The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 375

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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 20
20. Ryu Won’s 100th Cycle (Part 2)
As I opened my eyes to the bright light, I saw my older brother.
“Won, wake up. It’s morning.”
“Brother? What…? It’s still 6 o’clock.”
“We don’t have time to sleep anymore.”
“What? What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain on the way. Get dressed. Let’s go.”
I didn’t know until my brother told me.
That the world had been turned upside down.
“An Angel appeared and dragged citizens into the Other World?”
“To be precise, only their souls were taken.”
My brother’s unbelievable story—that he could only return alive after slaying 100 goblins in the Other World.
But I had no choice but to believe it.
The news section of every portal site was filled with nothing but that story.
However, there was something even more shocking than that.
When I asked where we were going, my brother answered.
“We’re going to Bang Tae-gyu’s Hideout—the delinquent who’s been bullying you.”
The secret I had been hiding.
‘W-wait… Brother knew…?’
So my brother knew I was being bullied by Bang Tae-gyu.
He must have been pretending not to know.
So I wouldn’t suffer even more.
‘I was trying so hard not to show him how much I was struggling…’
Now that it had come to this, I had to stop him.
“W-what are you going to do there?”
“Teach him a lesson he won’t forget.”
Was he planning to lecture him?
As if that guy would listen…
“Brother, let’s go. That guy is really scary. I can handle it myself, so you—”
“Enough. Just come with me.”
I could only follow my brother’s reckless advance with anxious eyes.
My brother had never been unreliable for even a single day, but this was different.
‘If things go wrong… my brother could die…’
Yet the result that followed was something I couldn’t believe even with my own eyes.
“Bang Tae-gyu. If you ever touch my younger brother again… you understand?”
“I… I understand. Yeah, I won’t touch him.”
My brother had defeated Bang Tae-gyu.
And he hadn’t taken a single hit—he overwhelmed him completely.
‘I… I can’t believe it.’
My older brother’s movements to dodge the punch were incredibly agile.
‘Bang Tae-gyu had even learned boxing…’
Despite the significant weight difference, Bang Tae-gyu took several hits from my brother’s punches and kicks before collapsing.
I found it strange at first, but soon understood the reason.
“You didn’t read the article properly? Players can use their abilities in reality too.”
There was a good reason for my brother’s confidence.
‘My brother is truly amazing.’
The world transforming like this was already surprising and incredible, but for my brother to even defeat Bang Tae-gyu.
It’s truly unbelievable.
But there was no time to be surprised yet.

* * *
“What? You know the lottery numbers?”
“I’m telling you, just trust me and wait for the results.”
It was hard to believe at first, but when the results came out, I couldn’t help but be amazed.
“Wow! First prize!”
“Keep your voice down. The neighbors will hear.”
“Oops!”
My brother said he saw the numbers in a dream.
Five times, no less.
The legendary lottery dream had finally come to my brother.
‘Is poverty finally over and happiness beginning?!’
My brother and I walked down a smooth path from then on.
We moved out of that shabby rental room into a luxury apartment where only the wealthy lived, spanning 100 pyeong.
We ate the meat we’d been craving so much—premium Korean beef—until we were stuffed, and I could order my favorite jjajangmyeon whenever I wanted.
But the joy was short-lived.
‘I got so caught up in the lottery that I forgot. That my brother will be taken away next month…’
I realized I’d been foolish, failing to understand my brother’s heart.
‘He doesn’t show it, but he must be very worried and suffering. I’m sure he feels like he’s standing on the edge of a cliff.’
And yet I came here and smiled foolishly, not knowing any of this…!
I wanted to scold myself for being amazed and surprised by how the world had changed.
What meaning do a nice house or good food have without my brother?
‘I can’t just sit here like this. I need to do something to help!’
At first, I helped with housework.
Then, thinking that wasn’t enough, I reserved rice cakes using the card my brother gave me.
I thought if I distributed rice cakes to the neighbors, we’d be seen as good neighbors.
“I’ll take the rice cakes and distribute them, so you just rest.”
“No. It’s better to go together when greeting neighbors.”
I’d planned to do it alone at first, but my brother suggested we go together.
That’s when I found out that an actress named Seo A-rin lived in the apartment above us.
‘Wow. Seo A-rin is my neighbor. I can’t believe it….’

* * *
Time slipped away relentlessly.
As the end of the month drew closer, my anxiety intensified.
‘The time for my brother to be pulled into the next round is approaching….’
I had been forgetting—perhaps because I had suddenly escaped poverty and become wealthy just as abruptly.
That my brother, my only pillar of support and sole family, might not return alive from the next round.
‘Please, brother. Please come back alive!’
Would my brother be able to navigate the coming rounds successfully?
Could he survive all the countless rounds ahead?
Such worries consumed my mind, but they proved to be unfounded.
“Brother! You’re back?”
“What? You weren’t sleeping?”
“How could I sleep when I’m worried about you!”
“I told you to get some rest.”
My brother rose from the bed, rubbing his eyes as usual.
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4.
My brother continued to survive.
Even as competition intensified with each passing round, he returned.
Just as he always did.
‘It’s amazing. He’s already cleared Round 15?’
My earlier prayers for my brother seemed almost foolish now—he survived every single time.
‘Is it because of that rune that lets him see the future? He’s truly incredible.’
Though I’m not a Player, I understand the system to a certain degree.
Anyone who frequents the Player Gallery, the community for Players here, would know as much.
【Title: My brother survived Round 15 as well.】
└Content: I was worried since only about 500 people have achieved this, but fortunately he made it through. I hope he can survive the next round too.
[5 Total Comments]
└Congratulations^^
└Wow, it must have been incredibly difficult to survive. It seems fortune is smiling on him.
└I heard Round 15 was particularly challenging. Only a quarter of players survive that round anyway.
└I hope you continue this winning streak and definitely achieve that final wish.
└Honestly, posts like this are uncomfortable. Who are you trying to make jealous? What am I supposed to do about my son who never woke up? Delete this post immediately.
‘Ah… I should delete it.’
In my joy, I had posted for the first time in the community, but a deletion request had come in.
‘I failed to consider the position of the bereaved families who lost someone. It’s like fanning the flames in a burning house.’
I deleted it right away and resolved to only lurk from then on.
While lurking, an interesting post caught my eye.
【Title: Is it true that Black Scythe survived again this time?】
└Content: I saw an article saying Black Scythe took first place again. They say he hasn’t lost first since Round 1—isn’t he a complete monster?
[5 Total Comments]
└Black Scythe’s survival is obviously guaranteed.
└That guy shouldn’t even be counted as human.
└He founded the Counter Player Force and is eliminating society’s trash, so he can’t die.
└Black Scythe is already level 95, they say.
└I’m so proud that Black Scythe is from our country, seriously.
‘Black Scythe.’
If you asked anyone to name the strongest player, they would unanimously choose Black Scythe.
Though I’d never seen him in person, he was a celebrity mentioned without fail in news and online communities.
‘He seems incredibly strong. Just how good of a rune did he obtain to never lose first place?’
From never losing first place each time to having an overwhelmingly high level.
He had to be someone perfectly optimized for the Survival Game.
And on top of that, he was righteous too.
‘He really doesn’t lack anything. He’s amazing. I’d love to see his face once.’
I said it in passing back then, but I didn’t know.
That a day would come when I’d actually see Black Scythe’s face.
And that the Black Scythe the world revered would be my older brother.

* * *
When two Angels suddenly stormed into my home and threatened me.
I honestly thought I was going to die.
This was the end of my life.
That’s what I thought, but I was wrong.
Black Scythe appeared at the perfect moment and saved me.
But….
‘Am I dreaming right now? Why does Black Scythe look like my brother?’
“Get your head straight. This isn’t a dream.”
“Brother…?”
“I’m Black Scythe.”
The face of Black Scythe, who had just saved me, transformed into my brother’s appearance.
‘W-wait, my brother was… Black Scythe?’
I had wanted to be like him.
Like Black Scythe.
I had wanted to see him.
Black Scythe’s face.
‘This can’t be real…. Is he really my brother?’
I couldn’t believe it, but I had no choice but to believe it.
Just moments ago, he was my brother fighting the Angels.
“Y-you’re really Black Scythe, brother? I can’t believe it….”
“We’ll talk details later. First, let’s deal with those bastards.”
Soon after, the two formidable Angels, unable to withstand Black Scythe’s power, departed for the Other World.
Once everything settled, the tension dissolved and a smile bloomed across my face.
“Haha… Our older brother was the famous Black Scythe.”
Learning my brother’s true identity was shocking, but only for a moment.
The object of my admiration had been my own brother all along—pride and fulfillment surged through me simultaneously.
And relief as well.
‘If my brother is Black Scythe… then he’ll be able to survive to the end.’

* * *
Every time the end of the month approached, anxiety would swell.
Would my brother survive the next round?
What if he never woke up, like the others?
As the rounds progressed, the anxiety only grew.
But that was all in the past.
Now I’m not anxious anymore.
‘My brother is Black Scythe, after all.’
Round 17, Round 18, Round 19.
He survived them all.
Even through the long-awaited Round 20, my brother returned alive.
But his expression doesn’t look good.
“I’m the only one who survived.”
My brother spoke with a note of lamentation.
“Everyone’s dead. Not a single soul remains.”
The 71 players, excluding my brother, couldn’t endure the final Round 20 and perished.
Still, it’s manageable.
My brother survived, after all.
But then he says something shocking.
“It’s not over yet. There’s a Final Round remaining.”
“What?”
I thought it was finished, but what?
There’s another round?
And my brother has to navigate it alone?
The anxiety I’d buried crept back up, insidious and creeping.
I spent that month drowning in such dread, and when the final day of the month arrived.
“You have to come back alive. You understand?”
“I feel like you’ve said that before.”
“I’m being serious.”
“I got it.”
Watching my brother succumb to drowsiness, I prayed.
I prayed that my older brother would return alive from the Final Round.
Brother. Please. Please survive this time too. You’re all I have.
I stayed awake through the entire night, pleading.
Clutching his sleeping hand tightly, I begged for nothing but his return.
But.
Brother…?
Even as morning passed, my brother never opened his eyes.

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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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