The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 287

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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 287

Episode 287.

The single-digit rankers of Demroc each had their own identity that symbolized them.

Kukkudakkukku’s physicality, Sword Master’s swordsmanship, Violet-Flavored Auntie’s one-shot kills.

And Thunder Emperor’s speed.

‘In my case… it was bad luck.’

Symbol of misfortune, troll manufacturer, god-given talent, and so on.

There were various nicknames, but among veteran players, I was notorious for having absolutely terrible luck.

‘Whenever I killed a raid boss and obtained a legendary item, it would cause an uproar.’

To what extent? Even rankers I’d never met would hear the news and

lament, ‘Kaiser got something other than a brick! I bet on a red brick!’

The companions who were with me would make a fuss saying this damn shitty game was finally going to die…

‘No wait, thinking about it makes me feel wronged. I could get legendary items too. It wasn’t even swordsman gear.’

Recalling it made me momentarily emotional, but it wasn’t incomprehensible.

Even I was unsure whether it was a dream or reality when I obtained it, so how much more so for others.

But this was outside of combat.

If I had to pick an identity in combat that others didn’t have, it would be distance control and timing that others couldn’t see.

Based on that, I was the only one who could use parrying as a main technique.

‘No, this isn’t what’s important.’

Anyway, each had their own identity like this, and in Sword Master’s case, it was quite simple.

Great sword.

And full plate mail.

The intense image of being armed in full body armor, wielding a massive great sword, and mercilessly sweeping across battlefields was enough to become an identity.

However, when it came to non-combat aspects, there was one more thing…

-The great sword warrior appeared!

-Damn, run away!

-What, there was a wanted criminal here too.

-Idiots. You thoughtlessly swing swords in a city where that monster is?

Precisely the extermination of evildoers.

The criteria for judgment were simple.

‘Players with notorious reputations, or those whose karma values reached a certain threshold or higher.’

Having high karma values in Demroc was synonymous with being an incredibly skilled player.

Against such individuals, Sword Master’s official extermination rate converged on 90%.

Meaning once designated as an elimination target, extermination was almost always successful.

An iron warrior showing not even a bit of flesh, cutting down evildoers with a massive great sword, with skills that were beyond ridiculous?

Naturally, fame was inevitable, and people used to call Sword Master this:

-The Arbiter has appeared!

The Arbiter.

That’s why I was extremely wary during my first encounter with Sword Master.

When such a famous person suddenly started following me around, I wondered if I’d been designated as an elimination target.

‘It was when I was going around picking fights with guild members with my eyes rolled back…’

Even if my karma value wasn’t high since it was self-defense, I was notorious among guilds, so I thought it was quite possible.

-Ah, O pioneer.

But the Arbiter’s first words when we actually met were far beyond expectations.

-I support the lonely and noble path you walk.

-Huh?

-…What’s that bastard saying? Noble? Him?

-Could be a scammer. Should we kill first and think later?

Suddenly kneeling on one knee and showing reverence.

My companions showed wariness at this absurdly unexpected behavior, but to cut to the conclusion, Sword Master wasn’t a scammer.

-I witnessed you standing alone on the blood-soaked battlefield.

-Blood-soaked battlefield? What’s that.

-Sounds like they’re talking about when you charged into Odin Guild a few days ago?

Ignoring the murmuring.

Sword Master’s eyes sparkled brightly from behind the helmet as she spoke in an ecstatic voice.

-The boldness to charge alone regardless of the evildoers’ forces, that thrilling combat… even achieving victory in the end! In that moment, I realized.

-…

-Ah! My ideal is right there! There was a great pioneer already illuminating the path I intended to take!

-…I just destroyed it because I was pissed off.

-Ah, there’s no need for such modesty. I already know that everyone you’ve eliminated was an evildoer.

-Well, usually evildoers pick fights and attempt assassinations…?

Among major guilds in Demroc, few hadn’t committed evil acts.

But such words didn’t seem to reach Sword Master’s ears.

-You are my light and pioneer. Please allow me to follow in your footsteps.

Stubbornly kneeling on one knee and expressing respect as if demanding to be revered.

And this was just the beginning.

Starting from that day, Sword Master stopped eliminating evildoers and began following us around.

The funny thing was that my companions’ attitudes, which were initially annoyed, gradually changed.

-I don’t like that bastard’s eyes.

-Here we go again.

-No, I really have a bad feeling about this. There’s something…

-There’s blood on the scabbard. Judging by how it hasn’t dried, it seems recent… That scarf belongs to a player we encountered earlier. Presumed to be a player killer. Please leave it to me.

-Huh?

Was it intuition from long experience eliminating evildoers?

Even with Empress’s evidence-less radar, she would step forward with confidence and execute them.

-Sword Master? Why are you here?

-It seemed you needed someone to buy time, so I came. Please leave it to me.

-You… want to?

-If I can be of help to the pioneer, it would be an honor, so please don’t worry.

Whenever troublesome situations arose, Sword Master would appear like a ghost and fulfill her role, becoming a useful presence beyond just being annoying.

-If it’s going to be like this, just become a party member. I’ll give you Auntie’s spot.

-What? Wh-what are you saying, man. I’m still ranked 5th, isn’t this too disrespectful?

-5th or 6th, whatever… And she seems like she’d be more helpful?

It even reached the point of half-jokingly suggesting to kick out Violet-Flavored Auntie and include her as a party member, but Sword Master was firm.

-I merely follow the path the pioneer walks. I dare not stand shoulder to shoulder.

She was satisfied with just guarding the shadows and didn’t covet anything beyond that.

Seeing Violet-Flavored Auntie sigh in relief beside us made me want to recruit her even more, but since she insisted on that, I couldn’t force it and let it slide.

And true to her word, Sword Master really didn’t travel together.

-Hwarang Guild’s destruction due to internal strife…? What’s this. Isn’t this the place that had a conflict with Kaiser?

-Right. This wouldn’t happen overnight, what’s going on?

-There was someone in collusion with external forces… Master eliminated after internal strife? This method seems familiar somehow?

-Sword Master did what Sword Master does.

-At this point, isn’t she Kaiser’s guardian angel?

She mostly moved separately and helped from behind, only stepping forward when direct help was occasionally needed.

But such cases were rare, so most people didn’t know about the relationship between Sword Master and Kaiser’s party.

‘About a year passed, I guess. It was unexpected when news suddenly stopped completely.’

The one who seemed like she’d follow forever suddenly disappeared, so it felt strange…

“Ah, you recognize me. I’m moved that you remember someone as inadequate as me. My god.”

“…”

I never dreamed we’d reunite like this in the next game.

Even more so that the Sword Master was a woman.

Usually, the combination of full plate armor and a heavy greatsword was like a romance for men, wasn’t it?

Following Kukkudakkukku and the Sword Master, even the fanatic was like this, so the shock was extraordinary.

“Pfft.”

The sound of snorting came from beside him.

Ast, who met his eyes, was holding her stomach and laughing. He frowned as he remembered the time at the Forgotten Tomb, but there was no sign of her stopping her laughter.

“Kuk, kukuk… Ah, this is really driving me crazy. Look at that dumbfounded expression.”

“No, but didn’t anyone see she was a woman? With voice modulation and a height under 170cm, it was obvious. Honestly, it was noticeable, but it’s funnier that only he didn’t know when even Auntie knew.”

“I agree.”

“Well, a guy who was strongly loyal came back transformed into some kind of fanatic, so it’s worth being surprised.”

Rather, with even the Empress and Sword Master joining in, Dohyun had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

Those two were in the same position of hiding their gender, so he could think they had good insight, but even Auntie knew!

‘No, with that way of speaking, wouldn’t anyone naturally think she was a man?’

Come to think of it, the way she got embarrassed every time he praised her did seem strangely feminine…

It was shocking in many ways, but apart from that, his feelings were exactly like Auntie’s last words.

“…! How dare I make eye contact with God. I don’t yet have such qualifications. I will gouge out these impious eyes!”

“No, this isn’t seppuku, what kind of crazy… It’s fine, so take your hands away from your eyes. No, Sword Master, try to stop her.”

“Are they not very excellent believers? They seem to be moved to tears that you would even show such broad magnanimity.”

“Carmen…”

“These crazy…”

At the believers who seemed to be losing their minds, Dohyun finally couldn’t hold back and let out a curse.

Even before, there were symptoms, but still, he could overlook it as ‘the kid is good, just overly loyal.’

Now, seeing her transformed into some kind of crazy cult leader was deeply bewildering.

‘What on earth happened to her during this time?’

As if hearing his thoughts, the Sword Master… No, the fanatic’s eyes sparkled brightly as she spoke words he didn’t even ask for.

“I have always regretted being unable to serve you due to impious personal circumstances. But you always shone with the same consistent light as always.”

“…”

“Decisively, on the day ‘that incident’ happened. I finally realized.”

She suddenly raised her voice, knelt down and spread both hands, then looked up at Dohyun as if gazing at the sky.

“Ah! That person was not someone like a leader. Not such an ordinary being, but God himself!”

“…Crazy.”

“Only God can punish the wicked, and those who threaten God are heretics. Until God returns, as one who has become a believer, I must punish the impious!”

“How does that lead to that conclusion? Doesn’t it seem like the ‘development’ is missing from the beginning-development-climax-conclusion?”

“Aah… Enlightenment comes!”

At her proudly appealing that she had fallen down the wrong path, he was beyond bewildered and speechless, but the fanatic just made her clear eyes shine.

Looking at her, who was even more unreasonable than before, Dohyun held his forehead.

‘Why are there only crazy bitches around me?’

One bitch is the crazy bitch of this area. Another bitch is a sword-crazy bitch.

And now even a purely insane bitch.

There weren’t even many women around him, but none of them were normal.

Just as he was thinking that the saying “men should be careful of women” wasn’t said for nothing.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

The sound of precise applause coming from somewhere.

-Truly magnificent!

“Ah, is it you this time?”

-Risa…

Charlie, unable to bear the fanatic’s speech any longer, had thrown down his sword and was clapping like a seal.

His eyes, more serious than ever, burned hotly.

-Truly an excellent mindset! To think I would meet someone so enlightened. This Charlie acknowledges you!

“Ah! You are God’s knight. I have long heard of your reputation.”

-You know me?

“We are those who follow God’s light. How could we not know those who guard God’s side? Especially you, whose mindset in serving God was very impressive, so I have been watching with interest.”

-Oh! This is the first time I’ve met such an excellent woman. I think we’ll get along very well in conversation.

Like how psychopaths recognize each other.

A sense of kinship settled in the eyes of the two people who felt each other’s beliefs.

Watching the two people’s gazes become more similar as they continued their conversation, Dohyun quietly retracted his earlier words.

‘…It wasn’t just women who were the problem.’

His surroundings were full of crazy people.

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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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