The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 80

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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 80
80. The Young Blacksmith
The Orb of Eternal Sleep is an absurdly overpowered item that grants stat points.
‘Fundamentally, it takes the form of a necklace, but it’s best to view it as a consumable item.’
Its durability wears down every time I defeat a monster.
When the durability is exhausted, it breaks and disappears.
That was its only drawback.
At least, when the durability had been depleted.
‘If I could only recover the durability, there’d be no better broken item than this.’
That’s why it’s tailor-made for blacksmiths.
They can infinitely restore durability with the Repair skill and achieve permanent stat increases.
‘But obtaining the orb isn’t easy.’
If I fail to defeat the Orc Shaman in Round 5, there’s no chance to acquire the orb.
Later, listings do appear on the social open market called ‘PopPop’, but the prices are astronomical—most blacksmiths can’t even afford to attempt it.
‘But there’s no rule saying only blacksmiths benefit from it. Anyone can restore durability.’
That was why Ryu Min intended to go abroad.
A blacksmith who would later become the industry’s top name was living overseas.
‘I need to ask that person to repair the orb’s durability.’
Ryu Min immediately began preparing to leave the country.
He’d prepared a passport in advance for situations like this.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
His younger sibling asked in confusion, watching Ryu Min pack clothes into a suitcase.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m planning to go abroad for a bit.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“I’ll be back soon. Three days should be enough.”
All I needed to pack were clothes for staying at the Hotel and toiletries.
I could purchase the rest locally.
“What’s the trip for? Is it for business?”
“You could say it’s something like that.”
“If you were going sightseeing, I wanted to tag along, but I guess not.”
“Who goes sightseeing in times like these?”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“While I’m away, make sure you eat well.”
“But where are you going?”
Ryu Min smiled faintly and said.
“England.”
* * *
Russell Daniel, who lived in England, had quit High School long ago.
For the sixth year now, he’d been living in a cabin deep in the mountains, driven solely by his passion for blacksmithing.
By now, Russell Daniel had earned recognition from his customers as a skilled blacksmith.
Clang! Clang!
He struck the glowing metal with his hammer, heating it in the roaring flames.
It was the delicate work of shaping and tempering the steel.
“Phew, this should do.”
Russell Daniel was crafting a short blade, fifteen centimeters in length.
Once the form took shape, he honed the edge using a whetstone.
Then he heated it once more in the flames before plunging only the blade into water.
Hisssss—
This made the blade even sharper.
For the finishing touch, he polished the blade with a specialized whetstone coated in iron dust, then fitted the handle.
“Done.”
The short blade, crafted as a hobby, was complete.
It was purely a hobby.
Not for sale.
“Sigh… Maybe it’s time I gave this up?”
I gazed at the razor-sharp blade and let out a bitter laugh.
“If I could just sell one a day, that would be something.”
I’d taken up blacksmithing with youthful ambition, but that was only when I had customers.
Now, the number of people seeking my work could be counted on one hand.
“This is all because of that damned Angel.”
January 2022.
I was working in my cottage, crafting weapons for customers as always, when I was suddenly summoned to the Other World.
Before I knew it, I’d created an avatar and found myself fighting goblins alongside strangers.
‘It felt like being drafted into a war after living peacefully in the countryside.’
After enduring through Round 5 and looking back, the world was showing signs of collapse.
The population that had started at 1.8 billion had dwindled to 19 million, and with it, the economy faltered and my customers disappeared.
‘Well, I did expect this would happen. It was never an easy profession to make a living from.’
The materials needed for blacksmithing were far from cheap.
I’d managed to scrape by until now, but I’d reached my limit.
My bank account was nearly empty.
I didn’t want to ask my parents for money anymore.
“Maybe I need to look for a different job…”
I’d wanted to continue blacksmithing for as long as possible… but that dream was crumbling now.
The world was changing rapidly, centered around Players.
‘They said if you clear up to Round 20, your wish will be granted?’
A wish.
My wish wasn’t anything grand.
To survive long enough and continue doing blacksmithing, something I still loved.
A modest wish, nothing more.
‘That’s right. I can’t give up on blacksmithing. What’s the point of being young if I don’t have the guts to chase my dreams? A man needs ambition!’
I shook off the despondent feelings and decided to move forward.
I set a new goal.
‘I’ll clear the final round and make my wish come true!’
Until now, I’d merely survived out of necessity, but now I resolved to actively tackle the rounds ahead.
‘Blacksmithing may not be the ideal combat profession, but with my current abilities, I can manage.’
Regardless of the circumstances, Russell had obtained a blacksmith class change item from the early stages.
At first, I thought it was fate and was delighted.
But then the world fell apart, and maintaining the profession became increasingly difficult.
‘Somehow, I’ll make it to Round 20. That’s the only way I can continue doing the blacksmithing I love.’
It would be arduous, but I didn’t think it was impossible.
Using the [Weapon Refinement] skill I’d learned at level 20, I enhanced the performance of my main weapon—an axe.
Thanks to that, I dispatched the Orc Shaman with ease.
‘I don’t know how difficult Round 6 will be, but I’m confident!’
Of course, surviving in the Other World was separate from my intention to not abandon my real-world affairs.
‘I’m just putting it on hold until I’ve saved enough money. Once I have enough for materials, I’ll come back to the cabin and start blacksmithing as a hobby.’
If there’s no money, I’ll earn it.
But I had no intention of resorting to robbery like some players.
‘If I die, I die. But I won’t harm others. Well, the slaughter in Round 4 was unavoidable, but….’
For now, my plan was to descend the mountain and look for work.
‘I wonder if there’s any decent job available in this situation….’
Twenty-three percent of the world’s population had perished.
Billions of people had died in just a few months, so the economy couldn’t possibly be thriving.
‘I read an article saying that players have been looting, and most shops have closed….’
Finding employment seemed unlikely.
‘Still, I should try! I’m not the type to give up without even searching.’
If necessary, I was prepared to sell items from my inventory to raise funds.
‘Though I doubt anyone would buy these things.’
Having made my decision, Russell began tidying up the cabin.
Then—patter, patter—I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
I turned around without thinking and was startled.
I’d expected a wild animal, but instead, a person was walking toward me.
An Asian, at that.
‘What? Meeting someone in a place like this is rare….’
I’d deliberately built my cabin in a remote location to avoid causing trouble for others.
“Is there something I can help you with? Have you lost your way?”
I wasn’t sure if we could communicate, but I decided to speak first.
But then.
“You’re Russell Daniel, aren’t you? The young blacksmith who’s become famous.”
The stranger spoke fluent English and even knew my name.
Russell’s eyes turned cold.
“Who are you?”
“Your reaction tells me I’ve found the right person.”
“Where did you hear about me? I don’t have any Eastern contacts among my clients.”
“I didn’t hear about you. I saw it.”
“Saw it?”
I revealed my hand first.
“I’m a Seer. I can see the future.”
“A Seer? What nonsense is this person—”
“Russell. Level 21. Blacksmith. Your zone designation is C-EUKE008. Correct?”
“….”
Russell’s mouth opened and closed without words.
Shock had stolen his voice.
‘I could have guessed the level and job class by luck. But the zone designation too….’
The fact that I’d correctly named a zone designation he’d told no one suggested that being a Seer wasn’t mere bluffing.
“Can you really see the future?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never heard of a Seer as a job class.”
“That’s inevitable. It’s an uncommon profession.”
“Uncommon?”
“You may not know this, but the Other World has countless job classes. Among them, there are Unique Classes—jobs that only one person can possess. The Seer is one of them.”
“Why would someone so distinguished come here?”
“Don’t be sarcastic. I came because I want to make a deal with you, Russell.”
“A deal?”
“Just repair one item using your Repair Skill. Do that, and I’ll give you worthwhile information.”
‘Information?’
Russell asked cautiously, his interest piqued.
“What kind of worthwhile information?”
“Information about Round 6.”
Russell’s eyes widened.
‘If I could know about the next round in advance, it would be a huge help in clearing it.’
Repairing one item?
Honestly, it wasn’t difficult work.
It was easier than actual blacksmithing.
All I had to do was touch the item and cast the skill.
‘The problem is that it’s too easy.’
The gain was disproportionate to the simplicity of the task.
Information about Round 6, no less.
For someone as cautious about relationships as Russell, wariness was inevitable.
“You’re really going to give me Round 6 information just for restoring an item’s durability?”
“That’s correct.”
“But the math doesn’t add up, does it? Could you have some other purpose in mind?”
As Russell Daniel regarded me with suspicious eyes, I laughed.
I’d anticipated this reaction.
‘Truly, that’s so Russell Daniel.’
Even when presented with a proposal that costs him nothing, he remains wary and cautious.
‘If he’d simply accepted it outright, I would have been disappointed.’
When someone is this suspicious, deception won’t work.
I needed to open my heart first and proceed with straightforward honesty.
“May I speak plainly?”
“…?”
“I want to become your friend.”
“What, what did you say?”
“I saw it in the future. You reaching the pinnacle of blacksmithing.”
‘Me? Me reaching the pinnacle?’
Whether Russell Daniel’s eyes widened or not, I continued.
“You survive until Round 15 without anyone’s help. That’s remarkable. But that’s all there is. Beyond that point, your future holds nothing. It’s despair itself.”
“….”
“However, I can help you. If you join hands with me, you’ll grow more easily and can even aspire to reach beyond Round 15. Even to the blacksmithing mastery you so desperately desire.”
“…!”
Until moments ago, Russell Daniel had doubted my words.
He’d wondered if it was trickery rather than prophecy.
But seeing that I’d even guessed his deepest wish, his thoughts shifted.
“…What do you expect from me?”
“I don’t ask for much. Simply.”
I smiled gently.
“That we help each other.”

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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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