The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 50

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 50
Chapter 50
My proposal was simple: forget about the class change for now and just show me the skills.
It could have come across as discourteous—as though I wanted to see how powerful a Hunter Master truly was before making my decision—but I had no choice.
“Ha, I like that. You’re right—if I’m going to recommend the path of a Hunter Master, I should show you what a Hunter Master truly is first. Follow me.”
Had my favorability rating with him accumulated more than I realized?
He nodded without hesitation.
Then he began leading me somewhere.
If the Guild Headquarters Master’s Office was the highest point in the Hunter Guild, then where he was heading now was the lowest—the very depths.
Beyond Basement Level 1, which even ordinary users were permitted to enter, and past Basement Level 2, accessible only to Hunter Guild staff.
A floor reserved exclusively for the Hunter Guild’s Guild Master.
Calder Belmont alone.
“For a place carved out of the basement, it’s quite impressive, wouldn’t you say?”
“Is this the Guild Master’s personal training ground?”
“I’ve retired from active duty, but I was once called a Hunter Master. A space like this is necessary if I’m to truly loosen up.”
Basement Level 3 was a training ground.
Not an ordinary one—magical circles for temperature control, ventilation, and restoration were inscribed throughout.
And yet.
‘It’s brutal.’
The traces of training were visible everywhere in this meticulously crafted space.
Walls still undergoing repairs from massive collapses.
The ceiling, reinforced especially because it connected to Basement Level 2, had also partially caved in, with debris scattered across it.
Instead of the dummies and sandbags one would expect in a training ground, the floor was littered with unidentifiable wreckage.
Likely, the Guild Master had obliterated every target dummy that was periodically replenished.
“As you can see, I’ve destroyed all the target dummies. I can’t very well be swinging away at empty air.”
The Guild Master draped a cloak over his shoulders that had been hanging at the entrance.
He looked at me with a slight smirk, the cloak hanging heavily about him.
In that instant, I felt a sharp tingle run down my spine.
Without thinking.
“Luke, anything!”
– I shall retrieve a selected blade for you.
I drew a weapon from Luke and took my combat stance.
“Let me show you the power of a Hunter Master firsthand—and assess your level in the process.”
Clang!!
The Hunter Guild’s Guild Master.
Hunter Master Calder Belmont’s blade clashed against mine.
* * *
“First, could you show me that skill?”
At Mir’s question, Calder Belmont found himself caught off guard.
Here he was, offering to pass on the position of Hunter Master.
Rather than accept this, he was demanding to see skills first.
That meant he wanted to observe with his own eyes what skills the Mercenary King possessed, whether the position of Mercenary King was truly worthwhile, and evaluate it for himself, didn’t it?
An arrogant question that could be interpreted as evaluating the Mercenary King and, by extension, himself.
But.
‘Is this what they mean by having a different caliber?’
He felt no anger toward Mir.
Rather, he found himself liking him even more.
And he felt anticipation.
Mir’s potential had exceeded his expectations twice over.
The potential of Mir, who was expected to surpass even himself—once a member of the Dragon Slayers and called the Mercenary King.
He was curious whether Mir, possessing such monstrous potential, would be satisfied with his position.
But regardless, he was not the type to quietly display his skills to someone who dared to evaluate his path.
“I’ll show you the Mercenary King’s power firsthand while assessing your level as well.”
Clang!!
He unleashed a sword strike toward Mir.
The way Mir instantly assumed a combat stance, drew his weapon, and blocked the attack pleased him even more.
However, despite his retirement, he was a legendary Hunter Master, so he couldn’t reveal his full strength.
‘This is harder to control than I thought.’
I regulate my physical abilities to the maximum extent possible.
If I unleashed my full power, no matter how exceptional Mir’s potential was, the overwhelming stat difference would crush him.
Well, even with controlled strength, it would be absolutely overwhelming compared to Mir’s current abilities.
I carefully modulate my power, keeping my sword locked with Mir’s.
“Watch carefully. I’ll show you the path I’ve walked, step by step.”
In an instant, I channel force into my body and push Mir back.
– Skill ‘Reckless Charge’ is activated.
The first skill used while minimizing physical ability.
In truth, even with minimized physical ability, I was already stronger than Mir, and using a skill in that state meant.
Screech!
Mir was rapidly pushed backward.
Tremendous charging force.
True to the skill’s name, it was an attack like a wild boar barreling forward.
I intended to push him all the way to the wall, but Mir tilted his blade and moved his legs skillfully, escaping from my pressure.
‘He escaped from my Reckless Charge?’
Even powerful monsters typically struggle to evade his charge.
Yet a hunter who had only recently reached C-rank level managed to escape from it.
It was an unbelievable movement, even with my strength held back.
Calder Belmont’s lips curved upward even more.
In the moment of distance, I spin my body and reach into my cloak.
– Skill ‘Jade Swallow Flight’ is activated.
I hurl a short dagger.
A short sword darting through the air as swiftly and freely as a swallow in flight.
It was an attack that seemed nearly impossible for me, having just barely escaped Calder Belmont’s charge and failed to regain my balance, to evade.
Ting!
“Hmm.”
I deflected the trajectory of the dagger throw with merely a subtle twist of my blade.
“Impressive. To alter the trajectory of an attack perfectly with minimal force.”
It was a movement that could only inspire admiration.
Was this truly the movement of a C-rank Hunter who had just joined the Hunter Guild mere weeks ago?
My stats were certainly those of a C-rank Hunter, yet my technique felt no less refined than his own.
Calder Belmont, now even more excited,
– activates the skill ‘Crimson Wolf Claw Slash’.
“Come then, experience my skills to your heart’s content!”
began charging toward me in earnest.
* * *
‘Insane.’
I barely suppressed the curse threatening to escape my lips as I blocked the Guild Master’s attack.
Somehow, he said he would willingly teach me his skills.
Yet here he was, unleashing attacks without warning.
If this were part of training, I could somehow accept it.
‘Every single attack is a killing blow!’
Each strike the Guild Master unleashed was powerful enough to bring death with even the slightest graze.
Was he perhaps showing displeasure at my refusal to advance to Hunter Master?
Yet his expression was far too bright for that.
As I stood bewildered,
[ Hidden Skill Quest ‘Hunter Master’s Technique’ has been generated. ]
Rank: Epic
Description: You have refused advancement to Hunter Master, seeking only to master great Hunter techniques.
Prove your worthiness to Calder Belmont and experience the techniques of a Hunter Master.
Objective: Survive the sparring match against Calder Belmont
A Quest window materialized before my eyes.
That was it.
Calder Belmont, the Hunter Master.
The sparring match itself was a Quest to learn the Hunter Master’s skills.
But then,
‘Survive?’
The completion condition was to survive the sparring match—what did that mean?
Did it truly mean I could die in this duel?
I had already arranged to meet Kang Ju-hyuk today, and the Second Crown awaited just ahead.
I cannot die here.
Moreover, if I could merely endure, I would gain access to the Hunter Master’s techniques, would I not?
I couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away.
– Calder Belmont activates the skill ‘White Lion’s Roar’.
An overwhelming aura erupted from the Guild Master.
Status abnormality messages flooded my vision, and my body refused to move.
The Guild Master approached leisurely in that state.
If I remained passive like this, the sparring match would undoubtedly end in complete defeat.
“Luke!”
[ Activating Black Flame Transformation. ]
[ Borrowing the power of ‘Black Flame Dragon, Luke Nir Desperado Ignokton’. ]
I activated Black Flame Transformation to borrow Luke’s strength.
Along with it, my stats and various status abnormality resistances surged, and the paralysis broke free.
“Is this the method you used when you overcame my killing intent last time? Now I see—it’s not just resistance that increases, but your stats as well.”
The Guild Master, showing interest, pressed forward with even greater ferocity.
The Guild Master didn’t seem to be going all out either, yet each of his attacks was so threatening that even a glancing blow would be fatal.
Now that he was exerting his full power, it was nearly impossible to keep pace even with Luke’s strength backing me.
Therefore.
[ Sylph’s Wind God ]
“Hmm?”
I decided to give it my all as well.
I had no intention of wasting the opportunity to learn the Hunter Master’s skills.
Whoosh!
I equipped Sylph’s Wind God, which increased movement speed, and barely evaded the next attack.
[ Storm Disc ]
For attacks I had no way to dodge, I hastily drew my shield and blocked them.
All the while, I didn’t forget to analyze his skills in accordance with the Quest’s objective.
‘Are all of these skills modeled after animal forms?’
‘Reckless Charge—a close-range assault that dramatically increases strength for an instant.’
‘Jade Swallow Reversal—a throwing technique. It seems there’s no restriction, not just for throwing weapons like daggers or shuriken, but also for two-handed swords or spears?’
‘Blood Wolf Claw Slash—a cutting skill. It has significant openings, but the attack power increases tremendously… Ah, this is a skill designed for hunting large monsters.’
‘White Lion’s Roar—is this a wide-range provocation skill? It seems to boost stats momentarily while applying debuffs and status abnormalities to surrounding enemies.’
This was no ordinary situation.
I was already struggling to endure the Guild Master’s attacks, and now I had to analyze his skills as well.
But who am I?
Back in First, I had hunted dozens, hundreds of monsters stronger than the Guild Master.
Analyzing their attack patterns was my specialty, and it made no difference whether the opponent was human.
Humanoid monsters were quite common among monsters, after all.
As I continued analyzing the Guild Master’s skills.
‘These skills are all perfectly suited for me?’
I realized that the Hunter Master’s skills aligned perfectly with my combat style.
The Hunter Master.
A true “hunter” who hunts without regard for weapon or tool, so long as it means slaying monsters.
Because of this, his skills carried almost no weapon restrictions whatsoever.
Whatever skill I learned would undoubtedly prove invaluable to me.
‘Which is why I must choose even more carefully.’
Yet I could only select a single skill.
I could build affinity with the Guild Master and complete Quests to learn more skills eventually.
But for now, only one skill lay within my reach.
So even amid the strain, I examined each skill with meticulous care.
‘That one.’
At last, I could choose the one skill I desperately needed in this moment.
And now.
“Luke, we’re going all out from here.”
– I have been waiting, Master.
A duel with Hunter Master Calder Belmont.
It was time to conclude the Hidden Skill Quest.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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