The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 84 (Part 1)

Chapter 84: Heo Taeseok (Part 1)

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Heo Taeseok found himself in a state of utter despair.

He was subjected to torment for his introverted nature, and his perceived weakness made him the target of ridicule by everyone around him.

While some might claim that the era of bullying had passed, the torment endured by Heo Taeseok proved otherwise.

Questions like, “Where are the bullies these days?” abounded, but the bullies were very much present.

Initially, Heo Taeseok was taken aback and bewildered by the turn of events. It was as if the things he had only witnessed on television were suddenly unfolding in his own life.

He couldn’t help but question himself, “What have I done to deserve this treatment?”

With a genuine desire to correct his perceived wrongs, he embarked on a journey of self-improvement.

However, it didn’t take long for him to grasp the harsh reality: “Ah… These individuals are simply preying on me because I appear vulnerable.”

He held onto the hope that this torment would eventually come to an end, promising himself, “I’ll endure it until graduation. Just until I finish high school.”

With this unwavering determination, Heo Taeseok braved the relentless bullying from his peers.

But his assessment of his own strength proved to be overly optimistic.

“Don’t you understand? Money, I’m saying, give me your money!”

“Sorry, but my grandmother is my only family, and we struggle financially,” he responded.

“What? So, this guy doesn’t even have parents?”

“Then, does that mean your grandmother is this guy’s bi*tch?”

“What? That would make me very old! Buhahaaha!”

“…”

“Regardless, you still need to bring us the money, you piece of sh*t. Whether you resort to theft or begging on the street.”

“That’s right. Because of you, I can’t even afford cigarettes. Or do you want us to bury your grandmother alive?”

“…”

As the bullies taunted his grandmother, Heo Taeseok felt a gnawing sense of madness creeping in.

‘This… Th-these bastards!!!’

And then, for the first time, he stood up to the bullies.

The outcome, however, was nothing short of grim.

“This lunatic wants to die.”

“Hey, punch him square in the forehead. I’ll pierce a cigarette hole in it.”

*The sound of slicing*

“Aaaargh!”

Following that confrontation, the torment escalated to even greater levels.

Assault, threats, extortion, and torture that defied imagination.

Afternoons became a living hell.

“I want to die… that would be very nice.”

Having endured unimaginable pain, Heo Taeseok no longer feared death.

In fact, suicide appeared to be the only escape.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“What would happen to my grandmother if I were gone?”

It would be an unforgivable betrayal to the woman who had raised him, collecting recyclables and working tirelessly to support him.

“I have to endure. I promised to graduate and make a better life for her.”

With unwavering determination, Heo Taeseok persevered.

He did it for the sake of his beloved grandmother.

In the end, Heo Taeseok felt a sense of pride he had never known before.

Proud that he had endured three years of high school torment without giving up.

“Finally, graduation. Just a little longer…”

But in the year 2022, everything changed.

With the arrival of an angel, a seismic shift occurred.

They were thrust into a monthly survival game, where their lives hung in the balance.

And as if that weren’t enough, Heo Taeseok’s grandmother’s health took a turn for the worse, compounding his troubles.

Then, around the second round.

“Gr-grandma…?”

Heo Taeseok’s life unraveled before his eyes.

His grandmother’s passing marked a turning point in his life.

“Haha, did you see that? I told him his grandmother would pay the price if he messed with us.”

“Yeah. Heo Taeseok, are you angry now? Didn’t I say we’d bury you and your grandmother together?”

“…”

“That’s right, you scoundrel. A worthless excuse of a human being. Regretting it now?”

“Do you understand the situation you are in now, you bastard…”

Suddenly a dagger pierced the guy’s throat.

A black arrow pierced the eyeball of the guy next to him.

“Ugh, f*ch! Augh!!”

They didn’t know.

They were oblivious.

Oblivious to the fact that Heo Taeseok had already acquired the job of a Black Mage.

They were mistaken.

They assumed that a loser in the real world would be a loser in this alternate world.

They underestimated him.

Thinking that sheer numbers would guarantee victory over any opponent.

“S***. S***. S***.”

When he finally came to his senses, the area was littered with lifeless bodies, stained with blood.

Their actions had desecrated Heo Taeseok’s grandmother’s home with blood.

“Grand… mother…”

That’s when the transformation began.

When Heo Taeseok’s speech became hesitant.

When he erected walls between himself and others.

And when he set a new goal.

“If I can make it to the final round, they said they would grant any wish, right?”

Heo Taeseok’s wish was straightforward.

Heo Taeseok had a simple yet profound goal: to save his grandmother and share a lifetime of happiness together. He had no desire to ever see the parents who had abandoned him. All he needed was his grandmother by his side.

From that moment forward, Heo Taeseok approached the game with unwavering determination. His skills were more than adequate, and the Black Mage profession proved to be even more potent than he had initially imagined.

“The Black Arrows quickly corrode the wounded area, so there’s no need to target the head.”

A mere graze would lead to rapid decay and putrefaction, making it advantageous to hit the target and bide one’s time.

He invested in agility to exploit this strategy. By hitting the monsters with Black Arrows and then evading, he could gradually shift the tide in his favor.

“If I play my cards right, I might be able to take on multiple opponents.”

His foresight held true as he effectively eliminated multiple foes with a strategy of hitting monsters with arrows and then retreating.

As a result, his confidence grew. He began to believe that he could attain the level of skill required for a high-level quest.

But in the world above, there’s always someone stronger.

“Black Scythe? How did that person become so powerful so quickly?”

Every time he saw the name of the player who consistently held the top position across all areas during the rankings, curiosity stirred within him.

He also developed a sense of admiration for the strong.

“I’d like to meet that person once. Just to see how powerful they really are.”

He harbored such thoughts until the areas were consolidated, and he finally got the chance to see the Black Scythe in action.

Just how powerful was this player known as the Black Scythe?

“Wow… He effortlessly took down nine of them…”

Watching the selection round, Heo Taeseok was mesmerized by the artistry of the Black Scythe.

Even for someone as strong as him, the Black Scythe was overwhelmingly powerful.

“If only I had been that strong… I wouldn’t have been bullied by those bullies…”

If he had been, his grandmother might still be alive today.

Regret washed over him, the regret of his days as a weakling.

“I want to become strong like the Black Scythe.”

His desire to become stronger sparked his admiration for the Black Scythe.

“Should I try talking to them? No… What am I even thinking…”

Compared to himself, the Black Scythe was like a godly being. He had to be content with just being in the same area as such a presence.

That’s what he thought, until…

“I-I’m in a party with the Black Scythe?”

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