The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 364

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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 – Side Story Episode 9
9. Min Ju-ri’s 101st Cycle (Part 2)
Round 2 had begun.
Contrary to her worries, this round proved surprisingly simple.
‘They’ll let everyone pass just by voting?’
The mission was so easy it made her suspicious instead.
‘But why would they need a three-hour time limit?’
That was far more than enough time to discuss who should be the representative.
She had no desire to join in the discussions either.
‘But there’s nothing else to do… huh?’
As she glanced around, she happened to notice a group entering the Forest.
‘Why are they going in there? Are they people uninterested in voting like me?’
But why would they enter the Forest of all places?
In this Other World body that had consumed nothing, there was no reason to need the bathroom.
Curiosity got the better of her, so she followed.
She kept her distance so it wouldn’t look like she was tailing them.
But then she encountered something unexpected.
“Kiki kiki!”
“A… a monster?”
It resembled the goblins from Round 1, but this one wore more colorful clothing and stared at her with crimson eyes.
‘W-what do I do? Do I have to fight this alone?’
She looked around, but no one was there.
[Current Active Barriers: 0/10]
To make matters worse, she had no barriers active.
The rune’s weakness became glaringly apparent.
‘Without players, runes are essentially useless.’
Worthless.
As that word crossed her mind, the hobgoblin charged forward.
Wielding what looked like a kukri—a long hunting knife.
‘Ah…’
She had never fought a monster alone, and panic seized her in that moment.
“Over here! You bastard!”
A man shouted and rushed forward, driving a short dagger into the creature with a surprise attack.
“Kiiieee…”
Though menacing, the creature’s health was no different from the Round 1 goblins—it died in a single blow. The man withdrew his dagger.
“Phew. That was close. Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. Th-thank you.”
Min Ju-ri, rescued so unexpectedly, bowed sincerely.
In that moment, she didn’t notice where the man’s gaze had drifted.
“It’s dangerous to enter the Forest. As you can see, monsters appear here.”
Min Ju-ri’s gaze naturally drifted upward as she observed the man explaining things kindly.
Nickname: Park Chan-sung.
This man had saved her.
“Please come this way. I’ll introduce you to the rest of my group.”
Following the man almost without thinking, Min Ju-ri soon found herself face to face with his companions.
Four companions in total.
The same group that had entered the Forest earlier.
“You can see the nicknames for yourselves, Democracy. I won’t bother explaining. After all, what’s the point of introductions in the Other World? We won’t even meet outside anyway.”
“Y-yes, that’s true.”
Min Ju-ri offered appropriate agreement while carefully observing the nicknames and appearances of the group.
The four men, including Park Chan-sung, possessed ordinary faces you’d commonly see outside.
Because of this, Min Ju-ri let her guard down.
Had their faces been menacing, she probably wouldn’t have relaxed so easily.
“What were you doing here, Democracy?”
“Oh, I was just looking around the Forest to see what was there. What about you?”
“The same reason, really. Rather than waste three hours in meaningless discussion, we thought we’d at least explore the surroundings.”
“Ah, are you all acquainted?”
“Yes. We’re neighborhood friends.”
Four friends all thrust into The Game of death at once.
Their luck was absolutely terrible.
‘Still, if I travel with these people, I can feel safe even if monsters appear.’
There was certainly comfort in moving as a group, but more than that, the rune effects were genuinely noticeable.
[Currently Stacked Shields: 4/10]
Weren’t four shields stacked right now?
‘Of course, since each person provides only one, they won’t refresh. But….’
Min Ju-ri realized something.
Having shields and not having them made all the difference in the world.
It was like the difference between bungee jumping with a harness fastened and without one.
The psychological reassurance was completely different.
That’s why she made the proposal first.
“Um, if you’re planning to hunt, could you possibly let me join?”
She asked to be included in the hunt.
As if he’d been waiting for those exact words, Park Chan-sung broke into a smile.
“I’m in favor. What about the rest of you?”
“Ah, me too.”
“Same here.”
And thus, a five-person party was formed.

* * *
“Kieek!”
“Keet!”
Unlike before, the hobgoblins scattered in retreat.
Min Ju-ri dashed after them without hesitation.
Schwick!
A deep gash tore across my back from the kukri the hobgoblins wielded.
The other players rushed to slash at the fallen creature, each vying to land a blow.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
[Hobgoblin defeated!]
[Experience +3%]
[Gold +15]
The experience and gold went to Min Ju-ri, who had contributed the most.
The one who had charged forward and torn through the goblins was none other than Min Ju-ri herself.
“Democracy. How can you be so fearless?”
“Do you have some kind of tank-related rune? You charge in without any hesitation.”
“Haha… I’ve always been a bit reckless by nature.”
I said it half-jokingly, but they seemed to believe it was the truth.
I’m human too, so of course I feel fear.
Who in their right mind would charge at three hobgoblins bare-handed?
But the source of my confidence came entirely from my rune.
‘With the Protection Rune, I can charge in with confidence.’
Because I was certain I wouldn’t die even if I rushed in, I could move with greater boldness and assurance.
As a result, I defeated the hobgoblins without a scratch, establishing myself as the true ace of the party.
Of course, this achievement wasn’t mine alone.
“Shin Gyeong-chul. Thank you for the buffs.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Still, it’s amazing when I think about it. A rune that can cast buffs.”
Shortly after Min Ju-ri joined, a man with the nickname [Shin Gyeong-chul] revealed something.
That he possessed the [Rune of Glory].
‘He said it increases the luck stat of nearby people, right?’
Indeed, my luck stat rose by 5 just by being near him.
Essentially a walking buff.
‘I don’t know what the luck stat actually does. But…’
Whether it was a placebo effect or not, I genuinely felt my luck had increased.
Sometimes monsters would die in a single hit by sheer fortune.
‘In the Other World, survival is paramount, so I should prioritize agility.’
Originally, I had been investing in strength stat.
With the Protection Rune, I thought it better to boost my lacking strength.
But the recent experience had taught me otherwise.
When facing monsters alone, even protection runes proved useless.
‘I have to protect myself. So I should prioritize agility and allocate strength as a secondary stat.’
Intelligence and luck stats remained unclear in their exact effects, so I saw no reason to invest in them.
There was no need to take unnecessary risks.
It was while I continued hunting in this manner.
[Your level has increased!]
[You have reached level 10.]
[You can now access the shop.]
[Class advancement conditions have been met.]
[A hidden sub-quest is available!]
‘Huh? A sub-quest?’
Min Ju-ri, startled, focused on the message that appeared.
【Sub-Quest】
└Advance your class before voting time
└Obtain a class advancement item and gain a profession!
└Upon success ▶ 50% discount voucher for today’s items awarded!
‘Advance my class? Before voting time?’
I was learning for the first time that I could advance at level 10.
The fact that a sub-quest was hidden was also news to me.
“Democracy? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just checking my status window for a moment.”
“I see. You’ve hunted quite a lot—wouldn’t it be good to rest for a bit?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
At my excuse, the others took a break without suspicion.
Of course, since monsters could appear at any moment in this dangerous situation, everyone rested with their backs against the trees.
‘It’s better not to mention that I’ve reached level 10 alone. It could spark unnecessary jealousy.’
But that didn’t change anything.
I had no information on how to obtain a class advancement item.
Then Park Chan-sung approached me.
“Democracy, this must be tough, right?”
“Haha, not at all.”
“I noticed you fight really well earlier? Were you maybe a special forces soldier in your previous life or something like that?”
“No, no. I’m just an ordinary student.”
“A student? A high school student?”
“I’m an adult now. I’ve already graduated.”
“Oh… that’s good then. After this round ends, would you like to meet up outside?”
“Pardon?”
“What’s your real name, anyway?”
What was he trying to do?
That was the only thought filling my mind.
I was so disoriented by the sudden turn of events that I could barely think straight.
“Why are you asking that…?”
“Why? Don’t you want to meet me outside?”
“….”
“You’re not answering. Do you dislike it?”
“…Why are you asking that?”
“Huh? The way you’re not giving a straight answer—maybe you don’t actually hate it? Haha.”
Park Chan-sung laughed at something he found amusing.
But Min Ju-ri’s reaction was ice-cold.
“Ah, you were startled when I suddenly asked your name, weren’t you? Haha. I’m saying this because I’ve taken a liking to Democracy. To be honest, you’re my style. Your face and your body too….”
“This makes me uncomfortable.”
“I know. So how about we meet alone outside? Quietly. The world’s going to end anyway, so shouldn’t we enjoy what we can while we’re here?”
“….”
He was a repulsive man.
There had been a reason he’d been kind to me from the start.
He’d been hiding his dark true nature all along.
It revealed itself as the round drew to a close.
“I don’t want to.”
I said it bluntly.
At that rejection, Park Chan-sung’s expression changed.
“If you don’t want to, just say so. No need to be so stern about it.”
His tone shifted too.
He grew irritated, as if he were the one who should be displeased.
“Chan-sung. Stop it.”
“Stop what? Look at this girl’s attitude. She has no manners.”
Faced with his complete 180-degree reversal, Min Ju-ri felt no anger—only bewilderment.
She was simply dazed by the disillusionment of witnessing human nature laid bare.
“I saved your life at the start and treated you kindly all this time, and what? You don’t want to meet me? Ah, thinking about all the effort I put in pisses me off.”
He seemed to believe that merely hunting together for three hours was enough to win over a stranger’s affection.
The audacity was beyond measure.
But what he truly wanted had never been her heart.
“Grab her.”
“Why, why are you doing this?”
At Park Chan-sung’s command, his companions suddenly seized both of her arms.
Unable to suppress his lust, Park Chan-sung fumbled with his pants.
“I didn’t want to go this far, but it can’t be helped. It’s better to do this in the Other World where there’s no evidence, right?”
“Let go of me!”
Min Ju-ri resisted fiercely.
She thought she could break free since she’d invested in Strength, but she was wrong.
The others had invested in Strength as well.
“Hold it steady. I’ll have the first taste, then pass it along to you two.”
“Got it, Chan-sung.”
“Hurry up. We don’t have much time.”
The three of them wore sinister grins, but an unexpected variable emerged from an unforeseen quarter.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Shin Gyeong-chul swung a cudgel he’d seized, striking the back of the man’s head.
“Argh! Hey, Shin Gyeong-chul! Have you lost your mind?”
“Lost my mind? You’re the ones who’ve lost yours. What are you doing? Are you in your right senses?”
“Damn, you frustrating bastard! I’m giving you a chance to join in, so just watch and keep your mouth shut….”
Swish.
Min Ju-ri’s kukri blade pressed against Park Chan-sung’s throat.
Released from restraint by that single strike.
“You have nothing to say even if you die, right?”
“S-sorry. P-please spare me.”
“I’ll let it slide this once. Get out of here.”
Min Ju-ri released them with those words.
Since she was not inferior to them in level or stats, she was confident she could win if they fought properly.
She even wore the Protection Rune, the source of her confidence.
Park Chan-sung retreated with both hands raised, then immediately shifted his target.
To the traitor beside him, Shin Gyeong-chul.
“You son of a bitch!”
Thrust!
“Gasp!”
“I took you along thinking you were harmless, and you betray me?”
Thrust! Thrust!
The dagger repeatedly pierced Shin Gyeong-chul’s abdomen.
Min Ju-ri, startled, rushed forward without hesitation.
Slash!
“Ahhh! M-my arm!”
She mercilessly severed his forearm and swung her blade to keep the others at bay.
“Don’t come near! I’ll kill you if you do!”
Protecting Shin Gyeong-chul, Min Ju-ri glanced sideways to check on his condition.
Blood was pouring from his abdomen—his state was clearly dire.
‘What do I do? At this rate, he’ll die.’
All I could do was shield Shin Gyeong-chul from their reach.
But Min Ju-ri didn’t know.
That this was the drop condition for a class advancement item.
[You have saved a player with a buff from crisis.]
[You have acquired the class advancement item ‘Buffer’s Blessing’.]

* * *
After Round 2 ended, Min Ju-ri became a Buffer.
‘That man must have survived, right?’
Only now did she learn that as long as you didn’t die in the Other World, you could return to reality with your body intact.
‘Was his name Shin Gyeong-chul?’
Had it not been for that man, she might have suffered a terrible fate.
Her savior was not Park Chan-sung, but him.
‘I hope he doesn’t get harassed by friends in reality….’
Worry gnawed at her, but since she didn’t know where he lived or who he was, she couldn’t bring herself to search for him.
Such thoughts faded when she unexpectedly spotted her first love, Ryu Min, at a Convenience Store.
When she later discovered his nickname was Black Scythe, ranked first across All Districts, she was utterly startled.
“My nickname is Black Scythe.”
“What? You’re lying. You’re ranked first?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”
As Ryu Min produced his scythe, astonishment flickered across Min Ju-ri’s face.
“Really? Wow, that’s incredible. My friend is ranked first!”
She admired him genuinely, and from Round 5 onward, when the districts merged, she moved alongside Ryu Min.
They hunted together, faced hardship and adversity together, and as a result, managed to reach the Final Round itself.
Even to the Wish Room, which only those who witnessed the end of a round could achieve.
‘My wish is… Yes. I’ve decided on that.’

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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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