The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 365

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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 10
10. Min Ju-ri’s Wish
When I spoke my wish to the system.
Min Ju-ri awoke.
From a dream.
From a fantasy.
From a brutal game of death.
“Ju, Ju-ri!”
“Dad.”
The moment I saw my father—the one who had stood by my side through every round—tears streamed down my face.
“I’m back.”

* * *
The world had changed.
Once when the Angels appeared in that great upheaval.
And again when the Survival Game came to a complete end.
But the world wasn’t the only thing that had changed.
My world had changed too.
“Dad, I’m heading to the study room.”
“Alright. Be careful out there.”
“What’s there to be careful about in a world like this?”
These days, violent crime rates had dropped dramatically compared to before.
The aftermath of Black Scythe, who had operated the CPF, still lingered.
Now that the Player had vanished, I didn’t know how long it would last.
“Still, be careful. I’m terrified something like that might happen again.”
“Dad, you get scared at your age?”
“Of course! Do you know how much I cried when you were taken at first? How terrified I was, thinking I’d be alone….”
“I must have caused you so much worry. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that. We’re able to live like this because of you.”
Just a few months ago, I had to fight battles where life and death hung in the balance every single time, but not anymore.
‘It’s just a memory now. The fact that I can talk about it so casually shows how much time has healed it.’
Only four months had passed since the Survival Game ended, yet it felt as distant as an old memory.
The psychiatrist had mentioned post-traumatic stress disorder and avoidance from unwanted memories, but that was fine with me.
‘I’ll live resolutely in the present. I’m not sure if my wish was properly granted, but.’
The wish I had made when touching the Wish Stone was simple.
For my father to be happy.
I had always wanted that, and I had pleaded with the system for it.
To make my father happy, so he wouldn’t suffer anymore.
The system’s response was quite concise.
[It is possible. This is a wish you can achieve with your current contribution points.]
Whether that wish actually came true, even Min Ju-ri didn’t know.
Though Father’s face did seem brighter than usual.
‘I really did struggle with it. Whether to write a wish for myself or a wish for Father.’
Father’s happiness was her own desire, but when you think about it, it was still a wish for Father to improve.
Not a purely personal, selfish wish.
‘Honestly, I wanted to pray for things to work out between me and Ryu Min. Since he’s my first love.’
But they say first love is rarely meant to be?
Because I couldn’t abandon Father’s happiness, I had to give up my own small wish.
“Dad, are you happy these days?”
“Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden?”
“Just answer me. Are you happy?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then that’s enough.”
A smile bloomed naturally, as if the wish had come true.
“I’m really going now.”
“Alright, have a good day.”
After exchanging these trivial words, I left early in the morning.
With my bag slung over my shoulder, filled with textbooks and writing supplies.

* * *
Studying during the day.
Studying at night.
My entire life consisted of nothing but studying.
It was to gain admission to Korean Medical University, my original dream.
My dream of becoming a doctor and making Father happy still remained valid.
‘Now that the barriers have lowered considerably, this is my chance.’
Most people aged fifteen to twenty-nine had died.
Only ninety-seven people had survived.
There was no way the world could function as it had before.
‘Middle school, high school, university—all of them closed….’
Only elementary schools and a handful of prestigious universities remained open, and their admission standards had dropped significantly.
You could get in with just a score of 3 on the college entrance exam.
‘I have to study. Even this isn’t easy.’
Given these circumstances, dating was out of the question.
To achieve my dream, I had to sacrifice something else.
For me, that something was Ryu Min, and I could only maintain our friendship while postponing what I wanted.
‘Once I get into medical school and my life stabilizes! That’s when I’ll confess.’

* * *
With only the day of my confession to Ryu Min to look forward to, I threw myself into my studies with burning passion.
As a result, I was able to gain regular admission to Korean Medical University and proudly began my journey toward becoming a physician.
Two years of pre-med, four years of medical school.
After six years of coursework at the university, I took the national medical licensing exam and passed with confidence.
Following that, I began my internship to pursue the path of specialization.
As a green intern experiencing real medicine for the first time, I became a resident after one year, and four years later, I took the specialist qualification exam and obtained my medical license.
After eleven years of rigorous training, I finally achieved the dream I had yearned for so desperately—becoming a doctor.
‘Though I never achieved my first love’s dream.’
While I was immersed in my studies to realize my dream of becoming a physician, Ryu Min had already begun dating someone.
‘I was too late. I should have confessed much sooner.’
I should have enjoyed my youth and had fun, but I missed my chance while buried in studying.
‘Still, I achieved my own dream. Father was incredibly happy about it.’
When I opened my own internal medicine clinic as a specialist, there was no doubt that my father, Min Do-hun, was overjoyed.
So while I had grasped both wealth and prestige, I was not entirely without grievances.
What bothered me most was that Father still continued working.
“Father, please rest now?”
“Ha ha, rest? I’m still far from retirement.”
“You’re almost sixty now, Father. It’s time to retire.”
“These days people live to a hundred. How many people work past seventy? And do you know how rewarding it is to work when you’re older? Abandon your prejudice that elderly people must struggle.”
“Then why are you still working at the Convenience Store instead of doing something else?”
“Because I’m used to it.”
I let out a sigh so deep it seemed the ground might collapse beneath me.
Our family’s poverty had long since been resolved.
Since becoming a doctor, I had given most of my earnings to Father.
Beyond paying off our debts, I had even purchased a new apartment.
Recently, I had even opened my own private clinic.
Yet still, Father could not let go of his Convenience Store work.
‘The Convenience Store doesn’t even bring in much profit, so I don’t understand why he insists on this.’
Though he had worked there for over a decade, the annual revenue from the Convenience Store didn’t even match my monthly earnings.
Yet seeing him dedicate himself to work with only weekend and night shifts made it clear he wasn’t doing it for the money.
‘Does he truly love doing it?’
I couldn’t fathom Father’s heart, but lately his face had certainly brightened.
He always seemed full of vitality and happiness.
‘Could my wish for his happiness still be taking effect?’
The happiness I had prayed for Father in the Wish Room.
Though more than eleven years had passed, I wondered if it was still being applied.
Thinking of it, I decided to ask.
Just as I had asked before.
“Father, are you happy these days?”
“Of course I’m happy! Our daughter succeeded, and now we live without financial worries.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
I felt reassured that my wish was still in effect.
Until Dad brought up marriage.
“Once our daughter gets married, I think we’ll have nothing left to worry about.”
“…Marriage?”
Of course, this wasn’t the first time Dad had mentioned marriage.
I was just surprised he’d brought it up again after staying quiet for a while.
“Weren’t you not interested in it?”
“Not interested? I stopped talking about it because you were so focused on work. What father wouldn’t care about his daughter’s marriage?”
“….”
“Now that you’re an accomplished doctor with your own hospital and finally have time to breathe, don’t you think you should start dating and consider marriage? You’re already entering your mid-thirties.”
“What are you talking about? I’m still in my early thirties.”
“Either way, you should start dating soon.”
“….”
Of course, I hadn’t avoided dating entirely.
I’d dated a senior I worked with during my internship.
A workplace couple, as they say.
But we were both too busy to see straight, so we broke up after just a few months.
Since then, I hadn’t dated anyone, and there was no one I was particularly interested in.
‘I wonder how Ryu Min is doing?’
Memories of my first love suddenly surfaced.
I remembered giving up when I found out he was dating someone.
“Is there no one you like?”
Dad’s sudden question caught me off guard.
“No, there isn’t.”
“Your reaction says otherwise. There was someone, wasn’t there?”
“Y-yes, there was, but not anymore. I’ve forgotten.”
“Forgotten? It looks like you still haven’t forgotten.”
My face flushed red, answering for me.
“If you have his contact information, reach out to him. You never know.”
“Contact him? It’s been five years since I last talked to him.”
“So you’ve been harboring unrequited love for that long?”
Caught red-handed about my years of unrequited feelings, I couldn’t lift my head.
My face was probably bright red anyway.
Dad, Min Do-hun, smiled warmly.
“Just reach out to him. Aren’t you curious how he’s doing?”
“…I am curious.”
“Then give him a call.”
After deliberating, I decided to gather my courage.
Encouraged by my father’s words, I decided to reach out to my first love.

* * *
[Min Ju-ri: Min-ah. It’s been a while.]
When I sent that first message, my heart felt like it might burst.
‘What if his number changed? What if he blocked me?’
My anxiety dissolved the moment I saw the read receipt appear.
‘He… he read it!’
[Ryu Min: Wow, it really has been forever! Ever since you mentioned starting your internship, we lost touch… Has it been five years? How have you been?]
[Min Ju-ri: I’ve been well. I worked myself to the bone and got my medical license.]
[Ryu Min: A doctor? Wow, I never thought I’d have a doctor friend. That’s seriously impressive!]
[Min Ju-ri: What about you? What have you been up to?]
[Ryu Min: Oh, you know, this and that. Just getting by.]
[Min Ju-ri: What kind of work?]
[Ryu Min: If you’re curious, I’ll tell you in person. Should we meet up?]
One conversation had naturally led to a meeting.
Everything was flowing smoothly.
For me, there was no reason to refuse.
[Min Ju-ri: Yes! Where should we meet?]

* * *
Ryu Min was still living in Seoul.
He’d sold the Galleria Forest apartment where he used to live and moved because of financial circumstances.
“I see. What did you do after that?”
“Various things. Once the Survival Game ended, I didn’t really have anything to do. I couldn’t find a proper job either.”
After returning to ordinary life, Ryu Min had sold his house to raise capital, then worked whatever jobs he could find to earn money.
Everything from loading and unloading cargo to cafe shifts, factory dormitory work, and working at a meat restaurant.
After saving up that way, he’d apparently started a startup using his accumulated experience.
“That must have been exhausting.”
“It was. So much so that I couldn’t even contact you.”
“We did exchange messages a few times before they stopped.”
“Right. What were you doing back then?”
“I was grinding away as an intern and resident, trying to become a doctor.”
“Did you date anyone?”
At that question, I let out a long sigh.
“I tried once, but it didn’t last. I just didn’t have the time for a relationship.”
“So you’re not dating anyone now?”
“No. What about you?”
“Same here.”
“Really? But didn’t you have a girlfriend back then?”
“Didn’t I mention it? We broke up a few months ago.”
Min Ju-ri’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s.
“So… right now?”
“No one. I’m not dating anyone.”
My assumption that he’d be married with children by now shattered completely in that moment.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
“Since we’re on the subject…”
There was something else Min Ju-ri hadn’t anticipated.
“I like you.”
“What?”
The assumption that Ryu Min could possibly like her.

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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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