The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 169

169.

Is it fair to call it the epitome of the strong preying on the weak?

After entrusting Jihad with training the subordinates just once, their loyalty, which had been slowly increasing, skyrocketed.

He seems genuinely happy when talking about ‘skyrocketing’.

‘So, he can make that face too.’

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a pleasant face.

It was the kind of face that made you want to punch him because he looked more despicable than anyone else in the world.

If facial recognition obstruction wasn’t an option, a user passing by might unknowingly commit a PK [Player Kill, attacking another player].

Even Charlie couldn’t help but admire that wondrous sight.

-Hmm… There’s no room to interfere with the training. He’s the perfect drill instructor.

-Lizariza.

-That viciousness, efficient discipline… I’ve trained countless knights as the commander of the Knights Order, but he’s a step above me when it comes to training.

“He was born to be a drill instructor. Let’s just ignore him.”

Even Charlie, who is more fastidious than anyone else in this field, had nothing to say.

‘I wondered why his loyalty was increasing so slowly after he turned 60… There was a reason for it.’

Guardian traits, which signify the guardian’s personality and characteristics, serve as excellent indicators when nurturing the guardian.

That included building intimacy.

Just like people have different personalities, guardians also have their own personalities, and it was only natural that they would be happier when their personalities were catered to.

In that sense, Jihad acting like that was also very natural.

‘There’s probably no other divine beast like him anywhere.’

The problem is that his traits are being strong against the weak and being an opportunist.

Tap, tap…

He used to be the king of outlaws, boasting tremendous force…

Seeing him doing duck walks while being disciplined by a goblin makes me feel sorry for some reason.

Tap, tap…

Even the outlaw undead were blankly staring at their king being disciplined, as if they felt sorry for him.

But what could they do?

It was the path he chose, so they had no choice but to endure it with tenacity.

-Oh? You guys aren’t working and just spacing out? Do you want to be disciplined too?

Tap, tap!

The outlaws immediately jumped into the search at Jihad’s roar.

And the pain of seeing the backs of those outlaws with betrayal-filled eyes while doing duck walks.

He was truly suffering as his name suggested.

He said he would feel the pain of all his comrades alone, but he didn’t want to receive even this alone.

There was no king or anything here now.

There were only drill instructors and trainees.

-Ah, this is exhilarating…

A message popped up in front of Do-hyun, who was shaking his head while looking at the happy Jihad.

[You have acquired a blue flower petal.]

[You have acquired all the materials.]

[Return to ‘Luriel’ to complete the quest.]

In the short time he was distracted, the undead had gathered all the materials.

Do-hyun slightly raised the corners of his lips.

‘Then shall we go hear about Angela?’

It was time to hear the secret of the dead wife of the greatest wise ruler in history.

* * *

To put it bluntly, he couldn’t hear the secret.

“Oh, you’ve already gathered them? That’s faster than I thought.”

“Then tell me about Angela now…”

“Hey, that’s not right. You were going to end it with just this? You have no conscience.”

“…”

As if proving that the number ‘(1)’ attached to Luriel’s condition wasn’t there for nothing, Luriel shook her head.

Seeing Luriel grinning and sneering, Do-hyun momentarily felt a strong urge to flick her forehead.

“There’s still a lot to get. I’ll tell you when you get them all. Hey? Look at your eyes? I’m serious. I don’t lie.”

“…How much is a lot?”

“Let’s see… I expected it to take about a month, but at your speed, it might be possible in just fifteen days.”

“…”

Do-hyun barely managed to hold back the curse words that were about to come out and frowned.

‘A month? It was a grind quest [a repetitive task to gain experience or items]?’

There are such quests when playing RPG games.

Long quests that make you gather materials or explore dungeons for a long time.

Usually, users call it a grind, and this case was exactly that.

Should he be thankful that it was reduced to fifteen days?

‘Just how amazing of a story are you hiding…’

He was momentarily dumbfounded, but when he thought about it, it was understandable.

He could learn the secret of the queen that no one has known for the past year and a half.

Moreover, the target was the famous know-it-all Luriel, so he had to do this much, right?

And it wasn’t like there were no gains at all.

[You have cleared the quest ‘Luriel’s Condition (1)’.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have achieved level 60 and acquired a random skill draw ticket.]

‘…Huh? What, my level already went up?’

How long has it been since his level went up?

He did catch some mutant trolls to get their blood when gathering the materials, but the number wasn’t that high.

In other words, Luriel’s quest experience was enormous.

Do-hyun’s mind raced quickly.

‘She said fifteen days.’

What level would he be when he finished all the quests at this rate?

66? 67?

Do-hyun smiled slightly at the thought that it might be even higher.

‘I can really graduate within a month.’

Could there be a better opportunity than this when he was already feeling self-conscious about receiving quests from the knights?

He thought it was just a simple grind quest.

It was a honey-like experience booster quest that would shorten his graduation time.

Having made his decision, Do-hyun reluctantly pretended to accept and spat out.

“Haa… Annoying. Okay, so what do I need to get?”

‘Master, your lips aren’t going down?’

‘Lizariza.’

Of course, it didn’t go as planned.

That’s because he got an experience booster and a random skill draw ticket, so his lips couldn’t help but go up.

Fortunately, Luriel didn’t pay much attention.

“You’re a strange one. Well, it’s similar this time too. It’s about getting materials, and the trolls in the troll colony are storing…”

It was then.

Pshew- Boom!

In the middle of saying what materials to get, the sound of fireworks suddenly rang out.

Instinctively turning his head, he saw it.

—!

“Everyone, you’ve waited a long time. The long-awaited Lantern Festival is starting, so please enjoy the show!”

“Waaaah!”

“Honey! Hurry up! We’ll lose our spot.”

The users, who had become quite noisy at the words of an NPC, were gathering together.

And not long after, the fireworks disappeared, and the sky was plunged into darkness.

For a few seconds.

Float-

Lanterns containing embers appeared from all over the place.

Over the river flowing between the city buildings.

Between the walls of the buildings.

The lanterns, slowly floating up, were gently illuminating the night sky and the lake.

“Wow, honey. I’m so excited.”

“So this is the famous Lantern Festival. It’s so pretty.”

It was a spectacular sight.

A sight that made Pratel, already considered one of the most beautiful cities, even more dreamlike.

It was a sight that made you feel like this was really a world in a fantasy.

At that moment.

Flash-!

“Wow…!”

“Amazing!”

The lanterns that had been hidden in the night sky from the beginning lit their embers.

The lanterns, lighting up simultaneously, gently dyed the city like starlight, and further dyed the lake surrounding the city and the river flowing within the city.

As a result, the entire city was filled with a unique, subtle light.

-Wow… It’s pretty.

-Lizariza.

Do-hyun’s group was also momentarily captivated by the sight.

In fact, it wasn’t the first time they had seen it.

Since the Lantern Festival was held roughly every week, they had witnessed it once on the night they first came here.

‘It’s still pretty even when I see it again.’

Is it because God of Creation itself is a fantasy background?

The feeling was definitely different from the Lantern Festival he saw in reality. He was honestly admiring it when he heard a clicking sound from the side.

“I don’t know what’s so good about such a half-baked festival… Tsk.”

“Hmm? Isn’t it pretty?”

“Back in my day, festivals weren’t like this. Anyway, what would these apostles know? Who is this festival for…”

Looking around at Luriel’s words, it was strange.

The NPCs were the ones who held the festival.

They should be happy about the beautiful festival, but the NPCs’ expressions didn’t look very good.

The children were happy, but the adults were somehow shadowed.

It was a different atmosphere from the users who were enjoying the festival while flirting.

“Well, that’s okay. That’s not important right now. Hurry up and get the materials.”

Do-hyun was about to ask, but Luriel was one step ahead.

Luriel, who had changed the subject, recited the quest materials, and soon an alarm rang.

[The linked quest ‘Luriel’s Condition (2)’ has occurred.]

[Luriel’s Condition (2)]

-Rank: Rare+

-Description: Wandering NPC Luriel, she seems to be the only one who can tell you the detailed story about Angela.

However, her demanding conditions are not just one.

Satisfy all the conditions she wants and satisfy her.

-Yellow flower petals from the troll colony (0 / 10)

-Special seasoning from the troll colony (0 / 3)

-Aged blue tree root leaves (0 / 5)

-Refined powder from the troll colony (0 / 2)

-Reward upon completion: 150 gold, a certain amount of experience, linked quest occurrence

-Risk upon failure: Wandering NPC, ‘Luriel’ will be disappointed in you and will not give you information.

-Time limit: None.

The amount was by no means inferior to the previous quest.

No, it was more than that. Now he had to raid even the colonies.

“Tell me when you get them all. As you know, I wander around here and there, so find me on your own.”

Luriel, who spat out those words, left without hesitation.

She didn’t seem to have any interest in the Lantern Festival, as if her words that it had no meaning were not a lie.

But Do-hyun couldn’t agree with those words.

-It just looks good, I don’t know why she’s like that. Right, Eliza?

-Lizariza!

-Hmm. No matter how beautiful a treasure is, it tends to become dull if you see it often.

-Well… Then, Master, what are you going to do? Are you going to watch the festival and go? Or are you going right away?

Do-hyun didn’t bother to answer Jihad’s words.

He was just taking something out with a firm face.

Jihad’s eyebrows twitched at the sight that even felt like he was about to perform a sacred ritual.

-…Could it be?

His ominous premonitions never failed.

Before he knew it, Do-hyun was holding a card pack in his hand. It was the random skill draw ticket he had obtained after reaching level 60 this time.

This was why Do-hyun couldn’t agree with Luriel’s words.

‘There’s nothing more romantic than drawing while watching the Lantern Festival.’

Not only that. This place was full of good energy besides romance.

A limited-edition prime spot that only comes in certain situations.

A place like the front of the Shadow Lycanthrope’s dungeon on the night when Sargis’s full moon rises was the city on the day the Lantern Festival was held!

“It’s definitely good energy… I somehow have a feeling.”

-What feeling?

“Somehow, I have a feeling that a legend will come out? Ah… This is troublesome. How long has it been since I got a legendary skill? I’m going to make another legendary prime spot.”

He was so sorry that he didn’t have a draw ticket when he first watched the Lantern Festival before.

He was going to relieve that regret today.

-…Was that why you were licking your lips back then? Master is really legendary.

-Lizariza…

-Hmm… I’ll stand guard.

Do-hyun, who was very excited whether they showed a lukewarm reaction or not, took a deep breath.

He said it jokingly, but he really had a good feeling.

Do-hyun in Pratel was always a lucky Do-hyun who drew good things.

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

‘Of course.’

Do-hyun tore the card pack without hesitation,

Flash!