The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player

Chapter 244: Min Juri’s Courage (Part 2)

“I… I see. I misunderstood. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m the one who should apologize for causing that misunderstanding.”

When Ryu Min apologized, Min Juri’s shoulders shrank further.

‘This is what it feels like to want to crawl into a hole.’

Her anger was gone, but the embarrassment lingered.

‘Stupid, foolish! Why did I get so mad? It’s not like we’re even dating…!’

As she silently scolded herself, she looked up again.

“Sorry. For showing such an ugly side. It must’ve surprised you when I cried, right?”

“It was a bit surprising, but it’s fine. These things happen.”

Although he smiled as if to pass it off, Min Juri didn’t seem ready to move on. She murmured,

“It might seem strange, but don’t think too weirdly of it. I cried because I thought you lied, and… it’s not something to cry about, so why did I….”

She seemed desperate for him not to misunderstand why she’d cried.

But then she realized, no matter what she said, it would look odd.

‘In that case, I might as well…’

A long silence followed. Ryu Min tried not to let his surprise show. Min Juri’s thoughts had come through, unfiltered.

‘No, I shouldn’t do this.’

“Min.”

She suddenly spoke with a serious expression, and Ryu Min felt powerless to stop her.

He would’ve stopped her if he could.

He wanted to shout for her to not say it.

“I have something to tell you…”

But he couldn’t, knowing she had gathered the courage to speak.

“Since things are like this, I’ll say it. I actually….”

“Wait. We didn’t order drinks. What do you want? I’ll go get…”

“Don’t go! This is important.”

“…”

His attempt to avoid the situation had failed. Min Juri took one brave step forward.

“I like you.”

“Huh?”

Pretending not to hear didn’t work.

“I said I like you.”

“…”

In the end, she confessed.

Ryu Min hadn’t expected this.

‘I came to clear up a misunderstanding and ended up with a confession…’

The future seven seconds ahead was clear, yet he couldn’t respond. There was no way to turn back Min Juri’s decided mind.

‘This is the worst.’

It’s not that he disliked Min Juri. She was truly a good friend and a necessary ally. But seeing her as a romantic partner was out of the question.

Ryu Min, who had spent decades in countless regressions focused solely on survival, couldn’t afford such feelings.

‘Besides, clearing the 20th round is more important than romance.’

When Ryu Min stayed silent, Min Juri, with a flushed face, added,

“It surprised you, didn’t it? Sorry for the sudden confession. But to explain why I cried, I had to tell you how I feel.”

“So, you cried because you like me.”

“…Yeah.”

“I understand.”

Ryu Min nodded as if he comprehended, but it confused Min Juri more.

“That’s it?”

“…”

“Don’t you have anything else to say?”

“Should I order some coffee? What would you like?”

“…”

Although Ryu Min didn’t say it directly, his response had already answered her confession.

‘Pretending not to notice and indirectly rejecting her is probably the best way to protect Min Juri’s feelings.’

But he didn’t know something crucial.

“Why are you pretending not to hear me?”

Min Juri wasn’t planning to let him dodge. She needed a clear answer.

“You heard what I said.”

“Ah, that, um…”

“I said I like you. Since we became classmates, always.”

“…”

“What do you think about me?”

“Before I answer that… I have a question.”

Ryu Min asked, more to buy time than out of genuine curiosity.

“Why do you like someone like me?”

“What do you mean by ‘someone like you’?”

Min Juri responded passionately as if defending him.

Even though her voice initially rose, she immediately lowered it, aware of the café’s atmosphere.

“B-because you always work hard. Even when you got beaten up by bullies.”

“How did you know I was beaten by bullies?”

“You didn’t know, but I happened to see it once. I saw you getting harassed in an alley. I even called the police a few times.”

“Did you really…”

“And then, worried, I followed you one day and saw you working at that barbecue place. You acted like nothing happened, even after being beaten up, and kept working.”

Min Juri had never confessed like this in any of the previous regressions, but Ryu Min knew.

He knew why she liked him.

‘She probably found it refreshing and admirable to see someone who, despite being hurt, still worked diligently. But…’

Back then, Ryu Min had no choice but to endure the pain and work, solely to survive, just like now.

‘I appreciate that you see it positively, but isn’t this more like admiration than love?’

More importantly, he was no longer the same person. The pure Ryu Min from back then was gone.

Now, he was a monster focused only on clearing rounds by any means necessary, even if it meant massacring thousands of players, monsters, or angels.

‘That’s why this can’t work between us. You and I…’

Ryu Min glanced at Min Juri, who was waiting for his response and spoke softly.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I was so surprised I didn’t know what to say.”

“So… what do you think?”

“I…”

As Ryu Min hesitated, Min Juri’s lips began to tremble in anticipation.