The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 291

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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 291

Episode 291.

[Old Golden Insignia]

‘No reaction…?’

The insignia showed no reaction whatsoever.

Even when he took a few more steps closer, thinking he might have misjudged the distance, it was the same.

What this meant was clear.

‘It’s not the Emperor.’

The great Emperor of the Empire, Baharun de Arnis.

He was not the traitor.

At this, Dohyun sighed while still keeping his head bowed.

Though it was bewildering that things were different from his expectations, on the other hand, he thought it was rather fortunate.

‘If the Emperor had been the enemy, there would have been no answer.’

In that case, he might have really had to commit treason.

Rebellion against the Emperor who held humanity’s strongest power?

Even if the Top 10 Guilds and everything else joined forces, they would be annihilated in an instant.

At least for now, it was impossible.

Only after time passed, content increased, and players grew stronger would there be any possibility.

‘It would have taken several years at least.’

Thinking about it that way, it was natural from a balance perspective that the Emperor wasn’t the traitor.

‘Considering the main quests I’ve cleared so far, it’s quite understandable.’

As he was letting out a bitter laugh, a heavy voice reached him.

It was the Emperor.

“Is there some problem?”

“Ah. No, Your Majesty. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

The Emperor, who had found it strange that Dohyun’s steps had slowed due to his deep thoughts, was expressing concern.

Dohyun quickly responded and strode forward.

There was nothing good about arousing unnecessary suspicion.

“I found this on the Commander’s corpse.”

“This is…”

The Emperor, who received the ominous remnant, examined it intently for a long while before frowning deeply.

“It’s the energy of the Abyss. But… I sense a faint, foreign energy.”

‘Foreign energy?’

At this, Dohyun listened carefully.

He had naturally thought it was just a trace of the Abyss, but this was an unexpected statement.

The Emperor’s words continued.

“Though I have no knowledge of medicine, I’ve watched that boy Iden’s treatment process countless times.”

“…”

“If you look closely, it’s so faint you might not notice… but to me, who has seen it dozens of times, it looks remarkably similar to the energy I felt back then.”

The Emperor who said this let out a puzzled murmur.

“Didn’t this come from the Commander? Iden has never even entered the labyrinth, so how could Iden have contracted this illness?”

“By any chance, could only Apostles enter the labyrinth from the beginning?”

“That’s not the case. The Labyrinth of Denial is a place where the conditions and structure change each time you enter. When it first appeared, our citizens could enter as well.”

The Emperor, who had been answering, suddenly asked.

“But why do you ask this? Do you have some idea about something?”

His tone seemed to urge Dohyun to speak if he knew anything.

Dohyun pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

He chose to keep his words to himself.

If the Emperor’s claim was true, it meant one of two things.

‘Either the 2nd Prince secretly entered the labyrinth and left the insignia, or someone else planned it with malicious intent.’

Whatever it was, there was nothing good about saying it.

Even if he were to speak, it would be better to do so when things became clearer.

‘I’ll know when I meet them directly.’

Now the only remaining candidates were the 1st Prince and 2nd Prince, just the two princes.

While Dohyun was organizing his thoughts, had the Emperor also composed himself?

The glimpse of impatience disappeared and he returned to his calm demeanor, leaning back against his chair.

Then he looked directly at Dohyun and spoke with emphasis.

“Kaiser, was it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At this, Dohyun also emerged from his thoughts and focused on the Emperor.

The Emperor smiled slightly at his attitude of being respectful but not intimidated.

“If we research this remnant, we should gain something. You have excellently completed the request and for the first time, we have hope of treating the illness.”

“…That’s not true.”

“Do my ears seem so dull to you? I’ve already heard that you made the greatest contribution to the conquest.”

Translated directly, it meant don’t be modest.

Dohyun, who had nothing appropriate to say, chose silence again.

Above all, he wasn’t in the right mind to speak.

Ding-

[You have cleared the sudden quest ‘The Prince’s Illness’.]

[You have obtained 10,000 gold.]

[Your level has increased.]

‘Already leveled up? The experience is more than I thought?’

He was distracted by the message that appeared as soon as the words ended.

He knew the experience reward would be substantial, but he never expected to level up right after having just leveled up.

Considering how damn hard it was to level up from level 90 onwards, it naturally brought a smile to his face.

‘Isn’t a special event occurring?’

However, one puzzling thing was that the special event, which was the reward he was most curious about, was nowhere to be seen…

That question was quickly resolved.

“Someone like you who brought back clues seems trustworthy. If we learn something about the illness, could you take on the request again?”

Ding-

[After a certain time passes, the linked quest ‘The Prince’s Illness (2)’ will occur.]

[A special event will occur when you complete all linked quests.]

The message that appeared shortly after gave him the answer.

‘So it was the final reward.’

Come to think of it, all the special events he had experienced so far required multiple processes, so it wasn’t strange.

Since it was a quest only he was progressing through, there was no need to be impatient either.

“Of course.”

“It’s fortunate to have an Apostle like you.”

When Dohyun shook off his thoughts and answered spiritedly, the Emperor’s gaze and voice became much softer.

It was a considerably more favorable reaction compared to before, and it wasn’t his imagination.

[The effect of the title ‘Max Favorability from the Start?’ activates. Favorability increases more significantly.]

[Emperor ‘Baharun de Arnis’s favorability has greatly increased.]

[The Emperor thinks of you as a useful Apostle.]

Because his favorability had actually increased.

‘A useful Apostle…’

One might wonder if that’s the perception of someone whose favorability had greatly increased, but knowing how much the Emperor distrusted Apostles, this could be called remarkable progress.

“With you responding like this, my mind is much more at ease. I am not one who only receives with empty hands. If there’s something you want from me, speak.”

At the gentle voice, Dohyun pondered for a moment before answering.

If he mentioned something material when told to speak his desires, his favorability would be greatly reduced.

Normally, declining would be the right choice here, but…

There happened to be something suitable to ask for.

“If possible, could I meet the princes? I would especially like to meet the 1st Prince directly.”

“Hmm? The princes?”

“Yes. I’ve heard tales of his heroic deeds and have always wanted to meet him in person.”

“Heroic deeds… That boy is already hearing such words. Very well. It’s not a difficult matter.”

Had Dohyun’s maximum flattery worked well?

The Emperor, with a pleased expression, readily agreed.

“Hana is still out on a subjugation and hasn’t returned yet, so it would be difficult right now. He’ll be back soon, so I’ll arrange a meeting once he arrives.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Iden is… still not in good condition. Would it be alright to call for you once his treatment shows progress?”

“Of course.”

In the end, there were no princes he could meet immediately, but this was enough.

He would encounter the 2nd Prince anyway while progressing the chain quest, and he had secured a promise to meet the 1st Prince as soon as he returned.

Most importantly.

“That aside… you have admirably completed the commission. I must give you a reward befitting such achievement.”

Ding-

[The Emperor grants you a special reward for achieving 1st place in the conquest ranking.]

Now it was time to receive the additional reward.

Dohyun’s gaze focused intently.

Though it was only an additional reward and would be less than the conquest reward, it was different if you ranked in the top 10.

‘Kukkudakkukku and Sword Master received titles and medals.’

And they were a legendary-grade title and the Emperor’s medal at that.

Considering that the Emperor’s medal held value greater than the sword plaque given by the Sword Master, it was an incredible reward.

-Why is mine the only one this color?

-Well, you should have gotten 4th place then.

-…

While everyone else’s was gold, only Auntie received a silver one and was sulking.

Thinking about that, it seemed like the reward was enhanced if you ranked in the top 5.

‘Would 1st place be different?’

But 1st place always had distinctions from others.

Demroc had followed that rule very well, and Godseeker, being based on Demroc, had quite a lot of that aspect too.

So while harboring some expectations.

Swish.

The Emperor stood up and headed somewhere, then took out something.

The moment he received the box that the Emperor personally approached and handed over.

‘Huh?’

Dohyun paused.

The reward the Emperor gave wasn’t something like a medal.

[You have acquired the titles ‘Apostle Recognized by the Emperor’ and ‘Supreme Conqueror of the Labyrinth of Denial’.]

[As a reward…]

‘What the hell is this?’

Completely unexpected rewards.

His confusion at the names he’d never heard before was brief.

‘…This is good?’

Soon, a smile formed on Dohyun’s lips as he checked the detailed information.

* * *

Creak-

Dohyun shuddered as he opened the door and stepped out.

The eyes of players densely filling the corridor where the audience chamber was located were all directed at him.

Among them were even knights from the Imperial Guards.

‘Whoa, that startled me. Why is everyone looking this way?’

Just being stared at in unison like when becoming aware of a dream within a dream was bad for the heart, but having the Imperial Guards, one of the Empire’s greatest forces, glaring at him made it even more chilling.

Among them, the most chilling was naturally Vice Captain Verdian.

‘I guess even the vice captain of the Imperial Guards is beyond comparison.’

He seemed stronger than most knight commanders.

Just from the aura he emanated, he was incomparable to Dran, the Knight of Swift Wind, whom he’d met before.

“…Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

When Verdian, who had been silently watching, turned around sharply, the knights also followed behind him in a rush, leaving the corridor.

‘If they were going to do that, why were they waiting?’

Was it a silent protest?

As he scratched his head thinking what a strange guy, he heard noisy sounds.

“What do you think he got?”

“I’m so curious about what they talked about… We can’t ask, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Didn’t he get a hidden quest?”

More precisely, these were sounds that had been coming from before.

He just hadn’t heard them because he was focused on the Imperial Guards.

Dohyun chuckled as he looked at the players who were dying of curiosity and just watching for cues.

‘I did get something good.’

It wasn’t a hidden quest, but he had reserved a chain quest and obtained special rewards.

-Seeing your nostrils twitching, I guess you got something good?

-Yep! Seems like it.

-Rizariza.

And the Guardians who perfectly grasped Dohyun’s satisfied mood and nodded their heads.

They seemed equally curious since they didn’t know what rewards he’d received either.

“It’s different from what I expected, but I did get something good.”

-Wow, isn’t the world too unfair for you, Owner? You’re the only one getting different rewards.

-Hmm, perhaps they recognized Master’s greatness.

-Risa!

Jihad being cheeky, Charlie nodding solemnly as if it were perfectly natural.

Eliza climbing onto Dohyun’s shoulder and chiming in.

Looking at them, Dohyun casually let slip.

“No, this time it’s not just good for me.”

-Huh?

-Risa?

-What do you mean, Owner?

Jihad and Eliza simultaneously tilted their heads, but instead of answering, Dohyun turned his gaze to his inventory.

The gleaming Proof of Bond there.

‘It’s about time those guys got their specs upgraded too.’

Its owner wasn’t him, but them.

-What is it, what is it? Tell us quickly!

-Rizariza!

-Hmm…!

Jihad openly urged him, Eliza chimed in, and Charlie tried to act nonchalant but couldn’t hide his curiosity, but Dohyun simply started walking.

After all, telling them in advance would ruin the fun.

Step, step.

How long had he walked like that?

The moment he exited the golden gleaming corridor and opened the castle gate.

Creeeeak-

Warm sunlight illuminated Dohyun through the door,

“Waaaaaaaah!!!!”

“It’s Kaiser!”

“Oh Kashin!”

Deafening cheers erupted.

‘Crazy… what is all this?’

Players densely packed around the castle were shouting Dohyun’s nickname.

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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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