The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 25

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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 25
25. Pursuit
The first thing Ryu Min did upon returning to reality was activate a skill.
[Please recall the face of your target and speak their name.]
Ryu Min recalled the face of the man he’d encountered while tteok-rolling.
‘An Sang-chul.’
In the Other World, a customized face and nickname were prerequisites for using the skill.
‘But in reality, the actual face and real name are the conditions.’
In other words, location tracking was possible with just a face and name, even without prior acquaintance.
This was why the Tracking skill proved so invaluable.
In reality too, I could easily locate anyone I needed to find.
‘Moreover, since it only works with true names, it’s also useful for identifying someone’s real identity. Just like now.’
[Face and name match. Tracking target location.]
Ryu Min smiled with satisfaction at the confirmation message.
‘So the man beside Seo A-rin during the tteok-rolling was indeed An Sang-chul.’
Ryu Min had never seen what An Sang-chul looked like in reality.
He’d only observed him in the Other World, serving as Ma Gyeong-rok’s right hand.
But that was no longer the case.
‘Now I know what he looks like in reality.’
Of course, the fact that his real-world name was the same didn’t guarantee this was the An Sang-chul from the Other World.
I only had circumstantial evidence.
‘But seeing him attached to Seo A-rin’s side, it’s probably certain.’
Then a message appeared before Ryu Min’s eyes.
[Located target ‘An Sang-chul’.]
[Currently 9 meters away.]
[Follow the arrow displayed ahead to track the target.]
‘Quite close, then?’
He was probably in the Penthouse upstairs with Seo A-rin.
If he’d decided to keep her under close surveillance, being together wasn’t unusual.
‘Huh? The distance is changing?’
The distance between me and An Sang-chul, displayed in real time, grew closer then farther again.
The rapid change suggested he was taking the elevator down to the Parking Lot.
‘Where’s he going at this hour of the morning? Could it be…?’
Where Ma Gyeong-rok’s loyal dog was headed was predictable.
‘Should I follow him? And confirm his true identity while I’m at it?’
If contact with Ma Gyeong-rok was confirmed, suspicion would harden into certainty.
The moment I decided, I changed into outdoor clothes.
As I turned my gaze, I spotted my younger brother lying face-down asleep on the floor.
‘Sleeping here means he waited for me to wake up with open eyes.’
I chuckled softly and shook my brother’s shoulder.
“Wake up.”
“Huh…? Brother?”
Ryu Won blinked his eyes before suddenly propping himself up on his elbows.
“Brother! You’re back!”
“Why are you sleeping out here instead of going to your room?”
“I was worried something might go wrong!”
“I told you—there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure? You’re not hurt?”
“Even if I get hurt in the Other World, my body here remains unharmed. Besides, the second round was a vote, so there was no fighting. It was practically a bonus round.”
At those words, Ryu Won let out a relieved breath.
“Thank goodness. But why did you change clothes?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
“What time is it…? Wait, it’s 3 AM? You’re going out at this hour?”
“Yeah. I have some business to take care of, so don’t worry and get some more sleep.”
Leaving his worried younger brother behind, I stepped out of the home.
The distance between me and An Sang-chul was growing, but I wasn’t concerned.
As long as I had Tracking, I could find him whenever I wanted.
* * *
Clink—
Ma Gyeong-rok swirled his whiskey and gazed down at the window.
The moonlight reflecting off the Han River seemed particularly dim tonight.
‘Nights like this are perfect for work.’
But for now, I had to wait.
I was expecting a report from An Sang-chul, my right hand.
‘Black Scythe, huh…’
I knew who Black Scythe was.
What player wouldn’t know the top-ranked player in all zones after rounds one and two?
And I’d heard he was in the same zone as my subordinate, An Sang-chul.
‘I’m not even in the same zone and I’ve never met him, but…’
He was the kind of rival who subtly stirred competitive instincts.
You could call him a true rival.
As someone who ranked second and third across all zones, I had every right to say so.
‘So something involving Black Scythe, then…’
The feeling didn’t sit right with me.
I didn’t like Black Scythe one bit.
‘Did he really pick a fight with my subordinate?’
If that were the case, I couldn’t let it slide.
Laying hands on my right hand was tantamount to challenging me.
‘Black Scythe. If he becomes an enemy, he’ll be quite the nuisance.’
Ma Gyeong-rok tilted his head back and drained his whiskey.
Clink—
As Ma Gyeong-rok set down his glass, a murderous glint flickered across his eyes.
‘Whoever stands in my way will not be spared. Not even if they’re ranked first.’
While he gazed out the window with blazing intensity, a knock sounded from beyond the door.
“Director, are you in? It’s An Sang-chul.”
“Yes, please come in.”
Ma Gyeong-rok straightened his clothes and turned with a smile.
All trace of his murderous demeanor had vanished without a trace.
“Director An? It’s good to see you again.”
“Haha, it’s an honor, Director. This is all thanks to you.”
“I’m not even in the same district. What could I have possibly done?”
“Just having you here gives me strength. Thank you.”
“You’re quite the flatterer, Director An.”
“It’s not flattery—it’s sincere. I can’t tell you how fortunate I am that you’re here. Congratulations on your survival, though it’s belated.”
“Survival? The second round was practically a free pass, honestly.”
It truly was.
A simple Quest requiring only voting—hardly worthy of congratulations.
‘That’s precisely why I was suspicious. It was far too easy compared to the first round.’
The Quest being labeled “Main” felt off, and three hours for voting seemed suspicious.
Which is why I ventured into the Forest.
I wanted to see if there was anything new to discover.
‘I never expected a hidden Sub Quest to appear.’
I didn’t know a Quest would trigger upon reaching level ten.
I only discovered it by chance while absorbed in hunting.
“Congratulations on acquiring a class as well, Director.”
“Not at all. I was simply fortunate.”
It wasn’t mere politeness.
I genuinely meant it, though An Sang-chul interpreted it differently.
“I always think it, but you’re truly humble, Director.”
“Humble? I’m just stating facts.”
“There’s a saying that luck is a skill too. Besides, reaching second and third place across the entire district isn’t easy. Being able to serve someone like you is an unparalleled honor for me.”
“Haha. The way you’re praising me, it seems you want something.”
An Sang-chul felt caught, but he didn’t show it.
The Director truly knew him well.
“Go ahead. Is there something you’d like to ask?”
“Well… would it be alright if I asked one thing?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“You advanced to Dark Knight this time, didn’t you? If it’s not too much trouble, where did you obtain the advancement item…?”
An Sang-chul asked cautiously, but Ma Gyeong-rok answered readily.
“It’s nothing special. The advancement item simply dropped while I was hunting monsters.”
It was half truth and half lie.
I had indeed obtained a class advancement item from defeating a monster, but it wasn’t a Dark Knight advancement item.
Dark Knight wasn’t a class anyone could obtain.
‘Only someone with the Black Knight’s Rune could acquire it.’
The Black Knight’s Rune.
An absurdly overpowered rune that boosted all stats and allowed me to imbue weapons with Dark Aura.
Upon reaching level 10, it would automatically advance me to the unique class Dark Knight.
‘I was fortunate. To think such a broken rune would emerge from random rune fragments.’
This was why Ma Gyeong-rok had lied.
How could I reveal such crucial information about runes to An Sang-chul?
‘No matter how much like family a subordinate is, they’re not truly family.’
Even if they were actual family, I wouldn’t have told them.
Human nature could shift in an instant.
Especially when a relationship began as business.
‘That said, it doesn’t mean I don’t value Director An.’
An Sang-chul was an irreplaceable talent and my right arm.
If anyone dared lay a hand on such an extension of myself, I would tear them limb from limb without hesitation.
“Director An. Let’s get to the main point now. Who is the person that injured you?”
There was no trace of a smile on Ma Gyeong-rok’s face.
His expression was so cold it seemed impossible he’d been laughing moments before.
“Could it be Black Scythe?”
“Pardon? Black Scythe?”
“Didn’t you say over the phone it was related to Black Scythe? If that bastard laid a hand on you, I’ll hunt him down and take revenge without—”
As murderous intent flowed from Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes, An Sang-chul frantically waved his hands.
“No, no! That’s not it. Black Scythe didn’t injure me.”
“He didn’t?”
“No. Black Scythe is actually my lifesaver, my benefactor.”
“Your lifesaver?”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyebrows twitched as he withdrew his killing intent and spoke.
“Explain in detail.”
An Sang-chul reported everything that had happened in the forest without omission.
“So you nearly died because of those thugs targeting Actress Seo?”
“Yes. If Black Scythe hadn’t appeared at that moment, we both could have lost our lives. Well, Seo A-rin might have survived, but… even if she returned, she would have suffered such severe psychological trauma that continuing her Entertainment Industry career would be impossible.”
“….”
He’d nearly lost a valued subordinate, and his business would have become worthless?
Ma Gyeong-rok ground his teeth audibly.
“What happened to those bastards? You killed them, of course?”
“Black Scythe inflicted enough pain to kill them, but didn’t actually kill them.”
Ma Gyeong-rok tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Why?”
“I was curious too, so I asked, but apparently there’s no benefit to killing them. They said reducing the population would only decrease survival TO…”
“That makes sense, but who knows what those bastards will do next… tsk tsk.”
Ma Gyeong-rok shook his head while clicking his tongue.
‘He’s spouting such naive nonsense because it has nothing to do with him.’
Unless you knew the future, leaving behind potential threats was truly foolish.
‘Still, thanks to Black Scythe, I was able to protect my subordinates and my assets.’
I definitely owed Black Scythe a debt.
“Did you mention offering a reward?”
“Yes. But he said it wasn’t necessary and left right away.”
‘Is he worried his identity will be exposed? He’s quite a cautious person.’
If I’d known his account number, I could’ve done something, but this way there was no way to identify him in reality.
No way to make contact.
“Director An. If you meet Black Scythe in the next round, please convey my feelings. Tell him I’m truly grateful for saving me.”
This was the only way I could communicate through An Sang-chul.
“Understood, sir. I’ll deliver your message as instructed.”
“And keep an eye on Black Scythe and see if there’s anything I can help with. You know I’m not the type to live with debt, right?”
“Of course. I’ll do that.”
“Oh, I just realized I forgot to ask something important.”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes gleamed with killing intent once more.
“What are those punk’s usernames?”
* * *
Ryu Min, who had been tracking An Sang-chul with his Tracking skill, nodded.
‘Just as I expected. He really was Ma Gyeong-rok’s right hand.’
An Sang-chul was currently in a Hotel under Ma Gyeong-rok’s name.
Could I dismiss his entry into Ma Gyeong-rok’s building as coincidence?
‘That guy is definitely the An Sang-chul I know.’
What had been suspicion until now had solidified into certainty.
There was nothing more to confirm, so I turned back.
Lingering around the area would only raise suspicion.
‘Who would’ve thought an entertainer that Ma Gyeong-rok spawns would live in the same Apartment? I should really thank my brother for this.’
If my brother hadn’t planned to throw a housewarming party, I never would’ve encountered Seo A-rin.
I wouldn’t have had the chance to learn An Sang-chul’s real face.
‘The future changed, but it shifted in a direction more favorable to me.’
If I used the fact that we were neighbors, it would help me earn Ma Gyeong-rok’s trust to some degree.
‘I’ll proceed gradually. I’ll decide later whether to bring Ma Gyeong-rok to round 20.’
Ma Gyeong-rok possessed the Dark Knight’s Rune.
Since he’d advanced to Dark Knight, that aspect remained unchanged in this cycle.
‘It’s a good rune. But the downside is there’s no rune reward from the advancement.’
Most people gained a rune reward upon advancing, but the Dark Knight’s Rune didn’t offer that.
You only obtained one weapon and one skill upon reaching level 10.
There’s no question that I need to forcibly change my job class to Dark Knight.
‘More than anything, the Dark Knight has a fatal weakness.’
That weakness is the need to charge a exclusive mana called dark magic power to use Dark Aura.
And that dark magic power cannot be charged through ordinary means.
‘In a way, isn’t Ma Gyeong-rok’s psychopathic tendencies perfectly suited to this ability, making it less of a weakness?’
Aside from that single point, the Dark Knight’s rune is undoubtedly a broken rune.
The fact that Ma Gyeong-rok never drops out of the rankings already proves this.
‘Regardless, Ma Gyeong-rok is certainly strong, but it’s dangerous to have a psychopath as an ally.’
Of course, once I reach max level, I’ll have ways to control him, so there’s no real danger, but…
‘There are plenty of talented people besides Ma Gyeong-rok.’
Since I have alternatives, there’s no reason to use him.
‘For now, I’ll keep him as a candidate while making use of him. Right now, I need different talent more.’
Especially for Round 20, what I desperately need is a buffer.
‘I should start working on it as soon as dawn breaks.’
This was the perfect moment to groom a buffer.

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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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