Ranker's Return

Supplementary Story 54

Liu Shei glanced outward as he dealt with the undead on the walls. The undead that filled the field were rapidly collapsing. The place was filled by people in white robes and armor.

‘They are reinforcements.’

Liu Shei immediately recognized the identity of the priests who appeared. There was only one instance in which nearly a thousand temple-related classes gathered together in Arena: the reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom—it was only them.

“The timing is amazing. Isn’t this the protagonist, Junggu?”

“That’s right, Hyung-nim. This is the protagonist.”

Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu were relaxed in a manner that didn’t fit the battlefield where fierce battles were taking place.

“Thank you for your help.”

Liu Shei found the two men and ran over quickly.

“What help? We were just guides.”

“You should say thanks to Hyeonu. He is the one who asked for reinforcements.”

“No, I’m thankful enough that the two of you came.”

Liu Shei shook his head. The Holy Kingdom’s reinforcements were good, but the reinforcements from New World were just as important. It was because unlike NPCs, they could communicate very well.

“As expected, you have good manners. The flaw is that your greed is a bit excessive.”

Kim Seokjung smiled deeply at Liu Shei.

“Did you hear about everything from Brother?”

Kim Seokjung approached Liu Shei and placed an arm around his shoulder.

“Yes, I heard about it to some extent,” Liu Shei replied with a relatively calm expression.

“Then do you know how to use your tongue?”

“Tell me what you want and I’ll cooperate.”

Liu Shei nodded slowly.

“What cooperation? You just have to do as you are now. Instead, let’s discuss the deployment of troops,” Gang Junggu replaced Kim Seokjung and told Liu Shei what he should do.

“Is that really okay?” Liu Shei asked back with a questioning expression.

Gang Junggu’s request was really nothing.

‘I was supposed to do this...’

Even if it wasn’t requested, Liu Shei would have talked to Gang Junggu and Kim Seokjung about the management of troops to some extent. It was because the New World guild was in a higher position than Kowloon. It wasn’t a guild that he could move at will.

“It is fine. Additionally, don’t worry too much. The fierce battle won’t take as long as it does now. You just need to think of it as a good hunting ground. It will be over soon.”

Gang Junggu looked at Liu Shei and smiled in a similar manner to Kim Seokjung.

“Let’s work hard together for a month. Understood?”

Liu Shei nodded with difficulty.

One month...

‘It is going to be a very long time.’

***

‘It is over there.’

After saying goodbye to Liu Shei, Gang Junggu jumped off the wall and joined the battlefield.

“Heizer.” Gang Junggu approached the young man who was swinging his sword hard.

“Oh, Junggu. It seems like you’ve worked hard. Your body is dirty.”

Heizer made a sorry expression when he saw that Gang Junggu’s shoes and clothes were stained with the black blood shed from the undead.

“Heizer, I think your priority is to take care of your body rather than worrying about me.”

Gang Junggu shook his head with a smile. Heizer shouldn’t be saying this. His armor was several times more dirty than Gang Junggu’s.

“There is still a long way to go until the end of the battle... what is the use of wiping it off?”

Heizer continued to swing his sword while answering Gang Junggu. Every time his sword cut through the air, three or four distant undead broke down.

“I hope you don’t overdo it. The war won’t end overnight. A thorough distribution of your physical fitness is needed.”

Gang Junggu wasn’t just talking. He threw out his fists and turned the area into a desolate place.

“You seem to be using quite a bit of strength as well, right?”

“I am an adventurer. Perhaps I am more of an undead than they are.”

Gang Junggu laughed.

“Is that so? There are no similarities at all.”

Heizer burst out laughing. Gang Junggu’s words were completely unexpected.

“By the way, maybe it is because the opponents are the undead, but it is being cleaned up quickly.”

Suddenly, an empty space started to appear on the field. This meant that the number of undead had decreased a lot.

“It is a situation where the priests exert the greatest power... it is a natural result.”

Heizer put his sword away. Now there was nothing more he could do.

The rest of the undead would be taken care of by the others who charged to the front line.

“Let’s go back, Junggu.”

Heizer turned and walked toward the city walls. Just then, a loud explosion occurred in the distance. The ground was torn apart like there was an earthquake. At the same time, the undead and people flew into the air.

“What is going on?” Gang Junggu frowned.

“A black knight,” Heizer murmured softly.

“Huh? What do you mean by black knight?” Gang Junggu asked because he couldn’t understand Heizer’s words.

“The knight in black armor just pulled a sword from the ground. It seems that he is the one who created this scene.”

In an instant, Heizer pierced between countless people and undead.

“Shouldn’t we hurry and recover our troops before fighting?”

The unknown knight overturned hundreds of meters of land in one blow. He was no ordinary opponent. At the very least, he was a raid boss monster.

“It is the right decision. However, someone has to take care of him to buy some time.”

Heizer jumped forward the moment he finished speaking.

“Well... there was no need for me to encourage you.”

Gang Junggu shrugged as he looked at Heizer, who had quickly become a dot and disappeared.

‘It seems that most of the mountain ridge has been crossed.’

The smile on Gang Junggus’ face was especially cold today.

***

“Escape into the gates! That guy isn’t someone you can afford to go against,” Heizer shouted as he ran, telling the people to evacuate.

‘Is that guy Heizer?’

John Blake, the black knight who had turned the battlefield into a mess, carefully examined Heizer, who was rushing toward him.

‘He looks a lot like that person in many ways.’

Heizer naturally resembled his parents, Alexander and Angela. It wasn’t just the appearance, but also the inherent talent.

‘He is strong. He has grown up well.’

Heizer was strong. It was to the point where John Blake felt admiration.

‘Shall I test him out?’

John Blake chuckled and ran toward Heizer. John Blake’s figure moved as smoothly as a cloud, but his speed was like light. He instantly reached Heizer and John Blake swung his sword lightly. The space was cut with a creepy sound.

‘It is too late to dodge it.’

Heizer quickly stretched out the sword in his hand with a frightened expression and blocked John Blake’s sword. Heizer’s body shook from the impact. It happened because he couldn’t fully handle John Blake’s power.

‘Why is he so powerful?’

Heizer’s face hardened in an instant. The opponent’s sword had no sword energy or pure energy. On the other hand, his sword had clear pure energy in place.

‘Why am I being pushed?’

He couldn’t understand it, but Heizer was given no more time to think. It was because the black knight in front of him was ready to wield his sword again. The black sword cut through the space and flew toward Heizer. Heizer flew away as soon as he saw John Blake wielding his sword. He chose to avoid it without blocking it. In the place where Heizer previously stood, a sword mark that was tens of meters long was carved.

‘Does this make sense?’

Heizer still didn’t understand the situation. The ground was being torn apart like a sheet of paper from an attack where no magic power was felt.

“Bless Heizer!”

Just then, Gang Junggu’s voice was heard from a distance. At the same time, Heizer’s body was covered with a colorful light.

“Just a bit more time, Heizer! Almost everyone has run away!” Gang Junggu informed Heizer of the situation from far away. Heizer responded by raising his sword.

‘Deal with him a bit more... then withdraw.’

Heizer wasn’t convinced that he could defeat the black knight in front of him, even in his present state of being blessed by the priests. Therefore, he was going to get as much information about the black knight as possible today.

‘I will figure out everything.’

Heizer flew toward the black knight.

***

“Tang-E, is it interesting?” Hyeonu picked up the well-cooked meat and asked.

“It is interesting, Master dude. It is good to see.”

Tang-E couldn’t take his eyes off the video on the wall and only nodded. The identity of the video that Tang-E was watching was the stream of another guild who was broadcasting the war in the north.

-Is this a stream in another stream?

-No, it is getting something easily. Express it this way.

-No, why is it getting something easily? We are watching Tang-E’s eating show.

-Ah, that’s right. To be honest, I don’t care if there is a war or not.

The viewers were drawn to the image of Tang-E concentrating with shining eyes.

“But I want to go and fight as well. I think it will be fun to use magic. I have learned many new things.”

“Still, we can’t go. So watch carefully.”

Hyeonu firmly cut off Tang-E’s words.

“Understood, Master dude. Tang-E will help.” Tang-E nodded with a look like he didn’t know anything.

‘His acting is improving every day.’

Hyeonu was busy admiring Tang-E’s appearance. It was a really amazing performance. Hyeonu had already told Tang-E that they would leave the imperial palace in the near future. Tang-E had heard all of this, but still reacted like he did now.

-By the way, isn’t there an imperial prince of the empire there?

-An imperial prince? Does Alley Leader have a son?

-No, the son of the former emperor.

Meanwhile, the chat window was full of stories about Heizer, the son of the former emperor, Alexander.

“I heard the news as well. The prince appeared with the reinforcements of the Holy Kingdom, right?”

Hyeonu showed natural acting like Tang-E. He reacted like he was hearing about Heizer for the first time.

-Yes, I heard the name. Was it Heizer?

-Why did he suddenly appear?

-Maybe he is here to protect the empire.

-Ah, is that so? By the way, if he is the imperial prince then shouldn’t the emperor’s position be handed over?

-Who knows? It should be?

“The emperor’s position? If he wants to take it, then I should hand it over. In the first place, I am the interim emperor.”

-You’ll give it if he wants?

-You are so generous, giving up the emperor’s position.

-Don’t you have any greed? How can you let go of it?

-Yes, I almost thought the emperor was the head of a rural school.

The viewers were surprised by Hyeonu’s words. The title of ‘emperor’ felt great to the viewers.

“This is pure reason. Pure reason.” Hyeonu waved his hand like it wasn’t a big deal.

-Kuoh... A man of moderation.

-Now he has achieved everything he wanted to achieve.

Hyeonu, who was watching the chat window, temporarily covered his mouth and whispered into someone’s ear.

-To Kalen: Let’s move onto the next step. Make the imperial prince a bit more visible.

Hyeonu’s plan was still in progress.

‘I will give it if he wants? No, I will give it even if he doesn’t want it!’