The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 192

192.

“What’s this? A final Lantern Rite?”

“It says to watch the beauty of the lanterns? Wasn’t this a tip message?”

“If it’s the last one, does that mean there won’t be any more Lantern Festivals?”

“Seriously, what’s with all the fuss about Kaiser and the Hero Guild? Does anyone know what’s going on?”

“Dunno… Somethin’s… somethin’s happenin’.”

Everyone looked puzzled at the message that appeared before them.

It was only natural.

Users who didn’t know about the King and Angela would be wondering what was going on.

They could only stare blankly and enjoy the Lantern Rite as it unfolded.

Swoosh-

Flash-

“Wow… it’s really pretty.”

“…I admit it. The Lantern Festival was beautiful, but this is… on another level?”

“It’s like the lake is embracing the sunset.”

“It really makes me realize I’m in a fantasy world.”

The scenery unfolding before everyone’s eyes was beautiful enough to elicit admiration.

Beautiful enough to make you exclaim the moment you saw it.

Watching the magnificent sight that made you feel like you were in a fairy tale, your heart was warmed and purified, and you even felt a dreamy sensation.

“Wow, what’s this? The atmosphere is great.”

“It’s beautiful… Honey, let’s watch a little longer.”

“Mom, Dad. Shall we take a look too?”

“Sure.”

Young couples, as well as families, were captivated and took their places, lost in admiration.

“Sniff, sniff…”

“Why are you crying on this joyous day! This is something to be happy about!”

“This isn’t the time for that, everyone! I don’t know why, but we can’t let this possibly last rite pass by like this! Let’s show off our skills!”

“Are you all just going to play around with such a celebration before us!? What have you done with all the art you’ve learned!”

“Let us sing with boundless gratitude to Gilverun, who has bestowed blessings upon us!”

The NPCs, who had been in a sea of tears for some unknown reason, began to rise to their feet, each holding something in their hands.

Ding-

Swish- Doong-

From stringed instruments like violins and cellos to drums and wind instruments.

“Huh? Look over there.”

“They’re playing?”

One resident opened a window and started playing an instrument.

Another resident sat or stood in the alley and sang.

Some played instruments, others sang.

The way they each took on a role and added melodies to the city seemed natural and joyful, as if they had always done it.

And residents danced to the beautiful melodies and drew pictures.

The users were bewildered by the sudden change, but only for a moment.

Whoosh-

“What, what is this.”

“Magic circles…? Are all of these magic circles?”

“Crazy… how far are they going to expand it?”

The magic circles that appeared as if to bless them spread beyond the streets, past the shopping district, and enveloped the entire city.

That was the beginning of the real festival.

“How long has it been since we had a festival like this! Everyone, bring out the alcohol!”

“Leila, will you dance with me?”

“May Angela’s blessings be upon you all!”

The residents, who had been consistently wearing dark expressions whenever the Lantern Festival was held, rose up and burst into laughter as if nothing had happened.

Moreover.

Swish-

Bang! Pop!

Regardless of gender or age, countless residents roamed the streets, setting off various fireworks and putting on a parade reminiscent of Disney.

It was almost surreal to see them genuinely enjoying the festival.

“…Was the Lantern Festival always like this?”

“I don’t know what’s going on… but it’s so exciting?”

“Hey, you! Why don’t you come and join us! Surely the gods have forgiven us! We can’t accept money on a day like this!”

“…Is that okay?”

“Of course! Let’s all enjoy it together! Henry will pay for everything!”

It was only for a moment that they were bewildered.

The users, melted by the splendid and beautiful scenery and melodies, quickly mingled with the NPCs, and the largest festival since the release of God of Seoul began.

“Awesome… hurry up and film it.”

“Crazy. Those who didn’t see this are really unlucky.”

“Even just watching the video will be amazing.”

“Reporters, hurry! We need to snatch the exclusive!”

Of course, the reporters and BJs [Broadcast Jockeys, or streamers] couldn’t just stand by and watch.

-What’s going on? What’s this situation?

-Wow… what? Is this the Lantern Festival?

-Isn’t the Lantern Festival just a fireworks fantasy thing? This is on a different scale!

-It’s a real festival… What? This might be the last one?

-Let’s go in right now! This isn’t the time for this!

-I clipped it right away lol [laughing out loud] I’m going to spread it to the streamers in the next room.

As broadcasts were turned on in various places, viewers flocked in instantly, and the news spread just as quickly.

The sounds of everyone intertwined and enjoying the festival in their own way covered the entire city and spread beyond the forest.

“Do you hear it?”

Now, in the revitalized restricted forest.
The sound reached Gilverun, who was striking a pose and moving forward as if waltzing alone in the center of it.

To others, it would seem like a madman dancing alone in the forest, but the world of Gilverun, who had his eyes closed, was different.

Shimmer-

Angela was embraced in his arms, dancing with him, and a splendid magic circle was drawn beneath them.

-…Yes. They are happy. Everyone.

“Those who were cursed are awakening one by one. They have all been able to return to their families. This is all a result of your choice.”

-….

“I am truly proud of you.”

-No, it’s our choice, Rune. I am the one who is grateful to you.

Gilverun was facing Angela.

In Gilverun’s world, something that had not been there before was visible.

“…But it’s strange. From some point on, I’ve been feeling mana in everything. In that giant tree, in the passing wind, even in the falling leaves… Is this the world you see?”

A world full of mana [magical energy].

Some things emitted a brilliant light, while others emitted a small, insignificant, faint light.

-That’s right. I’m finally feeling this flow. I wanted to walk this path of mana together… but your mana was too much, and I couldn’t control it to that extent.

“…”

Gilverun silently nodded at Angela’s smiling, playful voice.

He seemed somewhat self-reproachful.

“…I’m so sorry to you.”

-Why? You said that earlier. Again?

“I think I know a little bit now how hard it must have been for you.”

A world where mana of different sizes flowed.

In that world, Angela was tiny.

So small that it felt insignificant compared to anything else. She held a faint flame that seemed like it would be extinguished if you blew on it.

On the other hand, the light emanating from him was so enormous that it was embarrassing to compare.

“I only thought that you and I were a match made in heaven. Because I thought you were the only one who could lead me out of my shortcomings. But now I know.”

-Rune?

“How did you endure it? While leading me.”

-…I just, somehow, developed a knack for it.

She smiled and said it easily, but now Gilverun knew.

She had the eyes of a guide to lead, but she didn’t have the vessel to handle him.

The gap was so great that even a small mistake would have caused fatal internal injuries.

Her stamina must have been depleted to the point of exhaustion every moment.

The process of leading him must have been a huge challenge for her.

It was not Angela’s ability, but her will that endured all of this.

‘I… was receiving an excessive amount of love.’

If I had known this sooner…

Wouldn’t I have stopped breaking the taboo?

Wouldn’t Ruidra have appeared, and wouldn’t I have had to let her go?

Would we have been able to continue our simple daily lives, waking up together in the morning sunlight and spending the night together?

Everything was regrettable and bitter.

Sigh.

But Gilverun didn’t bother to mention it.

As the Lantern Rite progressed, Angela’s body was becoming increasingly faint, and her voice was also fading away.

A situation where she could disappear at any moment.

-…Do you remember? The day we first met.

Angela didn’t want to spend the little time left feeling sorry.

Just like nothing had happened.

Recalling the happy days, so that she could feel the daily life that she would never find again, even just a little more.

She just wanted to talk together and dance as always.

“How could I not remember? You happened to come there when I was resting on the cliff.”

-Hehe, you remember well.

“Of course. It was the day I fell in love with you for the first time.”

Gilverun willingly responded to Angela’s wish.

The only way he could repay her for the excessive love he had received was to do that.

-Oh, really?

“Haven’t I said it every time? Are you going to pretend you don’t know?”

-Hehe, how can I help it if it’s something I want to hear every day. And… I also fell in love at first sight that day.

“…What? This is the first time I’m hearing this? Why are you telling me such good news now? Wait a minute, I clearly remember meeting you after repeatedly wooing you…”

-That’s just how women’s hearts are, Rune.

“Huh… I’ve been had.”

Angela chuckled as she watched Gilverun laugh in vain as if he had been tricked.

Gilverun smiled faintly at her pure smile.

The two continued to talk.

From what they ate to how funny Hyde’s expression was when he made a mistake, and other trivial daily things.

And even where they wanted to travel or what they wanted to eat.

They laughed and chatted, drawing a future as if they were not parting.

“By the way… we got off topic, but can you tell me? I’m getting more curious about the story of you falling in love with me at first sight.”

-Oh, were you that curious?

“Ahem… I won’t deny it.”

Angela, who had been stepping forward, smiled as she looked at Gilverun’s face, which was secretly embarrassed.

-The day we first met, I was having a very hard time.

“I know.”

Gilverun also knew about it.

As the family was falling apart, Angela’s father spent every day drinking, and every time, her siblings cried endlessly and only looked for Angela.

There was nothing Angela could do in such a place.

She could only wait for the future that was clearly visible and take care of her siblings.

-I’m also human, right? Eventually, I thought, let’s get away from it all! That’s how I felt.

She said it with a smile, but that day was particularly difficult.

The family that had been falling apart had really completely collapsed.

She couldn’t bring herself to go home that day. She couldn’t bear to see what her father had become.

…In the end, her father committed suicide, so it could be seen as the right choice.

-Anyway, I ran out like that… and ended up getting lost.

“…You got lost there? It should be a simple path for hiking.”

-It was my first time going there. The night was dark too… Anyway, I thought it was a big deal, but the path didn’t come out, and I felt like I was going to cry any minute!

“You met me then.”

Angela nodded.

When she was despairing that the place she had gone to see the light she had found was the end of a cliff.

Gilverun, who suddenly spoke to her, was like a ray of light.

Especially, Gilverun on that day, as seen by her, who had the eyes of a guide…

-He was too dazzling.

He was beautiful.

Wasn’t the expression ‘radiant’ for him?

“…You said he wasn’t your type?”

-Oh, I didn’t say anything about his face?

“Ah… that’s right.”

-Hehe, I’m just kidding, Rune. It’s not just words, he really shone.

“Ahem, what are you talking about?”

-He had too pure mana. More pure and brilliant mana than any mana I had ever seen… I thought that someone with such mana would be a really good person.

Mana is innate.

However, mana slightly changes depending on a person’s mental state, personality, and living environment.

That’s why Angela made it a habit to look at mana first when looking at people.

By looking at mana, she could guess a person’s life and personality, even just a little.

-It was so sad that such mana was darkening, even if only a little. I wanted to stay by his side so that he could find his original brilliant light again, if only I could.

“…And that’s how it happened.”

-That’s right, you, who I thought was too much for me, repeatedly gave me courage.

“Hehe… it wasn’t a futile effort. So how is it now? Is there still light coming out?”

Angela answered that question without a moment’s hesitation.

-Yes.

Now it was too faint.

It was a small voice that would be drowned out by the sound of the wind if you didn’t listen carefully, but the emotion felt within it was firm.

-It’s dazzling. Even more than that day. You’ve been doing well without going astray even while I’m gone.”

“…Is that so.”

-I hope you don’t do that in the future either. As if I’m always by your side.

“I will do so.”

Gilverun, who readily answered, exclaimed as if he had suddenly remembered something and excitedly chattered.

“Ah, come to think of it. Luliel told me this, but Hanre next door… So he caused this accident and it’s a headache… Angela, are you listening?”

-….

“Angela?”

But there was no answer.

Gilverun, who stopped walking, slowly opened his mouth.

“…Did you go?”

There was still no answer.

Sigh-

It wasn’t just the answer. The world had changed.

The world full of mana had returned to its original ordinary forest.

Only the huge energy of the magic circle felt under his feet and the cool breeze were felt.

“I see.”

Gilverun quietly raised his head.

Beyond the forest, there were boisterous sounds and the sound of fireworks exploding.

And the splendid lanterns that adorned the night sky were visible.

Something flowed down Gilverun’s cheek as he watched a scene from the splendid festival.

“You left like this. Without even seeing it together…”

Now, if he walked just a little further.

If he took just a few more steps, it was the city. He wanted the Lantern Rite more than anyone else, but he left without seeing it alone in the end.

“I became known as a wise ruler, but I don’t think I became a good husband. Thank you for being with me, such an inadequate person…”

Gilverun wiped away his tears as he said that.

His eyes were different from before.

Swoosh-

At that moment, a lantern of purification flew into the forest and rose into the night sky.

“I will live the rest of my life as you wished. So will you watch over me from there? So that I can become a man and a king that you can be proud of…”

Gilverun closed his eyes tightly as he watched it and stopped in that spot for a long time, standing like that.

For a long time like that.

* * *

Ding-

“Wow, it’s pretty… Huh? Ding?”

Meanwhile, at that time, in Fratel.

It was when they were busy watching the true Lantern Festival, where residents and users were intertwined and enjoying it.

[You have cleared the sudden quest ‘Angela’s Wish’.]

[By granting Angela’s wish, the first route of the hidden event, ‘Dream City Fratel’, is deleted.]

[The second route, ‘The Birth of a Brilliant Ruler’, will proceed.]

[The hidden event ‘The Last Lantern Rite’ is affected by ‘The Birth of a Brilliant Ruler’.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have reached the graduation level, and the trials of the continent are given.]

[The 4th trial, ‘The One Who Achieves Dreams’, is created.]

…….

[Checking how many achievements you have made as an apostle.]

[Measuring rank.]

Dohyun was startled and widened his eyes at the sudden flood of countless messages.

Then, he soon grasped the situation and turned his head to look at the forest.

‘…Is it over.’

He realized that Gilverun and Angela’s purification rite had ended.

In other words, it also meant that Angela had left. In the end, she sacrificed herself as she wished and saved the city’s residents.

‘Sniff, sniff… Waaah… it’s so sad!’

‘Lizariza… Liza!’

‘Hmm…! It is a truly beautiful farewell, Master.’

Jihad burst into tears at the touching decision.

Eliza also had tears welling up in her small green eyes and was jumping around, and even the solemn Charlie bowed his head and expressed his condolences.

‘…I feel a little strange too for no reason.’

It was when Dohyun was feeling strangely ticklish in his heart.

Thump.

“Ah, no! I didn’t cry!”

“…? What are you talking about?”

Dohyun, who was startled by the sensation suddenly felt on his shoulder, shouted, and Luliel frowned.

“Cough, cough. It’s nothing. Why did you call me?”

Dohyun, belatedly realizing it was her, coughed in embarrassment.

Fortunately, she didn’t dwell on it further.

No, beyond that, she had a serious face that he had never seen before.

“…Luliel?”

Dohyun, feeling the strangeness, also asked in a serious tone, and she took a step closer and placed her hand on his chest.

She gazed at him with her hand on his chest.

“Lu, Luliel? What’s suddenly…?”

“Thank you, Kaiser. No, descendant of that person.”

Dohyun was startled and before he could ask back, a strange voice flowed from her mouth.

It was not the voice of a young girl, but the voice of a cynical adult woman.

But what surprised Dohyun was not the voice.

‘…Descendant of that person?’

One word that Luliel said.

Dohyun, focusing on that, widened his eyes at the thought that maybe.

“You have successfully passed that person’s test and made the broken piece of fate into a complete piece. You would be okay then.”

Flash-!

Suddenly, a dazzling light burst out from Luliel.

At the same time, the thread that came out of her was connected to the ‘Broken Necklace of Truth’ that Dohyun was holding.

Dohyun clenched his fist at the now familiar light and scene.

‘This is… could it be!?’

And that prediction was amazingly accurate.

Ding-

[The fourth piece of fate, ‘Broken Necklace of Truth’, has regained its complete form.]

[The fourth piece of fate, ‘Necklace of Truth’, reacts.]

[The will of the sleeping Archmage King awakens.]

[The will of the Archmage King of ancient humanity, ‘Lucir El Reyhad’, manifests.]

‘Crazy…!’

It was the moment when the will of the fourth piece of fate awakened.