Ranker’s Return

“Tiger? How is that a tiger? It looks like a stray cat.” Hyeonu smiled sarcastically. It was a trick to shake Lebron’s spirit. This much trash talk was the basics.

‘Just shake him a bit so I can do a surprise attack.’

Lebron’s magic spirit was very cute. It was definitely in the sole color of black, but it had a distinct appearance due to the difference in concentration.

‘It really is cute.’

The magic spirit had two dark eyes, pointed ears, and a gently swaying tail. This was an appearance that met the standards of being called delicate.

“He looks familiar. I saw him before...” John Blake seemed to know the identity of the magic spirit.

“Have you seen that cat, Duke Blake?” Hyeonu wondered.

“Of course, he is a guy I saw before I came to the demon world. He is a tiger that Lebron raised since he was young. The genealogy isn’t known. I just know that he isn’t ordinary.”

“There was no such tiger at the mansion in Yusma... Is he dead?”

Lebron became furious when he heard Hyeonu’s words. “Who said that he’s dead?! He is living well...”

Then John Blake helped clarify the situation. No, he wasn’t helping… He was making fun of Lebron.

“Yes, he is alive. You just can’t see him. Lebron’s wife took him home with her and her children. She said she doesn’t want to live with a fool who only cares about the sword,” John Blake said with a smile.

There was no applause mixed with laughter, but Lebron’s face turned red.

“Isn’t it all because of you, Master?!!” Lebron accused.

Nevertheless, John Blake’s expression didn’t change at all. “Why blame me? You were the one who wanted to become a duke.”

“It wasn’t a duke but the captain of the knights. You were the one who gave up your title and ran away.”

“A son of an earl became a duke... Other people are dreaming about this...” John Blake didn’t lose when it came to words and continued to provoke Lebron.

The problem was that the more he did so, the darker Lebron’s magic spirit became.

‘It is a black hole sucking in everything around it,’ Hyeonu thought anxiously.

Lebron’s magic spirit was pouring out such a dark light that it could be mistaken as absorbing the surrounding light.

‘I have to deal with that...’

It was terrible just thinking about it. The result already seemed to be set. The only question was how miserable and difficult the process would be.

Hyeonu quietly created his magic spirit while Lebron and John Blake were bickering. A black-red bear around 30cm tall appeared on Hyeonu’s head. The bear used Hyeonu’s head as a playground to warm up. It jumped in place and spread its paws wide open.

‘It has become faster because the ranking has gone up.’

Hyeonu could feel the change that had occurred in the magic spirit. Its movements felt neat now.

‘Should I say it is moving more like my body?’

It wasn’t just that. He could move it like before but with less concentration. In other words, the skill’s difficulty had lowered slightly.

“That’s it. We’ll talk about it later. Now I have to play with my disciple.” Lebron eventually shook off John Blake. He chose not to win in words but to ignore it, just like he had done so far.

“As expected, you are my disciple. It hasn’t been long since you’ve learned it, but it is much better than before.” Lebron marveled at Hyeonu’s magic spirit. It looked different from what he had seen at his training ground not long ago. The bear had a sharper appearance and a stronger aura than before.

“Then let’s fight... now!” LeBron exclaimed. 

Right after that, the little cat—no, the tiger moved toward Hyeonu. It was as agile as it was small. The tiger moved from left to right and grew in size the moment it approached Hyeonu. Lebron’s magic spirit became a real tiger but with a body length of over 10 meters. It opened its mouth like it was going to devour Hyeonu.

“So it’s just this much.” Hyeonu stepped back and avoided the tiger’s attack. He immediately poured magic power into the magic spirit. Simultaneously, he imagined the magic spirit Tang-E using magic.

‘I don’t want attributes like Tang-E’s...’

He just wished the magic spirit Tang-E had properly implemented attributes. The magic spirit Tang-E stretched out its paws toward Lebron’s tiger. Just then, a spear giving off black-red sparks was created and fired at the giant tiger. Seeing the spear fly toward it, the tiger cried out and stood up, supporting itself on its hind legs as it swung its front paws. Huge claw marks were carved into the air.

The spear and claws collided, and a deafening roar echoed through the space. A huge bear and tiger rushed toward each other. The magic spirit Tang-E had become as large as the tiger and as massive as the real Tang-E could get. The stats didn’t increase, but it was significant enough that the magic spirit Tang-E had become a size that was similar to the opponent's.

Lebron’s and Hyeonu’s magic spirits charged into each other. The magic spirits had forms but no mass, so they exchanged attacks freely through the air.

‘This... Aren’t I going to lose?’ Hyeonu frowned as he watched the battle between magic spirits. The battle was fierce and proceeded without one side gaining an advantage. Even so, the result was predictable. It was clear that Hyeonu’s magic power would be depleted first, resulting in his defeat.

Lebron’s and Hyeonu’s magic powers were like the sun and a firefly. Time wasn’t on Hyeonu’s side.

‘What should I do?’

He couldn’t think of any solution. Lebron was an opponent who was ahead of Hyeonu in everything. In particular, the battle between magic spirits was all about the use of magic power. Hyeonu couldn’t win this part.

‘Still, I can’t give up.’

He wanted to deal a blow to Lebron. This was how Hyeonu felt. He just couldn’t think of a way to do it.

‘It’s impossible with technique.’

On the surface, it was a battle between the magic spirits, but it was actually a fight between Hyeonu and Lebron. They launched a virtual battle based on their magic power control.

‘Since that’s the case, I’ll have to compete with magic.’

In a battle using bodies, no variables were likely to occur. Hyeonu had abundant experience, but this was among players. Boasting in front of Lebron, who consisted of so much data, was no different from teaching a fish how to swim.

‘I will have to surrender when my magic power runs out anyway.’

Ultimately, there was no other way. There was only one solution Hyeonu could choose. The magic spirit Tang-E stepped on the tiger’s back and jumped high into the air. Then it fell toward the ground and aimed its front paw toward the tiger. From behind the magic spirit Tang-E, small spheres flew toward the tiger.

The tiger showed swift movements and ran around in the air, avoiding the dark-red spheres flying toward it. The trajectory of the dark-red spheres soon changed. The one that had been flying behind the tiger turned and flew back toward the tiger. It collided with the tiger’s back and exploded immediately. This part of the tiger was a bit lighter than the other parts, perhaps because the magic power condensed in it was weaker.

“What the hell did he see and make? To think that a magic spirit like that came out...” John Blake marveled at the unexpected sight. It was a magic spirit trick he had never imagined. His magic spirit was best at melee and sonic attacks. The only attack pattern that could be added in the future was a Breath like a dragon. He never thought of having the magic spirit use magic like Hyeonu had done.

Lebron opened his narrowed eyes and told Hyeonu, “Okay, that’s enough.”

The huge tiger floating in midair quickly disappeared.

“Why? Why aren’t you continuing?” Hyeonu questioned Lebron who abruptly stopped the spar. The battle was just getting in full swing. Hyeonu had found a way to gain a bit of an advantage in the battle. Now that it was over, he felt it was all in vain.

“The purpose of the battle was just to have a quick look anyway. This should be enough,” Lebron replied. 

Lebron looked really pleased, so Hyeonu couldn’t say anything else.

“In addition, you don’t have to worry too much about His Majesty coming to the demon world. I’ll try to prevent any unexpected behavior as much as possible. If it doesn’t work, there is still one more person,” Lebron said and glanced at John Blake.

Hyeonu nodded when he saw that. As the teacher of the emperor, John Blake should be able to stop the emperor from doing anything.

‘As long as he doesn’t touch Baler...’

Of course, that shouldn’t happen.

“Then I’ll believe in the two of you. I was called separately, so I have to go to the capital. Etono... please take care of it.” Hyeonu bowed to John Blake and Lebron before disappearing from Blanc Castle.

***

The imperial palace of the Yusma Empire was gorgeous. There was a monster inside it that didn’t fit with the splendor and vastness. This monster was usually very quiet and still. He had no interest in the world, and resting was considered his only joy in life.

‘Then why is he so interested in me?’ Hyeonu stood at the entrance of the emperor’s hall and pouted. It didn’t make any sense. Based on what he’d heard from occasional NPC nobles, the emperor found everything troublesome. Yet that was rarely the case in front of Hyeonu. The emperor seemed to find everything in the world new, just like how a child would.

‘Why does he want to go to the demon world...?’

Hyeonu didn’t know the reason, and that was why he found it so disturbing. Would the emperor destroy Etono or not? Hyeonu was nervous about whether his shallow lie had been discovered.

“Your Majesty, can I come in?” Hyeonu asked carefully.

“Come in,” the emperor answered. The moment the emperor gave his approval, Hyeonu entered quietly with soundless footsteps.

“I thought you would come in accordance with the one-week deadline... Do you have nothing to do in the demon world?” the emperor asked Hyeonu with a deep smile.

“It isn’t as lively as the capital, but... I am quite busy there. I just didn’t want to keep Your Majesty waiting for a week.” Hyeonu poured out smooth words like his tongue had been oiled.

“So the proper preparations have been made?” The emperor didn’t care about Hyeonu’s words and only asked what he was curious about. There were already plenty of people who flattered the emperor, so he didn’t give Hyeonu a reason to feel good about what he’d said.

“In this short period of time, I am preparing to make you feel as much as possible that nothing is lacking.”

“That doesn’t matter. I’m not someone who will nitpick over the bed,” the emperor said and threw over a rolled up piece of white paper. It flew slowly through the air and stopped in front of Hyeonu.

“Earl, this is why I called you, so read it. I hope it doesn’t take too long for you to deal with it.”

Hyeonu unfurled the rolled piece of paper and started to read its contents. His eyes moved downward, and his hands trembled frantically.