You should return and continue the round. If you’re absent too long, you might raise suspicion.]
[Understood. It was an honor to meet you. Then I shall take my leave…]
As Millen vanished, only the male angel and Simple Mukbang remained above the clouds.
[I am one of the Seven Archangels… or should I say, one of the Three? I am Gabriel, second in rank among the Three Archangels. Your nickname is ‘Simple Mukbang’, correct?]
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
Simple Mukbang found himself responding with formal speech without thinking.
It felt necessary.
The dignity and overwhelming pressure were on an entirely different level from any angel he’d encountered before.
[From the message you received, you understand. In one hour, your Player status will be revoked. Simply because you came to the Heavenly Realm.]
“…”
[Of course, there’s no way for you to return from here. Only the angels here can travel between the Heavenly Realm and the Other World.]
“W-why are you doing this to me? P-please, let me go back.”
[Go back? Wouldn’t losing your Player status be better? You wouldn’t have to participate in the Survival Game anymore.]
“Huh?”
Now that he thought about it, that was true.
Losing Player status meant being excluded from the Game.
No more fighting for survival.
[Instead, you’ll lose your Player powers and return as an ordinary person. But for you, that’s a better life, isn’t it? Better than risking the danger of never knowing when you might be annihilated, like now. Isn’t that right?]
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
I had boasted that I would clear up to Round 20 and achieve my wish, but deep down, I harbored no such confidence.
There was no way to know what grueling Quests awaited me in the rounds ahead.
‘If I could, I’d want to go back. To my old life.’
Revenge, power, the strength of a Player—I needed none of it.
I just wanted to live.
Such thoughts churned within Simple Mukbang’s heart.
“S-so if I just wait here for one hour, I can return to being an ordinary person again?”
[That’s right. But I won’t let it happen that way. Before your qualifications are revoked, I’ll send you back to the Other World. Unless, of course, you refuse my proposal.]
“A proposal?”
[Do you know who Black Scythe is?]
At the sudden mention of that username, Simple Mukbang’s eyes turned cold and sharp.
“Yes, I do….”
[You hold a grudge against him, don’t you?]
“….”
[You don’t need to speak. I already know. I’ve investigated everything. That you wish to take revenge on Black Scythe. The reason I summoned a worthless wretch like you here is precisely because of that.]
“W-what exactly do you want me to do?”
Gabriel looked slightly surprised at how quickly Simple Mukbang grasped the context.
[Hmm, you’re not as stupid as I thought. Then before I explain the main point….]
Something materialized with a flash in Gabriel’s hand.
It was a worn-looking book embedded with a large purple orb.
[Take this first.]
As Simple Mukbang received the book and casually peered into the orb, I was startled.
‘What is this? Something seemed to be moving inside the orb….’
But now I could see nothing at all.
It must have been my imagination.
“W-what is this? This unsettling book?”
[It’s a kind of warp device. Place it against a Player’s body and recite the activation word, and you can bring them to the Heavenly Realm.]
“The Heavenly Realm?”
Gabriel nodded and explained the main point.
[Attach this to Black Scythe’s body and recite the activation word. Then you can forcibly transport him to the Heavenly Realm. In other words, you can strip him of his Player qualifications, just like you.]
“Ah….”
[What do you say? If you bring Black Scythe to the Heavenly Realm as I command, you can eliminate the favorite from the competition. Surely you don’t want to see your rival reach Round 20 and achieve his desired wish?]
Simple Mukbang nodded quietly.
If things continued as they were, Black Scythe would win, just as the Archangel said.
I couldn’t bear to see that monster succeed, no matter what.
“But why specifically order me to bring Black Scythe?”
[Because he committed a grave transgression that disturbs the order of the Heavenly Realm. Therefore, he must come to the Heavenly Realm and receive his due punishment.]
“What kind of punishment…?”
[You need not know the details. Only know that it will be agonizing beyond the point of wishing for death. So worry not. I shall take your revenge upon him myself. You need only warp him to the Heavenly Realm.]
“If I do only that, you’ll exclude me from the Survival Game as promised, correct?”
[Of course. Once I punish Black Scythe, I’ll bring you to the Heavenly Realm and strip you of your Player status. You’ll be able to live as an ordinary person without being caught up in the Survival Game anymore.]
“Surely I won’t have to live in the Other World with a customized body, right?”
[Of course not. The moment your Player status is revoked, your avatar will disappear and only your soul will remain. Naturally, I’ll use my power to ensure your soul can return to Earth for cooperating in capturing the criminal. If you wish, I can also help you live in the Heavenly Realm with the Angels.]
Simple Mukbang would have preferred to live in Heaven with beautiful Angels, bearing children like rabbits….
‘There’s no way the Angels would like me….’
The memory of an Angel’s expression from moments ago—looking at him as though he were an insect—made Simple Mukbang want to go home instead.
“I’ll return to Earth and live an ordinary life.”
[Is that so? If that’s what you wish, I’ll make it happen. As long as you complete the task I’ve given you properly.]
“I will. I’ll do it no matter what.”
For Simple Mukbang, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
A chance to escape the Survival Game, and a chance for revenge against Black Scythe.
It was an offer with nothing to lose, so I couldn’t refuse.
‘All I have to do is attach the book to his body and recite the activation phrase to strip his status, right?’
No matter how strong Black Scythe was, there would be nothing he could do if warped to the Heavenly Realm.
After all, only the Angels possessed the means to traverse dimensions.
‘He’ll probably have his status stripped without being able to do anything and be dragged away by the Angels. Hehehehe.’
Since they said they’d inflict punishment severe enough to kill him, it was perfect revenge.
But thinking about it now, there was a problem.
“Um….”
[What is it?]
“Will I actually be able to attach this to Black Scythe’s body? If I get close, he’ll definitely sense my presence….”
[You only need a moment. Once you attach it and recite the activation phrase, it will activate immediately.]
“That’s true, but since the opponent is who they are, I’m a bit worried….”
Simple Mukbang, who had been hesitating, finally got to the point.
“Could you give me an item or something? Preferably something good. It would be a problem if he notices before I even attach it.”
‘This damn bastard….’
For a mere instant, Gabriel’s brow furrowed, but it was truly just an instant.
[Don’t worry. Black Scythe will be too occupied running the rounds to pay attention to you. If you’re still anxious, make your move during the final 10th wave.]
“The 10th wave?”
[By then, people will be quite confused. It’s a good timing for you to strike.]
“Ah, I think I should move then.”
[Good. The activation phrase is ‘La Graci Betaom’. Memorize it and use it when the time comes.]
“That’s a strange activation phrase. Understood. I’ll try it.”
* * *
The moment the round was about to begin.
Simple Mukbang returned to the Grassland.
The Archangel had warped her back to the Other World.
‘I’m back. This isn’t a dream, is it?’
It was no dream.
The book she’d received from Angel sat plainly in her inventory.
[?Ǹ??? ??Ȱ??]
-Classification: Consumable
-Grade: Godly
-Effect: ?Ǹ? ????? ???? ????
-Usage Restriction: Master Grade or higher
-Description: ?ݰ? 10m?? ???????? ??ƸԾ? ?Ǹ? ????? ?????? ?ҷ??? ?? ?ִ? ??????. ?ٸ? ?????? ?????? ??ü?? 100???? 1?? ???ϴ?.
‘I can’t make out a single word of what’s written here.’
Perhaps it was because it came from the Heavenly Realm?
Several characters were corrupted in the system display.
All she could discern was that it was a consumable of Godly grade.
‘Godly grade… I’ve never seen that before. Is it a high tier?’
Regardless, she would need to place this against Black Scythe’s body and recite the activation phrase.
She’d memorized it so many times there was no chance of forgetting.
The only question was whether she could actually warp Black Scythe away.
‘Let’s try it. Though if I get caught, I might die… Wait, aren’t I a party member?’
Party members couldn’t kill each other.
Realizing this, Simple Mukbang’s lips curled into a smile.
At least she wouldn’t die.
‘So all I need to do is get close… That’s easy.’
The task turned out to be simpler than expected.
‘Still, I should hold out until wave 10.’
Simple Mukbang, smirking coldly, slipped into the crowd.
She resolved to execute her plan when the tenth wave arrived, using the chaos as cover.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————