The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 133 (Part 1)
Chapter 133: Round 9 Begins (Part 1)
1st. Black Scythe (4,088 votes)
2nd. Heavenly Demon (1,057 votes)
3rd. Dumb Fools (529 votes)
…
7th. Bird Chest (65 votes)
Ma Kyung-rok was disappointed with the outcome.
‘Ah, I was a fool to have hoped.’
Contrary to his expectations, Black Scythe came in first with an overwhelming number of votes.
He had thought there might be a chance for himself, but it turned out to be a vain hope.
‘After all, in terms of recognition, I cannot match Black Scythe.’
Although he had ranked 2nd and 3rd in previous areas, thus considering himself among the named ranks, the gap to the 1st place was bigger than he had anticipated.
The current voting results were proof of that.
The recognition and popularity of Black Scythe among the players were almost quantifiable.
Ma Kyung-rok looked enviously at Black Scythe.
Despite becoming the sole representative of South Korea, Black Scythe showed no particular change in expression, as if he had known this would happen.
‘Hey, could it be…?! No, no he’s not a prophet. But why is he so calm?’
Perhaps he was just feigning indifference to hide his flustered feelings.
Or maybe he really had predicted it.
Considering Black Scythe’s reputation, anyone could have predicted the outcome.
But Ryu Min wasn’t guessing; he truly knew the future, hence his calm demeanor.
From the 21st to the 99th rounds, winning the vote 79 times, anyone would react the same way.
‘As expected, I’m first. The number of votes is a bit different, but.’
The votes had increased from the previous round.
Perhaps because he had formed connections with comrades like Ju Yong-ho, Min Juri, and Seo Arin?
Without having to read their minds, he could guess that they had voted for him.
[Player ‘Black Scythe’ has become the new area representative of C3-ESKA001.]
While viewing the message with an indifferent look, Ariel shouted.
[According to the vote results, Black Scythe has become Korea’s area representative! Congratulations, Black Scythe! By the way, the former representatives’s authority skills have been revoked. Now Black Scythe is the sole ruling player of Korea!]
The angel continued.
[Now that the representative has been decided, shall we check the 9th round quest?]
A message window appeared in everyone’s eyes without fail.
◀ ROUND 9 ▶
└ Join a mercenary group and exterminate monsters
[All areas]
└ Participants: 1,295,362
└ Achievers: 0/647,681
[Specific area C3-ESKA001]
└ Participants: 6,008
└ Achievers: 0/3,004
“Exterminate monsters?”
“What’s a mercenary group?”
The players murmured upon seeing the quest.
However, the people around Black Scythe were calm.
They already knew because of Ryu Min’s prophecy.
[In a moment, you will be transported to a fantasy world to carry out an extermination mission as mercenaries. Don’t panic. As you can see, it’s a simple quest where you just have to exterminate monsters. You can choose the monsters to exterminate, so don’t worry.]
No player was flustered by the mention of being dropped into a fantasy world.
They had already experienced the existence of NPCs while escorting the guilds in the 8th round.
Most expected this time to be similar.
[Any questions?]
“Yes! Is it true that completing just one extermination means passing the quest?”
[Of course. It’s a very simple quest.]
The more she highlighted its simplicity, the more anxious the players became.
It had never been truly simple when said to be so.
[Any other questions?]
“Is the extermination a party quest?”
[You’ll act together, but it’s not a party. Each person must find and kill monsters on their own to claim their share. So you better work hard for the experience points.]
“Main Quest is written here, so are there sub-quests too?”
[That’s a secret.]
‘Of course, there are. What kind of question is that…’
Everyone scolded the questioner with the same thought.
If a Main Quest is listed, there are always Sub-Quests.
It’s a rule everyone knows from experience.
“Angel! How are the rankings determined?”
Before the angel could answer, a few shook their heads in disbelief.
As if that damned angel would tell.
The players’ suspicions were confirmed.
[I’m not quite sure myself? The details will be revealed around the time the results are announced.]
Almost no one believed the angel’s words.
That’s how much the players distrusted the existence of angels.
But Ryu Min knew.
The angel was telling the truth at the moment.
‘Angels don’t know everything about the quest. They only have limited information for each round.’
Whether it’s to prevent information leakage to humans or not, angels have limited knowledge about the rounds.
This was confirmed through information obtained from torturing angels in previous regressions.
Moreover, the reason Ryu Min was certain is different.
‘The final reward obtainable through this round’s Sub-Quest. Just looking at the content, it’s clear the angels don’t know about the quest.’
The final reward hidden in this round was detrimental to the angels.
‘If the angels knew about the reward, it would cause an uproar.’
That’s also why Ryu Min didn’t prophesize about the Sub-Quest.
The reward, which only one person can claim, must be his alone.
[Let’s stop the questions here and start the quest, shall we?]
As soon as Ariel finished speaking, a selection window appeared before the players.
[Please touch the monster you wish to exterminate.]
└ 1. Lizardman
└ 2. Werewolf
└ 3. Skeleton
└ 4. Troll
└ 5. Minotaur
[If you do not choose, you will be automatically assigned randomly.]
[Remaining time: 00:00:59]
Just like the previous selection, they would be transported immediately upon choosing.
“Hmm, which one should I choose?”
“This is obviously going to be 1, it looks the easiest…”
The difficulty was apparent just from the names of the monsters.
‘As everyone expects, 1 is the easiest, and 5 is the hardest.’
Ryu Min knew what the best choice was, but the other players were at a crossroads.
When a seemingly obvious question is posed, they wonder if it’s a trap.
“Considering the difficulty, Lizardman seems the best choice…”
“Wouldn’t everyone flock to Lizardman then?”
“Should we go for a stronger monster for better rewards?”
“Or is 1 actually the hardest and 5 the easiest?”
“Ah, what to choose?”
With just one minute to decide, there wasn’t enough time for such deliberations.
Most had made their selections and disappeared, but about a quarter hesitated, spending their time in indecision.
A few seemed intent on leaving it to randomness, closing their eyes and waiting for time to pass.
‘It might seem like a trap, but it’s not. The difficulty is as it appears in order. Simply put, just exterminate the monster of your choice according to your abilities.’
Ryu Min had already informed his acquaintances of this fact through prophecy.
Thus, Ma Kyung-rok and Ryu Min’s acquaintances had no dilemmas.
They had already thought it through in the real world.