Ranker’s Return

“Haven’t a lot of merchant groups been attacked recently?” A man with an ornately decorated sword looked around uneasily.

Standing next to him, a man dressed as a magician shook his head. “You are too timid. There are 30 people gathered for this quest. Additionally, there are enough NPCs.”

The merchant groups were constantly attacked, so tasks related to them were created in succession. The most common one was an escort quest. Some were released by the merchant groups, and some were by the nobles associated with the merchant groups.

“There is a rumor that those attacking the merchant groups are rankers. I’m still anxious.”

“Don’t say anything superfluous. Your words can jinx it.”

The title of ‘ranker’ was also a burden for the magician. It wasn’t just him. For most players, rankers were otherworldly beings. They were people with a whole different level of control and specifications. It wasn’t easy to become familiar with them.

“Attackers!”

“Everybody, get ready for battle!”

Just then, screams from the front of the merchant group procession signaled a raid. The appearance of the attackers was seen by the magician and swordsman. They were covered from head to toe in black, and it was impossible to know their identity because something was covering their faces.

“This is all your fault, you bastard,” the magician shouted at the swordsman.

“Aren’t you going to use magic? If you fall behind, who will care about your experience?” The swordsman laughed at the magician and pulled out his sword.

Then he rushed toward those attacking the merchant group. No, he tried to charge over. If only it wasn’t for the dozens of people who appeared in front of them... The people in colorful attire had familiar faces. It was the swordsman’s first time seeing them in person, but they were faces that had appeared often in A-World.

“New World!”

It was New World—one of Arena’s best guilds. Such a New World had now appeared on Cruise Mountain. The swordsman turned his head and looked around. His gaze was focused on the members of New World. He seemed to be looking for someone.

“I don’t know if Alley Leader is here...”

Arena’s strongest player, Alley Leader—he also belonged to New World. The fact that New World was here meant Alley Leader might be here. Alley Leader’s appearance was very conspicuous, so he would soon be found. Not finding him meant Alley Leader wasn’t present. In the meantime, the battle had begun. The swordsman was a standard-level player, so he made a judgment quickly. There were fierce battles taking place everywhere, and among them, there were certain players who stood out.

Gang Junggu—his presence was overwhelming as he wielded fists covered with divine power. His fists were unstoppable as they destroyed the defenses of his opponents.

“Wow...” The swordsman no longer looked for Alley Leader. His eyes were now chasing after Gang Junggu. Then it happened at this time. A huge explosion occurred at the front of the merchant group, kicking up a cloud of dust.

There was a moment of silence on the battlefield. No one moved. They turned their heads to stare at the source of the explosion. The dust gradually settled, and people started to see it. There was a man with a light blue sword resting against his shoulder, and there were several pools of red liquid in the area.

The sword of the man started moving. It was pointed at the side where the swordsman was standing. There were already no attackers standing in the area where the man was located. A black-red energy flowed from him, and it felt very creepy.

‘What is this?’ The swordsman wondered. He was mesmerized. It was because the red-black energy was so eerie. Then this eeriness soon disappeared. It was because the swordsman noticed who the man was. ‘Alley Leader.’ This eeriness turned to relief when it was confirmed he wasn’t an enemy.

However, this relief didn’t last long. It soon turned into wonder and respect from seeing the strike Alley Leader showed. Black-red pure energy poured out from the end of Alley Leader’s sword like a small laser. The ridiculous amount of force that had gathered together pierced through the air at high speed.

Then it split apart according to the exact number of surviving attackers. There were rapid changes in the expressions of the attackers who were standing still. Frightened by Alley Leader’s strength, the attackers wielded their weapons and used their skills. They created all types of pure energies from their weapons and attacked Alley Leader’s pure energy. The pure energies of Alley Leader and the attackers clashed, sending out a blast of shockwaves.

The world started to shake like there was an earthquake. Just then, everyone present heard a very small sound. Along with it, the black-red energy started to advance through the obstacles in its way. It was unstoppable.

Alley Leader’s pure energies struck the attackers. They were just small lines, but they contained a strong power. The moment they pierced the attackers, the attackers started to burst open. The pure energies exploded from all sides, rupturing the attackers’ bodies like exploding firecrackers.

The grass and dirt were dyed red, and flesh fell to the ground with a plop. The battle was over. It didn’t last long. No, it was more appropriate to say that it was finished in an instant. New World had emerged, and the attackers were wiped out at the next moment.

“Hyung-nim, we seem to have killed a third of them.”

“Really? I’m glad. It is more than I thought. Won’t it be over soon?”

“I think time will work out the rest. Do it slowly.”

“Yes, we just need time. They will come out anyway.”

Hyeonu and Gang Junggu accepted the situation very positively. It wasn’t just about wiping out the attackers. The number of dead attackers was significant. To be exact, the proportion of NPCs killed was the most important.

“Well, if it doesn’t work, I could just ask a magician NPC I know to open the door?” Hyeonu offered.

Hearing that, Gang Junggu smiled sweetly. He couldn’t help smiling at how smoothly the task had gone.

“I know the quest will be done as long as you’re around. It’s great,” Gang Junggu said and placed an arm around Hyeonu’s shoulder.

Just then, the swordsman approached Hyeonu. Hyeonu was in front of the swordsman, so he didn’t notice the swordsman coming. Rather, it was Gang Junggu who questioned the swordsman, “What are you doing?”

“I have something I want to say to Alley Leader. Can you spare some time?” The swordsman asked.

Hyeonu turned to look at the swordsman. Right at this moment, the swordsman reached out his arm, wrapped it around Hyeonu’s neck, and pulled Hyeonu to his side.

“Hiding your identity from me? Yo, this jerk happened to be here today,” the swordsman said. His name was Jung Sehun. He was an alumnus from Hyeonu’s high school and was the one who was friendliest with Hyeonu, apart from Yeongchan.

“No, it was a secret back then. Why don’t you let me go so we can talk? We can’t talk so savagely, right? Let’s solve it in words like someone who has completed their higher education.” Hyeonu hit Jung Sehun’s side with his arms.

Hyeonu could solve it with force if he wanted to, but he didn’t do that. He accepted his friend’s choking hold as just a joke.

“Hey, are you really not going to let go? I will count to three. You know that I’ll just count once, right?” Hyeonu asked.

However, Jung Sehun didn’t let go. Rather, he continued to exert strength in his arm.

“One, two, three!”

It was only after Hyeonu shouted to three that Jung Sehun finally stepped aside.

“This jerk. I can’t even get in touch with you?” Jung Sehun said while looking at Hyeonu.

“Am I the only one that ignored someone? Weren’t you the same? I contacted you several times, but every time you said you needed to study for an exam. Don’t you remember ignoring me?” Hyeonu replied with dignity. He had nothing to feel bad about. It might be different if he hadn’t contacted Jung Sehun at all, but he had done so at least once a month.

‘Of course, it was during the examination period.’

Hyeonu just happened to contact him at the wrong time.

“Really? There was such a thing…?” Jung Sehun scratched the back of his head and shrugged.

Hyeonu saw it and shouted angrily, “There was such a thing? Didn’t you just strangle me?”

While he was speaking, he took out his mask and put it in his inventory. The mask disappeared, and Hyeonu’s face was revealed. It was like that of a devil from hell. He approached Jung Sehun with a distorted expression. Jung Sehun quietly took a step back. “Don’t come over. Don’t come over!”

Hyeonu didn’t stop and continued moving forward, stopping just in front of Jung Sehun. He raised his arm and grabbed Jung Sehun’s shoulder. No, he tried to grab it. He would have done so if it wasn’t for the thick hand that touched his shoulder.

“Is this Hyeonu’s friend? Then shouldn’t you introduce me quickly? What are you doing now?” It was Gang Junggu. Gang Junggu saved Jung Sehun. Knowing this, Jung Sehun pushed Hyeonu aside to stand in front of Gang Junggu.

“Good morning. I’m Jung Sehun. I’m Hyeonu’s high school classmate.” Jung Sehun gave a 90-degree bow.

Gang Junggu grabbed Jung Sehun by the shoulders and straightened the latter’s posture. Then he held out his right hand and said, “I’m Gang Junggu. Just talk comfortably. If you are Hyeonu’s friend, you are like my younger brother.”

With an amazed expression, Jung Sehun grabbed Gang Junggu’s right hand with both hands. “Then I’ll call you hyung-nim, Junggu hyung-nim.”

“Your name is Sehun? I like it. I’ll see you on Wednesday.” Gang Junggu let out a loud laugh.

He laughed for a long time while telling Jung Sehun confusing words about seeing him on Wednesday.

“Wednesday?” It was Hyeonu, not Jung Sehun, who asked.

‘What is happening on Wednesday?’ Hyeonu wondered.

It was rather baffling. Gang Junggu was in China. Of course, it would take no more than a few hours by plane. However, there was no need for him to waste time to come to South Korea just to see Jung Sehun. Gang Junggu was meeting Jung Sehun for the first time now. It was a different matter if he were coming to see Hyeonu though.

‘Me?’

“Do you want to come to the stadium?” Hyeonu asked with a disbelieving expression.

“Don’t you know? Hyung-nim said he was coming over on Wednesday.” Gang Junggu glanced back at Hyeonu with strange eyes.

It was an expression that suggested he was doubting Hyeonu’s memory.

“We didn’t make an appointment... What about the quest?” Hyeonu said.

Gang Junggu and Kim Seokjung weren’t unfamiliar faces for the Crescent Moon players. Rather, they were quite friendly with each other since they already had a wild party together on the island. The problem was the quest they were currently on. They had to get rid of all the attackers.

“The game is important, but it isn’t more important than meeting you. It is fun to meet and play,” Gang Junggu stated.

After hearing that, Hyeonu looked at Gang Junggu with a moved expression in his eyes.

Gang Junggu continued talking to Hyeonu, “In addition, well... You’ll take care of it. Please, Hyeonu.”

Then he patted Hyeonu on the shoulder. A bitter smile appeared on Hyeonu’s face.