The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 104

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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 104

Chapter 104.

Dense Forest.

A landscape densely packed with trees and rocks.

‘Nothing different?’

Since it was supposedly a hidden piece with such a grand name, I expected a different scenery like the Habitat of the Warriors.

But this was no different from the Foul-Smelling Rock Forest.

The only difference was that the mist was a bit thicker and no orcs were visible?

‘They said monsters don’t set foot here.’

Due to the space being distorted by the aura of death, the setting was that low-intelligence orcs wouldn’t enter.

If this is the case, what’s the point of the first discovery reward…

Well, first discovery rewards are always applied similarly anyway.

I had no choice but to consider it bad luck.

-Ugh… Owner, I don’t like this place.

-Risa risa…

“Hmm? Why?”

-It feels creepy. Should I say it’s somewhat eerie?

But that seemed to be only my thought.

Seeing Jihad and Eliza getting goosebumps as if walking through a cemetery at midnight.

‘There must be something here.’

It was certain seeing those two, who react sensitively to auras, acting like that.

How long had I been walking ahead with those two tense companions?

After exploring for about 10 minutes, pushing through thickets and examining rocks, Dohyun finally couldn’t hold back and frowned.

“There’s nothing here, absolutely nothing!”

-Strange… I definitely felt something creepy.

-Risa!

Eliza agreed with Jihad’s words, but contrary to what they said, nothing was discovered.

Let alone fragments of fate, I was starting to doubt whether there were really any traces of the Destroyer in such a place.

‘Not even monsters, let alone a single animal in sight, what could there be…’

Though Dohyun had experienced various hidden fields in Demroc, this was the first time seeing a hidden field with absolutely nothing.

At this point, it would be fine to boldly do card summoning right in the middle…

‘Wait? That’s not bad?’

Card summoning in a hidden field?

Doesn’t that feel pretty good?

As I indulged in the absurd fantasy that this might become a third sacred spot, Jihad beside me shook his head.

-Sigh.

“Sigh? Did you just sigh?”

-No.

“You just don’t know the taste of card summoning. This addiction is no joke…”

-I don’t really know… Owner, wait a moment.

Jihad’s face, which had been responding with bewilderment, suddenly became serious.

Looking to the side, Eliza also had a serious expression while poking her head out of the pouch. Thanks to that, Dohyun also became serious and held his breath.

“…What is it?”

-Owner, there’s someone over there.

‘Someone’s there? Here?’

This is the first discovered hidden field, does that make sense?

At that moment, what naturally came to mind was Gaemin the Destroyer. If someone was here, wouldn’t the probability be high that it’s him?

Swoosh.

I quickly lowered my head to hide in the thicket, and Eliza also covered her mouth with her front paw, going “shh.”

Looking ahead carefully, there really was someone there as Jihad said.

Dohyun’s current location was on top of a slightly hilly area.

Below it was a small cave, and in front of that cave stood a man wearing armor.

Seeing that man, Dohyun opened his eyes wide in great bewilderment.

‘…Jerdic?’

‘Why is that annoying guy there?’

‘Risa!?’

A handsome man with striking blonde hair wearing silver armor.

Seeing that annoying face, it was definitely Jerdic.

‘Why is he here?’

Could that guy be Gaemin the Destroyer?

Come to think of it, that guy is also a paladin who uses divine power like an aura to strengthen his body.

Since he always attended meetings, it wasn’t an impossible assumption…

‘Hmm.’

He’s not some movie star, and it doesn’t make sense that all those behaviors showing a squad leader-like appearance were acting, does it?

It was when Dohyun’s mind, confused by Jerdic’s unexpected appearance, was turning negative.

“…Is this the last place? If it’s not here either, it means he’s hiding within the city.”

Muttering like that, Jerdic took out a pocket watch from his chest to check the time and clicked his tongue.

“There’s no time. I need to check quickly and return.”

Saying that, Jerdic entered the cave.

Only then did Dohyun’s group exhale the breath they had been holding.

-…My heart hurts.

-Risa risa…

While the two timid guardians were calming their startled hearts, Dohyun also organized his thoughts.

‘Was that guy also looking for traces of the Destroyer? And that’s how he ended up here.’

It was a credible guess.

Since his family was slaughtered by the Destroyer and he’s lived only for revenge.

He was the one who showed the greatest anger at the measurement ceremony too.

He’s not the type to sit quietly and wait for the stewards to come up with a plan.

‘As Steward Gildeti’s escort knight, he might well know about this place.’

To be entrusted with escorting a steward, one needs considerable connections and military power.

Above all, he’s not just a simple escort knight. As a knight with the potential to rise to the next paladin commander position, it wouldn’t be strange for him to know.

The problem here was Dohyun.

‘…Would it be okay to encounter him?’

It’s not strange for Jerdic to be here.

But what about himself?

That guy who reacted so strongly just to an outsider knowing about the Abyss, how would he react if found in a hidden field that even NPCs barely know about?

‘I’d be lucky if he doesn’t try to kill me immediately.’

It was obvious.

Back then, at least there was the detection orb, but there’s no way to explain this.

It’s not a place one could stumble upon by chance, and I couldn’t sell out Gamillion either.

[Remaining time limit: 00:14:28]

But I couldn’t just wait here for Jerdic to come out.

Not only was time running short, but his purpose was traces of the Destroyer.

It overlapped with my purpose.

If there’s only one trace and that guy takes it, I would fail the quest.

‘There’s no choice.’

Finally, Dohyun made his decision.

Having made his judgment, Dohyun activated Eliza’s bracelet.

[‘Weak Stealth’ is activated.]

-Owner, what are you planning?

-Risa risa?

Jihad and Eliza looked worriedly at Dohyun, who had become translucent.

To the two of them, Dohyun answered coolly.

“Tailing.”

-…Tailing?

“I’ll secretly follow and just bring back traces. If I’m lucky, it seems like I’ll get something for free?”

-….

Even if something came out, Jerdic would buy time, so if he could get the traces first, it would be a jackpot.

If he encountered the Destroyer, they could just fight together.

Since the Destroyer had already appeared, they wouldn’t demand explanations, would they?

-…It’s a perfect plan?

“Right?”

-Yeah, it’s a bit underhanded but there’s nothing to criticize.

-Risa risa.

Eliza nodded her head in agreement.

Dohyun chuckled and stepped forward, saying.

“Then I’ll go and come back, so both of you wait here. Keep watch to see what comes out.”

-Huh? You’re going alone?

“I have to. You two can’t use stealth.”

-Risa risa….

Eliza, who originally used that ability herself, looked somewhat dejected, but when he patted her head, she rubbed her face against him as if nothing had happened.

-Well… alright. Actually, I’ve been feeling an ominous aura from there, so I was uncomfortable.

“…Really?”

-Yeah, so be careful.

-Risa risa!

It seemed there really was something in there.

Even if Jihad didn’t know, Eliza wasn’t the type to exaggerate.

‘I should hurry in before it gets taken.’

With that, Dohyun entered the cave.

* * *

As typical caves go, the inside of the cave was dark.

But it wasn’t so dark that you couldn’t see an inch ahead.

‘This isn’t too bad.’

Compared to when he pierced through the mist while searching for the Hidden Field, this was nothing.

[Luminous Stone]

-Description: Usually attached to cave walls, it emits light on its own when in dark places.

Still, there were luminous stones attached here and there on the ceiling and walls.

It wasn’t exactly bright, but it was about as much as street lamps placed one by one in a dark night alley.

‘I don’t see any particular traces.’

He was walking while carefully examining the surroundings just in case, but nothing was found.

The Eye of Truth wasn’t activating either.

Since no bugs or monsters were appearing either, the inside of the cave was just quiet.

‘How far did he go in?’

It should only be a few minutes’ difference, but he had gone so deep that he was nowhere to be seen.

Just when reasonable suspicion arose that maybe there was an exit on the outside and he had left.

[…You followed me this far.]

A chilling voice was heard from somewhere.

The voice, scratching and cracking like nails on a chalkboard, echoed heavily inside the cave, making it impossible to tell which direction it was coming from.

He instinctively sensed it.

‘…The Destroyer.’

The owner of this eerie voice was definitely Gaemin the Destroyer.

It was a voice with presence befitting those who were said to touch upon humanity’s fundamental fears. Who would have thought there really would be one.

‘Was I discovered?’

It was when he was looking around while gulping down saliva.

“Stop- you bastard!!”

At the angry shout heard from ahead, Dohyun instinctively hid his body.

Then he saw it.

The ground and walls that were horribly melting away, eroded by the Abyss, and the figure of Gaemin the Destroyer standing on them.

The darkness rippling around him was swaying somewhat unstably.

And behind the man who had his back turned, Jerdic was pointing his sword.

“Don’t think of making excuses. That disgusting horn on your forehead, I remember it clearly. I’ve etched it into my brain countless times while dreaming of the day I’d kill you.”

Dohyun’s eyes widened at Jerdic’s voice, which was desperate to the point of being tragic.

‘Wow, what is this situation.’

What kind of atmosphere was this morning drama.

Dohyun, who suddenly found himself witnessing a tragic knight’s revenge scene, became extremely interested.

It was then that Gaemin the Destroyer opened his mouth.

[…This is troublesome. I had no intention of killing you right now.]

“…Kill? You kill me? Don’t be mistaken. The one who will kill is not you, but me.”

[Is that so….]

Gaemin the Destroyer, who muttered so, slowly turned around.

He was being cut by the sword held against his neck, but he didn’t care.

Jerdic’s emotions, who had lived longing for revenge, were overflowing so much that even Dohyun watching from behind could feel them.

The moment when two men finally faced each other after 10 years had passed.

“…What?”

Jerdic, who faced the man’s face, was colored with bewilderment.

Trembling as if he couldn’t believe it, he even removed his sword from Gaemin’s neck and stepped backward.

‘What is it, what’s happening.’

Naturally, Dohyun’s curiosity also grew.

What on earth did he see to make that Jerdic show such a reaction? No matter how much he moved his head this way and that, the Destroyer’s face wasn’t visible, blocked by Jerdic.

Only the glimpse of human skin that was revealed proved that he was currently in an unstable state.

“This is… this is impossible….”

Jerdic, who had been shocked as if he couldn’t believe it, soon let out an angry roar.

“How… how could you betray us!”

[….]

‘Betrayal?’

Then was he really someone who attended the meeting?

Among them, he was certainly someone close enough for Jerdic to feel betrayed. Just as he was thinking about who such a person might be.

[Betrayal… I think this should be expressed as sympathy rather than betrayal.]

“Ah… ahh….”

[…I have no ill feelings toward you, but this is unfortunate. To meet when I’m returning to being human… was it destined to die anyway.]

I was never on your side from the beginning. It was just a bit of sympathy.

Realizing this, Jerdic’s eyes became bloodshot.

Gripping his sword tightly as if to break it, he spat out a tragic curse through gritted teeth.

“Kill… I’ll kill you. I will never let you die comfortably. I’ll cut off your flesh piece by piece to feed to wolves, and tear off all your fingernails and toenails….”

However, such curses from Jerdic couldn’t continue to the end.

Swoosh-.

“…Huh?”

The moment the unstable dark aura suddenly stabilized.

Something flashed and he disappeared, and when he reappeared, he had already passed Jerdic.

Pshhhh-.

One strike.

With just a single clean strike, Jerdic’s neck was severed and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.

His head rolled and fell in front of Dohyun.

At a glance, his face showed eyes wide open in disbelief until the very last moment.

“…Insane.”

It was when he unconsciously muttered at that shocking sight.

Gaemin the Destroyer, who had stopped upright, turned his head in his complete Abyss form.

Looking directly at the wall where Dohyun was hiding, he spoke quietly.

[…There’s a little rat.]

Having said that, Gaemin the Destroyer slowly approached.

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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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