Ranker's Return

Chapter 850

Hyeonu entrusted the equipment to Kapa and immediately left the League of Different Species. His destination was a secluded city with few players.

“Why is he staying in a place like this? This isn’t the only place where he can study,” Hyeonu muttered as he wandered around the empty city.

“Brother!” a man in a colorful robe screamed and ran out from behind Hyeonu just then.

“Yes, yes. You seem to be doing well in a place like this.” Hyeonu greeted the man who ran out. It was a face he hadn’t seen in Arena for a long time.

“What do you mean by doing well? I am just practicing magic. So what if I learn a skill? I can’t use it,” Mason grumbled a lot. He had many complaints.

“Then are you going to just gain it by doing nothing? You have to make an effort, an effort.” Hyeonu clicked his tongue at Mason. It was clear what was going on even without looking.

‘What level is he? It is past the time when it’s easy.’

This was a problem stemming from one of the characteristics of Arena. Arena put a huge burden on its frontrunners, i.e. the rankers.

“It isn’t about eating it raw. I just want to be able to use it. How can I use this in practice? I can’t use it unless it is a raid,” Mason grumbled regardless of Hyeonu’s criticism.

Hyeonu was the only one Mason could act spoiled with. In reality, everyone around Mason disliked it when he focused on Arena, so he naturally had no one to talk about it with. However, the situation was similar within Arena. The troubles of magicians weren’t known unless they were magicians.

Out of Mason’s friends, the only one who was a magician was Sunny. The problem was that Sunny was a necromancer. Her problem was dealing with the undead itself, not magic. So, no consensus could be formed even when Mason grumbled.

“You have to practice in order to be able to use it easier. Who is good at it from the start? You should practice, practice.” Hyeonu grabbed Mason’s shoulder and pressed on it.

“We can’t communicate. This is why talent... I shouldn’t talk.”Mason shook his head and rubbed his shoulder, which was burning due to Hyeonu’s vicious grip.

“Then what about Suped?”

“Teacher? He isn’t far away. Can’t you tell when you see me coming out of here?”

“Let’s go quickly.” Hyeonu pushed Mason’s back.

Unable to hold on against Hyeonu’s strength which was built based on massive stats, Mason has pushed away.

“I will go as long as you say so. Can you take your hands off me?”

***

Suped sensed someone and opened his mouth to speak while turning his head: “Where did you go? You need to practice...”

Then Suped stopped talking. It was because a face different from the one he was thinking of appeared.

“Hello, Suped. It has been a long time,” Hyeonu greeted Suped with a bright smile.

“What are you doing here? No, how did you know to come here?” Suped had the opposite reaction to Hyeonu. He was far from welcoming and didn’t hide his discomfort. Rather, he revealed it blatantly.

“How else could I know? I asked.” Hyeonu pulled Mason, who was standing far behind him, forward. “Isn’t your lovely disciple my dearest younger brother?”

Hyeonu smiled constantly. He never became angry due to Suped’s words.

“I don’t know how you can look exactly like your teacher. I would believe it if you were his child.” Suped sighed. He raised the white flag. He couldn’t beat this person when it came to words.

‘He would be successful enough with his tongue, even without a sword.’

Hyeonu was different from other adventurers who shrank in confidence when they stood in front of Suped. He was polite but not submissive. He was always dignified—except when it came to one person.

“So what request brings you here today?”

“Why are you speaking like I’m someone who only comes when I have something to ask for? I’m not that rude.”

“So you just came to visit?”

“Of course, I have something I would like to ask of you, but... that is incidental. The biggest reason is something else.” Hyeonu casually blocked Suped’s continuous attacks.

“Another reason? Then say it. I’m looking forward to hearing what nonsense you will say.” Suped laughed.

Hyeonu’s words seemed absurd. He said, “I came to say hello. Isn’t communicating the most important thing between people? I need to see you again before you forget my face...”

Hyeonu couldn’t finish his words to the end. It was because Suped couldn’t listen to Hyeonu’s sophistry and threw a fireball at his face. Hyeonu raised his hand and grabbed at Suped’s fireball lightly. He caught the fireball in his hand and extinguished it instantaneously.

“Is it possible to implement this type of magic circle? For example, it normally has the appearance of a ring. Then once magic power is injected, it will take the form of a sword.” Hyeonu naturally brought up the main point as if nothing had happened.

“Form conversion? The magic isn’t hard. Anyone like me can use it,” Suped responded while nodding slowly.

“It is easy…? It sounds like you are the only one in the empire who can do it though?” Hyeonu asked back with a disbelieving expression. Anyone who could reach the level of a great magician could use it. Yet in the Yusma Empire, the only great magician was Suped.

‘Is he trying to appeal that only he can do it?’ Hyeonu suddenly felt uneasy. If it was something that only Suped could do, it meant Hyeonu had to appeal to him.

“You understand the words very well.”

“What should I do?”

Suped shook his head at Hyeonu’s question. “What can I ask of you, a duke of the empire? If you want me to do it, I’ll do it.”

“What do you mean by that, Suped? Am I just a duke? I am your disciple’s friend. Your disciple’s friend. You just have to treat me that way.” Hyeonu shook his head from side to side several times faster than Suped. Suped erased the playfulness on his face and scanned Hyeonu’s entire body.

‘I can’t see the single-edged sword...’ Suped confirmed that Hyeonu’s waist was empty. He couldn’t see what was always there. Then he asked, “By the way, what do you want me to engrave that magic circle on? From the example, it seems you want it engraved on a weapon...”

In response to Suped’s question, Hyeonu silently pulled the Guardian’s Spear out of his inventory.

“This is it, Suped. This is the spear I gained by accident. I want to engrave a magic circle on this.”

Suped couldn’t help feeling admiration when he saw the Guardian’s Spear. It was because the aura he felt was unusual.

“You found something good.”

Suped was a magician, but this didn’t mean he was blind. As a magician, he realized it through reason and knowledge, not instinct.

“I was lucky.”

“Being lucky is also an ability. There are many people who can’t catch the luck that comes once in a lifetime.” Suped lightly ignored Hyeonu’s humility.

Luck came to everyone. They just couldn’t catch it.

“Would you like to take a look?” Hyeonu held out the Guardian’s Spear to Suped. Suped accepted the Guardian’s Spear and examined it thoroughly.

‘It definitely isn’t a work of the present era.’

Suped figured out the origin of the Guardian’s Spear with one glance.

‘At the very least, it is a pre-Yusma Empire item. I can’t see any traces of the dwarves.’

“If I look closely, it is even better. Do you want to turn this into a ring?” Suped asked while tapping the ground with the end of the spear.

“Yes, it should usually be in the form of a ring. Then I hope it will regain its original appearance if I inject magic power.” Hyeonu revealed exactly what he wanted. It was better than speaking vaguely.

“It will take a while. Is that okay? I don’t know if I will be holding back a busy person.”

Hyeonu shook his head and smiled. “It is fine. I am going to rest for a week or so anyway. There should be times when I should relax.”

In any case, he couldn’t move even if he wanted to until Kapa finished upgrading his equipment.

“Ah, I also have a request of you. Will you listen to it?” Suped asked with a serious expression.

“Yes, I have to if it is Suped’s request.” Hyeonu nodded without hesitation. Suped had already granted his request, so it was natural for him to grant Suped’s.

“Get involved in the northern war. I want to reduce the damage to the empire as much as possible. It would be good to restore at least one city.” Suped’s request wasn’t for personal gain but for the entire empire.

“I naturally have to enter the northern war. It is my duty as a duke of the empire,” Hyeonu gladly accepted Suped’s request. It wasn’t tricky or difficult.

“Then go away. Mason, come back after talking in moderation. I need time to be alone.” Suped ordered both Mason and Hyeonu to leave. He also needed time as it wasn’t easy to engrave a magic circle that was semi-permanent.

“I understand, Teacher.” Mason smiled and nodded. He also needed time to talk to Hyeonu.

“Tell Mason once the magic circle is complete. Then I will come and find you,” Hyeonu said to Suped.

The latter replied, “I understand. I’ll give you the news through Mason.”

***

Suped’s expression changed in an instant the moment that Hyeonu and Mason left. It was as hard as stone.

‘He really came to me as His Majesty said...’

Suped had been called by the emperor just a week ago. Then he received an order from the emperor. He should listen as much as possible if Hyeonu came and asked for a favor.

‘He told me to come straight to him and make a report.’

The emperor told Suped to come find him right away after that.

“He ordered it, so I have to do as I’ve been told.”

Suped moved his finger through the air, and a colorful magic circle emerged there. The moment the magic circle was completed, Suped’s figure was no longer in the laboratory. He was already in the capital.

“Your Majesty, this humble Suped has come.” Suped arrived in front of the great hall where the emperor was.

“Come in,” the emperor’s languid voice rang out from inside.

“Your Majesty, it is as you said. Duke Gang Hyeonu came to visit me.” Suped stood in front of the throne and looked up at the emperor politely.

“Really? What did he ask for?”

“He brought a spear that looked pretty good and asked me to turn it into a ring.”

The emperor didn’t react much to Suped’s words and continued to lean against the throne. “What else?”

“I told him to take part in the northern war as Your Majesty commanded.”

“Did you tell him to retake a city?”

Suped bowed deeply and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I told him that.”

“Good. Very good. I hope the duke will handle his duties well.” The emperor waved his hand as if telling Suped to go.

“I will see you again in the near future, Your Majesty.” Suped bowed and slowly left the great hall.

The moment he disappeared from the great hall, a rainbow-colored bear appeared from behind the emperor’s throne. The bear smiled and floated around the emperor. The emperor looked at the rainbow-colored bear and smiled happily. Then he reached out toward the rainbow bear. The bear was naturally embraced in the emperor’s arms.

“Just wait a bit longer. You will soon be able to see the scenery outside to your heart’s content. There aren’t many days left until I don’t have to stay here,” the emperor murmured while carefully stroking the bear’s head.