The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 260

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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 260

Episode 260.

Should I call it thanks to Aison’s enthusiastic welcome(?)?

The gazes of the blacksmiths looking at Dohyun no longer held wariness. Curiosity and interest had taken its place instead.

“So. This young man is the talent that Master Aison mentioned?”

“Hmm, those aren’t hands that have held a hammer though…”

“Are you doubting Master Aison’s eye right now? Whatever else, isn’t he someone with a certain eye for talent?”

“He’s suspicious wearing that mask around, tsk!”

“How many days he was lamenting… I was curious all along, but seeing him like this is fascinating.”

When he had declined the disciple position, he did seem quite disappointed, but it seems he spread rumors more than expected.

Seeing them swarm over like looking at zoo monkeys, examining every detail while whispering.

“Hmm.”

Even Dran, though leaning against the wall from a distance pretending to be uninterested, was glancing over showing interest.

The aura he gave off felt like a warrior, yet having exceptional talent in blacksmithing was fascinating.

And what was fascinating was the same for Dohyun. Meeting Dran in person was beyond what he had heard.

‘That’s a powerhouse ranking at the edge of the top 100… Even the aura he briefly revealed earlier was extraordinary.’

‘Mm. It was power surpassing the excellent apostles we saw in the tomb.’

‘He’d be stronger than most high rankers. It would take someone from the top 10 guilds to beat him, right?’

‘…This is a scary place, Owner.’

‘Rizariza.’

If someone barely at the edge of the top 100 is at that level, I can’t even imagine what the top 70 or top 30, said to have insurmountable walls, would be like.

Moreover, this is just the official ranking excluding the Seven Rivers.

The Empire had many hidden masters like the elders of the Mage Tower, and the prevailing opinion was that no one knew what other monsters might be hiding.

‘On the other hand, the gap between the top 10 guilds and rankers here is enormous… It’ll be at least several years before they can surpass the Empire’s forces.’

It wasn’t for nothing that even the most skilled players were mindful of the Empire, he thought.

“If you all have nothing to do, why don’t you talk? There’s work piled up like a mountain in the next room. If you’re really bored, helping with my work would be nice too.”

“Hehe, there’s no one like Master Aison for enhancement. Such jokes really…”

When one blacksmith showed a puzzled reaction, a colleague blacksmith next to him scolded him.

“Hey, you clueless fellow. Isn’t he saying to stop pestering and leave since he’s marked his territory?”

“Ah, is that what it was?”

“Your problem is that damn cluelessness. That’s why you always get nagged by your wife… Didn’t you get nagged for a month this time too after taking her to her parents’ as a surprise gift for your anniversary?”

“Why is that story coming up? And I still don’t understand why that was a problem…”

“Enough, stop chattering and just go.”

Though grumbling, the blacksmiths tactfully cleared the area.

They went to catch up on backed-up work or take appropriate rest time, and Dran also glanced over before turning his head away.

“Now we can talk comfortably. So, young man, what brings you here! Is it what I’m hoping for?”

“Ah, that’s not it.”

“Ah… then why?”

When he handed over what he held to Aison, who was openly smacking his lips in disappointment, his eyes widened.

“!? Isn’t this a sword token from the Seven Rivers!”

“…What?”

“A sword token!? Why does that young man have the Sword Emperor’s silver token?”

The blacksmiths who had been pretending not to listen while eavesdropping suddenly stood up.

The workshop instantly became noisy.

Eyes looking this way like meerkats with their heads raised seemed to urge him to speak. Though they were too muscular to be called meerkats.

“The Sword Emperor told me to change my armor. He said with this, I could get excellent armor.”

“If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place… Hmm, it’s rare for the Sword Emperor to give out silver tokens. How fascinating.”

The murmuring grew louder at Dohyun’s answer.

The times the Sword Emperor had given someone a silver token could be counted on one hand.

Moreover, if it was to an apostle, it was almost unprecedented.

“Is that fellow worth that much?”

“But didn’t Master Aison say he had the makings of a master craftsman? The Sword Emperor giving a silver token means he’s a warrior with exceptional qualities.”

“Sir Dran, what do you think? Haven’t you also received a silver token from the Sword Emperor?”

In the midst of the commotion over this exceptional situation, the room suddenly quieted at one blacksmith’s words.

Dran, who had suddenly become the center of attention despite just standing quietly, paused before answering.

“…In my experience, there was only one case where the Sword Emperor bestowed a silver token.”

“What was that?”

“Satisfying the Sword Emperor with one’s ‘sword.'”

Whether it was current strength or future potential.

Dran, who finished speaking saying something must be shown, was now openly showing curiosity. Eyes that wanted to spar once, unlike before.

The gazes of the blacksmiths looking at Dohyun had also changed from before.

‘Blacksmithing talent that Master Aison would covet, and a sword that satisfied the Sword Emperor…’

‘Hmm, if anyone else had said such things, I would have cursed them to stop talking nonsense.’

‘But with the evidence right there… we can’t help but believe it.’

‘Master Artram would find this interesting if he knew.’

The eyes that had simply been looking at a coveted talent now seemed to be looking at an unidentifiable monster.

Accordingly, Aison also no longer showed greed and approached with a serious face.

“Young man, you’re an even more exceptional talent than I thought.”

“…You flatter me.”

“You’re being too modest. If the Sword Emperor acknowledged you, you’re beyond the level of just talent. So, the Sword Emperor told you to make armor?”

Aison, who had taken the token and was examining it carefully, nodded.

“I checked just in case, but it’s definitely authentic. So when will you take the test?”

“Test?”

Suddenly what test?

At Dohyun’s reaction with question marks floating up, Aison tilted his head.

“Hmm? Didn’t you hear the explanation?”

“…No.”

“Hmm… Well, considering the Sword Emperor’s personality, that’s understandable.”

Aison’s lips curved up as his face showed ‘that figures.’

“Follow me. It’ll be a mysterious experience.”

“…?”

It was a smile filled with deep conviction.

* * *

The place they arrived at following Aison was a hidden room deep at the end of the corridor.

‘…There’s nothing here?’

An empty space.

What was peculiar was that it was divided into two rooms by what appeared to be reinforced glass, and there was some strange switch-like thing there.

Did it look different to Jihad and Eliza, who were sensitive to mana?

-…What is this? I can feel such pure mana?

-Rizariza.

-Mm, I don’t see anything with my eyes though.

As he wondered at the two who were quite amazed.

Aison, who had approached beside him, said proudly.

“You have the face of someone wondering why I brought you to see nothing.”

“…That’s not it.”

“Hehe, what do you mean it’s not.”

When the flustered Dohyun answered half a beat late, Aison smiled like a mischievous child despite his age.

Then he suddenly went beyond the glass window and put his hand into what looked like a square box.

It was where the switch was.

[‘Trial of Iron’ confirms the target’s physical abilities and mana.]

[‘Iron Proof’ confirms the target’s qualifications.]

[‘Iron Proof’ confirms the target’s potential.]

Then, with a suddenly appearing message, the surroundings shook and a strange phenomenon occurred.

What had been merely a small square compartment spread from his hand to his shoulder, then soon covered his entire body.

When only Aison’s two eyes were visible.

A silvery gray light seemed to cover the entire space beyond the glass window, then Aison’s eyes flashed.

[Confirmation complete.]

[Based on the above information, selecting minerals that will become the most suitable weapon material for the target.]

[Stored minerals confirmed.]

[‘Iron Proof’ produces ‘steel’ and ‘silver’.]

A message appeared simultaneously.

With that, the spectacular phenomenon came to an end.

The box smoothly returned to its original position as if it had never covered his body, spat out steel and silver as the message indicated, then didn’t even twitch.

“What is this…”

-Wow…

-Ri, Risa…

Dohyun and the Guardians, who had witnessed the entire spectacle from beginning to end without missing anything, opened their mouths in admiration.

Aison emerged with steel and silver in both hands, his face proud.

“How do you feel about witnessing the masterpiece of the former White Mage Tower Leader? It’s a product of magical engineering that analyzes physical abilities and potential, taking into account even qualities you yourself are unaware of to recommend the most suitable minerals. It’s something that can never be made again now.”

“…I’m amazed.”

“Based on the minerals that suit you best, we’ll analyze your physical conditions and craft custom armor for you.”

It wasn’t just amazing.

Based on the most suitable minerals, crafted by artisans considered the pinnacle even in the Empire?

This was something that absolutely could not fail – theoretically, it could create the most perfectly customized weapon possible.

‘This is really insane.’

Indeed, Aison had good reason to boast so confidently.

Argethram Workshop only made weapons if you chose one from their example catalog and ordered it.

There had never been a case of crafting custom armor for just one person like this.

‘…Master, this is an incredible benefit. It’s an opportunity we cannot miss.’

‘Rizariza.’

‘Are cases like this usually common, Owner?’

‘No, probably only the Sword Master guy, Demroc, and Slayer among Players. I’m not sure either.’

Only those three were officially known to have received silver sword tokens.

I’d heard they received tremendous rewards, but I never imagined it would be benefits of this magnitude.

“Seeing your surprised face makes it all worthwhile.”

Aison, who had been proudly straightening his shoulders, continued in a lowered voice as if sharing a secret.

“Though it’s here, it clearly belongs to the Sword Emperor, so we normally cannot use it freely. It can only be used when someone shows a silver sword token.”

“…I see.”

“That’s what makes the silver sword token special. Even in the Great Empire, only those who have received a sword token from the Sword Emperor can enjoy this privilege.”

Aison’s words seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

Right now, Dohyun couldn’t hear such words.

‘What will come out?’

What materials would emerge, and what would be the most suitable armor made from those materials.

He was dying of anticipation.

Dohyun, who had the heart of a child before opening Christmas presents, took a deep breath to suppress his urge to flare his nostrils.

“Well then, go ahead and enter.”

“…Yes.”

He bowed his head to Aison, who stepped aside, and entered.

Then, just like Aison had done, he stood in front of the square box and put his hand inside.

[‘Iron Proof’ confirms the target’s physical abilities and mana.]

Then the same message as before appeared, and the box transformed and crept up his arm.

It felt like being sucked into an iron hole – cold and strange to the touch.

Unlike how it looked, it was more unsettling than expected, he thought for a moment.

–!

Colorless light burst forth.

A color close to gray, the representative color of iron, the most common among minerals.

“Hmm, steel… hm?”

It was when Aison was muttering analytically while looking at that light.

The light intensified and began to contain silver and gold.

“Gold? It’s been a while since someone was evaluated as suitable for gold.”

Aison reacted with interest.

As he’d felt from the first meeting, this was indeed an exceptional young man. He was mentally planning what armor to make with the combination of gold, steel, and silver when it happened.

Flash-!

“…Blue and black? Bronze and even black steel?”

Gleam!

“W-wait. How far is this light going to spread?”

The amplification of light showed no signs of stopping.

When Aison couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sight of various colors mixing together to create a cosmos-like light that dominated beyond the glass window.

“Good heavens!”

A completely different light from before burst forth and colored the entire space.

The lights that had appeared until now were helplessly swallowed by this energy more intense than anything else. Aison’s pupils shook greatly as he watched the light expand its range as if devouring everything.

“This is a phenomenon I’ve never heard of or seen. If such a thing is possible, it could only be that…”

But it didn’t make sense.

That was a mineral that had never shown itself to anyone.

Not even to the Sword Emperor.

‘What on earth is about to happen? What exactly are you…’

Aison gulped and looked at Dohyun.

And Dohyun was.

[‘Iron Proof’ confirms the target’s qualifications.]

[‘Iron Proof’ confirms the target’s potential.]

[‘Iron Proof’ detects an alien energy. Attempting more detailed detection.]

[A portion of deeply hidden potential is revealed.]

‘This is…?’

He was entranced by the unprecedented scenery unfolding before his eyes.

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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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