The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 45

Part 45.

Blast of the Spear.

Though it was just a three-meter-long spear, the power of its explosion was like a spear thrown by a giant.

The moment the light exploded, the shockwave engulfed the cave.

——!!!

The ground and inner walls shook wildly.

The shock, as if an earthquake had struck, tossed my body around like a balloon, and the light was so blinding that I could barely see an inch ahead.

Dohyun, squinting and straining to see, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

‘The power is insane. It feels even stronger than before!’

Was it because it had transformed into the most suitable form for Dohyun, or was it because his stats had increased since then?

He had felt it was strong when he caught the intruder with Marty before, but this time it seemed 1.5 times more powerful.

To be honest, he didn’t really want to use the arrow if he could help it.

Since he only had two uses left, he had to save it as much as possible.

That’s why he felt a pang of regret even as he fired the arrow, but once he used it like this, the satisfaction was quite rewarding.

‘He was someone I had to use it on anyway.’

By a hair’s breadth, the arrow was fired faster than the tip of his spear could reach.

If he had hesitated even a little, he would have been the one collapsing.

‘At that level, he must be finished for sure.’

It was at that moment, when he was starting to relax a little with that thought.

-He, he took him down…….

-Liza! Lizaliza!

-No, what nonsense are you spouting now!

-Ugh, mmmph!

Perhaps trying to inject some tension into his relaxed master’s mind.

As always, Eliza and Charlie hurriedly covered Jihad’s mouth as he chanted the forbidden spell.

Thud. Psh- Fwick-

Charlie covered Jihad’s mouth, and Eliza frantically shot spiderwebs over Charlie’s hand.

Dohyun, suddenly breathless, stared ahead with a desperate look.

The memory of the Destroyer Gaiman came to mind.

‘If he comes back to life now, we’re done for.’

He had no more stamina or mana to fight.

Charlie and Jihad were also effectively incapacitated. In fact, if he was still alive, it was game over for them.

But perhaps magical spells don’t always work.

Ting-

[You have subdued the Unfortunate Hero ‘??? Ra??sia’.]

[You have additionally achieved the clear condition for the sudden quest ‘Intruder’.]

[The quest’s clear reward will be enhanced.]

[Escape this place safely and inform Periel.]

Dohyun, after checking the message, let out a breath he had been holding in.

“Hoo.”

-Wow…… that was a close call.

“Are you one to talk? If the spell had worked this time, you would have been the first to die.”

-You need to watch your mouth. Your nose is long, but why is your short mouth so reckless?

-Lizaliza!

-……Sorry.

Eliza, even more agitated, nagged him, and Jihad nodded, looking dejected.

He had a few previous offenses, so he seemed to have no excuse.

‘That scared me. Yeah, it would be strange if he really came back to life just because of a magic spell.’

It was true that he had a slight hope because the spell was so powerful that he wondered if it might work, but the confirmation message had appeared.

Dohyun, relieved, was about to relax his clenched fist when it happened.

Just in time, the shaking, like an earthquake, stopped, and the light faded, revealing the scene clearly.

-……Master?

“What.”

-Why…… is he standing?

“?”

At Jihad’s trembling voice, Dohyun whipped his head around.

And then he saw it.

“……?”

In the center of the cave, filled with traces of the explosion.

As Jihad said, the Unfortunate Hero was standing tall.

Could the spell have done this?

No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than the word he had seen in the message flashed through his brain.

He checked the message again, and Dohyun’s eyebrows twitched.

[You have subdued the Unfortunate Hero ‘??? Ra??sia’.]

‘……Wait a minute. Subdued? Not defeated?’

He realized that the word used was somewhat strange.

And at that moment.

Creak-

The being, who had been frozen like blackened lava, moved with a bizarre sound.

“This is insane!”

-Kiheak! H, he’s really alive!?

-L, Lizaliza!

-Good heavens. Master, I will stop him. Please recover even a little in the meantime…….

In the face of the shocking situation, his mind protested, asking why this was happening, but his body instinctively grabbed his sword and assumed a battle stance.

But even before he could fully assume the stance.

Creak- Squeak-

The twisted bones made grotesque sounds as they aligned, and then, suddenly, the being’s skin began to crack with a tearing sound.

It was as if an insect was molting.

The rotten skin fell away, and something emitting a faint light gradually revealed itself.

‘Damn it, what’s happening again?’

One mountain after another, but this was too much.

Dohyun gritted his teeth at the renewed chaos, even after he had managed to subdue him.

The warning bells rang in his head, and his brain worked non-stop.

Judging from the situation, it seemed like molting, but what if he became even stronger and a third battle broke out?

He ran countless simulations of what would be the best course of action, but the answer was always the same.

‘……Let’s run away.’

This was a strategic retreat.

To charge in here, talking about high risk, high return, would be stubborn and suicidal.

Dohyun liked high returns, but he wasn’t foolish enough to fight a hopeless battle.

“Everyone, run……!”

It was then, as Dohyun shouted without looking back.

[The Unfortunate Hero is liberated from his decayed body.]

[The true name of the Unfortunate Hero is revealed.]

[The brilliant Unfortunate Hero, ‘Astra Lavencia,’ awakens.]

“……Huh?”

……Astra?

The familiar name made Dohyun pause, and his gaze instinctively turned to the arrow, which was like a spear, in his hand.

And the moment he followed that instinct, Dohyun’s eyes widened.

He realized the name of this arrow.

“……Astra’s Arrow?”

Come to think of it, that hero was also wielding a rather unique spear.

And the shape of that spear was very similar to the giant spear Dohyun had thrown a little while ago.

Above all, the true name, Astra Lavencia.

This couldn’t be a coincidence.

Which meant…….

‘……That guy is the owner of this arrow?’

Somehow, Dohyun had given the owner a proper blow with his own weapon.

-Wow, I’d be angry too if I were the owner, Master?

-Lizaliza…….

-Hmm.

“……Be quiet, you.”

Perhaps it was thanks to the amazing experience he had given him that even Charlie couldn’t deny it.

Astra, moved(?) by the experience of receiving such a thing even in death, turned his head sharply and stared at Dohyun.

Not the lifeless eyes of before, but a firm and intense gaze.

Dohyun flinched at that moment.

[Human……. Where did you get that…….]

Astra’s rough mouth opened, and a heavy voice leaked out.

His gaze was fixed on Dohyun’s hand.

Dohyun’s expression became troubled.

‘……What do I say to explain this?’

Judging from his reaction, he didn’t even know his weapon had been taken, so he wondered how he should explain it to make him understand.

Perhaps it would be wiser to prepare to run away rather than explain.

It was around the time he was thinking that when Astra continued to speak.

And it was an unexpected remark that exceeded Dohyun’s expectations.

[Elinel…….]

“……?”

[Why does a human have her bracelet?]

“?”

Only then did Dohyun realize.

Astra’s gaze was not on the hand holding the arrow, but on the wrist below it.

He was looking at Elinel’s bracelet.

The moment he realized that.

[Kuh…… Kuh-heuk……. Elinel. I couldn’t protect you…… I have to keep my promise……. Kuaaaaaak!]

Suddenly, he grabbed his head as if he had a painful memory, and then he screamed as if in despair.

‘What suddenly…….’

It was then that a message appeared above Dohyun, who was dumbfounded by the incomprehensible situation.

[You have learned the identity of the Unfortunate Hero.]

[You encounter the hidden event NPC [Non-Player Character], ‘Astra Lavencia.’]

[It is recorded in the Book of Adventures.]

[You have succeeded in subduing the Unfortunate Hero, fulfilling a hidden condition.]

[A hidden event quest is generated.]

…….

“……What?”

Hidden event NPC, hidden condition, hidden event.

Dohyun’s mind reeled from the messages that kept popping up, but the messages gave him no rest.

[The brilliant Unfortunate Hero ‘Astra Lavencia’ reacts to ‘Elinel’s Bracelet.’]

[Hear the story of ‘Elinel’s Bracelet’ from Astra Lavencia.]

[You may be able to hear about ‘Clues to the Missing Girl.’]

‘Jackpot.’

Even in the chaotic situation, Dohyun’s eyes sparkled at the word clue.

Judging from the combination of messages, Astra seemed to be a hidden NPC related to the missing girl and Elinel.

The scene he saw when he broke Rupalo’s horn also suggested that.

Judging from the situation, that woman named Elinel seemed to be a key figure…….

‘I was curious, so this is good.’

An opportunity to learn about her had come, so how could he not be interested?

Above all, he was also concerned about how that hero’s arrow ended up in the hands of the intruder in the secret dungeon of the mainland.

He had been terrified that a third battle would break out.

What he thought was a crisis was actually an opportunity, so Dohyun, who had been seriously considering a strategic retreat, couldn’t help but be pleased.

[Ah…… I remember now.]

Perhaps trying to live up to that expectation.

Astra, who had taken his hand off his head, slowly continued to speak to Dohyun as if he finally understood.

[Yes…. So you are the man that she chose. I didn’t expect it to be a human, but if it is your choice, there must be a reason…….]

“…….”

Then, he looked down at his body with a pitiful face.

[……I see. I ended up dying and becoming a walking corpse. That means we lost.]

What was he talking about?

He couldn’t understand what he was saying, but Dohyun waited patiently.

His actions made him look like a frozen man who had just woken up and was trying to figure out the situation.

Fortunately, the wait was not long.

[……Human who awakened me. What is your name?]

Astra, who had quickly grasped the situation, asked Dohyun.

Dohyun also met his eyes and answered.

“Kaiser.”

[I see…… From having my arrow to her bracelet. There are many things I want to ask, but it is right to ask this first.]

Astra’s expression suddenly darkened as he said that.

His eyes were so cold that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had shown pity and bitterness just a moment ago.

[What do you think of elves?]

“……?”

Dohyun frowned when he unexpectedly asked for a murder request, and Astra shook his head.

[No, that was a childish question. I will correct the question.]

“…….”

[Are you on the side of the elves, or on the side of the dark elves?]

“What is that…….”

[I am asking. Are you the benefactor who was chosen by her to save our clan…….]

Astra, who trailed off for a moment, looked straight at Dohyun with a face that had sunk heavily.

With sharp and eerie eyes that seemed to pierce through his inner self, he finished his words.

[Or are you on the side of the damned elves who betrayed her and framed us?]

And at the same time, Dohyun’s eyes widened at the message that appeared.

He couldn’t help but do so.

[Hidden Event ‘Two Paths’ has occurred.]

[A branching point has occurred.]

[Decide whether to side with the dark elves or the elves.]

[The main quest that will proceed may change depending on your choice.]

‘……Crazy.’

It was truly a big event that had occurred.