Ranker's Return

Chapter 741

Hyeonu stepped back and Reina’s body was destroyed. Reina’s abdomen had a hole that was around the size of a child’s head.

[Player ‘Gang Hyeonu’ has won.]

The ranking battle was over. It was impossible to continue the battle with a hole in the abdomen. Of course, it was possible if there was a priest or health recovery potions. However, there were no priests or potions in a ranking battle.

-No, how can she die from being hit by a shoulder?

-Is this a game? A game?

-Reina is wearing armor. How was the armor pierced?

-Yes, I would understand it more if she was hit by a fist.

As Hyeonu returned to the arena, viewers started commenting on the incredible sight they witnessed. To be honest, they couldn’t understand it. In the eyes of the viewers, Hyeonu hit Reina with his shoulder and it ended with Reina coughing up blood. They didn’t think it was an attack worthy of defeating Reina.

“Ah, this attack looks simple, but it is a very difficult technique. It is putting magic power into my shoulders and then directing it at the opponent.”

Hyeonu saw the chat and re-enacted his final scene with Reina. He bent down and thrust his shoulder forward. Then they saw what Reina had previously blocked. Purple magic power gathered on Hyeonu’s shoulders. The moment Hyeonu stuck his shoulders out, it burst out with a popping sound.

-That part happened in that brief moment?

-After all, he is Alley Leader.

-Still, if it is this, it is worth dying in one blow.

-Don’t all the grandmasters die in one or two blows anyway? They will lose unconditionally when hit once.

The viewers watching Hyeonu’s demonstration could see why Reina had fallen so helplessly. It was natural to fall down immediately when directly struck by that.

“Everyone, hold on. Please wait a moment.”

Hyeonu waved to the viewers to ask for their understanding. Then he immediately turned off the sound being sent to viewers. This state only lasted a really short time. Hyeonu quickly turned the sound back on.

-Who did he send a whisper to?

-If it will be revealed soon, just say it with your own mouth.

-What type of streaming is so secretive?

-Will his mouth grow thorns if he doesn’t press the mute button once a day? The sound seems to be turned off every day.

Viewers reacted harshly to Hyeonu’s actions. Some even said that there was no communication at all. However, Hyeonu ignored the words of such viewers.

“Please wait a moment. You will soon find out.”

Rather, he smiled. Viewers were even angrier at Hyeonu’s appearance.

-Ah, I’m curious.

-Why not tell us?

-We will find out soon. Endure it a bit more.

-He said to wait a moment. Just wait.

Someone walked out behind Hyeonu as the viewers were complaining.

-Uh???

-Reina? Why is Reina here?

-He turned off the sound to call Reina?

-What are you doing? Everyone isn’t chatting. Alley Leader brought out Reina for us.

-Kyah, is this Alley Leader’s class?

The viewers’ attitudes changed in an instant. They praised him for casting Reina on the spot, as if the criticism never happened.

“Hello to all the viewers of Alley Leader’s livestream. I am Reina from the New York Warriors.” Reina waved and greeted Hyeonu’s viewers.

“The reason I brought Reina here is to keep the promise I made before the ranking battle.”

-Promise?

-What did he promise Reina?

-It isn’t Reina. I think it is that? He will give the promotion permits.

-Didn’t he say they had to hold on for five minutes? Reina didn’t hold on for five minutes.

The viewers cocked their heads like they couldn’t understand Hyeonu’s words. Obviously, Hyeonu said he would give the permits to anyone who lasted more than five minutes in a ranking battle with him.

-No way...?

-Isn’t he just giving it away because she is pretty?

-I would also give it to her. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I admit it. I’ll give it to Reina.

-Hyung-nim will give it as well. It doesn’t seem right if it isn’t given.

-Loooool ㅋㅋㅋ.

The viewers talked among themselves before Hyeonu could say anything. Hyeonu saw it and burst out laughing. The words were completely different from what he expected.

‘I am giving it to her because she is the first one.’

Hyeonu had been planning on giving the permits to the first person, even if it wasn’t Reina. It was to prove that Hyeonu wasn’t speaking empty words.

“The reason why I’m giving Reina the promotion permit is as a commemoration. She is my first matched opponent. Why don’t other rankers believe in me and turn on the ranking battle?”

It was a type of bait to attract more rankers. Additionally, Hyeonu’s bait wasn’t at the level that the rankers imagined. It was more than whatever they imagined.

“I will now give Reina the permits. It is five pieces.”

Hyeonu gave Reina the promotion permits. There were five of them.

“Huh? Five?”

Reina stared for a long time at the five permits that Hyeonu held out to her. Then she opened her mouth and asked if it was real. Five promotion permits was too great a reward. To receive it just for playing one ranking battle... Additionally, Reina only heard about Hyeonu’s promise from the whisper he sent her after the battle. She just started the ranking battle without any thought. Then she was accidentally matched with Hyeonu because all the other rankers ran away.

“Yes, five pieces.” Hyeonu nodded at Reina and pushed the permits over even more. In any case, the permits he was giving to Reina would be the first and last ones. He wasn’t going to give it to anyone else from now on.

‘They can’t hold on for five minutes.’

They would be thorough sacrifices for Hyeonu’s victory.

“Receive it quickly. I can’t use this.”

Hyeonu urged Reina again.

Reina received the permits with an expression like she couldn’t help it. However, the thought of whether she could accept this continued to run through Reina’s mind.

-So why doesn’t he need the permit?

-Isn’t he a marquis?

-Hey, he already climbed high enough if he is a marquis. Others are not viscounts. There are no earls.

-There is still a duke left. Five pieces...

-By the way, how many did he get that he can give out five? Looking at other guilds, it is rare to receive even 10.

The viewers had similar thoughts to Reina. Five promotion permits was too great a reward. The information that other large guilds revealed on their livestreams was that the permits obtained from the main scenario in the demon world was around 10. There were those who received even less. Yet at this moment, Hyeonu casually gave Reina five pieces.

“The reason why this is useless... do you know how many permits are needed to become an earl from a viscount? It is 40 pieces, 40. It also requires one million imperial contributions. Then how much is needed to become a marquis from an earl? A duke from a marquis? Wouldn’t you do this if you were me?”

Hyeonu’s statement was very convincing. It was already hard to become an earl. There was no need to talk about becoming a duke.

-Wow, one million imperial contributions and 40 permits? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-It is impossible for an entire guild to run to be an earl.

-They can’t get 40 permits even if they rush in, right? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-The imperial contributions is also a no-go. They also need to be farmed, so an earl title can’t be obtained in advance.

The viewers were astonished after hearing Hyeonu’s words. The promotion conditions were outrageous. It was the same for Reina. She looked dejected after hearing the ridiculous conditions.

‘The real reason is different.’

Hyeonu saw these reactions and smiled. Hyeonu giving away the permits had nothing to do with this. He could be a duke if he wanted. It was just that what he gained was too small compared to the efforts that would go into it. In order to become a duke, he had to get the emperor’s favor, the promotion permits, and the imperial contributions. This process caused great mental fatigue and there was no significant change after becoming a duke. It was just a title and didn’t directly raise Hyeonu’s stats.

‘I already promised to give 40 pieces.’

Most of the permits in Hyeonu’s hands were already reserved for an owner.

Kim Seokjung—they would be used to elevate his position. Therefore, the promotion permits were worthless. They were used for Kim Seokjung and there was nothing Hyeonu could do with the small number remaining.

“Reina, you just need to receive it. Be at ease.”

***

An ugly looking giant monster was crawling on the ground with both ankles cut. Curiously, the giant monster’s ankles were healing at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye. It seemed like the giant monster could walk well after a minute or two.

Just then, a low-pitched voice poured out toward the giant monster.

“Tang-E, now!”

Following Hyeonu’s call, Tang-E stretched out his paw toward the fallen troll. There was the intense sound of thunder and golden lighting appeared around Tang-E’s paws.

“Kuooooh!”

The troll was hit by the lightning bolt fired by Tang-E and died with a scream.

[The troll warrior of the Mapa Tribe has been killed.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

Hyeonu approached the charred corpse of the troll.

‘Why is there nothing?’

There was something he had to do. Finding items from the corpses of monsters.

“Master dude, there is nothing even if you look like this.”

Tang-E, who came and looked at the ground before Hyeonu, scoffed at Hyeonu as he looked around.

“Tang-E, did you find anything?”

Hyeonu shot back at Tang-E who was laughing at him.

“How can I find something that isn’t there?”

However, Tang-E passed it off casually like he was used to it now.

‘Did I come to the wrong place?’

Hyeonu sighed as he picked up the gold that had fallen to the ground. Now he had regrets. Maybe he should’ve just gone to the demon world. It had already been a week since he came to Cinerimo, but there were no results. He just killed the trolls and killed them again.

In the meantime, he gained one level and rose to level 382. However, that was all. There were no decent items, skills, or quests.

“Huh?”

At this moment—

Hyeonu was about to start his self-reflection when someone sent him a whisper.

-From Teika: Alley Leader, are you busy?

The whisper came from Teika.

-To Teika: No? I’m not busy. Did something happen?

Hyeonu replied to Teika’s whisper straight away. Somehow, it seemed like good news would be delivered.

-From Teika: Can we meet now?

Hyeonu cocked his head at Teika’s whisper that followed.

‘Me? Now?’

It felt like something really good was going to happen.

-To Teika: Okay, where should we meet?

Hyeonu immediately replied to Teika.

-From Teika: Meet me where we first met. I look forward to seeing you again.

-To Teika: I understand. I’ll come straight away.

Hyeonu smiled brightly and moved lightly. It was the moment when his upset heart was comforted.