The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player Novel - Chapter 155
Chapter 155 – Sacred Empire
◀ ROUND 10 ▶
<MAIN MISSION>
└Complete at least 1 secondary mission during 10 hours in the fantasy world.
<SECONDARY MISSIONS>
└???? Various
[GENERAL AREA]
└Participants: 550,528
└Achievers: 0/137,632
[SPECIFIC AREA C3-ESKA001]
└Participants: 2,760
└Achievers: 0/690
The players who checked the missions were nervous.
“Complete at least one secondary mission?”
“In the fantasy world we went to before?”
“If they say at least one, does that mean there are several?”
“Then, does completing just one of several count as completing the mission?”
“Wouldn’t that be too easy then?”
The idea that it was easy lasted only a moment.
People quickly changed their minds.
“It can’t be that easy.”
Especially since the angel had emphasized how difficult it was.
“Maybe each secondary mission is incredibly difficult.”
Was that the murmur they heard?
Angel Nell let out a laugh bordering on mockery.
[Secondary missions are not that difficult, humans. Although there are differences in difficulty, most are easy to tackle alone. Don’t get too scared.]
“Then, where is the difficulty?”
[What I said was not about the secondary missions themselves. It meant that passing the round won’t be easy. Because achievers’ spots will be filled in the order of those who have completed more missions.]
“Ah…”
The players lined up in order of how many missions they achieved.
That meant they were instigating competition among themselves.
They didn’t know how many they had to complete to be safe.
Of course, not everyone was in the dark.
At least those who had heard Ryu Min’s prophecy showed no anxiety on their faces.
Because they had already heard about the cutoff line.
‘You need to complete at least 4 secondary missions to be in the top 25%. To be in the top 3 in this area, you need to complete at least 7.’
To secure the first place, 10 completed missions would be needed.
Naturally, Ryu Min planned to complete 10 missions in this round.
[I guess you have a rough idea, but I’ll explain. This round allows you to freely roam the fantasy world for 10 hours and complete scattered secondary missions everywhere. At a minimum, you must complete at least one secondary mission to consider the main mission successful, and you can complete as many as you want until time runs out.]
“Ten hours is quite a long time for a mission, isn’t it?”
[You have to move diligently. Although the time is limited to 10 hours, you’ll be able to progress in the order you complete the missions. At least complete one. Of course, if you don’t complete even one, you will be extinguished immediately.]
“Ah… This is going to be difficult, isn’t it?”
“We’ll have to approach the missions with determination.”
Although there’s a time limit, is there no limit to the number of missions that can be completed?
Naturally, there could only be one answer: the competition would be intense.
“It will be unsettling because we don’t know how many missions we need to complete. It will be stressful and difficult. But difficult is not the same as impossible.”
When Ryu Min said Round 10 would be difficult, he didn’t just mean the intense competition.
‘The secondary missions are really difficult.’
As the angel said, there are easy missions, but they are as rare as one in ten.
Five out of ten missions are difficult to complete alone.
The other four can barely be completed with effort.
The angel’s easy words turned out to be a lie.
“So completing four in ten hours is something easy. Given the current skill level of the players.”
Ryu Min wasn’t worried about the difficulty.
“Compared to the Trial Tower, this is a piece of cake.”
It’s probably harder to surpass the 60 floors of the Trial Tower in ten hours than to complete ten secondary missions in that time.
“Once you complete a mission, you can’t try it again. Of course, other players can try. Keep that in mind and act accordingly. If you have any questions, ask now.”
“Can you tell us the difficulty of each mission?”
Although asked optimistically, the response was sarcastic.
“The first question is as silly as this. I feel like exploding my head.”
“….”
“Saying it would spoil the fun. Any other questions, human?”
“Is it possible to abandon a mission if it becomes too difficult during progress?”
Good question. Yes, you can abandon it. There’s a button to abandon the mission in the progress interface. You can also try again if you’re unsuccessful.”
“Oh, then it seems manageable.”
“However, we won’t recover your time. Also, you can only abandon once per mission. You only have one chance to try the same mission again.”
“Ah…”
The expression of players who thought of trying multiple times changed.
“All right, the explanation is over. Let’s start the round immediately!”
When Nell spread his wings, a message appeared before everyone.
“Touch the region you want to start next.”
└ 1. Kingdom of Alvitz
└ 2. Kingdom of Braham
└ 3. Sacred Empire
└ 4. Elsorium
“If you don’t choose within the time limit, it will be randomly selected.”
“Time remaining for selection: 00:00:59”
Suddenly, players were asked to choose the starting region, confusing some.
Players with indecision panicked, moving their fingers in the air.
But even among them, there were calm people.
Ryu Min’s group, who had already received a prophecy, acted that way.
“Numbers 1, 2, and 3 are for humans, number 4 is the city of the elves.”
Since Ryu Min had a good reputation among the elves, if they went to Elsorium, they could receive special treatment.
However, he excluded number 4.
“It’s not the right time yet. There are plenty of opportunities to meet the elves in the future.”
More than anything, Ryu Min’s interest in this round was not in the secondary missions.
“Number 3, let’s go to the Sacred Empire.”
Before making the choice, Ryu Min looked at Min Juri.
He wanted to receive a buff, and she was busy hurriedly going around people.
“Get a buff before you go! Also, Black Scythe!”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know where you’re going, but good luck to everyone!”
Despite everything, Min Juri, who was cheering after applying the buffs, was comforting.
“So, shall we?”
Ryu Min’s finger pressed the air with a touch.
—————
In the fantasy continent, there are five kingdoms and one empire.
Two of these kingdoms are known as the Alvitz and Brahm kingdoms.
The other three are considered minor kingdoms and are not even mentioned as starting points.
Then there is the Empire, a massive city called the Sacred Empire, appropriately named due to its imposing size. The Sacred Empire, a religious sect that worships the gods, takes pride in its vast scale, enough to make neighboring kingdoms seem insignificant.
“They didn’t name it an empire for nothing.”
With high walls and numerous buildings, temples, and people moving frantically within them, it was not easy to distinguish if all of this was real or not.
“Although my reputation turned hostile after killing the archbishop in the eighth round, I have nothing to worry about. As long as I don’t reveal my title, everything will be fine.”
Ryu Min enjoyed the surrounding landscape without any visible title.
It would be troublesome if someone recognized him, and the guards tried to stop him.
“It would be fortunate to be stopped. They would probably try to kill me on the spot.”
Although Ryu Min couldn’t be easily killed, he didn’t like pesky mosquitoes bothering him.
That’s why he decided not to reveal his title.
When Ryu Min looked around, he saw people dressed in a familiar manner.
They were players.
Their usernames were not visible either, a common feature upon arriving in the fantasy world.
“It’s better if the username is not visible. It’s easier to act alone that way.”
Ryu Min transformed into Lost Yak in a place where no one could see him, just in case he encountered someone familiar.
[Starting location: Sacred Empire]
[Secondary mission in progress: None]
[Secondary missions completed: None]
[Time remaining until the end of the round: 09:58:21]
Checking the mission progress window, he noticed that the time limit was ticking.
The official start of the round.
Normally, he would have to run around searching for missions, but Ryu Min was relaxed.
He was confident that he could easily complete at least ten missions, even if he took it slowly.
“The important thing now is not the secondary missions.”
Ryu Min’s steps headed towards the central square of the Sacred Empire.
In front of a statue with the image of an angel carved on it, he soon recognized a familiar face.
“Owner!”
Yamti, with the face of Lost Yak, ran towards him with an excited smile.
“You arrived a little late.”
“I’m sorry. This place is so big that it’s hard to find the central square.”
“If you ask the guards, they’ll tell you easily.”
“Oh! Will they answer if we ask?”
“Yes, they will answer, as long as the reputation is not hostile.”
Ryu Min had already agreed to meet Yamti in the Sacred Empire.
The reason was simple: he needed her charm to enter the temple.
“Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the temple.”
“Why to the temple?”
“You have many questions.”
“I’m sorry.”
Yamti bowed her head in apology.
As a slave who would do anything if ordered, Ryu Min felt it was not necessary to explain much. But thinking about it, it would be better to at least tell her why they were going.
“There’s only one reason I’m acting with you.”
“Because you need an attractive opponent?”
“That’s right. Inside the largest temple of the Sacred Empire, there is an altar where they receive oracles. Of course, not anyone can enter. However, the story changes if you have a rune of fascination.”
“Ah, it seems they need me to reach the altar where the oracle is given.”
“That’s right.”
“But does it also affect NPCs? I’ve never used it before…”
“Yes, it affects them.”
Is that all?
“It can even read my thoughts. As if it were a real person.”
It could be a real person.
A person like us who exists in another dimension.
But we can’t dismiss the assumption that they are NPCs.
“And what if each entity is so well-programmed that it can even think?”
It could be considered as virtual beings created for the survival game, i.e., NPCs.
“With the technology to transfer and resurrect the souls of 1.8 billion human beings, I don’t think it’s impossible.”
Therefore, Ryu Min decided to set aside those thoughts.
He decided to move forward with the goal of growing and surviving until round 20.
This moment was the starting point for that.
“But why go to the altar where the oracle is?”
“Why go? To kill an angel.”
The corner of Ryu Min’s lips lifted as if it were twisted.