Ranker’s Return

Everyone was at a loss for words from the sudden situation. They stood still while staring at Viscount Ergal’s blood on the ground. No one had expected that Hyeonu would wield his weapon toward Viscount Ergal.

“Uh... Eh...? Eh...!!! He murdered the viscount!”

The first ones to recover their minds were the guards. For them, Viscount Ergal wasn’t just the city’s master. He was a lord they were loyal to. The object of allegiance had disappeared, but they still needed to get revenge. It was the duty of those who remained.

The demon who shouted drew his sword and charged toward Hyeonu while yelling, “Everyone, wake up! He murdered the viscount... This guy!!!” 

However, the demon’s throat was pierced before he could finish talking. Hyeonu shook off the blood from his sword and spoke again, “I’ll say it once again. From today onward, the owner of this city is me, Baron Argon—no, Viscount Argon. Kneel down and greet your new lord!”

As his voice rang out, black-red energy rose around his body with a pressure that overwhelmed all the demons gathered here. The oppressed demons immediately stopped what they were doing like silent dolls.

“Those who are unconvinced can come out and test me on your own. Still, you should remember that the price is your life!” Hyeonu spoke to the immobile demons.

“Bet your life!” Tang-E playfully repeated Hyeonu’s words, looking mischievous at first glance.

No one came forward because they belatedly recognized Hyeonu’s skills. In fact, the demons were still at a loss right after Viscount Ergal’s throat was cut. They had no awareness of Hyeonu’s force. It was clear that Hyeonu had killed Viscount Ergal, but it was obviously from a surprise attack.

Hyeonu just cut the neck of the unconscious Viscount Ergal. There wasn’t a proper battle. Of course, Hyeonu had actually overwhelmed Viscount Ergal in battle, but the demons didn’t know this fact since he hadn’t fought in front of them. However, it was different when he killed the guard.

A guard had died with everyone watching. They saw the sight of blood dripping from the guard’s neck and the guard then collapsing, but no one had seen when or how Hyeonu had attacked. This was why they couldn’t do anything. A person who turned hundreds of demons into fools—he was certainly good enough to become the new owner of the city.

“I greet the new lord.”

“I pledge allegiance to Viscount Argon!”

The demons started to kneel down one by one. The area was filled with the wreckage of the Colosseum, but no one cared. They just pledged allegiance to their new master. Just then, many messages appeared in front of Hyeonu.

[The demon world viscount, Ergal, has been defeated.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

‘Oh! I leveled up three times?’

It was good news. Hyeonu hadn’t considered leveling up after level 300 as too much experience was required. No matter how much he hunted, the experience bar just hadn’t seemed to increase. Yet he just gained three levels by killing Viscount Ergal.

[By defeating Viscount Ergal, you have taken away his title.]

[You have become a viscount of the demon world.]

[The title ‘First to Become a Viscount of the Demon World’ has been created.]

[First to Become a Viscount of the Demon World]

[You are the first player to become a viscount of the demon world. The title will grow as you rise in rank.

Effect: The stat ‘dignity’ is generated. The attack power of the dark attribute is increased by 15%.]

This message naturally made Hyeonu smile.

‘I finally got a real title.’

It was a message he had been waiting for. Simultaneously, it was the reward he’d wanted for all his hard work. Then Hyeonu’s eyes narrowed like a snake and skimmed the ground.

‘Where is it?’

Hyeonu was looking for the ring that indicated the owner of the territory.

‘Over there.’

The ring glowed in the place where Ergal’s body had disappeared, showing off its presence. Hyeonu bent down to pick up the ring. Then he immediately checked the information of the ring.

‘Item Information.’

[Master of Etono]

[A ring meant for the master of Etono, the 38th 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)]

‘It’s the same.’

It was the same as the ring that Hyeonu gave to Garcia, Master of Penn. The only difference was that the name of this ring wasn’t Master of Penn but Master of Etono. Nothing else was different. Hyeonu placed the ring on his finger before shouting at the demons: “Cancel all matches at the Colosseum immediately and repair it. Then bring the administrator to me.”

He slowly left his spot after he was done talking. Once Hyeonu was gone, the demons started diligently carrying the broken stones. Clearing the rubble was the top priority before repairing the building.

***

‘When is he coming...’

Hyeonu played with the soles of Tang-E’s feet as he waited for the administrator of Etono.

‘I need to know the situation of the territory and make plans in the inner office.’

This was purely what he’d learned from his experience with Phinis. Hyeonu knew nothing about Etono, but he would know everything once he entered the inner office.

‘Please don’t let it be like Phinis.’

An evil among evils—it was literally the worst. That was Phinis in the past.

‘I heard Etono’s Colosseum is very popular, so there should be a lot of money.’

Fortunately, the Colosseum in Etono was famous. This meant the territory had a lot of assets.

“Viscount Argon, I am the chief administrator of Etono, Lev.” A well-dressed demon appeared in front of Hyeonu just then. His name was Lev. He was Etono’s administrator.

“Yes, Lev... I won’t say much. Guide me to the inner office. I want to see the status of Etono first,” Hyeonu spoke in a truly brief manner. He didn’t drag it out at all. He wanted to deal with this as quickly as possible and rest.

‘In any case, it isn’t a situation where I can go there right away.’

Hyeonu wanted to find the place where he could absorb magic power from the magic power stone, but he wasn’t in a position to go there now.

‘It should be there.’

It was likely the space under the dining table where Viscount Ergal had appeared from, but Hyeonu couldn’t do anything about it due to the wreckage of the collapsed Colosseum. Therefore, he wanted to confirm the location of the inner office first.

“You mean... The inner office? Yes, I understand. Please follow me, Viscount.” The chief administrator Lev guided Hyeonu to the inner office at his behest. The inner office was far from the Colosseum, at the top of the lord’s castle.

‘Isn’t it a bit far?’

“Why don’t we go a bit faster? It is a lot further than I thought,” Hyeonu urged Lev.

He wanted to see Etono’s status now.

“I understand, Viscount. I will move quickly.” Lev turned to Hyeonu and bowed once. Then he looked back to the front and started running.

***

“This is the inner office, Viscount Argon.” Lev pointed to a door with luxurious decor.

“Really? Then go ahead. Good job. I will see you later.” Hyeonu waved his hand at Lev and opened the door to enter the inner office.

‘It’s neater and nicer than Phinis’ inner office.’

Etono’s inner office was gorgeous. It wasn’t as magnificent as the emperor’s great hall, but it was grander than a noble’s office. The wooden furniture and ornate decorations that gave off a fragrant scent looked expensive.

“It’s the same.”

On one side of Etono’s inner office, there was a very familiar chair. This chair was also in Phinis, and it was ergonomically designed and comfortable for use in the game. It was a special chair that could check the status of the territory.

‘Let’s sit down.’

Hyeonu buried his body in the chair. It was a really comfortable chair. The moment Hyeonu sat in the chair, many messages flashed in front of his eyes.

[You have become the lord of Etono, one of the 72 cities of the demon world.]

[The title ‘Lord of Etono’ has been created.]

[Lord of Etono]

[A title given to the player who became the lord of Etono. The title will be destroyed if you lose the position of lord.

Effect: All stats rise by 15% in Etono and the surrounding fields.]

[The title ‘First to Become a Lord of the Demon World’ has been created.]

[First to Become a Lord of the Demon World]

[A title given to the first player to obtain a territory in the demon world.

Effect: All stats have increased by 5%.]

‘Now I have two territories...’

The identity of the message that appeared was no different. Hyeonu had become the master of Etono in place of Viscount Ergal, who was now a corpse.

-Welcome to Etono, player Gang Hyeonu.

The voice he heard when he became the lord of Phinis once again echoed in Hyeonu’s ear.

-From now on, I will start the tutorial on territories. First...

The voice tried to do the tutorial just like it had done back in Phinis. Hyeonu had no desire to waste time on such a thing. Of course, it wouldn’t take long, but he still wanted to save that time.

“It’s fine. Just explain how Etono is different from other territories. I’m familiar with the basic things,” Hyeonu interrupted the voice in the middle and revealed what he wanted.

-I understand, Player Gang Hyeonu. Etono is a city of the demon world. The difference between Etono and the other cities in the demon world is that Etono’s basic soldiers are very strong. Most cities specialize in training demonic creatures and demons, whereas Etono has invested money in the Colosseum, which is the latest trend in the demon world. Its economy and culture have flourished.

The voice gave the explanation that Hyeonu wanted. It accurately briefed him on the situation in Etono.

‘It’s a city specialized in armed forces.’

Hyeonu figured out the characteristics of Etono from the voice’s description. The culture and economy had developed, but it was a very recent thing. A city with a high level of military power, just like the other cities in the demon world—that was Etono.

‘Then shall I look at the status window?’

Hyeonu was filled with expectations, and his expectations just became bigger due to the voice’s explanation. Unlike other cities, it had developed its economy and culture.

“Territory Status Window.”

[Territory Status Window]

[Territory Name: Etono

Territory Affiliation: None

Lord’s Name: Gang Hyeonu

Territory Development: Economy: 44 (-36)  Military: 70  Magic: 62  Culture: 26 (-5)

Territory Population: 642,302 demons, 1,243,869 demonic creatures

Territory Assets: -3,200,000 gold

Consumption Cost: 26,320 gold

Levy Amount: 22,348 gold.

Security: Good

Owned Facilities: 9 (excluding residential facilities)

Current Status: After Viscount Ergal’s death, a new lord took office, but most demons don’t know about it. In fact, there is no interest. However, due to the extreme deficit from the Colosseum, the territory’s economy is facing collapse. If this condition is maintained for another week, the territory might need to be sold.]

‘This shit...’ Hyeonu saw the status window, and his expression distorted in a devil-like manner.