The Return Of The Genius Ranker Of All Times [EN]: Chapter 96

96.

Dohyun, momentarily stunned by the unexpected situation, let out a hollow laugh.

“Huh.”

He was burning with vengeance against the gods and exuding an aura of solitude, but he was also interacting with the outside world?

He doesn’t look like an ‘insa’ [a Korean slang term for an ‘insider’ or someone who is socially adept] at all…….

It was absurd, but it wasn’t that strange when he thought about it.

Either way, he needed to know what was going on in the world, and NPCs were technically residents here, so they might have urgent business.

In severe cases, certain NPCs would even leave their posts for two days, so this was nothing.

‘Let’s just go to Gildehty first.’

It seemed like he had to clear this one first.

Waiting idly for an hour was a waste of time.

After walking for another 15 minutes or so, they arrived at the Lair Grand Temple, and a guard who recognized Dohyun’s party rushed over.

“You’ve arrived. Please, come in quickly.”

At those words, Dohyun glanced around, and the guard added, “Ah, I was ordered to let Dohyun in first if he arrived. You don’t have to worry about the line.”

“Understood.”

It was a kind of special treatment given only to those completing quests.

There was no need to stand in line when he was told not to, so Dohyun accepted without hesitation.

He felt a stinging gaze on his back, but he tried to ignore it as much as possible.

‘I guess so.’

The line he saw at a glance was dizzying.

Today was the weekend, so the Grand Temple was even more crowded.

From their perspective, how annoying would it be to see Dohyun entering as if he had a theme park free pass?

But when he glanced at them, their reactions were very different from what he expected.

“He’s going to meet the High Priest, right?”

“That’s the one Kaiser is doing now……. I wonder what kind of quest it is?”

“Will he upload a video? I hope he does.”

Most of them had eyes full of anticipation rather than envy or jealousy.

It wasn’t that there were no negative gazes, but there were more reactions like that.

‘Is this also the influence of NewTube [a fictional video-sharing platform in the story]?’

He was openly advertising that he was clearing a special quest, but instead of showing greed, they were looking forward to the results.

Dohyun felt a sense of relief at the reactions, which were so different from the path he had taken.

As he entered amidst everyone’s expectations, a priest greeted him this time.

“This way, please.”

“Yes.”

-Ahem.

Jihad cleared his throat and shrugged, clearly pleased with the different treatment from last time.

Dohyun poked his side to warn him, but he couldn’t do anything about the strangely smug expression on his face.

After walking for several minutes with such treatment.

“Please, go in. Everyone is inside.”

As expected of the disgustingly large Grand Temple, they walked for a long time and arrived at the door, where the priest bowed and stepped back.

‘It’s a different room from last time.’

The size of the door alone made him feel grandeur.

Last time, it felt like the High Priest’s office, but this time, it felt more like an auditorium than a room.

As he stepped inside, an interior even larger than expected greeted Dohyun.

It was no lie that it was about the size of a school playground.

Seats filled all sides like a baseball stadium, and a round table and a huge statue of a god were placed in the center.

‘Wow…….’

When he was admiring the overwhelming majesty, Gildehty, who looked somewhat tired, greeted Dohyun.

“You’ve come at a good time. You’ve finished the investigation? We’re still in a meeting, but…… it’s better this way. Come inside.”

“……You’ve come.”

“Hmm. You’ve already finished the investigation? That was faster than I thought.”

And next to Gildehty were the handsome squad leader and vice squad leader he had seen before.

So far, it was the same members as before, but today wasn’t the end of it.

“Oh ho…… that person is the esteemed guest.”

“As I’ve heard, he’s a stranger……. Can we really trust him?”

“They are the apostles of God, so please show some respect.”

“Hmph, aren’t they just apostles in name only? There are so many useless ones…….”

“Don’t be too harsh. We don’t know much about the Abyss either. It’s no wonder we’re suspicious that a stranger knows about it and has even taken on the important task of investigation.”

Behind them, numerous priests were sitting in the seats spread out on all sides.

Even at a glance, there were more than two digits.

It wasn’t a good feeling to have over a hundred priests surrounding him and looking down at him as if he were a strange animal.

‘……Master, I’m a little uncomfortable.’

‘Lizariza…….’

Even Jihad, who liked attention, was showing discomfort.

Dohyun, who put Eliza, who had poked her head out, into his pocket, slowly walked along Gildehty’s guidance and glanced around.

‘There are so many. They don’t seem like ordinary priests.’

Among them, those sitting in the front row were particularly noticeable.

The way they were dressed was clearly different from the priests he had seen in the hallway.

They seemed to exude a different kind of force or atmosphere.

The gazes of those old men did not show any signs of leaving until Dohyun came to sit at the round table in the center.

One gaze was particularly persistent.

‘What?’

So much so that only that side was bothering him among so many people.

Dohyun frowned slightly and turned around.

“Huh?”

Dohyun’s eyebrows straightened.

No, they went up so high that they became round and dazed.

He couldn’t help it.

‘……Gamillion?’

‘Greetings, Successor.’

The priest sitting proudly alone in the worn-out divine robe was none other than ‘Gamillion Adran.’

Gamillion slightly raised the corners of his mouth and bowed his head slightly as his eyes met.

That action was confirming that it was not a misunderstanding.

‘No, why is hyung [Korean term for older brother or a respected male figure] there?’

He said he had urgent business, so why was he showing up here?

Was this a coincidence?

He was supposed to be back in an hour, so it didn’t seem like he was chasing Dohyun…….

While confused by the unexpected situation, he sat down according to the guidance, and Gildehty, who was sitting opposite him, said cautiously.

“These are the elders and the High Priests. They are the most devout among the high-ranking priests.”

“……Then is that person also a high-ranking priest?”

“That person…… Ah, you’re talking about that person.”

Gildehty, who glanced sideways, smiled kindly and shook his head.

“That person is High Priest Herti. In addition to the priests belonging to us, we have invited the High Priests and elders of nearby denominations, and they have all gladly accepted.”

“……High Priest Herti.”

“Yes. We ask for your understanding that we cannot reveal the denomination due to implicit doctrine.”

“No, it doesn’t matter.”

Because that person is our cult leader who wants to smash the gods.

Dohyun, who couldn’t bring himself to say those words, grabbed his dizzy forehead.

Gamillion, who glanced sideways, was grinning as if he was enjoying something. At the same time, Gamillion slightly moved his raised lips and whispered something.

‘I’ll see you after the meeting.’

‘……Let’s do that.’

If he was working while hiding even his name, it meant he was determined to interact.

What he was curious about could be asked after the meeting.

‘It’s better this way.’

He wouldn’t have to go back and forth, and he could clear two quests in one place.

Dohyun, who decided to think positively, focused on the current situation.

‘The front row is said to be the elders…… There are more than ten belonging to Lair.’

Then they have at least 30 high-ranking priests.

Considering that 6-10 high-ranking priests are common in other places, it was an enormous number. In addition, there was the Lair Holy Knight Order, which was the maximum force…….

It was hard to believe that it was just the power of one temple.

‘It’s no wonder people say that the Lair Grand Temple is connected to the Empire.’

Usually, NPCs get stronger as they go to the upper cities.

As the users’ levels rise, it is natural for strong NPCs to live there who can control them.

But there were often NPCs who broke that mold…….

In Raven, it was the alchemist Calde, and in Brion, it was the Lair Grand Temple.

Due to their characteristics of serving God, they only lived in Brion, the most developed holy city, but it was the general opinion that their power should be in the Empire.

‘Seeing it like this, I can feel it again.’

He had felt it vaguely when he saw Vice Squad Leader Taxinel and that unlucky knight last time, but today it felt even more real.

The force felt from Taxinel, who was equipped with weapons, was different from before.

He didn’t even know if he could win.

Even compared to Zerdic, who had the same red name tag, he was on a different level of strength.

At this point, he was curious about how strong the squad leader, Levedad, would be.

“As it is a very important matter, we have summoned all those who need to know. It would have been nice if Lord Levedad had come too…… but he is out on a mission leading the Holy Knight Order.”

“……That’s a shame.”

He was serious.

He had missed the opportunity to actually see Levedad, who was always at the top of the NPC combat power rankings.

“He always carries a lot of burdens. So, we plan to handle this matter within our capabilities.”

“I see.”

If Levedad comes, it will be too unbalanced, so he will naturally be left out.

That’s how Dohyun heard it.

It was common in these RPG games for strong NPCs not to participate for some reason in order to balance the game.

Anyway, that’s all for the introduction.

“What were the results of the investigation?”

As Gildehty got to the point, the loud noise stopped.

It was a silent urging. A silent urging to answer quickly.

Everyone waited for Dohyun’s mouth to open for several seconds.

Dohyun slowly shook his head.

“There was nothing. Not even from the Orc Warrior of Death.”

“What do you mean……!”

“How can there be nothing!”

Then, as if waiting for it, the commotion grew louder.

“Are you sure you investigated properly! Stranger!”

“The traces of the Abyss can never be disguised or created. There were traces, but there’s nothing!?”

“High Priest of the Lair, if you’re okay with it, I’ll form a team right away and search!”

Some of them doubted Dohyun’s abilities.

The reactions were different, but what was certain was that everyone’s reactions were intense.

The noise was so loud that his ears hurt.

It was a part where he could see how much the existence of the Abyss meant to them.

At this rate, there was no way a proper conversation could take place.

Swoosh.

At that moment, Gildehty raised his hand.

Then, those who had been jumping up and down shut their mouths as if by magic. There were no exceptions, including the elders and the High Priests of other denominations.

‘Is this the position of the Lair High Priest?’

Gildehty, who looked like just a kind grandfather, was showing how absolute his position was here.

As expected, the High Priest is the High Priest.

Gildehty, who had lightly mediated the commotion, had a more serious look than ever before.

“……Are you sure?”

A clear gaze that could never tolerate lies.

It was a heavy force that ordinary people would not be able to open their mouths easily due to the pressure.

Dohyun fully accepted that force and answered clearly.

“Yes. I’m sure.”

“……I see.”

Then Gildehty closed his eyes.

The force from before was not visible in him as he sighed. But he felt a deeper and more intense emotion than that.

The emotion that only Dohyun, who was facing him directly, could feel.

It was coldness.

‘Suddenly?’

The moment he flinched at the too different atmosphere, Gildehty, who had been bowing his head, raised his hand again.

Ting-.

It was then that the quest window popped up with a cheerful notification.

And Dohyun was embarrassed.

[You have cleared the quest ‘Finding the Traces of the Abyss.’]

[As a reward, you will acquire Gildehty’s favorability, a mid-level skill draw ticket, and a lot of experience.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have met the hidden condition ‘Time Limit.’ The linked quest changes to a forced linked quest.]

[The forced linked quest ‘Rat in a Trap’ is in progress.]

[Caution! You may lose your life while the forced linked quest is in progress.]

[If you die, the quest will fail.]

‘I met the hidden condition?’

It was because an unexpected notification had popped up.

It seemed that clearing it before this meeting was the condition for the hidden piece.

Gamillion was supposed to return in an hour, so he wouldn’t have gotten it if he had logged in a little later.

Thinking about it that way, it was creepy.

As expected, there is a reason why the saying that the early bird gets the worm exists.

He had overcome his morning sleep and logged in, so he had obtained the hidden piece.

‘……Forced linked quest? Caution?’

But this hidden piece was a kind that Dohyun was also puzzled by.

‘What is all this? There wasn’t anything like this in Dem Locke [previous game the character played]…….’

Is this a newly introduced system in God of War?

He didn’t know what was going on, but what was clear was that something unusual was about to happen now.

At that time, when he was sharpening his mind in a situation he was experiencing for the first time.

Click.

As expected, a change occurred.