Ranker's Return

Chapter 690

“Isn’t he a demon king, Galiya? He is so famous. Why spend so long finding him…?”

Hyeonu cocked his head at Callioraks’ action of pointing at Galiya. It wasn’t that he was talking stupidly. Callioraks’ words were just so ridiculous. Galiya was one of the most famous existences in the demon world. There were no demons who didn’t know him.

“Um… Can’t you see it? He isn’t the demon king that you know. To be exact, the place where his soul left is occupied by some guy.”

“What does that mean…? Are you saying that Galiya is already dead?”

“If the original owner of that body is Galiya… he died. The soul in that body is a different one. He is the one I have been looking for.”

Callioraks’ eyes glowed purple. At the same time, Galiya’s body popped out like lightning. However, an explosion occurred in Galiya’s body.

"Kuaack!” Galiya screamed and rolled around on the ground.

“Don’t waste your energy and stay still obediently if you don’t want to die.”

Callioraks glanced at Galiya, who was crawling on the ground.

“That is why I’m grateful to you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to come as soon as he appeared here. I will now keep the promise I made in the past.”

The moment that Callioraks’s words ended, a quest message window popped up in front of Hyeonu.

[Find what Callioraks is looking for 1/1]

[Callioraks’ Long Cherished Desire has been cleared.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[Callioraks’ gift has been acquired.]

‘It is cleared like this.’

Hyeonu was flustered by the quest that cleared at an unexpected time. It was natural since he didn’t make any effort or pay attention to clearing the quest.

“Honestly, I am embarrassed. I didn’t make any effort to fulfill your quest. It turned out like this…”

“Why be embarrassed? It doesn’t matter if you intended it or not. The important thing to me is that you found what I was looking for.”

“I’m glad, but…”

“If you want something, then say it. I will listen to one request, as long as it is possible.”

Hyeonu shut his mouth and thought about it. What should he get?

‘What can Callioraks give me?’

There was no time to worry leisurely. The emergence of Callioraks stopped the emperor and Baler but he didn’t know when they would explode.

‘An item?’

An item from Callioraks would definitely be a good item. There was a high probability of receiving an epic item. Even if it wasn’t an epic item, he would still be able to get a unique item.

‘But… not really.’

Items weren’t all that attractive to Hyeonu. The ones Hyeonu was wearing now were enough. He didn’t feel that anything was lacking.

‘Skills or essence…’

Now there were two things left. A skill book that could give a continuous skill or a type of buff, or an essence that could raise his stats. He had to pick one of them.

‘It is a gamble with a high probability.’

Hyeonu’s choice was the essence. It was a low probability, but eating an essence could generate skills or stats. He could try and kill two birds with one stone.

‘It is actually a huge gain even if only my stats increase.’

He didn’t know what type of skill Callioraks would give him. It could be good or bad. It could be what Hyeonu needed, or it could be something he didn’t need. Meanwhile, essences were different. The stats would rise unconditionally. There was even a low chance that stats and skills would be created. It just depended on how much the stats rose.

That was the problem.

“Can you give me an essence, like back then?” Hyeonu spoke carefully.

“An essence… it is a wise choice.”

Callioraks looked happy at Hyeonu’s choice. Then he reached out to Galiya who had collapsed on the ground.

“Kuaaack!” Galiya let out a scream. At the same time, something started to be pulled from Galiya’s body.

“I’ll take it first.”

A faint gray-white gas was sucked into Callioraks. Next, a scene that made everyone present feel doubt took place. Galiya’s body was compressed into a black bead and it flew leisurely into Callioraks’ hands.

“The heart of a demon king. Are you satisfied? This is all I can give you because I don’t have anything,” Callioraks said while extending the black bead to Hyeonu.

“I’m happy with this, Callioraks.” Hyeonu carefully grabbed the bead that Callioraks held out. He didn’t immediately check the information of the bead.

‘I’m going to look at it when I’m alone.’

It would definitely be obvious if he checked the information on the livestream. It wasn’t with his face, but with his body. The eyes of more than 10 million people couldn’t be avoided.

‘I have to show it if they run over.’

Hyeonu was a streamer. Unlike other streamers, he acted casually toward the viewers, but he still couldn’t ignore their will.

“Ah… Finally, I will give you one more gift.”

Callioraks approached Hyeonu and moved his mouth. His words weren’t made with sound, but by conveying it through a loud noise in Hyeonu’s head. It was so that no one other than Hyeonu could hear him.

“I’ve finished my business so I’ll be going.”

Then he waved to Hyeonu and disappeared as naturally as when he appeared.

-What is going on?

-Did time stop just now?

-I thought only two people were moving in the world.

-Is that important?The demon king melted in an instant.

-He just beckoned and the demon king turned into a bead.

Viewers started chatting only when Callioraks disappeared. The chat room, which had been lost, became lively.

“That guy… what is his identity?”

Baler forgot he was arguing with the emperor and approached Hyeonu. He was in shock like he had been hit on the head with a hammer. The emperor also remained silent. He was also curious about Callioraks’ identity.

“His name is Callioraks,” Hyeonu started to talk in a leisurely manner. It was to calm the overheated atmosphere as much as possible. That way, the emperor and Baler wouldn’t fight.

“I know that. I heard it.”

Baler’s attention shifted from the emperor as Hyeonu intended. Such attention was turned directly to Callioraks.

“I was moving around the demon world and happened to meet Callioraks by chance. It was a really great opportunity.”

Hyeonu knew this information and deliberately dragged things out. That way, the emperor and Baler would focus more on Hyeonu’s words.

“So, what the hell is he?” Baler couldn’t bear Hyeonu’s long explanation and shouted. Baler’s heart represented everyone’s heart. The emperor and other players. Even the viewers. Everyone agreed with Baler.

“Demon…”

“A demon?”

“…Not. A human…”

“A human?”

“…He also isn’t one.”

“Are you joking right now?!” Baler exploded.

It seemed like he would grab Hyeonu’s collar at any moment.

‘It is up to here.’

Hyeonu couldn’t drag things out any longer. If he increased the time, he would be beaten up not just by Baler, but also by the others. The pressure he could feel was scary.

“Callioraks’ species is a dragon. The only dragon in the demon world.”

At the end of Hyeonu’s words, the area fell silent. This silence lasted for a long time.

“A dragon… I can’t believe a lizard is so strong…”

The emperor was the one to speak first. He couldn’t believe that Callioraks was a dragon.

“Your Majesty, Callioraks isn’t an ordinary dragon, but a dragon of the demon world. I can’t even guess how long he has been alive.”

It was Baler who responded to Hyeonu’s words.

“I have never heard about the existence of such a monster. I didn’t even hear any rumors. This is even though I have lived for hundreds of years.”

Baler looked similar to the emperor. There was a disbelieving expression on his face.

‘It is understandable. The demon world is so small…’

Baler was the strongest demon in the demon world. Thus, he was called the number one demon king and was restrained by the other six demon kings. In such circumstances, the emergence of Callioraks collapsed the world he knew.

‘I have to stop Baler and the emperor from fighting right now.’

Hyeonu continued to think while the emperor and Baler were silent. How could he overcome today’s crisis?

‘I need to get rid of this place…’

Hyeonu’s mind spun faster than ever. No matter whether it was Baler who disappeared or the emperor who disappeared, one of them had to leave.

‘The emperor can’t move so Baler must disappear.’

The emperor would never move. No, there was nowhere for him to move. He had to stay with the players.

‘Okay, I can relate it to the main scenario.’

A small plan was made in Hyeonu’s head. The moment the plan was completed, he once again opened his mouth.

“Why are you making that expression?”

Hyeonu asked as if he knew nothing about Baler’s heart, even though he was well aware of it. Baler didn’t respond to Hyeonu’s words. He was recalling the intense impression that Callioraks had made.

“Are you worried that there is a new predator in your world?” Hyeonu smiled and continued speaking to Baler.

"What?"

Baler reacted. He looked at Hyeonu with a slightly angry expression.

“Baler, I want to make a new offer to you right now.”

Hyeonu continued to speak without being shaken by Baler’s anger.

“How about being the only demon king in the demon world?”

Hyeonu knew he had hurt Baler’s pride and he now started to scratch at the itchy part.

“What does that mean?”

Baler calmed his anger and was intrigued by Hyeonu’s words. It was bound to be so. The only demon king in the demon world. It meant dominating the demon world.

“I will kill the other demon kings. You just need to lead them to the battlefield. Then I will take care of the rest. Additionally… if there are any subordinate demons who can become demon kings, I will arrange it for them.”

Hyeonu made a very attractive offer that Baler couldn’t refuse. Hyeonu was able to speak with such confidence because he knew better than anyone why the emperor invaded the demon world. The purpose of the emperor was to fight the demon kings. It had nothing to do with taking over the demon world.

“Still… I can’t keep giving away cities,” Baler spoke with a slightly more relaxed expression.

“Of course. Once we’ve killed all the demon kings, we will stop the war. We will attack the cities in moderation.”

Hyeonu continued to throw bait at Baler. It was bait that couldn’t be rejected.

“I understand. I will back down today. Sooner or later, the demon kings will appear. Be prepared.”

Baler stared at the emperor before disappearing again on the giant tortoise, Teramas.

“Marquis… what is this?”

The moment that Hyeonu sighed with relief at Baler leaving, the voice of the other party involved in the incident was heard. As Hyeonu turned to look at the emperor, he found that the emperor was showing an unknown smile.