Ranker's Return

Chapter 97

Translator: rainbowturtle

Editor: LD & Jyazen

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be running around the great mountains?”It was a short man with brown hair—Lebron.

“Master, what are you doing here?”

“I asked first, Disciple. Why are you here when you should be in the Hejin Mountains?”

Lebron seemed unwilling to answer Hyeonu’s question. Hyeonu’s face distorted as he replied first. If it hadn’t been for the mask covering his expression, he would’ve immediately be beaten by Lebron.

‘Damn, will it hurt to give me an answer?’

“I was sent here by Garon. He told me to share the outside news with Suped and get an answer.”

“Garon? How dare he put off this task to my only disciple? I wanted to see a good sight after a long time... Yet he escaped,”Lebron said like it was a pity. Then he turned to Hyeonu. “Do you want to know why Garon sent you on his behalf? That guy has been terrible with books since he was young. Isn’t that enough? That’s why he sent you here.”

‘Put off? To me?’Hyeonu listened to Lebron and figured out what was going on.

Garon had put off his work onto Hyeonu. The reason was this dungeon. To be precise, it was because of Stages 1 and 2. It required reading books and answering questions. Of course, the book would change every time one entered. Just because a person memorized one didn’t mean they would read it the next time they entered.

“Do you want to go with me to see Suped or do you want to reach the end of the dungeon? You’re an adventurer, but this is the beginner academy of the ancient Luos Empire. It is a place worth experiencing at least once.”

Lebron’s words seemed to give an option between choosing one of the two, but in fact, it was to have Hyeonu experience the dungeon unconditionally. Even so, Lebron’s push wasn’t bad for Hyeonu. The charm of the dungeon itself was amazing.

‘If I can pass through enough stages then...’

“In particular, the rewards change from Stage 3 onward. There are artifacts and techniques from the ancient Luos Empire. If you’re lucky, you can get something like an elixir.” The later stages had even more spectacular rewards. Lebron seduced Hyeonu with these words like a medicine seller, and the latter naturally succumbed to the temptation.

“Yes, I will take a look around the dungeon. Master, you go to Suped first.”

Lebron nodded with satisfaction at Hyeonu’s ambitious words.

“Then I’ll go first. Work hard, Disciple.”Lebron patted Hyeonu’s shoulder a few times before quickly disappearing.

“Now, what is the reward for Stage 3?” Hyeonu thought about the compensation before the test.

***

“Is he your disciple? Where did you get such a monster-like guy?”Suped, a white-haired old man, questioned Lebron.

Lebron looked at Suped with an expression that showed he didn’t understand. ‘Why is this crazy guy making trouble again? Is there no progress in his research?’

Still, Lebron didn’t show it on the outside as he scolded Suped inwardly.

“Why? Did my disciple have an accident? Has he smashed the dungeon?”

“Is he really an adventurer? It doesn’t look that way at all...”

“An adventurer is an adventurer. Why can’t he be an adventurer? Do you have presbyopia in your old age?” In the end, Lebron became angry about Suped’s continuous string of unexpected remarks.

“Look at this and say it. Is this possible for an adventurer?”Suped flicked his finger and a video started to play on one wall. The scene that played was when Hyeonu read the book in Stage 1. “You know how in Stages 1 and 2, you’re supposed to write down the answer on that stone with the steel pen that contains the sharpness magic? You’ve been here many times.”

“Of course. What does that have to do with my disciple... Eh? What is this?”

As Lebron spoke, the scene in the video changed. The desk disappeared, and a huge stone appeared. Then Hyeonu rubbed his magic power-covered finger against the stone and started to engrave the answer.

“Is this an adventurer? What the hell did you teach him?” Even at the moment he shouted this, Suped couldn’t hide the shock in his eyes. It didn’t make sense no matter how he looked at it. There were probably less than 100 knights in this empire who showed off such use of magic power. Of course, the number would grow exponentially if those who could cover their fist with magic power were added, but those who could do so were definitely knights.

“Yes, he is a monster. Still, he is an adventurer. I’m amazed as well. I hadn’t known he was such a genius when I taught him.” Lebron was also surprised by the video, and his surprise soon turned to wonder.

‘This guy is going to do something again.’

Lebron had this type of feeling as he knew Hyeonu’s talent better than anyone else.

“What? He has already passed it? Is he really an adventurer?”

At this moment, Hyeonu passed Stage 3. Suped’s astonishment wasn’t over yet.

‘Huh, my apprentice barely passed Stage 3...’

Suped suddenly missed his ‘adventurer’ apprentice who was wandering the continent.

***

Shortly after Lebron’s disappearance, the polite voice rang through the space, -In Stage 3, we will test magic power that is the basis of everything.

Inject magic power into each of the three spheres in front of you according to the specified pattern.The given time is 60 minutes.

[Time remaining - 59:59]

“What? This? It is like the comprehensive competition.”

It wasn’t an unfamiliar task for Hyeonu, but he didn’t know the exact information. Hyeonu approached one of the spheres and laid his hand on it. Then he poured his magic power into it. If he didn’t know anything, it was important to take the initiative first.

“Um...”

What should he say? The pattern of magic power that needed to be injected was very familiar to him. This subtle feeling was like...

“A plane taking off?”

It was as subtle as the name of a song. Once he put it all together, a plane appeared. Hyeonu placed his hands on the other two spheres and injected magic power into them. Unlike his warrior class, Hyeonu’s magic power stat was not very high. This much consumption was exhausting.

“This is a splash and that is a school bell.”

After grasping the magic patterns, Hyeonu immediately grasped the spheres and started to infuse them with magic power. They were as familiar as nursery rhymes, so he made no mistakes. Magic power was infused according to the specific method, and Hyeonu was able to easily pass through Stage 3. The time he took was only 5 minutes and 27 seconds.

[Time remaining - 54:13]

-You have passed the given test perfectly.Compensation will be paid before moving on to Stage 4.

[Experience has been acquired.]

[Skill proficiency has been acquired.]

[The proficiency of all magic power related skills will increase by one.]

[The skill proficiency of Magic Power Compression has increased to C-.]

[The skill proficiency of Magic Power Control has increased to B.]

[The skill proficiency of Magic Power Increase has increased to C.]

[The skill proficiency of Magic Power Cohesion has increased to C.]

[The skill proficiency of Magic Power Explosion has increased to D+.]

[The skill Mysterious Demonic Martial Art’s rank has risen to 2 stars.]

It was a huge reward. The proficiency of all his magic power related skills was increased by one level.

‘No matter what, I have to go back through it and hit it to death.’

“This isn’t hard.”

Hyeonu passed through the gate to Stage 4 with a bright smile.

***

Stage 4 tested how to use the basics of the body. The goal of Stage 4 was to fight against three sets of living armor that were similar to Arena’s most challenging scarecrow. Hyeonu knocked out the living armor and passed Stage 4.

-You have passed the given test perfectly.Compensation will be paid before moving on to Stage 5.

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

“Yes! Level 171!”

He leveled up already.

It was done at a speed so fast that there was nothing to say. Clearly, that there was no player in Arena who would’ve gone from level 170 to 171 in less than half a day... except for Hyeonu.

[Skill proficiency has been acquired.]

[The proficiency of all physical related skills will increase by one.]

[The skill proficiency of Body Strengthening has increased to C+.]

[The skill proficiency of You and I in One Shot! has increased to B.]

[The skill proficiency of Master of Combat has increased to B.]

“This time it is too bad...”

It was good to have his physical skills’ proficiency increase, but Hyeonu wasn’t a fighter and didn’t have many body-related skills. Naturally, he did not have many skills that increased in proficiency.

‘Still, it rose.’

Hyeonu smiled again and moved onto the next stage.

***

“It is already Stage 7. I don’t know if he will reach the end of the dungeon in one day...” Suped clicked his tongue before turning to Lebron.“Aren’t you even worried about your disciple? He is currently circling the dungeon...”

Lebron was quietly enjoying cookies and refreshments as he watched Hyeonu break through the dungeon. “He will handle it. The refreshments taste good. Why are you picking a fight? He is still doing well.”

Lebron was relaxed. The third-last stage was a bit difficult, but that was it. His adventurer disciple couldn’t be beaten. “Don’t worry about it. Come and eat cookies with me. They are very delicious.”

Suped looked at Lebron with disdain. In the past, Suped had been so worried about his disciple that he wanted to return to the dungeon several times a day.

‘A teacher like that...’

“Mason, are you doing well? I want to see you today.”

***

-You have passed the given test perfectly.Compensation will be paid before moving on to Stage 8.

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

Hyeonu saw the message that he had leveled up and opened his status window.

[Status Window]

[Character Name: Gang Hyeonu

Level: 172

Class: Knight of Keon

Title: Lebron’s Disciple, Warrior Acknowledged by Khan, New Star Acknowledged by Lebron, First Person to Enter the Imperial Palace, First Person to Meet the Emperor, Achieved 100 Consecutive Wins, Solo Raider, Desert Dragon Slayer, Ruler of the Spider Mine, Viscount Vampire Killer

Stats: Strength: 350 (+550) Agility: 400 (+600) Physique: 195 (+650) Magic Power: 180 (+700) Fighting Energy: 197 (+300)

Remaining stat points: 5

Retained Attributes: Dark]

‘I’m level 172 and my experience bar is 30% full.’

The Stage 7 reward was nothing special. It just gave a huge amount of experience. Yet this was also what Hyeonu desired most. Then it was soon the long-awaited Stage 8.

-Stage 8 is a test against a race that potentially threatens the empire.

Win against the summoned race.

Once this finished, a muscular orc that was nearly two meters tall appeared before Hyeonu’s eyes. He looked very familiar.

“...?”