The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 12

12.

A genius attracts attention even before stepping onto the stage.

How can an awl [a small pointed tool used for piercing holes] be hidden in a pocket? Even if they weren’t known before stepping onto the stage, they quickly garner attention.

Of course, there were exceptions.

“Was it six months ago… when a supernova [an extremely bright explosion of a star] filled with full affinity appeared? They even drew a Mythic God, right?”

“The industry was turned upside down. I got chewed out so much for not scouting them then…”

“Ugh. Come on, how many cases like that are there? My heart clenches every time I hear news about that guy. I’m worried the section chief will go ballistic again.”

Since that day, the number of scouts has steadily increased, but newbies starting with valuable traits are as rare as hen’s teeth [very rare].

Especially if it’s a combat-related trait?

“They said I’m doomed if I don’t bring one in by the end of the month… it’s like telling me to go die.”

“Tell me about it. Seriously, are newbies just newbies these days? They all know their worth. If they have such good traits, they’d join a large guild, not some small to medium-sized guild like ours.”

“Sigh. Your fate is my fate, man. Instead of complaining, let’s find even one more.”

Today, as always, they grumble but have no choice but to search for talent, tears and all.

“That guy’s a lost cause.”

“Hmm… what about that one? Seems to be combat-oriented.”

“Look at the way he’s swinging his sword in the air. I’ll bet my entire year of experience that he doesn’t have a single swordsmanship-related trait.”

“Maybe he’s a Heroic God?”

“Hey, how long have you been doing this? How can you tell talent just by looking at their job at this point? Traits need to back it up to be worth investing in. Unless it’s a Mythic God or a rare Heroic God…”

“That one looks alright, though? He’s got a spark in his eyes.”

It’s been a year and a half since the game was released.

Those with experience have reached a point where they can roughly grasp potential just by looking.

It was know-how gained from approaching newbies indiscriminately.

Thanks to this, scouts are treated similarly to ‘Do you believe in God?’ among users, but it has helped increase their discernment.

The criteria they judge by aren’t that grand.

Just as missionaries discern kind and gullible people like ghosts, they judge newbies through their expressions, tone, and conversation.

Some even look at their eyes, which is surprisingly accurate.

Newbies who obtain good traits have a different aura from the start.

“They can’t help but brag.”

“It’s like starting after winning the lottery; how can they not show it?”

“If it were me, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”

For that reason, scouts pay close attention to the eyes and expressions of newbies, so the users they avoid are usually similar.

“Hmm… those eyes are dead.”

“Looks like a student retaking the college entrance exam for the third time in a cram school? I’m curious what trait he got.”

“That guy looks mentally broken, so he’s probably useless in combat.”

They all exuded a similar atmosphere.

It was then.

A scout observing the newbies nudged his colleague and gestured with his chin.

“Hey, look at that guy.”

“Hmm? Ugh… that’s a proper dud.”

They were looking at a man.

He looked quite handsome and masculine, but his eyes were vacant as he stared into space. He was even muttering something while looking at the air, his lips moving.

These were the newbies that scouts avoided the most.

These types usually had the worst traits, to the point where they had to consider deleting their character, and even their God draw was often the worst.

“Tsk tsk, looks like he really stepped in it… what did he get? The Lazy Donkey God or something?”

“There are so many terrible Gods, so who knows… he must have gotten a really bad trait.”

“Wasn’t the officially known worst trait ‘Foot Eater’?”

Foot Eater.

As the name suggests, it’s the ability to increase movement speed by eating the feet of insects or animals.

Not by much, just a very slight amount.

It might seem like a useless trait, but it became famous because of how the user obtained it.

Apparently, Charlie told him to lick feet, and he got angry and actually licked feet, thus obtaining the trait.

Proudly, the protagonist of that bizarre story was Korean.

“Would he really get something like that?”

“Traits are so diverse… maybe he got something even worse.”

“Hmm… either way, he’s screwed.”

In reality, they never saw anyone who showed such a reaction again in high-level content.

More than nine out of ten quit the game or deleted their character and recreated it after 60 days.

It was a dud with a 99% hit rate.

“You never know. Maybe he’ll just enjoy the game without leveling up. God of Second Earth has a lot to see and do.”

“True… there are many people who play God of Second Earth just to date and hang out. Spending that much money, geez…”

“Let’s just focus on our work.”

Therefore, the scouts no longer paid attention to the man.

They didn’t have enough time to look at other newbies.

That was the reason.

“Excuse me. Ah, I’m not a weirdo. I’m Bae Jin-cheol from the Peacemaker Guild. It’s just that…”

“……Yes? Do I like raw fish? Are you trying to take me raw… no, what did you just say!?”

“Hey, I’m not a scout. Would you like to buy an item? There’s a package I’m selling cheaply only to newbies right now.”

Scouts, newbies, and even merchants.

That was the reason why Do-hyun was the only one who could have his own time in the chaotic central square.

Information was floating in front of Do-hyun’s eyes.

[Necklace of the Blood Pact]

[Grade: Heroic]

[Description: A necklace of the pact made with the blood of Charlie, the Knight Commander of Arlen Castle. Only his liege [a feudal superior or sovereign] can possess the necklace.]

[Level Restriction: None]

[Equip Restriction: Charlie’s Liege]

[Physical Defense: 61]

[Magic Resistance: 53]

-Strength +4

-Agility +2

-Stamina +1

-Attack Speed +5%

-Movement Speed +5%

[Special Option: Defense and magic resistance increase with each acquisition of a certain amount of experience.]

[Special Option: Unlocks upon reaching level 35.]

-Cannot be traded

‘……Jackpot, a Heroic grade item from the start, is this real?’

The information of the necklace received from Charlie, which he couldn’t see because he was changing jobs.

Even the options are unusual.

‘Ah… I think I’m going to collapse from diabetes.’

Do-hyun was internally screaming at the continuous sweet rewards, and people were subtly avoiding him.

They wouldn’t know.

That the man they were avoiding had not only the combat-related trait they so desired but also five more traits.

Moreover, he was the only one in the history of God of Second Earth to draw a unique God, and he even had a legendary title and a heroic necklace.

Kaiser, that was the moment he officially set foot in God of Second Earth.

* * *

What is the first thing newbies do after finishing the tutorial?

Sightseeing in a realistic otherworld?

Mukbang [an online audiovisual broadcast in which a host eats large quantities of food while interacting with their audience] in an otherworld restaurant? Abtartel’s special crimson beer?

Those are all good, but users who have manifested combat-related traits shout with one voice.

“RPG is all about hunting!”

“Quickly, monsters! Find the monsters!”

“Those cocky goblins are all dead.”

God of Second Earth is all about hunting.

They were fascinated by the high-level boss raid videos of the top 10 guilds and veterans, and they were eager to grow and become stronger as soon as possible.

Splendid magic.

Flashy swordsmanship.

Solid shield.

Sacred effects…….

They didn’t have any of those things, but when they set out to hunt, they were no less mages and warriors than anyone else.

But even they had something to protect.

“We have to accept the quest.”

“The walkthrough quest is essential.”

“Let’s go to Uncle Dante first.”

“Goblins, I’ll let you off the hook for a bit.”

That was the quest.

As with most RPG games, quests in God of Second Earth are highly efficient.

It was faster to get one or two quests from the village, even if it meant doing some repetitive tasks, than to hunt aimlessly.

Considering the quest rewards, it was essential.

Therefore, God of Second Earth users were frantically searching for quests, and after a year and a half, most of the quest walkthroughs were available.

[Beginner’s Essential Reading Quest Walkthrough]

It was one of the walkthroughs called the Newbie Must-Read.

-They really organized it well.

-Honestly, they should give an award to the person who made this.

-There’s really no bad choice. It even gives you a rare item, so you’d be stupid not to do it.

It was the best walkthrough that allowed you to reach level 12, commonly graduating from the beginner city, fill out the Adventure Book, and even obtain a rare grade item just by following the route written in the walkthrough.

‘Objectively, it’s a well-written walkthrough.’

As it was still one of the top-ranked walkthroughs, Do-hyun was planning to follow that route.

This was the advantage of being a latecomer.

There was no fun in figuring things out for yourself, but you could easily follow the path paved by the pioneers.

It wasn’t difficult to find where Dante was.

It was kindly written in the walkthrough, but there was no need to look at it in the first place; just follow the users flocking to one place.

‘As expected, following the crowd is the rule.’

This was an immutable law that was no different in reality or in the game.

When he arrived in front of a hut, he saw users gathered together. They frowned and muttered, not looking very happy.

“It’s Dante! Quickly get…… what, are those all lines [queues of people]?”

“Damn it, I need to get it quickly and go hunting, what is this? Why is the line so long?”

“Ugh, I guess this VR endemic [a situation constantly present in a specific population] hasn’t been fixed even in virtual reality.”

A considerable crowd.

Users who were already itching to hunt as soon as possible were getting dizzy, but their complaints were quickly suppressed.

“Oho, there are many this time as well! Then I will ask without hesitation! Everyone, please massacre those foolish goblins who are senselessly increasing!”

Ding-.

[Quest ‘Goblin Cleanup’ has occurred.]

[Goblin Cleanup]

-Grade: Normal

-Description: A quest requested by Dante, a senior hunter in Arde.

There are not enough hunters in Arde to clean up the increasingly numerous goblins.

It is not cost-effective for him, a senior hunter, to step in himself. Therefore, he asks the apostles who have appeared in Arde to clean up the troublesome goblins.

-Goblin Eliminated (0 / 40)

-Reward upon completion: 80 silver, a certain amount of experience.

-Risk of failure: Dante’s favor may be reduced.

-Time Limit: 24 hours

[Would you like to accept the quest?]

‘……Hmm?’

Thanks to Dante’s coolness in giving a group request as soon as he arrived, he was able to receive the quest quickly.