The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 369

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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 369

Part 2, Episode 35.

Dohyun read the message with a somewhat dumbfounded expression for a while.

He couldn’t help it.

‘A high-level spirit?’

He had never heard of a high-level spirit appearing in the tournament.

The highest level of spirits that appeared in tournaments were intermediate spirits at most, and even encountering those was meeting quite high-grade spirits.

Despite their childlike innocent appearance, the power of intermediate spirits was beyond that of most players.

‘Well, that’s natural.’

Spirit ranks are divided into three levels: low, intermediate, and high.

Considering that spirits themselves are a rare and powerful race, intermediate spirits couldn’t be weak.

Especially the spirits of Ellanis were of an even higher level.

Spirits are born with a constitution that grows stronger the more abundant nature is.

Fire spirits exert maximum power in areas where flames are fierce, and earth spirits display great power in lands full of life.

‘In that regard, there’s no place like Ellanis.’

Perhaps that’s why.

Players were always puzzled.

Why weren’t there any high-level spirits in this forest so rich in nature and abundant with spirits?

It was quite strange that they never had occasion to encounter high-level spirits.

In fact, there was even a thought that high-level spirits might not exist at all.

-No, high-level spirits definitely inhabit Ellanis.

Someone appeared with that opinion, and it became a huge topic of discussion.

Because the one who said this was none other than Adventure King Barion.

Who was he?

Someone called eccentric enough to research everything related to adventure in Godseeker.

-Recently, while searching for Adventure Logs, I read a fable about high-level spirits. They are supernatural beings who bring rain and cause blizzards. Curious, I investigated and found clear traces of them having lived here in Ellanis, where nature is abundant.

He added one more thing.

-Although I couldn’t find the actual body of a high-level spirit, one will surely appear someday.

Because of those words, everyone became obsessed with finding high-level spirits for a while.

It wasn’t just because of Barion’s statement.

“High-level spirits, you say? Mysterious – that would be the most fitting word.”

“Hehe, if you meet a high-level spirit directly, you’ll be captivated by that mysteriousness.”

“High-level spirits are like guardian deities protecting all spirits in their territory. Their essence is no different from divine creatures in some ways.”

“You mustn’t displease them. An angry high-level spirit is extremely violent!”

The interest in high-level spirits that started with Barion evolved into intense curiosity due to the words of the Elf NPCs.

Not only the Top 10 Guilds but also rankers that anyone would recognize by name.

And even ordinary players – it was enough motivation for everyone to start searching for high-level spirits.

“No way, we’ve been searching for over a month and nothing shows up. Is this right?”

“Maybe Barion was wrong? We can’t even catch a glimpse.”

“Damn it, just wasted time. I’m giving up.”

“Maybe it’s content that’ll be released later? Even intermediate spirits are rare, but at least we can see some of those.”

But they never managed to find one in the end.

“Hm? Have I seen a high-level spirit recently? Well. I think it’s been about 30 years since I last saw one. Are they busy?”

“There was a time when we didn’t see them for 50 years. 30 years is just normal, normal.”

“I heard they used to hang out with us elves often until about 100 years ago, but I’m only 70 years old so I don’t know well. If you ask the elders who’ve lived over 200 years, they might know something.”

A being so infrequently seen that even the elves spoke like this.

There was no way players could meet such high-level spirits after just a few months of effort.

Thus, high-level spirits were naturally concluded to appear as some kind of content later, and gradually faded from players’ minds.

[Nature’s high-level spirit ‘Periel’ is watching you.]

‘…Why is a high-level spirit appearing here?’

So it was natural for Dohyun to be so shocked.

Who would have thought that a high-level spirit, which even the best players couldn’t find despite gathering and searching, would be in the Tournament of the Supreme Apostle, a weekly content.

[You have gained the trust of spirits by fulfilling many spirits’ requests.]

[You have achieved 10,000 points for the first time.]

[You have met the hidden conditions.]

‘I didn’t know there was such a hidden piece.’

While there may have been many who gained the spirits’ trust, there would have been no one who achieved 10,000 points.

Thinking about it that way, the players’ speculation was correct.

Generally, tournament winners typically scored around 6,000 points.

Considering that even Demroc only reached 8,800 points, it was indeed content meant to appear later.

In other words, this was a tremendous opportunity that only Dohyun had obtained.

‘I almost missed out big time if I hadn’t raised it one more point because it bothered me.’

He had raised the score to 10,000 points because 9,999 points felt oddly bothersome, even though the score wouldn’t rise anymore.

If he had stopped thinking 9,999 points would be first place anyway, he would have almost missed this golden opportunity.

As cold sweat ran down and Dohyun swallowed dryly.

[Nature’s high-level spirit ‘Periel’ approaches you.]

As if a typhoon had blown through, the thicket shook and a massive presence approached step by step.

[Nature’s high-level spirit ‘Periel’ reveals itself.]

[You have encountered nature’s high-level spirit ‘Periel’.]

[It will be recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[Warning! This is an opponent with tremendous power.]

Soon Periel revealed itself.

-It’s Lord Periel!

-Lord Periel, it’s been so long!

-This human helped us. He’s a strange human, really good at finding us!

-Hehe.

The intermediate spirits welcomed excitedly like children greeting a mother who cares for them.

Dohyun also raised his head to look up at Periel.

‘…It looks similar to Lupallo but different.’

Periel was a massive deer over 6 meters tall.

It was similar to Lupallo in being a deer that exuded a mystical atmosphere, but…

Various patterns carved on its body emitted a subtle light, creating an even more mystical atmosphere.

Unlike Lupallo with its solid and massive horns, having horns made of wind and water was a major difference.

‘…Wow. It’s on a different level from intermediate spirits, Owner. I can feel an incredibly clean and pure energy.’

‘Rizariza…!’

‘Indeed, this overwhelming presence and mysteriousness. It’s practically no different from a divine creature.’

The Guardians who spoke thus only showed admiration, with no fear felt at all.

It was an especially unusual reaction for Eliza and Jihad, who were sensitive to mana, and this was because Periel showed no hostility whatsoever.

Rather, they even felt comfort from the pure and clean energy that Periel possessed.

However,

‘Hmm… but something feels strange.’

‘Risa.’

‘Right? Eliza. It’s not just me feeling this way, right?’

‘Risa!’

Jihad tilted his head as if sensing something strange.

‘Why, what is it?’

‘Ah, how should I put it… It’s definitely clean and pure energy, but it feels oddly faint, Owner. Like something is blocking the energy?’

‘Rizariza.’

‘…You can sense that too?’

Looking at Charlie with a bewildered face at the more precise mana detection than expected, Charlie shook his head.

It seems only those two could sense it.

‘Originally it wouldn’t be felt this much, but maybe because the mana is pure? I think I feel more of a sense of alienation, Owner.’

‘Rizariza.’

‘Hmm… Is that so?’

The fact that the sudden quest that could occur was named ‘Periel’s Wish’, and even the testimony of those two.

It seems there really is something here.

While thinking, Periel, who had finished greeting the spirits, finally turned her gaze to Dohyun.

[I heard of your exploits from the children. You made the children happy. Thank you for bringing joy to the children in my stead.]

The feeling of a benevolent woman’s voice echoing inside his head.

It wasn’t just a feeling.

Periel wasn’t actually opening her mouth after all.

The sensation of hearing the voice not with his ears but feeling it with his body was strange.

But what was even stranger was the statement that followed.

[I have been waiting all along. For the day when a race other than elves would prove their qualifications. Though I never thought it would be a human…]

‘A race other than elves?’

Excluding elves in a forest managed by elves?

There was definitely something here.

Dohyun’s eyes sparkled with curiosity for a moment, but unfortunately he couldn’t satisfy his curiosity right away.

[Hmm… I cannot reveal myself for long…]

As if something was bothering her, Periel didn’t get straight to the point and hesitated.

The reason for this became clear soon enough.

[…I will speak honestly. Human, we have been waiting for someone to fulfill our long-held wish. Finally, you, a suitable person, have appeared, but…]

Periel, who let out a deep sigh, began to speak honestly.

[The fact that you are a human with no contact with us is honestly worrying. Since this is a very important matter for us spirits, would it be alright if I briefly verify whether you are suitable or not? Of course, your will is most important. I have nothing to say if you refuse.]

Ding-

As she finished speaking, a cheerful notification rang out as if it had been waiting.

[The high-level spirit of nature, ‘Periel’, doubts your qualifications.]

[She harbors suspicions about whether you are someone who will grant her wish.]

[Please resolve her anxiety.]

‘So this is how it goes?’

Though disappointing, this was the first high-level spirit to appear in Godseeker.

In a way, having this kind of test was natural.

However, the difficulty of the test was a bit strange.

[It’s not difficult. If you truly are someone who has passed the criteria, you would have purified many polluted places in the forest.]

“Yes.”

[To truly purify the forest, one must remove the root of pollution that is the source. However, the root is very small and faint, making it difficult even for elves, the race closest to the forest, to find. Can you find and remove that root?]

Ding-

[Sudden Quest ‘Qualification Proof’ occurs.]

[Qualification Proof]

-Grade: Sudden Quest

-Description: Periel, the high-level spirit of nature.

She has been searching for someone to grant her wish for a long time.

To fulfill the wish, the power of a different race other than elves and spirits is needed.

However, since she hadn’t considered humans, who have low nature affinity, she doubts whether this is something she can tell a human.

Prove your qualifications by finding the ‘root of pollution’ that even high elves find difficult to locate, and resolve her anxiety.

-Polluted roots (0 / 1)

-Quest success: Sudden Quest ‘Periel’s Wish’ occurs, obtain Periel’s gift

-Quest failure: Sudden Quest ‘Periel’s Wish’ deleted

Therefore, the ‘root of pollution’ was something that even most high elves couldn’t easily find.

Finding and removing even one of them was her test.

Considering there was only 1 hour left in the competition, it was essentially telling him to give up on accepting the quest.

[Of course, it’s not an easy task. Since even high elves with very high nature affinity find it burdensome, you just need to find it within three days. Instead, if you accept this proposal, I will give you a suitable reward…]

That’s right. It was truly an absurd difficulty level.

So much so that he couldn’t even properly hear Periel’s pleasant voice chattering away.

However, the meaning of that absurdity was a bit different.

[Eye of Truth activates.]

‘…I can see it too well?’

The moment he accepted the quest, a small seed revealing its presence deep beneath his feet.

[…will do. Surely you will also be satisfied… Human, what are you doing right now?]

Periel’s eyes widened in surprise as Dohyun unconsciously drew out Cheonbyeon and thrust it deep to dig up the ground.

Her eyes seemed to wonder what this sudden action was about, but regardless, Dohyun just silently continued digging.

Swoosh-

When the ground had been dug to some extent.

Dohyun pulled out Cheonbyeon and stuck his hand right in.

[You have obtained the Root of Pollution.]

[It is recorded in the Adventure Log.]

[You have cleared the quest ‘Qualification Proof’. Take it to the high-level spirit of nature ‘Periel’ to complete the quest.]

“Ah, I was right after all.”

Dohyun, who confirmed the message, smiled brightly and held out what was in his hand.

[…?]

“Here it is. The root of pollution.”

[…??]

Periel was stunned at having her qualifications proven in 3 seconds instead of 3 days.

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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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