The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 259

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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 259

Episode 259.

“My empire doesn’t greatly interfere with or concern itself with the Disciples’ affairs. Do you know why?”

The heavily settled voice echoed softly through the audience chamber.

Dohyun didn’t answer hastily.

Baharun didn’t seem to want an answer either, simply continuing his words calmly.

“Because we’re confident that no matter what the Disciples do, they can’t pose a threat to our empire.”

“….”

In Baharun’s flickering eyes, something beyond confidence could be felt.

Considering that the number of Players alone reached a billion, and those in the empire numbered over a hundred million, it was truly an incomparably arrogant sight.

But even if someone other than Dohyun had heard these words, they wouldn’t be able to refute them.

It was a fact without the slightest exaggeration.

Who could dare call stating facts arrogant?

“But the Forgotten Tomb is different. It’s a place we can’t help but watch closely. If the Disciples failed, we were planning to step in ourselves and examine it thoroughly.”

Such a fearless emperor was showing wariness toward Disciples’ affairs for the first time.

‘Why on earth?’

Because the difficulty of the Forgotten Tomb was that high?

Was he worried that if the Disciples failed and disaster befell the empire, it would be catastrophic?

‘No, it can’t be just that reason.’

Though it was nearly impossible for current Players, the empire would have accomplished it without much difficulty.

Even if disaster struck the Main Continent, it would be the same.

There would have been civilian casualties, but they would have rooted it out completely within days.

“How could we not watch closely.”

Still, the reason the empire, and furthermore the arrogant emperor, watched closely.

“The Labyrinth of Denial that appeared suddenly one day. A tomb that emanates remarkably similar waves to that unpleasant labyrinth whose ominous aura grows increasingly stronger.”

“…!”

It was because the Forgotten Tomb was emitting exactly the same aura as the empire’s long-standing headache.

Dohyun paused, pondering the emperor’s shocking revelation for a moment.

If it was the same aura as the Forgotten Tomb, there was only one thing it could be.

‘…The Abyss.’

Beings filled with complete mystery.

It was certain they were in that labyrinth.

The presence of the Abyss meant a very high probability of being directly connected to the Main Quest.

It wasn’t coincidental that this topic came up right now.

“We’ve wanted to investigate the labyrinth all along, but the labyrinth itself doesn’t permit our entry. Yet trusting the Disciples feels unsettling….”

They had been cautious due to ministers’ words that nothing had happened yet, but carelessly meddling might cause trouble.

However, now that its connection to the Forgotten Tomb was revealed, the situation had changed.

“I believe that you, having conquered the Forgotten Tomb once, could understand what connection exists between the labyrinth and the tomb. Therefore, I wish to entrust you with investigating the labyrinth….”

“….”

“Kaiser. Can you accept my request?”

Ding-

[Quest ‘Investigation of the Labyrinth of Denial’ has occurred.]

[Investigation of the Labyrinth of Denial]

-Grade: Hero

-Description: The Labyrinth of Denial that suddenly appeared in the empire one day.

Though it’s a peculiar labyrinth that doesn’t permit entry to the empire’s citizens, it’s presumed to allow Disciples’ entry.

Therefore, Emperor ‘Baharun de Arnis’ wants you to discover what lies within.

Accept his request and investigate the labyrinth.

-Investigate the Labyrinth of Denial (0 / 1)

-Clear Reward: Chain Quest occurrence, 3,000 gold, a certain amount of experience

-Failure Risk: Chain Quest deletion and decrease in emperor’s favorability.

-Time Limit: 120 hours

Looking at the Quest that appeared after the emperor’s words, Dohyun grinned.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll investigate it thoroughly.”

There was no reason anywhere to refuse the opportunity to examine a labyrinth that would be the first for Players to be connected to the Main Quest.

* * *

Having left the audience chamber and exited the Imperial Capital, Dohyun wore a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

-Huh? What’s wrong, Owner. Weren’t you happy just now?

-Rizariza.

Jihad and Eliza looked puzzled at his different demeanor from when entering versus leaving the bathroom.

Dohyun chuckled at that.

As they said, he had certainly been pleased until receiving the Quest.

The opportunity given exclusively to him, ranked first in World Quest clearing, happened to be a Quest connected to the Abyss.

‘That part was good… but I still couldn’t find out if the Imperial Palace is colluding with them.’

Not only that.

He couldn’t even guess why the 2nd Prince and emperor’s bodies were so red.

Essentially, he had learned nothing.

That was quite disappointing. But he soon shook his head.

‘Well, this isn’t the only opportunity.’

He had gained the right to freely enter and exit the Imperial Capital while progressing the Quest.

The time limit was also a generous 120 hours.

In such a situation, impatience would only be poison.

Since he had time, slowly learning was the right decision.

‘I should be able to learn something by meeting the 1st Prince.’

Though he couldn’t meet him now since he had left for another city, he would return soon, so he decided to look forward to that time.

The 1st Prince was the most influential person in the current empire.

-An excellent decision, Master. Nothing good comes from moving hastily. It seems best to focus on the task at hand for now.

Beside the satisfied Charlie, Jihad suddenly interjected.

-Then we’re going straight to the labyrinth?

-Riza?

“No.”

Though he felt sorry for Eliza, whose eyes sparkled brightly with curiosity about the labyrinth, Dohyun shook his head.

Eliza visibly deflated.

“Don’t get too down, Eliza. We will go. I just have somewhere to stop by first before investigating.”

-…Riza?

-Somewhere to stop by? Ah, meeting those Comrades?

“…When I say I’m stopping by somewhere, are Comrades the only thing that comes to mind?”

-Ahem, Owner doesn’t have friends though.【/</p】

He wanted to flick her forehead for the first time in a while, but had no words to refute.

His empty friends list now had only three slots filled.

-Ast

-Training

-EyesNice

‘Auntie said she had some meeting, and that woman said she was leaving for training again. She’s probably meditating under a waterfall.’

Moreover, the Empress’s name among them didn’t have a green light.

Given her characteristic of having day and night mixed up, she was probably still in dreamland.

‘Those nicknames are ridiculous even now.’

The absurdity he felt when befriending those two before logging off yesterday was still vivid.

Unlike Violet-Flavored Auntie who was playing with the decent nickname Astra, those two had unusual nicknames from the start.

“…EyesNice? Why is your nickname like that?”

“I didn’t know it would be such a hit, so I just made it up casually. And well, it’s good to look kind, right? Then I don’t have to get beaten up.”

“….”

The Empress saying that with a fierce laugh was absurd even now when I think about it, but I could still understand it.

There was nothing strange about a crazy woman doing crazy things.

The most ridiculous one was the Sword Master.

‘Training to not forget the heart that wants to devote oneself to training, what kind of… Even thinking about it again, it’s absurd. If you look closely, that bastard is the crazier one.’

If Kukkudakkukku was openly insane, then the Sword Master was subtly out of her mind.

She was someone who occasionally had a unique mental world.

They always fought saying they were incompatible, but looking back, I had reasonable suspicions that it might have been hatred between kindred spirits.

‘That’s why people don’t call them by their nicknames but only by their titles…’

Those who had official titles recognized by the system could use their titles instead of nicknames.

Usually, many people registered their titles rather than nicknames on official rankings too.

The Sword Master and Empress were such cases.

Probably by now, many people really think their nicknames are Empress and Sword Master.

‘I was like that myself.’

As I was chuckling, I heard Jihad muttering quietly.

-…I think I know why they’re Owner’s companions. Yeah.

-Rizariza…

“? What do you mean? Where else can you find someone as normal as me?”

-Uh… Do the ‘normal’ that humans use and the ‘normal’ I know have different meanings?

“You want to get hit after a long time… Hmm?”

By the time I took out my fist of justice and smiled warmly, Jihad had already hidden behind Charlie.

That’s knee-jerk level reflexes.

Do you need to be at this level to safely run away even when battles unfold?

Dohyun, bewildered and letting out a hollow laugh, lowered his fist.

“Stop chatting, let’s go now.”

-Yes, Owner!

Then Jihad quickly came out and followed behind, with Charlie and Eliza following after them.

-But where are we going?

-Hmm, I’m curious too.

To the two’s questions, Dohyun answered briefly.

“Since I obtained it with difficulty, I should put it to use.”

The iron token clutched in Dohyun’s hand was reflecting sunlight, emitting a subtle glow.

* * *

Clang! Claang!

Stuffy air heated by the blazing heat.

The clear metallic sounds ringing out as iron struck iron. Even the craftsmen sweating profusely but showing no signs of fatigue.

-Indeed… so this was where you were going.

“I obtained it after going through a life-or-death situation, so I’d be frustrated if I didn’t come.”

This was a blacksmith’s forge.

While forges were used by NPCs as well as many players, this wasn’t an ordinary forge.

-Hmm! They all seem like skilled craftsmen. We should be able to get good armor.

A place filled with outstanding blacksmiths skilled enough that Charlie, who was picky about equipment as a former knight commander, acknowledged their abilities just by eyeballing them.

A place that was always counted among the most skilled forges in the Arniss Empire.

The only forge that the Sword Emperor, Gawain Drew, not only favored but had an exclusive contract with.

[Argethram Grand Forge]

‘This is the place that’s supposed to make equipment so well?’

There were various fields in crafting.

Even within major categories like weapons, armor, and accessories, the world of crafting had endlessly many subdivisions when you got into the details.

‘At least for melee weapons and armor, I heard Argethram Grand Forge is considered the best.’

Among the Empire’s three major crafting forges, Argethram Grand Forge was the one that handled melee equipment.

It wasn’t for nothing that the Sword Emperor had an exclusive contract with them.

As such, it operated on a reservation system, and there were so many reservations backed up that it took several months to get a single weapon.

‘Even then, if a player’s level is insufficient, they won’t make equipment for them.’

Therefore, Argethram Forge also served as a kind of guarantee among players.

If you could carry around equipment from this place, it was as good as proving your abilities.

Claang-

It was then that the metallic sounds that had been ringing out steadily stopped.

One blacksmith who had finished a weapon and finally raised his head spotted Dohyun and narrowed his wrinkled eyes.

“Hmm? What are you, kid. There was no word of anyone coming? Hey, did you check the reservation list properly?”

“Yes! The next customer is scheduled to be Zebran, visiting in 2 hours.”

“Hey, young man. Is your name Zebran?”

“What? Who came?”

“Hmm, that’s strange. As I remember, that guy isn’t Zebran.”

“Ah, did you take that reservation, brother? You remember that well.”

“That customer was a woman, so of course.”

It was quite a surprising gender reveal, but that wasn’t important right now.

The atmosphere among the blacksmiths turned menacing as they realized this wasn’t a reserved customer.

Their muscles rippled as they stopped crafting and approached.

Even though they were short, they were all bulky and muscular, making them look like thugs.

And that wasn’t all.

“…It seems we have an impudent customer.”

The aura of a knight slowly rising from the back was extraordinary.

Dohyun recognized the face.

He had seen that face whenever the community held tournaments for fun to rank the Empire’s strongest.

‘Was it Dran, the Knight of Swift Wind? I think he was a strong fighter in the top 100.’

Being in the top 100 in the Empire meant being an incredible powerhouse.

The Top 100 fighters were evaluated as those even the Top 10 Guilds couldn’t guarantee victory against.

Just as he was about to quickly show his iron token since there was no need to get unnecessarily entangled.

“What is this commotion about.”

A powerful, resonant voice rang out.

What appeared among the blacksmiths, dispelling the menacing atmosphere, was an elderly man.

“You call yourselves blacksmiths yet make such a fuss over such a trivial matter. Sir Dran is lending his strength so you can focus solely on crafting, yet what is this disgraceful behavior… Huh?”

“…Huh?”

But that old man’s face was familiar.

It wasn’t just Dohyun who thought so, as the old man who had been scolding also made eye contact with Dohyun and got a strange look in his eyes.

And at that moment.

“Oh!?”

“You are!?”

Almost simultaneously, both men’s eyes widened.

Joy settled in their widened pupils.

“Master Aison?”

“Aren’t you Kaiser! Have you finally made up your mind to become my disciple?”

The great blacksmith called a craftsman among craftsmen, who had expelled Leon after his defeat to Dohyun in the enhancement battle and had been coveting Dohyun as a disciple.

It was the moment of an unexpected reunion with Aison.

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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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