The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player
Chapter 296: Start of Round 19 (1)

A look of confusion appeared on Ryu Min’s face.

It was clear at a glance that there had been a misunderstanding between the two.

“Wait a second!”

Ryu Min hurriedly stepped outside the front door and grabbed Min Juri.

Before he could even speak, she was the one who spoke first.

While avoiding his gaze.

“Sorry for suddenly showing up unannounced. I didn’t know you two were like that. Sorry for interrupting your good time.”

“What are you talking about? What do you mean, ‘good time’? I think you’re seriously misunderstanding something…”

“I was foolish. When a pretty celebrity lives next door, I should have at least been cautious or suspicious, but like a fool…”

“Get a hold of yourself and listen to me. We’re not in that kind of relationship like you’re thinking.”

At Ryu Min’s explanation, Min Juri lifted her gaze.

Then she locked eyes with him as if demanding the truth and said,

“You’re really not dating her?”

“No.”

“Not even a flirtatious thing going on?”

“I said no.”

“Then why are you in the same house? Why were you in the same room?”

“We were just talking. She came over saying she had something to ask.”

“…”

Min Juri stared at him intently, as if trying to see through to his inner thoughts, then suddenly lowered her head.

Only belatedly did the embarrassment flood in.

Ryu Min’s unwavering gaze didn’t seem to carry a single lie.

On top of that, Seo Arin also appeared and backed up Ryu Min’s claim.

“It’s just like Ryu Min said. We were just talking in the room, and nothing happened.”

With the misunderstanding now clearly resolved—

Min Juri became so embarrassed she couldn’t even lift her head.

“Ah… you two aren’t… and I just misunderstood. I’m really sorry…”

Ryu Min was about to say it was okay, but Seo Arin beat him to it.

“It’s not a misunderstanding.”

“…?”

“Miss Seo?”

“I like Ryu Min.”

At Seo Arin’s bombshell confession, Min Juri snapped her head up.

“Wait… what did you just say?”

“I said I like Ryu Min.”

Min Juri’s mind snapped back to attention.

The peace she had just barely regained felt like it shattered in an instant.

It was the same for Ryu Min.

‘What are you doing? Why would you say that?’

He had known how Seo Arin felt for a while, but he hadn’t expected her to reveal it like this.

The one who had dropped the bomb, Seo Arin, was surprisingly calm.

“You’re both shocked, right? I’m sorry. But I felt like I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t say it now.”

“A-are you serious? You’re not joking?”

Min Juri asked, hoping it was a lie.

But Seo Arin wasn’t the type to lie about something like this.

“Would I be crazy enough to joke in a situation like this? I’m serious. I really started to like Ryu Min.”

“…”

“I’m sorry to you, Min Juri. I know you like Ryu Min, too.”

“You knew?”

“Anyone who’s not an idiot could figure that much out.”

“…”

“I heard you two were high school classmates. So have you been in one-sided love since back then?”

Min Juri’s eyes narrowed.

“That… I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You don’t want to give information to a rival, huh?”

“It’s not just that—it feels offensive. Trying to dig for info all of a sudden, and saying right in front of me that you like Min…”

Seo Arin didn’t back down easily, despite Min Juri’s cold demeanor.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. It’s just… I felt like I wouldn’t get another chance if I didn’t say it now. You’ve had a one-sided love, too, so you understand, right? Wouldn’t you regret it more if you just watched and lost him?”

“…”

Min Juri said nothing.

She just glared silently at Seo Arin.

Seo Arin, too, didn’t look away.

As if she were done simply watching, she lifted her head and met Min Juri’s gaze boldly.

Seeing the two suddenly dive into a bidding war, Ryu Min let out a sigh.

‘Haa… please, not in the apartment hallway, come on.’

***

July 1st, 30 minutes before midnight.

Ryu Min lay on his bed, preparing to enter Round 19.

Other players were probably lying in their beds as well, just like him.

But unlike before, they were surely uneasy.

Because there was no information at all about Round 19.

‘Still, they wouldn’t be as anxious as me.’

Ryu Min had information, so there was no reason for him to be nervous—yet he was.

It was because of Seo Arin and Min Juri.

He worried they might cause trouble even in the otherworld.

‘They haven’t even spoken to each other since that day… what’s with them? Can’t they just get along?’

He understood that two women could compete over the man they liked.

If it was someone they truly didn’t want to lose, sure.

But what about the guy’s perspective?

What about his anxiety over the potential disaster their conflict might bring?

‘I can’t just reject both of them and hurt them…’

If he pushed them away, they might take emotional damage.

And that might affect their party play.

‘With Round 20 right around the corner, I can’t afford any missteps.’

In times like this, the best thing to do was to stay neutral.

Besides, it was true he didn’t have romantic feelings for either of them.

‘Please, don’t fight like you’re going to kill each other over me. You’re both precious comrades and key members of the team.’

As he passed the time worrying, midnight arrived before he knew it.

Flash—

He closed his eyes once and opened them again, and a familiar scene unfolded.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!