The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 103

Chapter 103.

“A creature that maintains human intelligence and appearance deliberately moves just because other Abyss beings moved? Isn’t that strange?”

“…Now that you mention it, you’re right. Perhaps there’s something else at play…”

Gamillion’s expression grew serious at Dohyun’s words.

He sensed that something was going wrong. After pondering deeply for a moment, he asked in a grave tone.

“Did you feel anything while facing that creature? It doesn’t have to be that specifically—any other clues would be good.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call it facing him since we didn’t even cross swords once…”

Dohyun was answering with a troubled expression when he suddenly trailed off.

Come to think of it, there was something. That strange thing he had consistently felt from that creature.

“Red light…”

“Pardon?”

The red light that had been seeping from around the heart area.

It was an abnormal symptom he had never seen in any other boss. It had even tried to lure Dohyun who was outside the temple, hadn’t it.

“That’s it!”

“Pardon?”

When he mentioned this, Gamillion, who had been stroking his beard, suddenly lit up like someone who had discovered eureka.

“Come to think of it, the timing of the Successor’s appearance coincides with when the Abyss began moving. This cannot be mere coincidence. No, this is destiny.”

“That… well, is that so?”

It was quite a reasonable deduction…

But Gamillion’s fatalism always seemed excessive no matter when he heard it.

He turned everything into destiny, even things that would normally warrant an “Oh how interesting, what a coincidence~” He’d probably call it destiny even if they ordered the same food menu later.

However, for this particular matter, Dohyun had no intention of arguing.

“That creature might possess the second fragment of destiny. No, given the circumstances, it’s certain. Currently, there are hardly any humans who know about ‘destiny.'”

“…”

“Only detestable gods or those blinded by greed have been paying attention to it, but who would have thought the Abyss would move… This is absolutely unforgivable.”

The sight of Gamillion grinding his teeth was unfamiliar.

His usually benevolent appearance was nowhere to be found, and his brightly shining eyes were filled with venom.

Even Dohyun, facing those eyes up close, felt infected by the mood.

As strength unconsciously entered his fists, Gamillion spoke in a clear voice.

“We must gather evidence before the meeting convenes. Successor, I know this is a difficult request, but you are the only one I can trust and rely on. Could you please obtain some traces that could serve as evidence?”

Ding-.

[Main Quest ‘Second Fragment (1)’ has occurred.]

[Second Fragment (1)]

-Grade: Main Quest, Job Quest

-Description: Gaemin the Destroyer, he might possess the second fragment of destiny.

He appears to be planning something. Now that his appearance has been discovered once, we must bring definitive evidence before he goes into hiding.

Let’s find traces of Gaemin the Destroyer.

-Destroyer’s Traces (1 / 2)

-Quest Success: Links to follow-up Quest ‘Second Fragment (2)’.

-Quest Failure: Failure to obtain the second fragment of destiny.

-Time Limit: 50 minutes

The second fragment of destiny that should be in Brion.

Now, with graduation approaching, the main quest was beginning in earnest.

* * *

And some time later, deep in the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest.

[The aura of death is very thick.]

[The mist becomes very dense.]

In that place where the mist was so thick that one could barely see an inch ahead, someone was passing through.

To be precise, it was one person and two Guardians.

A man wearing clothing that was an appropriate mix of dark red and blue colors, holding a crude staff, and a small figure wearing a robe.

And even a small spider inside that robe’s pocket.

“Hmm… I should go this way, right?”

-Risa!

-Not there, she says to go that way.

“Ah, really? Got it.”

It was Dohyun and Dohyun’s Guardians.

After the lengthy conversation with Gamillion ended, he had left the temple and headed straight for the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest.

-This way this time.

“Ah, okay… But with the mist this thick, how are you finding the way so well? I get confused even with the map.”

-Risa risa!

-She’s a spider after all, so it’s natural. She says everything looks clear to her?

“Oho…”

In a place where the aura of death was so thickly spread that he could barely see an inch ahead, he had been curious how she found the way so well, but there was such a secret.

It was while he was admiring this.

Suddenly feeling something strange, Dohyun tilted his head.

“…But spiders have almost no eyesight?”

-Risa!? Risa!!

-She says she’s had good eyesight since birth, so don’t tell lies? She can even see the dead skin in Master’s pores.

“Ah… I see.”

At the sight of Eliza widening her small eyes and bouncing around as if she couldn’t believe it, Dohyun closed his mouth.

He decided to protect Eliza’s innocence.

‘Come to think of it, Eliza was a rare species too.’

Looking closely, she was too fluffy and cotton ball-like for a spider—maybe she wasn’t actually a spider?

She only had one pair of eyes too.

‘Hmm… or maybe not?’

But then again, she did have spider characteristics like spinning webs.

-Risa?

“No.”

Dohyun shook his head at Eliza, who was tilting her head as if asking why he kept staring.

What did it matter whether Eliza was a spider or not.

She was cute and played her supporting role well as a Guardian—that was all the same.

Right now, he needed to focus on finding the location marked on the map rather than that.

[Old Secret Map]

‘It’s actually a path to a Hidden Field.’

The small secret map in his hand.

It contained information about a Hidden Field in the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest.

In Brion, which was known to have no fields other than the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest and the city, there was actually a Hidden Field hidden away?

‘There would be chaos if this got out.’

Since this information had been kept secret even now, a year and six months later, there would be absolute chaos.

There was no need to sell the information or report it anywhere.

[RCD recording in progress.]

Just uploading the video Dohyun was currently filming to YouTube would make the view count explode.

Dohyun had obtained this incredible information just a little while ago.

-Whatever the plan is, if he possesses a fragment of destiny, we must stop him.

-For that, we need evidence… This identity card alone is insufficient. We need more definitive proof.

-But since he’s been discovered once, he’ll be careful. He’ll secretly watch for opportunities. An emergency meeting will be held soon, so now is our only chance. Successor, it will be too late by then.

Gamillion, speaking urgently, pulled out an old map from his chest and handed it over.

-I heard you searched through all of the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest. However, you probably didn’t check this place.

-This is…?

-A place untouched by monster footsteps. A secret location where the aura of death gathers and distorts vision.

-Not many in Brion know of this place. If that man has reached the level of an elder, he would know of this location. He might have been hiding here when things got dire… If so, there will surely be traces left behind.

That was precisely the secret map to the Hidden Field that Dohyun was now holding.

-Should you happen to encounter that man… you must avoid him at all costs. The current Successor is still in danger if you face him alone.

Though Gamillion had given this advice along with the map, Dohyun’s ears weren’t listening.

‘Hidden… Field?’

Only the words “Hidden Field” echoed in his ears.

And so, without looking back, he immediately led Jihad and Eliza straight into the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest.

And that was a very good choice.

[Remaining Time Limit: 00:29:21]

‘What have I been doing that only 29 minutes are left already.’

Twenty minutes had already passed and he hadn’t even reached the Hidden Field yet.

The emergency meeting would begin in 29 minutes, so before then he had to find the Hidden Field and locate evidence within it.

At least it was fortunate, if you could call it that, that the risk of failure this time wasn’t job forfeiture.

Of course, it was just a pretty-looking dud.

‘If I fail to obtain the Fragment of Fate, it’s essentially worthless.’

Even if the Main Quest and Job Quest could be overlooked, failing to clear the main stream would ultimately amount to the same thing.

And aside from all that, failure was something Dohyun could not tolerate.

He was determined to find it somehow and succeed.

-Risa!

-Owner, this way!

In that regard, Eliza’s excellent eyes were a superb navigation system.

She guided him well through this thick fog, alerted him to obstacles ahead, and even corrected his course immediately when Dohyun seemed to take a wrong turn.

Truly a state-of-the-art guidance system, wasn’t it?

And she was even cute to boot.

“As expected, our Eliza is the best.”

-Risa risa!

She looked particularly pretty today, so when he patted her head, she seemed pleased and rubbed her face against him.

-Eliza… she used to only do that with me… *sob*. Is this what it feels like to send your daughter off to marriage?

-Risa??

Jihad muttered something while looking at Eliza with strangely bitter eyes, but Dohyun cheerfully ignored him.

How long had they been moving following the guidance of this high-performance navigation system that was both cute and capable?

-Risa!

-We’ve arrived, Owner.

They had finally reached their destination.

’25 minutes… not bad.’

It was quite an achievement to reach it in just 25 minutes total.

Dohyun patted Eliza’s head and looked ahead. Thanks to the fog thinning beyond the trees, he could glimpse the scenery.

“There really isn’t much difference.”

At first glance, it was just an ordinary rock forest.

Some trees here and there, some rocks scattered about…

The only difference was that no monsters were visible at all?

But Dohyun’s eyes could see it.

[Eye of Truth activates.]

The empty space beside the rock was tinged red, looking as if a gate had opened.

‘I didn’t expect it to activate here too. Does it trigger because I obtained the map?’

He couldn’t be sure since he’d never ventured this deep before.

Without Eliza’s guidance, it would have been difficult to discover.

Whatever the case, it wasn’t important now.

What mattered now was that he was finally about to enter the Hidden Field.

‘There might be Hidden Pieces hidden away.’

Hidden Fields were naturally filled with all sorts of Hidden Pieces.

Even just triggering a sudden Quest like in the Habitat of the Warriors would be profitable. As he approached closer, text appeared.

[Ominous Mist Zone]

[You have discovered the Hidden Field ‘Ominous Mist Zone’ for the first time.]

[First discovery benefits are granted.]

[Experience points increased by +20%.]

[Drop rate increased by +20%.]

[Recorded in Adventure Log.]

‘As expected…’

Dohyun clenched his fist at the word “first.”

In RPG games, the word “first” always carried something that made your heart race.

Perhaps he really could obtain something related to the Fragment of Fate here.

With such expectations and a bit of tension, Dohyun stepped inside the entrance.

[Entering Hidden Field ‘Ominous Mist Zone’.]

[First discoverer benefits applied.]

The scenery that unfolded was quite different from his expectations.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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