The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 203

203.

I don’t know why, but his sneering face seemed like a caricature of a villain.

You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance, but that expression was just too cartoonishly evil.

‘I heard physiognomy [the study of facial features] is a science, so maybe there’s something to it.’

‘Master, you shouldn’t judge people by their faces. Look at me—how kind am I, despite my appearance?’

‘Lizariza!’

‘……? Seeing you actually makes it *more* believable.’

I was seriously pondering this ridiculous topic when it happened.

Fortunately (?), Dohyun’s instincts weren’t wrong.

Leohn, meeting his eyes, defiantly pulled out a hammer and anvil and spat out,

“Rumors seem to be mostly false.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hmm?”

“There were so many stories about how your ‘great brothers’ protect you, but they can’t even introduce you to a single artisan. To just throw you alone in an alley like this… you must not be worth much.”

As the users tilted their heads, Leohn shrugged and gestured slightly towards Dohyun.

“What’s he saying… Oh? Huh, th-there……”

“Why is he there… Holy, Kaiser?”

“What, Kaiser is here? Did Kaiser come to enhance, too?”

“Wasn’t he hiding in Babylon [likely a reference to a powerful guild or city within the game]? Why isn’t he getting it done by his affiliated artisan?”

“Did the negotiations not go well? Well, Kaiser isn’t the type to join a guild.”

“Then why did Babylon do that? Just a whim?”

The users, who had been distracted by Leohn’s appearance, noticed Dohyun and began to whisper.

With the sudden attention, Dohyun glanced at Jihad.

‘Want to say that again?’

‘……Ahem. There are exceptions everywhere, Master.’

‘Lizariza…….’

Dohyun chuckled as he watched Jihad and Eliza pretend not to notice and met Leohn’s eyes again.

He didn’t like the smirk on his face, as if asking how he felt.

‘Is he trying to get under my skin like this?’

It was a childish method, but also an effective one.

Because there was nothing as annoying as such childish behavior.

From the victim’s point of view, these primitive tactics are harder to endure.

There was a reason why people on the community boards hated ‘jjammins’ [internet slang for immature kids or trolls].

‘Why is it that I don’t like anything about the Hero Guild?’

Whether it was Zerpak or Hamode, and now even the affiliated artisan is picking a fight.

Well, it was only natural, considering the master, Verze, was like that from the start.

Organizations tend to follow the leader’s tendencies.

And in life, adults often do these things even more, and one of them was Leohn.

“Oh dear, it looks like you’re struggling to survive by enhancing… How pitiful. I heard you have bad luck; I wonder if your weapon will explode.”

Leohn openly sneered, then suddenly pretended to ponder something.

Then, the words he spat out as if it were a favor were quite a spectacle.

“I’ll do an event. I can’t just stand by and watch. Every time Kaiser blows something up while enhancing, I’ll enhance one of your equipment as much as you give me enhancement stones.”

“Huh?”

“……A-are you serious?”

“Of course. Ah, of course, if I only do it for you guys, Kaiser might get jealous, so I’ll do it for him too if he asks. You can’t intentionally break something to get enhanced, okay? Hahaha.”

“Puhaha!”

Laughter erupted among the users at the scathing mockery.

Leohn smirked and asked Kaiser, who had become the target of ridicule in an instant.

“What do you think? Kaiser. Isn’t that too radical of an offer?”

“Huh.”

Dohyun let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded, and Leohn smirked like a cat watching a trapped mouse.

Some were enjoying this exciting situation, but others were expressing concern.

“Hey, hey… But is this okay? He’s being too openly hostile.”

“Why? What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s Kaiser. And Kaiser has Babylon behind him. Will the Church of Kasin [likely a fan club or support group dedicated to Kaiser] stay still?”

Kaiser, who shed the stigma of ‘Kwai’ [derogatory term for Kaiser fans] and is being called ‘Kasin’ [Kaiser god] and receiving overwhelming support.

Even the achievements he has accomplished alone are astonishing, and in a situation where he is even receiving help from Babylon, they wondered if this was really okay.

No matter how good the Hero Guild is and how hot Leohn is as an artisan these days, he is still only in the top 100 guilds.

He couldn’t be better than Babylon, which is in the top 10 guilds.

“What are you talking about?”

However, the concern was quickly refuted.

“Look at him. Does it look like he has Babylon behind him? He’s just been left alone in the enhancement shop, just like Leohn said. If they were protecting him, they would have introduced him to an artisan.”

“……Well, they can’t turn the other top 10 guilds into enemies.”

“The Church of Kasin is the same. No matter how good a fan gathering place is, it can’t be better than the top 10 guilds, right? I heard that the cafe manager hasn’t been logging in these days anyway.”

“Yeah, we just need to watch the *kkuljaem* [Korean slang for ‘honey jam,’ meaning very fun] show.”

It was an opinion that was so rational that it was reasonable.

That was enough to make those who had expressed concern become spectators of the stage.

Leohn, who had been listening without missing a word while pretending not to, also smiled inwardly in agreement.

‘Yeah, this is it.’

This was the public sentiment and situation that Leohn wanted.

Leohn didn’t like Kaiser.

If you asked him if he liked him or not, he would say he didn’t.

Was it because he was opposing the Hero Guild he belonged to?

Did he insult the guild?

‘Who cares about that.’

He was an artisan affiliated with the Hero Guild, but Leohn didn’t have that much sense of belonging or affection.

He was just affiliated because the conditions were good and the treatment was good.

As a production worker, he didn’t care about the Hero Guild’s reputation. It wouldn’t affect him in any way.

If it went bankrupt, he could just move to another guild.

Nevertheless, the reason why he hated Kaiser was simple.

‘How many achievements have been buried because of that annoying bastard?’

Kaiser had achieved too many achievements in a short period of time recently, which always turned the community upside down and plastered countless portal sites with countless articles.

As a result, the numerous achievements he had recently made were all buried.

From enhancing the equipment of numerous high rankers to the highest level, to proudly ranking in the Top 5 in the Artisan Competition.

And even the achievement of obtaining a heroic title by successfully enhancing to +10 four times in a row!

‘I couldn’t even take the main banner and it was buried in an instant. My position isn’t growing because of that damn bastard!’

Leohn didn’t like that at all.

‘Does he think he’s so great? He’s just a guy who’s going to be groveling to our artisans and asking for enhancements.’

People always tend to focus on the activities of combat jobs rather than production jobs.

Perhaps because it is more flashy and stimulating.

But the most important thing in the game is specs [character statistics and equipment].

Leohn thought that production jobs, which enhance that, are the real stars.

In fact, even the rankers who are praised as being so great can’t treat the artisans carelessly and bow down to them.

‘He doesn’t even create an affiliation and tries to reign alone? That’s a ridiculous thing to do.’

From Leohn’s point of view, Kaiser was a very annoying existence.

And he was given an opportunity to make fun of that annoying existence. Leohn wasn’t generous enough to pass up this opportunity.

He would make him feel it to the bone this time.

‘Do you think you’re any different? I’ll let you know that you’re the same as them this time.’

Well… To be honest, he said it as if he had a grand purpose, but it was more accurate to say it was for venting and fun.

Where else would you see such a sight?

The great Kaiser, unable to do anything and trembling.

He would relieve his stress and, at the same time, Verze had been suffering quite a bit these days, so it would be nice to show off with this.

‘He’s quiet. Well, even if you feel bad, it’s not a bad condition.’

As far as he knew, Kaiser was known to have terrible luck.

Even though he teased him a bit, if he eventually enhanced him, it wouldn’t be bad for that guy either.

After all, an artisan like himself was enhancing him.

He was so generous.

Leohn, who was enjoying the sweet situation and reveling in joy, was about to open his mouth.

“That’s good.”

“What, I was thinking of doing this because I feel a little sorry… Excuse me? What did you just say?”

……Did I hear wrong?

No, it wasn’t a mistake.

“That’s good. Everything is good… But I can’t trust you. What if I entrust it to you without knowing and only my precious weapon explodes?”

“……? What did you say just now?”

“Why are you pretending you didn’t hear me? I said I can’t trust you.”

“Huh……?”

He even had a relaxed smile and was attacking in reverse.

It was absurd for Leohn.

If you don’t trust himself, an artisan, who would you trust?

The reason why people fawned over him even though he acted as he pleased was because he had the skills to do so.

But what was so special about a guy who couldn’t even enhance properly and asked a enhancement NPC [Non-Player Character] in an alley who only deals with poor users?

“……Can you handle that statement?”

“Why not? Shouldn’t there be trust in any human relationship?”

“Ha. It’s ridiculous. A guy who doesn’t even know about enhancement is talking about trust……”

Leohn gnashed his teeth and spat out as Dohyun shrugged his shoulders.

“……So, what should I do to earn that meager trust? Should I show you an enhancement or something?”

“I don’t entrust anything to users easily. I can’t trust you unless I judge that you’re better than me.”

“……?”

Leohn paused for a moment to think about the meaning of the words, then let out a hollow laugh.

“So……. Are you saying you want to have an enhancement battle with me?”

Enhancement battle.

It meant an act of artisans competing with each other to see who is better at enhancement in places like the Artisan Competition.

In other words, what Kaiser was saying was simple.

“You’re so good at enhancement? Come with a hammer and anvil.”

“Huh, are you serious?”

The sound of users buzzing grew louder at the unexpected remark.

“Wow, this is crazy. He’s holding an enhancement battle against an artisan?”

“Isn’t Kaiser famous for having no luck?”

“Enhancement isn’t just about luck for artisans anymore. It’s about sense and skill. You still need luck, but it’s on a different level than ordinary people like us.”

“No, what’s with that confidence? His spirit is amazing.”

Even to those users, Kaiser seemed crazy.

Why would an artisan be an artisan for no reason?

They were people who had professionally learned the skills from a blacksmith and reached a high level.

Not only that.

They were full of blacksmith-related skills, and they even had special skills that they could acquire when they became artisans.

Even if they were the same production job, they couldn’t dare to compare to an artisan, let alone Kaiser, who was a combat job.

‘Is that bastard really crazy?’

This system is the same in Demlock and here.

Kaiser, who was the number one in Demlock, couldn’t possibly not know that, so why is he coming out so recklessly?

Could it be that he has something to rely on?

……No, that can’t be.

‘……Even if he has a production job as a side job, it will inevitably be officially announced when he reaches the position of artisan.’

In other words, no matter how good that bastard is at enhancement, he is below himself.

That bastard is bluffing right now. He’s trying to save face because he doesn’t want to be pushed back in momentum.

“Look at his eyes rolling. I can hear him thinking all the way over here.”

At that time, Kaiser’s sarcastic voice was heard.

“Why, are you scared? I guess artisans aren’t that special.”

Leohn felt his reason snap at the last remark, which was the last straw.

“You impudent bastard……. You’re going to regret it. I’ll make you realize who you dared to be rude to……”

“Geez, your mouth is long. Did you become an artisan with your mouth? Hurry up and take out your equipment.”

“You son of a……”

“Hey, can I borrow some equipment?”

“……?”

Leohn, who had been gnashing his teeth, widened his eyes as Kaiser cut him off while picking his ear and receiving an anvil and hammer from the enhancement master Kilhi.

Then he sneered as if he was dumbfounded.

“Ha, are you saying you want to have an enhancement battle without even having personal equipment?”

“They say an artisan doesn’t blame the tools, but I guess that’s not the case? Look at the fine quality of the equipment.”

“……Originally, the more skilled you are, the better you can bring out the performance of excellent items. You wouldn’t know that, but you’re an amateur.”

“Well, whatever. I think this is enough for me.”

“I really have to acknowledge your confidence. But you’ll soon realize that it wasn’t confidence, but arrogance.”

Leohn, who had laid out cheap anvils and hammers that only beginners would use, and other equipment, continued.

“I’ll use this too. We should use the same equipment so you don’t make excuses. The method will be sequential enhancement. That means we’ll take turns enhancing. It will become more difficult as the enhancement progresses and becomes high-level. Do you agree?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll give you the first move. I’ve prepared plenty of enhancement stones, so try to struggle.”

Meanwhile, Leohn, who had prepared the weapon and enhancement stones to enhance, announced the start of the enhancement battle.

Dohyun, who stood in front of the anvil, nodded.

‘Actually, everything that bastard said is right.’

He was annoying, but there was nothing wrong with what he said.

Anyone can’t become an artisan, and it was no different from suicide for a general combat job user to have an enhancement battle with an artisan.

Especially since Dohyun was born with the worst enhancement luck in history.

Nevertheless, why is Dohyun so confident?

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

[You see through the hidden striking points and vital points.]

‘It’s really a scam trait. I can’t believe it even shows this.’

What Dohyun saw in Kilhi’s enhancement process a little while ago.

That was seen again in Dohyun’s eyes.

Red dots were taking place all over the sword body of the ‘Swift Green Sword’ placed on the anvil.

It was the moment he discovered the hidden ability of the unique trait, Eye of Truth.

‘……Master, aren’t you taking too much of a free ride?’

‘Liza…….’

‘Hey, what’s wrong with using the abilities you have?’

‘Yes! I agree. My lord. This is also a special ability unique to my lord.’

‘As expected, Charlie knows something.’

After a short conversation, Dohyun smiled and grabbed the hammer.

Leohn, who had his arms crossed and was looking at him with a contemptuous look, as if telling him to try it.

I was curious. I wondered if he could maintain that composure until the end.

‘Shall we give him a good lesson?’

Dohyun’s hammer was swung and a clear sound rang out.