The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 83

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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 83
83. Forming a Party
As Angel said, the Quest is straightforward.
There are no sub-quests—simply defeat one boss and it’s over.
Yet the players, having been through trials before, didn’t take Angel’s words at face value.
“An easy Quest? Bullshit!”
“A boss wouldn’t be a boss for nothing. It’s bound to be ridiculously brutal.”
Once Angel vanished, they unleashed a torrent of curses.
Everyone understood it now.
Angel couldn’t hear their words when she wasn’t present.
She only appeared at the beginning and end of each round.
[Time Remaining Until Round 5 Ends: 05:59:53]
The timer in the progress window ticked forward, marking the Quest’s commencement.
Failure to form a team and defeat the boss within the time limit meant death.
Then a message materialized before everyone’s eyes.
[You must now form a 5-person party.]
[When five people hold hands simultaneously and chant the activation phrase “Party Formation,” the party will be established.]
[Please note that defeating the boss without forming a party will not count toward completion.]
A message explaining how to form a party.
“We need to form a party first, right?”
“Since defeating the boss won’t count without one.”
“Excuse me, would you like to party with me?”
“What’s your level?”
“I’m a level 20 warrior! Is anyone willing to party with me?”
People raised their hands, searching for party members.
The area erupted into chaos like Dotteogi Market.
Amid the commotion, An Sang-chul marveled at Ryu Min’s prophecy.
‘Everything unfolded exactly as the oracle predicted. Round 5 required forming a 5-person party for the Quest.’
An Sang-chul glanced sideways at Black Scythe.
He was grateful he’d attached himself to Black Scythe after hearing the prophecy.
“Black Scythe. Shall we form our party now…?”
“Wait. Since it’s a 5-person party, we’ll need to find one more person.”
Forming a party required all five to hold hands simultaneously.
Currently assembled were Ryu Min, Seo A-rin, An Sang-chul, and Min Ju-ri—four people.
One person was missing to complete the party.
“Hmm, who should we choose for the last spot?”
“Let’s have Black Scythe, the strongest among us, decide.”
Those who nodded in agreement turned their attention to Ryu Min.
“Hmm….”
Though I appeared to be deliberating, I already had a candidate in mind.
There was a candidate I absolutely wanted to include in the party.
‘If only that guy were nearby… then I could naturally slip him in while pretending to pick someone at random.’
As Ryu Min glanced around, several players mustered their courage.
“Ah, hello there, Black Scythe.”
“Would you perhaps be interested in forming a party with us…?”
“No. Get lost.”
“Ah… yes.”
The players turned away with dejected expressions at his blunt tone.
-He didn’t even hesitate before rejecting them. How embarrassing.
-Damn, I was hoping to ride Black Scythe’s coattails.
-Whoever gets to party with Black Scythe is living the dream.
Though their thoughts reached him, Ryu Min had no interest in these small-time players.
He already had predetermined candidates in mind.
‘In previous cycles, I would’ve accepted anyone. After all, I do the hunting anyway.’
Ryu Min wasn’t searching for party members to hunt with.
‘I simply needed bodies to fill the numbers.’
But in this cycle, I had designated specific people to bring along.
It was better to cultivate people who might prove useful in the future rather than strangers.
‘These are connections that didn’t exist before, after all.’
Originally, no one had interacted with Ryu Min at this point in time.
Not Min Ju-ri, not Seo A-rin, not An Sang-chul.
I only met them all later—they were people I wouldn’t have known at this stage otherwise.
‘That’s why back then I accepted anyone just to fill the roster…’
But now there was no need for that.
There were people I needed to grow alongside.
‘Regardless, just like before, these flies keep swarming around me.’
It had been the same before, but Black Scythe was always popular when recruiting for parties.
No matter how intimidating my impression or how cold I acted, people would still approach.
Players gathered their courage to obtain the blue-chip asset that was Black Scythe.
After all, partying with Black Scythe essentially guaranteed survival.
“Black Scythe…”
“Get lost.”
“Wait, just hear me out…”
“Not interested. Leave.”
I turned away everyone who proposed forming a party.
As the previous person kept getting rejected, fewer people approached.
-Seriously, would it kill you to let someone join the party?
-How petty! At least hear them out before refusing!
-Disgusting. I’ll just find a better party elsewhere!
-But wait, are the people next to him already confirmed party members?
-Those guys have it easy. They’re practically guaranteed to survive.
Disappointed players drifted away from Black Scythe.
Those who witnessed my refusal didn’t even attempt to approach and simply retreated on their own.
By this point, my party members grew curious.
‘Just who does he intend to place in that last remaining slot….’
An Sang-chul felt both curious and regretful.
‘I wish Director Ma could have been in this position….’
Had we been in the same zone, I would have actively recommended him.
Min Ju-ri harbored the same sentiment.
‘If Ryu Min were here, I would have actively appealed to place him in that remaining slot….’
Each of them had someone they wished to fill the remaining position, but since they were in different zones, there was nothing to be done.
Then, a group approached me.
My party members thought they were just random nobodies, but they weren’t.
“Black Scythe. It’s good to see you.”
The person extending their hand in greeting was a familiar face.
‘Jo Yong-ho?’
I lightly clasped Jo Yong-ho’s hand.
“It’s good to see you too. I thought you might have been eliminated in Round 5.”
“What? Haha, aren’t you underestimating me a bit? Three hundred orcs are nothing to me.”
It wasn’t mere bravado.
Jo Yong-ho had ranked 125th among the 1,211 Round 5 achievers, passing the Quest with a comfortable margin.
“I was inspired watching your combat back then and finished hunting quickly.”
“Is that so?”
“In any case, thank you. Thanks to you, this friend here was able to survive safely. Man-gi.”
Jo Yong-ho stepped aside, and a person came forward.
It was Choi Man-ki, who had received emergency treatment from Black Scythe.
“Black Scythe! Thank you so much for treating my shoulder back then! Thanks to you, I was able to extend my life like this!”
“You managed to fill three hundred with that body.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Black Scythe. I’m truly grateful. You are my savior!”
From Choi Man-ki, who bowed repeatedly, I felt nothing but absolute sincerity.
Jo Yong-ho spoke to me with a favorable gleam in his eyes.
“Are you recruiting for a party?”
“I am.”
“You’ve gathered four members. Do you need just one more?”
I nodded.
From his tone, it didn’t seem like he was hinting at wanting to join the party.
And indeed.
“Ah, I’m not asking to join your party, so please don’t misunderstand. We’ve already completed our formation.”
“I didn’t misunderstand.”
I already knew their party formation was complete.
A golden chain proving their bond hung from Jo Yong-ho and the mercenaries’ wrists.
‘Convenient that we had exactly five people, so they must have formed a party right away.’
Then what was his reason for seeking me out?
I asked him directly.
“If you’re not joining my party, why did you come looking for me?”
“Ah, I wanted to greet you since I was glad to see you, and I also had a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“What if our party and Black Scythe’s party formed an alliance together?”
I read Jo Yong-ho’s thoughts to understand what he meant by proposing an alliance.
‘He wasn’t trying to cling to me—he was proposing this with the intention of helping me in any way he could.’
Grateful that I had healed Choi Man-ki, Jo Yong-ho wanted to be of service to Black Scythe however possible.
“I won’t ask to join your party. I won’t covet items or experience points. If a boss appears, I’ll yield priority to you.”
“….”
“We simply want to help, so please don’t be too wary. I’m serious.”
My silence seemed to have made him think I was being cautious.
Ryu Min opened his mouth to clear up the misunderstanding.
“I decline.”
“What? Why… Oh, could it be that you’re worried we’d be a hindrance? Don’t worry about that. We absolutely won’t be a burden. If we’re really in the way, we could even avert our eyes before the boss….”
“It’s not that. I just dislike complications. I appreciate the goodwill, but I’ll have to pass.”
“Ah…. Is that so? That’s unfortunate. I really wanted to be helpful….”
Watching Jo Yong-ho smack his lips regretfully, Ryu Min spoke casually.
“I’ll ask for help when I truly need it.”
“Ah! You’ll do that?”
Jo Yong-ho, who had been dejected, brightened up.
If an opportunity came to repay the debt, he could wait anytime.
“So you’ll tell us when you need our help?”
“Yeah.”
“You promise?”
“I said I got it.”
Having received confirmation, Jo Yong-ho smiled contentedly.
“Since we have your promise, we’ll be going now. I hope we’ll meet again next time. And please let us know if you need help! Then.”
Jo Yong-ho and his group bowed together and leisurely disappeared to hunt the boss.
“Black Scythe. Now it’s time to decide. Who will you put in the remaining slot….”
“I’ve already decided.”
Ryu Min pointed with his finger to one side.
The party members’ gazes all followed his finger in unison.
“You there.”
The person pointed at flinched in surprise.
“Come here.”
As I beckoned with my finger, the person hesitated before walking over.
A diminutive frame, hunched shoulders, a hollow gaze.
He was a young man in the corner who looked weak in every conceivable way.
“You’ve been watching me this whole time, haven’t you?”
“Ah… yes….”
“Why?”
“That’s….”
The youth hesitated, stammering as he struggled to answer.
I knew the reason without him saying it, but I waited in silence.
“I… I w-wanted to p-party with Black Scythe….”
His faltering words carried no confidence whatsoever.
By the end, his voice trailed off so weakly it was barely audible.
“What’s your level and class?”
“Level 23, Dark Mage.”
“Well, that hardly matters.”
I declared it casually, as if tossing aside a trivial concern.
“I’m taking this one for the last spot.”
“Pardon?”
An Sang-chul and the other party members were taken aback.
After rejecting so many other players, this was the unremarkable one I’d chosen?
But the most shocked of all was the youth himself.
-Black Scythe… is taking me as a party member?
Looking at his face, he seemed on the verge of tears, overwhelmed with emotion.
An Sang-chul inwardly clicked his tongue at the sight, but I was surprisingly satisfied.
After all, this young man before me would one day become the high priest of a religion that revered Black Scythe like a god.
‘If I forge a connection with this future devoted follower of mine, it will prove useful in many ways.’
I extended my hand to No Poe-in No-ge-i, the next high priest.
“Then let’s form the party this way. Everyone, join hands.”
Five of us gathered in a circle and clasped hands.
As I silently uttered “party formation,” a golden ring of luminous characters appeared on our wrists.
Black Scythe’s party had been formed.

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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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