Ranker's Return

“I was really looking forward to what these guys look like after being worked by Kapa’s hands, so I couldn\'t be late,” Hyeonu poured out coaxing words from the beginning like he had applied honey to his tongue.

“It was a new experience. It is the first time I’ve dealt with such things in my life. I really enjoyed it.” Kapa really enjoyed this week. There was a metal with attributes that changed after being exposed to the same magic power for a long time and even an essence with a magic power that he saw for the first time. He enjoyed working on them.

Kindling the fire and using the hammer—nothing was boring.

“I finished hammering them exactly an hour ago. I can’t say these are the best works I’ve ever made, but I can definitely say that no one else can make them better than this.” Kapa brought out the equipment with these words.

‘He has a great memory!’ Hyeonu exclaimed inwardly while looking at the Mysterious Sky Sword, the necklace, and the ring. He could see the difference the moment he saw the equipment.

‘It is purple.’

The color…

The equipment were all a soft purple color. The appearance of the equipment didn’t change at all apart from this. They were just discolored.

“You didn’t talk about appearance, so I kept their original appearance. The prototype was also pretty good.” Kapa talked about the appearance as if he read Hyeonu’s thoughts.

“Thank you. I didn’t think about it until now...” Hyeonu bowed again.

“Check them. I don’t know the details either.” Kapa was also curious. What type of performance would the equipment he remade have? He had a rough approximation, but he couldn’t accurately say how much better they were.

“I understand. I’ll check them right away.” Hyeonu put the ring on his finger and checked the item information.

‘Item Information.’

[Mixed Sky Sect Leader Symbol]

[A ring passed down from generation to generation to the leaders of a sect in the East Continent that has been remodeled with the essence of chaos. The effectiveness of the ring will increase as the achievement in the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art increases.

Rating: Legendary

Restrictions: One who has learned the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art.

Effect: All stats +600, the proficiency of Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art will rise faster by 30%. The power of Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art is increased by 30%. Dignity of the Sect Leader can be used.

Dignity of the Sect Leader: Show overwhelming power toward those who have learned the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art and Mysterious Sky Demonic Art.]

‘Good. Good.’

A satisfied smile appeared on Hyeonu’s face. His desire to let the chaos essence permeate the item was successfully fulfilled. The item effects had been changed so that the performance of the item increased in proportion to the achievements in the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art rather than the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art.

‘The rating of the item has gone up, and the other effects have become better.’

For the former ‘Sect Leader Symbol’, all his stats increased by 50 every time the mastery of Mysterious Sky Demonic Art increased by one star. In the newly changed ‘Mixed Sky Sect Leader Symbol’, all stats increased by 100 every time the mastery of Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art increased by one star.

‘The proficiency of the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art is cut in half, but... this means the potential is higher.’

It was why the item rating became legendary.

“It is very good. The essence seems to have permeated properly. As expected of a Mithril Hammer...” Hyeonu gave Kapa a thumbs up. He only checked one of the four items, but he was already satisfied.

“I’m glad you like it. If you have a request like this next time, don’t mind it and come to me. I can deal with these materials at any time.” Kapa coughed a few times like he was embarrassed by Hyeonu’s compliment.

“I understand. If I have anything good, I’ll run to Kapa first...” Hyeonu paused for a moment and frowned. He looked like he was thinking about something.

Sometime later, Hyeonu asked Kapa with a serious expression, “Kapa, do you have a tight-lipped mouth?”

Kapa’s expression stiffened as he replied, “A tight-lipped mouth? Of course. Dwarves don’t talk easily. We keep it to ourselves once we hear something.”

The atmosphere released by Hyeonu was that serious.

“From now on, we are the only ones who will know about what I will say. Don’t tell anyone. Can you promise that?” Hyeonu asked softly. Security was essential for what he was going to say next. It was a story that no one knew and no one else should know.

“Um... I want to ask one thing. Is the story I’m going to hear something that will be helpful to me?” Kapa asked cautiously. His title of great tribe chief was too great for him to make such a promise easily. There was no need for him to know about the secret if the other person wasn’t in the tribe. There was a reason for the saying that ‘not knowing is medicine’.

“Kapa, if you accept my suggestion, I’m sure you will be able to have the wonderful experience you want.” Hyeonu slowly nodded while making eye contact with Kapa.

“I believe you. I don’t think you can lie to me.” Kapa also nodded like Hyeonu. He believed in Hyeonu. It was due to what Hyeonu had done for the different species so far and the fact that Hyeonu was trusted by Raccoon, the orc great tribe chief. This alone gave Kapa a reason to listen to Hyeonu.

“It really is a secret. This is something that no one knows. There are only two people in the middle world who know about this. You will be the third,” Hyeonu spoke in a low voice.

“Is that so? It must be something really important.” Kapa’s eyes widened with surprise. Something only two people in the entire middle world knew truly had to be an extraordinary thing.

“Do you know about the undead army that has appeared in the northern part of the West Continent?”

“The undead in the north? I’ve heard about it. The ones who were outside shared the news. I heard that the humans have suffered quite a bit of damage.”

“I am going to talk about that undead army.”

Kapa gulped in response.

“I actually met the leader of the undead army.”

“What?!” Kapa shouted the moment he heard Hyeonu’s words.

“Why don’t you listen to me a bit more.”

“I understand. I was too agitated.” Kapa readily admitted that he was agitated. He heard something he hadn’t expected.

“Raccoon knows that I met him.”

“Raccoon?” Kapa asked with a surprised expression. It was something that only two people knew about. He never dreamed that the other protagonist would be Raccoon. An unimaginable name popped out here.

“Raccoon knows. So what I want to say is none other than this: the leader of the undead army is looking for a skilled dwarf craftsman. He is thinking of making something... I am thinking that Kapa, you could be that craftsman.”

“Hmm...” Kapa groaned.

It wasn’t an easy decision. Everything was a problem. It was a problem to leave the league while the continent was in turmoil, and it was also a problem that the destination was the north filled with undead.

“So why do you want to fulfill the request of someone who is hostile to the empire?” Kapa asked the fundamental question. This was the most contradictory part of Hyeonu’s words. The empire and the undead army were in the middle of a war. Meanwhile, the duke of the empire was granting the request of the leader of the undead army?

‘It isn’t easy to understand.’

There was obviously some story behind it.

“It is a past relationship from before he became the leader of the undead army. I will give you some time to think about it. You can think about it and then tell me your opinion.” Hyeonu gave Kapa plenty of time.

He had no intention of pushing the latter to make a decision. Even if Kapa didn’t want to do it, Hyeonu still had an alternative.

‘Edchan will definitely do it.’

Hyeonu’s bond with Edchan in Phinis was much deeper than his bond with Kapa. It was obvious he would leave for the north without much of a fuss if Hyeonu requested it.

Hyeonu picked up the ring that glowed purple while inadvertently throwing these words out with an indifferent expression: “Ah, the leader of the undead army is the tribe chief of the ran tribe, who left the middle world in the past.”

“The ran tribe...? The demons?” Kapa’s eyes widened once again. This time, he didn’t receive an answer from Hyeonu. In fact, Hyeonu didn’t even take his eyes off the ring despite Kapa’s cry.

‘Now he must be a bit intrigued,’ Hyeonu thought. This was a planned act to arouse curiosity in Kapa.

‘I have to check the rest of the items.’

Hyeonu ignored Kapa and examined the item.

[Master of the Mixed Sky]

[A ring used by the masters of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art for generations. It has been exposed and imbued with the Mysterious Sky energy for a long time, but it is now imbued with the magic power of a transcendent being. The effectiveness of the ring will increase as the achievement in the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art increases.

Rating: Legendary

Restrictions: One who has learned the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art.

Effect: All stats +600, the strength of magic power is increased by 48%, skill cooldown reduced by 25%.]

[Mixed Sky Guardian]

[A necklace given only to the strongest user of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art at the time. It has been exposed and imbued with the Mysterious Sky energy for a long time, but it is now imbued with the magic power of a transcendent being. The effect of the necklace will increase as the achievement of Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art increases.

Rating: Legendary

Restrictions: One who has learned the Mixed Sky Demonic Martial Art.

Effect: All stats +600, magic power consumption is reduced by 48%, the power of skills is increased by 48%.]

‘It is too good, too good. Really.’

Hyeonu inwardly screamed a few times. He would’ve run around like a madman if it wasn’t for Kapa in front of him. The effects of the changed items were so good. The current performance of the items had only improved slightly, but there was a lot of room to grow in the future.

‘What happened to the Mysterious Sky Sword? I’m very curious.’

At this point, Hyeonu’s attention turned to the Mysterious Sky Sword. The weapon was more important than the accessories. The accessories were just incidental.

‘I need to check it...’

Hyeonu picked up the Mysterious Sky Sword and opened the item information window. No, he tried to open it.

“I have decided.” Surprisingly, Kapa called out to Hyeonu right then.

“Huh? Did you make a decision?” Hyeonu raised his head and looked at Kapa.

“I will go. You probably wouldn’t have made the suggestion if it wasn’t good.” Kapa accepted Hyeonu’s suggestion.

There was no particular reason why Kapa agreed to go. The first thing was that he wanted to meet the legendary ran tribe. The second thing was that he wondered what the ran tribe would ask for. The third reason was that he believed in Hyeonu.

“I understand, Kapa. Please tell me the date that is convenient for you.” Hyeonu confirmed it the moment Kapa’s words emerged. He judged that there was nothing good about wasting time.

Kapa pondered on it for a moment before opening his mouth and saying, “Tonight, the army from Viper will leave for the East Continent. We will leave tomorrow.”

“Okay, I’ll leave tomorrow.” Hyeonu nodded.