The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player TL

28. Bless

Sizzle-

Min Juri, who ended up having lunch at a steak restaurant, felt like she was dreaming.

'To think I'd be eating while talking with the person I like. I can't believe this day has come for me...'

It didn't feel real because it was a moment she had only imagined.

Just like when she was first dragged to the other world.

"You like steak, right?"

"Y-yeah, I l-like it."

"Eat a lot."

"Okay..."

Min Juri picked up her knife shyly.

For a while, only the sound of cutting meat could be heard between them.

'I should say something...'

Though it was just a simple meal, it felt like a date so words wouldn't come out.

'This won't do. How can the person who called him out stay quiet! It's just making the atmosphere awkward. I need to muster courage!'

Min Juri broke the awkwardness and started the conversation first.

"H-how did you win 1st place in the lottery? I heard you won 5 times in a row?"

"Oh, that? It was revealed in a dream. I was lucky."

"Wow... Then you must have earned a ton of money?"

"Enough to not worry about money for life? Well, now I have to worry about my life though."

"Ah! Right. I was curious about that. How was Round 1? Wasn't killing goblins hard? I had quite a tough time."

Though it was hard to start talking, once she mustered courage, she could converse without stopping.

Moreover, since they had the commonality of being players, the conversation continued without realizing time passing.

"Which area are you in?"

"ESKS45-5."

"Ah, I'm in ESKS122-7... That's too bad. We won't be able to meet in the other world."

Seeing Min Juri's disappointed expression, Ryumin laughed inwardly.

'No need to be disappointed, friend. We'll meet anyway.'

As survivors decrease, areas naturally merge.

It's not like they'll never meet just because they're in different areas.

"What level are you?"

Ryumin pondered for a moment at Min Juri's question.

'I'll have to reveal I'm Black Scythe someday, but...'

He couldn't tell the truth yet.

Min Juri wasn't confirmed as an ally yet either.

"Me? 10."

"Oh? I'm 10 too. Did you get a job?"

"Not yet. You?"

"I was lucky and got a class change item, so I could get one. It's a job called Buffer..."

At the word Buffer, Ryumin felt relieved.

Fortunately, things were flowing according to the future he knew.

"Buffer? Sounds like a job that gives out a lot of stuff? Does it cast buffs like in games?"

Though he knew Buffer's skills inside out, he pretended not to know.

That way he could receive buffs from Min Juri.

"Ah, want to try receiving one? It's a buff called Bless that has the effect of raising stats."

"Oh, really? I'd like to try."

As expected, Min Juri offered to cast a buff.

This was what Ryumin wanted.

Whoosh-

The light that rose from Min Juri's hand entered Ryumin's head.

Then a message appeared.

[All stats increase by 50% due to the effect of skill Bless.]

[Duration: 02:59:59]

Bless, the representative skill of Buffer.

It's an overpowered buff that raises stats by 50% for 3 hours.

'As expected of a unique class, the skill effect is amazing.'

Ryumin marveled while looking at his status window.

His stats had increased overall.

'It's good now, but it'll be even better later.'

As a player's grade rises, the effectiveness of previously learned skills increases by one level.

The same goes for his skill Death's Seal.

'When max level, skill effectiveness will increase by 2 times.'

In other words, the 50% stat increase will rise to 100%.

In other words, Min Juri's growth is also beneficial to Ryumin.

Because he can receive buffs.

'That's only if Min Juri reaches max level though.'

It's not difficult.

Just by keeping Min Juri alive and receiving buffs while growing together, they'll naturally reach max level.

'For now it'll be hard to receive buffs since we're in different areas.'

Even if he receives a buff right before entering the other world, the buff doesn't maintain.

It's the same principle as injuries in the other world not applying to the real body.

In other words, the trick of receiving buffs in advance doesn't work.

'Still, it's fortunate. To receive the buff as I wanted.'

The reason Ryumin approached Min Juri in the first place was to receive Bless in reality.

'That way I can increase the probability of the random gold pouch.'

The random gold pouch obtained as a first class change reward is literally an item that gives gold.

Because it gives randomly, it's affected by the Luck stat.

The higher the luck, the more gold will come out.

'If I use the pouch after raising luck as much as possible with the Rune of Massacre effect...'

He might be able to get more gold than expected.

"This is nice. Thanks for the buff, Juri."

"Hehe, just tell me anytime if you want a buff. It's no trouble at all to cast this."

"Got it. But there's one thing I'm curious about..."

"Yeah. What is it?"

"Why did you ask to meet? Didn't you say you had something to say?"

"Ah..."

She was so absorbed in the conversation that she forgot to say what was important.

Min Juri's face turned flustered.

* * *

"Thanks for lunch. Let's meet again."

"Yeah, fighting for the next round!"

"Kuku, sure. Let's meet alive."

Ryumin waved to Min Juri and turned around smiling.

Him, who survived as the last person, dropping out in just Round 3?

It's unimaginable.

The person who should really worry is Min Juri rather than himself.

'Well, if things flow according to the future, she should endure well until Round 4 on her own.'

He meets Min Juri from Round 5.

Until then, he has no way to intervene since they're in different areas.

'She should survive somehow. Min Juri's rune is that good.'

There's no need to worry since it's a rune related to survival.

'By the way, I didn't expect Min Juri to have that.'

Ryumin recalled his conversation with Min Juri during the meal.

-Thanks for the 10 million won support. Dad says thanks too.

-Was that what you wanted to say?

-And... I'll repay the 10 million won somehow.

-I told you you don't have to repay it. I'm just giving it.

-No. You may be okay with it, but I'm not. I'll repay it no matter what. If you don't want money, then something else... Ah! Take this.

-What is this?

-I got it while hunting in the other world. If you don't want money, I'll give you this at least. I don't know what it is, but it's an item so it should be useful. Ah! It's my sincerity so don't think of refusing!

It was as expected.

Since Min Juri hates being in debt, he thought she would try to repay somehow.

'But I didn't expect her to give this.'

Ryumin took out the item he received from Min Juri from his inventory.

[Lowest Grade Purple Magic Stone]

-Category: Possession

-Description: A beautiful purple stone. A faint magical power can be felt.

Magic stones drop at a low probability when killing monsters.

They come in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet colors, with purple being the hardest to obtain.

'Due to the insufficient description, you can't know what effect it has yet, but you'll find out when you reach level 20. How precious magic stones are.'

At level 20, the [Combination] function is unlocked.

When that time comes, people will try combining various items to find combination recipes.

'Then they'll find out. That additional options can be given by combining magic stones with equipment.'

Red increases damage, orange increases strength, yellow increases luck.

'Green increases agility, blue increases intelligence.'

Ryumin also had one magic stone that dropped while hunting.

It was a lowest grade indigo magic stone that reduces received damage.

'They're all good, but purple magic stones are the most precious. The probability of dropping is low and it's a magic stone that increases all stats.'

It was also the magic stone most needed by Ryumin who wants to raise stats evenly.

'To receive such a thing without any cost. I'm lucky.'

His Luck stat was actually high.

Because it was increased by 50% with Bless.

'I'll use the magic stone at level 20... Now that I've received the buff as planned, should I open the gold pouch first?'

Of course, before that he needs to inflate his stats with the Rune of Massacre.

How to raise stats in reality where there are no monsters?

'There's a way.'

Ryumin took out a sealed plastic bag from his pocket.

The bag contained 100 small mealworms about 1cm in size.

'The Rune of Massacre increases stats by 1% each time a target is killed. The same applies to insects.'

It doesn't have to be just monsters.

As long as it's a living target, anything counts.

This is a fact already verified through tests in previous regressions.

'There are no insects in the other world so I have no choice but to kill monsters, but not in reality.'

Rather, reality teeming with insects is easier to stack.

Mealworms could be ordered by the thousands if you have money.

Ryumin put the bag on the floor.

He stepped on it to crush and kill the mealworms.

Crunch-! Crunch-!

[Current Kill Count: 67/100]

[All stats increase by 67% due to Rune of Massacre effect.]

[Current Kill Count: 100/100]

[All stats increase by 100% due to Rune of Massacre effect.]

He filled it to 100% instantly with just two steps.

'Status window.'

-Name: Ryu Min

-Nickname: Black Scythe

-Grade: Apprentice

-Title: Last Time Reverser (Hidden), First Angel Slayer (Hidden)

-Level: 16

-Job: Reaper (Grim Reaper)

-Strength: 9, Intelligence: 9

-Agility: 69 Luck: 45

-Common Skill: Track

-Exclusive Skill: Death's Seal

-Rune: Rune of Massacre, Reaper's Rune

-Gold: 6,250

-Remaining Stat Points: 0

[Shop: Can purchase items.]

[???: Unlocked at Lv20 achievement]

[???: Unlocked at Lv40 achievement]

[???: Unlocked at Lv60 achievement]

[???: Unlocked at Lv99 achievement]

His Luck that was 15 has risen to 45.

It tripled due to the Rune of Massacre and Bless buff.

'This much should be enough to expect results.'

It can't be considered extremely high, but it was the best he could raise at this point right after Round 2 ended.

[Random Gold Pouch]

-Category: Consumable

-Grade: Rare

-Effect: Obtain a random amount of gold between 1-9,999.

-Usage Restriction: Until next round, Novice grade or higher

-Description: A time-limited item given to first class changers. The item automatically disappears when moving to the next round. Affected by Luck stat.

Ryumin stared at the gold pouch he took out from his inventory.

'Now is when my luck is highest after receiving the buff.'

Being a time-limited item, he couldn't wait until the next round.

Having made up his mind, he spoke the activation words.

'Use.'

As light burst from the pouch, Ryumin thought.

'How much will come out? Different amounts came out each time even with the same stats.'

From before until now, Ryumin had never missed being the first to change class.

Of course, he always received and used the gold pouch as a reward before going to Round 3.

'As little as 3,000 gold to as much as 6,000 gold came out.'

But his Luck stat then was 30.

Unlike now, he didn't have Min Juri's buff at that time.

That's why he couldn't help but have expectations.

He was attempting with the highest Luck stat ever.

Then, a message showing the result appeared.

At the same time.

'Huh?'

Ryumin's face turned perplexed.