Ranker’s Return

[Twilight Memory]

[An earring made by compressing the essence of the purple ogre wandering through the Balder Mountains.

It contains twilight.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: 600 strength, 1,200 magic power.

Effect: All stats +150, Twilight Reproduction can be used (cooldown time is 3 hours).

Twilight Reproduction: Reduces all stats of opponents exposed to twilight by 20% for 10 minutes.]

‘Good... Too good.’

The earring called Twilight Memory had a tremendous performance. It increased all stats by 150. The exact form of the debuff skill was unknown, but it could conditionally reduce the opponent’s stats. The value was even higher since it was an item that would take up one of Hyeonu’s empty ears.

‘There is just one tricky condition.’

600 strength, 1,200 magic power—Hyeonu was confident that no one apart from him could satisfy these requirements. If the numbers were switched around, then it might be different. However, this condition was really tricky. The classes with high magic power were usually magicians and priests. It was natural since priests treated divine power like magic power.

However, both classes weren’t physically fit in the first place. The number 600 was never low for strength.

‘Isn’t it something only I can use?’

Nevertheless, it was irrelevant to Hyeonu. He was satisfied with these requirements. Hyeonu immediately wore the earring. Then he opened his status window to check the changed stats.

‘Status window.’

[Status Window]

[Character Name: Gang Hyeonu

Level: 231

Class: True 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, First Detached Force Member, First Person to Clear Laek, First Player to go Beyond The Limits, First to Become a Viscount, True Knight of Keon, Centaur Slayer, Undefeated Sovereign, Drake Hunter

Stats: Strength: 484 (+1,750)  Agility: 727 (+2,050)  Physique: 341 (+1,900)  Magic Power: 423 (+1,950)  Fighting Energy: 522 (+1,350)  Dignity: 147 (+1,500)

Remaining stat points: 0

Retained Attributes: Dark]

‘It’s okay. I’ve grown.’

Now he wasn’t greatly inspired by an increase of 150, but he was still satisfied that his growth hadn’t stopped. He could keep staying ahead instead of being eliminated.

‘This is one of the things I need to keep until the day I give up on Arena.’

“Tang-E, let’s go. We will go a bit deeper today.”

Hyeonu held Tang-E and moved deeper into the Balder Mountains.

*** 

Hyeonu was sitting on the sofa in the living room in a troubled manner.

‘It doesn’t make sense for me to spar with her.’

A spar with him wasn’t meaningful to Yuri’s growth. It might be different if he used the level 1 rule, but otherwise, the gap between the two of them was too big to be helpful. However, the main reason was that he was simply reluctant to spar with Yuri. In this respect, Hyeonu was instinctively ignoring this reason.

‘Where can I find a good warrior? It would be nice if they could handle multiple weapons. They must also be an unpaid laborer.’

It would be better if they had some fame. Then more viewers would gather.

‘Should I ask Reina?’ 

Hyeonu shook his head vigorously. He didn’t want to ask Reina to do this. Of course, she would agree to it if he asked. She was acquainted with him, and there was also that time in the past when she applied for a spar with him. Despite that, something in the corner of his heart interfered. For some reason, he felt that he didn’t want to do this.

‘Is there anyone else?’

Hyeonu pulled out his laptop and started to write down the names of those he knew one by one. It started from Yeongchan to Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu. He listed the relationships he had formed through various events.

Hyeonu wrote Ket’s name down and recalled their first meeting. ‘I was stunned at the time.’

He had stumbled upon a post Ket had written in the community. It had described how Ket had stumbled upon an orc called Cancun. That post Hyeonu then allowed him to clear the quest that Raccoon had given him.

‘I should thank him.’

Ket was Hyeonu’s first supporter and the one who gave him his car. However, Ket wasn’t suitable for such a request. Hyeonu continued to write down the names with a slight smile on his face. Then Hyeonu’s hand stopped moving. There was a very appropriate person—a person who knew how to deal with multiple weapons, had a good reputation, and felt a sense of goodwill toward Hyeonu.

Putting it nicely, this person was a really good person. Putting it badly, he was a pushover.

‘Okay. I need to get in touch straight away.’

A smile appeared on Hyeonu’s face.

*** 

Hyeonu leaned back in his chair while holding his smartphone. He was on the phone with a good person.

“How about it? Is the time okay?”

-Of course. I am going to be streaming with Alley Leader. I will make time even if I don’t have it. The person happily accepted the proposal.

‘By the way, what has he been doing recently?’

“You must be busy. Are you pushing yourself too much? If this is a burden...” Hyeonu knew that this man had been working hard recently while hiding his identity.

-No. It isn’t a day when I’m supposed to be streaming. Ah! Can I make one request? It might be difficult though...

“I’ll listen and then decide. I’ll agree to it unconditionally as long as it isn’t something I can’t do.”

-Just before the stream ends, I hope you can give me five minutes.

‘Five minutes?’

Hyeonu cocked his head in a puzzled manner. Of course, it wasn’t hard for Hyeonu to give this person five minutes of streaming time. Hyeonu just needed to end the stream five minutes later. Still, he just couldn’t understand why this person needed those five minutes.

“I understand. Then I’ll agree to it.”

-Thank you, Alley Leader. I won’t forget this grace. The other person was really happy to get Hyeonu’s consent, and the voice that came through the smartphone showed how he felt.

“What grace? Rather, I should be grateful to you for helping me, Heder.”

The identity of the good person was the former proxy knight, Heder.

-Then I’ll see you when the stream starts, Alley Leader. 

After completing the call with Lee Hoon, Hyeonu tapped on his smartphone a few more times before getting up from his chair and heading for A-Cube.

*** 

“Yuri, did you practice a lot?” Hyeonu greeted Yuri who appeared in the arena.

‘Based on her personality, there’s no way Yuri wouldn’t have practiced.’

As far as Hyeonu knew, Yuri had a strong sense of pride and responsibility. Thus, she always did her best.

“I worked hard on my own. You don’t have to be worried. Probably.” Yuri was full of fighting spirit.

‘She’s pretty certain.’ He could see it from Yuri’s expression.

Her face didn’t look bad. Her expression showed she was proud to be streaming today with her improved skills.

“By the way, who is that person?” Yuri asked when she saw the man behind Hyeonu.

Hyeonu’s head turned at Yuri’s gaze to see Heder (Lee Hoon) standing there. “Oh, him? He is a guest that I specifically invited. He is your sparring opponent today.”

“Guest?” Yuri’s eyes grew wider when she heard Hyeonu’s words.

A guest appearance—such a thing had never appeared before on Alley Leader Academy. All of the past students had been taught by Hyeonu alone.

‘I’ve been looking forward to today...’

“Then what about Oppa?” Yuri asked again with a sad expression.

“Me? I will be here. Honestly, I can do it, but I’m afraid the viewers will find it boring. Don’t worry too much. This person isn’t that unkind. He is good. Heder!”

Lee Hoon rushed over at Hyeonu’s call and greeted the two people looking at him. “What is going on?”

“I called you over to say hello. You shouldn’t be awkward once the stream starts.”

The two people looked awkward despite Hyeonu’s words. Neither of them could speak with ease. Hyeonu started to give instructions to the two people. “I will introduce you two. This is my friend’s little sister, Leah. This is Heder who will help you stream today. Say hello. Give greetings.”

At Hyeonu’s words, the two people bowed their heads and greeted each other.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello.”

Then there was silence in the arena again. Hyeonu frowned at the sight. He felt that today’s stream wouldn’t go smoothly.

“Heder, come talk to me first.”

“I understand.” Lee Hoon showed an expression of salvation at Hyeonu’s words that allowed him to escape from the awkward atmosphere.

“Yuri, practice for the last time. I’ll come and see you once I’ve finished the talk.”

“I understand, Oppa.”

Hyeonu and Lee Hoon left Yuri behind and walked to a corner of the arena. As he walked leisurely, Hyeonu opened his mouth and asked, “Why do you need five minutes? You are talking about it in my stream, so I think I should roughly know what it is.”

Lee Hoon nodded like Hyeonu’s words were obvious. “Of course, you have to know what it is. I am going to apologize in those five minutes. I will apologize and ask for forgiveness for acting as a proxy knight.”

“Apologize?” Hyeonu was perplexed by the unexpected words.

“Yes. It is a conclusion I’ve been struggling with for months. I don’t want to live that life anymore. I want a different life in the future.” Lee Hoon’s face was filled with regret.

“Is it because of your stream?”

Lee Hoon’s eyes widened with amazement. ‘Wasn’t I wearing a mask?’

He had clearly worn a mask while streaming. Few people knew his face to begin with, but he covered his face because there were still some people who would recognize him. Even so, Alley Leader recognized him anyway...

“How did you know?” Lee Hoon asked.

“Isn’t it simple? It is safe to say that A-World is already in the process of oversupply. It means not many new rankers are popping out. You are one of the variants that have popped out lately through the existing streamers,” Hyeonu explained. 

Hearing Hyeonu’s explanation, Lee Hoon realized how Hyeonu figured out his identity. “You mean, I stood out...”

All the notable rankers were in A-World. Those who hadn’t come out so far wouldn’t appear in the future. Yet now there was a ranker who suddenly appeared. He had an eye-catching combat style and a mask on his face like he was trying to hide his identity. Thinking about it, it was completely him.

“Still, if you apologize, will the viewers or the community accept it? Will they doubt your authenticity? You might even be criticized that you just want to succeed as a streamer.” Hyeonu brought up all the scenarios that came to mind. Surely such reactions will come out.

“It’s fine. I’ve already thought about how to prove my authenticity.” Lee Hoon looked like he had let go of everything.