Episode 13
* * *
The Magic King, Joe.
His record is undefeated. His Majesty is the nickname.
The popularity of ‘Joe’ was unparalleled.
You may wonder how that is possible, since there is no known identity and no work to do.
In the age of the Great Hunter, the popularity of top rankers is a given.
Moreover, Joe was already a national hero from the moment he appeared. He was an undisputed leader who had never given up a ranking since his debut.
Above all, that artistic timing.
Joe only showed up once in a while when the situation was like, ‘Let’s see if you don’t show up anyway.’
The story goes that he only appears as a savior when people think, “Guys, we were doomed before, but this time, we’re really doomed. Everyone, prepare for the next life and I’ll see you in the afterlife.”
The most decisive events were the three Class 1 cracks that occurred over the past ten years.
At the time of the first level 1 disaster.
When Joe, who flew in from somewhere on a black dragon, opened Balrog’s neck like a soda cap. (aka ‘It’s not a bottle opener, it’s a Balrog opener’ incident/Current views: 7.89 billion views)
In fact, Joe’s popularity was practically decided there.
He even did something similar twice more.
Moreover, these first-class cracks are created simultaneously in many countries around the world, as if in collusion.
It is impossible not to compare countries with each other.
In such a situation, it is only natural that Korea, which has the top legal profession, has suffered the least damage.
This was almost like someone opening their mouths and hitting you with a slap to the face for being patriotic.
The number of views of live battle videos shot from various angles and mad music videos edited by fans has skyrocketed.
The reporters started shouting “Do you know me?” while holding on to dogs and cows.
The arsonist who ultimately poured oil on the burning nationalism is none other than the world’s beloved superstar…
It was when Timothy, ranked number one in the United States, visited Korea.
He opened his mouth in front of hundreds of microphones.
“Is this Joe’s country?”
It was game over.
* * *
Even though he was basically indifferent, Joe didn’t hate his own popularity.
This is something that all rankers belonging to Channel 1 know.
Whenever Choi Da-wit was bragging about his popularity, he would suddenly appear and post a link to his own video.
Every time humanity faced a critical crisis, he showed up anyway (even if a little late).
Why would such a person turn his back on humanity?
There is only one answer.
‘Kiddo, I’ll get up there faster than anyone else this time.’
And I will definitely find you and kill you.
Baek Do-hyeon waved his sword with an expressionless face.
Corpses strewn across the grass.
The last one left stepped back in the same sitting position. His teeth chattered.
“S, save me… Please save me.”
“I won’t die. Don’t you know that?”
“please.”
“This is simply a process of castrating our humanity.”
Not as a mere mortal, but as a guardian who will protect the world and humanity.
“Please……”
“I’m sorry. If we meet outside, I will apologize.”
The sword was drawn diagonally. Baek Do-hyeon used force to cut off the cervical vertebrae.
Hot blood spurted onto his cheeks. He raised his head slightly.
[Killed my own kind.]
[Earn 50 Special Points!]
[A flawless strike! What a wonderful talent.]
[Hidden trait, ‘Genius of the Century (Hero)’ is unlocked.]
[You have met the first blooming conditions.]
[First title, ‘Sword of Judgement (Semi-mythical)’ enters the germination stage.]
[The saints who destroy evil and protect order begin to watch over you.]
《Baek Do-hyeon’s current points: 10,270 points》
《Tutorial Current Ranking #1. Sole Leader》
* * *
“Are you kidding me? The golden generation is a piece of shit. There’s just one big golden egg.”
A bullfrog has gotten stuck in the tadpole playground and is wreaking havoc.
The guild leader of
It’s only been an hour and twenty minutes since the tutorial started.
From the start, I thought he was just a guy who had some fun, but he already surpassed the full score.
Since ancient times, the fights between newbies have been a haphazard and entangled affair, but thanks to that, the number one spot remains unshakable.
Twilight clicked his tongue as he touched his ear, which, unlike his full tattoos, had no piercing marks.
“I was thinking of bringing in a newbie after a long time, but I’m going to have to go through some trouble. Is there something coming out of the closet? Or is it a total newbie?”
“No, it’s not that. I was on the media the day before yesterday. They said I was the hero of Seolleung Station.”
“……The day before yesterday? Seolleung Station? Are you sure?”
Twilight asked, bending down.
His right arm, Una Sam, nodded tremblingly, looking at his trembling knees, unlike his serious face.
It’s been like that ever since I overheard the conversation with the “Eunsaja” earlier.
Compared to the scene where he kept staring at the Gyeonjirok like crazy, saying that his ranking didn’t change even after clearing the 38th floor, this was still pretty ugly in its own way.
“Hey, would you mind if I give you the ransom?”
“Why? You’re collecting those too? He probably hasn’t even seen the hem of the Magic King’s robe.”
Pak, whose face was wrinkled, lowered his voice as he turned to one side.
“Fate. Fate. Big picture. Later, huh? It’ll be a topic of small talk. Are you a bit of an idiot?”
‘Even if you ride the KTX, you still look like a fool……’
Una Sam looked around, her eyes quickly widening as she turned her head away.
From scouts recording the changing rankings in real time, to people standing in front of monitors of their own interest, or sitting on sofas and chatting in groups.
On the outside, the monitor room looks just like any other room.
But the fact that the top monsters in Korea are now turning their tentacles to sin… was a trend that only a very small number of people knew, even in this place where only the most famous rankers gathered.
Una Sam tried to take his eyes off the black hood near the silver lions.
Once you realize it, you wonder why you didn’t know it before.
Even though I’m sitting next to that ‘Eunseokwon’ like an old man on subway line 1, I don’t feel awkward at all…
Of course, other than that attitude, there are absolutely no hints that are revealed on the outside.
Honestly, if Twilight hadn’t told me, I probably wouldn’t have known until the end at Una Sam’s level.
He’s ranked 15th, but he can’t even read my presence…
I know the Magic King, but this is beyond my imagination.
Being in the same space made me realize once again how completely different the monsters are.
It is truly a heavenly paradise.
“Should I be happy that there is a much higher realm, or should I be frustrated……”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“No. Just……”
Twilight snickered as he looked at his right arm, which was blurring its words.
“Oh, that’s funny. I’m the one who’s going up. You guys just watch my back and follow me.”
“……Yes, head.”
If you’re going to uselessly tap on the calculator, then calculate the ransom… Huh, huh? What is it? What is it? Where is that going?”
The direction they were heading was towards a group of “Silver Lions”.
Twilight frantically stretched out his arm as he watched Choi Da-wit boldly rush past him.
Even though he’s flustered, his S-class reflexes are still there.
Choi Da-wit, whose clothes were suddenly grabbed, crumpled his expression like a yaksha.
“What is this Baedal Minjok late-night snack part VVIP new thing.”
“Did you run out of gas? I clearly warned you not to call me that outside.”
“Oh, so what!”
“……Uh, where are you going?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking at it? Over there.”
“Wow, this is really crazy. Could it be the reason I’m thinking of? …… Is it the ranker rule? People in the same channel should keep each other’s personal information. Where did manners go? If you keep barging in like this, all the eyes of the humans here will be drawn to you. Even now, maybe, huh? My son who is quick-witted is almost……”
“Okay.”
Busan dialect with rapid fire.
Choi David raised his hand and cut it off.
Una Sam, who had been quietly watching the two, realizes at that moment.
‘That’s……the confidence of having a back.’
“Who would do something like that out of the blue? Twice a week. Hunter Sports Town in Seongbuk-dong.”
“…..”
“This body belongs to the same squash club as my grandfather, the lion.”
“……!”
“We can go and say haha hoho whenever we want!”
The eyes of the twilight grow as big as lanterns. The Tao, the network of fan clubs that I had only heard of.
Choi Da-wit smiled faintly as he looked down at him.
“Dynamic Korea is a network. Xman.”
David, do you have everything planned out?
There was a context to every confident gait.
The twilight that had been watching the turning back of Choi Da-wit belatedly grabbed him.
Actually, I just got up after making up a story like, ‘I’m feeling a bit tired from sitting around. Should I go for a walk? Oh, I’m walking around the wide monitor room and I happen to be near the silver lions. Oh, it’s nice to meet you.’
Jeong Gil-ga-on, who approached first, was seen being cut off by the tiger’s line, so he pretended as if nothing had happened, stretched and sat there whistling.
“What now, Miss!”
“…Hey, sister, I’ll go with you too.”
“……”
Rank 6 Twilight casts the look of a wet puppy dog.
The line was ‘Sister, I’ll go too’, but the pronunciation was ‘Sister, I’ll go too’.
At that moment, Choi Da-wit’s expression turned rotten after seeing something he shouldn’t have seen.
Boom! Guguguung-!
……
“……What?”
“Did it just shake?”
Choi Da-wit, who was balancing nimbly, checked his surroundings.
Everyone’s reaction was not much different.
She wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
The ‘top’ shook.
Babel Network
[What is ◆※쉙씠▦◆▦가 ??▦▦를 ◆◆▦하다? ? ?]
[Tower of Babel ━ Emergency server maintenance is underway.]
[Please note that the network firewall will be temporarily weakened during server maintenance!]
《Tutorial difficulty is readjusted due to external factors.》
《The tutorial cannot be interrupted once the scenario has started.》
“What the hell is this……?”
Someone muttered in a panicked tone.
Server maintenance? That’s never happened before.
And right then.
The expressions on the faces of those belonging to Channel 2, or channels lower than that, began to change completely.
Each person looks for their superior with an anxious look on their face.
Twilight was also quickly delivered.
“Sudden Gate? Three at the same time?”
Inside the tower, electronic devices are out of service.
The only means of communication between them is through channels, and to make matters worse, the ‘sudden crack’ cannot be notified by Babel.
So, the top powers must schedule their rotations…
There is a reason why the tutorial work is called the rankers’ break from office work.
It is generally accepted that the gate does not appear during the tutorial.
So, since there were many high rankers here, they had to contact us urgently through various channels from outside.
Una-sam continued to report with a stern face.
“Namyangju is a level 4 crack. Bukhansan and Suwon are each estimated to have level 2 cracks. I guess I’ll have to go and see…
Quasi-jik,
grasp-!
It’s a strange silence.
Front view of the monitor room.
It was only a split second before some sort of shock wave shattered the glass wall.
There should have been a loud crashing sound and the shattered debris should have filled the room…
As if time were fixed.
Shards of glass suspended in midair, shattered into small pieces.
Instinctively, Twilight suddenly turns to one side.
As if that were the answer.
The little figure wearing a hood stomped his foot again, rolling it gently.
Saaaaaaaah-!
The debris all at once turns into light dust and disappears, leaving behind no trace.
Extensive and extremely delicate control of magical powers.
But I couldn’t even feel the movement of magical power. Even though everyone in this place was a ranker skilled in handling magical power.
This fact can mean only one thing.
Awe or horror.
Among those who were speechless, Eun Sa-ja and Eun Seok-won stood up.
“What are you guys doing? Get out. We have to do what we have to do, ‘Hunters’.”
Accordingly, a notification finally appears on the ranker’s number 1 channel.
Ranking 9. It was a message from Team Leader Kim Si-gyun of the Emergency Response Team 1 of the Center. He asked us to hurry up.
One by one, the rankers come to their senses and hurriedly leave the tower.
Even in the midst of all this, a few people kept glancing to one side until the very end.
“Then the tutorial is……”
“It’ll be okay. Haven’t we always had a way out?”
Eun Seok-won looks on, answering with confidence.
A place where the glass wall that had been blocking the way has disappeared.
Standing there blankly, looking down at the empty square.
The back of the little king whom Babel and the stars love so dearly.
* * *
Wizard King Joe looked down at the empty square with both hands in the pockets of his hoodie.
And I thought.
‘(Former) Ranked #1, but I couldn’t help but do something like a vassal…’
It was too much of a waste of time to be ruled by the doctrine of the strong breathing room.
The gaze directed towards the empty space is somehow hazy and bittersweet.
‘Still… Gao was killed, Jianjiao…’
Pom-pom-pom-sa… Gao-sa, gao-juk.
I have no regrets…
A guide to proper living for rankers.
