The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 139

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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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Chapter 139

Episode 139.

“Please come this way.”

Following the guard’s guidance as they entered, Dohyun looked around his surroundings.

It was a somewhat gloomy scenery, but perhaps because the moonlight gently embraced it, even that felt atmospheric.

The candles placed here and there, along with decorative items like swords and daggers, probably contributed to the mood as well.

‘Wow… Owner, it’s really huge.’

‘Risa risa…’

‘Hmm, it’s a magnificent castle. It looks very sturdy.’

‘Right. It’s incredibly big.’

Another characteristic was that it was the building with the largest interior that Dohyun had ever seen.

In terms of size alone, it was much larger than even Brion’s Lyre Grand Temple.

They had already been walking for about 10 minutes, but the corridor still hadn’t ended.

‘Well, it was clearly visible even from the forest.’

Considering that the entire city looked like the castle’s garden, such grandeur seemed natural.

To think that no player had ever seen this massive castle.

In this truly glorious moment, Dohyun’s curiosity only grew.

‘Why exactly were they so reluctant to see players?’

What Dohyun had handed to the guard was Jin Ruddell’s handwritten letter.

Seeing how they immediately let him in once his uncle’s letter was verified, didn’t that mean they had been deliberately refusing players’ entry all this time?

‘I’ll find out soon enough.’

He would be able to learn the reason soon.

How long had they walked like that?

The guard arrived in front of the most antique-looking door among all the doors they had passed in the corridor and bowed his head.

“The Lord is waiting inside. Then I shall take my leave…”

Dohyun nodded and took a deep breath before opening the door.

Then a voice immediately reached his ears.

“…Are you the one who brought Uncle Jin’s letter?”

It was a low, murmuring baritone that seemed somehow powerless.

And this was felt even more clearly from his appearance.

Despite the room being larger than most living rooms, with its antique interior and splendid decorations, the young man leaning against and lying on the bed looked very sickly.

“The Lord asks you a question. Please answer.”

An elderly man in butler’s attire standing beside the man urged for an answer.

It was a heavy voice that didn’t seem like it could come from such a slender frame.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

When Dohyun instinctively answered immediately, the young man—the Lord—chuckled and spoke as if reciting.

“It’s already surprising that Uncle Jin, who caused such a commotion before leaving, sent a letter, but for an Apostle to bring it… There are many things I’m curious about.”

The Lord then beckoned him to come closer.

As Dohyun approached, he discreetly examined the Lord.

A face drained of energy like a patient who had fought illness for a long time, and emaciated arms and legs.

Despite his youthful face that seemed to have just passed twenty, his condition was far from good.

His blonde hair, which should have been brightly shining, was dull and brittle without luster, and the skin visible in places had turned purple, looking clearly abnormal.

‘…So this is why he didn’t show himself.’

The owner of this massive castle and the city.

His young age would already be a flaw, but if he looked like he could collapse at any moment, it would be embarrassing.

In severe cases, his authority could fall to the ground and become uncontrollable.

‘There’s no way he’d reveal this to loose-lipped players.’

Even now, wasn’t the entire community buzzing with excitement, focusing on his every move?

The Lord’s secret! Turns out the Lord is a severely ill patient!?

If rumors about the Lord spread, such articles would obviously dominate the homepage.

“As you can see, I cannot show myself to people.”

“…Yes.”

That made him even more curious.

The fact that he decided to meet an Apostle he’d never seen before in such circumstances meant that Jin Ruddell’s letter was that important to him.

“Uncle Jin is my brother and no different from a father to me. Along with Butler Berik here, he was my only ally. When father died and I took the successor’s seat, enemies surrounded me from all sides. As if they had been waiting for that moment…”

“…My Lord.”

When the elderly man called Butler Berik spoke carefully, the Lord nodded.

“I said something unnecessary. My name is Jei Ruddel. What is your name?”

“Kaiser.”

“Kaiser… I understand. And those behind you are…”

“My Guardians.”

At the mention of Guardians, Ruddel didn’t probe further.

People here didn’t often travel with Guardians, but he knew it was common among Apostles.

“Do you know what was written in the letter?”

Once introductions were finished, Jei Ruddel’s expression became infinitely serious.

When Dohyun shook his head, Jei Ruddel continued.

“It was full of corruption information about those targeting me. The backpack contained evidence against those bastards. No simple greetings at all… Anyway, that’s just like Uncle Jin.”

As he smiled slightly, he seemed to miss Jin Ruddell somehow.

That’s probably why.

“…Uncle Jin is dead?”

When Dohyun opened his heavy mouth to inform him of Jin Ruddell’s situation, his face hardened.

Dohyun didn’t bother to answer.

Learning that someone he’d relied on since childhood was dead would be a tremendous shock.

“Ah…”

But that was answer enough, and Jei Ruddel soon ran his hand over his gaunt face.

“He left saying he’d live freely… Why did he come back… Because of me, precious people keep getting sacrificed. What am I that…”

“My Lord. Please calm yourself. I’m concerned about your health.”

“Why can’t those damn Outlaws just leave our bloodline alone? One is slowly dying from a curse, and one becomes a wandering spirit unable to find peace…”

“A curse?”

When Dohyun asked back in surprise without realizing it, their eyes met.

After thinking for a moment, they nodded.

“You said you were the only person who could communicate with Uncle Jin. If you’re an Apostle that uncle trusted and entrusted… it would be right to tell you.”

“I think the same, My Lord.”

[You have cleared Quest ‘Uncle’s Belongings’.]

[The effect of title ‘Max Favorability from the Start?’ activates. Favorability increases greatly.]

[The favorability of Sargis’s Lord ‘Jei Ruddel’ increases dramatically.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Chain Quest ‘Truth of the Castle’ begins.]

Dohyun was startled by the message that appeared after those words.

‘My level increased? Already?’

With this, Dohyun’s level became 44.

He had just become level 43 upon leaving the King’s Tomb, but for his level to increase after clearing just two quests was incredible.

It had been damn difficult to level up since Sargis.

“It was three years ago…”

Dohyun came to his senses and focused on Jei Ruddel’s calmly spoken voice.

The story that followed could be summarized like this.

Three years ago, when Ian Ruddel, the former Lord and Jei Ruddel’s father, died and there was commotion over the Lord’s position.

“On a night when the full moon rose, they descended riding the moonlight.”

Ghosts whose existence as beings of this world was questionable.

The suddenly appeared Outlaws led legions and threatened the castle.

In such a situation, he couldn’t leave the Lord’s position vacant, so as agreed, Jei Ruddell, the legitimate heir, became the Lord.

Thus, Jei Ruddell led the knight order and troops to confront them.

“Countless soldiers and knights were sacrificed. But we had a chance of winning. It seemed like we could hold them off if things continued as they were.”

“….”

“Until they brought out ‘that thing’.”

A terrifyingly cold aura.

After bringing out something of unknown identity, the Outlaws began emanating the energy of the underworld that they couldn’t unleash in this world.

Though they couldn’t exert their full power, that much was enough.

“All those who came into contact with it froze from the terrible cold, and died feeling burning pain as if poisoned by deadly toxins. A horrifying aura that wouldn’t even allow approach….”

Thanks to that, the tide of victory was completely reversed.

It wasn’t like those bastards could continuously emit the underworld’s energy, but the moment it activated, they had no choice but to flee without looking back.

“In the end, I was defeated. But I survived. Shamelessly, in place of the Knight Commander of Sargis Castle’s life.”

“Please don’t say such things, my Lord. Lord Pagis simply fulfilled his duty admirably. Such words would rather disrespect his sacrifice.”

“Ha. That’s the problem, Butler. We lost our greatest strength trying to save me for no reason. Looking at me just twiddling my thumbs wondering when the Outlaws might come, I think he would shed tears.”

“….”

The atmosphere became tense for a moment and the conversation stopped, but there was no need to hear more.

‘Whoa…. Owner, this is way more serious than I thought?’

‘As he said, they were on the verge of falling into evil’s grasp.’

‘Risa risa.’

As the guys said, it was a situation where it wouldn’t be strange if they fell to the Outlaws at any time.

The Lord was dying, and their greatest strength was gone.

If the city’s people knew about this situation, it wouldn’t be strange if they perished from a coup even before the Outlaws invaded.

“I’ve always wondered. From their perspective, we should be fish already caught in their net. Why did they suddenly stop moving and spend years searching for something?”

“….”

“But it was thanks to Uncle Jin. The person who left shouting about freedom is protecting us even in death….”

Jin Ruddell, who had gathered corruption information and evidence of interfering forces for Jei Ruddell’s sake, stopped by Sargis and met a futile death.

He was using what he did best—thievery.

Even in death, he was protecting his precious nephew and the city from the Outlaws.

‘It’s touching, Owner…, to think that talkative gentleman had such a secret.’

‘Risa risa.’

‘Hmm! Indeed, worthy of one who recognized my lord’s greatness. What admirable sense of responsibility.’

‘…He does look a bit different now.’

This is why you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance alone.

His image, which had been recognized as ‘Little Zrinna’ or ‘Zrinna No. 2’ in Dohyun’s mind, changed to that of a responsible master thief.

Ding—

[Quest ‘Truth of the Castle’ cleared.]

[You have learned the truth of Sargis Castle.]

[Recorded in Adventure Log.]

After hearing the entire truth, Dohyun’s face was serious.

‘That ‘thing’ the Outlaws obtained must definitely be negative energy.’

Just as Gaemin the Destroyer could maintain human reason from the Abyss thanks to the Hourglass of Faith.

The Outlaws were undoubtedly using some of the underworld’s power through negative energy.

‘You said if you don’t complete the destiny, having fragments doesn’t mean much, and there’s only some influence. Isn’t this influence too big?’

Dohyun let out a hollow laugh, remembering the Dark King who had spoken as if it was no big deal.

One city was turned upside down, and one city almost perished, and if this was ‘some influence’, then great influence would destroy entire nations.

Considering this wasn’t even a fragment but a half-key made it even more absurd.

‘…Or not?’

If it hadn’t been the Outlaws specifically who possessed the negative energy, it might not have been this threatening.

The Hourglass of Faith was also problematic because a Summoner of Darkness Contracted with the Abyss possessed it; otherwise, wouldn’t it have been just an hourglass containing divine power?

‘Well, that’s not what’s important right now.’

What mattered was that it was now certain from the circumstances that the Outlaws possessed negative energy.

With this, Dohyun was inevitably bound to capture the Outlaws.

It was while he was steeling his resolve.

Dong— Dong—

A massive bell sound echoing from outside the castle.

It was that bell sound that rang when the full moon appeared.

“How strange. For the bell to ring at this hour.”

“It does ring on its own sometimes.”

“…Hmm? On its own?”

At Dohyun’s question, Jei Ruddell answered as if it was nothing special.

“A bell that responds to lunar energy. It makes sounds on its own when the moon rises, and occasionally does this after the full moon appears.”

“We think it’s probably because it has absorbed a lot of lunar energy.”

“Since the Outlaws appeared, it feels like it’s been reduced to a bell that announces their appearance…. It’s truly a mysterious bell. I wonder what skilled person made it.”

At Jei Ruddell’s muttering, the Butler smiled warmly.

Then he opened his mouth with eyes filled with nostalgia as if recalling the past.

“The previous Lord also loved that bell very much. I still remember him saying that its blue color resembled the moon and brought peace to his heart.”

“Father too… He must have been disappointed that the bell had been there so long that its creator was unknown.”

“That’s right. He used to say that every night.”

It was then that Dohyun, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly interjected.

“…Blue? Not red?”

“Pardon?”

The two men tilted their heads at Dohyun’s surprised appearance, his eyes widening in shock.

“Of course it’s blue, isn’t it? It has such a cold color.”

It wasn’t just the two of them.

‘Huh? Owner, what are you talking about? Anyone can see it’s blue.’

‘Risa risa.’

‘…It looks blue to my eyes as well, my lord.’

To Jihad, Eliza, and Charlie’s eyes, it also appeared blue.

In this place, Dohyun was the only one who knew the bell as red.

What this meant was simple.

“…Huh?”

The massive bell that announced the night.

That was the third fragment of destiny in Sargis.

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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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