The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 259

259.

“My empire doesn’t interfere much with the Apostles’ affairs. Do you know why?”

The heavy voice echoed softly in the audience chamber.

Dohyun didn’t answer rashly.

Bahalun didn’t seem to want an answer, as he continued speaking calmly.

“It’s because I’m certain that whatever the Apostles do, they can’t threaten our empire.”

“…….”

In Bahalun’s flickering eyes, something beyond certainty could be felt.

Considering that the number of users alone reaches 1 billion, and the empire has over 2 billion, it was an extremely arrogant demeanor.

However, even if someone other than Dohyun had heard these words, they wouldn’t be able to refute them.

Because it was an unexaggerated truth.

Who would dare to call it arrogance to speak the truth?

“But the Forgotten Tomb is different. It’s a place we can’t help but keep a close eye on. If the Apostles fail, we were planning to step in directly and examine it thoroughly.”

Such a fearless emperor was, for the first time, wary of the Apostle’s work.

‘Why though?’

Is the difficulty of the Forgotten Tomb that high?

Is he worried that if the Apostles fail, a disaster will be reproduced in the empire?

‘No, it can’t be just that reason.’

It was nearly impossible for the current users, but the empire would have accomplished it without much difficulty.

Even if a disaster occurred on the main continent, it would be the same.

There would have been sacrifices of ordinary people, but it would have been eradicated to its roots in less than a few days.

“How could we not keep a close eye on it.”

The reason why the empire, and even the arrogant emperor, watched closely.

“The suddenly appeared Labyrinth of Rejection. A tomb that exudes a surprisingly similar aura to that unpleasant labyrinth, where an ominous energy is growing stronger and stronger.”

“……!”

That was because the Forgotten Tomb was emitting the exact same energy as the empire’s long-standing headache.

Dohyun, who had been pondering the emperor’s words for a moment due to the shocking fact, paused.

If it was the same energy as the Forgotten Tomb, there was only one possibility.

‘……The Abyss.’

Beings full of unknowns.

It was certain that they were in that labyrinth.

The presence of the Abyss meant that the probability of it being directly connected to the main quest was very high.

It was no coincidence that this story came up now.

“I’ve always wanted to investigate the labyrinth, but the labyrinth itself doesn’t allow our entry. But I’m also uneasy about trusting the Apostles…….”

They were being cautious at the advice of their ministers, who said that nothing had happened yet, and they could cause trouble if they touched it carelessly.

However, now that it has been revealed to be related to the Forgotten Tomb, the situation has changed.

“If you, who have conquered the Forgotten Tomb once, can know what kind of connection there is between the labyrinth and the tomb, I would like to entrust you with the investigation of the labyrinth…….”

“…….”

“Kaiser. Can you fulfill my request?”

Ding!

[Quest, ‘Investigation of the Labyrinth of Rejection’ has been generated.]

[Investigation of the Labyrinth of Rejection]

-Rank: Hero

-Description: The Labyrinth of Rejection that suddenly appeared in the empire one day.

It is a unique labyrinth that does not allow entry to its own people, but it is presumed that it allows entry to the Apostles.

Therefore, Emperor ‘Bahalun de Arnis’ wants you to find out what is there.

Let’s investigate the labyrinth by accepting his request.

-Investigation of the Labyrinth of Rejection (0 / 1)

-Reward for clearing: Generation of linked quest, 3,000 gold, certain amount of experience

-Risk of failure: Deletion of linked quest and decrease in the Emperor’s favorability.

-Time limit: 120 hours

Dohyun smiled as he looked at the quest that appeared at the end of the Emperor’s words.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I will investigate it thoroughly.”

There was no reason to refuse the opportunity to explore the labyrinth, which was likely to be related to the main quest, exclusively given to him, the number one in the world quest rankings.

* * *

Dohyun, who left the audience chamber and exited the Imperial Palace, had an uneasy look on his face.

-Huh? What’s wrong, Master? Weren’t you happy until just now?

-Lizariza.

Jihad and Eliza were wondering about the different appearance when entering and leaving the bathroom.

Dohyun smiled at them.

Like their words, he was clearly happy until he received the quest.

Because the opportunity given exclusively to himself, who was ranked first in the world quest rankings, was related to the Abyss.

‘It was good up to that point…… In the end, I couldn’t find out whether the imperial family was colluding [secretly cooperating for a deceitful purpose].’

Not only that.

He couldn’t even guess why the Second Prince and the Emperor’s bodies were so red.

In fact, he hadn’t found out anything.

He was sorry about that. But he shook his head.

‘Well, this isn’t the only opportunity.’

He gained the authority to freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace while proceeding with the quest.

The time limit was also a generous 120 hours.

In this situation, impatience is poison.

It was the right decision to take his time and find out.

‘If I meet the First Prince, I might find out something.’

He was currently in another city and couldn’t meet him, but he decided to look forward to when he would return soon.

The First Prince was the most influential figure in the current empire.

-Excellent judgment, Master. Even things that can be done won’t work if you move in a hurry. It’s better to focus on what’s in front of you now.

Jihad suddenly intervened from beside Charlie, who was satisfied.

-Then are we going straight to the labyrinth?

-Liza?

“No.”

Dohyun shook his head, feeling sorry for Eliza, who was sparkling her eyes as if she was curious about the labyrinth.

Then Eliza became noticeably sullen.

“Don’t be too down, Eliza. We’re going to go anyway. There’s just a place to stop by before investigating.”

-……Liza?

-A place to stop by? Ah, are you meeting those companions?

“……Is the only thing that comes to mind when I say I’m stopping by my companions?”

-Ahem, you don’t have any friends, Master.

He wanted to give him a knuckle sandwich [a punch in the face] after a long time, but he had nothing to say in rebuttal.

The empty friend list was now only filled with three slots.

-Astrate

-Suryeon

-Innocent Eyes

‘That old man said he had a meeting, and that girl said she was leaving to train again. She must be meditating while getting hit by a waterfall.’

Moreover, the Empress’s name among them was not lit up in green.

Given her twisted day and night, she must still be in dreamland.

‘Those nicknames are still absurd even when I look at them now.’

The absurdity he felt when he made friends with the two people before disconnecting yesterday was still vivid.

Unlike Bora, who was playing with a normal nickname, Astrate, the two people’s nicknames were unusual from the start.

“……Innocent Eyes? Why is your nickname like that?”

“I didn’t know it would be so popular, so I just made it up roughly. And well, it’s good to have innocent eyes, right? You don’t have to hit me.”

“…….”

The Empress, who smiled fiercely while saying that, was still absurd even when he thought about it now, but he could still understand it.

There was nothing strange about a crazy woman doing crazy things.

The most absurd thing was that Sword Saint guy.

‘Suryeon to not forget the desire to devote himself to training, what…… It’s absurd even when I think about it again. When you look at it, that bastard is more crazy.’

If Gugu was openly crazy, the Sword Saint was subtly crazy.

He was a guy with a different mindset from time to time.

They always fought, saying they were incompatible, but he had a reasonable suspicion that it wasn’t just self-hatred.

‘That’s why people don’t call them by their nicknames and only call them by their titles…….’

There was also the fact that those with official titles recognized by the system could use their titles instead of their nicknames.

Usually, many people registered their titles instead of their nicknames in the official rankings.

The Sword Saint and the Empress were also such cases.

Perhaps now, many people would really think that their nicknames were the Empress and the Sword Saint.

‘I was like that right away.’

As he was smiling, he heard Jihad muttering softly.

-……I think I know why they’re Master’s companions. Yeah.

-Lizariza…….

“? What do you mean? Where is there a person as normal as me?”

-Uh…… Is the normal that humans use different from the normal that I know?

“I want to get hit after a long time…… Um?”

When he took out the knuckle of justice and smiled kindly, Jihad was already hiding behind Charlie.

That’s a knee-jerk reflex [an immediate, unthinking reaction].

Is that how you can run away safely even when a battle unfolds?

Dohyun, dumbfounded, put down his fist.

“Stop chatting and let’s go now.”

-Okay, Master!

Then Jihad quickly came out and followed behind, followed by Charlie and Eliza.

-But where are we going?

-Um, I’m curious too.

Dohyun replied briefly to the two guys’ questions.

“I worked hard to get it, so I have to use it.”

The iron badge held in Dohyun’s grasp was reflecting the sunlight and emitting a subtle light.

* * *

Clang! Clang!

Hot heat and humid air.

The clear sound of metal clashing against metal echoing clearly. Even the artisans who were sweating profusely showed no signs of fatigue.

-Indeed…… So this is where you were going.

“I risked my life to get it, so I can’t not come or I’ll be sick to my stomach.”

This place was a blacksmith’s workshop.

Workshops were used by NPCs as well as many users, but this place was no ordinary workshop.

-Um! They all seem to be skilled artisans. I can get good armor.

As a former commander of the Knights, Charlie, who was picky about equipment, acknowledged their skills just by looking at them.

A place where the most skilled blacksmiths in the Arnis Empire are always counted on one hand.

The only workshop that the Sword Emperor, Garfield Drew, favored to the point of signing an exclusive contract with.

[Argetlam Grand Workshop]

‘I heard they make equipment well here?’

There are many fields in production.

Even within the large categories of weapons, armor, and accessories, there were endless worlds of production when you went into detail.

‘At least the Argetlam Grand Workshop is said to be the best when it comes to melee weapons and armor.’

Among the empire’s three major production workshops, the one in charge of melee equipment was the Argetlam Grand Workshop.

It was no wonder that the Sword Emperor had signed an exclusive contract.

As such, it operated on a reservation basis, and it took several months to get a weapon because there were so many reservations.

‘They don’t even make equipment if the user’s level is insufficient.’

Therefore, the Argetlam Workshop also served as a kind of guarantee among users.

It was as good as proving your ability if you were carrying equipment from this place.

Clang-

The sound of metal that had been ringing out steadily stopped at that moment.

One of the blacksmiths, who had finally raised his head after completing a weapon, discovered Dohyun and narrowed his wrinkled eyes.

“Hmm? What is it, you. I didn’t hear that anyone was coming? Hey, did you check the reservation list properly?”

“Yes! The next customer is Mr. Jebran, scheduled to visit in 2 hours.”

“Hey, young man. Is your name Jebran?”

“What? Who’s here?”

“Hmph, that’s strange. As far as I remember, that guy isn’t Jebran.”

“Ah, did you take the reservation, brother? You remember that well.”

“Of course, I remember because that customer was a woman.”

It was a truly surprising gender, but that wasn’t important now.

The atmosphere of the blacksmiths, who realized that he was not a reserved customer, became fierce.

The muscles of those who stopped production and approached were twitching.

Even though they were short, they were all big and muscular, so they looked like gangsters when they were like that.

Not only that.

“……Looks like there’s an arrogant customer.”

The momentum of the knight slowly rising from the back was unusual.

Dohyun also knew his face.

He had seen that face every time they held a tournament to pick the empire’s strongest for fun in the community.

‘Was it the Gale Knight, Dran? I think he was a strongman in the top 100.’

Being in the top 100 in the empire was a tremendous strength.

The Top 100 strongmen were evaluated as being unable to guarantee victory even for the top 10 guilds.

He was about to quickly show the iron badge because there was no need to get involved wrongly.

“What is all this commotion?”

A powerful voice filled with strength echoed.

What appeared among the blacksmiths, driving away the ferocious momentum, was an old man.

“How can you be so noisy about such trivial matters while being a blacksmith? Sir Dran is using his power to focus only on production, what kind of disgrace is this…… Huh?”

“……Uh?”

But the old man’s face was familiar.

It wasn’t just Dohyun, the old man who was scolding also made eye contact with Dohyun and had a strange look in his eyes.

And at that moment.

“Huh!?”

“You are!?”

Almost at the same time, the eyes of the two people widened.

Between the widened eyes, there was a sense of joy.

“Mr. Aison?”

“Aren’t you Kaiser! Have you finally made up your mind to become my disciple?”

The great blacksmith, called the master of artisans, who had expelled Leon, who had lost to Dohyun in the reinforcement battle, and was coveting Dohyun as his disciple.

It was the moment when he unexpectedly reunited with Aison.