Ranker’s Return

“Again? I thought you were pretty careful, yet you’re coming out so resolutely.” Baler looked amazed. He had grasped through this short conversation that the human was calm and thoughtful. From a hostile point of view, the human would make for a very uncomfortable opposition.

‘Yet he is sometimes resolute?’ Baler thought. This person was a human, but he was more demon-like than actual demons. Baler really liked it.

‘Come to think about it... I don’t know his name?’ Baler said he would accept this person as his subordinate, but he didn’t know the human’s name or even his identity. The human seemed to be at least a viscount if he owned a city. ‘He is good enough to be an earl, but...’

The position of earl was difficult to decide by force alone. It was impossible to rise up to that position without the backing of a demon king or a duke. No, it was possible, but they would lose their life without keeping it for long.

“Before that, how about introducing yourself?” Baler asked Hyeonu for an introduction.

Upon hearing this, Hyeonu realized something. 

‘I was stupid,’ he remarked inwardly. He’d asked for protection without even mentioning anything about himself so far. Having been too worried, Hyeonu had simply moved on to the next topic. He didn’t think he could have been even stupider. Hyeonu bowed his head and apologized to Baler, “I see... I’m sorry, Baler. I was a bit distracted.”

This was obviously his mistake. It was polite to give introductions at the beginning of a conversation.

“I’m Viscount Argon. I rule the 38th city, Etono.”

“Etono? Whose territory was that?” Baler shrugged like he had no idea at all.

“Viscount Ergal—a nobleman under Damanos, demon king of iron blood.”

“Ah, really? Damanos?”

When Hyeonu saw Baler’s visibly brighter expression, his face showed that he wanted an explanation.

“Damanos can never argue with my decision. Well, it isn’t just him. Rubolle and Galiya are the same,” Baler asserted with a smile. He was full of conviction.

“Baler, do they have any weaknesses?”

Baler shook his head at Hyeonu’s question. He approached Hyeonu and whispered quietly, “It isn’t a weakness. It is just how the current power structure is like now. I’ll explain it just once, so pay attention.”

It seemed to be a very important story. Hyeonu gulped and nodded.

“Currently, the demon world is in a very tense state. Do you know the reason for that, Viscount Argon?”

“I don’t know, but I have a guess.” 

“Really? Then tell me. I’m curious about how much you know.” Baler’s eyes lit up. He was interested in Hyeonu’s statement.

“The invasion of the middle world.”

“Hoh?” Baler looked surprised. Hyeonu knew more than Baler thought. Baler’s expression changed rapidly as Hyeonu kept talking.

“I know that at the center of it is Demon King Rubolle, Demon King Damanos. and Demon King Galiya.”

Baler now showed an expression of astonishment. This wasn’t at the level of not knowing...

This was knowing everything.

“You know the general framework...”

“Is that so?” Hyeonu responded in a calm voice like he had no interest.

‘You told me everything yourself...’

In fact, there was only one thing that Hyeonu had already known. It was that Rubolle was preparing for an invasion of the middle world. He had discovered this when Earl Carpe appeared in the middle world. Hyeonu only found out the rest from what Baler just told him. Damanos, Rubolle, and Galiya all had the same relationship with Baler. Therefore, Hyeonu surmised that the three of them were hard-liners aiming for an invasion of the middle world.

Baler clapped and asked Hyeonu, “Right, so what is your second request?” 

‘I couldn’t tell you due to your words.’ Hyeonu made a bitter smile. Baler had talked so much that Hyeonu hadn’t been able to express his second request.

“The first human you said you met—can you let me see him?”

Hyeonu instinctively knew that the first human Baler said he’d met was Duke Blake, whom Hyeonu was looking for.

“Is that your request? It is so easy that I feel sorry...” Baler’s expression cooled rapidly. His excitement had subsided. He tried to hide his feelings of boredom, but they couldn’t be hidden.

“Do you know where he is now?”

“How can I not know? It isn’t just me. There are few people who don’t know. Rather, it is weirder that you don’t know.”

“Is he so famous? A human..?”

“Not as a human. He is known as a demon.” Baler said while looking at Hyeonu with strange eyes. Then he smiled and explained, “He is a noble as well—a senior noble with a city. It is impossible not to know him.”

Hyeonu nodded at Baler’s words. It was indeed impossible not to know of the person in question. There were only 72 nobles with cities. Seven were demon kings, so in the end, only 65 were pure nobles. This person had to be famous.

“Is his city close to here?”

“It is close, very close. It is a stone’s throw away.”

“How close is it?” Hyeonu asked again. He needed confirmation because Baler’s standards might be different.

“It is near the Forest of Death. Quere—that is the city ruled by the human.”

Hyeonu’s eyes widened. Quere was the name of the city that Viscount Garcia was visiting. It was also the city where Duke John was the master. This meant...

“Are you saying that Duke John is a human?” Hyeonu looked surprised. His face was covered with a mask, so Baler couldn’t see it. Nevertheless, Baler accurately noticed the change in emotions because Hyeonu’s voice had changed.

“You seem really shocked. I understand. I too was surprised at first. A human being actually ascended to the duke’s position under Rubolle, who treats him like a bug.” Baler took a small breath at this point. “We should continue the next conversation in Quere. That would be better.”

Baler shook his head and flicked his finger. Before Hyeonu could react, he and Baler disappeared without a trace from the Forest of Death.

***

In a garden that didn’t suit a lord’s castle, a man with silver hair was there tidying up the dark green grass.

“Duke John, I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you for a long time.” A man in dark purple clothes bowed toward the silver-haired man.

It was a greeting made with extreme courtesy.

“Why are you sorry? You are the only person who comes to see me.” The silver-haired man, Duke John, waved his hand toward Viscount Garcia, who was dressed in purple clothes. He didn’t really welcome guests, but he didn’t badly treat those who came. Still, having someone to talk to was good for killing time.

When Duke John saw Viscount Garcia’s bright face, he wondered, “Has everything been okay in the meantime? Your expression looks a bit better.” 

His face seemed to be asking about the latest situation.

“I have regained my city with the help of Baron Argon.” Garcia tried to hold back his laughter and just smiled softly.

“That’s a good thing. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. You know that, right? How foolish it is to raise your power using someone else’s hand.”

“I know. You shouldn’t be swayed by personal feelings. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“That’s why I consider you better than others. You don’t cross the line.” Duke John laughed. Viscount Garcia got the chills from Duke John’s laughter as he noticed the duke’s words were sincere.

“By the way, did you say Argon? Why don’t you talk a bit more about him? It’s been a while since I’ve been interested in someone.” Duke John was interested in Baron Argon—in other words, Hyeonu. How exactly did he get to and from the middle world and demon world? Duke John was focused on this method.

‘It is nice here, but... Indeed...’

Duke John felt nostalgic about the continent. Of course, the demon world wasn’t that bad. He could fight whenever he wanted to, and there was no problem with eating and living. Rather, he ate delicious things that were dozens or hundreds of times better than in the human world. Still, the demon world was the demon world. The duke had no bond with the past here, only a world with the present and the future. He had no memories here at all.

‘I really miss them...’ He wanted to see the rebellious children and meet the people he shared memories with.

“Duke, I was going to introduce him to you. It hasn’t been long since he became a noble. He has an outstanding combat force, but he is more like a lone wolf. So I hope you can lend your name...” Viscount Garcia bowed his head.

In a way, this was a rude request. He had come here without saying anything to ask the duke for a favor. A viscount was a noble, but it was no different from a commoner compared to a duke. Rather, the wall between a duke and viscount was thicker and harder than the wall between a viscount and the common people.

“Why are you bowing? It isn’t that hard. Between you and me, I believe in your discerning eye. In addition, you gave me such a gift, so I can do you this favor,” Duke Blake replied. The two of them continued their conversation. There were both serious and boring stories.

Just then, a huge storm of magic power formed in the garden. Viscount Garcia pressed his lips tightly together and raised his own magic power as a defense, but the magic power felt in the garden was too great. If he didn’t do this, he wouldn’t be able to hold on.

“Courtesy... Don’t you know that when you come and visit someone else’s house, your hands should be filled with gifts and you should come quietly?” Duke John waved his hand with a frown. The storm of magic power weakened in an instant.

“It’s been a long time, John. I don’t come here too often, right? What is politeness among friends?” Baler waved with a brazen expression. He ignored Duke John’s words and just said what he wanted.

‘Who is it?’ Viscount Garcia raised his head the moment the storm of magic power disappeared. He wondered who was talking to Duke John. There were two demons standing there. One of them was someone Viscount Garcia knew well.

“Eh? Baron Argon?” Viscount Garcia said in surprise.

Hyeonu waved to him. “It is viscount now—Viscount Argon.”

Then Hyeonu walked forward and stood in front of Duke John. “Duke, I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

“I am meeting you for the first time, yet you’ve been looking for me...?” Duke John cocked his head at Hyeonu’s words. It was the first time he had ever seen this face. They’d had no previous contact at all. 

Hyeonu opened his mouth again and said, “My master really wants to see you, Duke Blake.”

The composure on Duke John—no, Duke Blake’s face was broken.