Ranker's Return

Supplementary Story 49

As always, Hyeonu sat in his office and was immersed in thought. He told Liu Shei that he would participate in the war with his identity hidden, but that was a lie.

‘I was immediately summoned back when a battle broke out. What nonsense about fighting?’

It happened the moment he stepped into the space where the battle between the undead and humans took place. The quest was cleared and Hyeonu was forced to return to the imperial palace. Nevertheless, he had no regrets about the short trip.

‘Things went well.’

It was luck that came to him by chance. Hyeonu didn’t miss it and produced the best results. The plan was revised in a better direction than before. Once he had some leeway, he was able to come up with different ideas.

“Hmm... I wish I had gone to the south once.”

The south—it wasn’t a very important part of Hyeonu’s plan. It was just a very small background, but he wanted to go there once.

‘I am curious.’

It was a plan made by Hyeonu himself. It was polite to visit at least once.

‘There is no way...’

Quests also occurred in the south, just like the north. However, the Knights of Keon never appeared as an option for the quests.

“What are you thinking about without stamping, Master dude?”

Tang-E gave a displeased look at Hyeonu’s appearance of being deep in thought. This was because the more Hyeonu rested, the more work Tang-E had to do.

“I have many worries, Tang-E.”

“Worries? Is something wrong?”

Tang-E’s expression changed in an instant. It was from a face full of irritation to a face full of anxiety.

“After going out once, I want to keep going out... there is no way, Tang-E.”

“Oh my, Master dude. Get yourself together. If you play every day, then when will you work?” Tang-E’s expression changed rapidly once again. He stared at Hyeonu like Hyeonu was pathetic.

“If I go out, then it is good for you as well.” Hyeonu’s expression distorted and he started making excuses.

“Yes, but... didn’t you say you would be free soon anyway? Why don’t you put up with it a bit longer, Master dude?”

“Is that so?” Hyeonu sighed lightly and grabbed the jade seal.

“Hmm...” Tang-E was lost in thought as he watched Hyeonu moving the seal with a sagging posture.

‘He really wants to go out...’

It felt like he needed to find a way. Tang-E’s mind spun hard. As a result, he found a pretty satisfying answer.

‘Yes, we can do that.’

However, Tang-E didn’t tell Hyeonu what he had come up with. It was obvious that Hyeonu wouldn’t keep working and would instead run away if Tang-E told him now. It was only some time later when all the papers on the desk were gone.

Tang-E spoke carefully to Hyeonu, “Master dude.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Why don’t you do what you did the other day?”

“Me? What is it?”

Hyeonu cocked his head at Tang-E’s sudden words. He couldn’t understand what Tang-E was talking about.

“Didn’t you say that what we are doing now is helping someone, idiot Master dude.”

“Yes, I did say that.”

Hyeonu now understood what Tang-E was talking about. He said it in the past to placate Tang-E.

“Why mention it all of a sudden?”

“Master dude seems to want to go out, so I thought of a way.”

“Really?”

Hyeonu replied like this, but he had no expectations at all.

‘In any case, there is no way.’

He didn’t know what Tang-E was going to say, but he was certain that it wouldn’t work. Therefore, there were no expectations. It would only increase the disappointment.

“What we are doing now is listening to other people’s complaints.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why don’t you make a complaint, Master dude?”

Tang-E puffed up his chest with pride.

“Then we will have to work harder, Tang-E. The important thing is that the Knights of Keon have to step up.”

Hyeonu frowned. Tang-E’s words were something that Hyeonu had thought about as well, but he never actually did it. It was because the chances of success were too low. If the Knights of Keon option didn’t come out... it would just increase the work Hyeonu had to do.

“Master dude, are you a real idiot?”

Tang-E looked at Hyeonu like he was pathetic.

“Why am I an idiot?”

“Master dude, what do you say every time you talk about the Knights of Keon?”

“The Knights of Keon? They are basically the best knights of the empire.”

“Then it is over.”

Hyeonu’s eyes widened. It felt like he had been hit in the back of the head.

‘Yes, this is it!’

In order for the Knights of Keon to appear in the options, he had to create a situation where the Knights of Keon needed to go. Hyeonu had missed this easy truth until now.

“Thank you, Tang-E. Really thank you.”

Hyeonu picked up Tang-E and hugged him roughly.

“Let go, ignorant Master dude. It hurts, it hurts!”

Tang-E struggled to escape from Hyeonu’s arms. However, Hyeonu didn’t let Tang-E go. Absolutely not.

***

It was late at night.

Yeongchan returned to the officetel with his body exhausted from exercise and was stunned by the sight he saw as soon as he entered the living room.

“What is all this?”

All sorts of dishes were piled up on the coffee table in the living room.

“Ah, you came?” Hyeonu sat on the couch and indifferently greeted Yeongchan.

“Did you order it?”

Yeongchan quickly sat in front of the table and grabbed wooden chopsticks.

“Of course, I ordered it. Who else would’ve ordered it?”

The moment Yeongchan sat down, Hyeonu also picked up chopsticks and started eating. Yeongchan glanced at Hyeonu while eating.

‘Did this jerk eat something wrong?’

The food was delicious, but his discomfort didn’t go away because he didn’t know Hyeonu’s intentions behind filling the table.

“You, what sins have you committed?” Yeongchan filled his stomach to a certain extent before putting down his chopsticks and questioning Hyeonu.

“Nothing?”

Hyeonu shook his head with his mouth full of food.

“Then why do this?”

“I have a request.”

Yeongchan’s face hardened in an instant.

“A request? Here is the money. I will pay for it.”

Yeongchan took out his wallet and placed 50,000 won on the table.

“It isn’t a big deal. It isn’t hard.”

“Yet you are buying me a meal? I don’t think anyone would believe you,” Yeongchan exclaimed with an expression of disbelief.

“Put on just one play.”

“A play? What is this nonsense again? Tell me so I can understand.”

“You know Mason, right?”

“Of course, I know him.

“Take him captive. It is for a week or so.”

“Are you crazy?”

Yeongchan burst out laughing. Hyeonu’s words were that ridiculous.

“What means should I use to capture a kid who only uses magic from the walls?”

Putting aside everything else, this was the biggest problem. Mason didn’t move a single step from the walls throughout the battle. On top of that, he just continuously cast magic.

“Wait a minute.”

Hyeonu wiped his mouth with a tissue. Then he picked up the smartphone on the couch.

“Listen carefully.”

Hyeonu called somewhere. Then he switched to speakerphone mode so that Yeongchan could hear it.

-Hello?

Hyeonu’s smartphone made a dialing sound several times and then a young man’s voice was heard.

“Mason? It is me, Hyeonu.”

-What is happening all of a sudden? A person who never calls is calling.

The owner of the voice was Mason.

“I have a request. Will you listen to it?” Hyeonu opened his mouth while making eye contact with Yeongchan.

-A request? What is it? I’ll listen to anything unless it is impossible.

“Tomorrow, be taken prisoner by the League of Different Species.”

-Be taken prisoner? To who? Teika? Argon? Or someone else?

Yeongchan’s eyes widened. Mason’s attitude of casually accepting Hyeonu’s request was astonishing.

‘Does he trust Hyeonu that much?’

This was something that would only happen if he had absolute trust in Hyeonu.

‘He is reliable, but...’

Of course, Hyeonu deserved such trust. Some might say otherwise, but Yeongchan definitely thought so.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is Teika or Argon. You just have to be caught by one of them. Is it possible?”

Hyeonu focused only on the phone call without knowing Yeongchan’s mind.

-It isn’t anything hard? I can just walk on my own feet. Why all of a sudden?

“Didn’t I tell you? Giving me a quest. I need it for that.”

-Will a quest pop up if I am caught?

Mason asked in a puzzled voice. He knew what Hyeonu wanted, but he didn’t think it was possible. What was the point of it being himself? Would a complaint go to Hyeonu, the emperor?

“It will come no matter what. So believe in me and get caught once. Once you are caught, just hide somewhere and hunt or something.”

-I understand, Hyung. Let’s see each other soon. I have a lot to say.

“I understand. Instead, you have to come to me this time.”

-Okay, I’ll go.

That was the end of the call.

“So that’s it. Capture him beautifully. Additionally, tell Teika to place more pressure on the front lines. It is to the brink of really taking the castle.”

Hyeonu looked at Yeongchan with an easy smile.

“Understood.”

Yeongchan nodded and got up. He also didn’t forget to pick up the 50,000 won on the table.

“Leave it behind.”

Hyeonu quickly raised himself and grabbed Yeongchan’s wrist. Yeongchan tried to shake off Hyeonu’s hand, but Hyeonu didn’t budge. In the end, Yeongchan was forced to put the money in Hyeonu’s hands.

“You are worse than a cheapskate. You are someone who can make even Scrooge give up.”

***

The office was as quiet as ever, but looking closely, it was a bit different. Unlike usual, it was like the quiet before a storm hit. It seemed like once an accident broke out soon, it would explode firmly.

“Your Majesty, Duke Suped is asking to see you.”

“Send him in.”

The office door opened and Suped entered. “I greet Your Majesty.”

“What brings you here?” Hyeonu raised his head and made eye contact with Suped.

“I came to ask Your Majesty for permission.”

“Permission? What permission?”

“I want to go to the south.”

“The south? Duke Suped, aren’t you busy researching magic?”

“Something happened so I have to go.”

“Then why don’t you go? Do you have to get my permission?”

Hyeonu frowned at the words and turned to look at Suped.

“I’m thinking of going to the war.”

“The southern war? You can’t do that. Didn’t I tell you before? It is a war for adventurers only.” Hyeonu shook his head. He couldn’t allow it.

“My disciple was taken captive by the different species. I have to save him.”

“You still can’t go.”

“Why do you keep refusing? Mason is my disciple, but at the same time, he is like Your Majesty’s little brother!”

Suped’s voice became quite heated. Now it was close to a yell.

“Why wouldn’t I want to save Mason? However, Duke Suped getting involved in the war will be a justification for them as well. Do you have the confidence to stop Raccoon? If you stop him, then you can win. If you can, say so and I’ll send you.”

Unlike Suped, Hyeonu was calm. He wasn’t in the least bit agitated.

“Why can’t you answer? Can you beat Raccoon?”

Hyeonu pushed Suped.

“Then I will teach you another way.”’

“What is the way?”

“Go back and file a complaint with me. Then I’ll save Mason myself.”

A corner of Hyeonu’s mouth curled up.