The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 267

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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 267
267. Why Didn’t You Tell Me?
[Refined Ether]
-Classification: Possession
-Description: Ether of the highest purity among all ether. Can create items of God-tier or higher. Radiates rainbow-colored brilliance depending on the viewing angle.
What shocked Ryu Min was something else entirely.
‘Items of God-tier or higher can be created with this?’
Until now, I had believed God-tier was the highest grade.
But there was something beyond that?
‘So God-tier wasn’t the pinnacle after all?’
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity.
Throughout my 99 previous returns, I had prided myself on knowing the strategies and information for every round….
‘An item I didn’t know about actually exists.’
I had no idea what combinations would work or how to proceed.
I might discover something by trying various combinations, but I don’t have time for that.
‘I wish I at least had a blueprint….’
It’s unfortunate, but regardless, this is still a gain.
I’ve learned of an item’s existence that I never knew about.
All of this is because I defeated an Archangel of third-tier or higher.
‘What will drop if I defeat the one ranked first?’
I was curious, but what mattered most right now was protecting my younger brother.
I’ll need to meet Heo Tae-sik later.
To stack Hero’s Rune like before, I need Heo Tae-sik’s Demon Summoning skill.
As I stepped into the living room, Ryu Won gestured for me to come over quickly.
“Brother, is this really delicious? Try some.”
“Yeah?”
*munch munch*
‘It is pretty good.’
While eating and watching TV, Ryu Won, who had finished first, tapped his belly contentedly.
“Ah, that was delicious.”
Then he looked at me and grinned widely.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Haha, well. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t believe it. My brother is that famous Black Scythe….”
“If you don’t believe me, should I show you the scythe?”
“No, I believe you, I believe you.”
Ryu Won believes me without needing to see the eerie scythe.
He has no choice but to believe.
How could he not believe after witnessing my martial prowess slaughtering Archangels before his very eyes?
“I thought you were incredibly weak when they said you were The Seer.”
“That’s just a preconception.”
“You’re right. I did have my prejudices.”
My younger brother’s candid admission felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Had respect suddenly bloomed in me now that I knew he was Black Scythe?
‘Come to think of it, his posture is rather stiff.’
He was putting on an unbothered facade, but internally, he was tense like a fresh recruit newly transferred to the unit.
“Ryu Won, relax.”
“Huh? Did it show?”
“You’re family, not some stranger. Whether I’m Black Scythe or The Seer, I’m still your older brother, unchanged.”
As I spoke with a reassuring smile, my younger brother finally loosened his rigid frame.
“Sorry. I couldn’t help but feel tense.”
“Anyway, we promised to finish our conversation, didn’t we? Ask me anything you’re curious about.”
As if waiting for those words, Ryu Won fired off a question immediately.
“All those times you went abroad—you weren’t chasing after a girlfriend, were you? You were punishing bad guys?”
“Of course. Where would I have gotten a girlfriend? A Japanese one? I’ve never even been near Japan.”
“So you just made up an excuse because you couldn’t be bothered to explain?”
“Exactly.”
“Wow…”
Black Scythe’s exploits were well-known to the general public.
Defeating IS in Nigeria, establishing the CPF Unit, restoring domestic security, and saving other nations in need.
For Ryu Won, the revelation that all of these had been excused by invoking a Japanese girlfriend was shocking.
“You misunderstood on your own. I thought it would be convenient to use those overseas trips as cover.”
“Then what about The Seer class? Is that also an excuse? You’re the only one with the Reaper class.”
“How did you know my class was unique?”
“You can find all that stuff if you search the Player Gallery. There are even posts compiling all the missions that have been conducted so far.”
I widened my eyes in surprise.
‘The information exchange is more active than I thought.’
Ordinary people weren’t entirely ignorant about players.
“As far as I know, I’ve never heard of The Seer class from anyone but you. Was that also a lie?”
After a moment of deliberation, I nodded candidly.
“Yeah. The Seer class doesn’t exist.”
“What? So seeing the future was all a lie?”
“Right. I needed a different profession to replace the Reaper.”
“Then how did you predict the lottery numbers?”
“Well, that’s…”
My words faltered at this unexpected juncture, and I fell into contemplation.
Whether to reveal the most crucial information to my younger brother.
‘Should I? Or shouldn’t I?’
I hesitated, but the deliberation didn’t last long.
At this point, there was no harm in telling him.
“Do you want to know the truth?”
“Yeah.”
“This might be shocking, but are you okay with it?”
“There’s nothing left to shock me.”
Ryu Won answered confidently with a chuckle, but his expression hardened almost immediately.
“I’m a returnee.”
“What?”
He’d just heard a bombshell statement he never expected.
“W-what did you just say? A returnee?”
“In a sense, I came from the future. Or maybe I should say it’s the past for me?”
“What are you talking about right now? A returnee? That’s impossible….”
“There’s something called a Rune of Temporal Regression. It’s a rune that lets me return a hundred times.”
“….”
“With this, I’ve repeated countless rounds over and over. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. I had no talent to speak of.”
Ryu Won simply listened to his brother’s confession with a blank expression.
“When I died, I’d go back ten minutes before entering the game. I kept repeating that cycle. Hunting the same monsters, clearing the same rounds, teaming up with the same people….”
Ryu Won held his breath as he watched Ryu Min reflect on those past days.
Until just moments ago, he’d thought it was a joke.
But it wasn’t.
He could tell from the look in his eyes—his brother wasn’t speaking of fiction, but of memories.
“Those were difficult days. For someone without talent like me. In a way, a hundred lives were an opportunity. A chance to reach Round 20 and escape this damned Survival Game.”
“….”
“Everything I’ve done so far has been to conquer the rounds. After countless trials and errors to find a more certain and efficient route, I achieved a strategy for life itself. And that result is the Black Scythe I am now.”
“Ah….”
Ryu Min, who had been grinning wickedly, placed a hand on his frozen brother’s shoulder.
“Do you believe what I’m saying?”
“Y-yeah, to some extent….”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But I had my reasons for keeping it hidden.”
“Reasons?”
“In one of my past cycles, you were kidnapped because you were the family of a returnee. I couldn’t tell you the truth because I was afraid that would happen again.”
“Ah….”
Ryu Won understood.
His brother had hidden the fact that he was a returnee to protect him.
“Of course, I’m telling you now because I’ve judged it’s safe. Actually, there’s no greater danger than this anyway. The Angels have started targeting you.”
At those words, Ryu Won recalled the Angel who had attacked him.
“Why are the Angels targeting me?”
“Because you’re my only family. Since they can’t match me in strength, they’re trying to take you hostage out of desperation.”
“….”
“Don’t worry too much. Even if the Angels appear, I’ll protect you.”
“It’s reassuring to hear that Black Scythe will protect me.”
Ryu Won smiled as he said this, but inside, he trembled with anxiety.
There was no other choice.
I was merely an ordinary person, after all.
‘I understand, Won. But truly, there’s no need to worry. I’ll protect you by any means necessary. Even if it costs me my life.’
The reason I had struggled through all these playthroughs wasn’t solely for my own survival.
It was always to live happily with my younger brother.
‘If I could live a life like before, I couldn’t ask for anything more.’
To achieve that, securing my younger brother’s safety had to come first.
‘I should meet Heo Tae-sik as soon as possible.’
While I was thinking this, my younger brother murmured.
“So my older brother is a returner like in novels… You knew the future…”
“Don’t be too shocked. When people can even be resurrected, what’s so special about a returner?”
“But this is different. Not just once, but 100 chances? Even if we only count an average of one year each, that’s 100 years… Phew!”
Perhaps because he had grasped my age?
My younger brother suddenly looked at me as if I were an elderly man.
“Be honest with me. How old are you?”
“What do you mean how old? I’m 21.”
“No! How old are you counting all the years you’ve lived?”
“Over 100 years. Just know it as that.”
Ryu Won’s jaw dropped.
“W-which round is this?”
“Round 100. The final round.”
“…”
“If I die this time, it’s over for me too. It means there are no more chances to change the future.”
“Ah…”
That’s when it happened.
My phone suddenly rang.
The caller was Seo A-rin.
“Yes, Miss A-rin.”
-The Seer? Are you alright? Your home is completely destroyed…
“I’m fine, at least.”
-What about your younger brother?
“My younger brother is safe too. Please don’t worry.”
-Thank goodness you’re safe. What on earth happened?
Seo A-rin’s voice over the phone was filled with concern.
It seemed she had called not to gather information, but out of genuine worry as a neighbor.
“I’m not entirely sure either. When I returned, it was already in this state.”
-So where will you stay now?
“I’m thinking of staying at a Hotel while repairs are being done.”
-I was really startled. I was going to stop by your place when I saw it like that. You can’t imagine how shocked I was…”
“Haha, thank you for your concern.”
-Once the repairs are done, you’ll come back, won’t you? Neighbor?
“Of course. It’s too expensive a place not to.”
-I’m so relieved you weren’t hurt. Well, let’s talk again when we get the chance.
“Yes.”
The moment I hung up, my Younger Brother asked.
“Who was that?”
“Actress Seo A-rin.”
“The way she was worried about you, she doesn’t know who you really are, does she?”
“Of course not. Where would I go talking about something like this? No one knows except you.”
Christine actually knew, but I hadn’t bothered to tell her.
There was no need for my Younger Brother to know.
“Why didn’t you tell Seo A-rin that you’re Black Scythe?”
“Because she’d be shocked.”
“She wouldn’t be as shocked as me, though.”
“You weren’t?”
“Ha ha….”
Was he remembering how he’d stood speechless in shock just moments ago?
My Younger Brother scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.
“Still, I accepted it pretty quickly. You explained why you had to be that way, after all.”
“That’s because you’re family. Other people wouldn’t understand.”
“Why not at least try telling her? You never know.”
I shook my head firmly.
No matter how I thought about it, I remained skeptical.
Would revealing my identity benefit the situation now?
It would be fortunate if it didn’t become a blunder that destroyed our relationship instead.
‘But I can’t hide it forever either….’
It was certainly something worth pondering.
Just then, my phone vibrated again.
When I saw the caller ID, my eyes widened in surprise.

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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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