The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 262

262.

“Kheu-euh!”

Dohyun’s expression was brighter than ever as he left the smithy.

“Ah, the sky seems clearer today. Is life always this beautiful?”

-……Liza?

-Don’t look at things like that, Eliza. It’s bad for your eyes.

Jihad quickly covered Eliza’s eyes at the sight of Dohyun looking up at the sky and flaring his nostrils.

Eliza peeked out as if she was used to it.

Jihad couldn’t stop her from looking away himself.

-Congratulations, Master.

Unlike the two of them, Charlie continued, feeling proud.

-To have your order prioritized over all other reservations… it’s truly an unprecedented honor. A master craftsman indeed. He must have recognized your greatness, Master.

-Is this even possible? All this from just blocking a sword once.

“This is all thanks to the snowball effect, you…”

-You son of a… I mean, Jihad?

“That’s right.”

As quick as a whip, he knew what to do.

-Hmph, this unfair world… the rich get richer. I wouldn’t be able to live with that kind of injustice.

-Liza?

-It’s all thanks to our Master’s abilities.

Jihad pouted and muttered, shaking his head, but Dohyun was too absorbed to pay attention.

He ignored it and opened his status window.

[Player: Kaiser]

[Level: 85]

[HP: 8,650 / 11,910]

[MP: 3,960 / 7,790]

[Stamina: 930 / 1,950]

[Class: The Last Adventurer [Successor of Kasiyar]]

[Titles (18)]

-Starting with Max Favorability?

-The First Slayer

……(Expand)

[Stats]

[Strength: 200(+201)]> [Agility: 200(+201)]>

[Constitution: 5(+225)]> [Sense: 75(+199)]>

[Magic: 110(+190)]>

Remaining Points: 20

‘Now this looks more like a high-level status window.’

He was actually quite high-level.

Thanks to leveling up four times while catching the Forgotten King and the Calamity, he had reached level 85.

His main stats were also over 400.

At this point, his raw stats were comparable to those of high-rankers.

‘It’s still significantly lower compared to top-tier users like the Ten Guild Masters, though….’

Considering he hadn’t even reached the level cap yet, it was an unbelievable figure.

‘Looking at it like this, my Constitution stat seems particularly low.’

Some might call it stubbornness, considering how much he suffered catching the Forgotten King, but it wasn’t for emotional reasons.

[Black Rain Mask (黑比假面)]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Description: It is said that in the past, everyone was terrified when a mask with a small dagger drawn on a jet-black background appeared.

Who made it, and who the wearer was, remains unknown even after a long time.

It is only said that it grants the wearer constant vitality and stealth.]

[Level Restriction: 70]

[Equip Restriction: None]

[Physical Defense: 694]

[Magic Resistance: 405]

-Sense + 10

-Constitution + 10

-Constitution Regeneration Rate + 100%

[Constant Vitality: The lower your Constitution, the faster your regeneration speed, and you can continue fighting for a certain period even if your Constitution reaches 0.]

[Stealthy Senses: Movement becomes more stealthy, and senses become sharper, increasing weapon proficiency faster.]

One of the two rewards he received for catching the Forgotten King.

As a legendary mask, it had excellent performance, especially in terms of Constitution.

Since obtaining the mask, he hadn’t felt a significant lack of Constitution.

If it was still lacking after this, it wouldn’t be too late to think about it then.

Swish.

Dohyun’s gaze turned to his inventory.

[Flowing Water Hidden Fire Sword (流水秘火劍)]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Description: The fire hidden behind gentleness is more deadly than a fierce storm.

A sword that pursues a hidden strike behind gentleness, it is most suitable for those who wield elegant swordsmanship.

It will amplify the wearer’s lacking attack power.]

[Level Restriction: 70]

[Equip Restriction: Knight, Swordsman Class]

[Physical Attack Power: 1681~1787]

[Durability: 100 / 100]

[Flowing Water (流水): Allows you to wield swordsmanship as natural as flowing water, and the more you wield it, the stronger the water energy becomes.]

[Hidden Fire (秘火): Can be activated when the Flowing Water energy reaches a certain level, unleashing a powerful fiery flash.]

The second reward he obtained along with the mask.

‘It’s the perfect weapon for Charlie.’

A deadly flame hidden within elegant swordsmanship like flowing water.

It was no exaggeration to say it was made for Charlie. Dohyun’s Guardians were strictly subordinates entering the ranks of divine beasts.

The growth of the Guardians was directly linked to Dohyun’s growth, so he wanted to gift it to him right away, but it wasn’t the right time yet.

[You cannot equip this item due to insufficient level.]

[Reach level 40.]

‘I’m glad the level restriction is reduced for Guardians, though.’

Unlike users with a level cap of 100, Guardians had a cap of 70, so the equipment restrictions were also adjusted.

[Jihad LV: 38]

[Charlie LV: 36]

‘I only need to level up four more times, so there’s no need to rush.’

Dohyun closed the system window with a satisfied expression.

‘These guys are already at this level. It feels like just yesterday I got the summon tickets… They’ll reach the level cap soon at this rate.’

The Guardians were growing smoothly, and the armor would be amazing, so he couldn’t be happier.

In this situation, there was only one thing Dohyun had to do.

Do what he had to do with a thrilled heart while waiting.

[Investigate the Labyrinth of Rejection (不許)]

‘The labyrinth is located deep in the southern field, right?’

Dohyun’s lips curved into a smile as he looked at the quest in his quest log.

‘Let’s see what’s hidden there.’

The Iron-Blooded Mayongjong [a type of powerful monster], the Abyss Challenger, the Existence Devourer.

Things from the Abyss were all monsters.

Dohyun anticipated what kind of being would be hidden in this labyrinth and took a step forward.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that moment.

While Dohyun was heading to the labyrinth.

“You’ve arrived, Harrington.”

“So, this makes five of us.”

Heavyweights were gathering in the Aegis Guild conference room, located in a corner of the Empire.

With the entrance of Harrington, the master of the Ernest Guild, there were already five of the Ten Guild Masters present.

“Hey, I heard you almost died? I almost got to fill your seat, but too bad for me.”

“……Leon.”

Harrington frowned at the provocation as soon as he sat down.

‘With that nonchalant attitude… he’s no different from a thug.’

He couldn’t understand the public calling him a paragon of valor.

A brave and great man should follow in ‘His’ footsteps. Those titles should be attached to Him.

‘Hmm. Thinking of Him makes me feel at peace.’

Is this enlightenment?

Harrington, feeling at peace, put his hands together and prayed. Leon scrunched up his face as if he had seen something grotesque at the bizarre sight.

“……What are you doing?”

“What kind of novel concept is this? Weren’t you an atheist? You used to say that believing in God is for the mentally weak?”

And so was Xiao.

The eyes that glared at him with contempt were openly disgusted.

Despite their reactions, Harrington silently continued to pray as if doing his job.

“……Did he get cancer or something? People get weird when they’re about to die.”

“Well… he almost had his guild disbanded. There might have been a big change in his mindset.”

“Let’s not talk to him for a while.”

Leon and Xiao, who used to fight like arch-enemies, whispered to each other.

Arthur, who had been watching with his arms crossed, simply shook his head. Those guys never had a quiet day when they were together.

“It seems like everyone is gathering soon.”

Damian Alexander, who had also been quietly observing the situation, spoke up, and a question immediately followed.

“The Owner of the Armory hasn’t arrived yet?”

“We don’t need that guy.”

“He wasn’t even invited in the first place, and he’s the one making a fuss about coming, right? Does it make sense for a Kaiser party member to come to a Kaiser meeting?”

“……He’s also one of the Ten Guild Masters, so there’s no other way. We can’t break the rules.”

Most people closed their mouths as if agreeing with Damian’s words.

Indeed.

As long as they were one of the Ten Guilds, they had the right to participate in the meeting, and if there wasn’t a rule that they couldn’t be forcibly excluded, they wouldn’t have called the Owner of the Armory.

“Yo, everyone’s here early.”

But speak of the devil.

Damian sighed as a large man, not much smaller than himself, entered through the door.

“Owner of the Armory.”

All eyes naturally turned to Astre’s appearance.

Especially now that it had been revealed that he was a member of the Kaiser party, he was the talk of the town.

“I enjoyed the past videos. The look was very cool.”

“Ugh, don’t talk about that, it’s disgusting. What are you, a pervert? What kind of confidence do you have to go around with that kind of customization?”

“I suspected it because it had many similar characteristics to Demrok’s purple taste, but I can’t believe it was real.”

“But why did Kaiser’s friend come here? Does he have no shame?”

“Leave him alone, he’s so shameless that he goes around with that kind of perverted look.”

Arthur showed interest, and Xiao expressed disgust as if looking at a pervert.

And Leon echoed Xiao, mocking him.

Astre sighed inwardly at the various reactions.

‘This is why I hid it. I should reduce my public activities for a while.’

He was treated as a likable person among netizens, but there were also many reactions that dismissed him as a pervert.

In fact, he didn’t want to come here either, but he had no choice.

It was obvious that they were having a meeting about Kaiser, and as a fellow member, he couldn’t not come.

Even if those guys looked at him with hostility, he was determined to persevere.

‘But…….’

Astre looked at Harrington with a sullen expression.

‘Why does he have that look in his eyes? Was he always that bright-eyed?’

He remembered him as a man who always stood there chicly like a British aristocrat, but the way he looked at him was unusual.

It was like a fervent believer meeting a messenger of God.

Looking at the sparkling eyes of the man, he felt uncomfortable.

“Anyway, now that we’re all here, let’s continue the meeting.”

“Two people haven’t arrived yet? What about Chunma?”

“If we wait for that directionally challenged guy, it’ll take all day. As for that guy from Bloodshed… well, he always arrives late, so he’ll come in while we’re having the meeting.”

“Well, if that’s the case.”

Everyone took their eyes off Astre and focused on the meeting at Aegis’s appropriate arrangement.

But the content of the meeting that started was nothing special.

The main topic was hardly about Kaiser, and it mainly consisted of trivial chatter and discussions about public opinion control.

‘Look at these guys?’

Astre scoffed.

‘They’re not going to talk about Kaiser in front of me? It’s obvious that they’ve been having some dirty talk behind my back.’

It wasn’t an emotional guess.

Leon, Xiao, and Aegis, who were exchanging glances with each other, clearly seemed to have something up their sleeves.

It was certain that they had already conspired something among themselves. Or they might be whispering to each other.

‘Anyway, they’re just big in size, but their insides are like snakes.’

Astre clicked his tongue and looked at them before opening his friend list.

They didn’t seem to be whispering right now, but he was going to send a warning message just in case.

And Damian wasn’t one to miss that.

‘He’s whispering. Did he notice something? Well, he’s not a clueless guy…….’

But Damian’s face was calm.

Leon and Xiao had already agreed to join forces with him.

Arthur was likely to refuse due to his personality, so he didn’t try to win him over, but he had helped him before, so there was no need to worry.

He was the type of person who had to repay his debts, no matter what.

‘In the first place, there’s no reason for him to go that far.’

The same went for the other guilds.

With three of the Ten Guilds joining forces, there was no chance for Kaiser to hold out.

‘Astre, even if you side with him, that won’t change. And…… that woman seems to have the same goal, so now is the perfect time.’

Damian’s gaze turned to the empty seat on the right.

The seat of the Bloodshed Guild.

-I found prey. I will not participate in the meeting.

He twisted his cold lips as he recalled the whisper he had received a little while ago.

‘Her assassination is real. Maybe I can solve this without lifting a finger.’

It was a bitter and sinister smile.

* * *

And at that moment.

Dohyun, who was looking at the map he received from the Emperor and heading deep into the southern field, stopped walking.

-What’s wrong, Master?

-Liza?

Unlike before, when he was flaring his nostrils, his face was noticeably colder.

Dohyun didn’t answer Jihad’s question, who was watching him carefully. He just glanced sideways above his head without making it obvious.

He could see it.

[Eye of Truth is activated.]

‘There’s a rat hiding.’

The silhouette of a woman dyed red, hidden stealthily in a tree.