Ranker's Return

Chapter 652

Translator: rainbowturtle

“Tang-E, do you have a method?” Hyeonu muttered with a tearful expression.

“There isn’t anything like that, Master dude. You just have to go straight out.” Tang-E looked at Hyeonu and shook his head.

“I’m annoyed.” Hyeonu slashed the Mysterious Sky Sword through the air.

Hundreds of pure energies filled the air and split apart the bodies of the white-skinned demonic creatures blocking Hyeonu’s way. The blood of the demonic creatures dyed the white land red.

“When can we go out, Tang-E?” Hyeonu screamed into the air without even thinking about picking up the items that had fallen to the ground.

***

In order to explain why Hyeonu was screaming… time had to be reversed by around three days to get to the beginning of all this.

After the awakening of the magic spirit—no, Gom-E, Hyeonu returned to Etono. It was because he had gone around all three cities that he had originally planned to go—Tendmul, Ataki, and Alfore. The remaining cities were far from Ataki. It was safe to say they were in the opposite direction.

Thus, he went back to Etono. The problem happened on the way back. Hyeonu would’ve used the lord’s unique authority to return if he were alone, but he had Reina with him. Naturally, he had no choice but to move on the rhino’s back, just like when he came.

In the process, something happened that he didn’t know whether to call lucky or unlucky. They coincidentally found an instance dungeon. At first, Hyeonu and Reina were very happy as instance dungeons weren’t easy to spot. There would also be some huge rewards in store for them. It was common sense that there was a high probability of the boss monster dropping good items the first time an instance dungeon was cleared.

The issue was after entering it. The interior of the dungeon was vast and didn’t fit the name of ‘Hideout of the Revengeful Spirits’. It wasn’t an enclosed space. It was just land or a plains area. There, monsters popped out endlessly. It wasn’t a lot at one time. They emerged at a similar rate to what would normally be found when wandering around a field.

However, the boss monster couldn’t be seen. The field was so wide that they couldn’t even say they were looking for it. In the meantime, Hyeonu and Reina spent three days helplessly wandering around it.

“I have to finish the main scenario quickly…” Hyeonu sighed.

It was good that his experience and skill proficiencies were increasing. Nevertheless, time was currently more important. It was the right decision to prioritize the main scenario rather than one instance dungeon.

‘Still, it is a waste to leave it behind…’

The problem occurred here. His heart didn’t allow him to leave the instance dungeon. It would be a regrettable waste when compared to the main scenario, but even just considering the instance dungeon alone, it was hard to give it up. This was why they spent three days here.

“Reina, how long does it usually take for the New York Warriors to go around an instance dungeon?”

“We usually aim for a week or so… In the case of new instance dungeons, I think it is up to a month.”

The New York Warriors explored instance dungeons meticulously. In particular, if they were going around a new instance dungeon without any information, they would search through everything thoroughly. They would collect accurate information to hang around their neck. This allowed them to sell information to other teams or to use it for the next hunt. It was because clear forms of information were more accurate than relying on memory.

“One month? That is too long…”

No matter how long Hyeonu hunted in an instance dungeon, he had never exceeded one week. Before that time, he would have killed the boss monster and exited the instance dungeon.

“Hyeonu is strong… Unlike Hyeonu, we don’t have the purpose to just clear it.”

Hyeonu nodded at Reina’s words. He could understand that. Hyeonu had also heard about how other guilds handled instance dungeons.

‘It isn’t bad to invest a month to form a complete strategy.’

However, Hyeonu didn’t have to do this, so he never did so.

‘Let’s guess along with the others this time.’

Hyeonu abandoned his worry. Teams like the New York Warriors also took a week to go around an instance dungeon. There were still four days left until a week passed.

‘If it doesn’t work, I will turn on the stream.’

He was willing to stream it if it was going to take a long time. Hyeonu had a slight reluctance to show where and what he was doing, but it was better than just wasting time.

‘There isn’t much content anyway…’

Alley Leader Academy had already aired once this week. Now, he had no fixed content. So he could do anything.

‘Since there’s Reina, there won’t be a need for much content.’

Hyeonu was thinking of introducing Reina on the stream. The viewers’ attention would then naturally be directed at Reina. Interest would be dispersed, and Hyeonu could proceed comfortably with the stream.

‘I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped.’

“I also have to eat and live,” Hyeonu murmured in a small voice.

“Huh? What did you say?” Reina’s eyes widened, and she asked about it in a confused manner when she heard Hyeonu talking to himself.

“Let's do it step by step. There is no need to rush. It will be more troublesome if something goes wrong,” Hyeonu said like he hadn’t said anything.

Reina just nodded at Hyeonu’s words. In the first place, she hadn’t heard him properly, so she had to believe in what he said.

“Let’s do that. It is okay to slow down. There is still plenty of time, Hyeonu,” Reina comforted Hyeonu.

It was the first time she had seen Hyeonu expressing signs of worry. Normally, Hyeonu always moved freely.

‘Well, it isn’t bad,’ Reina thought.

There was a gap in Hyeonu, who seemed perfect. It felt good to know this. She thought she had found a gap to dig into.

A light smile appeared on Reina’s face.

***

[Attacking an instance dungeon with a guest (feat. the demon world).]

Hyeonu started the stream with this short topic. Reina’s permission was obtained from the beginning.

‘She agreed readily.’

Reina had nodded as soon as she heard that Hyeonu wanted to stream the instance dungeon.

‘This time, I will hide Gom-E.’

Hyeonu would absolutely keep it a secret that Gom-E could speak. This alone was enough for one stream.

‘There are a lot of messages asking me to summon the magic spirit…’

Even now when he turned the stream on, around 1/10th of the messages were asking him to summon the magic spirit. Tang-E was always wandering around at will, so he was caught in the eye of the viewers. Meanwhile, the magic spirit was never summoned unless he was hunting.

Hyeonu rarely hunted on his streams, so viewers rarely saw the magic spirit. The magic spirit had a different charm from Tang-E. Unlike Tang-E who pretended to be innocent, the magic spirit’s previous blank expression was his charm. He always looked lost when Hyeonu called him. There weren’t just one or two viewers fascinated with this innocence.

“Reina, please hide over there for a while. You can come out when I call your name in a minute or so,” Hyeonu said while pointing to a nearby tree. The tree was thick enough that three or four adult males could hide behind it.

“I understand.” Reina waved to Hyeonu and moved toward the tree.

Hyeonu only started the stream after confirming that Reina was completely hidden.

-It is starting now.

-The lights are on.

-Everyone, come back.

-It started in three minutes today.It is one minute shorter than usual.

The viewers noticed that the streaming had begun in earnest when the black screen disappeared and Hyeonu’s appearance was visible.

“Today, I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who came to watch Alley Leader’s streaming. I will start the streaming now.”

Hyeonu bowed deeply to the viewers with his waist folded at a 90-degree angle. This was what he always did at the start of the stream. It was a ritual of some kind for him, where he expressed his gratitude for the viewers’ presence.

-So who is the guest?

-If it is Sijong hyung, he should leave the stream.

-Junggu hyung should also leave.

-Mason shouldn’t leave.

-Goddess Yuri shouldn’t leave.

-Goddess Reina shouldn’t leave.

The viewers were busy guessing today’s guest as written in the streaming title and ignored Hyeonu’s greeting. Some people were preferred as guests, while others weren’t. The names that were usually mentioned didn’t receive much cheering. Nonetheless, some people received the support of the viewers. Those who were supported had one thing in common. They didn’t appear much on Hyeonu’s stream.

“Today’s guest…” Hyeonu started to drag it out in the midst of the expectations of the viewers. It was an intentional action.

-Hey, hurry up and reveal it.

-I’m dizzy.

-Leader Big Fan has gifted you 82 gold coins.

-Hooray Goddess has gifted you 82 gold coins.

With the use of gold coins and the chat, the viewers demanded that Hyeonu proceed quickly.

“It is…”

It was only then that Hyeonu announced the guest with a reluctant expression.

“It is Tang-E!”

The moment Hyeonu’s words were over, Tang-E jumped out from behind Hyeonu’s back. He turned three laps in the air and lightly landed in Hyeonu’s arms.

“Tang-E has come.” Tang-E let out an excited laugh.

-Uhh…Tang-E is good.

-Tang-E is too cute.

-If the guest is Tang-E…

-It is good.

At first, viewers wanted to say something about Tang-E. Then they couldn’t endure Tang-E’s continued laughter attack and welcomed him.

“However, this isn’t the end. There are two guests today. There is still one remaining.”

-Ohh?

-One more person?

-It isn’t just Tang-E?

The eyes of the viewers lit up at Hyeonu’s words. There was still a guest remaining.

“Please come out. Today’s special guest.” Hyeonu raised his head and turned his head to look behind him. Someone walked out from an area that wasn’t visible to viewers. It was the appearance of Reina, the beauty in blue-white armor.

“Hello, I am Reina from the New York Warriors.”

-Ohhhhh!

-The guest is Reina!!!

-What is the relationship between the two of them that she would appear as a guest?

-They are going around an instance dungeon together?

The viewers were excited by Reina’s emergence, but Hyeonu didn’t give them time to be excited. He cut off their interest from the beginning. Hyeonu had told Reina about this in advance.

‘Something big will happen if I pay attention to them.’

“So let’s start with attacking the instance dungeon, today’s content, with the guest.” Hyeonu ignored the viewers’ comments and focused on what he had to do.

-No, so what is between the two of them?

-Please clarify quickly.

-At least explain it.

-Don’t just say what you want to say.Excuse me?Aren’t you going to communicate with us?

-Communicate with us.This is a stream, right?You haven’t turned off the chat window, right?

The messages of the viewers were visible but invisible to Hyeonu.