Ranker’s Return

The light from the eye of the giant, the boss monster of the instance dungeon, wasn’t a physical attack like the Breath. It was crowd control.
It was a technique that captured the spirit and made them move according to the will of the giant.

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[Minister Devlon has used soul bondage on you.]

[Due to the influence of fighting energy, you have resisted the soul bondage of Minister Devlon.]

[You have ignored the soul bondage of Minister Devlon due to Immovable Heart.]

However, Hyeonu had excellent resistance to CC. The fighting energy stat and the Immovable Heart skill—the two of them assisted each other to allow him to ignore the giant’s eye.
The next moment, Tang-E let out a harsh cry, “Kuhahaha!”

Hyeonu asked him to scream and Tang-E immediately screamed without any doubts.

“Kuoh!”

The giant heard Tang-E’s cry and looked agonized.
At the same time, the eye on the giant’s forehead closed again and the light disappeared.

‘As expected, it was effective.’

Tang-E’s cry wasn’t a simple cry. It was Roar. Roar had the effect of hindering the casting of the opponent’s skills.

“Fight again!” Hyeonu shouted to Tang-E again. Hyeonu wasn’t just speaking. He acted as well.
Red fighting energy and purple energy shot from Hyeonu’s body and clung to the giant’s body.

“Understood!”

Tang-E opened his closed eyes and stretched out his paws. Tang-E’s claws that were covered with a golden magic power dug into the giant’s chest. Tang-E gathered the paw tucked into the giant’s chest like he was holding an egg. Tang-E’s overwhelming power succeeded in crumpling the giant’s chest muscles.

On the other side of the chest from where Tang-E’s paw was stuck, a purple paw protruded.
Unknowingly, Gom-E, who had moved behind the giant, had also inserted his paw in.

“Kuooooh!”

The giant howled. It was the first time he suffered pain in ages. It was since he was able to use his soul.
In response to the giant’s anger, the eye on the giant’s forehead reappeared.

It happened at this moment…

A purple line appeared in the air. The line extended from the top of the giant’s head to his groin.
The giant’s body was split in half and blood gushed out like a fountain.

[Minister Devlon has been defeated.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All health and magic power are restored.]

[High grade demonic creatures killed 2/???]

[The quest has been updated.]

[Kill XXX] → [Kill Devlon.]

[Killed Devlon 1/1.]

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[Liberate the Vengeful Spirits has been cleared.]

[Experience has been acquired.]

[Devlon’s Treasure has been acquired.]

Hyeonu smiled happily when he saw the message window in front of him. His level increased and the quest was completed.
On top of that, he definitely got an item from the boss monster due to the quest rewards.

“Both of you fought well.”

Hyeonu stroked the heads of Tang-E and Gom-E, who returned to their original small bear form.

“From next time, I’ll only eat meat when I receive permission, Master dude.”

“I won’t ask for meat.”

Tang-E and Gom-E clung to Hyeonu’s two sides.
Reina looked envious when she saw it.

‘First, pick up the items.’

Hyeonu put down the two bears, who didn’t want to leave like cicadas on a dead tree, and carefully observed the ground where Devlon’s body had fallen.
It was because there would definitely be items here.

“Hyeonu, here are the items.”

Just then, Reina picked up something and called out to Hyeonu.
Hyeonu straightened his bent back and walked to Reina.

“Two things dropped?”

“Only two things came out.
Normally, it is common to get three or four items for the first clearance…”

Reina’s voice trailed off.
The rewards were less than expected.

‘Originally, items come out generously for the first clearance…’

This was why many people strived to discover instance dungeons. There were huge rewards for the first clearance.
They aimed for this.

“Two is enough.
I’m usually not that lucky.”

Hyeonu smiled brightly as he accepted the items. He was satisfied, no, really satisfied with two items.
It was because Hyeonu often got only one item from killing boss monsters.

“That’s right, Master dude always only gets one item.
Two items are a jackpot, a jackpot.”

Tang-E agreed with Hyeonu’s words. He knew this through countless experiences.
In light of this, two rewards were fairly good.

“Check the item information one by one.”

Hyeonu handed one of the two items he received back to Reina.

“I understand.”

Reina picked up the ring on Hyeonu’s palm and immediately checked the item information.

‘Item Information.’

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[Poor Vengeful Spirits]

[A ring containing the sorrow of the vengeful spirits, whose lives and souls were bound by a demonic creature with special abilities.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: Liberator of the Vengeful Spirits, 1,500 physique, and 2,500 magic power.

Effect: All stats + 100, ‘Gratitude of the Vengeful Spirits’ is available.

Gratitude of the Vengeful Spirits: The probability of resisting status abnormalities is increased by 20%.
The speed of magic power recovery is increased by 350%.]

“It is a unique item,” Reina looked at Hyeonu and said with a bright face after checking the item information. However, Hyeonu wasn’t listening to her words.
It was because Hyeonu was staring at the leather band in his hand.

[Greedy Minister]

[A headband made by working with the third eye of Devlon, a demonic creature who binds not only lives, but also the soul.
It can be worn separately from helmets or hats.

Rating: Epic

Restrictions: Possess abnormal status resistance skills, 2,000 physique, and 3,000 magic power.

Effect: All stats +200, ‘Eye of the Minister’ can be used (cooldown time: 12 hours.)

Eye of the Minister: Induces a strong status abnormality in the target by making eye contact.
The greater the difference in stats, the stronger the status abnormality (Duration: 30 seconds).]

‘It came out!’

This was why Hyeonu aimed at the leather band. He couldn’t believe it. An epic item. Who would’ve expected it to come out here?

Both of Hyeonu’s cheeks twitched. Hyeonu tried hard to lower the corners of his lips that were about to curve up.
Reina was next to him and he couldn’t make a fool of himself here.

“Look at your smile.
It is definitely a good item.”

“Brother, I agree with you.
Looking at Master dude’s mouth, it is definitely a jackpot.”

The two bears wasted Hyeonu’s effort in an instant.
Due to the words of the two bears, Reina’s eyes shifted to Hyeonu’s mouth.

‘He is really smiling.’

Even Reina could see that Hyeonu was trying hard to hold back his smile.

“Reina, how is that one?”

Reina repeated what she had already said once.

“It is a unique item.
It increases all stats by 100, increases the probability of resistance to abnormal statuses by 20%, and increases the speed of magic power recovery.”

Hyeonu smiled and nodded at Reina’s detailed explanation.

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“It is good.
Are the wearer restrictions tricky?”

“The strength and physique limit is high, but…
rather than that, there is a condition of Liberator of the Vengeful Spirits.
I think a title is probably needed.”

“Title?”

The smile on Hyeonu’s face disappeared in an instant. The need for a title meant that the people who could wear it was very limited. However, Hyeonu soon smiled again.
Titles could be obtained quickly.

‘Liberator of the Vengeful Spirits…
it will come out soon.’’

“Just wait.
Then I think we can get the title.”

The moment that Hyeonu spoke to Reina, message windows appeared in front of them.

[The title ‘Liberator of the Vengeful Spirits’ has been created.]

[Liberator of the Vengeful Spirits]

[A title given to the player who liberated the vengeful spirits.

Effect: The probability of resisting status abnormalities is increased by 5%.]

“Wasn’t I right?”

Hyeonu smiled at Reina. He had experienced quite a few items with such restrictions. Every time he cleared a dungeon or killed a boss, he got a title and an item to wear.
Thus, he thought it would be the same this time.

“Yes, truly.”

“Reina, please keep that ring.
I will have this headband.”

Reina’s eyes widened at Hyeonu’s words.

“You want me to have this? In fact, I didn’t do anything.”

“Who said you didn’t do anything? We have been hunting together so far.”

“Still, this item…”

Reina felt burdened. She never refused a small gift from Hyeonu, but she thought this one was a bit too much.
She couldn’t imagine how much this ring would cost if it was placed in the integrated auction house right now.

“None of the rings I’m wearing are worse than the ring in Reina’s hand.
Do you understand?” Hyeonu spoke in a playful manner.

It wasn’t just words.
This was actually the truth. The eight rings on Hyeonu’s hands. None of them were worse than ‘Poor Vengeful Spirits’.
From the giant set, the rings related to the Mysterious Sky Sect, Red Guardian, Rainbow of Desires, and Dancing Black Dragon…

Each one was an item with ridiculous effects.

“I understand.
Then I’ll keep this one.”

His face was covered with a mask ,but Reina would tell what expression Hyeonu was making.

“Then let’s quickly return to Etono.
Too much time has passed.”

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*** 

Back in Etono, Hyeonu met someone he shouldn’t have met.

“Marquis Gang Hyeonu.”

It was the emperor.
The emperor came to Hyeonu.

“Your Majesty…!” Hyeonu called out in a troubled voice.

“How far has the work progressed?”

The emperor didn’t ask anything else. He only wanted to know one thing. The progress of the quest.

“I’ve only reached halfway.
The demon world is several times larger than the middle world…” Hyeonu made an excuse. It was true, not an excuse, but it sounded like that to the emperor.

“Half…
Marquis, don’t you think this is too slow?”

“I will try harder, Your Majesty.”

“It’s fine.
The plan has already gone wrong.
The nobles have started to question it.”

“Who would dare to question Your Majesty…?” Hyeonu asked with surprise.

Was there a crazy person who dared to question the emperor?

“To be exact, they are complaining.
There are rumors that the emperor, who is absent due to starting a war against the demon world, is actually just relaxing.
How annoyed must the people trapped working in the imperial palace be?”

The emperor had an expression like he understood.
The problem was that this expression didn’t even last for three seconds.

“However, it isn’t pleasant to be misunderstood like this.
Don’t you think so, Marquis Hyeonu?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty shouldn’t be misunderstood like that.”

“That’s why I’m saying this…
I have to start the war now.
Five is enough.
Conquering it step by step also has its own taste.”

The moment the emperor’s words finished, a message window appeared in front of Hyeonu.
Hyeonu didn’t have the energy to look at it.

[The quest has been updated.]

[Demon world cities recorded 5/10 → Demon world cities recorded 5/5.]

“Marquis Gang Hyeonu.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Give me the bead.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The wheel of the main scenario started to turn quickly.