The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 308

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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 308

Episode 308.

Bairan de Arnis.

An unfortunate genius who died shortly after reaching adulthood.

In other words, his death was at least 30 years ago.

During all that long time, not finding a single corpse and being unable to bury him in a great tomb was said to be Garion’s regret.

‘He buried him himself and had the nerve to say such shameless words.’

Moreover, it wasn’t just any burial.

He had mummified and stored him in a secret location known only to himself.

Crack.

-Garion…

-This… I’m really speechless. He’s no different from a demon!

-Rizariza! Risa!!

The Guardians each expressed their anger in their own ways.

Dohyun’s eyes also sank low.

Bairan’s appearance, hanging there as a mummy, was that miserable.

It was unbelievable that a fellow human could do such a thing, especially to the master he once served.

‘Did he really die shortly after reaching adulthood?’

Even this was now questionable, but he was too withered to tell.

Even a young person would look old if all the moisture left their body.

No, who would even think that thing was Bairan in the first place?

Even Dohyun wouldn’t have believed it despite seeing the message if the insignia hadn’t reacted.

Dohyun’s gaze turned downward.

[Bairan’s Golden Insignia]

[Grade: ??]

[Description: An old and worn golden insignia that Bairan possessed. Detailed information can be obtained if restored.]

-Reacts when the original owner is within 5M.

‘Nothing’s changed except the name.’

As the description stated, it seemed restoration was needed to see detailed information.

Of course, restoration was meaningless now.

Now that they knew it was Bairan’s insignia, what more was needed?

Above all, this was solid evidence.

‘In a secret location known only to the Lord of Arren Castle, the former master he once served is discovered buried as a mummy?’

And that mummy is the current Emperor’s older brother?

This was clearly a death sentence without question.

No, he might spend his entire life in an underground prison, tortured in a body that could neither die nor live, finally collapsing miserably.

‘The law…’

Dohyun, who had been imagining that scene for a moment, asked.

“…Will you be okay, Charlie?”

-…Yes, Master. That is the law.

Charlie, who had hesitated for a long time, slowly unclenched his tightly gripped fist and answered.

Though his desire for personal revenge was overwhelming, his determination not to abandon his pride was evident.

The former Knight Commander of Arren Castle could not ignore the judgment of law.

‘Unlike reality, the Empire’s law is unforgiving.’

Well, in such a world, leaving it to legal judgment would be fine.

The Empire’s law was to inflict suffering beyond what criminals had committed.

However,

“We can’t just let it go.”

-Pardon?

He couldn’t just let go of the bastard who had caused such emotions in his Guardian.

“Let’s beat him up once before he gets caught. Just until he’s about to die.”

He felt like he needed to at least stab that human trash once to feel satisfied.

Preferably with Charlie’s blade.

Charlie smiled slightly at Dohyun’s appearance, twitching his eyebrows and grinning wickedly.

An occasionally quirky side befitting his master.

That sight couldn’t be more comforting right now.

-Yes. Of course, Master.

As the heavy atmosphere seemed to lighten somewhat, the quick-witted Jihad seized the moment to jump in.

-Yeah, let’s beat him half to death!

“Absolutely.”

-Ah, if I were a lich, I’d torture him until he died, then if he unluckily died, I’d turn him undead and leave only the pain, bursting his nails and toenails one by one in order.

“Well that’s… hmm, isn’t that too cruel?”

-Risa…

-A bastard like that deserves it.

Since that was true, Dohyun didn’t bother to object further.

And that thought only grew stronger as he examined the tomb.

Bairan wasn’t the only mummy.

All the stone coffins with the names of dead knights contained mummies, and there were traces of blood splattered and hardened everywhere, as if torture had taken place.

“…This is really fucking trash.”

He created a secret location to hide this kind of thing?

And not just any secret location, but a double-layered one?

The more he looked, the more disgusting it became, but there was one puzzling point.

‘There are no traces of communication with the Abyss.’

Forget traces of communication, there wasn’t even anything connected to the Abyss visible.

The only suspicious things were the previous gatekeepers.

If he really was the mastermind the Forgotten King mentioned, shouldn’t there be some traces?

And another puzzling thing.

‘Why did he specifically hide Bairan here? Even going so far as to mummify him.’

At first, he thought it was just to hide the fact that he had killed Bairan and done this.

But wasn’t it strange?

If he hadn’t mummified him in the first place, he could have saved himself this trouble.

Despite finding evidence to condemn the bastard, the unresolved questions left an unpleasant feeling in one corner of his mind.

‘A hobby… the things he’s done are too extreme for that.’

Dohyun, who had been thinking deeply, had a flash of insight.

‘What if he had to do this to achieve something? Like materials needed for a ritual…’

That’s when it happened.

Snap.

The sound of something breaking pulled Dohyun from his thoughts.

The sound continued.

Thud. Snap-

A sound like ropes breaking.

Before he could even turn his head toward the sound, Jihad’s scream reached him.

-Kieek! Wh-what is that!

-R-Risa!

Though Jihad was making a fuss, unlike usual, Dohyun didn’t scold him.

Honestly speaking, he felt the same way.

-Wh-why is that thing moving! Wasn’t it dead!?

Bairan de Arnis.

Having lost his life and become a mummy, he was moving alive.

Snap-

Putting strength into both arms to untie the rope and standing up, he was slowly but surely approaching Dohyun’s group.

The resentful aura and bizarre joint movements were enough to send chills down one’s spine.

[Former 1st Prince, ‘Bairan de Arnis’ is watching you.]

“…Of course. I wondered why things were going so easily.”

Dohyun couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

‘I guess we have to catch that guy to learn anything.’

There was probably a high chance they’d obtain important clues.

-I’ll take the lead, Master.

-Ttadak!

Ttadak!

-Rizariza!

It seemed these guys were also familiar with such situations.

Looking at how they understood each other perfectly now.

[Cheonbyeon transforms into the ‘White Lion’s Snow Flower Sword’.]

Watching his companions prepare for battle, Dohyun was also gripping Cheonbyeon and taking his stance when.

-…Master. Please wait a moment.

“Hmm?”

-Huh? What’s wrong, Charlie.

-Riza?

Charlie, his face hardened, cautiously extended his hand.

-Something is strange.

“Strange?”

His questioning was brief.

Since Charlie wasn’t someone who would act thoughtlessly, Dohyun, who had been staring intently at Bairan, let out an exclamation.

-Huh?

-Riza!

And a beat later, Jihad and Eliza also reacted.

They understood why he said it was strange.

They had been on guard because of the resentful aura and bizarre gait, but there was actually no killing intent contained within.

‘Rather…’

…He looked pitiful.

A withered, twisted body that could barely maintain balance.

Skeletal legs trembling as if standing was all he could manage.

Thud, thunk.

Without muscle, his joints screamed and he staggered, yet somehow he kept approaching.

Like someone trapped under a building who had found their last lifeline.

Bairan, who had been desperately struggling to approach, spoke in a strained voice.

[…Unknown… Disciple… please…]

But why was it.

Though it was clearly a voice strained with exhaustion, ready to collapse at any moment.

The voice that reached their ears clearly conveyed the firm will contained within.

[Please… stop… him…].

Bairan’s eyes, now right in front of them, were pitch black.

A feeling like staring into terrible emptiness where nothing could be seen.

He probably couldn’t even see Dohyun properly.

The light of life had been extinguished.

[The Empire’s… peace…]

But he looked directly into Dohyun’s eyes as he continued speaking.

Then, one step.

Thump.

Coming closer, he soon extended his hand.

The trembling hand passed his chest, shoulder, neck, and face, reaching toward his forehead.

The moment it arrived in front of his forehead, the trembling stopped as if by magic,

Tap.

Finally, when his index finger lightly touched the forehead, Dohyun’s vision flashed brilliantly.

As the dazzling light made it impossible to see ahead, he instinctively raised his hand.

‘Ah.’

The light went out, and darkness covered the world.

In the silence that stole not only sight but sound, the only thing visible was a message window floating overhead.

[Former 1st Prince, ‘Bairan de Arnis’ wishes to show you hidden history.]

[Accepting may trigger a sudden Quest.]

[Will you accept?]

At the same time, Dohyun’s eyes gleamed with interest.

‘Hidden history?’

It probably referred to the history from when Bairan was most active.

Perhaps the answers to many questions he’d been hearing about were contained within.

Even if not, seeing how desperately he wanted to show this, it must be something important.

‘This is definitely a go.’

Dohyun answered without hesitation.

“I accept.”

Then, like a curtain being drawn back, bright light pushed away the darkness,

[‘Bairan de Arnis’ consumes all remaining life force and will to transmit memories to you.]

[Bairan’s memories unfold.]

An Imperial City spread out before him.

At first glance it looked the same, but looking closely, the city at night showed signs of being slightly old-fashioned.

And even in such a place, the Imperial Capital shone particularly bright.

Clang! Claaang!

From there, the sound of metal rang out at an odd hour.

It wasn’t the sound of hammering.

Rather, it was a lighter, more nimble sound.

Claaang!

It was the ringing of sword clashing against sword.

The source of the noise was a training ground inside the Imperial Capital.

There, two men were crossing swords.

“Ugh…”

“Hmm.”

Those dueling in the Imperial Training Grounds at this late hour were none other than young boys.

Perhaps around fourteen years old.

A relatively small-framed blond youth, and a boy who despite his young age had a sharp impression and large build.

“You’re putting in too much strength. Relax a little.”

“I know that!”

Though the two boys were similar in age, their skill levels had a gap larger than their physical differences.

While the blond boy seemed to be struggling despite appearing to press forward, the sharp-faced boy was leisurely receiving his attacks.

Sure enough.

The match was decided in an instant.

Crash!

Swoosh.

“Damn! I lost again.”

The boy who had been receiving the blond boy’s sword swept his leg to trip him and pointed his sword at his neck.

Seeing him panting, the boy sheathed his sword and began lecturing.

“I told you to relax your strength, but what’s the point if you relax your feet too?”

“But isn’t it too underhanded to immediately trip me just because of that?”

“There’s no such thing as underhanded in combat. Would you cry about underhanded tactics after losing in war?”

“Well, that’s not wrong.”

The blonde boy scratched his head, left speechless by the sharp factual assault.

He let out a thoughtful hum as if trying to think of a rebuttal, then soon flopped down flat on his back as if giving up.

“You’ll get dirty.”

“I don’t care, I’m already soaked in sweat anyway. You nag too much.”

“Haven’t you considered that Your Highness is the one making me this way?”

“I’m not sure about that, but I’m certain that ‘Master’ would sound much better than ‘Your Highness.'”

“…It’s still a secret, so you must be careful with your words.”

When the sharp-faced youth said this while glancing around cautiously, the blonde boy grumbled about not being able to say anything.

Then he stuck out his lips and blurted out:

“I’m a genius, right?”

“If Your Highness, who is called the reincarnation of the Lion King, isn’t a genius, then who is? Didn’t the swordsmanship instructor praise you yesterday, saying he’d never seen such talent in his lifetime?”

At the boy’s answer, the blonde boy, Bairan, let out a hollow laugh.

“Then what about you? I’ve never beaten you even once.”

“…”

“If that’s the case, then you should be the one called the reincarnation of the Lion King, not me.”

Having said that, Bairan looked at the boy while lying flat on his back.

“Don’t you think so, Garion?”

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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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