The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 246

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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 246
246. Round 15 Begins
The person who approached hesitantly was none other than Min Ju-ri.
Perhaps because of the confession, I felt oddly uncomfortable.
Though I showed no sign of it outwardly.
“You came early.”
“I wanted to ask Black Scythe something.”
“Me?”
What could she possibly want to ask?
Unable to contain my curiosity, I read her thoughts first.
‘Ah, she came to seek my advice about something troubling her.’
Seeking relationship advice in the Other World?
It might sound strange to others, but I understood.
‘This place is a lawless zone where rules don’t apply. There’s nothing strange about any action here.’
The Other World is no different from reality, yet most people behave as though they’ve forgotten that fact.
For instance, they act rudely to strangers they’ve just met, lose their temper as if they had anger management issues, or in extreme cases, even commit murder.
They do things without hesitation that they could never do in reality.
‘Even introverted people in reality do a complete 180 once they enter the Other World. Because they’re wearing the mask of an avatar.’
Due to this unique characteristic, many players transform once they enter the Other World.
After all, wasn’t I myself playing a character completely opposite to my real self?
Min Ju-ri was no different.
‘Things you can’t openly discuss in reality become possible here in the Other World.’
It was the same principle as posting about your troubles to a stranger on the internet.
‘In that sense, it’s an honor. It means I’m someone she can open her heart to in the Other World.’
I feigned ignorance and asked.
“So, what did you want to ask?”
“The story might get long. Is that okay?”
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
“Well… it’s about my friend. She confessed to someone she’d always liked, but…”
Min Ju-ri revealed her own situation to me under the guise of talking about a friend.
Watching her, I felt regret.
Regret that I hadn’t kept her waiting indefinitely.
‘If I’d known she’d suffer like this, I should have just kept her hanging.’
Seeing how much trouble my actions had caused her, I felt like I’d made a mistake in refusing.
Though that didn’t mean I was accepting her confession either.
“…So in this situation, my friend doesn’t know what to do. What would you do, Black Scythe?”
“So this is relationship advice, then.”
“Y-yes, I suppose it is.”
“Do I seem like someone with a lot of dating experience?”
“Well…”
“Your delayed response tells me you’re not confirming it.”
“Ha ha….”
Min Ju-ri scratched her cheek with an embarrassed expression.
“Why are you consulting me about this?”
“I just wanted to hear Black Scythe’s advice. I’m not sure how you’d handle romance, but… you do have keen insight. I wanted to know what Black Scythe would do in this situation….”
“Isn’t it a simple problem?”
Ryu Min spoke as if it were nothing serious.
“You confessed and they won’t accept it, right? They want to stay friends? Then stay friends.”
“But I, ah, no, that friend doesn’t want to stay just friends….”
“Then? Are you planning to lose a friend like this?”
“….”
“If you can’t be lovers, you should at least remain friends.”
Disappointment flickered across Min Ju-ri’s face—it wasn’t the answer she’d hoped for.
‘Manage your expression a bit. Anyone can tell this is about you.’
Ryu Min, suppressing a smile, asked.
“But what was their reason for rejecting you?”
“They said they only see me as a friend, not romantically.”
“Then wouldn’t it work if they started seeing you romantically?”
“It’s not that simple….”
“A goalkeeper doesn’t stop every shot. And you said this friend doesn’t even have a partner yet? An empty goal with no goalkeeper—doesn’t that mean you have plenty of chances?”
“….”
Min Ju-ri’s eyes widened.
Now that she thought about it, that was true.
There was still hope.
There was no need to give up just because a confession was rejected.
“If you fail, you can get back up, but if you give up, it’s over. Are you going to stay down like this? You said you’ve had a one-sided crush for four years? Wouldn’t all that time feel wasted if you gave up?”
“It would feel… wasted.”
“Then keep trying. Don’t act like the world’s ended just because you were rejected once. The fact that they want to stay friends means there’s still a chance.”
Min Ju-ri, who had been lost in thought, soon broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you for the advice, Black Scythe. Thanks to you, my worries have completely disappeared.”
“You said it was your friend’s problem? Yet you’re talking about it like it’s your own worry.”
“Huh? Ah ha ha… w-well, since it was my friend’s problem, I was worried too. Ha ha….”
Watching Min Ju-ri try to brush it off with an awkward laugh, I felt relieved.
‘Good. From the looks of it, there’s nothing to worry about.’
My advice seemed to have worked—Min Ju-ri no longer appeared troubled by this matter.
She wasn’t gloomy or listless; she had returned to her former self.
‘Or is she slightly different from before?’
Her eyes gleamed with determination, like someone who had found a new goal.
For some reason, unease crept in.
‘It should be fine. At least it’s better than growing distant, right?’
An eager Min Ju-ri was far better than a wilted one.
Though excess in anything becomes poison.
“Black Scythe?”
“Welcome, Black Scythe.”
After finishing the relationship counseling, members of the Saesin Religion began gathering one by one.
Not only core members like Christine, Seo A-rin, Heo Tae-sik, and Jo Yong-ho, but also recent recruits Russell, Victor, and Sophia had assembled in one place.
It was because of my instruction for everyone to gather at my location upon arriving in the Other World.
‘That way it’s easier to protect them.’
Turning my gaze, I could also see slaves like Yamtti, Jeffrey, and Ju Sung-tak.
However, John Delgado was not present.
I couldn’t bring myself to call him.
‘If Christine saw him, she’d come charging at him with fire in her eyes.’
Since the two were sworn enemies, it was best they didn’t meet if possible.
“Everyone, receive your buffs.”
“I’ll enhance your weapons.”
“You’re with the Saesin Religion? Here, take some potions.”
While the supporters Min Ju-ri, Russell, and Victor moved busily about, light flashed from the sky.
[Hello there, humans? Welcome to Round 15. Shall we check out the Quest right away?]
The Angel who appeared with a smile fluttered her wings as if there was no need for lengthy explanations.
◀ ROUND 15 ▶
【Main Quest】
└Complete three missions
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└Participants: 2,304
└Achievers: 0/576
“Three missions?”
“What kind of missions?”
“By the way, look at the number of achievers.”
“That’s half of half?”
Hearing the players’ murmurs, the Angel furrowed her brow.
[Didn’t another Angel tell you before? The difficulty increases every round that’s a multiple of five. This round is no exception. Out of 2,304 people, only 576 can survive.]
“Less than 600 people…”
“Will I be able to make it into the top 576?”
On the surface, people seemed worried, but deep down they harbored hopeful thoughts.
At the very least, I should be able to make it into the top 500…
There should be a spot for me…
But contrary to people’s expectations, this round falls short of the target.
Drastically so.
‘Not even 50 people will survive, let alone 500. Though that was the case in the previous round.’
This round will be very different from last time.
The situation had changed from back then, when I wouldn’t have cared whether people lived or died.
‘This time, I’m filling all 576 slots.’
Considering Round 20, it’s better to save even one more person.
“To get into the rankings, the competition’s going to be fierce, huh?”
“Why compete? We’re all on the same team, aren’t we?”
“Angel! Is this round individual or team-based?”
A player’s question prompted Angel to smile as she responded.
[I cannot tell you that. What I can say is that you are not a party.]
“Not a party?”
“Then that means it’s individual competition, right?”
The players voiced their confusion, but Ryu Min already knew the answer.
‘In a way, it’s not individual. If we don’t cooperate, we’ll all be wiped out.’
I wanted to explain the mission right away, but I stayed silent since Angel was watching.
It wasn’t my time to step forward yet.
“Angel! What about the three missions then?”
“What missions will appear?”
[That is also something I cannot tell you. You’ll need to check the missions directly as you progress through the game.]
“What about Sub Quests?”
“What’s the ranking criteria?”
[Both Sub Quests and ranking criteria are secrets. If I told you beforehand, it wouldn’t be fun, hehe.]
Angel, who had been laughing obnoxiously to herself, soon grew serious and flapped her wings.
[Shall I send you to the mission location now?]
The moment Angel finished speaking, darkness engulfed the two thousand players.

* * *
“W-where is this?”
“Is someone there?”
“I can’t see anything.”
The Monochrome Space transformed into a Dark Space in an instant.
The initial panic faded quickly, and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could faintly make out the others around me.
The problem was that the new location contained no visible landmarks or terrain.
“There’s nothing here?”
“It’s just a flat space.”
“It’s not outer space, at least. I can feel the ground beneath my feet.”
“By the way, where is Angel? I don’t see her?”
“I guess we’re supposed to handle this ourselves from here on.”
What kind of mission could they possibly have in mind for this endless dark void?
My curiosity was answered when a message appeared.
[Welcome to Round 15 Mission Location.]
[You will survive this round if you complete all three missions within the time limit.]
[Now, let us begin the first mission.]
【First Mission】
└Survive for 30 minutes against Dark Illusion
[Upon success, you may challenge the second mission.]
[Current Survivors: 2,304]
[Time Remaining Until Next Mission: 00:29:59]
“What is Dark Illusion?”
“Is it a monster’s name?”
“Either way, all we have to do is survive, right?”
“Running is my specialty.”
Some players wore confident expressions, but this wouldn’t be easy.
‘Darkness is the perfect environment for Dark Illusion, after all.’
Then some players voiced their doubts.
“Who says we have to run?”
“Right. Whether it’s a monster or not, we could just kill it, couldn’t we?”
“If we kill it, there’s no need to run.”
But as if on cue, a message appeared that left the players deflated.
[Note: Dark Illusion is in an invincible state.]
No matter how strong I am, I cannot break through invincibility.
So I have no choice but to evade Dark Illusion.
‘But there is one way to clear this easily without running.’
It was invisibility.
Dark Illusion cannot detect players using invisibility.
I could simply stand still after activating it and pass through safely.
This was precisely why Ryu Min had distributed the invisibility potions to his core members.
‘Use them. Now.’
Not forgetting his instruction to consume the potion the moment the mission began, Christine, John, Min Ju-ri, Yamtti, and Seo A-rin drank theirs and faded from sight.
Ryu Min could have concealed himself as well, but he deliberately chose not to.
‘This round—I can’t be the only one who survives. We all make it through together.’
He needed to guide the other players who lacked invisibility.
That was when it happened.
Uuuuuuu—
A Dark Illusion materialized alongside an otherworldly shriek.

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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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