The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 22

22.

Back Alley of Arde, the Beginner City.

In this place, known as the most secretive in Arde, there is a small door.

A door small enough that an average adult male has to stoop and squeeze to enter.

It’s old and worn, giving off an eerie feeling—a rather unpleasant door, but things change once you go inside.

“Oh… it’s different from outside?”

“It’s like magic. How can it be so different?”

The space doesn’t completely change, nor is the size different from what you see inside versus outside.

However, the atmosphere is completely different.

Unlike the dilapidated exterior, a luxurious scene unfolds, making you wonder if it’s really the same space.

Everything you need is in the small space, but it doesn’t feel cramped.

Rather, this small space enhances the atmosphere, showcasing the epitome of space utilization.

‘It’s not for nothing that people in the construction industry get a lot of inspiration from God of Creation Online.’

And that goes for people in various literary fields as well, not just construction.

As God of Creation Online is called another world, its elaborate and realistic yet different landscapes from the modern world broaden new perspectives.

As many non-combat jobs exist as combat jobs, God of Creation Online is making many contributions to the modern world.

“I’ve brought the blood of the Mutant Goblin!”

“Hmm. It’s definitely the blood of the Mutant Goblin. You can go now.”

Just then, a man in a robe gestured lightly before stopping.

“Oh, there are quite a few useful guys today.”

Calde, sensing Do-hyun’s group arriving, raised the corner of his mouth.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the room, or the robe that half-covered his face, but even his smile felt ominous.

“He feels creepy for some reason.”

“Yeah… he feels like he’d be researching black magic.”

“Shh. Don’t judge just by appearances.”

While the group muttered quietly, Do-hyun stared intently at Calde.

The moment their eyes met, Calde tilted his head.

“Hmm? Didn’t you guys come by a little while ago?”

“Yes.”

“What, don’t tell me you’re here to give up? There are many people who can help, but research requires a lot of blood… Huh? What’s this.”

As Calde frowned and started to voice his dissatisfaction, Do-hyun reached out his hand.

In his hand was a small glass bottle. Calde’s eyes widened slightly as he checked it.

“This is… Mutant Goblin blood?”

“Yes.”

“Huh… you’ve already obtained it? I think it’s been about 40 minutes?”

Calde seemed genuinely surprised as he said that.

Well, it was only natural.

Even if you assume you clear it on the first try, it’s a dungeon that takes an average of over an hour.

Moreover, the ‘Mutant Goblin Warrior Habitat,’ befitting its nickname as the graveyard of newbies, is a dungeon that you barely clear after numerous tries.

It wasn’t for nothing that there was no time limit.

It meant to get it whenever you can, so Calde didn’t even remember each client’s face.

Many people receive the request, but the people who bring it come much later, so it’s confusing.

Except for special cases like now.

“It’s been a while since something like this… Amazing. To catch that mutant so quickly.”

[The effect of the title ‘Favorability Max From the Start?’ is activated. Favorability increases even more.]

[Calde’s favorability increases.]

‘Oh, this?’

I heard it wasn’t easy to raise Calde’s favorability, but I got an unexpected gain.

Well, I can’t do anything with the slightly raised favorability, but at least I won’t hear bad words.

In fact, Calde looked very satisfied.

Seeing him approaching with a rare faint smile.

“I’ll give you the reward as promised. It was the timing I needed it, so thanks to you, the research will be faster.”

Ding-.

[You have cleared the quest ‘Mutant Goblin Blood’.]

[As a reward, you acquire 1 gold, a large amount of experience, and a silver ring crafted by Calde.]

[Your level has increased.]

As I instantly leveled up twice and reached level 12, a quest popped up as if waiting.

[You have met the conditions.]

[A warp to the main continent opens.]

[To use the warp, you must pass the trials of the continent.]

[Beginner Graduation]

-Grade: Trial 0

-Description: You have earned the qualification to graduate from the beginner city of Arde.

You can cross over to the main continent through the warp at the end of the city.

-Clear Condition: Reach level 12

-Reward for Clearing: Lower-grade Skill Gacha Ticket

-Time Limit: None.

Known as the graduation quest.

A quest that inevitably appears to users who have reached the graduation level of each city, and you must complete this quest to move on to the next city.

As the name suggests, more difficult quests often appear as you go further.

As such, ranks and rankings are divided according to graduation scores, and differential rewards are given accordingly……

[You have passed Trial 0.]

[Trial 0 does not record rankings.]

[You can now cross over to the main continent.]

[You have acquired a ‘Lower-grade Skill Gacha Ticket’ as a reward.]

‘Beginner cities definitely provide convenience.’

It was an irrelevant story here in Arde.

Simply riding the warp was something even a baby could do.

“Finally……!”

“Everyone worked hard. Kaiser-nim… you really worked hard too!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Still, the group was somewhat excited as it was their first graduation.

Well, how could they not be excited since they can finally move on to the main continent.

‘Finally, the main continent.’

A stage where all content is open, and unlike beginner cities, a global stage where all races gather.

Numerous adventures and mysterious otherworld landscapes unfolding on a vast continent that cannot be compared to Arde.

Only after stepping on the main continent can you truly feel God of Creation Online.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

How fun will it be on the main stage, the main continent?

Unlike the somewhat gloomy Dem Locke [previous game], it is a future era with developed civilization, so I was even more excited.

The feeling I felt when I first started Dem Locke was tickling Do-hyun’s heart now. It was when I couldn’t calm down my excitement.

“With your skills… you’ll be fine.”

Calde, who spat out those words as if passing by, came closer.

The group, who had been excited, stopped and looked at Calde.

Calde was famous for waving his hand as if he was annoyed after giving the reward.

There were even users who started fights because of that attitude, so you could see how much he ignored the users.

Of course, after someone had their reward confiscated again, those people were no longer seen.

And they always said the same thing.

‘I said he was unbelievably strong.’

They said he was so strong that they doubted he was an alchemist.

Even though they were beginners who had just reached level 12, they couldn’t dare to stand up to him because the four of them were hit without even being able to use their hands.

The house he lives in and in many ways, he is an NPC [Non-player character] shrouded in mystery……

People didn’t pay much attention to him because his name wasn’t particularly spread on the main continent either.

‘What’s going on?’

Anyway, it was a fact that they were wondering why such a person was showing business.

What was even more questionable happened after that.

“Take one each.”

“Huh?”

“This is……?”

He, who had come right in front of them, handed something to Do-hyun and his group one by one.

It was a letter.

No, to be exact, it was more like a postcard that looked like a letter.

At that moment.

Ding-.

[You have acquired a reward by meeting special conditions.]

[Acquire a postcard with Calde’s handwriting.]

[Postcard with Calde’s handwriting]

-Grade: Rare+

-Description: It is a postcard with Calde’s handwriting.

‘……Special reward?’

Do-hyun, who had paused at the suddenly rising message, nodded.

Some quests in Dem Locke had hidden conditions.

And the special reward was given only to those who met those conditions. Of course, God of Creation Online, which took a lot from Dem Locke, also had this system.

‘Is it a reward given to users who are in the time limit rankings?’

Indeed, it was understandable that the rankers were burning their eyes and taking the rankings.

This was also a kind of hidden piece, so the reward was quite strong.

‘I don’t know what this will be used for, but……’

It’s a special reward, and it’s Rare+, so I thought it might be used well someday.

These types of items are often used as materials for something.

“Wow… what? It’s Rare+?”

“I was grateful for just the title and items, but what a honey [jackpot].”

Yu Bin-kyung and Migan-ttakdae were also surprised, widening their eyes and checking the system window.

Then, when their eyes met, they hurriedly panicked and looked around.

At that time, it was Shield Choi-go who came forward first.

“……Thank you.”

Even to Do-hyun’s reaction as if asking why he was thanking him, he continued to speak without paying attention.

“Thanks to you, I got a lot of rewards that I didn’t deserve. And……”

Then, Shield Choi-go, who stopped talking at this point, met Do-hyun’s eyes.

In his clear eyes, I could feel pride, gratitude, and a sense of elation.

However, as Do-hyun tilted his head at his hesitant appearance, he added again as if to say no.

“……Thank you so much. In many ways.”

“That’s right. Thank you so much.”

“If you ever need our help in the future, please tell us, hyung-nim [term of endearment for older brother]! I’ll drop everything and come!”

The group, including Yu Bin-kyung and Migan-ttakdae, joined in and kept saying thank you.

From their eyes and tone, I could feel sincerity beyond gratitude, even admiration.

It was too much to simply be grateful for getting the reward.

‘Why are they suddenly like this?’

Do-hyun, who didn’t know their change of heart, was just burdened.

As he avoided their sparkling eyes and nodded appropriately, their faces brightened instantly.

After that, Do-hyun, who had been answering appropriately to the words they were saying like baby birds, turned his gaze.

What his eyes were directed at was the card pack.

[Would you like to use the Lower-grade Skill Gacha Ticket?]

‘Has the time finally come?’

The skill gacha [randomized reward system], called the highlight of God of Creation Online.

And it was also the moment Do-hyun had been waiting for the most since he came out of the Pantheon.

Do-hyun, who smiled, used the gacha ticket, and a subtle ray of light burst out, and ten cards floated up.

‘The difference is big.’

Looking at the skill card pack after seeing the cards of the Pantheon, it certainly looked weak, and the force was lacking, but that wasn’t important now.

As Do-hyun stared intently at the cards, a message soon appeared and a change occurred.

[The Eye of Truth is activated.]

‘It worked……!’

The Eye of Truth was activated this time as well, and the color of the cards was visible.

There were no fancy colors like before.

Only a dung color like brown wood was stimulating Do-hyun’s eyes.

It was only natural since all the lower-grade skill gacha tickets only showed normal-grade cards. But even so, Do-hyun couldn’t hold back his excitement.

‘The effect is activated even when drawing skill cards.’

With this, it was proven that the effect of the Eye of Truth was applied to all gachas, not just god gachas.

How could I not be happy when I can do confirmed gachas in all future gachas?

‘I heard that all skill gacha tickets show cards related to the job.’

This was why God of Creation Online didn’t get cursed even though it was a luck-based game.

It was terribly difficult to get high-grade skills because skill gacha tickets were non-exchangeable, but they still gave you skills that you could use.

Sword-related skills for swordmasters, magic-related skills for mages, and skills suitable for production jobs……

Then what skills will Do-hyun get?

Swish.

With a pounding heart, I reached out my hand, and soon the card turned over, emitting a subtle dung light.