Ranker's Return

NEW NOVEL: First and foremost, I'm delighted to announce that our long-time veteran translator littleshanks has finally launched his new novel, Rise!  Rise is a novel about the esports scene in Shanghai, the competitive gaming capital of China. It follows the story of Lin Feng, a boy who has just moved to the city for his last year of high school. He's a passionate gamer and dreams of being the best professional League of Legends player in the world. The twist? He almost achieved his dream, but failed at the...

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‘The time to enter the bathroom was different from the time to leave’—this was an expression that described how a person’s mind changed with the circumstances. It was just like a certain someone right now.

[Player ‘Gang Hyeonu’ has won.]

‘I’m finally ranked second...’ Hyeonu was thrilled when he saw the message window in front of him. Now, he would be done if he won one more time. The destination was right in front of him. Previously, he had been angry that Teika’s ranking had fallen. Yet now that he actually got to second place, he couldn’t remember this small thing. He was just happy to be ranked second.

“You worked hard.” Hyeonu approached Teika and reached out a hand.

Teika held Hyeonu’s hand and said, “As expected, you’re too strong. Lately, everything has been so typical that it has lost freshness and originality. Now many people are helping me break out from that.”

Despite his defeat, Teika didn’t look upset or angry at all. On the contrary, he was smiling. He seemed to find the situation very interesting. This was slightly incomprehensible for Hyeonu.

‘Isn’t it normal to feel bad when losing?’ Hyeonu shook his head a bit. “You dropped so many rankings. I’m sorry about this, but what can I do?”

“Well, my ranking will be able to rise again soon. However, Rain is truly strong. He is the player who has become the most different after his third class advancement.”

“Really? Nevertheless, I’m not too worried. I’m a lot stronger.”

Teika laughed at Hyeonu’s confident answer. “I think so as well. I’m just telling you to be careful.”

“I will accept your concerns. Then I’ll be going now.” Hyeonu’s figure soon disappeared.

Teika’s expression changed once he was alone. It was like a cloud that had risen into the sky came back down. Instead, he raised his eyebrows. His eyes—which were curved in a crescent shape—returned to normal, filling up with a fiery expression. Teika transformed from a cheerful person into the incarnation of competitive desire.

“From today, the goal is Alley Leader.”

The heart of the sovereign who had lost his passion started to beat strongly again.

***

Hyeonu returned to his own arena and started to brag to the viewers. “Everyone, did you see it? I beat Teika and reached second in the rankings.”

“Uhu, huhuhu!” He let out a strange smile.

-It is obviously true, but why do I hate to see it?

-I hope he loses to Rain.

-It’s even sadder because there is no possibility of that.

-If he wins, the stream will be over. ㅠ ㅠ

-Alley Leader shouldn’t lose, but he can’t win.

The viewers were in a dilemma. Alley Leader shouldn’t be defeated. He was an undefeated icon and their idol. Their idol had to remain invincible. The problem was that Alley Leader was currently ranked second. As long as Rain didn’t run away, the two men’s ranking battle was confirmed. Alley Leader would be ranked first if he beat Rain. Then the stream would end there.

They expected the stream to last for a long time today, but it had only been a bit over six hours. It wasn’t much different from the usual.

“I won’t lose. No, I can’t lose,” Hyeonu said. He stuck out one leg in an arrogant manner while stating, “How can I lose?”

-Hah...

-Your talent is an enemy, an enemy.

-The saddest thing is that I can’t refute it.

“Shall we watch Rain’s video together until the next match? Out of courtesy, I should do some preparation. Even so, I will win.”

Hyeonu turned to A-World and entered Rain’s channel. He then played back the most recent video which was of last week’s ranking battle. Shortly after the video was played, a sound emerged from Hyeonu’s mouth, “Umm...”

‘Strong.’

Rain was strong. He was obviously stronger than Teika. Rain’s opponent was noticeably perplexed every time Rain wielded his sword. The opponent was unable to take the attacks and was soon defeated by Rain, who used his skills one after another.

-Rain is this strong...?

-The opponent was 15th in the rankings... Yet he lost in vain.

-Honestly, Alley Leader seems stronger?

-Didn’t he just win against Teika?

In the eyes of the audience, Rain was strong. However, that was it. After all, the viewers were already familiar with Hyeonu. There was no reason for them to be insanely surprised by Rain’s video when they had just watched Alley Leader’s overwhelming win against Teika, who had been ranked first.

‘To think the viewers are like this...’

Rather, it was the confident Hyeonu who was flustered. Underneath his mask, Hyeonu’s face burned, and he hurriedly quit A-World.

“He is strong enough. Um... Very strong. He deserves to be ranked first.”

-The second place’s evaluation of the first place.

-He seems more like a commentator instead of the person who is second in the rankings.

-Commentary from the perspective of a real observer. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Hyeonu chatted with the viewers for a long while. When he saw a message appear in front of him, he couldn’t help making a silly sound, “Eh?”

***

[An event quest has been created.]

[Undefeated Sovereign]

[For the first time in the arena, the last trial is being given to you, who have never lost, as you challenge the king’s position.

Rating: S

Conditions: Win the battle against the opponent 0/1

Rewards: Title, skill book.]

‘A quest?’ Hyeonu looked closely at the quest window that appeared in front of him.

He remembered receiving a quest a few months ago. It was his first day of streaming. The quest had occurred on the day he challenged a 100 winning streak in the Arena and he was on his 99th victory. Since then, it hadn’t appeared at all, and he had forgotten its existence.

“Everyone, it has been a long time. An arena quest has appeared,” Hyeonu explained to the viewers why he was surprised. “It is similar to the last time. If I win the next ranking battle, I will receive a title.”

-Wow, what are the conditions for it to appear?

-An arena quest that other streamers will never see in their lifetimes...

-By the way, how many arena titles does he have? Isn’t it given at the end of the season?

-I know that those who are 1st to 9th in the rankings are provided options.

“The condition for it to occur is to challenge the top ranking while being undefeated. To be exact, being the undefeated first ranked player is the condition for completing the quest.”

It was different from the actual conditions, but it meant the same thing. The next opponent Hyeonu would meet was Rain, who was first in the rankings. Hyeonu also hadn’t lost at all.

-It is a quest that I didn’t know about.

-I don’t think there is anyone else who can win 100 matches in a row?

-In the new season, there will be kids who will be challenging it. Even if it is a new season, the rankings of the previous season will be reflected anyway. So it will be no different from what it is now.

The viewers were amazed by the arena quest that appeared once again while reconsidering Alley Leader’s achievement. He was a streamer who had done all sorts of things that no one else had ever done. There were no large forces, guilds, or clubs behind him. Alley Leader was alone.

This was also a dream for the viewers. The viewers dreamed of climbing to the throne with their bare hands. It was something everyone dreamed about doing just once. This became a reality through Alley Leader.

-I also believe in Alley Leader.

-If we don’t give gold coins here, then where will we give it?

-Alley Leader is the Best Best Best has gifted you 77 gold coins.

-Leader Groupie has gifted you 999 gold coins.

-First Place on the Throne has gifted you 777 gold coins.

‘What? Gold coins suddenly flew out?’

Hyeonu smiled at the gold coins that burst out like fireworks at a fireworks festival. Still, it was only for a moment. Hyeonu was just delighted. Gold coins were money. He didn’t know why, but he was accumulating money right now. So, he should like it.

“Ohhhhh! Thank you for the gold coins. Thank you. It is thanks to all of you that I’ve been able to stream until this far.” Hyeonu bowed to the viewers. This was the minimum courtesy that Hyeonu could show to the viewers who gave him gold coins.

-Say Hello has gifted you 99 gold coins.

-Bow Down to 100 Gold Coins has gifted you 100 gold coins.

Some viewers gave gold coins to greet Hyeonu.

‘How about it? Just give me gold coins...’

“Oh, my. 100 gold coins are like this. Then think about 10,000 gold coins. Thank you very much.”

Hyeonu was just feeling the joy of his soaring bankbook balance when something ruined Hyeonu’s mood.

“Eh?”

The surrounding landscapes started to change. This wasn’t his original arena but the arena he was moved to for ranking battles.

‘No! Why is it matched in just 10 minutes?!’ Hyeonu inwardly screamed with resentment. Why now? So why was the matching finished so quickly?

‘The gold coins were exploding!!!’

The gold coins were finally flowing. Hyeonu’s stream didn’t always have bursts of gold coins. Sometimes it started with a person gifting gold, or it would burst for no reason like now. The important thing was that this moment of golden coins didn’t come often. If he couldn’t grab the opportunity when it came, then it was no different from wasting it. For this reason, Hyeonu’s expression behind the mask was like he was chewing on poo.

Rain, who wasn’t aware of Hyeonu’s condition, greeted Hyeonu politely, “Hello, I am Rain.”

Excited to finally compete with Alley Leader, Rain had a slightly flushed face.

Hyeonu spoke in a low, cold voice toward Rain, “I am Alley Leader. Let’s get rid of the nonsense and fight quickly.”

A bomb dropped on Rain.

---

TL Note: I previously made an announcement about how the publisher/author made some changes and deletions to GM Jung Dahui's sections in the early chapters of the novel. There was a section about Jung Dahui in this chapter but it doesn't make sense after the parts in the earlier chapters have been changed/deleted. Therefore, I've removed it from this chapter but I've added it under the spoiler button if anyone still wants to read it.

  Spoiler 

Jung Dahui, Arena’s GM, had been watching Hyeonu for a long time. Her father provided her with solid support, but in the end, she was still an employee of Quency. If the company was busy, then she had to work.

‘It’s been a while.’

A long time had passed the last time she watched his stream, and Hyeonu had grown a lot. Considering his level of skill, his ranking was terrible. He was second place in the rankings, yet he had almost led two main scenarios alone.

‘You grew this much...?’ A bright smile appeared on Jung Dahui’s face.

Hyeonu’s stream was the best in A-World. In other words, Hyeonu was now in a more famous and higher position than almost every other player in Arena.

‘This is what I wanted.’

“This is my last gift and a test, Oppa.” 

Jung Dahui now realized that her intervention had no meaning to Hyeonu.

‘It actually wasn’t helpful. They were quests that would’ve been impossible without Oppa’s skills.’

Hunting the dark elf in the tutorial, fighting and winning against a class change office who had the data of existing warrior class pro gamers inputted, and winning 100 consecutive ranking battles with a level 50 character—none of them was easy. No, it was impossible.

‘First in the rankings... This is a gift to Oppa who will rise to the throne.’

Jung Dahui tapped the keyboard for the final test.

Jung Dahui, Arena’s GM, had been watching Hyeonu for a long time. Her father provided her with solid support, but in the end, she was still an employee of Quency. If the company was busy, then she had to work. 

‘It’s been a while.’ 

A long time had passed the last time she watched his stream, and Hyeonu had grown a lot. Considering his level of skill, his ranking was terrible. He was second place in the rankings, yet he had almost led two main scenarios alone. 

‘You grew this much...?’ 

A bright smile appeared on Jung Dahui’s face. Hyeonu’s stream was the best in A-World. In other words, Hyeonu was now in a more famous and higher position than almost every other player in Arena. 

‘This is what I wanted.’ 

“This is my last gift and a test, Oppa.” 

Jung Dahui now realized that her intervention had no meaning to Hyeonu. ‘It actually wasn’t helpful. They were quests that would’ve been impossible without Oppa’s skills.’ Hunting the dark elf in the tutorial, fighting and winning against a class change office who had the data of existing warrior class pro gamers inputted, and winning 100 consecutive ranking battles with a level 50 character—none of them was easy. No, it was impossible. 

‘First in the rankings... This is a gift to Oppa who will rise to the throne.’ Jung Dahui tapped the keyboard for the final test.

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