The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 252

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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 252
252. Round 15 Concluded
“John Delgado.”
[Rank 576 is ‘John Delgado’.]
[All 576 survivors have been determined.]
[Remaining players will be automatically erased.]
“Wait, hold on! Erased?”
“I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!”
“Black Scythe, you bastard! You promised you’d keep me alive!”
“Damn it! I’ll curse you even in Hell!”
“I hope you choke on your success, you son of a—”
The words never finished.
Fssssssss—
They dissolved at the molecular level, leaving only ash scattering in the wind.
‘Good thing I didn’t choose them, seeing how they cursed me.’
I had earned the resentment of hundreds, yet my expression remained unmoved.
Ideally, I would have advanced to the next round with a thousand people, but the system made that impossible.
‘In previous runs, fewer than fifty survived, so there was no one to eliminate.’
Now, with far more survivors than the quota allowed, I had no choice but to cull them ruthlessly.
Like pruning branches from a tree.
‘I’m sorry. But for Round 20, this was unavoidable. I could only spare those who would help me clear it.’
John Delgado especially had to survive.
Using him would grant me an additional reward—it was worth the cost.
Yet the reason I hesitated at the end was simple.
‘I was conscious of Christine’s gaze.’
When I glanced sideways, sure enough, Christine stared at me with a blank expression.
-Why did Black Scythe… save John Delgado…?
Reading her thoughts, she couldn’t comprehend why I’d spared him.
I understood her reaction perfectly.
‘It’s as if I saved my enemy, knowing full well what he is.’
I turned away, resolving to explain later, and spotted Min Ju-ri and Seo A-rin.
-Will Black Scythe be alright? The burden must have been enormous…
-Having to choose which players to erase with your own hands… I could never have done it.
Both of them worried about me, but there was no need.
I had witnessed so many deaths around me that I’d grown numb to it.
‘Choosing who to erase with my own hands is nothing compared to that.’
I understood well that the system’s laws could not be defied, so I could only comply.
My gaze shifted to the Saesin Religion followers.
-Phew, we made it. We almost died back there.
-If we hadn’t been part of the Saesin Religion, we’d be the ones erased, wouldn’t we?
-Joining the Saesin Religion was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.
The followers were all at ease, every last one of them.
They said they’d saved their lives by entering the Saesin Religion.
[Finally, all 576 survivors have been determined. Congratulations. You have been chosen by Black Scythe.]
Ryu Min’s eyes widened.
Somehow, the way Angel spoke sounded sarcastic.
When their eyes met, Angel Millen flinched and turned away with a fake cough.
Angel knew as well.
That Black Scythe was the monster who killed the Archangel.
[W-well then, shall we look at the tally results?]
★ Round 15 Results Tally ★
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└1st Place. Black Scythe (Lv95 Reaper)
└2nd Place. Krishi (Lv65 Priest)
└3rd Place. Democracy (Lv65 Buffer)
Once the ranking results formed not by record but by connections appeared, the rewards were settled.
[For clearing Round 15, experience and gold are awarded to everyone.]
[Experience +237.9%]
[Gold +1,000,000]
[Your level has increased!]
[Your level has increased!]
Ryu Min gained 2 levels, but others gained 4 to 5 levels.
Most had approached level 70.
[Congratulations! You have achieved the Quest as 1st place in this zone!]
[Your current ranking in this zone is 1st place.]
[As a reward for 1st place ranking in this zone, ‘Infinite Material Pouch’ is awarded!]
[As a reward for 1st place ranking in this zone, ‘Special Reward Selection Box’ is awarded!]
The Infinite Material Pouch came as a reward.
An item that produces up to 5 random materials when used.
But for Ryu Min, who had just reached the god tier, materials weren’t particularly necessary.
‘Still, I can’t just leave it unused and keep it.’
A penalty was applied where it would disappear if not used before the next round after acquisition, so I had no choice but to use it.
‘I’ll use it after returning. Probably only materials I don’t need will come out anyway.’
If materials come out, I’ll hold onto them and give them to someone else.
Or I could craft higher-tier items and gift them to acquaintances.
‘But I should definitely use the Special Reward Selection Box myself.’
When Ryu Min used it, options appeared without hesitation.
[You may select one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the reward you desire.]
└ 1. Temporary Skill – Sweep and Gather (Limited to Round 16)
└ 2. Temporary Skill – Clairvoyance (Limited to Round 16)
└ 3. Information about Round 16
This time there were two temporary skills.
Sweeping Acquisition was a passive skill that applied upon learning and converted weapons into area damage.
‘Literally a skill perfect for sweeping away multiple monsters.’
But it was useless to me.
I could already expand the weapon’s area using Thanatos’s Black Scythe.
‘In this situation, there’s only one choice worth making.’
I selected option 2: Clairvoyance.
A temporary skill I’d used back in Round 11, and it had proven quite useful at the Gambling House.
‘It won’t be as effective as it was then, but Round 16 will still have its uses.’
Besides, there were no other viable options anyway.
◀ ROUND 15 COMPLETE ▶
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└Survivors: 576
[Your soul will soon transfer to your original dimension’s body.]
[Round 16 will begin at midnight on April 1st, 2023. I’ll see you in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]

* * *
When I returned to reality, ordinary people were shocked by the news reports.
[Breaking News! 576 Players Remain Worldwide After Round 15.]
[Just 14 months after the Great Upheaval, numbers have plummeted from 1.8 billion to the low 500s….]
[Of the 576 remaining players, 174 are Korean players.]
The once-massive player population had dwindled to three digits.
While the reduction of players who had threatened the world might have seemed welcome news to ordinary people, there were dissenting voices as well.
└This is bad. Fewer players means fewer people to stop them.
└Now the age of players will truly begin.
└If the players unite and run rampant, no one can stop them, right?
└That’s what I’m saying.
└Shouldn’t we be preparing some kind of countermeasure?
There was negative sentiment, but it remained a minority opinion.
Most people weren’t particularly worried.
Because there was a ruler who commanded the players.
└With Black Scythe around, what’s there to worry about?
└Right. He punished any player who committed crimes without mercy.
└If it were me, I wouldn’t commit crimes. I’d be too scared to even move.
└But is Black Scythe really that strong? What if other players gang up on him?
└Then they’d all get crushed, obviously.
└I heard the level gap is still huge. Other people max out around level 69, but he’s supposedly level 97 alone.
└Anyway, Korea has nothing to worry about with Black Scythe around. All 174 Korean players belong to the Saesin Religion, so they’ll follow orders.
└What is the Saesin Religion, sir?
└It’s a religion created by Black Scythe, but it’s really just a gathering for Players to unite. The name makes it sound religious, but that’s about it.
└Ah, so it’s like that Player Cafe thing called Flseuba?
└Flseuba’s already dead anyway.
└But out of 576, 174 are Korean players… … . Surprisingly, our country is a powerhouse of players, right? lol
└Hey, the guy who explained the Saesin Religion above—get your facts straight. The Saesin Religion wasn’t created by Black Scythe; it was founded by a cult leader named Heo Tae-sik. And it’s not just a religion in name—it’s a genuine religion. Black Scythe is revered as a god within the Saesin Religion. Do your homework before spouting off.
└Oh, it’s a real religion? I didn’t know that.
└Stop talking nonsense. Black Scythe is a god? He’s human. And who the hell is Heo Tae-sik anyway?
└He’s not a nobody—he’s a Level 69 Dark Mage. The cult leader and founder of the Saesin Religion.
└I don’t care who Heo Tae-sik is or whatever. You don’t need to explain anything about that guy.
└Leave it. The person who commented is probably Heo Tae-sik himself.
Heo Tae-sik’s hands froze as he read the final comment.
Stung by the remark, he wavered between deleting his own comment and leaving it.
“Delete it? Why? It’s the truth anyway.”
Heo Tae-sik muttered this and let out a heavy sigh.
His face bore the shadowed expression of someone rejected by a woman.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a woman—it was a god.
‘No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand it. What on earth was Black Scythe thinking…’
The fact that he had sacrificed himself body and soul in the Round 15 mission was truly exhilarating.
Until that moment, Heo Tae-sik’s mood had soared beyond excitement into euphoria.
But that was short-lived.
The moment he checked his ranking, the euphoria evaporated into cold disappointment.
“I’m ranked 10th? I’m ranked 10th…?”
He hadn’t dared hope for 2nd or 3rd place.
Well, to be honest, he’d harbored a tiny bit of hope.
After all, wasn’t he the founder and cult leader of the Saesin Religion?
He was essentially Black Scythe’s right hand.
‘No, that’s not right. A person should have some shame. I should only hope for what I deserve. What did I even do in Round 15?’
I knew that Christine, ranked 2nd, had played a crucial role in the third mission with her Sanctuary.
I acknowledged that without Min Ju-ri’s various buffs in 3rd place, the first and second missions would have been far more difficult.
That’s why I wouldn’t hope for 2nd or 3rd place.
“But why am I pushed back to 10th place…?”
I understood that in terms of rewards, it made no difference, but still—human feelings are what they are.
Being ranked lower meant I had thought of it later.
It meant I had fallen behind in importance.
‘What am I to Black Scythe? Does he even recognize my efforts?’
I had sworn loyalty so absolute I would give my life, yet the gratitude I received in return was meager.
At best, he’d simply moved the Saesin Religion’s headquarters from a rural area to Seoul?
‘Hmm… now that I think about it, that building is worth hundreds of millions. Plus, he’s supporting the annual operating costs with 100 million won.’
It seemed I had been rewarded for my efforts, but then again, it didn’t feel that way.
After all, it wasn’t even his building—he was merely lending the space.
‘The operating costs are nothing compared to the work I do….’
In truth, Heo Tae-sik spent almost nothing on himself.
Most of it went toward supporting and managing the Saesin Religion followers, or maintaining the building.
In a sense, it was little more than volunteer work, receiving only bare subsistence wages.
‘I don’t particularly desire material rewards.’
I don’t expect grand compensation either.
I merely wish to be acknowledged for my efforts all this time.
At the very least, I want to be recognized as the cult leader.
“Tch…. Should I just be satisfied with tenth place?”
As Heo Tae-sik felt a pang of disappointment, he suddenly caught himself and was startled.
How dare a mere creature feel discontent toward a god.
Slap! Slap!
Striking his own cheeks to correct his wavering faith, Heo Tae-sik muttered as if possessed.
“It is insufficient. Insufficient. My faith is insufficient….”
“What’s insufficient?”
At the sudden voice, Heo Tae-sik jumped in alarm.
The person who entered was Cardinal Um Jun-seok.
“What are you muttering about, Leader?”
“Ahem, it’s nothing.”
“This isn’t the time for that.”
“What’s the matter?”
“There are people who’ve come to the Saesin Religion. Come with me and see.”
Heo Tae-sik followed Um Jun-seok as he left.
It was strange—it wasn’t yet time for the followers to gather.
‘Huh?’
When he stepped out to the front of the Saesin Religion courtyard, there were indeed people gathered.
Ten of them in total.
And they were all foreigners.
‘What did they come here for?’
Had they heard rumors of the Saesin Religion and come to visit as a group?
At first, he thought so, but soon realized otherwise.
Several of them were wearing items.
“Players?”
“Is this the Temple of Black Scythe?”
The translation function only worked in the Other World, so he couldn’t understand them….
“Cardinal Um, what are they saying?”
Fortunately, Um Jun-seok could speak English.
“Just a moment.”
After exchanging several words in English, Um Jun-seok spoke with a look of surprise.
“I’ve come because I want to join the Saesin Religion.”
“The Saesin Religion? All of you?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask your reason?”
Um Jun-seok immediately switched to English and waited for the answer.
“We were able to survive the last round thanks to Black Scythe’s nomination. Beyond that, we were deeply moved by his sacrifice and dedication, so we all wish to join…”
“Haha…”
In times when players were scarce, having more followers join was nothing but welcome.
Black Scythe himself had always welcomed new members.
“Very well. Since we need to conduct interviews, I’ll have Black Scythe called over.”
Heo Tae-sik was pleased to see ten new followers, but he didn’t know.
Starting from this day, all 175 players who had been saved by Black Scythe would come flooding in.

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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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