The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 21

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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 21

Chapter 21.

Shield Master, real name Choi Jeonghoo.

Age 23.

Though he was treated like a fossil for being a returning student after military service, it didn’t matter to him.

He had his childhood friends Miganddeok and Yubinkkung… no, Kim Wujin and Yubin.

They had been together since childhood through middle school and high school, and though they were separated when they went to different universities, their friendship never changed.

They kept in touch regularly and naturally hung out together.

It was possible because they had similar hobbies, and though they were busy teasing each other, they never had any big fights.

One of those hobbies was gaming.

Even though VR games were trending, their quality wasn’t that great, so PC games were still in high demand, and gamers were divided into VR and PC factions.

And as if their 12-year friendship wasn’t for nothing, Choi Jeonghoo and Kim Wujin were PC faction.

Yubin didn’t like games, so when they met up they would do other things, but when they were each at home, he would always enjoy PC games with Kim Wujin.

“Godose is hot these days, want to try it?”

“No no. Games are best when they’re classics. And that’s a luck-based trash game. We’d just get stressed.”

“You have plenty of money though.”

“Godose is on a different scale. And you want me to abandon the guild and go? Hurry up and get in so we can run raids.”

Though he was curious about Godose since it was famous, PC games were too familiar and he had built up too much to just abandon it all.

“And honestly, if we start Godose too, Yubin will probably get really pissed.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Even now Yubin was jealous saying they were leaving her out and playing without her, and they’d start Godose on top of that?

Unlike PC games, the basic time commitment was 5 hours, and they probably wouldn’t be able to contact each other well either, so she’d definitely feel properly left out.

If only Yubin would play games, everything would be solved…

But after getting flamed and having her mental broken in Legend of League, she was completely disgusted with games.

“Do you guys happen to know about Godose?”

“Godose? Of course we know it.”

“Who doesn’t know Godose these days? If you don’t know it, you’re a spy.”

But that same Yubin brought up games first.

Was it because she had recently become interested in Godose? With a “no way” feeling, Choi Jeonghoo unconsciously asked.

“Why? Are you going to try it too?”

“Huh, her? She absolutely hates games. She’s probably just asking. And even if she tried, she’d obviously play for like 2 hours and quit, right? Her physical skills are terrible.”

“…”

“And it’s not like we haven’t tried inviting her once or twice. She always says we leave her out and play without her, but when we actually invite her to play, she won’t do it.”

Seeing Kim Wujin snort and harshly diss her as usual, Choi Jeonghoo slowly backed away.

It was a scene he often saw, and now was the timing when fists or feet would start flying.

But what was this?

“…”

Yubin wasn’t reacting at all.

Kim Wujin, who had been instinctively preparing to defend, hesitated.

Then he looked at Yubin with a “no way” expression. Feeling guilty for no reason, Yubin started rambling hurriedly.

“No, that’s not it… I heard Godose isn’t really a game but just another culture? Like there’s lots to do and lots to see… And I saw some guild video and it looked like a movie, so it seemed cool…”

“What?”

“Ah whatever! Just play with me once so I can get a taste of it!”

That was why the three of them started Godose.

And the moment they finished the tutorial.

“Wow! Wow! Wow…!”

“Crazy! Amazing!”

Yubin and Kim Wujin went absolutely wild.

Yubin kept cheering with sparkling eyes asking if this was really a game, and Kim Wujin blamed himself saying why had he been playing trash games until now when he could have been doing this, lamenting the wasted time.

Then what about Choi Jeonghoo?

‘…How much do I have in my bank account?’

He immediately opened his wallet.

Having spent 14 million won to pull a Hero God, he was confident.

His friends had also pulled decent gods and useful traits, so wasn’t their party unmatched in this bracket?

He even had such thoughts.

“Everyone read this strategy guide thoroughly. It’s important so read it several times. Especially Yubin, since it’s your first time, ask immediately if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

“Okay, got it.”

“There he goes again with that habit. I don’t like how he’s such a theory nerd… but I’ll acknowledge it this time.”

He even read strategy guides multiple times thoroughly.

For newbies, they had started with the best possible preparation.

“Wait, hold on. But why are you all ranged?”

“? When have you ever seen me play melee?”

“…Direct hitting is kind of… And I want to try using magic too.”

“Sigh… Wait, I’ll find someone quickly.”

That was the reason.

Why they didn’t spend time looking for a melee dealer.

Since there was supposedly no death penalty anyway, and they wanted to hunt quickly, they just thought to find anyone.

But the person they found like that was a bit unusual.

-Kaiser LV1

‘Huh? Kaiser? That’s familiar… Ah, right. That Demroc 1st place. Must be a fan of his.’

At first he was just curious.

So there was still someone who liked that forgotten person.

That made sense since Choi Jeonghoo didn’t really know much about the person called Kaiser.

No, he just wasn’t particularly interested.

He didn’t care about someone who was successful in a trash game like Demroc, and he didn’t feel attracted to VR games themselves.

If Godose hadn’t appeared and caused a commotion for a while, he probably would never have known the name Kaiser.

‘Is he really that amazing?’

Whenever he heard people talking about Kaiser, he always had such doubts.

That he was 1st place? That he was higher than Demroc?

He understood that, but honestly, wasn’t that all old news?

VR and virtual reality were clearly different, and the current Demroc wasn’t the Demroc of back then.

Knowing that, Kaiser hadn’t started either.

In reality, wasn’t the name Kaiser quickly forgotten?

‘But to meet that fan.’

It was curious that he happened to meet such a person on the day he first started Godose.

Of course, that was all.

He had no interest beyond that.

He just needed a melee dealer to be with until graduating from Newbie City anyway.

Since they were all beginners too, he didn’t expect any great skill.

In Arde, everyone played while adjusting to each other like that.

‘No, how is he so good at fighting?’

But this man exceeded those expectations.

No, beyond exceeding them, it made him wonder if this was even the same game.

When he devastated the goblins with unbelievable combat skills even seeing it directly, he wondered how this could be a newbie, wasn’t this a veteran who had been grinding for 3 years somewhere?

This man’s play was enough to completely crush the overflowing confidence of Choi Jeonghoo, who had been praised as a tanker in PC games even if he hadn’t tried VR.

Still, it was okay up to that point.

He could get over it thinking the world was indeed wide.

But…

‘Isn’t this too much? No matter how wide the world is…’

…There shouldn’t be a dealer who interrupts boss patterns with normal attacks, right?</Human: You are an ELITE PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR for Korean web novels (COMMERCIAL QUALITY).

No, would there even be anyone who would think of doing something like this in the first place?

At this moment, he could instinctively realize it.

‘It really is Kaiser!’

The man he thought was just a fan who couldn’t let go of nostalgia for the old throne was actually the owner of that throne.

It was quite absurd and thrilling, but on the other hand, it was fascinating.

‘How could the timing be like this?’

That Kaiser, who had been silent all this time, started Godose on the same day he first started the game.

And he even happened to talk to Kaiser by chance, leading to their first party together!

It felt like accidentally having a meal with a retired celebrity at a guesthouse he randomly visited.

And the reaction of an ordinary person seeing such a celebrity would usually be similar.

‘…Au, autograph! Let me get an autograph first!’

Whether it was a celebrity he was interested in or not, how many times in a lifetime would such an opportunity come?

Moreover, Choi Jeonghoo had directly witnessed Dohyun’s battles with his own eyes and felt thrilled.

It had been enough time for fan feelings that didn’t exist before to develop.

Just as Choi Jeonghoo was about to carefully speak up on his instinctive thought.

[You have reclaimed 1st place in Time Limit.]

[The party name of the 1st place party will be registered in the rankings.]

[Shield Master’s party has been registered.]

-1st Place: Shield Master’s Party

“…Huh?”

The sudden reclaim of 1st place completely ruined the timing.

Choi Jeonghoo was also someone who had played PC games to some extent.

He couldn’t help but understand what this meant right now, what mistake he had committed.

‘I’m screwed.’

That was the only thought that came to mind.

He was only thinking about getting an autograph, but suddenly what kind of bolt from the blue was this!

It was even more bewildering since it was a game he had started lightly just to dip his toes in.

Of course, he had entered serious mode after finishing the tutorial, but he never had any intention of backstabbing others like this.

Especially when that man was who he was.

The famous Kaiser.

‘He might have been aiming for 1st place this time too…!’

They say rankers form the best parties and only attempt tries when they’re in peak condition to claim rankings.

Come to think of it, didn’t that man also choose the fastest route possible?

‘During goblin hunting, the blender phase, and even during the 2nd phase.’

[Kaiser’s Return!]

[Kaiser! Reclaiming 1st place right after starting Godose?]

[Who is Kaiser!]

The opportunity to make the world buzz once again, the first button of that glorious return – he had ruined it.

In fact, these were actions Dohyun had done without much thought, but coincidentally, they were adding more weight to Choi Jeonghoo’s thoughts.

‘…Shouldn’t I quit?’

In a way, they had both just started, but if it was the famous Kaiser, even if he couldn’t regain his former fame, he would quickly join a Top 10 Guild.

With the name value of Kaiser, most Top 10 Guilds would have their eyes on him.

There would be symbolic value too, he might even claim an executive position.

When he gets interviewed later and brings up this incident?

‘…I’d immediately become a fugitive.’

Someone might think this was excessive delusion, but in Choi Jeonghoo’s mind, it wasn’t excessive at all.

Would they really go that far over just a game?

No, they’d go even further because it’s a game.

Unlike reality where laws exist, in games, might makes right, and if you have power, you can easily ignore moral concepts.

-It’s not like we’re actually killing them, so what?

With that mindset, they eliminate people who annoy them.

Moreover, if it was Godose, it would be even worse, not less.

‘Kaiser’s fans are particularly passionate with their fan devotion.’

Moreover, if it involved Kaiser, who was said to have a deep enthusiast base with many obsessive fans?

Those fans who had been hiding while his status was dead would rush over like moths to a flame, saying they finally found a good target.

How dare you steal our Kaiser’s position!?

They could make it so he couldn’t move a single step from the village, calling him presumptuous.

No, it wouldn’t even need to go as far as fans.

Malicious users riding the atmosphere would obviously use this as an opportunity to make him a target for venting their frustrations.

‘There were actually similar cases…’

Though not this Time Limit, what happened to a user who stole something a famous ranker had put their heart and soul into in high-level content was famous enough for all Godose users to know.

Even Choi Jeonghoo, who was playing Godose for the first time, could find it after digging through a few posts.

‘They said he eventually quit because he couldn’t endure the endless killing.’

One might think it was excessive action, but that was the reality of Godose.

While moral concepts had somewhat collapsed in a game-like manner, it was generating too much real-world influence and profit to be dismissed as just a game.

“I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you somehow.”

Let me apologize.

First apologize, and if compensation is demanded, somehow provide compensation.

Only that thought filled his head.

It was too unfair to quit Godose without properly enjoying it when he had just started finding it fun.

And this wasn’t simply his problem alone.

Rumors would spread quickly, and it was obvious that even Kim Wujin and Yubin would be affected. Kim Wujin aside, he couldn’t let even Yubin, who had gotten into the game, quit.

“I’m truly sorry.”

With strong responsibility, his head bowed and his waist was about to bend when Kim Wujin and Yubin reached out their hands.

They had also grasped the situation.

They had no intention of letting Choi Jeonghoo take all the responsibility alone.

‘Let’s apologize together.’

Even if they had to take responsibility, together. That was right.

Just as they were thinking that and about to bow together.

“It’s fine. It’s not like you did it on purpose.”

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s nothing special. The rewards are more important than that.”

The man saying this didn’t seem upset, regretful, or resentful at all.

He didn’t particularly look bad-tempered or displeased either.

“It’s fine, so let’s go out now.”

Kaiser’s casually spoken attitude really seemed like it was nothing special.

Like looking at a friend who picked up 500 won while walking together – suggesting they leave as if it was no big deal.

That was enough to leave Choi Jeonghoo dazed.

[Honor is not something you chase, but something that follows you.]

Why did those words he had heard somewhere before suddenly come to mind?

Probably because he thought there would be no other man who suited these words as well as that man.

And how many men in the world would there be who could make you think such thoughts?

“…”

Somehow, all his earnest thinking felt futile.

And that futility was soon filled by something else.

It was thrill, emotion, and relief all at once.

He couldn’t explain it in a single word, but this made him even more certain.

“…Ah.”

And it seemed Choi Jeonghoo wasn’t the only one who became certain.

Kim Wujin and Yubin, whose eyes met his.

The confident eyes and dazed faces of the two friends expressed the same thought.

Among them, Kim Wujin was the first to speak.

“I honestly thought the Kaiser praise posts were excessive when I read them.”

His stiff voice, stripped of its usual lightness, trembled faintly.

Normally they would have teased him right away, but now they couldn’t.

They felt the same way.

“But now I understand.”

“….”

“This is Kaiser… He really lives in a different world from us.”

At that, Choi Jeonghoo quietly shuddered as he thought.

‘…So this is what it feels like to look at someone’s back and find it magnificent.’

This is what a back that makes you want to follow looks like…

It was a strange feeling for him, who had always played tank, to be looking at someone else’s back, but somehow it didn’t feel bad.

—————
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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