The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 97

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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 97
97. Round 7 Begins
Dominion is a temporary skill that allows me to force commands upon players.
The downside is the limit of ten uses, and it only works on players.
‘And the fact that it can only be used in the Other World is a fatal limitation.’
I can use skills in reality, but Dominion doesn’t apply there.
‘Actually, it’s not even registered in the first place.’
It only appears in my skill window when I’m a district representative in the Other World. Once I return to reality, Dominion vanishes entirely.
‘Is it because I’m not a district representative in reality?’
The reward for winning this representative selection tournament is the ability to use Dominion just once in reality.
‘I absolutely cannot miss this.’
That wasn’t the only thing I couldn’t afford to lose.
‘There’s a rune offered as a reward for this round’s sub-quest. I need it to dominate Player Cafe.’
Among Player Cafe’s executives, only Yamtti remains as a player.
This rune is essential to counter Yamtti’s abilities.
It’s also on the list of eighteen runes I must obtain.
‘In this round, I need to secure two things no matter what: the integrated representative reward and the rune from the sub-quest.’
I had confidence I could do it.
Before midnight, I’d already made thorough preparations to clear this round.
[Well, we need to select a representative now, so please wait a moment. I’ll go discuss how to proceed and return.]
With those words, Priscilla flew gracefully toward where the Angels had gathered.
[You’re here?]
[Priscilla, hello.]
[Elpir, hello.]
[Sophia, hello.]
The ten Angels who had met through the district integration exchanged customary greetings with one another.
Now it was time to decide on a guide to lead the integrated zone.
But these Angels hated working more than anything, so they constantly tried to pass the responsibility to each other.
[Who wants to do it? Any volunteers?]
[That’s a stupid question. Honestly, where would you find a volunteer?]
[You never know. There might be an Angel who enjoys volunteering.]
[Fat chance.]
[By the way, Priscilla. I heard you and Olive did something really fun last time.]
[Yeah, I heard about it too. Was it a king’s game?]
[If the human from our district wins, they can command like a king, right?]
[Should we try that again this time?]
[That does sound fun.]
Priscilla was actually delighted by the Angels’ agreement.
‘We have Black Scythe in our district!’
This was finally my chance to become king.
Priscilla spoke excitedly.
[Then for the representative selection method, we’ll use the most basic deathmatch format….]
[Wait. Your district has Black Scythe, doesn’t it?]
[Huh? Oh, you already knew?]
[Kekeke, I heard everything.]
[Black Scythe is currently the only human who has surpassed level 50, isn’t he?]
[If we go with a deathmatch, naturally Priscilla would become queen.]
[That would make the game completely unfair.]
[Don’t think you can just waltz into the throne for free. Tsk!]
Priscilla’s expression fell—she’d secretly hoped this would slip through.
[Then what do you suggest? Does anyone have a better idea?]
[With Black Scythe around, a strength-based game is impossible.]
[Right. How about this instead—whoever clears Round 7 first becomes the representative?]
[Ooh, that could work.]
[Besides, Round 7 has nothing to do with raw strength anyway.]
The Angels’ opinions converged.
All except Priscilla.
[Priscilla. What do you think?]
[I-it does seem fair.]
Though reluctant, she had no grounds to object.
As they said, Round 7 Quest was entirely independent of brute force.
‘Damn it, I thought I’d secure the throne this time….’
Unease crept into Priscilla’s heart.
Perhaps Black Scythe wouldn’t finish first this time.
‘Maybe the record will finally be broken.’
The other Angels harbored the same thoughts.
‘If it’s about clearing Round 7, it’s worth a shot. Hehe.’
‘No matter how strong this human called Black Scythe is, Round 7 is impossible.’
Watching the dejected Priscilla, the Angels began to harbor hope.
That they too might become queen.
And they’d already decided who to target if they won.
‘Priscilla? Sorry, but you’ll have to keep managing the district.’
‘For trying to get it for free, no less. Hehe.’
Unaware of the Angels snickering in unison behind her, Priscilla returned to the humans’ side.
[After discussion among the Angels, we’ve decided on the representative selection method. Instead of a deathmatch like last time, whoever clears Round 7 Quest first will become the Integrated Zone representative.]
“Oh, not a deathmatch?”
“Phew.”
The other district representatives exhaled in relief.
Had they fought Black Scythe, they would have surrendered their positions helplessly.
‘So I need to clear the Quest first to become representative….’
‘Then does that mean I have a chance too?’
Even without knowing what the Quest was, I figured it had to be better than a deathmatch.
[I’ll grant the human who becomes the Integrated Representative one particularly attractive privilege. Of course, this is a secret I’ll only reveal to whoever becomes the Integrated Representative.]
Though she called it a secret, I already knew what the reward was.
[Then I’ll announce the Round 7 Quest!]
A moment later, the Quest window appeared, and everyone stared at it with wide, bewildered eyes.
◀ ROUND 7 ▶
【Main Quest】
└??? ?? ???? ????
[All Districts]
└Participants: 6,927,066
└Achievers: 0/3,463,533
[C2-ESKA003 Zone]
└Participants: 4,922
└Achievers: 0/2,461
The problem was that the Quest content was obscured by question marks.
“U-um, Angel. Is there a system error?”
“The Quest is showing as question marks.”
[There’s no error. The Round 7 Quest is confidential.]
Contrary to Priscilla’s calm tone, confusion flickered across everyone’s faces.
“Confidential…?”
“Then what are we supposed to do…?”
[There will be no further explanation. That concludes this.]
Priscilla coldly vanished along with the other Angels.
Like abandoned dogs watching their master disappear, the people stared after the Angel with a sense of deflation.
“How are we supposed to do anything if we don’t even know the Quest?”
“Damn it, are they just making this up as they go now?”
“This is ridiculous, seriously.”
They muttered complaints, but no answers came.
Then, in that bleak moment, a message appeared before everyone’s eyes.
[Time remaining until Round end: 01:59:59]
“Huh? There’s a time limit?”
“What? Do we just wait?”
“Doesn’t a time limit mean we’re supposed to do something in the meantime?”
“Damn it, now we have to figure out the Quest ourselves?”
People grumbled, but there was no other choice.
Time continued to flow, and no one knew what would happen when the time limit expired.
All they could do was try something.
“It’s definitely going to be a monster-hunting Quest.”
“Something will show up if we just wander around.”
“That place looks suspicious! Let’s check it out!”
People began to scatter.
Some walked wherever their feet took them, while others ventured into the Forest across the way, convinced something was amiss there.
But roughly half remained standing in a daze.
They simply didn’t know what to do.
Then a group approached me.
An Sang-chul, Seo A-rin, Heo Tae-sik, and Min Ju-ri—the same ones I’d partied with during the sixth round.
“Black Scythe! So you were here?”
“Why did you all come together?”
“Oh, we happened to run into each other nearby.”
“Running into you like this again feels nice. Heh.”
The four of them seemed to have grown somewhat close to one another.
‘Is it because they partied together once?’
It wasn’t a bad situation.
After all, these four were allies I needed to cultivate.
If they got along well with each other, there was nothing to complain about.
“Um, Black Scythe? About the seventh round Quest… what could it possibly be? Do you have any guesses?”
At An Sang-chul’s question, I turned it back on him.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Oh, if I’ve offended you, I sincerely apologize. It’s not for any other reason—I just thought that with your insight, you might know something about it…”
An Sang-chul looked flustered, but I shut him down coldly.
I couldn’t let him sense even a hint that I knew the prophecy.
“The Quest hasn’t appeared yet, so what could I possibly know? I’m in the same boat as you.”
“Ah, I see.”
An Sang-chul, who seemed slightly disappointed, let a small smile play at the corner of his mouth.
His expression suggested he’d finally found something he could help me with.
“Then, Black Scythe. Would you like me to share information about the seventh round?”
“Information about the seventh round? How would you know that?”
“I heard it from a prophet in reality.”
“A prophet?”
I immediately frowned.
‘Last time I thought he was hiding it, but now he’s blabbing about the prophet so freely.’
Was I an idiot for thinking he was trustworthy?
As I glared at An Sang-chul with that thought, he flinched and stammered.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s just… a prophet? That’s absurd.”
“I’m serious. I have an acquaintance who’s a prophet. I’ve already received help from them several times. Isn’t that right, Seo A-rin?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. That’s right.”
‘So he’s dragged Seo A-rin into this too?’
One more person I couldn’t trust had been added to the list.
“Hold on, what are you two talking about? A prophet?”
Heo Tae-sik asked with a puzzled expression, while Min Ju-ri remained silent.
‘Min Ju-ri seems quite startled. She thought only she knew about the prophet, yet here we are discussing it.’
Reading her thoughts, I could sense she was wondering if the prophet might be me.
‘This situation has gotten messy.’
I wanted to seal An Sang-chul’s mouth immediately, but I had no justifiable reason to do so.
“Black Scythe. I will share information about Round 7 with you. Without any compensation. What do you say? Will you listen?”
“….”
After a moment of deliberation, I nodded.
“Fine. I’m not sure if I can trust it, but let’s hear it anyway. We’re at the point where we’d grasp at straws.”
“Haha, don’t worry. The prophecy has never been wrong.”
An Sang-chul then relayed the prophecy exactly as he had received it.
“The prophet said: do not be seduced by temptation. That’s all you need to remember to clear Round 7.”
“What does that mean? Temptation?”
Heo Tae-sik asked, but An Sang-chul simply shook his head quietly.
“I don’t know the details myself.”
“Um, uh, An Sang-chul?”
Min Ju-ri approached with obvious confusion written across her face.
“Is that prophet’s name… Ryu Min?”
“…!”
This time, An Sang-chul was the one who was shocked.
Seo A-rin was too.
Only Heo Tae-sik looked confused, glancing between the two of them.
‘Damn it.’
Watching the entire situation unfold, I let out an internal sigh.
The existence and identity of the prophet had now been shared among four people.
‘Well, it’s not necessarily a problem, is it? As long as my identity as Black Scythe doesn’t get exposed?’
I wanted to sigh, but I held it back.
For now, it seemed best to scatter these four people.
If they stayed together, wouldn’t they keep sharing information about the prophet?
“Do not be seduced by temptation? Thanks for the information. We’ll see if the prophet’s words ring true, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
“It probably will be. If you just remember those words.”
I nodded and spoke to the four of them.
“It would be better if you scattered and searched for more detailed information.”
“Scatter, you say?”
“We might discover new quests or information as we move around.”
“But staying together might be….”
“We’re not even sure if this is a party quest, so why should we?”
At my cold tone, An Sang-chul swallowed hard.
There was no way he could look favorable in my eyes after causing this trouble.
“Understood. Then let’s each handle Round 7 on our own. Black Scythe, may fortune favor you! We’ll meet again next time.”
An Sang-chul and Seo A-rin bowed respectfully before disappearing.
Heo Tae-sik hesitated, then awkwardly lowered his head as well.
“I, I should probably go too…”
Now only Min Ju-ri remained by Ryu Min’s side.
“You go as well.”
“Ah, understood…”
Though reluctant to part, Min Ju-ri departed as well.
Left alone, Ryu Min exhaled deeply.
‘This situation has become troublesome.’
Then he pondered thoughtfully.
‘But what was the Round 7 Quest again?’
As he stood there deliberating for about five minutes.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
A piercing scream that assaulted the eardrums echoed from somewhere.

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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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