The Return of the Genius Ranker of All Times - Chapter 9

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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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Episode 9

Chapter 9.

[Eye of Truth]

-Grade: Unique Trait

-Effect: Sees through what is hidden.

A brief description.

Seeing this, Dohyun couldn’t help but tremble with emotion.

“Unique trait…!”

A type of trait he’d never seen before in his life.

He had never seen the type called “Unique” even in Demroc.

However, Dohyun wasn’t stupid enough not to recognize its value.

‘Honestly, I’m not sure what kind of ability this is. But it’s definitely an incredible ability.’

Weapon Master? Hero? Slayer?

These are good traits.

But they’re not one-of-a-kind traits.

While there might not be anyone who possesses all of them, there would be quite a few people who own them individually.

But the Eye of Truth?

‘At least I’ve never heard of such a trait existing.’

Unique .

Literally meaning something that exists only one in the world.

In Godseeker with a billion players, this meant it was a trait that only Dohyun possessed.

Setting aside its power, its rarity was incomparable.

‘Come to think of it, there were such discussions.’

He had seen discussions in the community about the word “grade” attached to traits.

Since they’re all traits anyway, why use the word “grade” instead of “type” or “category”?

It was a valid question.

Grades are things divided into levels like Common, Rare, Hero, Legend, while determining whether something is a trait or skill should be called type or category.

There were quite a few opinions exchanged, but it eventually ended inconclusively with the opinion that it might be an error arising from differences between Korean and foreign languages.

Dohyun had similar thoughts when he saw that post.

No, honestly, he didn’t think much about it.

Whether it was grade or type, it wasn’t particularly important.

He just thought “I see” and moved on.

But now he learned the reason.

‘To think it was literally a grade…’

Unique Trait and Trait.

These two were the grade classifications.

Thinking about it, it was naive to think that artificial intelligence, said to be superior to AlphaGo, would make such an error.

The mystery was solved, but that wasn’t really what mattered.

‘What’s important is that I’ve just won the lottery.’

And it wasn’t just any lottery.

A unique trait, five traits, and even additional titles.

It was truly a jackpot.

[First Slayer]

-Grade: Legend

-Description: A title given to the first person to kill a legendary Named Boss.

-Effects

Rage: Deals 10% additional damage to boss monsters.

Predation: When succeeding in a try on the first battle, all stats increase by +6.

The ‘Predation’ effect does not apply to bosses of the same type as previously defeated bosses.

All stats +10

[Currently acquired stats through Predation +6]

That made sense since the traits alone were sweet, but this was even a legendary-grade title.

It had tremendous performance befitting the legendary grade.

Just the basic option of all stats +10 was amazing, but it could even increase late-game potential through Predation.

On top of that, there was Rage that dealt 10% additional damage to boss monsters.

One title was providing the effects of three titles.

‘Hah… So sweet…’

It was such a sweet start that he wondered if he might get diabetes.

‘To think such an opportunity would come to me with my terrible luck…’

It felt even more precious to Dohyun, who had suffered the world’s spite in Demroc.

How many bitter days had he endured back then?

Back then, when others got rare-grade items, he started with common-grade ones…

‘This time feels good.’

A user starting with 6 traits and legendary and rare-grade titles from the beginning?

If posted on the website forum, it would cause complete chaos.

He might receive attention from both users whose eyes would roll back trying to recruit him and users who would want to kill him out of sheer envy.

‘Though they probably wouldn’t believe it anyway.’

He wasn’t sure if they’d believe something that even he wouldn’t believe if he were in their shoes.

‘More importantly…’

Having finished checking his rewards, Dohyun looked around.

He could see the floor and walls that had become a wasteland due to the Iron-Blood Demon, and the opposite interior that was perfectly intact as if a line had been drawn.

Seeing this scene, Dohyun tilted his head.

‘Why isn’t the tutorial ending?’

As far as he knew, the goddess was supposed to appear, re-seal the boss monster, send the adventurer to the main continent, and start the game.

But none of those events were happening.

“Wait… seal the boss monster?”

At the same time, something flashed through Dohyun’s mind.

‘The timing when the goddess appears is definitely…’

When the user dies.

But what about himself?

Far from dying, he had beaten the demon to death and monopolized all sorts of traits and rewards.

Everything had changed due to that influence.

‘What happens in a case like this?’

He was momentarily flustered but quickly regained his composure.

And that composure soon turned into slight anticipation.

If the scheduled event had changed…

‘It might be a hidden piece.’

He had already sucked all the honey he could and was greedy for more, but you never know, right?

As he approached the door he had entered through, a message appeared.

[Boss death confirmed.]

[Would you like to return to the entrance?]

“Yes.”

As he answered quickly, his vision flipped.

Monster corpses were strewn across the corridor that had collapsed even more chaotically than the messy room.

For the entire 5 hours and 30 minutes that Dohyun had been inside, a long battle had been taking place here as well.

Charlie was looking at Dohyun with a surprised expression on the battlefield stained with blood.

Even though he was covered in the blood of countless monsters, his spirit remained unbroken, but now he had a dazed expression as if he couldn’t believe it.

Soon their eyes met and his lips began to tremble.

“Ah… Aah…”

“…”

Dohyun instinctively sensed it.

That this gentleman was about to deliver another gem of a line.

Sure enough, he asked in a trembling voice.

“I clearly heard the sound of monsters being summoned… Did you truly kill them?”

“Yes, well…”

“And yet you don’t have a single wound. What exactly are you…?”

Unlike before, his speech was almost extremely respectful, his tone polite, and those eyes filled with admiration.

Everything was already burdensome, but Charlie didn’t stop.

“No, who you are or where you came from doesn’t matter.”

“?”

“Heroes are meant to bloom in troubled times. I, Charlie, believe without a doubt that your existence will bring great change to this chaotic world.”

It was then that he, with a resolute expression, knelt on one knee.

“O Hero… I wish to walk that glorious path alongside you. May this humble knight be permitted to become your heart and sword?”

Ding-.

A message appeared simultaneously.

[Knight Commander ‘Charlie’ of Arren Castle wishes to become your heart and sword.]

[If you accept the knight’s oath, he will swear loyalty to you.]

‘…Crazy?’

He had secretly hoped for a hidden piece, but this was completely unexpected.

A knight’s oath meant he would believe and follow even if it meant losing his life.

It wasn’t a simple metaphor.

[Upon acceptance, Charlie will no longer be the Knight Commander of Arren Castle but will become Kaiser’s subordinate.]

[The lord will receive the benefits that he would have received instead.]

A knight who makes an oath, regardless of their position, abandons everything to serve under their lord.

And they offer all the rights and benefits they had been receiving to their lord.

Truly an oath that sacrifices everything.

‘This is amazing.’

Being in a position like a knight commander of a castle would provide many elements helpful for future growth.

He could be treated well by NPCs anywhere and easily grow through his high position.

But…

[However, he is already a deceased person from long ago, so you cannot receive benefits even if you become his lord.]

“Ah.”

Dohyun let out a deflated sigh at the message that soon appeared.

No wonder things were going too smoothly.

Well, it would be too game-breaking if a level 1 started by becoming a knight commander’s lord.

‘The tutorial was said to recreate the tragedy of Arren Castle from the past.’

The tutorial’s true identity was a stage and stepping stone for adventurers from the Other World to reach the main continent through the goddess.

That was also why it had a medieval-like scenery from the distant past, unlike the main game’s timeline.

‘I guess it’s just a formal oath. Like some kind of event…’

Well, wanting more than this would be greedy.

Still, since it felt good anyway, Dohyun nodded without much thought.

At that moment.

[You have accepted the knight’s oath.]

[You remain as the lord in Knight Commander ‘Charlie’s’ memory.]

[The war that will later be recorded as the terror of The Abyss and the tragedy of Arren Castle will end in victory in ‘Charlie’s’ memory.]

[He will sleep peacefully, looking forward to a future with you.]

[The tutorial has ended and the Pantheon opens.]

[You will be warped to the Pantheon shortly.]

As the message appeared, the boss room transformed into a warp portal.

Though it was a different route from the original, he had successfully completed the tutorial.

‘…Sleep peacefully.’

Dohyun glanced at Charlie.

His eyes were drawn to those loyal eyes looking at him like a true lord and that resolute expression.

That would be this man’s final memory.

Thinking that made one side of his heart feel uncomfortable.

In a way, he was just an NPC, but watching his reactions had made him grow attached…

“My lord, where is our next destination?”

That must be why.

Seeing him with resolute eyes that held a hint of small expectation, he bothered to answer before taking the warp.

“…We’ll go where we’re needed. Since it’s a chaotic world.”

“Ah…”

It was cringeworthy, but he thought Charlie would definitely want this answer most.

Charlie, who had been staring blankly with his mouth open, closed it again.

There was no special response, but that was enough.

His eyes proved that Dohyun’s thoughts were correct.

[Using warp.]

[Moving to the Pantheon in 5 seconds.]

[5…]

It was when Dohyun, feeling at ease, took the warp.

Charlie, who seemed to have finished making some resolution, nodded and approached.

“…Please accept this.”

Charlie took something from his chest and respectfully offered it.

[3…]

[2…]

It was a necklace.

A rather ordinary-designed necklace with what looked like a red ruby embedded in it.

Dohyun couldn’t help but be surprised when he received it. However, before Dohyun could even react, the warp’s movement time ended.

[You have acquired …]

[Moving to the Pantheon.]

“Thank you, my lord. Please save the… …”

A message wrapped in brilliant light.

And with Charlie’s words faintly heard behind it, his vision turned black.

[Welcome to the Pantheon.]

[This is a place to choose a god and decide the path forward. We pray that divine blessing will descend upon you.]

[You cannot use your inventory here, and if forcibly logged out, an automatic selection will be made.]

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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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