The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 164

164.

Of course, it wasn’t a user.

There was no way Do-hyun, whose friend list was completely empty, would know such a young girl.

The reason Do-hyun knew this girl was simple.

[You have encountered the wandering NPC, Ruriel.]

‘……Wandering Ruriel.’

Ruriel was such a well-known NPC in Fratel that almost every user recognized her.

Wandering NPCs are those who roam without a fixed home, often depicted as beggars or runaways.

They occasionally offer hidden quests or provide unique information, but these instances are rare. More often than not, they’re considered a nuisance, so many players avoid interacting with them.

Consequently, most wandering NPCs remain nameless to the player base, but Ruriel was different.

‘The epitome of a young꼰대 [kkondae – a Korean term for someone who is condescending and insists that things were better in their day], a walking disaster.’

These descriptions seemed at odds with the small girl who appeared to be no more than ten years old.

But those who had encountered her all shared the same sentiment.

They wanted to wring her neck.

She wandered the streets, suddenly lecturing players, saying things like, ‘It wasn’t like this back in my day,’ or ‘That’s not how you do it,’ grating on their nerves with a ‘tut-tut’.

Most players frowned or simply found it amusing, but not everyone was so tolerant.

“What is this brat saying?”

“Hmph, the world is coming to an end. In my day, if someone took the time to teach you, you’d be grateful!”

“No, seriously, I’ve been holding back. Just because you’re an NPC doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with… Ugh!”

“Keuheok!”

Some players couldn’t tolerate the NPC’s unsolicited nagging.

Unable to attack her within the city limits, they boldly attempted to flick her forehead or curse at her, only to be swiftly dealt with.

They were subdued instantly and rendered immobile.

“Hmph, why are these apostles so weak? Tsk tsk.”

As word spread, various players approached Ruriel, but they all met the same fate.

Some were even executives or masters of large guilds.

Consequently, some people analyzed Ruriel’s combat prowess, and the results were astonishing.

‘They say she’s on par with a knight commander.’

It was a mystery how such a young girl could possess such power.

What was even more perplexing was that she remained a wandering NPC without wielding any authority, despite her strength.

‘……Master, she’s strong.’

‘Hmm… Her aura is unusual. Could she be an old woman in the guise of a child?’

‘Lizariza.’

As if confirming the analysis, Jihad and Eliza, who were sensitive to energy, as well as Charlie, reacted.

“Hey, can’t you hear me? That’s strange. You were talking just fine a moment ago.”

“……I can hear you.”

Such an eccentric was now addressing him.

A pretty face that hinted at future popularity, and a carefree expression that belied her true nature.

The *kkondae* force was palpable even in her casual words.

He had read the description and wondered if it was an exaggeration, but experiencing it firsthand confirmed its accuracy.

“Oh, really? I thought everyone was avoiding me these days. I was trying not to care, but…”

Ruriel raised one corner of her mouth and looked at him with interest.

“I heard a name that was hard to ignore.”

With those words, a cheerful notification rang.

[You have met the conditions.]

[You have attracted the attention of the wandering NPC, ‘Ruriel’.]

Do-hyun was momentarily stunned by the unexpected turn of events, but he clenched his fist.

It was a windfall.

‘Is this how it’s going to work out?’

He never imagined that the wandering NPC would know about Angela.

He had dismissed her because she was known to be eccentric and never provided information other than lectures, but it was like a pumpkin rolling in on its own [a Korean idiom for unexpected good fortune].

‘Is this also a hidden piece?’

There were no rumors of anyone benefiting from Ruriel.

Nor had she ever given quests or information.

Ruriel was a girl who had only ever given lectures and a taste of her fists.

That hadn’t changed even after the game’s release, one year and seven months prior.

There was a reason why such an NPC was showing a different reaction only to Do-hyun.

Perhaps he was the only one who had found the necklace, a fragment of fate.

It seemed plausible that discovering the name Angela was a hidden condition.

‘What kind of kid is she?’

A wandering NPC with the power of a knight commander, but without a home.

Yet always clean and a young girl that no one could treat carelessly.

At the same time, the only one who knew about Angela in detail and was willing to share it with him.

Everything about her was unusual.

‘That’s not what’s important.’

He was curious, but that was all.

Information about Angela was the priority now.

“……Do you know about Angela?”

“How could I not?”

Ruriel shrugged as if it were a rhetorical question.

“There’s no one in Fratel who doesn’t know her. It’s just that few people know the details of the story surrounding her.”

“……You know it?”

“Well, yeah?”

That was it.

Do-hyun swallowed and took a moment to gather his thoughts.

Do-hyun opened his mouth, excited.

“Then tell…”

“No.”

“……”

Then he closed it again.

He was blocked with incredible speed before he could even finish his sentence.

……I didn’t expect this.

Ruriel, who was laughing at the awkward situation, continued.

“I can’t just tell you for free. Were you trying to get something for nothing without any conscience?”

“Ah……”

“I happen to need some things. Let’s see~ Well, first, 10 roots and leaves of the Cornus tree, 3 mutated troll blood, and… more…”

Tting-

[Quest ‘Ruriel’s Conditions (1)’ has been generated.]

[Ruriel’s Conditions (1)]

-Rank: Rare+

-Description: Wandering NPC Ruriel seems to be the only one who can tell you the details about Angela. Satisfy her conditions and make her happy.

-Cornus tree root leaves (0 / 10)

-Mutated troll blood (0 / 3)

-Blue flower petals (0 / 5)

-Troll King’s fang (0 / 1)

-Clear Reward: 150 gold, a certain amount of experience, linked quest generation

-Failure Risk: Wandering NPC, ‘Ruriel’ is disappointed in you and does not give you information.

-Time Limit: None.

“……”

Ruriel frowned as Do-hyun stood still, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of materials required for the quest.

“What are you doing, not going? Don’t you want to know about her?”

“……I’ll go.”

She was very annoying, but what could he do?

The girl was the boss and his only hope right now.

Do-hyun turned around and walked away without complaint.

He was grateful that there was no time limit.

* * *

There were several reasons why Do-hyun was grateful that there was no time limit.

‘Each material is tricky.’

Cornus tree root leaves.

These were literally leaves that grew on the roots of the Cornus tree with a rare probability, and were rare materials that were occasionally found even on the few Cornus trees.

[Cornus tree root leaves x6]

He could only find six in the auction house.

Of course. It was because there was no demand for it compared to its rarity, so it didn’t sell well at all.

A material that was terribly difficult to obtain but also difficult to sell?

What explorer would bother trying to get this?

‘But this is still good.’

Thanks to acquiring six for free, he only had to get four more.

He also had the Eye of Truth, so he would find them soon.

The problem was the items after that.

Mutated troll blood was manageable because he just had to hunt, but…

‘What are blue flower petals?’

It doesn’t appear even if you search the auction house.

It was probably a quest item, and as quest items usually are, it was bound to be difficult to obtain.

On top of that, he had to hunt the field boss, the Troll King.

It was absurd that there was no reward other than a linked quest even after overcoming all of this.

‘If they tell me to roll, I have to roll [a Korean expression meaning to do something even if it’s undesirable, like rolling in the mud]……’

But what could he do?

Ruriel was the only one who could give him information about Angela.

Satisfying her according to the quest requirements was the priority.

But there was something even more important than that.

-Master, are you going to get the Cornus tree root leaves first?

-Lizariza.

-Huh? What, why aren’t you going forward? You have to go close and dig in the ground to see the roots… Could it be?

-Hmm! It seems the time has come.

Charlie nodded with a serious face at Jihad’s meaningful question.

Then Charlie immediately looked around and began to stand guard.

-Lizariza!

Eliza also peeked out of her robe pocket and scanned the surroundings with hawk eyes.

Then soon came the loud noise.

“Aaaaaah! 씨X [ssi-bal – a Korean curse word]!!”

“Naisaaaaaa!”

“What’s the Han River temperature, Xppal [another Korean curse word]!!”

“Foolish one, if you dig the ground one more time, there may be gold and silver treasures. Are you going to end it with one failure now! Arise, the nation of gacha [referring to gacha games, which are popular in Korea]!”

“Uoooooot!

Jihad shook his head at the increasingly crazy card-drawing users.

-Sigh……

He just sighed at the sight that he really couldn’t understand even if he looked at it.

But more than anything, what made him sigh was the sight of his master’s eyes shining as if he was moved by their close friendship.

“I have to work harder too. I can’t rest on my laurels just because I drew a legend once. Hmm.”

-……Yeah, sure. Whatever it is, please finish it quickly.

“Sorry, but I can’t finish it quickly. This time it’s two cards.”

-Why two cards?

In front of Do-hyun, who smiled slyly, there were indeed two cards.

One intermediate skill draw ticket he got for getting mutated troll blood.

[Charlie]

-LV : 21

[Jihad Black]

-LV : 24

And Charlie’s random skill draw ticket he got for passing level 20.

There were a total of two skill cards.

Do-hyun, who was wondering which one to draw first, soon reached out.

[Would you like to use the intermediate skill draw ticket?]

‘I’ve always drawn the Guardian’s first, so this time I’ll draw mine first.’

Do-hyun had always drawn his own card last when they overlapped like this.

Do-hyun was the kind of guy who ate the egg in cold noodles last [a Korean analogy for saving the best for last].

But this time it was different.

‘I have a good feeling.’

This was the legendary spot where Do-hyun drew the legendary skill!

That energy was still there.

He had no doubt that he would inherit that power and draw a great skill.

That wasn’t just Do-hyun’s thought.

‘This place became more famous after I drew the legend.’

The rumor that Do-hyun drew the Lightning Dragon Advent spread, and the card-drawing users who witnessed Kaiser released the information about this place in the drawing gallery.

That was the reason.

The reason why those users were drawing with crazy looks right now.

The *ddongmelier* [a portmanteau of *ddong* (shit) and sommelier, referring to someone who is skilled at finding bad things] Kaiser also drew a legend, so they gained hope (?) that they could also draw one someday.

‘I never thought this moment would come in my life.’

It was a new feeling.

He had carefully selected a place where *ddong* skills were incredibly likely to appear, but he had never made a *myeongdang* [a Korean term for an auspicious or lucky place] shine even more.

Do-hyun, who was deeply moved, closed his eyes and then suddenly opened them.

Paat-

At the same time as he tore the draw ticket, the light flashed.