Ranker’s Return

“What is the location and date, Leader?” Hyeonu asked.

It was information that didn’t appear in the quest window. However, it was also essential information for the quest process.

“Ah, I forgot. I’m so busy these days.” Chen Long slapped his own forehead as he had forgotten.

“Two days later at noon. The place is Mount Cheon. Beyond that, I don’t know anything. It’s just before entering Yuanyang. You have to deal with them before they reach the Secret Camp,” Chen Long said in a low voice.

Hyeonu repeated several times in his mind these words he’d just heard. It was like he was trying to memorize them.

“Two days later at noon. Mount Cheon,” he repeated out loud.

***

Hyeonu left the Samsungga and noticed the shining message box. Notes had arrived for him from those participating in the quest. New World, the New York Warriors, and Red Bull America—the three guild letters had sent him notes.

[To Alley Leader: 

The quest has been cleared. The experience was well received. If there is a quest like this next time, I would like you to call us.]

[To Hyeonu:

Ask if there is something else next time. Ah, the date came out. I’m going to South Korea next Friday. Save time for me on Saturday.]

[To Alley Leader: 

Thank you. I’ll use the gifts I received. I hope to see you again next time. Please call me if you have any more tasks.]

Three notes came in. Hyeonu could tell who sent them even without looking at the names since they all had their own characteristics. Still, it wasn’t just that. The contents of the notes themselves were also different. Reina had received a skill book and ring, while Kim Seokjung was going to visit Hyeonu in South Korea. Meanwhile, Mascherano received experience...

‘Something is strange.’

Hyeonu wrote answers to the notes he received. They were each sent to different people, but the reply was the same. The only difference was the name at the top.

[To Brother Seokjung:

I would like to see you in Yuanyang two days later at 9 a.m. in Arena time. There is one more quest. It doesn’t seem like it will take long. It is a simple annihilation.]

Hyeonu copied the note and sent it with only the name changed to a total of five people—Kim Seokjung, Gang Junggu, Mascherano, Reina, and Liu Shei.

‘I talked to him not long ago, and he seemed upset...’

Hyeonu had a chance to talk to Liu Shei a few days ago due to a reason that was related to Nike. At that time, Liu Shei’s voice was quite depressed. He didn’t talk much about Nike and just said what he wanted to say. Liu Shei repeatedly mentioned how Hyeonu had called in the New York Warriors and Red Bull America but not Kowloon.

‘That was because I was wondering if it would help the two of them get territories.’ 

The reason Hyeonu hadn’t called Kowloon was simple: it was a consideration for Reina and Mascherano. He had wondered if the quest could help them each acquire a territory. Of course, the rewards would be decreased the more that it was shared. Thus, it had been natural for Hyeonu not to include Kowloon.

‘It means I have to add them this time.’

In fact, that’s why he sent the note. It was due to Liu Shei’s insistence.

***

Five rankers gathered in Yuanyang.

They had already experienced many face-to-face meetings previously, even in reality.

“It’s been a long time since the Nike party, Mascherano. How are you?” Gang Junggu asked Mascherano.

“Isn’t it always the same? I stream, prepare for competitions, and go participate in competitions. It is a hamster-like life,” Mascherano answered, showing off his unique sense of humor.

Most of those who heard him laughed.

“Loosen up with your expression, you brat. What are you doing now? Do you want to ruin the good mood?” Kim Seokjung called out to Liu Shei. Liu Shei’s expression was sulky compared to the friendly atmosphere, and when Kim Seokjung discovered that, he refused to let go of Liu Shei’s shoulders.

“No, it’s because I’m not feeling well. I feel it here as well...” Liu Shei replied meekly.

“Really? Is that right? You should laugh when you’re sick. That way, it will hurt less!” Kim Seokjung said with a laugh as he placed an arm around Liu Shei’s shoulders.

Then Kim Seokjung’s gaze shifted to Reina. He remarked, “The lady over there is still an ice princess...” 

Reina was staring at them with an expressionless face and seemed like a person far away from this space. Just then, the person who brought them together appeared.

“Hello, everyone. There are some faces I haven’t seen in a long time,” Hyeonu said.

At Hyeonu’s appearance, Reina’s expression that was frigid like a glacier in Antarctica started to melt.

‘So it’s like this?’ There was a smile on Kim Seokjung’s face when he noticed it.

“I have forgotten my dongsaeng’s face. I want to see it every day, but I can’t.” Kim Seokjung approached Hyeonu with a smirk. Hyeonu smiled at Kim Seokjung’s words.

“I’ll be seeing you next week, Brother. Why are you doing this again...?” Hyeonu lightly greeted Kim Seokjung. 

Right after that, Hyeonu got straight to the point as he didn’t have much time.

‘We need to get there in three hours.’

Hyeonu had heard from Chen Long that the Yeokcheon Group’s departure to Yuanyang would be at noon. It would be best for Hyeonu to find the Yeokcheon Group first, but it wouldn’t be easy.

‘Rather, it’s impossible.’

There was no chance at all that it was possible. How could they find 100 people in the vast Mount Cheon? So Hyeonu chose a method that was only possible if those people were descending from Mount Cheon.

‘Stop them on the way down to Yuanyang.’

This was the second-best plan. It might not be the best, but it was far better than searching through Mount Cheon. It was agreed to not only by Hyeonu but the other five players as well.

“Yes, that is the best.”

“I think so as well. The time we spent hunting on Mount Cheon wasn’t that long, but we still did quite a lot of hunting. There definitely aren’t many roads they can use to get down.”

Gang Junggu and Mascherano nodded at Hyeonu’s words.

Liu Shei interrupted here. He spoke in a confident voice, “Since the start, Kowloon stayed in Yuanyang and focused on hunting. No matter what road you use, there are two places you are sure to appear. Only two places. It is obvious where they are as long as you can’t fly.”

Five heads turned toward Liu Shei at the same time. Their expressions said they were asking for more details.

“There are many ways down from Mount Cheon. However, there is a section where they merge into two points,” Liu Shei explained.

Gang Junggu interrupted Liu Shei’s words and said, “We can wait at those points. How do we split up?” 

Liu Shei’s expression distorted for a moment, but no one stopped Gang Junggu. It was better to go along with Gang Junggu and think about the next plan than to listen to Liu Shei’s words.

“My dongsaeng is the strongest, so it is only right that those two go to one place. The remaining four will go to another place,” Kim Seokjong stated.

Hyeonu was flustered by the words. It was the same for Reina. This was because Kim Seokjung was pointing to Hyeonu and Reina respectively.

“Why? You don’t like this split? I think everyone else is okay with it.” Kim Seokjung turned his head and looked around. Everyone nodded in agreement, although Liu Shei alone looked disgruntled. Yet when the moment he met Kim Seokjung’s eyes, Liu Shei’s expression turned into a bright smile.

“Look, we’ll go as four. The two of them will go together. Then let’s go.” Kim Seokjung pushed the rest of his group. “What? Aren’t you moving?”

Naturally, Liu Shei was at the center. It was to prompt him to move quickly. They headed into Mount Cheon.

***

“This is the second place, Cherin Gorge. In order to leave Mount Cheon and arrive at Yuanyang, you have to pass through the Dumu Plains and this place.”

“Really? Then we will go to the Dumu Plains. It’s time. It is already 11 o’clock.”

They moved while focusing only on avoiding monsters, but it was already 11 o’clock. It was said that the Yeokcheon Group was leaving at 12 o’clock, so they had to arrive before then. They shouldn’t miss it. The four of them disappeared like the wind. They seemed to be in a hurry as if they were chasing something.

Reina and Hyeonu were left behind, and an awkward atmosphere was created.

‘I’m dying, dying.’ Hyeonu didn’t have a serious personality, but he was very uncomfortable with the situation at the moment.

“Have you mastered the skill? It sounded pretty good...” Hyeonu spoke with difficulty. They might’ve met several times before, but their relationship wasn’t a very comfortable one.

“Ah, yes. I learned it that day,” Reina replied. She held out her hand to Hyeonu, showing him a familiar-looking white ring on her finger.

“Right, I also got a title. It is called ‘Yongsal Sect Leader’...” Reina added briefly with an apologetic feeling in her words.

‘Indeed... I thought so.’ Hyeonu nodded when he heard the words.

“Congratulations. You don’t have to be sorry. I have it as well,” he stated. Then he took off the gauntlet that looked like a glove on his hand and revealed that his fingers were adorned with black rings.

“This is an item with an option similar to your ring. I gave that ring to you because I couldn’t wear it. Well, I wouldn’t have given it to you if I could wear it,” Hyeonu said playfully.

Reina smiled at Hyeonu’s attitude. The conversation between the two of them continued sparsely. Hyeonu wasn’t very used to having a constant conversation with women. Of course, there was also a lack of consensus between the two of them. It was inevitable since they didn’t know each other well. Nevertheless, it wasn’t awkward anymore.

At this moment, Reina called out softly, “There!”

Hyeonu’s head cocked at the sound. Then like Reina, he spoke in a small voice almost at the volume of a whisper, “What happened? Did you see anything?”

“I think they appeared.”

Upon hearing Reina’s answer, Hyeonu turned his head immediately.

‘One, two, three... It’s a lot.’

At first glance, there were dozens of people. There was only one group that would appear in such numbers here—the Yeokcheon Group. Hyeonu quickly sent a whisper to Kim Seokjung.

-To Kim Seokjung: Hyung-nim, the Yeokcheon Group has appeared here. Please wait on the way from Dumu Plains to Yuanyang.

Hyeonu finished the whisper and immediately summoned Tang-E without waiting for an answer from Kim Seokjung.

“Tang-E, come out.”

A golden bear appeared from the empty air. Hyeonu hugged Tang-E, who was about to scream. 

“Shh! It’s because this is an urgent situation. Be quiet,” Hyeonu told him.

Tang-E nodded but hit Hyeonu’s arm violently.

“Tch! What is it this time?” Tang-E spoke with a scowl.

“It is just a fight. You have to fight too. To be precise, aim magic at the people who run away.”

“Understood, Master dude,” Tang-E replied coldly.

Hyeonu gave another order to Tang-E: “Buff this sister first. Then give it to me, okay?”

“Understood.” Tang-E immediately cast buffs on Reina.

“Then we’ll fight as soon as we get there. Be careful because they are a bit strong,” Hyeonu warned.

Reina nodded. She knew because she had dealt with them once before.

“I know. I will do my best,” she replied.

“Then I will trust in Reina,” Hyeonu said.

It was unbelievable that they were on the verge of a battle.

“Secret... love,” Tang-E muttered in a very low voice.