Ranker’s Return

Supplementary Story 45

Gang Junggu stopped in front of the huge temple and took a deep breath, “Huup…”

‘I can’t make a mistake today. No.’

It was an issue to be handled face-to-face. This was a request from his younger brother, not anyone else. Even if he couldn’t help out, he couldn’t afford to do something wrong.

Gang Junggu entered the temple slowly. The temple was large in size, and there were many people present. All sorts of people were gathered, ranging from those who were offering prayers to those who were wielding swords or spears or using martial arts.

Gang Junggu approached a young man. This young man stood out, but it was he was the only one in an empty area. Gang Junggu cleared his throat with a dry cough and spoke cautiously to the young man, “Heizer. Are you reading?”

“Oh, Junggu. I was waiting for you.” The young man, Heizer, closed the book he was reading and welcomed Gang Junggu.

“I hope I haven’t interrupted your reading time, Heizer.”

“Don’t say that. Don’t you know how much I like talking to you?” Heizer waved his hand. It was true. Heizer had spent his childhood in the imperial palace and then in the Holy Kingdom. For Heizer, tales of Gang Junggu’s adventures were bound to be interesting.

“Is that so?”

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Gang Junggu felt a bit guilty when he heard Heizer’s firm answer.

‘I feel a bit sorry.’

It had been almost a fortnight since he started to bond with Heizer by talking like this, and it would be a lie to say that they hadn’t become close.

‘Still… Hyeonu comes first.’

It couldn’t be helped. Hyeonu was more precious to him than Heizer, and this incident wasn’t a bad thing for Heizer.

‘He gets to be the emperor of the empire.’

“I think today will be the last time I visit you like this.” Gang Junggu took out the line that he had prepared. It was a line that he and Hyeonu came up with after putting their heads together for a long time.

“The last time? Did something happen?” Heizer’s eyes widened. Heizer hadn’t expected Gang Junggu’s words at all. The Gang Junggu that Heizer knew was a very relaxed person. He wasn’t a wanderer who came and went.

“I don’t know if you are aware… but the continent is in a slightly chaotic state.”

“Chaotic? The continent?” Heizer frowned. He had not heard about this.

‘Is there a problem?’

That being said, the Holy Kingdom was at ease. It was quiet and peaceful. There were no signs of anything, and there were no rumors going around.

“There is a war in the empire.”

“A war? I’ve not heard of such a thing.”

“It just happened a few days ago… I don’t think you would’ve heard of it yet.”

Heizer looked shocked. War was something he had never seen or heard of in his life.

“Is the situation really bad?”

“It hasn’t been long since the war broke out, so there isn’t much damage. However, wars have broken out simultaneously in many places, and the damage will increase exponentially over time.”

Gang Junggu acted with his utmost efforts. It was to the point where anyone who saw it would think he had great loyalty to the empire.

‘Of course, that won’t happen.’

Gang Junggu was one of those who knew the reality of the war best. The war was nothing more than a trick.

“Perhaps not long after, rumors will spread to the Holy Kingdom as well. There are rumors that the interim emperor of the Yusma Empire will ask for support.”

“Ask for support? That is an excellent judgment.”

Heizer felt weird. He always thought ‘the emperor’ was referring to his father, Alexander, and that it was a title he would inherit in the future.

‘Yet it is directed at an adventurer…’

It was an awkward thing, very awkward.

“I intend to participate in the war taking part in the north of the Yusma Empire. It is said that many undead have appeared, and the people are suffering. As someone who serves God and supports the empire, how can I not jump into the battlefield?” Gang Junggu added what he wanted to say, regardless of whether he knew what Heizer was thinking.

“Hah…” a deep sigh emerged from Heizer’s mouth. This news gave him a huge shock.

‘Undead and a war. What should I do?’

His thoughts became a mess, and many things crossed his mind. Based on what he had learned so far, he had to participate in the war unconditionally.

‘I am the imperial prince of the Yusma Empire.’

They were the words that his mother Angela kept pouring into Heizer’s ears. He was the only imperial prince of the empire, so he had to live a life worthy of it. Duty took precedence over rights. It wasn’t for the sake of himself but for the empire.

‘But.’

There was something that bothered him. It was his mother, Angela. If Heizer said that he wanted to join the war… she would surely not agree to it.

‘Which parent would want to send their child to battle?’

This was a natural response. A war was no joke. It was a place where lives came and went.

‘I don’t know about Father though.’

Alexander might be willing to let Heizer go. He would say it was a good life experience.

‘Mother, the title of emperor… I have to get it back now,’ Heizer decided.

“Did you say that the undead were in the north?”

“Yes, Heizer.”

“I want to hear about it today.”

The corners of Gang Junggu’s mouth shook slightly. He thought he could stand confidently in front of his little brother now.

‘That’s it.’

“What would you like to hear about first?”

***

Gang Junggu left the temple with a satisfied smile after talking to Heizer for a long time. Heizer had a similar expression.

‘I have to see my mother.’

He quickly exited the great temple as well. The place Heizer headed to was another temple. It was very small, unlike the huge temple he had just been in, and didn’t differ much from ordinary buildings. Heizer entered the small temple without hesitation. Inside the temple, a man and a woman were talking with serious expressions.

‘They were together.’

Heizer’s eyes glowed when he saw the man. The man and the woman were Heizer’s parents, Alexander and Angela.

“Greetings to the two of you.” Heizer bowed to Alexander and Angela.

“Yes, come here.” Alexander smiled brightly at Heizer and beckoned for him to come closer.

“Yes, Father.” Heizer took a seat next to Alexander. “The atmosphere doesn’t seem light. Did something happen?”

“What can happen? You don’t have to worry about it,” Angela interrupted Heizer’s words in a flash. Instead, she asked Heizer a question, “What wind brought you here?”

“I’m here to talk to you.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“I want to go back to the empire to take a look.”

“The empire? So suddenly?” Alexander asked with an expression of disbelief.

Heizer shook his head. “It isn’t all of a sudden. I always had questions about the empire.”

In the past, he had already possessed a desire to visit the empire. The conversation with Gang Junggu just served as a catalyst.

“Not now. If you want to go, you can go after some time passes.” Angela reacted negatively. Heizer’s plan itself was a happy thing for her. However, there was a problem.

‘It can never be now.’

Presently, the empire was too dangerous a place. The reason why she felt this way was the conversation she just had with Alexander about the letter that arrived from the empire.

“Angela is right. Now isn’t the time to go to the empire.” Alexander also ruled in favor of Angela.

“Why later and not now?” Heizer asked again with an unconvinced expression.

“You don’t need to know why. In any case, it can’t be now.” Angela didn’t give a detailed reason. She just opposed it for the sake of opposing it.

“Is it because there is now a war in the empire? Is that why you are stopping me from going?” Heizer’s voice grew louder.

“How do you know this? Who gave you the news?” Angela asked with a puzzled expression. It didn’t make sense. She had only just heard about it from Alexander.

Heizer made eye contact with Angela and spoke enthusiastically, “That doesn’t matter, Mother. I am the only imperial prince of the Yusma Empire. I don’t think the empire should be avoided because it is dangerous. Rather, the danger should be eliminated. Isn’t that what you always told me, Mother?”

Just then, Alexander gave the answer Heizer wanted: “Indeed, you are an adult now, so do as you please. I won’t stop you.”

“You!!!” Angela shouted as she looked at Alexander.

“Then try to persuade him. I can’t do it.” Alexander shrugged. He was very pleased with Heizer’s attitude as he could see the dignity of the imperial family in it.

“Sigh,” Angela sighed while looking between Heizer and Alexander. “In that case, don’t leave in a rush. Be patient for a bit. In a short time, the temple will organize reinforcements… Go with me at that time.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Heizer rose from his seat and bowed to Angela.

“What thanks? I don’t want to hear those words after sending my child to the battlefield.” Angela had a slightly gloomy expression as she let out a light sigh.

“You can go now. There are many things to prepare.” Alexander gestured to Heizer. Heizer nodded and quickly left the temple.

“In the end, it was destined to be like this. Nothing changed despite us coming to the Holy Kingdom.” Alexander smiled at Angela.

“Why is he so greedy for the bad position of emperor…?” Angela sighed repeatedly.

“Tsk! You can only know if it is good or bad by seeing it with your own eyes. He has never experienced it, so how could he know?”

The position of emperor seemed good if you just read about it in a book or heard about it from someone else’s mouth. This was because nobody talked about the weight of the throne.

“Don’t you think you should go? You won’t be able to see him soon, even if you want to.”

“You! See you later.” Angela glanced at Alexander and quickly ran out of the temple like Heizer.

Alexander watched Angela disappear into the distance before opening his mouth toward empty space and asking, “Who is attached to Heizer?”

“The adventurer Gang Junggu,” a voice rang out unexpectedly from the empty space.

“Gang Junggu? Are you talking about the monk?” Alexander closed his eyes and thought about the owner of the name. It was definitely a name that he knew.

“That’s right, Alexander. He is one of the two monks who are friendly with the interim emperor.”

“When did the adventurer approach Heizer?”

“It has been around half a month. At first, the adventurer named Gang Junggu approached him. Later, Heizer was the one to call him every time.”

“How many times have they met during the past half a month?”

“They met every day and talked for around an hour or two a day.”

“It is wonderful, wonderful.” Alexander couldn’t stop his laughter from bursting out. It was so ridiculous.

‘He is going to reach out to Heizer.’

Alexander hadn’t expected this. He thought it was just an operation to attract him.

‘I suffered a blow this time.’

However, it wouldn’t be so easy next time.

“Attach more eyes to the adventurers. Don’t miss a single thing.”

There was a small glimmer of light in Alexander’s eyes.