The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 262
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 262
Episode 262.
“Keuuu~!”
Dohyun’s expression as he left the workshop was brighter than ever.
“Ah, the sky looks even clearer today. Has life always been this beautiful?”
-…Risa?
-You shouldn’t look at something like that, Eliza. It’s bad for your eyes.
Jihad hurriedly covered Eliza’s eyes at the sight of Dohyun looking up at the sky with his nostrils flaring.
Then Eliza, as if accustomed to this, peeked her head out to avoid it.
Jihad himself had turned his gaze away, so he couldn’t manage to block even that much.
-Congratulations, Master.
Unlike those two, Charlie spoke with pride.
-To set aside all reservations and craft it with top priority… This is truly unprecedented treatment. Truly the discerning eye of a Master Craftsman. He must have recognized Master’s greatness.
-Does this even make sense? Just parrying a sword once and this happens.
“This is all what they call snowballing….”
-This bas… I mean, Jihad?
“That’s right.”
With his keen sense, it was now perfectly understood with just a hint.
-Sigh, this unfair world… A world where those who have get everything. If it were me, I’d be too frustrated to live.
-Risa?
-Isn’t it all Master’s ability?
Jihad pouted and shook his head while muttering, but there was no way such things would reach his ears right now.
Listening with one ear and letting it flow out the other, Dohyun opened his status window.
[Player : Kaiser]
[Level : 85]
[HP : 8,650 / 11,910]
[MP : 3,960 / 7,790]
[Stamina : 930 / 1,950]
[Class : Last Adventurer 【Successor of Kashiyar】]
[Titles (18)]
-Max favorability from the start?
-First Slayer
…(Expand)
[Stats]
【Strength : 200(+201)】 【Agility : 200(+201)】
【Stamina : 5(+225)】 【Perception : 75(+199)】
【Magic Power : 110(+190)】
Remaining Points : 20
‘Now it looks more like a high-level status window.’
He was actually quite high-level indeed.
Thanks to defeating the Forgotten King and Calamity, he had gained 4 more levels and reached level 85.
His main stats had also exceeded 400.
At this level, his pure stats were comparable to High Rankers without any shame.
‘Compared to top-tier players like the Top 10 Guild Masters, it would be significantly lower though….’
Considering he hadn’t even reached max level yet, these were unbelievable numbers.
‘Looking at it this way, the stamina stat seems particularly lacking.’
Someone might say it was stubbornness to think that after struggling so much against the Forgotten King, but it wasn’t for such emotional reasons.
[Black Dagger Mask ]
[Grade : Legend]
[Description : It is said that in the past, when a mask with a small dagger drawn on a jet-black background appeared, everyone would tremble in fear.
Who made it and who the wearer was remains unknown even after all this time has passed.
It is only said to grant the wearer endless vitality and stealth.]
[Level Requirement : 70]
[Equipment Restriction : None]
[Physical Defense : 694]
[Magic Resistance : 405]
-Perception + 10
-Stamina + 10
-Stamina Regeneration + 100%
[Endless Vitality : The lower your stamina, the faster the regeneration speed, and even when stamina reaches 0, you can continue combat for a certain period.]
[Stealthy Senses : Movement becomes more stealthy and senses sharpen, allowing weapon proficiency to increase more quickly.]
One of the two rewards obtained from defeating the Forgotten King.
As a legendary-grade mask, it had excellent performance, but the stamina aspect was particularly noticeable.
After obtaining the mask, he hadn’t felt that stamina was greatly lacking.
If it was still insufficient after this, it wouldn’t be too late to think about it then.
Swish.
Dohyun’s gaze turned to his inventory.
[Flowing Water Secret Fire Sword ]
[Grade : Legend]
[Description : The flame hidden behind gentleness is more deadly than a fierce storm.
A sword that pursues strikes hidden behind softness, most suitable for those who wield elegant swordsmanship.
It will amplify the lacking attack power for the wearer.]
[Level Requirement : 70]
[Equipment Restriction : Knight, Swordsman classes]
[Physical Attack Power : 1681~1787]
[Durability : 100 / 100]
[Flowing Water : Enables natural swordsmanship that flows like water, and the more it’s used, the stronger the water energy becomes.]
[Secret Fire : Can be activated when the Flowing Water energy reaches a certain level, unleashing a powerful flame slash.]
The second reward obtained along with the mask.
‘It’s the perfect weapon for Charlie.’
A deadly flame hidden within elegant swordsmanship that flows like water.
It was a sword that suited Charlie so well it could be said it was made for him. Dohyun’s Guardians were subordinates that belonged to the ranks of divine beasts.
The Guardians’ growth was directly Dohyun’s growth, so he wanted to give it as a gift right away, but it wasn’t time yet.
[Level insufficient to equip.]
[Reach level 40.]
‘Still, it’s fortunate that the level requirement is reduced since he’s a Guardian.’
Unlike players whose max level was 100, Guardians had a max level of 70, so there was adjustment in the equipment restrictions as well.
[Jihad LV : 38]
[Charlie LV : 36]
‘Just 4 more levels, so there’s no need to rush.’
Dohyun closed the system window with a pleased expression.
‘These guys’ levels have already reached this point. It feels like yesterday when I got the Gacha Ticket… At this rate, they’ll reach max level soon.’
The Guardians’ growth was going smoothly, and the armor seemed likely to turn out amazing, so it couldn’t be better than this.
In this situation, there was one thing for Dohyun to do.
Do what needed to be done with an excited heart while waiting.
[Investigation of the Labyrinth of Denial ]
‘The labyrinth is said to be deep in the Southern Field, right?’
Dohyun’s lips curved into an arc as he looked at the Quest in the window list.
‘Let’s see what’s hiding in there.’
The Bound Draconic Abomination of the Iron Blood, the strong one from the Abyss, the Devourer of Existence.
The beings of The Abyss were all nothing but monsters.
Wondering what kind of existence might be hiding in this labyrinth, Dohyun took his first step forward with anticipation.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that moment.
While Dohyun was heading toward the labyrinth.
“You came. Harrington.”
“That makes five now.”
Big shots were gathering in the Aegis Guild meeting room located in one corner of the Empire.
With the master of Earnest Guild, Harrington, entering through the door, there were already 5 masters from the top 10 guilds assembled.
“Hey, you came back from the dead? We almost had an empty seat, what a shame.”
“…Leon.”
As soon as he took his seat, Harrington frowned at the provocation that flew his way.
‘With that thuggish appearance… he’s no different from a delinquent.’
He couldn’t understand the masses who called that guy a model of a brave man or whatever.
Truly brave and great men should show the kind of conduct like ‘That Person’. Such modifiers should rightfully be attached to That Person.
‘Hmm. Thinking of That Person puts my mind at ease.’
Is this enlightenment?
Harrington, now with a peaceful mind, clasped his hands together and offered a prayer. At that bizarre sight, Leon’s face contorted as if he had seen something grotesque.
“…What are you doing?”
“What kind of novel concept is this? Weren’t you an atheist? Didn’t you say believing in gods is something only the mentally weak do?”
And Xiao felt the same way.
Her contemptuous glare openly showed disgust.
Despite their reactions, Harrington silently continued his prayer as if doing what he had to do.
“…Does he have cancer or something? I heard people get weird when they’re about to die.”
“Well… his guild almost faced dissolution. There might have been a major change in his mindset.”
“Let’s not talk to him for a while.”
Leon and Xiao, who had been fighting like sworn enemies just moments ago, were now whispering to each other.
Ahdeo, who had been watching with his arms crossed, just shook his head. There was never a quiet day when those guys gathered.
“It seems like everyone’s almost here.”
When Damian Alexander, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke up, a question immediately came back.
“The Armory Owner isn’t here yet though?”
“We don’t need that guy.”
“We didn’t even tell him to come in the first place, but he’s making a fuss about coming himself, right? Does it make sense for a Kaiser party member to come to a Kaiser meeting?”
“…He’s also a top 10 guild master, so what can we do. We can’t break the rules.”
Most agreed with Damian’s words and kept their mouths shut.
Certainly.
If it weren’t for the rule that as a top 10 guild, he had the right to participate in conferences and couldn’t be forcibly excluded, there would have been no reason to call the Armory Owner.
“Hey, you all gathered pretty quickly.”
But speak of the tiger and it appears.
Damian sighed as a massive figure entered through the door, not much smaller than himself in stature.
“Armory Owner.”
With Ast’s entrance, attention naturally focused on him.
Especially now that it had been revealed he was a Kaiser party member, he was the center of attention.
“I watched the old footage well. The look was quite stylish.”
“Ugh, don’t even talk about that disgusting stuff. Pervert or what? What kind of confidence did you have to go around with that kind of concept?”
“He had many characteristics similar to Purple Taste from the Demroc days, so I had my suspicions, but I didn’t think it would actually be true.”
“But why did Kaiser’s friend bother coming here? Have you no shame?”
“Leave him be, he’s shameless enough to go around with that perverted look.”
Ahdeo showing interest, and Xiao displaying disgust as if looking at a flasher.
And Leon chiming in with Xiao, making sarcastic remarks.
At the various reactions, Ast sighed inwardly.
‘This is why I kept it hidden. Should I reduce my public activities for a while?’
While he was treated favorably among netizens, there were just as many reactions treating him as a pervert.
Actually, he didn’t particularly want to come here either, but he had no choice.
It was obvious they were meeting about Kaiser, and as his companion, he couldn’t not come.
No matter how much hostility those guys showed him, he was determined to endure it steadfastly.
‘But…’
Ast looked at Harrington with uncomfortable eyes.
‘Why are his eyes like that? Were they always so bright and sparkling?’
He remembered him as someone who always stood coolly like a British aristocrat, but the way he was looking at him was unusual.
It was like an ardent believer meeting a messenger of god.
Looking at those sparkling male eyes that were burdensome made him feel uncomfortable.
“Anyway, since we’re gathered, let’s continue the meeting.”
“Two people haven’t come yet though? Where’s Cheonma?”
“If we wait for that directionally challenged guy, it’ll take all day. As for that guy from Bloodshed… well, he’s always late anyway, so he’ll probably come in while we’re meeting.”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
At Aegis’s appropriate summary, everyone turned their attention away from Ast and focused on the meeting.
But the content of the meeting that actually started was nothing special.
The main topic had almost no talk about Kaiser, and was mostly filled with trivial chatter and talk about public opinion control.
‘Look at these guys?’
Ast let out a hollow laugh at this.
‘They won’t talk about Kaiser in front of me, is that it? From the looks of it, they had some dirty conversation behind my back.’
It wasn’t an emotional assumption.
Leon and Xiao exchanging glances, and Aegis definitely seemed to have some scheme going on.
They must have already conspired among themselves. Or they might even be whispering to each other.
‘Anyway, they’re just big in size but have snake-like hearts.’
Ast clicked his tongue and looked them over, then opened his friend list.
They didn’t seem to be whispering right now, but just in case, he was thinking of sending a warning message.
And Damian wasn’t one to miss noticing that.
‘He’s whispering. Did he notice something? Well, he’s not an oblivious guy…’
But Damian’s face was calm.
Leon and Xiao had already agreed to join forces with him.
He didn’t try to recruit Ahdeo because his personality made it obvious he would refuse, but since he had helped him before, there was no need to worry.
That guy had a personality where he had to repay debts to feel satisfied.
‘He wouldn’t have much reason to go that far to help anyway.’
The same went for other guilds.
With three of the top 10 guilds joining forces, there was no possibility Kaiser could endure.
‘Ast, even if you side with him, that won’t change. And… that woman seems to have the same goal, so now is the right time.’
Damian’s gaze turned to the empty seat on the right.
The seat of Bloodshed Guild.
-I found prey. I won’t participate in the conference.
Recalling the whisper he had received earlier, he curved his lips in a cold smile.
‘Her assassination is real. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.’
It was a bloody and sinister smile.
* * *
And at that moment.
Dohyun, who had been going deep into the southern field while looking at the map he received from the Emperor, stopped walking.
-What’s wrong, Owner?
-Risa?
Unlike just before when his nostrils were flaring, his face had clearly turned cold.
Dohyun didn’t answer Jihad’s cautious question. He simply glanced upward discreetly from the corner of his eye.
And his eyes could see it.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
‘A little rat is hiding.’
The silhouette of a woman stained red, secretly hidden up in the tree.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————