The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player Novel - Chapter 332
Chapter 332 – Contract
Ryu Min asked:
“What does this mean?”
[What does it mean?]
“What does it mean that you are on my side?”
[It literally means I’m on your side, so you have nothing to worry about.]
Ryu Min let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Do you expect me to believe you? To believe someone who provides information about Black Scythe to the archangels?”
[So, you already know. Did you read Remiel’s thoughts?]
“Yes.”
The seventh archangel who controls lightning, Remiel.
When Ryu Min first met him, he knew.
The reason he had come to find him was due to the influence of Rubuahi.
“You sent Remiel to kill me, and now you say we are on the same side.”
[I didn’t send him to kill you. I sent him to be Black Scythe’s sacrifice.]
“You sent him because you knew he would lose to Remiel?”
[Exactly. As you know, I’ve observed all of Black Scythe’s growth. It was easy to foresee who would win when they faced each other.]
“But that doesn’t change the fact that you provided information to the enemy.”
[It was inevitable. You need bait to catch a fish, don’t you?]
“……”
Ryu Min stared at him, and Rubuahi showed an uncomfortable expression.
[I’m sorry if it bothered you that I sent an archangel. But it wasn’t just that. I also prevented Michael from intervening.]
“Michael?”
[In the eleventh round, Michael wanted to kill you directly. But I convinced him he should wait until the twentieth round if he wanted to become a God. If I hadn’t intervened, Black Scythe would have died a long time ago.]
“If you hadn’t sent Remiel, Michael wouldn’t have intervened.”
[……That’s true. But thanks to me, Black Scythe obtained a power that transcends humans. You can even kill a God.]
“Then.”
Ryu Min’s gaze turned lethal.
“Do you want me to thank you for making me like this?”
He hadn’t wished to become strong. Simply, fighting to survive, he had no choice but to get stronger.
Even though he stared with murderous intensity, Rubuahi showed no signs of fear.
He knew no one could exert power in his domain.
[I’m sorry if it bothered you. But the fact is you became stronger by killing an archangel, didn’t you?]
“……”
[Besides, I didn’t provide all the information to the archangels. I made sure they didn’t know about special runes like the Rune of True Feelings. Like this one, for example.]
Before he finished speaking, another book appeared in Ryu Min’s hands.
[This is the record of Black Scythe that I showed to the archangels.]
Reading it, Ryu Min noticed that the information was different from the original.
Crucial details like obtaining the Rune of True Feelings, the massive stat accumulation after killing an archangel, and the deification were missing.
[I showed this edited version to the angels who came seeking information about Black Scythe. If they had seen the original, they might have been scared and not acted, or they might have found a way to counter you.]
“So, what you’re saying is… you sent the archangels for me to use as prey?”
[That’s correct. The reward for killing an archangel can’t compare to that of any other battle angel. Black Scythe, you know that well, don’t you?]
Of course.
Catching an archangel or not makes a big difference.
‘Compared to the previous round, the answer is clear. Now I’m thousands of times stronger than before.’
In the previous round, due to the memories of meeting Artaros, Ryu Min didn’t dare face an archangel.
However, in this round, he was lucky enough to face Remiel, which allowed Ryu Min to grow exponentially.
Even a lower-level archangel grants rewards that are on another level compared to battle angels.
“So, all this was part of your plan for me to grow?”
[That’s right, but it wasn’t just my plan. There’s another God helping you.]
“Who?”
Ryu Min’s eyes widened in astonishment at Rubuahi’s words.
He couldn’t believe someone powerful enough to oppose Chaos was helping him.
‘Or rather, am I being used?’
Ryu Min squinted his eyes and looked at Rubuahi with suspicion.
“So, am I the product of the collaboration between that God and you?”
[The word “collaboration” doesn’t sound right. We didn’t specifically try to raise one particular person.]
“Didn’t you deliberately give me the Last Time Reverser rune?”
[No. The Last Time Reverser rune was set for only one person among 1.8 billion humans to obtain it. We didn’t select any particular person. It’s like casting a fishing line without knowing what will be caught. It’s the same principle.]
In other words, they didn’t know it would be him who obtained it.
They also didn’t know he would get this far.
“What is the reason behind all this?”
[You need to grow to be able to oppose Chaos.]
“So, this whole plot was to turn someone into a chess piece.”
Everything had been a meticulous plan.
They deliberately placed a rune that allowed time to rewind up to 100 times, hoping a human capable of facing the gods would obtain it.
As a result, he was the chosen one and could become incredibly strong through the rewinds.
[Hmm… I never thought of you as a chess piece, but I won’t deny we were trying to create a weapon to face Chaos.]
“A weapon…? Can a mere human be raised to oppose him?”
[You can. You just have to follow my instructions.]
Rubuahi smiled softly, but Ryu Min didn’t hide his expression of distrust.
He couldn’t shake the feeling of being the gods’ toy.
“I’m not a tool that will follow your orders.”
[Of course, sure. Sorry if I offended you by calling you a “weapon,” but I couldn’t think of a better way to express it… My apologies if I bothered you.]
Rubuahi tried not to irritate Ryu Min.
He answered all his questions well.
“So, you and your superior, do you know everything about me from the first to the hundredth round?”
[No, we don’t. The ability to rewind time is so powerful that even the Gods can’t counter it. In short, this is the first time I’ve met you as Black Scythe. At least, according to my memories.]
“So, if I rewind time now, Chaos won’t remember me either?”
[Exactly. Neither Chaos nor the God I serve.]
“Are you saying that you and your superior designed and created such an incredible rune?”
[We received help from another god.]
“Who?”
[I can’t say more. What is certain is that in these Akashic Records, there are no records of previous rounds you’ve experienced, Black Scythe. Rewinding time is such a formidable power that it even erases the universe’s records.]
Rubuahi tried to explain, but this only made Ryu Min have more questions.
“Something doesn’t fit. If this is the first time for you, why didn’t you send Remiel earlier?”
[We waited until the hundredth round. We wanted to make sure Black Scythe was strong enough to face an archangel.]
“Wait a moment. You said you don’t have memories of the rewinds. So how did you know this is the hundredth round?”
[I received help. There’s a God who isn’t affected by time rewinding.]
Rubuahi’s answer was clear and didn’t seem like a lie.
‘Asking who that God is won’t help, he won’t tell me.’
Ryu Min asked another question.
“Was the God you serve the one who created this system? The one who programs humans?”
[Yes. The design of the system for Black Scythe to grow stronger by catching angels was his idea. Although he received advice.]
“Advice?”
[You don’t need to know more. The important thing is that we know how to kill Chaos.]
Although Rubuahi’s attitude was a bit arrogant, Ryu Min didn’t argue.
“To be honest, I don’t like you or yours. The angels who sacrifice humans as mercenaries for the Great Celestial War or those who raised me as a weapon against Chaos, you’re all the same. But.”
Ryu Min had no intention of arguing further.
“I don’t care if I’ve been used. Anyway, my goal is to kill Chaos.”
[I’m glad we share the same goal.]
“Then tell me. What’s the plan?”
[Before giving you the information, I want to make a contract.]
“A contract?”
Ryu Min squinted his eyes with distrust, and Rubuahi laughed.
[Don’t look at me like that. It’s just to ensure everything is done correctly.]
“What kind of contract?”
[It’s an agreement to cooperate in killing Chaos. We could call it a memorandum of understanding.]
“Are you saying you need a contract to give me the information?”
[Yes. We need to make sure we can trust you, Black Scythe.]
Ryu Min laughed incredulously.
“Do you think I could betray you?”
[As I said, it’s just to ensure everything is clear. Don’t take it the wrong way.]
Ryu Min stared at Rubuahi, trying to read his intentions, but his impassive face revealed nothing.
“Fine. Show me the contract first.”
[Alright.]
A familiar system message appeared before Ryu Min.
[The spirit ‘Rubuahi’ has proposed a contract to player ‘Black Scythe’.]
<Soul Contract>
[Part A: Black Scythe] [Part B: Rubuahi]
Part A commits to opposing Chaos in exchange for receiving information from Part B about Chaos.
Once the contract is completed, Part B will provide Part A with information about Chaos.
This contract will remain in effect until the disappearance of Chaos.
[The contract is lifelong and soul-binding.]
[The party that breaks the contract first will be annihilated forever.]
[Do you wish to execute the contract? Y/N]
As expected, it was a contract with annihilation as the price.
“Do they expect me to face Chaos for eternity?”
Thinking of his fallen comrades at the hands of Chaos made Ryu Min grit his teeth. It was a tempting offer for his revenge, but Ryu Min shook his head without hesitation.
“I refuse.”
[…What?]
“It’s too unfavorable a contract for me.”
[Unfavorable? If your goal is to kill Chaos, you shouldn’t worry about being annihilated, right?]
“That’s true. But contracts must be fair. You only offer information, while I must fight Chaos forever. Don’t you see who is losing here?”
[…]
“If I don’t fight Chaos, I’ll be annihilated. The risk is too great. It’s practically a slavery contract.”
[So, you’re not going to sign the contract?]
“No. Besides, it seems the contract continues even if I rewind time. Why should I carry this disadvantage and live with this chain for life?”
[…If you don’t sign the contract, you won’t be able to get the information.]
“Then you’ll also lose the opportunity to kill Chaos.”
Faced with Ryu Min’s firmness, Rubuahi began to sweat. They needed someone who could oppose Chaos.
[…What do you want?]
“Just add two clauses. That you’ll always tell me the truth and that your superior is also subject to annihilation.”
[Add my superior?]
“It’s a two-person job, it’s not fair that only you get annihilated. If you want me to sign the contract, the life of your superior, the one who created this system, must also be at stake.”
[I need his consent for that.]
“Then go get it. I’ll be waiting. You have 20 minutes. If you don’t come back in time, you’ll lose your chance. And with it, the chance to kill Chaos.”
[Understood. Wait a moment.]
Rubuahi disappeared hastily.
Had five minutes passed? While waiting in the Akashic Records, the spirit returned.
[I have modified the contract as you requested.]
“Let’s see.”
Ryu Min checked the contract and saw it now included a “Part C” with the God’s name. Additionally, clauses were added that they must tell the truth and that, in case of breach, they would be annihilated.
“Now I can trust this contract.”
Ryu Min smiled and accepted the contract.
[The contract has been signed.]
[The contract’s content takes effect immediately.]
Ryu Min smiled widely.
“Now tell me. What’s the plan to kill Chaos?”