Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The Wronged Challenger
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In the western Indian state of Gujarat.
Blessed with stunning natural beauty, this place known as the "Jewel of Western India" boasted a truly unique landscape.
"Sun, look over there."
A country I'd never even thought of visiting in over twenty years of living.
I'd flown ten whole hours to get here.
And now.
I stood on a beach where waves crashed against the shore and grains of sand sparkled like jewels.
Sun let out an exclamation of awe.
"Indeed, what a beautiful sea. The wide-open coolness feels so different from the one back in your homeland, my lord."
Whenever I encountered breathtaking new scenery, I always summoned Sun.
Gifting him sight, showing him a new world.
That was the promise I'd made when I tamed him in the ancient desert.
"Yeah. This is the Arabian Sea, attached to the Indian Ocean. First time seeing it myself, too."
"I will etch it deep into my heart."
Guided by White Pig, I headed to the location he'd told me about and secured passage on a boat.
My final destination was the mysterious island of Mora.
As I paid the fare and cut through the sea, I recalled my conversations with the rankers.
- Little bro, come back alive, yeah? Can't give details, but if you survive, the taboo on info-sharing lifts. Let's grab drinks and talk all night then.
From Jang Dae-woong, who sincerely wanted me to become a ranker.
- You didn't forget, right? When you hit ranker, I'll collect proper payment. Hmm, let's see. Now that I look, you've got a decent face... How about modeling exclusively for White Pig? Deal?
Yu Sang-don, already half-convinced I'd make ranker.
Of course, as Demir Workshop's owner, I had no intention of modeling for a rival workshop...
- King, Delaila's trials aren't standardized. When no answer's in sight, try using everything around you. Always cheering for you.
Lee Seon-ah, who couldn't reveal specifics but kept stressing the right mindset.
And finally.
- I'll guard this place well. Please come back alive.
Even Gi So-yul, with her light bow.
"......"
Just what kind of place was it?
What sort of place made mere survival for A-rank hunters and above guarantee ranker status?
'Ranker, huh...'
Thinking about it, it didn't make sense.
Rankers were the top tier even among S-ranks!
A fresh A-rank like me jumping straight to ranker?
'What the hell goes on inside?'
A wave of tension suddenly hit me.
What was this trial that even those monstrous rankers called taboo and hid?
They weren't going to summon me like Old Man Mansul and just beat me senseless to toughen me up, were they?
If it was something like that, at least it'd make sense.
'That's how I got strong, after all.'
I was living proof.
It'd only taken half a year to climb from E-rank to A-rank.
That's why I could say it.
This world I knew.
If you had luck.
And the grit to seize that luck.
Opportunities to grow strong overnight were everywhere.
'And.'
The 'Dungeon Maker' that had come to me now was one such stroke of 'luck.'
'I have to do this.'
Even if the trial's end meant death.
Wouldn't it still be worth more than scraping by as an E-rank in a dingy room?
Splash, splash!
Some time later, I arrived at the port of the mysterious island Mora.
It was a fairly well-known island, with a decent urban area built up.
But like the polar regions, I only saw native Indians.
Occasionally, foreign hunters appeared.
'Those are participants too, huh...'
Wearing A-rank or S-rank badges, they seemed like fellow guests of Delaila.
'Where do I go?'
Thud!
My heart pounding as I stepped off the boat onto island soil for the first time.
A shiver.
Some eerie sensation crept over my entire body.
Like every nerve and cell awakening.
[Ding!]
['Dungeon Maker's' 'Eye' scans you!]
"Dungeon Maker?"
I snapped my head up.
Looked around wildly.
Eye? Watching me? What?
[Verifying your identity.]
[Reading recommenders...]
[Your recommenders are...]
...
[Rank 20, Berserker Jang Dae-woong]
[Rank 58, Famous Bow Ki Pa-rang]
[Rank 379, Dark Emperor Gi So-yul]
[Rank 509, Black Sword Lee Seon-ah]
[Rank 828, White Pig Yu Sang-don]
...
[Qualified!]
[You are a recommended candidate endorsed by five rankers.]
"This is..."
The messages floating before my eyes.
Instinctively, I knew.
This is where it begins.
[You have been invited to 'Delaila's Trials.']
[Reach the light pillar before time expires.]
[Time remaining - 01:15:30]
[First-come, first-served - 50 spots]
Flash!
With the message.
A beam of light shot skyward from the distant horizon.
'Head there?'
Delaila's promised time was 3 PM international time.
Yu Sang-don had given me plenty of buffer, so time was ample.
'The issue is.'
[First-come, first-served - 50 spots]
First-come basis.
'What the...'
Did that mean I might not even get to attempt the trial?
My mind sharpened.
The scenery I'd been admiring? Gone from my sight.
Palms slick with sweat.
[Failed first-day cutoff, boo hoo]—how would my recommending rankers look at me?
Run.
Had to run.
Eyeballing the light pillar's distance, no need for transport.
Running would be faster.
Thud!
I kicked off the ground hard.
Shaking off tension, sprinting full tilt.
Finding the way was easy.
Follow the city straight, jungle appeared soon.
A wide trail clearly led to the light pillar.
About ten more minutes of running.
"This it?"
I'd reached the destination.
A clearing the size of a school field.
Hunters already there scattered about, waiting.
They must be the ones recommended by five rankers too, like me.
Felt some glances my way, but that was it.
No one approached or spoke.
[Ding!]
[Passed!]
[36th to arrive.]
'Whoa, 36th...'
I marveled inwardly.
People this punctual?
Came an hour early and still nearly blew it.
Did White Pig know about this?
Anyway, I moved to a spot in the nearby corner and plopped down.
Short distance, but tension had my breathing ragged.
"Hoo."
Deep breaths, scanning surroundings carefully.
Most hunters fidgeted on the ground or whispered anxiously.
Near me.
Two guys and one woman formed a group, chatting idly.
Didn't seem like prior acquaintances from their vibe.
Probably just got acquainted early.
"People filling up fast, huh?"
"Such a tough condition, yet so many show."
"Yeah. Five ranker recs, and already 36th. That's 180 ranker slots gathered already."
"First-come 50. Means at least 250 rankers recommended."
"Man, Delaila... Impressive. Shows her sway over rankers."
"World rank 5, they say. Rumors say top 10 are near-god level..."
The amazing part.
They spoke foreign tongues, but meanings hit my brain crystal clear.
Must be the light pillar field's effect.
"Kinda funny, right?"
The hooded woman among them spoke up.
"Condition to become ranker is get five ranker recs. What, ranker cartel or something...?"
"Totally."
"Yeah, we got lucky with connections, but no-connections folks must be pissed."
The two men nodded.
Seemed everyone secretly agreed.
I kinda did too.
In a way, getting here seemed harder than becoming ranker.
Odds a random hunter with zero info catches one ranker's eye, then bags five recs?
Better odds buying lotto.
"By the way, hey."
The chatting hooded woman eyed me then.
"You, don't just listen—come join? It's fate, let's introduce."
"Ah."
I looked up, meeting her eyes.
Hooded woman leaning against the wall, hands in pockets.
Blond strands peeking from hood—Westerner.
'That's the woman.'
Nosy type.
Bet she led those three to group up.
"Look like you're from the East... Not Japan... China? Or Korea?"
"Korea."
I smiled back.
No harm in getting along.
Even Seoul's Five Star said he met his group here.
And who knew what trials Delaila had in store.
"Whoa, Korea? Isn't Hasera there?"
"...Guess so?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Olena from Ukraine. These two... Introduce yourselves?"
"James from the US."
"Capu from Brazil. Nice."
"I'm Joo Dong-hoon."
"Ooh, Hoon!"
James did that Western gesture thing.
I awkwardly smiled back.
And so, the four of us passed the remaining time without boredom.
Talking really does make time fly—eternal truth?
[Ding!]
[50th to arrive.]
Soon, with someone's arrival as the finale.
Delaila's first non-trial trial.
The first-come mission closed.
'The chilling part.'
Twenty minutes still till the promised 3 PM.
'This place really has no mercy.'
Even those who kept the promise get sent packing.
That was Dungeon Maker's trial.
The problem started here.
"Huff, huff...! What? Cutoff?"
The 51st arrival.
"Huh? Where's that rule! Should've said upfront! Lure folks to this boonies then sudden first-come! What country's law is this?!"
And.
The 52nd arrival.
Then.
53rd, 54th...
More participants kept arriving.
Oh, world.
I was amazed.
So many rankers, all so eager for this.
Truly.
A world non-rankers never knew.
Suddenly, the world felt scary.
Felt grateful to Gi So-yul too.
"Come out, Delaila or whatever, you bitch!"
Boom!
Someone smashed the ground with a fist, shouting.
The 51st arrival...
The world's most wronged man's cry.