The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 260

260.

Perhaps it was thanks to Ison’s enthusiastic welcome.

The blacksmiths’ gazes towards Do-hyun no longer held any wariness. Curiosity and interest had taken its place.

“So, this young man is the talent that Ison was talking about?”

“Hmm, doesn’t look like he’s ever held a hammer in his hand…”

“Are you doubting Ison’s judgment right now? Even if he’s wrong about everything else, his eye for talent is definitely reliable.”

“I’m suspicious because he’s always wearing a mask, tsk!”

“He was lamenting about it for days… I was curious, and now I finally get to see him. Amazing.”

When he refused the apprenticeship, he seemed quite disappointed, but it seems he spread the rumors more than I thought.

They’re all gathered around, scrutinizing him like he’s an animal in a zoo.

“Hmm.”

Even Duran, who was leaning against the wall as if he wasn’t interested, was glancing over, showing interest.

‘He gives off the aura of a martial artist, but he’s also talented as a blacksmith. It’s quite intriguing.’

And Do-hyun was just as intrigued. Duran was even more impressive than he had heard.

‘That’s a powerhouse in the bottom ranks of the top 100… Just the aura he briefly showed was extraordinary.’

‘Yes. It was stronger than the elite apostles we saw in the Tomb.’

‘He’s probably stronger than most high rankers. You’d need someone from a top 10 guild to beat him, right?’

‘……This is a scary place, Master.’

‘Lizariza.’

If someone barely in the top 100 is that strong, I can’t even imagine what the top 70 or top 30 are like, with their insurmountable walls.

Moreover, this is just the official ranking, excluding the Seven Rivers.

The prevailing opinion was that there were many hidden masters in the Empire, like the elders of the Magic Tower, and who knows what other monsters were lurking.

‘On the other hand, the gap between the top 10 guilds and the rankers here is huge… At least for a few years, they won’t be able to surpass the Empire’s power.’

It was then that he realized why the top users were wary of the Empire.

“If you all have nothing better to do, why don’t you say something? There’s a mountain of work piled up in the next room. If you’re really bored, you could help me with my work.”

“Haha, no one’s better at enhancement than Ison. You’re quite the comedian…”

When one blacksmith reacted with a puzzled expression, a fellow blacksmith next to him chided him.

“Hey, you clueless fool. Can’t you tell he’s saying he’s already claimed him, so stop bothering him and leave.”

“Ah, is that it?”

“Your problem is that you’re so oblivious. That’s why your wife always nags you… Even this time, you took her to her parents’ house as a surprise anniversary gift, and she nagged you for a month.”

“Why are you bringing that up? And I still don’t understand why that’s a problem…”

“Enough talk, let’s just go.”

Even while grumbling, the blacksmiths cleared out, sensing the mood.

They went to catch up on their pending work or take a break, and Duran glanced over before turning his head away.

“Now we can talk comfortably. So, what brings you here? Am I right to be excited?”

“Ah, that’s not it.”

“Ah… Then why?”

Do-hyun handed him what he was holding, and Ison’s eyes widened as he openly showed his disappointment.

“!? This is the Sword Plaque of the Seven Rivers!”

“…What?”

“A Sword Plaque!? Why does that young man have the Sword Emperor’s Silver Plaque?”

The blacksmiths, who had been pretending not to listen, jumped up.

The workshop instantly became noisy.

Their eyes, raised like meerkats, seemed to urge him to speak. Although, they were a bit too muscular to be meerkats.

“The Sword Emperor told me to change my armor and gave it to me. He said I could get excellent armor if I had this.”

“If that’s the case, then you’ve come to the right place… Hmm, the Sword Emperor has hardly ever given out a Silver Plaque. This is quite a strange occurrence.”

The murmuring grew louder at Do-hyun’s answer.

That’s because the Sword Emperor had only given out Silver Plaques a handful of times.

Moreover, it was almost unheard of for an Apostle [a player class].

“Is he someone of that much worth?”

“But didn’t Ison say he was a talent who could become a master craftsman? If the Sword Emperor gave him a Silver Plaque, that means he’s a martial artist with outstanding talent.”

“Sir Duran, what do you think? Didn’t you also receive a Silver Plaque from the Sword Emperor?”

In the midst of the commotion over the exceptional situation, the room suddenly fell silent at one blacksmith’s words.

Duran, who had been quiet, paused before answering, drawing everyone’s attention.

“…The only time I saw the Sword Emperor bestow a Silver Plaque was in one case.”

“What is it?”

“Satisfying the Sword Emperor with your ‘sword’.”

Whether it was current strength or future potential.

Duran, who finished speaking, now openly showed curiosity. Unlike before, his eyes showed that he wanted to spar with him. The blacksmiths’ gazes towards Do-hyun also changed.

‘A blacksmithing talent that Ison covets, and a sword that satisfied the Sword Emperor…’

‘Hmm, if anyone else had said this, I would have told them to stop talking nonsense and cursed them out.’

‘But there’s solid proof… I can’t not believe it.’

‘Atram would be interested if he knew.’

The eyes that had simply looked at a promising talent now looked at a monster whose identity was unknown.

At that, Ison no longer expressed his desire and faced him with a serious expression.

“You’re an even more outstanding talent than I thought.”

“…You flatter me.”

“Your modesty is excessive. If the Sword Emperor acknowledged you, you’re no longer just a talent. So, the Sword Emperor told you to make your armor here?”

Ison, who had accepted the Silver Plaque and was examining it carefully, nodded.

“I checked just in case, but it’s definitely genuine. So, when will you take the test?”

“Test?”

Why suddenly a test?

Ison tilted his head at Do-hyun’s reaction, who had a question mark on his face.

“Hmm? Weren’t you told about it?”

“…No.”

“Well… Considering the Sword Emperor’s personality, that’s not surprising.”

Ison’s lips twisted into a smile as he made a ‘that’s just like him’ face.

“Come with me. It will be a mystical experience.”

“…?”

It was a smile filled with deep conviction.

* * *

The place Ison led him to was a room hidden deep at the end of the hallway.

‘…There’s nothing here?’

An empty space.

The only unusual thing was that it was separated into two rooms by what appeared to be reinforced glass, and there was a strange switch-like device there.

Perhaps Jihad and Eliza, who were sensitive to mana, saw something different.

-…What is this? I can feel such high purity mana?

-Lizariza.

-Hmm, I can’t see anything.

When Do-hyun was wondering, seeing the two of them quite impressed.

Ison, who approached him, said proudly.

“You have a face that says, ‘Why did you bring me here to see nothing?'”

“…No, I don’t.”

“Hehe, don’t even try to deny it.”

When Do-hyun answered a beat late, Ison gave a mischievous smile that didn’t suit his age.

Then, he suddenly crossed over the glass and put his hand into a square box.

It was where the switch was.

[‘Proof of Iron’ is checking the target’s physical abilities and mana.]

[‘Proof of Iron’ is checking the target’s aptitude.]

[‘Proof of Iron’ is checking the target’s potential.]

Then, with the sudden appearance of the message, the surroundings shook and a strange phenomenon occurred.

What had been just a small square box spread from his hand to his shoulder, and soon covered his entire body.

At that moment, when only Ison’s eyes were visible.

A gray light tinged with silver seemed to cover the entire space beyond the glass, and Ison’s eyes flashed.

[Verification complete.]

[Based on the above information, minerals will be selected that will be the most suitable material for the target’s armament.]

[Stored minerals are being verified.]

[‘Proof of Iron’ is emitting ‘Steel’ and ‘Silver’.]

The message appeared at the same time.

With that, the chaotic phenomenon ended.

The box, which had returned to its original position as if it had never covered his body, spat out steel and silver as the message said, and didn’t even budge.

“What is this…”

-Wow…

-Li, Liza…

Do-hyun and the Guardians, who had witnessed the scene from beginning to end, opened their mouths and exclaimed.

Ison, who came out holding steel and silver in both hands, had a proud face.

“What do you think of the masterpiece of the former White Magic Tower Lord? It’s a product of magical engineering that analyzes physical abilities and potential, and recommends the most suitable minerals, even considering aptitudes that the person themselves doesn’t know. Now, it’s something that can never be made again.”

“…I’m amazed.”

“Based on the minerals that are best suited for you, we will analyze your physical condition and create custom armor for you.”

It wasn’t just amazement.

Based on the most suitable minerals, crafted by the best artisans in the Empire?

This was something that could never fail, a theoretically perfect custom-made armament.

‘This is crazy.’

Indeed, Ison was right to be so confident.

The Argetlam Workshop only makes items that you order from a list of examples.

They never make custom armor just for one person like this.

‘…Master, this is an incredible benefit. This is an opportunity you can’t miss.’

‘Lizariza.’

‘Is this kind of thing common, Master?’

‘No, maybe only the Sword Saint, Extermination, and Slayer among the users. I don’t know for sure.’

Those three were the only users officially known to have received the Silver Sword Plaque.

I heard they got huge rewards, but I never thought it would be this much.

“Seeing your surprised face makes me feel good.”

Ison, who proudly puffed out his chest, continued in a small voice as if he was telling a secret.

“It’s here, but it’s clearly the Sword Emperor’s property, so we can’t use it carelessly. We can only use it when we show the Silver Sword Plaque.”

“…I see.”

“That’s why the Silver Sword Plaque is so special. Only those who have received the Sword Plaque from the Sword Emperor can enjoy this right, even in the Great Empire.”

Ison’s words seemed to enter his left ear and exit his right.

Right now, Do-hyun wasn’t hearing any of those words.

‘What will come out?’

What material will come out, and what is the most suitable armor made from that material?

He was dying of anticipation.

Do-hyun, who had become like a child before opening a Christmas present, took a deep breath to suppress the urge to flare his nostrils.

“Then go in.”

“…Yes.”

He bowed to Ison, who stepped aside, and went inside.

Then, just like Ison, he stood in front of the square box and put his hand in.

[‘Proof of Iron’ is checking the target’s physical abilities and mana.]

Then, the same message as before appeared, and the box transformed and slowly crawled up his arm.

It felt like being sucked into an iron hole, a cold and strange sensation.

Just as he was thinking that it felt more ominous than it looked.

–!

A burst of achromatic light erupted.

A color close to gray, the representative color of iron, the most common of minerals.

“Hmm, steel… Hmm?”

That’s when Ison was muttering as he analyzed the light.

The light intensified and began to contain silver and gold.

“Gold? It’s been a while since gold has been evaluated as suitable.”

At that, Ison reacted with interest.

He had felt it from the first time he saw him, but he was indeed a special young man. He was imagining the armor that would be made with the combination of gold, steel, and silver.

Flash-!

“…Blue and black? Bronze and black steel too?”

Flash!

“W-wait a minute. How far is the light going to spread?”

The amplification of light showed no signs of stopping.

Ison couldn’t help but be bewildered by the sight of all sorts of colors mixing together, creating a light like the universe, dominating the space beyond the glass.

“Good heavens!”

A light completely different from anything he had seen before was emitted, dyeing the entire space.

The lights that had been shown so far were helplessly swallowed by the energy that was stronger than anything else. Ison’s pupils shook greatly as he watched the light expand its range as if devouring everything.

“This is an unprecedented phenomenon. If something like this is possible, there’s only one thing it could be…”

But that’s impossible.

That’s a mineral that’s not allowed to anyone.

Not even the Sword Emperor.

‘What on earth is about to happen? What are you…’

Ison swallowed hard and looked at Do-hyun.

And Do-hyun was.

[‘Proof of Iron’ is checking the target’s aptitude.]

[‘Proof of Iron’ is checking the target’s potential.]

[‘Proof of Iron’ detects a foreign energy. Attempting a more detailed detection.]

[A portion of the potential deeply hidden within is revealed.]

‘This is…?’

He was 넋 (heok – soul/spirit) 넋놓고 (heoknohgo – to be stunned/to be dazed) 넋을 놓고 있었다 (heokeul nohgo isseotda – was stunned/was dazed) at the unprecedented sight unfolding before his eyes.

Oh