The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 51

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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 51
51. Party Invitation
“Black Scythe?”
It wasn’t a question born from ignorance.
Though in a different zone, Min Ju-ri knew the name Black Scythe well enough.
It was the nickname of whoever claimed first place across all zones before each round.
“Black Scythe… you mean that person, right? The one who always achieves first place across all zones?”
“Yeah, that’s them.”
“So you’re telling me to get Black Scythe’s help in round five?”
“Help is one way to put it, but it’s really cooperation. You’d be forming a temporary alliance. That’s the only way you’ll survive.”
“But that person would be in a different zone… Don’t tell me our zone and their zone are merging this time?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“But Black Scythe is level 30, right? Would they really want to ally with me?”
“Because you have a buff, Black Scythe will need you too. You complete the Quest with their help, and you both benefit from mutual cooperation.”
“Hmm…”
It wasn’t a bad proposition.
How wonderful it would be to clear safely with the aid of someone so powerful.
The problem was having to form a party with a complete stranger.
And one who was overwhelmingly strong at that.
“To be honest, I’m worried. Would Black Scythe really want to travel with me just for one buff…?”
‘It’s not just one buff. The buff you have is extraordinary.’
Ryu Min swallowed his inner thoughts and smiled reassuringly.
“Black Scythe will want to cooperate with you. Not just this round, but the next one too. I’ve seen it in the future, so don’t worry.”
“Really?”
Only then did Min Ju-ri break into a radiant smile.
If Ryu Min, a prophet, spoke with such certainty, it was believable.
“Thank you for sharing such important information with me.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re friends—how could I not?”
“I should repay you somehow, shouldn’t I?”
Min Ju-ri reached out and cast a buff on Ryu Min.
For Ryu Min, this was the moment he’d been waiting for.
‘I got the buff as planned.’
Given Min Ju-ri’s personality—someone who hated owing debts—he’d known she’d offer a buff.
‘Now if I go home and use the Magic Stone Draw Ticket…’
Suppressing the twitch at the corner of his mouth, Ryu Min left the Restaurant with Min Ju-ri.
Only after dropping Min Ju-ri off in front of the Convenience Store could Ryu Min finally smile without restraint.
* * *
Back at Home, Ryu Min changed into comfortable clothes and equipped his items.
[All stats increase by 50% due to the effect of Skill Bless.]
[All stats increase by 100% due to the effect of Rune of Massacre.]
I received buffs, and just like last time, I killed the Millworm to gain the Massacre Rune effect as well.
‘Let me check how much my stats have increased.’
-Strength: 93, Intelligence: 111
-Agility: 105, Luck: 84
‘With this much luck, I should have decent expectations.’
Ironically, Intelligence—the stat I’d never invested in—was the highest.
It was thanks to the Radiance Rune, which increased Intelligence by one point per level.
‘If I had opponents of the Holy attribute here too, it would increase by an additional 2x.’
Unless an Angel suddenly appeared, that wasn’t going to happen.
I opened my inventory and pulled out a Low-Grade Mana Stone Gacha Ticket.
‘Use it.’
An ordinary person would have prayed to God for a good result, but I used it without hesitation.
‘Prayer? Screw that damn god.’
I’d never been religious to begin with, but this disaster had completely erased any faith I had in God.
Not just faith—deep resentment had taken its place.
‘I’m sure this is all God’s doing.’
Who else could create a hellish survival game that trapped 1.8 billion people?
I was certain God was behind it all.
God playing with humanity like toys.
‘If I ever reach the final round and get to the wish-granting stage, I’ll make damn sure to ask for one thing: the annihilation of the god bastard who designed this shitty game.’
Though whether that was even possible remained to be seen.
Then the gacha result appeared before my eyes.
[You have used a Low-Grade Mana Stone Gacha Ticket.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained 5 Low-Grade Mana Stones!]
For a moment, I couldn’t help but wear a dumbfounded expression.
‘Five? That’s the maximum, isn’t it?’
I’d cursed God instead of praying to him, yet I got the maximum result.
‘My luck is absolutely insane.’
I smiled wryly at the irony and checked my inventory.
‘Two red ones, one yellow, one green, one purple… Not bad at all.’
A total of five Low-Grade Mana Stones had entered my inventory.
I decided to combine the duplicate colors first.
[Main Material]
-Low-Grade Red Mana Stone
[Sub-Material]
-Low-Grade Red Mana Stone
-(None)
-(None)
-(None)
-(None)
I placed the items in the slots and pressed the combination button.
[Combination successful!]
[You have created a ‘Low-Grade Red Magic Stone’.]
The low-grade magic stone entered my inventory.
‘If they’re the same color and same grade, I can combine them like this.’
I immediately combined the low-grade red magic stone with the Assassin’s Hood.
[Combination successful!]
[The ‘Damage +2%’ option has been added to the Assassin’s Hood.]
The effect that would have been 1% at the lowest grade had increased to 2%.
I also merged the purple magic stone that dropped this time with the one Seo A-rin gave me.
After creating a low-grade purple magic stone, I embedded it into the gloves.
[Combination successful!]
[The ‘All Stats +2’ option has been added to the Shadow of Darkness Gloves.]
I embedded the remaining green and yellow magic stones into the shoes and ring respectively.
Agility and Luck each increased by 2.
I also inserted the navy magic stone that had been separated from the Hunter’s Armor into the Crimson Assassin Suit.
With this, I had embedded all the magic stones I possessed into every piece of equipment.
‘Excellent. It was worth providing information and gaining these buffs.’
Moreover, under the guise of prophecy, I had also established a connection with Black Scythe.
From Round 5 onward, I would be able to travel with Min Ju-ri without needing to reveal my identity.
‘With Min Ju-ri’s buffs, clearing Round 5 will be a piece of cake.’
I smiled with satisfaction and picked up my phone.
Time was already moving toward evening.
‘In just two hours, I’ll be meeting with Ma Gyeong-rok.’
An Sang-chul had called me this morning.
—Mr. Ryu Min, our major shareholder? So you were alive after all? Congratulations on your survival. I’m calling to apologize for my rudeness last time. I’m truly sorry. Director Ma Gyeong-rok also regrets that matter deeply. In that spirit, we’d like to host a modest party this evening to celebrate your survival. Since it will be a gathering for everyone to enjoy together, we’d be delighted if you and your family would attend without any burden.
I had been invited to a party.
‘It’s called a party, but in reality it’s a place to gain my favor and extract information.’
Since I needed to build trust with Ma Gyeong-rok, there was no reason for me to refuse.
Leaving my room, I approached my younger brother who was lying on the sofa watching TV.
“Won, do you have time this evening?”
“Huh? I have plenty of time. I’m not even going to school anymore.”
My younger brother was supposed to have started middle school last month.
But given the current circumstances, school attendance had been temporarily suspended.
‘All middle school third-year students over fifteen years old have become Players….’
With the next round looming, would Players actually study at school?
But if only ordinary people attended school, parents would raise an uproar about discrimination.
This wasn’t just a middle school issue.
High schools and universities across the nation couldn’t even attempt to have Players attend.
‘Study for the future when your life is on the line? We’d be lucky if nothing goes wrong.’
The military hierarchy crumbles.
With superhuman strength emerging, there’s no way the chain of command could hold.
Officers over thirty have no courage to stand against the Players.
‘Participants who started with 1.8 billion have dwindled to 900 million in just three months.’
95% are dead, with only 5% surviving.
In such circumstances, society cannot function properly.
“Brother, what’s gotten into your head all of a sudden?”
“Nothing, really. Anyway, if you have time, would you like to go to a party with me?”
“A party? Where did that come from?”
Ryu Min explained the details to his younger brother.
“What? The CEO of the company you invested in is the heir to Oseong Group?”
“Yeah. I was invited to the party as a future business partner, and they asked me to bring you too.”
“I’m not sure if someone like me should be going to something like that…”
“They specifically wanted family members to come… Well, it’s up to you. It’s your choice after all.”
“Hmm…”
Reading his thoughts, my younger brother’s hesitation ran deep.
But I already knew what choice he would make in the end.
It was the same in the previous round.
“I’ll go! When else would I get a chance to attend an upper-class party? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
“Yeah, I knew you’d say that.”
A faint smile crossed my lips.
If I’d gone alone or kept it hidden, he probably would have sulked for days.
“Let’s go. I’ll buy you some clothes.”
“Clothes?”
“You need something decent to wear to a party, even if it’s not a full suit.”
“Yes! I get to ride in your supercar!”
My younger brother seemed more excited about riding the supercar than getting new clothes.
“Let’s go.”
The brothers headed out together for the first time in a while.
* * *
After returning from shopping, the brothers killed time watching TV until they checked the clock.
It was almost time for the appointment.
“Let’s get dressed and ready now.”
Ryu Min put on a formal suit while Ryu Won wore a calm, understated crewneck sweater.
Just as they were about to turn the TV back on.
Ding-ding-ding! Chime-chime-chime!♬
The doorbell rang.
“They’re here, brother!”
Ryu Won glanced at the intercom with a puzzled expression.
A vaguely familiar man stood at the door.
“Let’s go.”
I opened the front door with my younger brother.
An Sang-chul bowed respectfully.
“Good day. Are you ready to head out? I’ve come to escort you.”
“Oh? That person… I think we’ve met before…”
At Ryu Won’s surprised expression, An Sang-chul glanced toward me.
“Who is this person…?”
“My younger brother.”
“Ah, forgive me for the late introduction. I’m An Sang-chul, Director. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“Yes…”
Wariness still lingered in my brother’s eyes.
His first impression of An Sang-chul hadn’t been favorable.
“I sincerely apologize for my rudeness last time. I’ve already apologized to your brother as well.”
“Ah…”
“This party is being held as a gesture of apology, so please don’t feel any burden. Shall we head out now? I’ve arranged a limousine, so you need only bring yourselves.”
* * *
The party venue was, as expected, Ma Gyeong-rok’s Hotel.
“Oh, Major Shareholder Ryu Min.”
Ma Gyeong-rok greeted me warmly at the entrance.
“It’s wonderful to meet you alive like this.”
“Likewise.”
“Is this your younger brother?”
“Yes. This is my younger brother, Ryu Won.”
Ma Gyeong-rok smiled and extended his hand to Ryu Won.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ma Gyeong-rok, CEO of Cheonma Consulting.”
“Oh, yes, hello.”
“Is your younger brother also a Player, by any chance?”
“No, he’s not.”
“My brother is still only fourteen.”
“Ah, what fortune! To escape the survival game by just one year of age difference. I truly envy him.”
‘Envy? Hardly.’
I suppressed an inward smirk.
His words spoke of envy, but reading his thoughts revealed the opposite entirely.
“This way, please. It’s modest, but a party has been prepared.”
Following Ma Gyeong-rok, I entered a grand banquet hall.
“Wow…”
My brother gasped in admiration, his mouth falling open.
I feigned appropriate surprise as well.
The banquet hall was laden with an array of appetizing dishes arranged buffet-style.
“You must be hungry, yes? There isn’t much, but it should be enough to satisfy your appetite.”
At Ma Gyeong-rok’s words, his younger brother’s expression turned bewildered.
“What is this man talking about? He’s saying there’s nothing prepared?”
The thought of disbelief transmitted itself clearly.
“Well, I’m hungry too, so let’s eat first….”
Just as Ma Gyeong-rok was about to move.
When the Banquet Hall door opened and a woman appeared, Ryu Min couldn’t help but be inwardly astonished.

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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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