The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player

Chapter 169: Gaming Friends (2)

With 22% of the world’s population gone, the economy was shaken.

It became scary to go outside because of the players.

The streets were deserted, and small business owners complained about their decreased sales.

But the biggest hit was on the gaming industry.

The main users of games were in the 15 to 29 age group.

‘Still, it seems popular games aren’t dying. They continue their service.’

Even with more than half of the users gone and other games facing severe downturns, the famous AOS game maintained its unshakable first place.

For Ryu Won, who had nothing else to do at home, it was a fortunate thing.

He could finally play the games he always wanted to try as much as he wanted.

‘But even games get boring after playing for several months.’

After staying home for over nine months, not going out at all and only playing games like a recluse, he was now sick of it.

‘I know it’s a luxury compared to before. But it’s really hard…’

Even the initial excitement of eating delivery food for every meal wore off quickly.

What kept him going was his brother and his gaming friends.

‘Since I can’t make friends in reality, I should at least make friends in games.’

He got along well with his gaming friends.

No matter what he did, they responded positively, never got angry, and were good at games.

Even on days when he felt down and stressed, playing games with those friends lifted his spirits.

Unlike the classmates who bullied and ostracized him, they were true friends to him.

At least, until he met them offline.

“Are you Ryu Won?”

“Yeah, are you Tae Wan?”

“Finally, we meet. Nice to meet you, you bastard.”

Before he could react to the sudden profanity, Tae Wan put his arm around his shoulders.

The typical scent of a bully filled the air.

“Why, why are you doing this, Tae Wan…”

“Don’t use informal speech, you bastard. I’m two years older than you, you idiot.”

“What? But in the game, you said we were the same age…”

“I lied to get close to you. Now, follow me. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

With a fishy smile, Tae Wan led Ryu Won away.

He tried to resist, but it was impossible.

The force was like having a boulder on his shoulder.

‘Now that I think about it, if he’s two years older… Could he be a player?’

A player.

And a veteran who survived up to the 10th round.

Gulp-

His anxious thoughts were replaced by tension.

Players were more dangerous than regular criminals.

Judging by his actions, he seemed to have bad intentions.

‘Ah… I should have stayed home as my brother advised.’

It was too late for regrets.

Ryu Won was dragged away by someone he thought was a friend.

Even though he looked around the street, there was no one to ask for help, even in broad daylight.

“Get in there, bastard.”

Instead of a PC room, Ryu Won found himself in a dead-end alley.

A place where thugs might smoke. What was he planning to do here?

He didn’t even want to think about it.

“Why, why are you doing this, Tae, Tae Wan.”

“Bastard, I told you not to use informal speech. And don’t call my name so casually. It’s disgusting.”

“Why, why are you doing this…”

Slap-!

His vision flashed, and his head snapped to the side.

His cheek swelled, and blood dripped from his nose.

“You bastard, are you trying to die? Do you still think we’re friends because I treated you nicely?”

“……”

“Why am I doing this? Don’t you know? Well, I guess you wouldn’t. I acted pretty well, enduring my urge to tear you and your brother apart.”

“My… brother?”

He had mentioned having a brother in the game but hadn’t gone into details.

Naturally, he had never introduced him to his brother.

There was no connection, so there shouldn’t be any reason for a grudge.

“What did my brother do…”

“Heh, you still don’t get it.”

Tae Wan’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were fierce.

The eyes of someone who genuinely wanted to kill.

“Hey, you know Taegyu, right?”

“Tae Gyu? Who is that…”

“Bong Taegyu, you bastard. Don’t you remember? He was in your class, the one who ended up in the hospital after your brother beat him up 9 months ago.”

“Oh.”

He remembered now.

Even though it hadn’t been long, he had forgotten.

The bully who made his school life a nightmare.

His name was Bong Taegyu.

“Judging by your eyes, you remember now. I’m Bong Taegyu’s brother, Bong Tae Wan.”

“……”

“Do you know how hard it was to find you? I even hired private detectives and went through all sorts of trouble, but I couldn’t find you. If I had at least a photo, I could’ve used the tracking skill, but there wasn’t a single one. Luckily, I managed to find your game ID. And now we meet like this.”

“Then, being friendly to me was all…”

“It was all an act, you bastard. To meet you offline. But every time I suggested meeting up, you always chickened out, saying it was too dangerous to leave the house. Idiot.”

Now he understood.

The guy wasn’t a gaming friend or anything.

He was just a thug who approached him with a plan to take revenge on his brother.

“Your brother’s name is Ryu Min, right? Is that bastard doing well? After breaking my brother’s fingers and arms?”

“……”

“He didn’t die already, did he? I waited so long for my chance at revenge. Answer me, you bastard.”

“……”

Ryu Won zipped his lips shut tightly.

‘There’s no way I can tell him about my brother…’

Slap-!

His jaw snapped, and blood splattered before he could react.

“Hey.”

Bong Tae Wan glared at him with a terrifying look.

“Are you going to talk or not? Do you think I’m joking?”

Slap-!

His head snapped to the other side.

Blood trickled from his bitten lip.

“Answer me. Is your brother alive? If you don’t talk, I’ll hit you again.”

“He… he’s dead…”

“Dead?”

Ryu Won nodded with a pained expression, acting.

Saying his brother was dead was the only way to avoid bringing harm to him.

“So he’s dead, huh? There’s no way he’d have survived to the 10th round without being as talented as me.”

Bong Tae Wan nodded as if it made sense and then looked conflicted.

“Then what do I do now? I planned to lure him out and kill him using you, but if he’s dead… Revenge is impossible?”

He seemed to give up on revenge, and Ryu Won felt relieved.

But only for a moment.

“There’s no choice. If your brother’s not here, I have to kill you.”

“Wh-what?”

“Why are you surprised? When an elder brother commits a crime, the younger brother must pay the price. Haven’t you heard of guilt by association?”

As he turned his target to him, Ryu Won was shocked.

“Even if you’re lying, now’s the time to come clean. Is your brother alive? Did you lie to protect him?”

“……”

“Still not talking? Then I’ll have to break your fingers and arms just like my brother and then snap your neck. Understand?”

“……”

“So, speak. Where’s your brother, Ryu Min?”

“M-my brother is…”

As Ryu Won’s trembling lips let out a small sigh.

“H-he’s already dead…”

“You stubborn bastard, still lying.”

Bong Tae Wan’s face twisted in rage.

“Still not talking? Fine. I’ll start by breaking your fingers and then ask again.”

“No, please…!”

Just as Bong Tae Wan was about to grab his finger.

“What are you doing here?”

A young woman’s voice made Bong Tae Wan turn his head.

A woman with a nasty grin was looking at them.

“Mind your own business, b$tch.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, bastard.”

“What?”

Just as Bong Tae Wan, shocked, was about to get angry.

The woman’s eyes glowed pink.

Then, like a lifeless doll, Bong Tae Wan’s arms dropped.

‘What’s happening?’

Ryu Won was puzzled, but the woman’s question confused him even more.

“Are you okay, young master?”

‘Y-young master?’

She was speaking as if she knew him.

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