The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 312

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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 312
312. Now I Believe
As the round ended, the players were transported to the Monochrome Space.
Angel, who had been waiting in Heaven, wore an expression of surprise.
[This is fascinating. Exactly 72 survivors. I thought the numbers would drop further, but it seems your unity is stronger than expected?]
That wasn’t the only shocking discovery.
[Wait? Surprisingly, everyone looks quite healthy? They should be suffering from hunger, but….]
Angel couldn’t hide her astonishment as she observed the humans, their expressions serene as if they’d eaten their fill.
[This is strange. Anyway, that’s wonderful. Congratulations on clearing Round 19. Shall we check your clear rewards?]
Following Angel’s signal, messages appeared before the players.
[Round 19 clear rewards: All players receive experience and gold.]
[Experience +0%]
[This player can no longer gain experience.]
[Gold +9,000,000]
Ryu Min was already maxed out, so he couldn’t gain more experience, but the others could.
“M-maxed out!”
“Finally maxed out!”
“I got a new skill too!”
Seventy-one players, excluding Ryu Min, achieved max level simultaneously and were engulfed in brilliant effects.
A one-minute invincibility effect received to commemorate reaching max level.
‘If I could use that invincibility in the boss fight, it would be useful.’
I had used it effectively when facing Artaros, but the people here could only admire the effect itself.
It was frustrating to watch, but since the situation didn’t allow for its use, there was nothing to be done.
[Seeing the effects, everyone has reached max level? Congratulations. Now shall we check the rankings?]
“What’s the ranking criteria?”
As always, the ranking method was undisclosed this time as well.
Because of this, people waited for an answer with curious expressions.
The answer was surprisingly simple.
[This round’s ranking was based on the number of people you killed.]
“People?”
“Ah….”
“So the person who killed the most would be first.”
But achieving a high rank wasn’t something to celebrate.
In a sense, it was a position gained by killing others.
People glanced around nervously, gauging each other.
If someone was in the rankings, it meant there was a murderer among them.
Naturally, no one could help but be concerned.
“Who’s in first place?”
“Not me. I didn’t kill anyone, so I wouldn’t even be in the rankings.”
“Perhaps Black Scythe might finally relinquish the first-place position this time.”
“That would be the case, if you hadn’t killed any people.”
Those whispering among themselves were convinced they would witness Black Scythe fail to rank in the top positions for the first time.
However.
★ Round 19 Results Tally ★
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└1st Place. Black Scythe (Lv99 Reaper) People Killed: 63
└2nd Place. None
└3rd Place. None
Confronted with the unexpected results, people’s eyes widened in shock.
“Black Scythe…”
“First place…?”
That ranking meant he had murdered people.
It was written plainly that he had killed 63 of them.
All the players turned their gaze toward Black Scythe.
Their eyes demanded an explanation.
It was a natural reaction from those who believed he wasn’t the kind of person evil enough to kill others for survival.
However, Ryu Min had no need to explain himself.
His trusted comrades defended him like lawyers.
“There’s no way Black Scythe killed a player.”
“It doesn’t make sense that he killed 63 people alone.”
“Right. The condition was ‘people,’ not ‘humans.’ If we’re counting sentient beings, it could include all of them.”
“Does that mean killing demons is also included in the count?”
“If we count demons as people, then yes.”
“Then it makes sense he took first place. Didn’t he say he killed countless demons to become the Demon King?”
Their reasoning was sound.
After all, the ranking condition was “people,” not “humans.”
The scope of “people” included all sentient beings—the Celestial Tribe, Demon Tribe, Divine Beings, and others.
That was why Ryu Min had taken first place.
-I knew Black Scythe would never kill a player.
-Stupid me. I was mistaken.
Though the players looked at Ryu Min with such thoughts, the truth was different.
‘Out of the 63 I killed, 2 were players.’
One was Heo Tae-sik, who had transformed into a demon, and the other was a player I happened to encounter by chance.
‘His nickname was Leonard, wasn’t it?’
That man, who appeared somewhat weary, harbored ambition and malice in his heart.
He had already committed countless murders.
That was why I killed him.
Left unchecked, he would surely have caused catastrophe.
‘Besides, killing him would have brought the total to 72.’
Of course, the other players had no need to know such behind-the-scenes details.
That was precisely why Ryu Min chose to remain silent.
He let the matter pass quietly, allowing people to believe only the Demon Tribe had been eliminated.
[Congratulations! You have achieved the Quest as the 1st place in the corresponding zone!]
[Your current ranking in the corresponding zone is 1st place.]
[As the 1st place reward in the zone ranking, you receive ‘God-tier Equipment Selection Right’!]
[As the 1st place reward in the zone ranking, you receive ‘Special Reward Selection Box’!]
Perhaps because it was the final round, the rewards were generous.
Ryu Min used the God-tier Equipment Selection Right first.
[Please touch the desired part from the following options.]
└ 1. God-tier Gloves
└ 2. God-tier Shoes
└ 3. God-tier Necklace
└ 4. God-tier Ring
Weapons and armor were excluded from the list.
It seemed that the more expensive parts wouldn’t appear just because I ranked first.
‘It doesn’t matter anyway. There’s only one thing I need.’
Ryu Min selected option 4—the ring.
It was the only part where I didn’t yet possess a God-tier item.
[You have selected option 4, God-tier Ring.]
[The item transforms to match your level.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained ‘Ring of Death’!]
[Ring of Death]
-Classification: Ring
-Grade: God-tier
-Effect: All Stats +50, Double all rewards upon killing a target
-Durability: 20,000/20,000
-Usage Restriction: Master-tier or higher
-Description: A ring bestowed upon those who can comprehend death.
‘Wow. An item like this actually exists.’
I had chosen rings as rewards before, but never one like this.
‘Since the item is determined based on the user’s level, I ended up getting a far superior ring than before?’
With a satisfied smile, Ryu Min now activated the Special Reward Selection Box.
[You may select one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the desired reward.]
└ 1. Stat Increase Buff 50% (Limited to 20 rounds)
└ 2. Temporary Skill – Invincibility (Limited to 20 rounds)
└ 3. God-tier Weapon Selection Right
This reward differed markedly from previous ones.
‘There’s no information about the next round.’
Usually, option 3 included information about the next round as a reward, but not this time.
This was why Ryu Min had vanished so absurdly in the 20th round.
‘Well, even knowing that, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.’
Even if I had known that a boss room required a minimum of five people to enter, what could I do about it now?
I couldn’t resurrect a vanished player.
‘It’s fortunate I knew about this beforehand and kept so many people alive. Otherwise, I would’ve taken a devastating blow to the back of my head.’
It wasn’t a blow I almost took—I’d already taken one once.
So I had no intention of taking another.
‘I know a fair amount about the 20th round. It’s just the boss room information I’m missing.’
That’s why Ryu Min deliberated between options 1 and 2.
Option 3—the choice of a God-tier weapon—wasn’t worth considering.
I already had one.
‘If it had been an Eternal-tier choice, I would’ve considered it.’
Stroking my chin, I fell into contemplation.
If I chose option 1, my stats would increase by 50%, allowing me to overwhelm the boss even more decisively.
‘It would be useful when facing Artaros, should he appear.’
If I chose option 2, I could become invincible and prepare for any contingency.
I didn’t know if danger would arise, but it was a form of insurance.
‘Which would be better? Which would help more against the 20th round’s boss?’
I was cautious, given this was my final opportunity.
The outcome could differ depending on what I chose.
‘Yes. It’s better to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.’
I could already overwhelm Artaros sufficiently.
So I decided to prepare for contingencies.
‘I choose option 2.’
Angel’s encouraging voice reached my ears as I made my selection.
[Well then, everyone. Please do your best until the final round.]
◀ ROUND 19 COMPLETE ▶
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└Survivors: 72
[Your soul will transfer to your original dimension’s body shortly.]
[Round 20 begins at midnight on August 1st, 2023. We’ll see you in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]

* * *
[Round 19 Complete—72 Players Return!]
[72 Transcendents Survive After Three Days of Sleep!]
[Who Are the Players Remaining for the Final Round 20?]
[Of the 72 Survivors, 17 Are Korean—What Are the Nationalities of the Rest?]
Countless articles flooded the news.
Every citizen’s attention fixed on those 72.
They were hailed as the chosen ones.
Of 1.8 billion humans, only 72 had survived—it was natural they commanded the spotlight.
But for Min Ju-ri, none of it mattered.
She had far too pressing a concern to spare attention for anything else.
‘Is Ryu Min really Black Scythe?’
Seo A-rin had stated it with such certainty, yet I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.
Even having witnessed the transformation with my own eyes, it felt unreal.
‘No, just because he can transform doesn’t mean they’re the same person.’
I tried to deny it, but the doubt refused to fade.
Every circumstance pointed to Black Scythe being Ryu Min.
‘The reason he never told me his nickname, why he kept avoiding meetings in the Other World—was it all to hide his identity?’
It seemed likely, but that wasn’t what mattered most.
What mattered was uncovering the truth.
Brooding alone would never give me answers.
‘I need to see Ryu Min.’
Min Ju-ri’s fingers flew across her phone.
Tap tap tap tap—
[Min Ju-ri: Ryu Min. Can you spare some time? I need to talk about something important.]
[Ryu Min: Sure. Let’s meet at the Unmanned Cafe near Myeongdong Station in an hour.]
The appointment was made in moments.
Soon, the two sat across from each other in the cafe, ready to order.
“You’re getting the caramel macchiato, right?”
“You’re getting the double espresso, right?”
Their words tumbled out simultaneously—normally, they would have smiled at each other, but both knew the truth.
This was no place for laughter. This was serious.
“I’ll grab the drinks.”
As Ryu Min returned with the coffee and sat down, Min Ju-ri spoke.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. So, what’s going on?”
Ryu Min’s expression showed he’d anticipated this moment, though Min Ju-ri couldn’t possibly know that.
She only wore the face of someone seeking truth.
“There’s something I need to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“You joked about it before, remember? You said you were Black Scythe.”
“Yeah.”
“Was that actually not a joke—was it the truth?”
I fell silent.
I looked like I was deliberating whether to speak.
Frustrated by my hesitation, Min Ju-ri pressed me again.
“Are you really Black Scythe? This time, tell me honestly.”
“It’s not just this time.”
I spoke with a serious expression.
“I was honest before, and I’m being honest now.”
“That means….”
“That I’m Black Scythe.”
I revealed my identity once more, but Min Ju-ri still wore an expression of disbelief.
“Can you show me proof?”
I nodded and transformed my appearance.
*Ripple~*
In an instant, I took on Lost Yak’s form and pulled a white mask from my bag, placing it on my face.
“This is what Black Scythe looks like in the reality you know. And.”
I spoke the equip activation command, donning all the items from my inventory.
“This is the outfit Black Scythe wears in the Other World.”
Since the Unmanned Cafe had no customers, there was no one to be startled.
Only Min Ju-ri stood with her mouth agape.
*Flutter~*
Black wings sprouted from my back.
“These are black wings. You’ve seen Black Scythe use them plenty of times, haven’t you?”
“….”
“I’d like to show you skills too, but I can’t demonstrate them here.”
My wings vanished as though they’d never existed.
“Still hard to believe?”
“No… I believe you now. That you’re Black Scythe.”
Facing an undeniable truth, Min Ju-ri’s voice trembled for some reason.

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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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