The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 332

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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 332
332. Contract
Ryu Min asked.
“What do you mean by that?”
[What do I mean? Well…]
“What does it mean that you’re on my side?”
[Exactly as I said. I am on your side, so rest assured.]
A scoff escaped Ryu Min’s lips.
“You want me to believe that? The words of someone who feeds information about Black Scythe to the Archangels?”
[Ah, so you knew. Did you read Remiel’s thoughts?]
“Yes.”
Remiel, the seventh-ranked Archangel who wielded lightning.
When I first met him, I could discern the truth.
That he had come seeking me because of Rubahi’s influence.
“You send Remiel to kill me, then dare speak of being on my side?”
[I didn’t send him to kill you. I sent him to become a sacrifice for Black Scythe.]
“You sent him knowing I’d defeat him?”
[Of course. As you know, I have witnessed all of Black Scythe’s growth. When the two of you clashed, it was simple to gauge who would prevail.]
“Even so, the fact remains that you provided information to my enemies.”
[It was unavoidable. One needs bait for the fish to bite, does one not?]
[…]
As Ryu Min stared coldly, Rubahi wore an awkward expression.
[If you were displeased that I sent an Archangel of my own accord, I apologize. But I did more than merely send him. I also prevented Michael from stepping forward.]
“Michael?”
[In Round 11, Michael attempted to kill Black Scythe directly. But I persuaded him that he must wait until Round 20 to become a god. Had I not intervened, Black Scythe would have died long ago.]
“If you hadn’t sent Remiel, Michael wouldn’t have stepped forward either.”
[…That is true. But thanks to me, did you not gain power that transcends humanity? Power enough to even slay gods?]
“So.”
A chilling murderous intent flickered in Ryu Min’s eyes.
“You want me to thank you for making me this way?”
I didn’t grow stronger because I wanted to become stronger.
I simply had no choice but to grow stronger while struggling to survive.
Though I glared as if I could kill him at any moment, there was no trace of fear on Rubahi’s face.
He knew well that within his domain, no one could exercise their power.
[If I have offended you, I sincerely apologize. But it is true that you grew stronger by slaying an Archangel, is it not?]
[…]
[That said, I did not provide all information to the Archangels who came seeking you. Regarding special runes like the Rune of True Intent, I ensured they remained ignorant. In this manner, you see.]
Before the words even finished, another book settled into Ryu Min’s hands.
[That is the record of Black Scythe that I showed the Archangels.]
Upon reading the book, the contents were indeed different from what came before.
Obtaining the Rune of True Intent, killing an Archangel and gaining vast stats, achieving deification—
All information that would disadvantage me if my enemies learned of it had been carefully omitted.
[I showed the Angels who came searching for Black Scythe’s information that revised version. Had I shown them the original, they might have been too frightened to act, or worse, discovered countermeasures.]
“So what you’re saying is… you’ve been sending Archangels all this time as prey for me?”
[Precisely. The rewards for slaying an Archangel are incomparable to those from other Combat Angels. Surely you’re aware of that, Black Scythe?]
Of course I am.
There’s an enormous difference between capturing an Archangel and failing to do so.
‘Comparing it to my previous cycle makes it clear. I’m tens of thousands of times stronger now than I was before.’
In my last cycle, the memory of encountering Artaros had kept me from even attempting to face an Archangel.
But in this cycle, I was fortunate enough to face Remiel, and from that point on, I experienced explosive growth.
Even a lower-ranked Archangel provided rewards on an entirely different scale from Combat Angels.
“So all of this was your design to make me stronger?”
[It is, but truthfully, it wasn’t my design alone. There is another god assisting you.]
“Who?”
At Rubahi’s next words, my eyes widened.
A figure of such magnitude—one capable of rivaling Chaos—had been aiding me all along.
‘Or rather… have I been used?’
I studied Rubahi with narrowed eyes.
“So I’m a joint creation between you and this other god?”
[The term “joint creation” feels a bit off. We weren’t intentionally designating a specific individual to cultivate.]
“Then you didn’t deliberately give me the Rune of Temporal Regression?”
[No. The Rune of Temporal Regression was set to affect only one person among 1.8 billion humans. We made no specific designation. When you cast a fishing line, you never know what will bite, do you? It’s the same principle.]
In other words, they hadn’t expected me to be the one caught.
Hadn’t expected me to rise this far.
“What was the purpose of going this far?”
[Because you must grow strong enough to oppose Chaos.]
“So you orchestrated everything to create a chess piece.”
It was all design.
They deliberately inserted a Rune allowing 100 regressions and waited for a human capable of opposing gods to be caught by it.
The result: I was the lucky winner, and through regression, I became extraordinarily powerful according to their will.
[Hmm… I hadn’t thought of it as a chess piece, but I won’t deny that we were crafting a weapon to stand against Chaos.]
“A weapon… you’re saying a mere human can become a weapon to oppose that monster?”
[You can. All you need do is follow my guidance from here on.]
Rubahi smiled faintly, but I made no effort to hide my unease.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of being a god’s plaything.
“I’m not a tool that moves at your command.”
[Of course not, of course not. I apologize for calling you a weapon—it was simply the most fitting term I could think of. If I’ve offended you, I sincerely apologize.]
Rubahi took great care not to displease me.
He answered my questions readily enough.
“Do you and your superior know all my records from the first cycle through the hundredth?”
“That’s not it. The ability to turn back time is so incredibly powerful that even gods cannot defy it. In short, this is the first time I’ve ever faced Black Scythe in my memory. At least, according to what I remember.”
“So you’re saying if I rewind time now, Chaos won’t remember me either?”
“That’s correct. Not just Chaos, but the god I serve as well.”
“You’re telling me you and your superior designed and created such a tremendous rune?”
“We received assistance from another god.”
“Who?”
“I cannot disclose that. What is certain is that even in the Akashic Record here, there is no record of Black Scythe’s previous cycle. That’s how powerful the authority of regression is—it can rewind even the universe’s records.”
Though Rubahi attempted an explanation, the listener could only find themselves drowning in deeper questions.
“Something doesn’t add up. If this cycle is your first time, why didn’t you send Remiel before?”
“We waited until the 100th cycle. We intended to send him once Black Scythe became strong enough to face an Archangel.”
“Wait. You said you have no memory of the regression. So how did you know this was the 100th cycle?”
“We received help. There is one god who remains unaffected by the regression.”
Rubahi’s response flowed without hesitation.
At least, it didn’t seem like a lie.
‘If I ask who that god is, he won’t answer anyway.’
Ryu Min posed a different question.
“Did the god you serve create this system? Programming humans?”
“Yes. It was that being’s will to design the system so that Black Scythe would grow stronger by hunting Angels. Though I did offer counsel.”
“Counsel?”
“You need not know that much. What matters is that we know how to kill Chaos.”
The attitude of acting like he held all the cards irritated me, but I didn’t press the issue.
“To be honest, I don’t like you. Whether it’s the Celestial Tribe bastards who grind humans into mercenaries to save the Heavenly Demon War, or you lot who’ve raised me as a weapon to stand against Chaos—you all look like the same breed to me. But.”
I had no intention of dwelling on it now.
“Even if you’ve used me, I don’t care. Either way, my goal is to kill Chaos.”
“It’s fortunate our objectives align.”
“Then tell me now. What’s the method?”
“Before I share that information, I’d like to make a contract with you.”
“A contract?”
As my eyes narrowed with suspicion, Rubahi broke into a broad grin.
“Don’t look at me that way. It’s a contract to ensure we handle this matter properly.”
“What kind of contract?”
“A contract stating we will cooperate to kill Chaos. You could call it a written agreement, if you will.”
“You’re saying you won’t give me information unless I sign something?”
“Yes. That way, we can trust Black Scythe and share the information with confidence, can’t we?”
I laughed as if in disbelief.
“Do I look like someone who would betray you?”
“As I said, it’s to ensure clarity on both sides. Please don’t take it the wrong way.”
I stared at Rubahi, trying to read through his facade, but his expressionless face revealed nothing.
“Fine. Let me see the contract first.”
“Understood.”
Soon, a familiar System Message appeared before Ryu Min.
[Spirit ‘Rubahi’ has presented a contract proposal to Player ‘Black Scythe’.]
【Soul Contract】
[Party A: Black Scythe] [Party B: Rubahi]
1. Party A swears to stand against Chaos in exchange for receiving information about Chaos from Party B.
2. Immediately upon contract completion, Party B shall provide Party A with information about Chaos.
3. This contract shall remain in effect until Chaos is annihilated.
[Upon contract signing, the soul becomes bound in a lifelong agreement.]
[Whichever party—A or B—breaks the contract first shall be eternally annihilated.]
[Do you accept this contract? Y/N]
I had anticipated as much, but annihilation was indeed the price of this pact.
‘Does he expect me to oppose Chaos eternally?’
Thinking of my comrades who fell to Chaos, my teeth still ground together.
For revenge, this was hardly an unfavorable proposal.
Yet I shook my head without hesitation.
“I refuse.”
[…Pardon?]
“This contract is far too disadvantageous for me.”
[Disadvantageous? If your goal is to kill Chaos, you needn’t fear annihilation, would you?]
“True enough. But a contract must be equitable by its very nature. You merely provide information, while I eternally stand against Chaos? Surely you see which side bears the greater burden?”
[….]
“If I don’t oppose Chaos, I’m annihilated? The risk is too immense. This is nothing but a slave contract.”
[S-so you’re refusing to sign?]
“I am. It seems this contract persists even through regression, so why would I accept such unfavorable terms and shackle myself for eternity?”
[…But without the contract, you won’t obtain the information.]
“Then you’ll lose your chance to kill Chaos as well.”
As I pressed my advantage, Rubahi broke into a cold sweat.
He needed a long-term piece to stand against Chaos.
[…If there’s something you want, please tell me.]
“Add two conditions to the clause. First, you speak only truth to me. Second, add your superior to the annihilation clause.”
[…You want to include that person?]
“You two orchestrated this together, so it’s only fair that you don’t bear the burden alone. If you’re to contract with me, your superior—the one who created the system—must stake their life as well, shouldn’t they?”
[T-that would require their consent.]
“Then go get it. I’ll wait. But you have twenty minutes. Miss that window, and your eligibility is forfeit. Then you lose your chance at Chaos too.”
[Y-yes, understood. Please wait a moment.]
Rubahi vanished in a flurry of panic.
Had five minutes passed in subjective time?
While I waited in the Akashic Record, he reappeared.
[I’ve brought the revised contract as you requested.]
“Let me see it.”
Upon inspection, a third clause labeled ‘C’ had been added, inscribed with the name of a god.
Both parties must speak only truth to each other, and violation results in annihilation—such was the stipulation.
‘Now I can trust this contract.’
Ryu Min smiled and consented to the agreement.
[The contract has been established.]
[The contract terms take effect immediately upon establishment.]
Ryu Min broke into a grin.
“Now tell me. What’s the way to kill Chaos?”

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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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