The One Who Is EX-Rank (2)
An EX-rank being has appeared within the guild Hypocrisy’s Fate. Her name is Raphael. Height approximately 180 cm. She radiates an utterly alien and overwhelming aura. That terrifying presence clearly surpasses the Four Heavenly Kings! I am certain of it! I swear this upon my title as the Knight of Dawn—Arthur.
The only EX-rank whose identity remains completely unknown is one individual. The Nameless One. Could it possibly be that person?
— Excerpt from the letter sent by Arthur, Guild Master of Hypocrisy’s Fate, to the Imperial Palace.
“Hmm? Is something wrong?”
“Uh… um… well… that is…”
“……?”
“Lady Raphael… is it truly you…?”
“And this EX-rank… is it accurate…?”
“I don’t really understand the rank myself. A colleague of mine simply obtained and handed it to me.”
“Ah… haha… ha… ha…”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. The aura she gave off earlier was the complete opposite of this casual demeanor. And those clothes she was wearing—now that he looked closely, they were the robes of a heretic inquisitor. But the design was clearly from several decades ago. Had she emerged from closed-door training? Or had she just finished exterminating heretics? Why did she have to come to their guild… sob… What did she want from them? Please, just leave quickly…
“Could I get a new identification card issued? The one from twenty years ago is a little embarrassing to show people.”
Just how old is she? Her voice sounded like that of a woman in her twenties. Did reaching EX-rank stop the aging process? That couldn’t be right… even His Majesty the Emperor aged.
“Also, when I get the new card, I want to start with a completely different name. And please set my rank to begin at D!”
“Ah… yes, yes… what name would you like…?”
“I’ll write it myself! It’s a bit embarrassing to show you.”
“Euhheung~”
Raphael’s laughter echoed throughout the guild hall. It sounded like the cackle of a devil. She spent a full hour agonizing over her new name.
What should I call myself? Something that sounds cool, ridiculously strong, and transcendent. In novels, the nameless ones are always insanely powerful… Oh. Nameless? Should I go with Nameless? It gave off the vibe of a hidden master, which was perfect. A name that felt completely detached from the world while still looking ridiculously strong! Nameless it is!
Scribble—
Raphael handed the freshly written identification card to Arthur.
“What do you think? Does the name suit me?”
Guild Master Arthur was currently experiencing the greatest crisis of his life. No matter how he looked at it, the name seemed childish. Yet the feeling that telling the truth would get him killed grew stronger by the second. His life, or the truth? …Arthur chose his life.
“Hahaha… it really… suits you perfectly!”
“Right? I spent a whole hour on it, so I think I did a good job.”
“By the way, can I start taking quests?”
At Raphael’s words, every combatant in the guild froze. Arthur, startled, shouted back.
“Hahaha!! Of course you can! However, the guild across the street has far more quests available! Our guild only handles demon-hunting requests that nobody else wants to touch!”
“So it would be better if you went to the other guild—”
“Oh my! Demon hunting? That sounds wonderful! No wonder this guild caught my eye the moment I saw it!”
“I’m actually really good at hunting demons in addition to heretics, you know! Shall I give it a try?”
With those words, Raphael—no, Nameless—swept up every single demon-hunting quest posted on the bulletin board and strolled out of the guild with a carefree gait.
The moment she left, the guild members exploded at their master.
“Aaaaaaaaagh!! That—that demon… why did she come to our guild…!”
“You idiot, Arthur! Why did you say that nonsense!! We’re all going to die!!”
“The almighty Goddess’s protection is upon me, therefore I fear nothing, and thus shall I live eternally within Her embrace…”
“The devil has descended!! Our entire guild is going to be wiped out by that EX-rank demon!!”
“Eh~ If I die first, that’s that~”
Amid the guild’s descent into utter madness, Arthur quietly thought to himself.
Heh heh, I should go buy a lottery ticket today and win big so I can retire. Heh heh heh.
Leaving the guild to Ezio would be perfect. Kehehe.
Having finished his thoughts, Arthur addressed everyone.
“Is there anyone brave enough to buy lottery tickets with me!!!!!!! ”
The guild members looked into Arthur’s eyes. Those pure, unclouded pupils. Ah… he had completely lost his mind!
Thud. Thud.
The guild members, who had been the very embodiment of chaos moments ago, suddenly dropped to their knees.
“Please do not abandon the guild! O Guild Master Arthur!! The only hero who can stop that demon is the Knight of Dawn—you alone! Please come back to your senses!!”
Seeing the scene, Arthur immediately sprinted toward the guild entrance.
“Damn it! Stop him! The guild master is abandoning us!! Mages, cast sealing spells immediately!!”
“Block him at all costs so he can’t buy tickets!!”
“The moment he wins the lottery, the guild is finished!!”
In the end, Arthur failed to purchase a lottery ticket due to the desperate interference of countless guild members.
“How cruel… how cruel!!! Why are you stopping me!! I told you I was going to earn money for the guild!!”
At the guild master’s cry, the receptionist looked down at him and spoke.
“If you continue serving as guild master, I will let you go.”
“…………”
“Put a bit in his mouth!! Execute this sinner!!!”
“No… no!! Ezio… Ezio!! I’ll give you everything! How about it!!”
Please, Ezio… you understand me, right? I’ll give you everything!!! Just save me…
Hearing those words, Ezio covered his ears and muttered in a small voice.
“Ehe… Ezio is dumb. He doesn’t know about that stuff.”
“Where has the brave Ezio who used to exterminate demons gone!!!”
With that huge body, he’s acting like this? Has he really gone insane? …Fuck, is he smiling? This traitor!!!
“Ezio doesn’t know about that. Ehehe…”
“Fuck!!!!!! If someone takes over as guild master, I’ll give them 100 million won!”
“………………”
“You… you traitors!!!!!!!!”
And so the guild master’s riot was eventually suppressed.
Meanwhile, Raphael, who had gone to complete the demon-hunting quests, was slaughtering the demons that appeared in a certain village with ridiculous ease.
“Hmm? The demons are way too weak.”
“They just explode internally with one flick of my hand?”
“Sigh… they told me to bring back a demon horn as proof, so I should grab one and head back.”
Raphael began to lament while looking at the demon that had died far too simply.
“If they can’t even kill something this easy, what are they doing…”
“Can I use this as part of a portfolio for a demon-hunting instructor position…?”
“I’ll have to ask later.”
“Hehe~ Killing demons really is the best stress relief~”
The number of demon quests gradually dwindled. She killed the demonkin that appeared in the village, wiped out the horde of demons in the cemetery, and finally eliminated the demon born from concentrated demonic energy inside a dungeon.
In a single day. In just one day, she killed sixty-five demons and demonkin and collected their horns. Then she headed back to the lovely guild that had given her all those demon quests.
Click. Click. Creeeeak—
The guild door opened. The sound of heels echoed, accompanied by a humming voice. Every guild member held their breath as they watched her movements.
“Hmm~?”
“Is anyone here~?”
“Arthur? Guild Master~?”
The moment Raphael specifically called out for Arthur, sighs of relief could be heard from all around as a noticeably thinner Arthur appeared.
“Heh heh… yes… why are you looking for me…?”
“Huh? You look much thinner than before?”
Great Heal
“There, all better now!”
“……!!”
Both the guild members and Arthur froze once again upon seeing the skill Raphael had just used. Arthur instinctively grabbed her hand.
“Just now… wasn’t that Great Heal??”
“Hm? Yes? It was. Why?”
“You used the highest-tier recovery magic in an instant…?”
“Huh? Is this the highest tier? This is just a normal heal~ The highest recovery magic I can use is Absolute Heal.”
“Did you misunderstand something? I know all about it~”
Everyone who heard those words thought the same thing: This woman is definitely not normal.
Even a Saintess required an incantation to cast healing magic… yet she used it instantly without any chant? And it was Great Heal? She wasn’t an angel or anything, so what the…
Arthur stared seriously at the masked woman before speaking to her with polite respect.
“Absolute Heal… is an ancient magic whose incantation has been lost to time…”
“It is a spell said to be able to revive the dead… Can you truly use it…?”
“Ah. Is that so? I can use it, but… it was easy to learn in the game…”
“I didn’t realize it was a lost ancient spell, though…”
“It seems like a lot has changed in twenty years…”
Arthur and the guild members overheard Raphael’s mutterings and were all stunned into silence. They thought:
Shit… why the hell is a monster like this here…?
Wait. Couldn’t this actually be good for us?
Hiring high-ranking priests is expensive. If we’re lucky, maybe she’ll heal us?
The moment they realized she could be beneficial, the guild members suddenly became motivated. Among them, the reliable man named Ezio stepped forward and asked.
“Your name… was Nameless, correct?”
“Yes? That’s right. What can I do for you?”
“Well…”
“Well…?”
“If it’s not too much trouble… could you possibly use recovery magic on us…?”
“Hmm? Are you injured?”
“The truth is, I still haven’t recovered from the internal injuries I received while fighting a horde of demons last time…”
“I see. So you’re a demon hunter?”
“Not exactly a demon hunter. I just help the citizens from time to time.”
“Then does everyone here do similar work?”
Raphael looked around at the guild members.
“Yes, that’s correct…?”
A soft smile could be heard from beneath the mask.
“Perfect. In that case, I can bestow healing upon everyone in the guild.”
“Uh… wouldn’t that be difficult? I heard casting heals one by one is quite exhausting…”
“Why would I heal you one by one? I can just do it for the whole group.”
Wide-Area Great Heal