Ranker Who Lives Twice

Team: HH, Yahiko, thursdays (9/10)

[Athena looks at you with sad eyes.]

[Athena looks at you with sad eyes.]

[The godly society ‘Olympus’ is observing you quietly.]

“How annoying.”

The Ice King whipped his head back in surprise at Yeon-woo’s abrupt words.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Nothing at all. There’s just something that’s been bothering me from before.”

“…….”

The Ice King sighed in relief upon realizing that he wasn’t the “something” that was bothering Yeon-woo. At the same time, he tilted his head in confusion because he didn’t know what it was.

[Athena looks at you with sad eyes.]

Athena’s gaze was now unpleasant for Yeon-woo.

Like she didn’t plan on turning away any time soon, she continued to look at him with an emotional gaze.

The same went for the other gods.

‘They’re probably curious about Tartarus.’

Olympus had probably realized what Yeon-woo was trying to do. Just by looking at the materials that he needed, one could guess what he was doing.

And now, they were focusing on him because they were wondering why he had gotten distracted.

However, Athena’s gaze was a bit different. A gaze filled with pity. He could almost feel her sympathy from here.

He especially didn’t like that gaze.

Being understood by someone and receiving someone’s pity were two completely different things, so he glared at Athena, who was somewhere up in the sky.

[Athena looks at you with sad eyes.]

But the message didn’t disappear.

Eventually, Yeon-woo ignored Athena’s gaze and turned his head. He saw Victoria, who looked exhausted but had followed them all the way here.

“Please go back.”

“…..No.”

“How do you plan on moving in that state?”

The effects of the spells had already done everything they could. All kinds of decorations on Victoria’s arms, fingers, and ankles were holding her up.

The Adamantine Nova was swirling around Victoria like a planet orbiting a sun, but it couldn’t function properly because Victoria didn’t have a tool to extract its power.

“No. I can do it.”

However, Victoria remained stubborn. When Yeon-woo moved faster to lose her, Victoria forced her tired body to chase after him.

“But.”

“I won’t be a burden. If I feel like I am…..”

Victoria bit her lower lip.

“I’ll die on my own.”

“…….”

Yeon-woo looked at Victoria. She just looked back at him with firm, unwavering eyes.

He knew those eyes well. It was a stubbornness no one could stop.

He often had those eyes, too.

“…..Then do whatever you please.”

Yeon-woo gave in.

“Thank you.”

She had a small grin on her face.

* * *

『First off, we’ll be bait.』

『Bait?』

Around the time they re-entered the boundaries of the stage, Yeon-woo began to explain his plan.

『It’s important to meet up with Kahn, but what’s more important is to deflect the people chasing after him.』

『You plan on lessening his burden.』

『Yes. At the same time, he’ll hear of where we are.』

They couldn’t find where Kahn was no matter how hard they tried. Nike and Nemesis were searching from above, and Boo used his searching magic, but nothing came up.

While Victoria had stalled for time, Kahn had hidden completely. He knew the 20th floor’s geography better than anyone else, having stayed here as a Sadhu for a considerable amount of time. If he wanted to hide, no one would be able to hide him.

So Yeon-woo had changed his mind.

If he couldn’t find Kahn, he would reveal their location to him.

It didn’t matter if Kahn didn’t come to them.

As Yeon-woo showed himself, the other descendants of the Monkey King would appear. Then, Kahn would have to approach them. Yeon-woo didn’t plan on hiding the fact that he had a piece.

‘Then, even though the Devil Army is watching him, he’ll have to come. Or…..’

Yeon-woo’s eyes flashed.

‘Progress with another hidden agenda.’

Why had Kahn chosen the 20th floor out of all the stages?

It could be because he was familiar with it and other players would be limited, but Yeon-woo thought there was another reason.

‘It’s also where the Monkey King’s palace is. It’s probably not just a simple coincidence.’

Anyways, no matter what Kahn had planned, it wasn’t a waste for Yeon-woo because he would be able to find Kahn.

「You haven’t thought about the fact that you’ll go through much more, right?」

Shanon grumbled.

「Geez, unlike your usual personality, you’re weak when it comes to these things…….」

Of course, like what Shanon said, Yeon-woo would have to go through more hurdles, but Yeon-woo was confident he could jump over them.

He could heed the request of a friend in danger.

[Athena looks at you with sad eyes.]

『But how are you going to draw the enemies’ attention?』

Although Victoria was nodding after hearing Yeon-woo’s plan, there were still some things she was unclear about.

『Like this.』

Yeon-woo grinned.

Pat—

Krrrrng!

Not too far off, there was a great explosion. A column of fire pierced through the forest and reached the sky.

『Aaaack!』

『Dammit……! How did you know…… kuk!』

Victoria’s gaze turned to where the explosion was. She had a look of surprise.

The Ice King sighed.

『People already started tailing us? That was fast.』

Having crossed over from the chasers to Yeon-woo’s side, he felt bleak. He would receive the stigma of a traitor, a term that mercenaries carefully avoided being associated with.

He thought about stepping out.

『Where are you going?』

Yeon-woo used his Open Speaking as if he could see the Ice King’s movements while he was in the middle of a fight.

『Ahem! I think I’ve helped enough already. Do you have any plans of letting me go?』

『Please pick a side.』

Would he go with them or Yeon-woo?

The Ice King hardened his face and spoke in a serious manner.

『Of course I’m on your side. Whose side would I pick? Alright. What should I do first?』

* * *

『It’s impossible at this rate! Spread apart!』

『I, I can’t! It’s blocked….. Keack!』

The team of chasers who had been chasing after Yeon-woo, the Hidden Shadow Group, scattered on their commander’s orders.

They were well-known as an assassination group, not a combative group.

They usually took requests to kill someone, but they also tailed people and spied on what they were doing.

Because they always moved quietly, they weren’t exposed, and they were good at keeping secrets, which attracted customers.

The same went for now.

They had received the request of an “ally” to look for the Hoarder’s location and had begun to move carefully.

After receiving news that the fourth commander of Iron Lion, Moon Walker, and Streege had been swept away by him, they didn’t even plan on confronting him directly.

Instead, they quietly chased after him and left signs wherever the Hoarder’s party moved.

Then, another team would let the ally know, and the ally would slowly surround the Hoarder’s party to trap them.

However, they were already exposed despite only leaving a few signs.

The Hidden Shadow Group quickly fled without being able to check how they were caught.

But it wasn’t easy to escape.

Kwakwakwa—

Every time Yeon-woo moved, a heat wave stopped them from moving, and the explosions that came from his sword were decreasing their numbers at a rapid pace.

The players who had barely escaped Yeon-woo’s attack range were also stopped.

A large wall of ice appeared and blocked their escape path

『Ice King Elder, what are you doing?!』

The co-captain of the Hidden Shadow Group, Harvey, shouted with a pale place. He hadn’t been able to imagine that their trustworthy ally and elder had stood on Yeon-woo’s side. All this time, they thought the Ice King had been defeated by the Hoarder like Moon Walker.

『Things happened. Sorry.』

The Ice King smiled bitterly at them. Until this morning, he had been eating breakfast with them, so he didn’t feel comfortable raising his sword against them.

However, it was the reality of the mercenary world that close friends could be enemies exchanging swords the next day.

The Ice King rid himself of the last of his apologetic sentiments and lightly clapped his hands together.

A blue light spread around them. An avalanche began tumbling down as cold air whirled.

〈North Sea Ice Wave〉. The ground froze and icicles created an ice thornbush around them.

Harvey and other Hidden Shadow Group members were pierced by the ice thorns and shot up.

Blood dripped down the ice and wet the ground, which froze over again.

Urrrng—

The tool that Victoria temporarily made began to move the Adamantine Nova. However, because she wasn’t in a good condition, she supported her party instead of directly attacking the enemies.

When her magic power was somewhat restored, she drew letters in the air. Red rune letters appeared and disappeared with a pop.

It was a new magic formation. Clouds rumbled above, and lightning bolted down.

Urrrng, boom—

The three were all high rankers. The Ice King was a high ranker from a long time ago, and the abilities that made Yeon-woo considered the best of the Six New Stars were equivalent to those of a high ranker.

The Hidden Shadow Group vanished instantly.

However, Yeon-woo and the others didn’t stop there.

『There’s some here, too!』

Flying above, Nike delivered the locations of the enemies to Yeon-woo. He quickly got rid of the pursuers on the stage.

Krrrng!

Rumble—

Screams and explosions could be heard from all around the mountains.

The tables were turned against the pursuing alliance.

They had been planning on cornering Yeon-woo, but with the sudden turn of unexpected events, they were shocked.

They were an “alliance” only in name.

Because they were loosely connected, they didn’t have a good contingency plan.

It was because they all had different objectives.

The Iron Lion was searching for the young master on their leader’s orders, and the Magic Tower and Necropolis were after the Bian Studies. There were also bounty hunters and mercenaries who were only in it for the money.

It wasn’t easy to create an efficient way to solve the situation.

Holes were made in the net that they were trying to create around Yeon-woo’s party.

He dug deep into the alliance.

And.

He accomplished his first goal.

Under the cliff, he could see a large camp.

It was the base of the Iron Lion.