The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 77

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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 77
77. Who Do You Think I Am?
Until just moments ago, Ryu Min had been at a PC Bang.
The reason was none other than to register for the Player Cafe.
‘Under Hwang Yong-min’s name, not my own.’
Since the cafe didn’t require real-name verification, identity theft was remarkably simple.
‘Now that a new imposter claiming to be Black Scythe has appeared, the Player Cafe executives won’t be able to just sit idle.’
Ryu Min’s plan was to use Hwang Yong-min to draw out the Player Cafe executives.
That’s also why I’d registered my nickname as Black Scythe.
‘The executives are already on edge after dying in the last round. If I apply with the Black Scythe nickname, I’m certain to get their attention.’
Would I merely get their attention?
They’d use an interview as a pretext to verify once more whether I was truly Black Scythe.
‘They’ll probably try to track me down at my home first.’
That’s why I’d also written down Hwang Yong-min’s home address during registration.
I’d made sure to include the villa’s lot number and unit number so they could find it properly.
‘I didn’t know Hwang Yong-min had moved just like I did.’
The villa where Hwang Yong-min currently lived wasn’t his previous residence.
I knew it well because I’d been dragged there while being tormented by him.
‘It seems he’d recently acquired it to become independent from his family.’
I could guess where he’d gotten the money, so I clicked my tongue disapprovingly.
‘Wherever you go, you’re still in the palm of my hand.’
With just a tracking skill, anyone’s location could be determined.
In this respect, being a Player was remarkably convenient.
I could understand to some degree why the Player Cafe executives lived with such a sense of superiority.
‘But their methods are wrong.’
Forcing murder as a condition for membership, ostracizing ordinary people, enslaving them—
The atrocities these men commit in their bid to become society’s masters are countless and will continue to be so.
‘Such movements polarize the relationship between ordinary people and Players, ultimately leading to destruction.’
That’s why I couldn’t simply stand by and watch.
I had to eliminate the executives—the very source of the Player Cafe’s evil—and dismantle their power.
‘Actually, rather than dismantling it, using it would be better. It’d be a waste to abandon the Player Cafe as a force.’
It wasn’t much now, but in the future, the Player Cafe would grow into a massive organization.
Over 30% of domestic Players would join the Player Cafe.
‘Though they’re essentially terrorists, among organizations of gathered Players, they’re undoubtedly the supreme force.’
Rather than dissolving such an organization, it was better to find a way to use it.
Of course, Ryu Min already had a method in mind.
‘And it’s an extremely simple one at that.’
It was to seize the already-established position of leadership.
‘In other words, I would take the Chairman’s seat.’
No matter how strong Ryu Min was, force alone couldn’t control so many Players.
I needed a systematic organization capable of rallying and controlling Players.
But at this point, there wasn’t enough time to build such an organization from scratch.
‘What if I seized an already-established position instead?’
Not only would I save time, but I could easily control numerous Players.
The Chairman position at Player Cafe was exactly that kind of seat.
‘The Chairman—that bastard is nothing special. What matters is the position he’s built.’
This was why I had approached Player Cafe.
To drag down the executives above and seize the absolute power of the Chairman’s seat.
In that process, Hwang Yong-min was merely bait to draw them out.
‘Now it’s time to let him go.’
I smiled wickedly and moved forward.
Toward the direction of Hwang Yong-min’s villa.
* * *
After Round 4 of Hell.
Many Players had awakened to murder.
They no longer hesitated to kill ordinary people, and Player lawlessness grew even worse.
In a way, it was inevitable.
The first time was difficult, but everything became familiar with repetition.
Hwang Yong-min was no exception.
He was growing accustomed to his current hellish existence.
Ding—
Hwang Yong-min entered the Lottery Shop and approached the counter.
The owner, who had been reading a newspaper, looked up at the sound and spoke.
“Looking for something…?”
The moment he saw the customer, the owner fell silent.
The man was wearing a mask like a bank robber.
Thud—
Hwang Yong-min suddenly threw a bag and lowered his voice.
“Put all the cash you have in here. Unless you want to get hurt.”
“…”
When the owner stood frozen in shock, Hwang Yong-min slammed his fist on the counter.
Boom—!
Despite being just a punch, it cracked the counter as if struck by a hammer.
“Damn it, what are you dawdling for? Do I look like I’m joking?”
‘A… a Player?’
Only then did the owner realize his attacker was a Player.
Such superhuman strength couldn’t come from an ordinary human body.
Only Players could achieve this.
In that moment, a newspaper article he’d been reading earlier flashed through his mind.
[Convenience Store Owner Killed by Blunt Force After Resisting a Player Over His Safe.]
Resisting a Player is foolish.
Especially in Korea, where firearms are strictly illegal.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and fill the bag! You want me to tear this place apart?”
“Y-yes, I’ll do it right now!”
The owner hastily scooped the cash from the register and thrust a bag forward.
“Here it is…”
“That’s all?”
“W-well, lottery ticket sales have been suspended, so business hasn’t been good lately. As you can see, I sell various items like a convenience store, but the revenue is…”
“Who asked about that? I know there’s a safe in the back. Go get everything from it. You going or not? Going?”
“Y-yes, I’m going!”
When I raised my fist threateningly, the owner rushed to retrieve all the money from the safe.
A rough count suggested I’d secured around ten million won.
“This should be enough.”
Satisfied, Hwang Yong-min turned to leave, then suddenly spun back around.
“Damn it, if you even think about calling the cops, I’ll break out of the detention center and kill you.”
“…”
The owner’s urge to report anything evaporated, and he could only swallow hard.
Besides, the mask hid my face anyway.
Once outside, I hurried into the alley to avoid being seen.
“Phew.”
I removed the mask and checked inside the bag.
A smile spread across my face naturally.
“Heh, good haul today. This should easily get me through a month.”
I could survive in reality, but the Other World?
Could I even survive the next round?
Such thoughts cast a shadow over my expression.
‘Damn it… if only this penalty didn’t exist.’
The permanent stat reduction penalty had dampened both my growth rate and my motivation.
‘I managed to kill 300 orcs this time, but will I even survive the next round…?’
The more I thought about it, the heavier my sighs became.
“Damn it, this is all because of that bastard Black Scythe.”
I lost a friend because of Black Scythe.
My stats dropped because of Black Scythe.
I became a robber because of Black Scythe.
“It’s all because of that son of a bitch!”
I shouted in the alley, then fled before anyone could see me.
I’d bluffed the lottery shop owner about breaking out of the detention center, but getting caught by police would be a real hassle.
‘Black Scythe, you bastard. If I ever meet you in reality, I’ll tear you to shreds.’
Cursing the source of my misery under my breath, I headed home.
Beep beep—click!
I opened the shabby front door to reveal a cramped one-room apartment.
Remarkably, it was my own home—the one I rented for 500,000 won a month.
“Still, it feels good to be independent. No more listening to my old-fashioned parents nag me.”
I’d cut ties with my parents the moment Round 4 ended.
I’d been scraping together money through robbery ever since.
Originally, I’d dreamed of becoming part of a Gangster Organization, living communally with those people…
‘But the world’s gone to hell. What’s the point of joining a gang now?’
Everything had become such a hassle that I’d abandoned all those plans and rented this one-room place instead.
‘Money’s easy enough to get through robbery, so that’s fine.’
It wasn’t luxurious, but it wasn’t lacking either.
Thud—
I tossed the bag of cash carelessly onto the floor and headed to shower.
I should have felt refreshed, but Hwang Yong-min’s expression was grim.
“Damn it, how much longer do I have to live like this?”
So much had happened over the past four months.
I’d survived brutal encounters with countless monsters—goblins, Nol, orcs, and more.
I’d even had my limbs severed by that monster called Black Scythe.
I’d backstabbed and killed Jo Jung-sik, my role model.
I’d killed my close delinquent gang friends with my own hands.
I’d started committing robberies—something even gangsters don’t do—just to earn money.
A truly wretched life.
“Black Scythe… if only I’d never encountered that bastard…”
If I hadn’t been hit with a penalty, things wouldn’t have become so hopeless.
At least I would have had some will to live.
“Sigh…”
It was hollow.
Self-loathing washed over me.
All I could do in this single room was wait for the next round.
I had to live in constant anxiety about whether I’d survive or not.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, this moment of blankness felt like a waste of time.
‘Damn it, this isn’t the time for this.’
I could die in the very next round.
I couldn’t afford to waste precious time.
‘I need to make the most of whatever time I have left. I should do everything I want to do.’
I’d already killed people in the Other World, already committed robbery—there was nothing left to fear.
‘What should I do? Maybe I could assault a random woman passing by?’
My life was already ruined anyway.
The world itself was showing signs of collapse.
There was no need to worry about consequences.
‘Ah! Now that I think about it, everyone my age must be a Player, right?’
I shouldn’t underestimate women.
Gender was meaningless before stats.
Moreover, all the humans surviving now were Players who’d endured the hellscape of Round 4 and Round 5.
They could never be taken lightly.
‘I have no choice. I’ll have to target older women instead.’
If I lowered the bar to women over thirty, I could subdue them easily.
The problem was that lately it was hard to find ordinary people outside.
‘Still, I should look. Wasn’t it my dream to be with a beautiful woman?’
Perhaps there was an ordinary person who resembled Seo A-rin wandering around somewhere.
Humming a tune, I grabbed my coat and prepared to head out.
If the search came up empty, I was thinking of hitting up a Room Salon instead.
I wanted to go there and, just like in the movies, have women on both sides of me while I flaunted my money.
‘If I run short, I can just raid the shops again.’
With that thought, I yanked open the front door.
Hwang Yong-min flinched in surprise.
A strange man was standing in front of the door.
“Ah, you startled me. Who the hell are you?”
“Are you Hwang Yong-min?”
“….”
For a moment, Hwang Yong-min glared at him with a wary gaze.
At that reaction, the bronze-skinned man laughed.
“Your reaction confirms it, it seems.”
“Who the hell are you…? Are you a cop?”
“A cop? Ha ha ha! Did you commit some crime? Let’s talk inside for a moment.”
As he tried to slip inside, Hwang Yong-min blocked him with his body.
“What are you doing, just walking in like that? Who are you?”
“Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I’m Lost Yak, the Interview Officer for Player Cafe. You submitted an application this morning, didn’t you?”
“Are you here to sell drugs? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Aren’t you Black Scythe?”
“Black Scythe? Me?”
At the bewildered response, Lost Yak realized something was wrong.
“Let me ask again. Aren’t you Black Scythe?”
“Me, Black Scythe? Are you joking?”
“Didn’t you submit an application to Player Cafe?”
“What’s Player Cafe?”
“Ah.”
Realizing he’d come to the wrong place, Lost Yak sighed.
“My apologies. I’ll be on my way then.”
“Wait, what? You should at least tell me what this is about before you leave, damn it.”
“It seems someone has been playing games with your personal information. Given that your name and home address match.”
“So you’re saying my personal information was stolen? Who the hell would do that?”
“Me.”
At the sudden voice of a third party, both their heads snapped toward the source.
Standing in the hallway was a masked figure in white, fully equipped and armed.
“Hwang Yong-min. I stole your identity.”
“What? This crazy bastard.”
Hwang Yong-min’s bewildered reaction was only natural.
A masked lunatic had suddenly appeared and confessed to the theft himself.
“You sold my personal information? Damn it, do you know who I am?”
“I do.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Who am I, you ask?”
Instead of answering, I drew Death Side from my inventory.
At the sight of that massive scythe, both Lost Yak and Hwang Yong-min stood frozen, their mouths half-open.
“Does that answer your question?”

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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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