The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 296

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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 296

Episode 296.

[The structure of the Cursed Dungeon is changing.]

[The dungeon type is temporarily changing from ‘Subjugation’ to ‘Boss Subjugation’.]

[A peculiar existence stirs.]

‘Conditional boss.’

The boss of the Cursed Dungeon that only appears on the 13th entry.

It had finally appeared.

For Dohyun, who had a reason to catch this creature, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had been waiting only for this moment.

He absolutely had to catch it for the sake of ‘that thing.’

‘Right. Nothing is more important than that.’

Considering it only appeared after more than ten attempts, it meant it hadn’t been long since the reset.

It was incredibly unlucky, but thanks to that he had gained plenty of experience points, so it was all good.

Anyway, now that the conditions were met, he just needed to defeat the boss.

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ summons undead.]

[Using Legion Control, all are judged as one entity.]

[50% or more of the legion’s undead are judged as Lower City monsters. Mana consumption is reduced.]

[Summoning 1st Legion Commander, ‘Suffering’.]

Clatter, clack.

Groooan—

Seeing the undead legion appear as always, Dohyun shouted spiritedly.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

—Roger!

—Rizariza!

—Yes, Master. I will serve you swiftly with all my might.

Clatter, clack.

The subjugation that began was the same as before.

Though the structure had changed, it was still a cave in the end.

The only differences were that insect hordes swarmed from two branching paths and that you had to find the correct path among the branches.

—Go, Clatterer!

—These disgusting insects! How dare they try to challenge someone!

Clatter, clack!

No matter how much the insect horde increased in number, they ultimately couldn’t overcome the wall of Charlie and the undead legion and self-destructed,

[Eye of Truth activates.]

[Hidden traps are revealed.]

“It’s here.”

—Master’s insight is always wondrous to behold.

—Wonder what explorers eat to survive.

—Rizariza.

Choosing which path was correct was a piece of cake for Dohyun with his Eye of Truth.

It would have been more difficult if there were no traps at all.

As expected of Demroc’s next work, making the difficulty harder was actually a mistake.

Screech! Kek!

Whoosh— Thud! Crack!

After breaking through with lightning speed several times like this.

Instead of the branching paths that had been splitting whenever possible, a straight path appeared.

A path with no insect hordes or traps, just stretching a bit long.

Had he walked for about a minute?

[By subjugating 90% of the cave’s insect horde, the cave’s owner reveals deep anger.]

[Warning. This may be harmful to your heart.]

[Those with weak stomachs may need to prepare themselves.]

As a massive cavity appeared, warning messages rang out.

It was truly an appropriate warning.

Kieeeeeeeee!!!!

An ear-splitting scream struck their eardrums.

It was a disgusting and alien sound that only ghosts from horror movies would make.

The being that revealed itself was beyond a horror movie.

[You have encountered the boss of the Cursed Dungeon, ‘Cave Queen Hybrid Insect’.]

[Cave Queen Hybrid Insect]

—Title: Elite Boss

—Type: Hybrid Insect

—Traits: Tenacious Survival, Agile Movement, Deadly Poison

—Description: An unfortunate queen insect that fell under chaos’s curse alone in the Cursed Dungeon.

As various species’ forms mixed together, the body’s balance collapsed and the inside is severely rotting.

It only reveals itself when the curse of the Cursed Dungeon, where it can move relatively smoothly, grows thick.

Its abilities themselves are ordinary.

Considering it’s an event boss that requires meeting special conditions, you might even think ‘Is this all there is to it?’

But the queen insect faced directly was more terrifying than any boss.

“What the hell…!”

—Ugh, what is this filthy thing!

—Riza ri…

—Mmm…

If the cave insects seen so far were three types—centipedes, spiders, and cockroaches—this one was a mixture of all three.

It was even the size of an adult man, and the flesh glimpsed between its carapace was rotting.

‘A centipede body with cockroach… ugh, it’s so disgusting I can’t look anymore.’

But the most terrible thing wasn’t its appearance but its smell.

It felt like the stench of overturned food waste bins on a midsummer street with heat haze rising, carried through the humid air.

Unable to endure the terrible smell without covering his nose, Dohyun couldn’t help but realize.

‘Now I understand why there are no people here.’

‘That thing’ or whatever, who would want to catch such a boss?

It required very strong will.

‘It was already unpleasant from the insect horde, but I never thought it would be this bad.’

Feeling like a hero being tested for qualification, Dohyun gripped Cheonbyeon tightly and commanded with resolute eyes.

“…Charlie. Please.”

—Master?

Charlie’s eyes shook constantly as if an earthquake had struck.

His blue eyes looked pitiful like his pale complexion.

It was the first time seeing Charlie like this after traveling together for so long, but it couldn’t be helped.

That’s how life is.

“It’ll be fine since we have the undead legion.”

Clatter…?

—…

—F-fighting.

Suffering, who had been quietly standing but got swept into the set, looked at Jihad, but Jihad only raised a small fist in encouragement.

There were no allies for them here.

…Clatter.

Suffering, who had been sneakily reading the mood, stepped back and gestured.

Grooooan! Groan!

Fortunately, the undead legion, which had almost no reason, stepped forward spiritedly.

It was a secret that the intelligent outlaws had sneakily moved behind Suffering.

In the end, even the hesitant Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and jumped in.

The battle that began like that.

Kieeeeee!

“Ugh, I can’t watch this.”

-M-me neither…

When Charlie swung his Flowing Water Flame Sword, murky fluid splattered and a nauseating smell spread,

Rustle- Rustle-

Scrape-

Every time the Undead Legion and the creature engaged in fierce combat, that distinctive rustling sound could be heard.

Dohyun turned his head away from the disgusting battle that was too revolting to watch with open eyes.

How many times did the sounds of crushing shells, piercing flesh, and splattering fluid echo?

‘Ah, I feel sick.’

Just when his nausea was reaching its peak.

Kieeeeee!

Thud.

With a terrible death cry as its last sound, the boss finally collapsed.

Only then did Dohyun let out the breath he’d been holding and turn his head with a hollow laugh.

[You have defeated the boss of the Cursed Dungeon, ‘Cave Queen Bug’.]

[It will be recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[You have successfully defeated the boss without direct involvement.]

[You have obtained the title, ‘Defeated a Boss Without Lifting a Finger?’]

[Defeated a Boss Without Lifting a Finger?]

-Grade: Hero

-Description: You who gained credit for defeating a boss without lifting a finger once.

Either you have excellent subordinates, or you’re quite the schemer?

-Effect: Defense +30% increase until attacking a boss.

All stats +5

“This counts as that?”

It was so disgusting that he cowardly left it to the Guardians.

Who would have thought this would be the condition for obtaining a Hero title.

‘Doesn’t this really not suit the modifier of Hero?’

Well, the acquisition difficulty was certainly high.

No matter how much you travel with Divine Beasts, it’s hard for a Player to not touch anything when defeating a boss.

Even he himself hadn’t obtained it until now.

-…We have returned, Master.

Clank. Clank.

Then Charlie and Suffering approached.

They were completely exhausted.

Though it was a one-sided massacre without a single wound, they had suffered severe mental trauma.

Indeed, they looked like people who had spent days and nights drinking away the pain of heartbreak.

“…You really gave it your all.”

-…Yes.

“You worked hard. Thank you, really.”

-…Yes.

Charlie wore a bitter smile.

Even in this situation, his favorability didn’t drop at all, truly the epitome of a loyal retainer.

Dohyun reached out to pat Charlie’s shoulder but hesitated.

‘…Hmm. No.’

He couldn’t bring himself to touch the armor covered in fluid.

Though the nauseating smell had faded with the boss’s death, just seeing that fluid brought back the memory of that stench.

-…Master? Is there some problem…?

-No. You worked hard.

Just as he was settling for expressing his gratitude internally,

Suffering suddenly butted in.

Clank. Clank.

Was he expressing that he participated too?

When Dohyun glanced at Jihad as Suffering clanked around, Jihad tilted his head.

-Clanky, didn’t you just gesture from behind?

Clank? Clank.

-No, I saw you.

-Rizariza.

Clank?

Suffering consistently played dumb.

How could that utterly shameless behavior belong to the tragic king who bore all the suffering of his race?

They say you should choose your friends wisely – had he been influenced by Jihad?

‘Well, I guess it means they’ve gotten that close.’

Though they always bicker, it was visibly clear they’d become much more intimate than before.

-This is all over now, right Owner? Nothing weird is going to pop out again, right?

-Rizariza.

“This is the end.”

-T-then let’s get out quickly. I’m sick and tired of bugs now.

-…I concur.

The guys who were thoroughly disgusted by this incident urged him on.

Dohyun understood their feelings since he didn’t want to hear even the ‘B’ in bug for a while, but he had to shake his head.

-Wh-why…?

-Ahh…

He felt sorry for Jihad and Charlie whose expressions looked like the sky was falling, but it couldn’t be helped.

After all, he had come here for a different purpose originally.

‘Right. I came here to do ‘that’.’

And now.

The time had come to achieve that purpose.

“Do you know what this place is called?”

-What else would it be? The Cursed Dungeon. This place is really cursed. There’s no way it could be like this otherwise.

“That’s right. It’s in the top 5 most avoided dungeons in the Empire.”

-Wait, you came to a place like that, Owner?

“I didn’t know it would be this bad either.”

If this place was only top 5, what on earth were the other candidates like?

That question arose, but that wasn’t what was important.

“Among some Players, this place is called something different.”

-Bug den? A place to visit when you want to vomit? Or a place to visit when life gets boring?

“No.”

Dohyun firmly shook his head and raised the corners of his mouth in a grin.

Those names weren’t wrong either.

But to some Players, this place was quite a hot spot, and thus was called by a different nickname.

A name that would make even sane people’s eyes roll back.

To the people of a certain community channel in Godose, this place was a club itself.

“Sacred Ground.”

-…Huh?

-Riza?

Leaving behind the others who were stunned by the completely unexpected word, Dohyun opened his inventory.

In one corner of that place, there were three beautiful card packs.

[Random Skill Gacha Ticket]

[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’s Random Skill Gacha Ticket]

[Guardian ‘Charlie’s Random Skill Gacha Ticket]

“This is the hidden sacred ground that only honorary members of the Gacha Gallery know about.”

-…Then don’t tell me the reason you came here is?

“That’s right. I need to do some card pulling.”

-Good heavens.

Ignoring the shocked Jihad, Dohyun took a deep breath.

When he first heard about this place from the Gacha Gallery, how much he had anticipated it.

For this moment, he had suppressed his desire to pull cards immediately and rubbed shoulders with all those bugs.

‘Ah, what if three legendary-grade items come out?’

Kaiser the 23rd.

He was a man more serious about card pulling than anyone else.

—————
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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