The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 129

129.

Dug-duk. Dug-duk.

It felt like descending from the sky in a chariot, riding the moonlight.

But something about their appearance was different than before.

Should I say they became clearer, or more terrifying?

The size of all the Outlaws had increased by 20%, and a chilling blue aura surrounded their bodies.

‘Why do those guys keep getting bigger every time I see them?’

They seem to grow a little each day, perhaps growing more as they receive the energy of the full moon.

So, Do-hyun simply sat down and observed them.

The reason he could observe them with such a relaxed mind was simple.

As long as he didn’t provoke them, they didn’t attack, and they didn’t even seem to notice Do-hyun’s presence.

While observing them, he learned that they were looking for something.

[Find… it… Offer… to… Him… must…]

[…Traces… Find… that man… here…]

The figures who appeared on nights with a full moon repeated the process of muttering incomprehensible sounds and searching the forest thoroughly before disappearing.

It was a small murmur that couldn’t be heard unless you listened closely, but it was certain.

‘Seeing that, it seems like there’s something going on….’

It had already been a year and six months since *God of Seoul* was released.

For a year and six months, they appear every full moon night, looking for something?

It was hard to dismiss it as just an event; their actions were suspicious.

-Aren’t the Sarrghis Outlaws strange?

-They keep saying they need to find something, traces and stuff. It feels like a hidden piece [a secret quest or item].

There was no way users would ignore it.

Among them, the will of the Koreans, who could be called the nation of gaming, was strong.

True to their nature of being unable to resist hidden pieces, they took them apart one by one and searched.

But the result was futile.

-No, damn it. Isn’t there anything coming out?

-Even the top 10 guilds have stepped in, but nothing has been found. What are they looking for?

-Wow, crazy… Even Barion couldn’t find it?

Not only Koreans but also the top 10 guilds, and even the Adventure King Barion, couldn’t find the hidden piece.

No, to be precise, they had found some unusual traces.

-…A pen? Paper?

-Why is this stuff lying around in the forest?

-Breaking news, the Babylon Guild deciphered the paper and went there, but there’s nothing. Seriously legendary;;

However, it was just meaningless junk.

Surely, the Outlaws wouldn’t be searching for mere pens or paper.

Barion felt that there was something to it, but in the end, he couldn’t find anything.

Eventually, users came to a conclusion.

-It’s probably just a concept like Raven Eliza.

-Or it’s foreshadowing for future content.

Either a kind of concept or a build-up for a future event.

One of the two.

Therefore, the current *God of Seoul* users were just treating the Outlaws as a peculiar spectacle and moving on.

Do-hyun knew that, but he couldn’t stop observing them.

‘Could what they’re looking for be a fragment of fate?’

Perhaps what they want is the same as his goal.

He was the only one currently doing the main quest in *God of Seoul*.

Thinking that way, the strange behavior of the Outlaws and the fact that the hidden piece hadn’t been found all made sense.

So, he invested three days, also to hunt….

‘Damn it.’

He couldn’t get any special information from them.

Well, maybe it was obvious.

Perhaps the fragment of fate was in the castle.

And the Outlaws seemed to be looking for a man along with the unknown traces.

The top 10 guilds and explorers thought that man was the ‘keyword’ and tried to find him, but they couldn’t find anything.

‘Finding a way to meet the lord is the priority after all.’

Whatever it was, he had to find a way to get into the castle.

But how?

Do-hyun didn’t just hunt for three days.

He also observed the Outlaws, looked for ways to get into the castle, and even searched for anything hidden in the forest.

He spent three days, even postponing card draws, but there was no way to meet the lord.

-Master, I’m here!

-Hmm! Excellent.

-Ahem!

While dealing with the Lycanthropes that Jihad had brought, Do-hyun pondered.

‘There’s no point in trying to *gong략* [Korean term for ‘攻略’, meaning ‘to capture’ or ‘conquer,’ often used in gaming contexts to describe figuring out a strategy to overcome a challenge] NPCs… Could the Outlaws be a hint?’

If it could be done by *gong략* NPCs, it’s strange that no one has seen the lord yet.

No, apart from NPCs, they must have tried every possible method.

When he thought about what users hadn’t been able to *gong략*, it was only the Outlaws.

Ke-gaeng! Kkaeng!

—–!

With the effect of the fuse attached to Chun-byeon exploding and the Lycanthropes’ mournful screams as music, Do-hyun continued to think.

No matter how he thought about it, there was only one plausible answer.

‘Is the man the Outlaws are looking for perhaps the lord?’

If so, wouldn’t it make sense that the lord doesn’t show himself outside the castle?

The Outlaws’ force was enormous.

Even if the NPCs in the city were stronger than the users, it wasn’t strange to be afraid, considering that even Ader was killed.

‘So… Let’s *jeongri* [Korean term for ‘정리’, meaning ‘to organize’ or ‘summarize’].’

For some reason, the lord was targeted by the Outlaws, and the Outlaws were looking for the lord.

Considering the Outlaws’ characteristic of trying to kill anyone who provokes them, wouldn’t the reason for being targeted be that the lord accidentally provoked them and ran away?

For that reason, the lord was scared of the Outlaws and hid.

‘Perfect.’

It was a perfect guess, even if he thought so himself.

If what the Outlaws were looking for was the lord, wouldn’t it make sense that the users couldn’t find the man the Outlaws were looking for?

Like puzzle pieces fitting together, Do-hyun threw Chun-byeon.

Pook- Ke-gaeng!

[You have defeated a Lycanthrope.]

-Clean trajectory… Your ability to handle all weapons is always amazing.

-Lizariza!

Do-hyun, who had dealt with the last Lycanthrope, turned around, and Jihad excitedly asked.

-Master, should I bring more?

“No, it’s okay.”

-Huh? Why? Didn’t you say you would annihilate all the sacrifices of experience and fill them with nutrients?

“……I didn’t say that much.”

The atmosphere was broken for a moment, but Do-hyun quickly regained his serious face.

His eyes were on the Outlaws, who had become even darker. The guys who were busy searching the forest, not even knowing his existence.

‘Should I try just once?’

He had become strong enough, and there was no one around.

If his guess was correct, there was a high probability that he would be allowed to meet the lord after catching an Outlaw.

The problem was that those guys ganged up on him….

‘Surely they’re not stronger than that Destroyer guy.’

The guy in the robe looked a bit dangerous, but he could quickly catch one and get out.

Even if it became dangerous, there was the Karuk’s Essence Ring option, so he could overcome one crisis.

Then, if he escaped to the city with a backstab, what could they do?

‘Yeah, let’s try it.’

Anyway, he can’t graduate if he doesn’t see the lord. He can’t give up the main quest.

Do-hyun, who had made up his mind, transformed the shape of Chun-byeon.

[Chun-byeon (千變) [Thousand Transformations] is transformed into ‘The Blue Sword of Brilliant Taksenel’.]

[Swordsmanship Proficiency LV16 is applied.]

[Due to the effect of the first S-rank, deals 18% additional damage on the first hit.]

[Due to the effect of Striking, Physical Attack Power is increased by +40.]

[Uses Darkness Coating on Chun-byeon (千變).]

‘First strike is a guaranteed win!’

The best power Do-hyun could currently produce!

Do-hyun, who had decided to bet everything on the first hit, slowly approached the back of the Outlaw and was about to swing his sword when.

-That stupid bastard…!! Gasp!

“Huh?”

A surprised shout suddenly came from behind.

Do-hyun, startled, stopped swinging and turned around to see Charlie and Jihad staring blankly.

“……Charlie?”

-It’s not me, Master.

“I knew it, right? Then….”

-Why, why are you looking at me? It’s not me either! It’s unfair!

“Then who is it? It can’t be Eliza.”

At Do-hyun’s words, as if dumbfounded, Eliza, who was in Jihad’s robe pocket, nodded, saying Lizariza!

It was Eliza’s perfect alibi, who could only say Liza.

“Okay, Eliza. I believe you.”

-Liza!

-No, I’m really not!

“Then are you saying there’s a ghost or something?”

A ghost in a virtual reality game, what kind of ghost story would even a six-year-old believe?

It was when Do-hyun let out a hollow laugh.

-Huh?

A questioning male voice was heard from somewhere.

Of course, it wasn’t Jihad, who was facing him. It didn’t have Charlie’s heavy tone, and there was no way it could be Eliza.

“…….”

-…….

Do-hyun and Jihad, who were slightly creeped out, shrank their bodies.

Was it just his imagination that the moonlight, which had felt beautiful, suddenly felt eerie? Did the trees and bushes suddenly feel uncomfortable?

It felt as spooky as walking next to a grave at midnight.

-D, don’t joke around, Master.

-……Your jokes are a bit too much, Master.

-L, Liza…….

Even Charlie cleared his throat and said that, but of course, it wasn’t Do-hyun’s doing.

Now, Jihad and Eliza, who were terrified, had tears in their eyes and were hugging each other tightly when the voice was heard again.

-What, can you guys hear my voice?

-Heukkieeek!

-Lizariza! Liza!!!

-Who is it!

Unlike Charlie, who immediately drew his sword and blocked Do-hyun’s path, Jihad was startled and jumped around, unable to come to his senses.

……That guy is supposed to be a guy who deals with corpses and curses; what kind of disgrace is this?

“……Come out.”

But that wasn’t important now, so Do-hyun also gripped Chun-byeon and glared at the place where the sound came from.

Then, a man came out of the bushes.

-Wow, I finally meet someone who can see me. Nice to meet you.

“……Huh?”

……No, should I call that a man?

The man’s figure, with his whole body dyed red, is opaque.

Instinctively, he lowered his gaze and saw it.

He didn’t have legs that a person should have and was floating in the air.

-M, Master, where are you suddenly looking so scary?

-L, Liza……!

At the sight of Jihad and Eliza making a fuss, Do-hyun asked as if strange.

“……You guys can’t see that?”

-Kieeeek! Master really sees ghosts! Ahhh!

-……Master, even this lowly sword’s eyes cannot see anything.

Then the two guys jumped around as if they were about to lose their minds.

Even Charlie flinched and shook his head.

A red man without legs that they can’t see but only he can see?

“Holy…….”

……It was the appearance of a real ghost.

* * *

To put it bluntly, Do-hyun was right to see a ghost.

[Eye of Truth is activated.]

-No, how can those rotten Outlaws see so well, but no one can see me? It was so frustrating, ugh! It feels like 10 years of indigestion is being washed away. So, you know what? I was so frustrated that I once drew a map while whimpering? Are you listening?

“……I see.”

‘Master, that man seems to talk too much.’

‘Lizariza…….’

However, it wasn’t a ghost of such an unfathomable existence that would appear in *goedam* [Korean term for ghost stories or horror tales].

Rather, the opposite.

That man was literally a system device itself that the game company had deliberately hidden.

[You have encountered the hidden NPC ‘Jin Rudel’.]

[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

It was the moment when the hidden piece was first discovered in Sarrghis.