Ranker’s Return

Hyeonu forgot that he was currently streaming and quickly whispered in Tang-E’s ear, “Hey, what is this corrupted thing? Where did you pick it up? I told you not to eat anything.” 

Regardless of who heard it, Hyeonu’s tone was obviously angry. Tang-E mumbled like it was unfair, “I didn’t eat anything. I haven’t even eaten the essences yet. Tang-E didn’t eat anything.”

“Then what is corrupted?”

“I don’t know either.”

Hyeonu was slightly confused by Tang-E’s resolute attitude, but this was only temporary. Tang-E really didn’t know. Just then, Hyeonu’s eyes fell on the white bone necklace. ‘This...?’

“Tang-E, let me see your necklace later,” he said.

Tang-E nodded after hearing Hyeonu’s serious words. “I understand, Master.” 

Hyeonu ended the brief meeting and showed the simplified version of Tang-E’s status window to the viewers.

[Status Window]

[Name: Tang-E

Level: 202

Species: Marionette Bear (Second awakening)

Title: Bung Bung Island’s Heir

The heir of Bung Bung Island. Bear-like physical abilities and high magic power are racial characteristics. He is very affectionate, unlike his prideful tone.

Intimacy: 100]

“Now, this is Tang-E’s current status window. For the sake of Tang-E’s privacy, I’ve decided not to disclose his stats and skills.

The viewers were quick to protest Hyeonu’s words. They didn’t even look at Tang-E’s status window.

-We want stats and skills!!!

-Why do you mean by letting us look without taking out everything?!

-Alley Leader, give us the proper status window!

-We have the right to see Tang-E’s full status window!

This only lasted a moment. The viewers stopped chatting when they saw Tang-E’s status window. Tang-E’s level was too shocking.

-What is this?

-202? He is currently level 202?

-Second awakening? I know there is awakening at level 100, but there is another one at level 200?

-Tang-E is 50 levels higher than me. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-You’re slapping the average ranker on the cheek, our Tang-E.

‘It is rewarding.’ Hyeonu smiled happily when he looked at Tang-E’s status window and the shocked chat messages.

Then he made a show of it. “Isn’t Tang-E’s level high? It is because I raised him well. It was really hard.”

-Who is raising who? Tang-E raised you using buffs and magic.

-Yes, Tang-E raised you.

“No!! I am the one who raised him!”

Even today, Hyeonu’s stream was peaceful.

***

Tang-E’s pet arena outing ended in great success.

“Tang-E is like his master. He won 20 matches cleanly. I’m also happy.”

-In fact, isn’t this at the level of an outing?

-A level 202 is fighting levels 50 to 60. It is a foul!!!

-In every match, the masters are taking photos while the pets are caught. It is a spectacle, truly.

-The pet arena is a place where Tang-E just eats. Who can reach level 200 after Tang-E? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Tang-E literally reigned in the arena. Every pet ended up acting cutely to Tang-E and never raised themselves up from the ground. They submitted to Tang-E’s violence that was based on his enormous stats. This gave Tang-E new nicknames. Hooligan, outlaw, ruler—all the nicknames were scary. Of course, there was the modifier of ‘pet arena’ in front of it.

“Then I will end the stream here today. I’ll see you next time!”

Once the stream ended, Hyeonu immediately reached out to Tang-E. It was a sign to give him the necklace. Tang-E trembled and pulled off the necklace like he was really reluctant to do so. He placed it into Hyeonu’s hand. “Here it is. You have to give it back quickly. That necklace belongs to Tang-E.”

“I won’t take it away. I’ll look at it for a second and then give it back.”

Hyeonu used ‘I’ll look at it for a second and then give it back’ which was considered one of the most unreliable lines along with ‘Oppa, don’t you trust me?’ and ‘Just one bite?’.

[Source of Corruption]

[The reason why the fallen shaman, Chroma, became depraved.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: 800 strength, 1,500 magic power.

Effect: Increases magic defense penetration by 10%, generates the attribute ‘corrupted’.]

‘Chroma...?’

“Did you pick it up in the dungeon?” Hyeonu asked Tang-E after seeing the familiar name in the item’s information.

“That’s right. I picked it up because Master didn’t care,” Tang-E replied cautiously. Both of his eyes trembled slightly like he was nervous.

Hyeonu stroked Tang-E’s head. “You did well to pick it up. Hang this back around your neck.”

‘Well, I don’t like that he hid it, but...’

He hadn’t elaborated on the necklace, but it couldn’t be said that Hyeonu held no responsibility. No, it was definite. Based on Tang-E’s personality, he would’ve told the truth if Hyeonu had questioned him further about the necklace not long ago. Moreover...

“This was an item I thought I had lost.”

There was nothing bad about this situation. Rather, it was beneficial to know that Tang-E could wear items. Additionally, an item he thought was gone had reappeared. There was the corrupted attribute, but Tang-E didn’t seem to have changed.

‘Tang-E’s parents will take care of it if there is a problem.’

Hyeonu had something to believe in. He had never seen them, but Tang-E’s parents were as strong as Raccoon. Hyeonu believed that they would take care of it no matter what happened to Tang-E.

“You aren’t taking it away? You’re just giving it back?” Tang-E questioned repeatedly.

Hyeonu continued to answer Tang-E’s questions. “I said I would give it back to you. I just wanted to check something. In the future, if you pick up something like this, tell me. Don’t hide it.”

Tang-E was moved to tears by Hyeonu’s words. “Thank you, Master. I will tell you everything from now on.”

***

After the stream ended, Hyeonu talked to Tang-E before quitting Arena for a break. At this time, it was Hyeonu’s smartphone that caught his eye. There was a symbol that meant a message had been received. The sender of the message was Kale.

-The big boss wants to meet Alley Leader. Please tell us all the possible dates, and we will arrange the schedule.

“Big boss? Who is that?”

Hyeonu had something to say to Kale, so he made a phone call without hesitation.

“Kale?”

-Yes, please speak, Mister Gang.

Hyeonu was flustered by Kale’s response, who seemed to have expected the call.

“Did you know I would call? You sound so natural.”

-I watched today’s stream. I thought that Mister Gang would contact me immediately after seeing what I had written.

“Ah... Is that so? You did? I didn’t know. By the way, who is your big boss? Kale, I know that your boss is Jamie...”

-The big boss is Nike’s chairman, Bill Knight. It’s him.

“He wants to see me? Really?” Hyeonu was surprised by Kale’s words. The chairman of the transnational company Nike wanted to see him. He couldn’t believe it.

-It isn’t that surprising. 

Honestly, from a streamer’s point of view, what did it mean to meet the chairman? It was certainly better to have a meeting with the boss. The contract with Nike Management was entirely at the boss’ discretion. Kale smiled at Hyeonu’s attitude. It seemed this person still didn’t know his position. Arena was now heading toward one billion players yet the heart of the man who reached the peak was still so ordinary.

-The name of Alley Leader isn’t lacking when compared to our chairman’s. You are the best out of hundreds of millions of Arena players. Don’t underestimate yourself.

Kale’s words were true.

Hyeonu—or rather, Alley Leader, to be precise—was a brand in Arena. No guild, club, or professional gamer dared to compare to him. Who could attract millions of viewers to a real-time stream single-handedly, and who could get a billion views for every video uploaded? Only Alley Leader could do so.

‘Am I such a great person?’

Hyeonu had never thought about it before. He hadn’t thought he was such a great person. A gamer... He was just another gamer. Now he had barely repaid his debts and was just getting back to daily life.

“I... I didn’t know. I don’t know if I’m okay with being flattered like this.”

-Be confident. Who can bring back the happiness of a family and use Arena to pay off a 30-billion-won debt? You’re the only one. Let me ask you something. I will make the assumption that Mr. Gang will debut in the pro scene now. Do you have the confidence to win the professional league? What about Arena Week, the world competition?

Hyeonu answered Kale’s sudden questions without hesitation, “I will win no matter what team you bring, even if my opponent is an all-star team made of superstars.”

-Look. You are a person who can say such words casually. Only you.

Upon hearing Kale’s questions, Hyeonu realized that he had something to say. He had forgotten about it after hearing that Nike’s chairman wanted to meet him.

“I am preparing to be a professional gamer. This season is too short, but I will definitely debut next season. Can you help me find a suitable team?”

-Does it necessarily have to be this year? Isn’t that too hasty?

“I don’t think this is something the person who told me to be confident should say. I will definitely find a team before next season.”

Kale reflected on Hyeonu’s firm attitude. Why did Hyeonu have to debut next season? Once the next season was over...

Arena Week would begin. A world competition with only a few teams, including the winners of each league—that was Arena Week.

-Do you want to go to Arena Week? You want to win next season and become seeded?

“If not, I will have to wait for another year. I’m not that patient. In any case, this league is a half league. I don’t think it is the right stage for my debut.”

Kale heard Hyeonu’s firm words and thought it was impossible to persuade this person. In fact, he had no intention of persuading Hyeonu.

‘He is an existence that can take any team to win the championship.’

Hyeonu was already a winner just based on his skills alone. No one could stop him. There was no need to say anything about PvP, which was a competition of pure strength. He was also capable in sieges and raids. It was over with one word. The former Hyeonu was meleegod, and the current Hyeonu was Alley Leader. meleegod was the god of battle. Meanwhile, Alley Leader reigned over A-World.

-What team do you want? I don’t think you would’ve talked to me if you wanted any club. Do you want a strong team like JT? Or is it a team united in passion?

Hyeonu replied to Kale’s question, “The team I want...”