The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 21

Episode 21

Shield Supreme, real name Choi Jeong-hoo.

Age 23.

He was often teased for being an “old fossil” because he had served in the army and returned to school later than most, but he didn’t really care.

Because he had his childhood friends, Forehead-Flicker and Yoobin-Kkyung… no, Kim Woo-jin and Yoobin.

They had been together since middle school, but ended up going to different universities. Despite the distance, their friendship never wavered.

They stayed in touch and naturally met up and hung out.

This was easy because they shared similar hobbies, and even though they were always teasing each other, they never had any serious fights.

One of those hobbies was gaming.

Even though VR games were gaining popularity, the quality wasn’t always great, so there was still a strong demand for PC games. Gamers were largely divided into VR and PC factions.

As if their twelve years of friendship meant something, Choi Jeong-hoo and Kim Woo-jin were firmly in the PC gamer camp.

Yoobin didn’t particularly like games, so when they met up in person, they did other things. But when they were at home, Choi Jeong-hoo and Kim Woo-jin always enjoyed PC games together.

“*God of Sector* is really popular these days, wanna play?”

“Nah, classic games are the best. Besides, I heard that game is all about luck. It’ll just be stressful.”

“Says the guy with more money than sense.”

“*God of Sector* is on a different level. And what about abandoning the guild? Hurry up and join so we can do raids.”

*God of Sector* was indeed famous, and Choi Jeong-hoo was curious from time to time. However, he was too used to PC games and had invested too much time and effort to simply give them up.

“And honestly, if we start *God of Sector*, Yoobin will get super pissed.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Even now, Yoobin got jealous when they hung out without her. If they started playing *God of Sector*, which, unlike PC games, required at least five hours of dedicated playtime, they wouldn’t be able to contact her as often, and she would definitely feel left out.

If Yoobin played games, everything would be solved…

But after getting flamed [criticized harshly] in *Legend of League* and having her confidence shattered, she was completely turned off from gaming.

“Hey, do you guys know about *God of Sector*?”

“*God of Sector*? Of course, I know it.”

“Who *doesn’t* know about *God of Sector* these days? If you don’t, you’re living under a rock.”

But Yoobin was the one who brought up the game first.

*Was it because she was secretly interested in God of Sector recently?* With a hopeful heart, Choi Jeong-hoo unconsciously asked,

“Why? Are you going to try it too?”

“Huh, her? She *hates* games. She’s just asking. And even if she does, she’ll probably quit after two hours. Her mechanics are terrible.”

“…”

“And how many times have we recommended it? You always say you’re left out, but when we ask you to play, you never do.”

Choi Jeong-hoo slowly backed away at the sight of Kim Woo-jin sarcastically teasing her.

It was a common scene, and it was about time for fists or feet to fly.

But what was this?

“…”

Yoobin didn’t react at all.

Kim Woo-jin, who was instinctively preparing to defend himself, stopped.

Then, with a doubtful expression, he looked at Yoobin. Yoobin, feeling guilty for no reason, started rambling.

“No, that’s not it… I heard that *God of Sector* isn’t just a game, it’s another culture. There are a lot of things to do and see… and when I saw the guild video, it looked like a movie and it looked cool…”

“Huh?”

“Oh, come on! Just let me try it once!”

That’s how the three of them started playing *God of Sector*.

And the moment they finished the tutorial…

“Wow! Wow! Wow…!”

“Crazy! Awesome!”

Yoobin and Kim Woo-jin were going wild.

Yoobin kept cheering with sparkling eyes, asking if this was really a game, and Kim Woo-jin blamed himself for wasting time playing trash games instead of doing this.

What about Choi Jeong-hoo?

*…How much money do I have in my account?*

He immediately opened his digital wallet.

He spent 14 million won [approximately $10,500 USD] to get a Hero God [a powerful in-game character] and was feeling confident.

His friends also got decent Gods and useful traits, so wouldn’t they be the best party in this sector [starting area]?

He even had that thought.

“Everyone, read this strategy guide carefully. It’s important, so read it several times. Especially Yoobin, if you don’t understand something, ask right away.”

“Okay, I will.”

“There he goes again, with that habit. I don’t like that you’re such a theory crafter [someone who spends a lot of time analyzing game mechanics and strategies]… but I’ll admit it this time, it’s a good idea.”

He even read the strategy guide several times himself.

As a newbie, he had the best preparation to start.

“Wait a minute, but why are you all ranged [characters who attack from a distance]?”

“? When have you ever seen me play melee [characters who fight in close combat]?”

“…I don’t really want to hit them directly. And I want to try using magic.”

“Ha… wait, I’ll find one quickly.”

That was the reason.

Why they didn’t take the time to find a melee dealer [a character specializing in close-range damage].

Since there was no death penalty anyway, and they wanted to level up quickly, they just figured they’d pick up anyone.

But the one they got was a little unique.

-Kaiser LV1

*Huh? Kaiser? That’s familiar… Ah, right. The number one in Demrock. I guess he’s a fan of that person.*

At first, he was just amazed.

*There are still people who like that forgotten person.*

That’s because Choi Jeong-hoo didn’t really know much about Kaiser.

No, he just didn’t care.

He didn’t care about someone who was doing well in a trash game like *Demrock*, and he wasn’t attracted to VR games themselves.

If *God of Sector* hadn’t appeared and caused a stir, he would never have known the name Kaiser.

*Is he that great?*

Whenever he heard people talking about Kaiser, he always had that question.

He was number one? He was higher than that Myeolsal [another top player]?

He knew that, but honestly, wasn’t that all in the past?

VR and virtual reality are clearly different, and the current Myeolsal was not the Myeolsal of the past.

That’s why Kaiser didn’t start either.

In fact, wasn’t the name Kaiser quickly fading from memory?

*But to meet that fan.*

It was amazing that he met such a person on the day he first started *God of Sector*.

Of course, that was it.

He had no further interest.

He just needed a melee dealer to be with him until he graduated from the beginner city.

Since they were all new, they didn’t expect much skill.

That’s how they play the game in Arde [the starting city].

*No, how can he fight so well?*

But that man exceeded those expectations.

No, beyond exceeding them, it was to the point where he wondered if this was the same game.

When he was slaughtering goblins with combat skills that were hard to believe even when he saw it with his own eyes, he wondered if he was a newbie or a veteran who had been playing for three years.

The man’s play was enough to shatter Choi Jeong-hoo’s overflowing confidence, who had been praised as a tanker [a character who absorbs damage] in PC games, even though he had never played VR.

But it was okay until then.

He could just say that the world is wide.

But…

*Isn’t this too much? No matter how wide the world is…*

…There’s no dealer who interrupts the boss’s pattern with a normal attack, right?

No, would anyone even think of doing this in the first place?

At that moment, he could instinctively realize it.

*It was Kaiser!*

The man, who he thought was just a fan who couldn’t forget the nostalgia of the old throne, was actually the owner of that throne.

He was very embarrassed and thrilled, but on the other hand, he was amazed.

*How can the timing be like this?*

The day that Kaiser, who had been out of the news for a long time, started *God of Sector* was the same day he started the game.

Even the fact that he accidentally talked to Kaiser and became the first party!

It was like having dinner with a retired celebrity at a guesthouse he went to by chance.

And the reaction of ordinary people who see such celebrities is usually similar.

*…Si, sign! Let’s get a sign first!*

Whether it’s a celebrity he’s interested in or not, how many opportunities like this will he have in his life?

Moreover, Choi Jeong-hoo had been thrilled by watching Dohyun’s [Kaiser’s real name] battles with his own eyes.

That was enough time to create a fan heart that didn’t exist.

At the thought that came to him instinctively, Choi Jeong-hoo was about to carefully speak.

[Time Limit 1st place has been recaptured.]

[The party name of the party will be registered in 1st place in the ranking.]

[Shield Supreme’s party has been registered.]

-1st place: Shield Supreme’s party

“…Huh?”

The sudden recapture of 1st place shattered the timing.

Choi Jeong-hoo was also someone who had been playing PC games.

He couldn’t not know what this meant and what mistake he had made.

*I’m screwed.*

That’s all he could think.

He was just thinking about getting a signature, but what was this out of the blue!

He was even more embarrassed because it was a game he started lightly.

Of course, he went into serious mode after finishing the tutorial, but he didn’t have the slightest intention of stabbing someone in the back like this.

Moreover, who is that man?

That famous Kaiser.

*He might have been aiming for 1st place this time too…!*

Rankers [top-ranked players] form the best party to take the ranking, and only try when they are in the best condition.

Come to think of it, that man didn’t choose the fastest path possible.

*He did that during the goblin hunt, the mixer, and the 2nd phase.*

[Kaiser’s Return!]

[Kaiser! Recaptured 1st place as soon as he started God of Sector?]

[Who is Kaiser!]

He ruined the opportunity to make the world buzz again, the first step of his splendid return.

In fact, Dohyun’s actions were unintentional, but coincidentally, they were reinforcing Choi Jeong-hoo’s thoughts.

*…I don’t have to quit, do I?*

In a way, they started the same, but if he’s the famous Kaiser, he’ll soon be able to join the top 10 guilds, even if he can’t find the same fame as before.

With the name Kaiser, most of the top 10 guilds will be eyeing him.

He also has symbolic value, and he might even take a position as an executive.

What if he brings this up when he gets interviewed then?

*…I’m a fugitive right away.*

Someone might think it’s an excessive delusion, but Choi Jeong-hoo didn’t think it was excessive at all.

Are you going to do that with just a game?

No, it’s *because* it’s a game that they do more.

Unlike the real world where there is law, in the game, power is law, and if you have power, you can easily ignore moral values.

-What if I just kill you? It’s not like I’m really killing you.

With that mindset, they kill people who bother them.

Moreover, if it’s *God of Sector*, it’s even more so.

*Kaiser’s fans are especially strong.*

What if it’s related to Kaiser, who has a strong mania and many stalkers?

Those fans who are hiding because their idol’s status is dead will jump at the chance, saying they’ve been waiting for this.

*How dare you take our Kaiser’s place!?*

They might not even let him move a step from the village, saying he’s heinous.

No, you don’t even have to go to the fans.

It was obvious that malicious users who were in the mood would take this opportunity to vent their anger.

*There were similar cases in the past…*

It’s not this time limit, but it was famous enough for all *God of Sector* users to know what happened to a user who stole something that a famous ranker was putting his heart and soul into in the top content.

Even Choi Jeong-hoo, who was playing *God of Sector* for the first time, could find it if he searched a few posts.

*He couldn’t stand the endless killings and eventually quit.*

You might think it’s an excessive measure, but that was the reality of *God of Sector*.

Moral values were somewhat broken down like a game, but it was having too much influence and revenue on reality to be dismissed as just a game.

“I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you somehow.”

*Let’s beg.*

*Let’s beg first, and if they ask for compensation, let’s compensate them somehow.*

That thought filled his head.

He was too upset to quit *God of Sector*, which he had just started to enjoy.

And this wasn’t just his problem.

The rumors would spread quickly, and it was obvious that Kim Woo-jin and Yoobin would be harmed.

He couldn’t let Kim Woo-jin and Yoobin, who had become interested in the game, quit.

“I’m really sorry.”

With a strong sense of responsibility, his head was bowed so low that his waist was about to fold, and Kim Woo-jin and Yoobin reached out their hands.

They also understood the situation.

They didn’t want Choi Jeong-hoo to take responsibility alone.

*Let’s apologize too.*

*Even if we take responsibility, let’s do it together. That’s right.*

Just as they were about to bend over together, thinking that.

“It’s okay. It’s not like you did it on purpose.”

“…Yes?”

“It’s nothing. Compensation is more important.”

The man who said that didn’t feel bad, regretful, or resentful at all.

He didn’t look upset or displeased.

“It’s okay, so let’s get out of here now.”

Kaiser’s attitude was really nonchalant.

He was telling them to leave as if he was looking at a friend who picked up 500 won [a small amount of money] together.

That was enough to make Choi Jeong-hoo stunned.

[Honor is not something you chase, but something that follows you.]

Why does that saying that he had heard somewhere suddenly come to mind?

Perhaps it was because he thought there was no man in the world who was more suited to this saying than that man.

And how many men in the world would make you think that?

“…”

Somehow, he felt that all the hard work he had been doing was in vain.

And that emptiness was soon filled with something else.

It was thrill, emotion, and relief.

He couldn’t explain it in one word, but he was more convinced.

“…Ah.”

And it seemed that Choi Jeong-hoo wasn’t the only one who was convinced.

Kim Woo-jin and Yoobin, who made eye contact.

The confident eyes and dazed faces of the two friends were expressing the same thought.

Kim Woo-jin was the first to speak.

“I, honestly, thought it was an exaggeration when I saw Kaiser’s praise posts?”

The stiff voice, devoid of its usual lightness, was trembling slightly.

He would have made fun of him right away, but he couldn’t now.

They felt the same way.

“But now I know.”

“…”

“This is Kaiser… he really lives in a different world than us.”

At that, Choi Jeong-hoo quietly trembled and thought.

*…So, this is what it feels like to feel cool when you look at his back.*

*That’s what it means to have a back that makes you want to follow him…*

It was a strange feeling for him, who had always been a tanker, to be looking at someone else’s back, but it didn’t feel bad for some reason.