Ranker's Return

“There is a problem in the East Continent, right? It is unfortunate.”

The emperor brought out surprising words in a low voice. The attack of the god tribe on the East Continent—the news had already reached the emperor.

‘How far do his eyes and ears reach...?’

Hyeonu smiled bitterly. He couldn’t get used to it no matter how many times he went through it.

“Just as we invaded the demon world... the divine world, to be precise, the god tribe has invaded the middle world. I think you can understand it that way, Your Majesty.”

Hyeonu approached the emperor carefully and held out a rolled up piece of paper. It was a letter from the old emperor of the Yuxin Empire. The emperor stretched out his hand toward Hyeonu. The letter in Hyeonu’s hand was naturally sucked into the emperor’s grasp.

“The god tribe? The identity of the invaders was the god tribe? Then it won’t be easy to stop.”

The emperor hummed and smacked his lips together.

‘Is he trying to move somewhere else again?’

“They will need support, but... Your Majesty can’t go, right?”

Hyeonu quickly wiped out the emperor’s ambition.

‘Both the nobles and the Yuxin Empire won’t welcome it. It is the same for me.’

The emperor’s move wouldn’t be desired by anyone except the emperor himself.

“We have made an alliance, so we should help. They don’t have many adventurers like us, so it will be harder...”

The emperor noticed Hyeonu’s intentions and smiled slightly. He was smiling on the outside, but it wasn’t known what he was feeling on the inside.

“It is also ambiguous to send the knights. The knights won’t be welcomed there. There will also likely be a backlash with the nobles.”

The emperor dragged out what he wanted to say.

“It is clear that there will be a backlash. There aren’t many knights with the skills to fight the god tribe. For example, assuming that the Knights of Keon are dispatched... isn’t it obvious what they will say?” Hyeonu pretended not to know and agreed with the emperor’s words.

“There is no way they can let it go quietly. In the end, the only option left are the adventurers. I have to send them with the promise of decent rewards.”

“That isn’t possible, Your Majesty. The threat from the north isn’t over yet. We never know when the undead will strike again. I don’t think there is a need to overdo it in this situation and force the adventurers out.”

“Then what is Duke Gang Hyeonu thinking?”

The emperor removed his back from the throne and leaned his body closer to Hyeonu.

“There is no need to use rewards to send the adventurers to the East Continent. The adventurers who are going to go there will move on their own. They have very sensitive noses.”

The players, especially the large guilds, were like hyenas. A place that attracted people’s attention or a place that gave money—they always appeared like ghosts in such places. Such large guilds would take care of it without the emperor giving orders. It was for the viewers’ attention.

“If that is what you say, then it must be so. Duke, you are more of an expert than me when it comes to adventurers. Isn’t that right?”

The emperor wasn’t offended by Hyeonu’s words. He matched it in moderation and waited for Hyeonu’s next words.

“The combat power of the god tribe is similar to the demons. It is better to have one solid, skilled person than a decent one.”

Hyeonu started gently tossing the bait.

“There is no need to make any sacrifices. Duke, will you go then?”

The emperor naturally asked about Hyeonu’s bait as if he knew nothing.

“In my opinion, I will also help the Yuxin Empire. However, that will only be after the danger in the north has ended to some extent.”

Hyeonu had no intention of intervening in the war in the East Continent. There was a lot of work to be done.

‘Honestly, I don’t want to waste time doing this, but...’

Raccoon’s share in his future plans wasn’t low, so he had to run like this.

“Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is best to send my teacher, Duke Lebron. Wouldn’t it be better for him to slack off in the East Continent than to slack off in the demon world?”

“Yes. In any case, he is someone who will just train. He should be used in this way.”

The emperor smiled. This was exactly what he was waiting for. It was something he wanted to say, but couldn’t bring out.

Let’s send Lebron.

“If Your Majesty permits, I will speak personally to Duke Lebron.”

Hyeonu also smiled. Things were going as planned.

“I won’t send a separate letter. It will be the same whether I send it or not.”

Lebron would definitely complain if Hyeonu went to visit him in person, but he wouldn’t think that Hyeonu’s words were a lie. The weight of the emperor’s orders were too heavy to be dismissed as a joke.

“I will try to come to the imperial palace as soon as possible. Your Majesty.”

Hyeonu left the great hall with a bright smile.

***

‘Return.’

Hyeonu left the great hall and headed to the demon world. Once he had to do something, he shouldn’t hesitate and should act immediately. Thus, he planned to get things done in one go.

‘It will only bother me if I drag it out.’

In any case, he would have to go sooner or later, even if it wasn’t now. If that was the case, it was better to finish this before doing anything else.

‘Where will he be...?’

Now Hyeonu was in Etono. He didn’t know where Lebron and John Blake were.

‘Won’t he be in Blanc?’

Blanc—a city ruled by Rubolle, who was killed by John Blake, and the city where John Blake now reigned. They were most likely there. It was probably the city that John Blake was most familiar with.

“Return.”

[The Blanc Return Stone has been used.]

[Moving to Blanc.]

[Current number of uses remaining: 5/6]

[Remaining time to charge it once is 5 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.]

Hyeonu arrived at Blanc and moved without hesitation. He stood in the middle of the street and walked quickly. None of the demons touched Hyeonu. No, they walked away from both ends of the street.

This had happened before, but now it was even worse than back then. The demon god’s temple, that had sucked up magic power like a leech, had disappeared. The growth of the demons and demonic creatures had accelerated, but Hyeonu’s growth was even steeper.

‘It isn’t that bad to see something like this...’

Hyeonu walked leisurely through the open streets. He walked without a single obstacle and quickly reached the huge gates. John Blake’s residence was right inside the gates. Hyeonu arrived in front of the castle gates and commanded the demon guards, “Open the door.”

“This is the castle of John, demon king of sloth. The visitor’s identity...”

The demon guard inquired about Hyeonu’s status according to the principles, but this attempt didn’t reach the end. It was because the demon guard standing next to him blocked his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

Another demon guard appeared and bowed deeply to Hyeonu. Hyeonu was terrifying to anyone who saw him. It was a priority not to touch him. The thick gates were opened. Hyeonu waved lightly at the demon guard and quickly entered the castle.

‘Based on the way they are sending me... he must be here?’

Hyeonu passed through the gates while feeling convinced that John Blake was in Blanc due to the actions of the demon guards. It felt like he had succeeded in catching them. From then on, Hyeonu’s pace became very fast. He was hopeful that the work would be over soon.

‘They’re here, they’re here.’

Hyeonu was delighted when he saw two humans in the distance.

Lebron and John Blake—the two people were standing there and talking.

“Teacher!”

Hyeonu ran toward Lebron and John Blake.

“What have you come to gain this time? This greedy disciple.”

Lebron frowned when he saw Hyeonu running toward him. He was someone who believed that no news was good news. It was a burden for Hyeonu to visit so often. No, it was unsettling. He didn’t know what nonsense Hyeonu was going to say this time.

“What am I gaining, Teacher? You can’t say hello as soon as you see me. I’m disappointed, disappointed.”

Hyeonu made a bitter expression.

“I will ask again. What is going on this time?” Lebron repeated the question without paying attention to the change in Hyeonu’s expression.

“His Majesty is looking for you right now. There is an order to go to the imperial palace immediately.”

Hyeonu lightly sold the emperor’s name. There was no hesitation because he wasn’t lying in the first place.

“Me? Why? For what reason?”

However, that was only for Hyeonu. Lebron asked several questions the moment he heard the emperor was looking for him.

“Why don’t you hear about it directly from Your Majesty?”

“What nonsense is this? You dare to sell your teacher?”

Lebron quickly approached like a ghost and grabbed Hyeonu’s arm.

“Nonsense? It is an imperial order. If you have any questions, you can ask His Majesty directly, Teacher.”

Hyeonu smiled and removed Lebron’s hand with his free hand.

“Additionally, aren’t you living freely? Anyone who saw it would think you are retired?” Hyeonu added.

This made Lebron feel uncomfortable. He was already in an annoyed state and Hyeonu poured oil on the flames.

“Living freely? Retirement?”

If this was the case, he really couldn’t wish for anything more. However, reality was different. Not so long ago, he was preparing for the battle against the guardians. It was more appropriate to say he practiced intensely rather than that he rested comfortably.

Just then, John Blake interjected from where he was silently listening to Hyeonu and Lebron’s conversation, “Stop it. Do you plan to fight with your disciple? I also don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Why are you angry? If His Majesty calls, then you should go. Are you going to reject an imperial order now?”

John Blake’s sudden participation in the conversation quickly suppressed Lebron’s anger.

“If you want to retire, then raise a great successor. It is just like I raised you.”

Lebron sighed at John Blake’s words.

“That... doesn’t it take too long?”

“Am I the only one who can do it? Be patient.”

It was Hyeonu who intervened in the conversation this time.

“I have clearly conveyed His Majesty’s words.”

Hyeonu folded his back in a bow and said goodbye to Lebron politely. Then he immediately turned around and exited the castle. Lebron sighed at the back of the disappearing Hyeonu.

***

Hyeonu left the castle and immediately tried to return to the middle world. He had a place he needed to go to. However, Hyeonu couldn’t return to the middle world.

“You should say hello when you come. Why are you just leaving?”

Someone’s voice was heard from right behind Hyeonu. Hyeonu naturally turned his head. It was natural for anyone to do so. Anyone who heard a voice behind their backs would act to identify the owner of the voice.

Hyeonu turned his head and saw a purple-haired man standing there. ‘Callioraks?’