Ranker’s Return

It had been a full day since they started traveling on the rhino-shaped mount. Hyeonu decided it was okay to move slowly.

‘Kill one first...’

So, it was necessary to shift the attention of the two nobles elsewhere by distracting them.

‘The best way to do this is to divert their attention.’

Hyeonu knew a good way to distract the two people.

“Over there!” Hyeonu abruptly rose and shouted while pointing to the ridge of the mountain in front of him. Currently, the distance between the running position of the rhinoceros and the mountain ahead was around four kilometers. Naturally, the form of a human couldn’t be properly distinguished at this distance. However, Hyeonu shouted so confidently that Viscount Marie and Earl Carlsberg’s attention was reflexively drawn away by them.

“Where?”

“Did a human appear?”

Viscount Marie and Earl Carlsberg approached and asked Hyeonu.

“There was a human over there.” Hyeonu pointed his finger at the ridge.

“I can’t see it.”

“Is there really one?”

Of course, the demon nobles couldn’t see the human. This was because there wasn’t one. So it would be even stranger if they saw it. Yet Hyeonu nodded shamelessly.

“Yes, there was. It wasn’t just one or two but many. There are around 10 people? How about it? Would you like to kill them? Or... do you want to just pass by?” Hyeonu threw out a bait that was impossible not to bite. It was a sweet temptation. The two demons naturally accepted Hyeonu’s suggestion.

“We have to kill them.”

“They’ve already reached here? We can’t just sit still and watch.”

It seemed like they would run out at any minute. Seeing this scene, Hyeonu smiled and said, “Then how about changing this guy’s direction? All three of us will go.”

Earl Carlsberg felt troubled by Hyeonu’s words. Nevertheless, Viscount Marie was the one who spoke instead. “No, this guy will keep running in the same direction. Earl Carlsberg, go to the original destination first. I’ll go with the human.”

Viscount Marie planned to go alone with Hyeonu. He was originally planning to take a break now. Moreover, it was time for the demonic creature to rest. The distance to the ridge wasn’t that far, so it seemed reasonable that they could run over to handle the humans and then run back.

“Understood. Go first. It is a bit unfortunate that I can’t get a taste of human blood... but the opportunity will come soon.” Earl Carlsberg nodded and moved his feet. The rhino demonic creature gradually slowed down.

“Jump down, human,” Viscount Marie told Hyeonu.

Hyeonu nodded silently. He kicked off the back of the rhino and flew into the air.

‘What is this profit?’ Hyeonu liked the situation. The need to deal with two demon nobles had changed to defeating them one-on-one.

‘I will kill him in five minutes and go back.’

It was a golden opportunity. Upon landing safely on the ground, Hyeonu questioned Viscount Marie, “By the way, what is the destination where we should meet Earl Carlsberg?” 

Hyeonu didn’t know where to meet up with Earl Carlsberg. He had to know in advance because there would be no Viscount Marie accompanying him there.

“The destination is Earl Carlsberg’s city—Barack. We will meet up there.” Viscount Marie didn’t know the truth and honestly told Hyeonu the destination since he had no reason to hide it.

Besides, he didn’t think Hyeonu would know where it was even if he said it. ‘He won’t know even if I tell him.’

The demon world was very wide. There was currently a lack of information released about the cities of the demon world, so it was impossible for a human who had just come to the demon world to know where Barack was. Unlike the middle world, the demon world had no map. Everything was in everyone’s memories.

‘Okay, Barack,’ Hyeonu noted inwardly. Nonetheless, Hyeonu had Baler’s map, which contained the names of all the cities in the world.

“Guide me to where you saw the humans,” Viscount Marie urged Hyeonu, who was just standing still. “You aren’t going yet?”

Hyeonu came to his senses at Viscount Marie’s words. He hadn’t dealt with this demon yet. He had to finish this job before making the next part of the plan.

“Just run this way. I will take the lead.” Hyeonu ran toward the ridge he had pointed to before. He disappeared instantly.

Viscount Marie chased Hyeonu with a flustered heart. ‘Tremendous speed!’

Hyeonu’s movement speed was like the speed of light. Viscount Marie wasn’t slow, but he couldn’t compare to Hyeonu, who was simply too fast. He ran a long time before he could see Hyeonu’s back. Hyeonu was standing still and hiding his body behind a tree. Viscount Marie carefully approached Hyeonu and asked, “Are the human beings over there?”

Hyeonu turned to look at Viscount Marie with a dark red light flowing from his mask like a haze. The black-red light quickly shot at Viscount Marie.

“Unfortunately, there are no humans here, Viscount Marie.” Hyeonu stepped toward Viscount Marie.

“What are you doing, human?!” Viscount Marie screamed at Hyeonu in a bewildered voice.

‘What type of technique is this?’ the viscount questioned inwardly. His body was heavy, and it was harder to move than usual—rather like he was moving in water. It also felt different when he raised his magic power. He felt a bit blocked.

“There is something I didn’t have time to say.” Hyeonu slowly approached the viscount, step by step. “Do you know what that is?”

Hyeonu took off his gauntlets and extended a hand toward Viscount Marie. There were four rings on Hyeonu’s hand. He reached out his index finger, which had a ring proving that he was the master of Etono.

“That!” Viscount Marie’s eyes grew wider when he saw that ring symbolizing the master of a city.

“The former owner of this ring is a demon known to Viscount Marie—Viscount Ergal,” Hyeonu said.

Viscount Marie’s eyes instantly grew bigger. “Then...?”

“That’s right. I am the current master of Etono,” Hyeonu stated.

Right after that, the frightened Viscount Marie rushed to Hyeonu with hands covered in red energy. Meanwhile, Hyeonu’s body shook slightly, and there was the illusion that his body had split into two or three. Viscount Marie’s hand pierced the afterimage of Hyeonu, but Hyeonu’s body had already left its position. Instead, Hyeonu’s fist, which was currently covered with black-red magic power, struck Viscount Marie’s chest.

Viscount Marie flew weakly through the air, and Hyeonu moved along with him. Hyeonu was holding the Mysterious Sky Sword that he had pulled out at an unknown time. The viscount had an X-shaped wound on his body, running from both of his shoulders to the pelvis. It was a long and deep wound. Blood spurted from it like a fountain.

“Kuoock...!!” a groan emerged from Viscount Marie’s mouth. He was suffering unbearable pain. If it were just a simple cut, there would be no reason for Marie to suffer such pain. While climbing to his current position, he had fought many battles and suffered severe wounds. None of them had hurt like this.

“This damn guy has two attributes!” Viscount Marie realized. There was only one reason why he was suffering so badly. Hyeonu’s magic power was in the wound, and the fire attribute was inflicting burning pain on Viscount Marie.

“I will tell you one more thing. Do you know why the other demon kings have left Etono alone?” Hyeonu spoke to Viscount Marie while shaking blood off the Mysterious Sky Sword.

“That… is something else. There is no reason for me to know!” Viscount Marie said as he charged at Hyeonu again. 

This time, the viscount moved faster than before. In an instant, he appeared in front of Hyeonu and quickly waved both hands. Every time Viscount Marie’s hands waved through the air, five stems of red pure energy appeared.

Nevertheless, Hyeonu simply dodged them while continuing to talk. “It is because it is already a matter that has already been agreed upon. In order to eliminate Damanos’ and Galiya’s power, they acquiesced to the rampage of the human beings to a certain extent. I am the result. Otherwise, how else could I get here safely?”

Hyeonu mixed truths with lies and twisted the knife of betrayal in Viscount Marie’s heart. It achieved an excellent effect. Viscount Marie’s eyes were shaking rapidly. Hyeonu didn’t miss this chance and wielded the Mysterious Sky Sword.

Once again, blood gushed from Viscount Marie’s body. This time, it was an even more serious wound. One of his arms flew away. Viscount Marie’s knees touched the ground.

‘I need to tell Damanos quickly...’

In his head, he was full of the need to tell Damanos and the other nobles what he had just heard from Hyeonu. However, his body didn’t move. No, he could move, but he couldn’t escape from Hyeonu.

“All 10 nobles gathered in Ainpo will die at my hands. It is only in this way that I can abide by the agreement,” Hyeonu said. He raised the Mysterious Sky Sword up high. Black flames burned in the air, and Viscount Marie’s head rolled to the ground.

[The demon world viscount, ‘Marie’, has been defeated.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power have been restored.]

Hyeonu looked at Viscount Marie’s corpse that had fallen to the ground. Actually, he wasn’t looking at the body. He was watching the quest message window in front of his eyes.

[Demon noble killed 3/???]

[Kill boss monsters above level 400 3/33.]

‘Is it three now?’

The noble Hyeonu had just killed was only the third one in Baler’s quest. Of course, this number would grow exponentially in the main scenario.

‘I will kill at least 50 with my own hands.’

This was Hyeonu’s goal—50 demon nobles and 50 high grade demonic creatures, making a total of 100.

‘The question is if I can get compensation...’

Hyeonu’s end goal was to kill Damanos and Galiya. To be exact, it was to play a small role in killing them. The problem was that it was different from Baler’s goal.

‘Even if I don’t don’t achieve my goal, I have to get the rewards first and then stab him in the back.’

Usually, if the quest clear condition was a question mark, it meant that the quest clear condition changed fluidly. Hyeonu aimed to use it to target the demons and demonic creatures. Nevertheless, if he couldn’t kill the two demon kings, he still planned to get the rewards even if it meant stabbing Baler in the back.

“For now, let me check the rewards this guy gave me,” Hyeonu said. He looked at the place where Viscount Marie’s body had disappeared and found two dropped items.

One was a small ring, and the other was a small bead.

‘Only two?’

Hyeonu glanced at the ground with a regretful heart. However, the only other things he saw were gold coins emitting a brilliant light. There were no other items.

‘Let’s check this out.’

Hyeonu picked up the ring and bead. With the ring in his hand, he muttered, “Item Information.”