The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 190

제190화

190.

A red light stood out among the brilliant lights.

It was what I had seen before.

‘……The necklace.’

The shattered Necklace of Truth.

Angela’s necklace and the fourth fragment of fate. I had already seen it once when I first came here.

However, the amount of light it emitted was on a different level than before.

Before, only the necklace was faintly red, but now it was emitting brilliant light around it.

[The fourth fragment of fate, the shattered Necklace of Truth, is reacting to the ‘Embers of Purification.’]

[The fragment is reacting to the key’s material.]

‘Was it because of the Embers of Purification?’

I thought a hidden event would open right here.

It seemed that the fragment of fate was reacting to the Embers of Purification.

Unlike the first time, when it only reacted to Doyun’s eyes, the light was so bright that everyone could see it, and Gilberun couldn’t close his mouth.

“……What is this.”

“The necklace… seems to be reacting.”

“How can it react when Angela is not here?”

It was an amazing sight, but it was also a familiar sight.

When Angela wore it, it always emitted a brilliant light when performing the purification ceremony.

It was the light of purification that only Angela, who could see the flow of mana, could perform.

In other words, it was a light that had never been seen since Angela fell into eternal slumber.

“Moreover, this level of light… wasn’t it difficult for Angela to bring out as well?”

“Your Majesty, look where the light is heading.”

“Hmm……? That’s……!”

“As expected… it’s reacting.”

Gilberun’s eyes widened as he looked at where Knight Commander Hyde was pointing.

Ruriel was also muttering something, and what they saw was that mysterious.

The light that had brilliantly covered the field of vision weakened and gathered in one place, then stretched out towards Doyun.

Doyun was the most embarrassed by this strange phenomenon.

‘Heuk! What is that? Why is a beam suddenly shooting from the wall? Run away……! Huh? It doesn’t hurt?’

‘……Please, maintain your dignity.’

‘I saw you flinch in fear too, you know?’

‘Ahem. I think you saw it wrong.’

……No, if you only count the degree of embarrassment, those guys seemed more embarrassed, but there was a difference between those guys and Doyun’s embarrassment.

[Traces of forcibly handling it in a broken state are felt. The necklace is struggling to handle the power of the fragment.]

[Hurry and complete the key to restore its complete form.]

‘This is a first.’

The necklace’s intense reaction wasn’t just to show off its existence.

This was a message to Doyun.

A message to complete the fragment of fate quickly because it was hard to endure.

I was briefly embarrassed by the first phenomenon I had ever seen, but if I thought about it, I could guess why.

The Destroyer Gaiman’s Hourglass of Faith.

Sargis’ Bell of Harmony.

They all gained power from the fragment of fate, but that was just power gained by simply possessing it.

It wasn’t like them, forcibly drawing out power to perform a purification ceremony.

The broken fragment was unable to handle the power.

‘Are there other people who draw out and use the power of other fragments?’

If so…… what would happen if you continued to use the power of the broken fragment?

Would it shatter into pieces?

Or would it turn off like a battery running out?

The latter would be fortunate, but if it were the former, how would I find it?

‘……Don’t tell me I have to find and complete each broken fragment?’

Doyun shook his head at the mere thought.

Even if it was a main quest that boasted insane difficulty, it couldn’t be that crazy.

……It wouldn’t.

Anyway, that was something to think about later, and now it was time to focus on the situation at hand.

[The hidden event ‘The Last Lantern Ritual’ has opened.]

[You will have to carefully choose at the crossroads and perform the last lantern ritual.]

[The sudden quest ‘Angela’s Wish’ occurs.]

[Angela’s Wish]

-Grade: Sudden Quest

-Description: A woman who wielded the power of the fourth fragment of fate.

A tragic woman who broke the taboo and fell into eternal slumber, Angela, is wishing for something.

Please grant her wish.

-If you grant the wish: The second route of the hidden event will proceed, and the first route will be deleted.

-If you do not grant the wish: The first route of the hidden event will proceed, and the second route will be deleted.

-Time limit: 40 minutes

‘It seems like the route is divided into two.’

A hidden event that opened after the special event was deleted.

It seemed that there were two routes to it.

I was wondering how Angela, who was still asleep, could give me a quest, but it didn’t matter.

I’ll be able to check it soon.

“Hero, are you okay?”

“Has something happened?”

“Ah, I’m fine. It seems like the necklace reacted to the Embers of Purification.”

“It was the first time the necklace reacted to someone other than Angela, so I was embarrassed. Is the Apostle of Prophecy really different…… I didn’t ask for the necklace for no reason.”

Doyun, who had appropriately responded to Gilberun and Hyde, who were admiring and expressing their honest feelings, changed the subject.

“Then…… shall we go now?”

“Ah. That’s right…… You said you had executed Ruidra.”

“Your Majesty……”

Doyun turned around first in the solemn atmosphere.

Angela, the tragic woman.

Now it was really time to wake her up.

* * *

Fortunately, it only took a few seconds to move.

[Using the move scroll.]

[Moving to the designated location, ‘Central Restricted Forest.’]

[Guardians are forcibly moved as the location changes.]

‘Is this the king’s privilege?’

Thanks to Gilberun taking out the move scroll, I didn’t have to go around the forest like last time.

Anyway, it was obvious that many people would find it strange if someone of the king’s status went to the restricted forest every time.

Angela’s existence was a secret, so it was natural to think about it.

‘There was a reason why the quest time limit was short.’

I was prepared to spend at least 30 minutes moving, but it was better.

Anyway, the forest I came to again was the same as last time.

A forest where no one was felt, and a clean central part that seemed to be managed separately.

And Angela, who was sleeping in a glass tube there.

“Ah…… Angela. I have come.”

As soon as he saw her, Gilberun trudged towards her.

With a distorted face, barely holding back the tears that seemed to burst out at any moment.

Trudge, trudge.

Thump.

Soon, Gilberun, who had arrived within striking distance, knelt down.

The king was dirtying his knees, but no one stopped him.

“I’m sorry. This incompetent husband was incompetent and left you, who hates being alone, alone for so long.”

“……”

Squeeze-

“I’m getting old, but you’re always the same. You haven’t even been allowed time.”

“……”

“I’ve always been afraid of that. I was afraid that I would grow old alone and eventually die without waking you up. I was afraid that you would be forgotten forever.”

How could I stop him from looking like that?

Holding her delicate hand in both hands as if it were precious, wailing with affection and sorrow.

There was no lord or king of a city here now.

There was only a man who missed his wife, feared losing her, and had lived for years.

‘……It’s kind of touching, Master.’

‘Hmm. Originally, no matter how strong a man is, he is weak in front of his woman.’

‘Liza…….’

‘……I know.’

Doyun nodded at Jihad’s words.

Perhaps it was because he had heard some of their story, even if he hadn’t heard the details.

Or was it because of Gilberun’s mournful voice and the sight of him kneeling and holding her hand so preciously?

I felt a sense of frustration in one corner of my heart as I watched.

“You don’t know this, but Ruriel has been a great support. This person is the apostle prophesied by Ruriel. He is the benefactor who allowed us to reunite. Also, Beta, the captain of the guard, had a child this time.”

“……”

“I have so much to say. I want to wake up soon and share many stories.”

Gilberun, who held her hand tightly and looked at Angela with satisfaction, finally stood up.

His knees were sore from kneeling for a long time, but even that was welcome.

“Thank you so much for waiting. Let’s start now.”

“I understand.”

“Then this…….”

As Doyun nodded, Hyde carefully took something out of his arms and handed it to him.

An old necklace with a ruby-like jewel embedded in it.

[Acquired the fourth fragment of fate, ‘Shattered Necklace of Truth.’]

It was the shattered Necklace of Truth.

After a long struggle, it was finally in Doyun’s hands.

‘Finally…….’

Was it because of this atmosphere?

I felt like I was getting caught up in emotions. It might be because the time I invested was different.

The moment Doyun swallowed his dry saliva and carefully took the necklace.

Paat!

“Euk?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, a dazzling light burst out.

The same phenomenon as before. But this time it wasn’t the necklace.

“Angela……?”

Light was pouring out from Angela, who was sleeping in the glass tube.

At the same time, Doyun could see it.

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

A thin thread connecting her and the necklace.

-Ah…… Rune.

And at the end of that thread, the figure of a woman floated above Angela’s body.

It was a soul.

A translucent silhouette and a blue soul.

It was a soul that Doyun knew well.

[Ruidra has been defeated, and a slight crack is detected in the eternal slumber.]

[Encountering the hidden event NPC, ‘Angela’s Soul.’]

[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

[The fourth fragment of fate, ‘Shattered Necklace of Truth,’ reacts to the key.]

[The fragment of fate wants the power of the fragment melted into her body.]

‘……What?’

It was none other than Angela’s soul.

“Just now…… I clearly heard Angela’s voice just now. Hyde, did you hear it too?”

“……Yes. I clearly heard it. It was definitely Lady Angela’s voice.”

“Ah, Angela. Finally…… is she finally awake?”

But it seemed invisible to them.

Anyway, it was only natural that humans couldn’t see souls.

It was Doyun who had the Eye of Truth who was special.

-Unusual mana flow…… I see. Can you see me?

As Doyun nodded, she covered her mouth with her blurry hands as if surprised.

-I thought it would be a success even if I only stimulated the mana flow to make my voice heard…… I have someone who will see my last moments.

Angela smiled, folding her eyes slightly.

Seeing her smile, I understood Gilberun’s words that she was like a rabbit.

She was a woman who felt a pure energy that would never harm anyone.

She smiled in surprise and turned her head to the side. Then, as if she had never smiled, she became sullen.

“Angela, Angela. Why aren’t you getting up? Please tell me one more time. Please…….”

“……”

What was reflected in her eyes was Gilberun, who was desperately shaking her body.

It seemed that he couldn’t hear her voice now.

-Since you seem to be able to see me, I only touched the mana flow between you and me first.

……Is that possible?

Should I call her a person born with an eye that comes out once every hundred years [referring to someone with an incredibly rare talent]?

I couldn’t help but admire her amazing talent.

At the same time, a question arose.

“Why me?”

Why did she bother to talk to only herself?

Logically speaking, it would be more natural to specify Gilberun and talk to him if he was going to talk to someone separately.

-My body was asleep, but I heard and saw everything through the mana flow. I was always curious about the owner of the brilliantly shining mana, but it was you. I wanted to thank you, for helping me. Thank you so much.

“Ah, well…… I had a purpose too.”

Doyun answered in a very small voice, just in case.

It was because he was afraid that Gilberun might hear him.

Fortunately, Gilberun didn’t seem to hear him and was clinging to Angela’s body, and Angela, who confirmed this, carefully opened her mouth.

-And…… actually, I couldn’t talk to him first. I didn’t think he would easily understand.

“Understand?”

She answered calmly to the question.

-That I have to die.

“Ah, I see…… Yes?