The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 368

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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 13
13. Ma Gyeong-rok’s 101st Cycle (Part 2)
‘This is quite an excellent rune.’
Ma Gyeong-rok attributed his ability to rank first across all districts to the rune’s inherent properties.
Setting aside the fact that every stat increased the more enemies he slew and souls he absorbed, the Dark Aura was absolutely broken.
‘When I wrap Dark Aura around my weapon, the cutting power becomes incomparable. I can slice through anything like paper.’
Moreover, in critical moments, he could hurl Dark Aura from a distance to maul his enemies.
‘Then greater dark magic flows in, and I can continue using Dark Aura indefinitely.’
Truly, it was the ultimate rune—one that granted ever-greater power the more opponents he killed.
Ma Gyeong-rok was confident that no one else had drawn a rune stronger than this.
But what mattered most was the information about the system.
‘At level 10, I automatically advance to a new class….’
Given that the status window contained a job category, he had suspected there would be a class advancement system like in a game.
However, he had not known it would begin at level 10.
In fact, no one else would know either.
‘Now that Round 1 is over, my level is 5. Reaching level 10 as quickly as possible is what matters most.’
Was it because of this thought?
Upon entering Round 2, Ma Gyeong-rok paid no attention to voting and headed straight into the Forest.
If there happened to be monsters, he planned to hunt for the full three hours….
“Kiiiii.”
He encountered a Hobgoblin.
Ma Gyeong-rok’s lips curved into a crescent smile.
‘Bingo.’

* * *
After hunting for quite some time, Ma Gyeong-rok finally reached level 10.
[You have reached level 10.]
[You may now access the shop.]
[Class advancement conditions have been met.]
[You will automatically advance classes based on your rune characteristics.]
[You have advanced to the class Dark Knight. Congratulations!]
[As a class advancement reward, you have obtained the ‘Rune Sword’.]
[You have learned the Dark Knight exclusive skill ‘Dark Aura Mastery’!]
[The next skill will be automatically learned when you reach level 20.]
The automatic class advancement even came with an item.
[Rune Sword]
-Category: Weapon (Growth-type)
-Grade: Rare
-Attack Power: 20
-Effect: Dark Magic Power +1 each time you swing it at an enemy (Cooldown: 1 minute)
-Durability: 225/225
-Usage Restriction: Apprentice Grade or higher
-Description: A weapon forged from the magical power of a Dark Knight. As a growth-type weapon, it becomes stronger as its grade increases.
A smile spread across Ma Gyeong-rok’s face as he reviewed the information.
‘I was just running short on dark magic power, and I’ve obtained quite a fine weapon.’
Moreover, it wasn’t just any ordinary weapon—it was a growth-type weapon.
He was probably the only player to receive such a weapon.
‘The skill that came with it is pretty decent too.’
[Exclusive Skill – Dark Aura Mastery]
-Effect: A passive skill that allows you to handle Dark Aura with greater precision.
The consumption rate of dark magic power when not using Dark Aura is reduced.
I’m not sure how effective it is, but being able to use my main skill Dark Aura more precisely isn’t bad at all.
‘Since I have no other skills, this much is more than enough.’
While I was satisfied, an unexpected message caused my eyes to widen.
[There is a hidden sub-quest!]
【Sub-Quest】
└Advance your class before voting time
└Obtain a class advancement item and gain a profession!
└Upon success ▶ Today’s Item 50% Discount Voucher awarded!
[You have completed the sub-quest!]
[Today’s Item 50% Discount Voucher has been awarded!]
There had been a hidden sub-quest in Round 2.
‘Obtain a class advancement item and advance your class?’
Honestly, I hadn’t expected there to be quests other than the main quest.
That there was a class change item as well.
Since it appeared when reaching level 10, no one would have guessed such a Quest was hidden.
‘Should I call this luck? I changed classes without a class change item.’
Ma Gyeong-rok was confident.
No one had changed classes faster than him.
‘If rankings were based on class change time, I’d be first across All Districts.’
He’d hunted faster than anyone and changed classes the moment he reached level 10.
Shortly after, the voting ended and Angel announced the hidden Quest.
[There was a sub-Quest this round. Most of you probably didn’t know about it.]
“Huh? A sub-Quest?”
“There was something like that?”
Among the murmuring crowd, only Ma Gyeong-rok’s lips curled upward.
This was the moment he became certain that only he knew of the sub-Quest’s existence.
The glory of first place would be his as well.
[Then shall we check the sub-Quest results?]
Angel opened a message window.
[District ESKS1229-8]
└1st Place. Cheon Ma (Lv10 Dark Knight) 02:36:15
└2nd Place. None
└3rd Place. None
Ma Gyeong-rok was satisfied seeing the sub-Quest results.
First place.
But satisfaction was short-lived.
‘What? First in this district, not All Districts?’
His eyebrows twitched as he examined the rankings again.
★ Round 2 Sub-Quest Results Tally ★
[All Districts]
└1st Place. Black Scythe (Lv16 Reaper) 00:39:42
└2nd Place. Cheon Ma (Lv10 Dark Knight) 02:36:15
└3rd Place. Dumb Bastards (Lv10 Shaman) 02:37:17
‘Black Scythe is first?’
Black Scythe.
The nickname that had taken first place across All Districts in the previous Round 1.
He remembered clearly since he’d placed third.
‘I thought I’d be first, having changed classes faster than anyone….’
Astonishing.
But what shocked him even more was Black Scythe’s record.
‘What is that time? 39 minutes 42 seconds? He reached level 10 and changed classes in less than an hour after Round 2 started?’
His own record of 2 hours and 36 minutes looked pathetic in comparison.
Moreover, that person was already level 16.
He had barely reached level 10 in three hours.
‘A monster of a man.’
I couldn’t deny it.
He was clearly superior to me, a Dark Knight.
‘His class, the Reaper, might be an excellent one too.’
The Shaman who had switched classes, ranked third in All Districts with the nickname “Dumb Bastards,” was impressive as well, but it had already faded from my mind.
That’s how overwhelming the first-place record had been.

* * *
The moment the round ended, An Sang-chul came to find me.
And he delivered an incredible report.
“You made contact with Black Scythe?”
“Yes. I was tailing Black Scythe in the Forest during Round 2 when I was discovered. He said something unexpected to us—that he possesses a rune that allows him to see the future.”
‘A rune that sees the future?’
Given that I’m dragged into the Survival Game every month, there was nothing I couldn’t believe. But that didn’t mean I trusted Black Scythe.
“Did he actually make a prophecy?”
“Yes. He warned that a group tracking Seo A-rin would appear soon, and sure enough, a group did show up. I’m not certain if they were after us, but if we’d left things as they were, we would have suffered significant losses.”
“So he saved your lives with his prophecy?”
“That’s what it amounts to. Though I still can’t be entirely certain if it’s genuine.”
Regardless, I felt I needed to meet him.
“Tell him I’d like to meet and express my gratitude.”
“I’d already arranged to meet him once the round ended.”
Shortly after, a young man arrived at the Hotel Room.
“Hello. I’m Ryu Min.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Black Scythe—or rather, Ryu Min. I’m truly grateful that you saved my subordinate. But a prophet? That’s quite difficult to believe.”
“Are you doubting me?”
“The world is unsettling these days. Please don’t take offense.”
I studied the young man called Ryu Min carefully.
Sensing my suspicious gaze, Ryu Min made an offer first.
“I don’t like being doubted either, so let’s do this. I’ll make two prophecies.”
“Prophecies?”
“Within a month, cryptocurrency will skyrocket. If you invest all your available funds, you’ll make substantial gains. Of course, whether you believe it or not is your choice. Additionally, I can tell you about Round 3.”
“Information about Round 3?”
Ryu Min’s lips curved into a smile as he continued.
“Round 3’s mission is to protect an artifact for three hours. It’s a Quest where you defend the Village’s artifact, with five waves occurring every thirty minutes. One-third of the monsters that appear will be weakened versions. If you cooperate well and defend properly, there shouldn’t be major problems. The monster spawn order will be Goblins, Hobgoblins…”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes widened.
The more I heard, the more astonished I became.
‘He knows such detailed information?’
Was a rune of future sight truly this powerful?
This was the first time my Dark Knight’s rune seemed so insignificant.
“What do you think? Does this prove my abilities?”
“It’s something that hasn’t happened yet, so there’s no point in believing or disbelieving. But I’m curious about something else.”
“What would that be?”
“Why are you telling me this information? Why do you want me to trust you?”
This was the crux of the matter.
Whether the other person was truly The Seer or not didn’t matter.
What was his purpose in approaching me?
That was the key question, and the most critical information I needed to uncover right now.
Ryu Min opened his mouth slowly.
“I’ll tell you that when you’re ready to trust me.”

* * *
After completing Round 3.
Ma Gyeong-rok sought out An Sang-chul first.
“That young man, Ryu Min. Didn’t you say he lives in the unit below Actress Seo’s Penthouse?”
“Yes, that’s correct, sir.”
“Has there been any word that he’s coming this way?”
“I haven’t received any contact from him.”
Ma Gyeong-rok waited anxiously for Ryu Min.
‘His words were accurate. The information he provided was exactly as stated.’
The information about Round 3 that he had predicted beforehand had proven true.
This was why Ma Gyeong-rok was currently excited.
He could no longer doubt the claim that investing in coins would yield returns.
His current profits had swelled considerably, netting him a gain of one billion.
‘If I’d known this beforehand, I would have gone all in.’
It was regrettable, but what intrigued him more was the other man’s purpose.
What could his objective be in approaching him after revealing both Black Scythe and runes?
“Let’s wait until morning, and if there’s no contact, I’ll go find him first.”
“Go find him first, sir?”
“Isn’t it said that the thirsty must dig their own well?”
Now that it was confirmed he was The Seer, I couldn’t afford to refuse his assistance.
After an anxious wait, fortunately The Seer contacted him first and came to visit.
“Were you waiting long?”
“Please, sit down, Ryu Min. Or should I say, The Seer?”
“You believe me now, I see.”
“Believe you? Thanks to you, I was able to prepare thoroughly for Round 3.”
Ma Gyeong-rok treated his visitor with even greater formality and respect than before.
“Now let’s discuss the main matter. What is your purpose in seeking me out?”
“I want to invest in your company.”
“Invest?”
“I’m well aware that you wish to expand your company. I also understand that you must prove your qualifications through the succession competition within the group.”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s expression hardened.
‘Can he see even such trivial personal matters?’
To perceive the minutiae of human affairs like this.
Seeing the future truly is a terrifying ability.
Reminded anew of the power’s magnitude, I nodded in affirmation.
“That’s correct. If I’m not careful, I could lose the successor position, so I must grow the company more than anyone else.”
“I’ll help you. Let’s invest 280 billion in Cheonma Consulting.”
At the staggering sum, Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes widened.
But Ryu Min’s words were far from finished.
“Beyond that, I’ll also show you how to expand your company rapidly.”
For a company representative, it was a prideful blow.
A naive young man who seemed ignorant of the world’s ways appeared and spoke of growing his company for him.
Yet Ma Gyeong-rok understood the Seer’s value well.
‘This is no time to assert pride. The Seer’s existence is essential for surviving until the final round.’
I must neither oppose nor confront him.
I must navigate the future while receiving the Seer’s counsel as reverently as one tends a sacred shrine.
Information about the next round in the Survival Game was as precious as rain in a drought.
That was why I listened to his proposal.
“I would be grateful. What must I do?”

* * *
From that day forward, Ma Gyeong-rok entrusted the future to Black Scythe.
His prophecies were never wrong, and they proved invaluable in conquering the rounds.
‘I survived again. Again.’
I had already conquered ten rounds.
Halfway there.
If I continued like this, reaching Round 20 would be no difficult feat.
‘The company has grown too. I’ve earned Father’s recognition.’
Heeding the Seer’s counsel had been an excellent choice.
After changing the business to Pul-Pul Market, the company’s stock price climbed daily, and the successor position was all but assured.
Then came a certain day.
“Has the major shareholder arrived?”
“Director Ma.”
The Seer appeared without warning.
“What prophecy have you come to share today?”
“I haven’t come to prophesy.”
Ryu Min spoke something unexpected.
“I’ve come to find a new horse.”
“A horse?”
At that moment, a woman followed Ryu Min into the room.
She was someone I had never seen before.
“Are you part of his group? Who are you?”
“Is this the person? Master?”
“Yeah. Just dominate him.”
The woman and Ryu Min ignored my words and conversed with each other.
It was an incomprehensible exchange.
“I asked who you are.”
“Look. Could you just look at me for a moment? Just a moment is fine.”
“What the—”
The instant Ma Gyeong-rok’s eyes met hers.
Ma Gyeong-rok’s memory cut out.

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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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