Ranker’s Return

“Your Majesty, have you been well?” Hyeonu said as he made eye contact with the emperor.

“I heard the news that you started the subjugation, but... you’re back already?”

“I think I’ve done everything I can, Your Majesty. Now there are only a few people left, and it isn’t enough to be called a force.”

The 300 NPCs belonging to the attackers might not be all of them. In the meantime, there must be some people who survived. Still, this was good enough. The raiders were almost completely destroyed, which was what the emperor intended.

“Yes, you can’t kill an orc with a sword used to kill a goblin.” The emperor nodded. Every person had their own use for him. Hyeonu was an important card. He was a person who took the role of the vanguard, not the occupying force.

“This is the purpose behind why you came today, right? Here, take it.” The emperor threw the ring at Hyeonu. It was like he was giving alms to a beggar. However, Hyeonu didn’t care about that.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Hyeonu said upon receiving the ring. His mind was already focused on it.

“Then I will go now.” Hyeonu wanted to quickly return to the demon world with the ring. No, he was thinking about checking the effects of the ring before doing that. He wanted to know about the performance of the ring even if he had to give it away.

Hyeonu was too curious. However, the emperor didn’t let Hyeonu go.

“I heard you are looking for the former knight commander?” The emperor’s slow words caught Hyeonu as he was trying to turn around.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m looking for Duke Blake.” Hyeonu turned back around and walked toward the emperor.

“If you find the duke, tell him, ‘It’s too boring. So once you come back, I hope you bring some interesting news,’ for me.”

“Is that all you have to say, Your Majesty?” Hyeonu was relieved. It wasn’t a big thing.

‘I have to do it anyway.’

He had been worried that the emperor would request a troublesome favor, but it was just a very easy request.

“That is enough.”

[A quest has been created.]

[Emperor’s Message]

[Convey the words of the emperor of the Yusma Empire to Duke Blake, former knight commander of the Knights of Keon.

Rating: S+

Conditions: Tell Duke Blake the emperor’s message 1/1

Rewards: Experience, imperial contribution.]

A quest was created the moment the emperor finished talking. The difficulty was a bit strange though.

‘S+?’

It was different from the difficulty of Lebron’s quest.

‘Why is it so high?’

Hyeonu hurriedly opened the quest window to find Lebron’s quest.

[Duke Blake]

[Meet Duke Blake, the former commander of the Knights of Keon.

Rating: A+

Conditions: Meet Duke Blake 0/1

Rewards: Experience, Duke Blake’s secret technique.]

It was definitely A+. There was no big difference in the content, but the quest difficulty was significantly different. A+ and S+ had a three-stage difference. Then it happened at this moment. A message window appeared to answer Hyeonu’s question.

[The quest has been updated.]

[The rating of the quest ‘Duke Blake’ has risen from A+ to S+.]

The rating of the original quest was increased, and the balance between the two was adjusted, with both quests having an S+ rating. Hyeonu tried to resist the sigh that wanted to burst out. “I understand, Your Majesty. I will definitely say it if I meet Duke Blake.”

“I hope the day will be soon... It is interesting just thinking about it...”

***

Hyeonu exited the emperor’s palace and sat in a secluded place. His hand was holding a ring that scattered a dark light. He stared at the ring for a while before shaking his head and checking the information.

‘Item Information.’

[Master of Penn]

[A ring meant for the master of Penn, the 27th magic power stone created by the demon god.

Rating: Epic

Restrictions: A noble that is a baron or higher.

Effect: The skill ‘Magic Power Absorption’ is available (cooldown time: 720 hours)

Magic Power Absorption: If you use this skill with your hand on the Penn magic power stone, you can absorb that magic power that is stored in Penn. The absorption amount is proportional to the magic power stat.]

The effect of the ring was really simple. There was only one effect. It was amazing that the item was epic-rated.

‘Absorb magic power...’

It sounded like he could raise the magic power stat through Magic Power Absorption.

‘That’s why they risk their lives for this ring.’

In fact, Hyeonu had heard the explanation of the ring and thought that the stats would rise like normal items. However, now it seemed to mean something different. The stat increase wasn’t determined. Rather, it could gradually continue to be increased.

‘There is no penalty apart from a 30-day cooldown.’

The relatively long cooldown didn’t lower the value of this ring. Just the item’s ability to increase a stat had sufficient value.

‘But the conditions of use are a bit...’

This was why Hyeonu could look at the ring so calmly. It was impossible for him to use it. The ring couldn’t be used anywhere in the city. It could only be used by placing a hand on the magic power stone. Hyeonu didn’t know the location, so it was as good as a loaf of bread in a picture.

‘I will give it to Garcia and clear the quest.’

Hyeonu placed the ring in his inventory and got up. He dusted off his buttocks before quickly walking out of the imperial palace.

***

“Leon Meyer!”

Hyeonu visited the cave of Bung Bung Island again. He had only one purpose—to get to the demon world. To do so, Leon Meyer’s help was needed again.

“Huh? Why are you here...?” Leon Meyer’s eyes were opened so wide that they couldn’t go any wider when he saw Hyeonu. He looked like he had seen a ghost.

‘I think I know what his expression means.’ 

Hyeonu could understand Leon Meyer’s expression.

‘I shouldn’t be here.’

Hyeonu was now standing in front of Leon Meyer, but Leon Meyer hadn’t even known that Hyeonu had returned to the middle world. It was because Hyeonu hadn’t used the return scroll Leon Meyer had given him.

Leon Meyer said, “How did you enter the demon king’s palace....”

He only knew one other method that could be used to return to the middle world—the magic power circle in a demon king’s palace. So it was natural that Leon Meyer didn’t know how Hyeonu returned.

‘Only players have the right to return to their territory.’

The power to return to a territory’s inner office was only given to players who were lords. Leon Meyer might be a dragon, but he was an NPC, so it was unknown to him.

“I didn’t see the demon king’s palace. The demon world is too wide. Instead, I found another way. I was able to return with an ability only available to some adventurers,” Hyeonu replied with a shrug.

Leon Meyer looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t say it and just endured it. “Adventurers... I see. So do you want me to unlock the magic circle again?”

Despite that, Leon Meyer’s subsequent words allowed Hyeonu to guess what Leon Meyer had wanted to say.

‘What method did I use to come back?’

Hyeonu could also infer the reason why Leon Meyer decided not to ask. It was because Hyeonu said it was only for adventurers. Leon Meyer couldn’t use it no matter what, so he didn’t need to know it.

“Yes, I want to return to the demon world. I think I’ll have some good news the next time we meet. Things are already interesting,” Hyeonu said with a smile. However, his smile was obscured by a mask and not visible to Leon Meyer.

“Congratulations if it works out well... I hope you will be better in the future.”

The conversation ended here. Leon Meyer finally guided Hyeonu to the depths of the cave where the magic circle was.

***

[You have entered the special field, the ‘Demon World’.]

[The demon world’s penalty is applied.]

[All stats are reduced by 30%.]

[You have the dark attribute.]

[The penalty doesn’t apply.]

[A bonus will be applied for having the dark attribute.]

[In the demon world, the strength of magic power and the recovery speed will increase by 20%.]

Messages appeared in front of Hyeonu informing him of his return to the demon world.

‘I’m finally back?’

It took longer than he expected. Even though there was a clear destination, there was an unexpected challenge in the middle.

‘Where is this place?’

Hyeonu turned his head and examined his surroundings, but he couldn’t determine anything by looking. It was his first time seeing this place.

‘Ah, I have this.’

Hyeonu placed his hand in the inventory and pulled something out. There was now a white coin in his hand. It was an item he received from Viscount Garcia, Penn’s lord. The name of the coin was Penn Return Stone.

‘Did he say to shout ‘Return’?’

The method of using the Penn Return Stone was simple. All he had to do was hold it in his hand and say a word. There was no need for any complicated processes.

“Return!” 

The moment Hyeonu shouted, a black light emerged from the white coin.

[The Penn Return Stone has been used.]

[Moving to Penn.]

[Current number of uses remaining: 5/6]

[Remaining time to charge it once is 5 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds.]

The black light that flowed from the coin began to engulf Hyeonu’s entire body. Soon, his figure was completely swallowed in black, and he disappeared.

***

Hyeonu carefully opened his eyes. He saw familiar buildings and scenery in front of him.

‘First of all, I have to go to Garcia.’

Garcia should be in the lord’s castle in the distance, so Hyeonu made it his destination and walked diligently among the demons.

‘This...?’

Hyeonu was walking toward the lord’s castle when he saw a familiar back. It was Garcia—Viscount Garcia. Hyeonu hurried forward until he was behind Garcia. Then he stomped his feet loudly enough for Garcia to hear and feel it. Garcia’s head turned toward Hyeonu. Naturally, he was clearly angry. Someone picked a fight with the acting lord when he was walking down the street? This was unacceptable among the demons. It was obvious that he would be mocked if he put up with it.

“Who...?!!! Wait, isn’t this Baron Argon?” Garcia began shouting only to end up lowering his voice. He belatedly noticed that the one walking behind him was Hyeonu.

“Yes, Viscount. I came back as I told you I would. Did I cause you any trouble?” Hyeonu spoke to Garcia in a brazen manner.

“Of course not, I told you to come to me at any time. I am on my way to the lord’s castle. Let’s go together,” Garcia replied as he grabbed Hyeonu’s shoulder and pulled Hyeonu to his side. Then he whispered in Hyeonu’s ear, “You came back so soon... Did you fail?”

Garcia thought that Hyeonu had failed to get the ring back. This was the only reason he could think of as to why Hyeonu would return so quickly. Demons could live for thousands of years if they didn’t die in battle, so a period of less than a month was very short for them.

“I will tell you more after arriving at the lord’s castle. Isn’t it sad to talk without any food or wine?” Hyeonu continued to maintain his brazen attitude. He never changed his expression despite the anxiety on Garcia’s face. Rather, the ambiguous expression on his face only increased Garcia’s curiosity.

“I understand. Let’s go. I’m curious about what you’ve been doing.”

In the end, the thirsty Garcia had no choice but to keep walking.