Ranker's Return

-Is ‘20 wins’ the name of your dog?

-Not everyone in the world is like you...

-If Jamie Moore wins 20-0, I will give 1,000 gold coins.

The viewers reacted harshly to what Hyeonu said. It was inevitable since Hyeonu’s words were so absurd. This was no different from asking a student who just entered middle school to do well in the university entrance examination.

‘1,000?’

Hyeonu glanced at the chat window, and his eyes lit up. His current face showed he had caught something good.

“1,000 gold coins? That... There is still a viewer who doesn\'t know the weight of their words. I remember your ID. If Jamie Moore’s result in the ranking placement battles is 20-0... and you don’t give me 1,000 gold coins, I will put you on the blacklist right away.”

The viewer didn’t back down despite Hyeonu’s confident words. Rather, they came out as strongly as Hyeonu.

-So unless Jamie Moore’s performance is 20-0... What is Alley Leader going to bet?

-Is that person going to bet 1,000 gold coins alone? You should bet something as well.

-The stakes aren’t right.

-Bet the equivalent of 1,000 gold coins.

In all bets, they had to put something that was acceptable to the other person as collateral. This was how a mutual bet was established. Hyeonu smiled and asked the viewers, “What do you want?”

This relaxed attitude made the viewers suggest all sorts of things as a condition.

-Five live streams next week.

-15 additional event winners.

-Appear on TV shows.

-Going on dates with Reina in public.

He really got all types of opinions from the viewers. Some of them were difficult for Hyeonu to do. However, the smile on Hyeonu’s face wasn’t erased.

‘After all, I only have to do one thing anyway.’

He couldn’t satisfy everyone’s terms anyway, so it was ultimately Hyeonu’s choice. Therefore, Hyeonu didn’t care too much.

“I will save the chat window separately. I will check the results in a moment and think about what I will do.”

Hyeonu clapped before turning his head to look behind him, where a man was leisurely walking out. It was Jamie Moore—a man with swords hanging from the left and right sides of his waist.

“I am once again greeting you after a short time. I am Jamie Moore, the crazy man with two swords.” Jamie Moore stopped next to Hyeonu and bowed his head.

“The greetings are over. What they want isn’t a greeting from Jamie but the results that you brought with you.” Hyeonu cut off Jamie Moore’s greeting so sharply that Jamie Moore became embarrassed.

“I am naturally curious as well. Jamie, your report card.” Hyeonu walked behind Jamie Moore and placed both hands on Jamie Moore’s shoulder. “Whether or not all the efforts I have put into the last hour have been in vain… and whether the effort you made is real, Jamie Moore... Isn’t everything contained in there?”

At Hyeonu’s words, the burden on Jamie Moore’s shoulders increased.

“Um... It could be interpreted that way,” Jamie Moore spoke in a heavy manner.

-Alley Leader is right, but... does he have to say it like that?

-Evaluating his efforts with 20 placement battles before the rankings.

-Still, it isn’t wrong. I have to admit it.

-Even so, I can’t help feeling bitter.

The viewers laughed bitterly at Hyeonu’s cold words.

“Tell me right now. Procrastination isn’t part of my nature,” Hyeonu said after clapping a few times.

“I finished hunting yesterday and proceeded with the ranking battles. The idea was to raise my level and skill proficiency as much as possible to compete in the ranking battles.” Jamie Moore didn’t immediately reveal his performance in the ranking battles. He slowly unwrapped it like a storyteller starting to talk. “I wasn’t very nervous when I entered the arena. I was used to it because of Alley Leader Academy. However, that only lasted for a moment. The moment the ranking battle started and the message window appeared in front of my eyes, my heartbeat increased and my mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything.”

Jamie Moore was eloquent. He captivated the audience easily as if proving that he hadn’t become the CEO of a large company called Nike Management out of sheer luck.

-So? Next?

-Did he perhaps lose the first match?

-Did he lose? What is the level?

-By the way, the placement is completely about luck. After meeting the kids who unfortunately started the ranking battles late...

-That’s right. I saw a friend doing it the other day and ran into a third class advancement player in the placement. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The viewers were frightened by Jamie Moore’s story.

“I woke up when the attacking opponent was right in front of me. That’s when I realized it. Ah, this is the real thing. It isn’t a practice round.” Jamie Moore recalled his first match in the ranking battles.

As he told the viewers, the start wasn’t good. He just stood there and waited for the opponent to attack. Then as the attack that had threatening energy approached, he instinctively moved his body. It was engraved in Jamie Moore’s body. The traces Hyeonu and the other top rankers of the arena had instilled in his body made their appearance.

“Fortunately, the opponent was on par with me.”

Jamie Moore’s first opponent wasn’t of as high a level as someone said he would be. Instead, he was of a slightly lower level than Jamie Moore. Therefore, a vain defeat didn’t occur.

-Then it looks like he won.

-If the specs are similar, the opponent’s skills will lag behind.

-He learned a lot. He can’t lose.

-It seems like he won easily.

The moment Jamie Moore said that the crisis was over, the viewers naturally predicted Jamie Moore’s victory. They knew it as well. If they were at a similar level, no one could beat Jamie Moore.

“After that, as all the viewers expected, I reversed the situation. No, it isn’t a reversal. I won. Just like that.”

That was it. There was no crisis. The thorny path Jamie Moore had gone through to get here was too long for him to lose to a player with similar specs.

-It can’t be helped. He has been fighting a few grandmasters. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-That’s right, but if he loses again, he doesn’t have talent.

-Then Alley Leader Academy will be the content of a lifetime. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Based on what I’ve seen so far, Jamie Moore isn’t that talented. Everyone said it was just okay.

The viewers easily agreed with Jamie Moore’s words, which could sound conceited. The reputations of the rankers who taught Jamie Moore were too flashy for him to collapse here. They had pushed Jamie Moore like a machine while simultaneously showing all the usual attack patterns. In particular, Hyeonu kept sparring while changing weapons. The memories were not shallowly etched into Jamie Moore’s mind and body.

“From the next battle, there wasn’t much risk. In a way, the first battle was the most dangerous. I think it is because there is an influx of new players.”

The influx of new players gave the arena rankings a deeper depth. This meant that it was difficult to climb to the high rankings no matter how well the placement was. It was naturally in line with the low level of opponents that first-timers in the arena would meet.

“Was it the same until the last ranking battle?” Hyeonu asked a question with a deep smile. Based on what had been said so far, he should be able to win all the placement battles. Just then, Jamie Moore’s nodding head shook from side to side.

“It became difficult from the 17th placement battle. It was quite a bit harder. From then on, I only met players who were stronger than me.”

The end of the placement test was hardship itself. Like how it was for a monk walking the path of asceticism, every match was difficult for Jamie Moore. The opponents were different from before. They were skilled people who had fully adapted to the arena.

“So? Did you lose?” There was also a change in Hyeonu’s tone of voice. His calm had gone, and the tone became intense. He growled like he was going to eat Jamie Moore.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean that I lost. It was a victory, although the process wasn’t smooth.”

Naturally, Jamie Moore won. In 17 placement matches, the score was 17-0.

“Then? What about the remaining three matches?” Hyeonu pressed Jamie Moore.

-Why is he angry? Is he scared?

-If you get agitated then you lose. Calm down.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Jamie Moore has grabbed hold of Alley Leader and is stretching him out.

-Yes, 20 wins isn’t easy, right? All the kids who entered the arena late because they wanted to try it failed.

The viewers were amused by Hyeonu’s reaction. Now they didn’t care if Jamie Moore won the placement battles and got 20-0. It was more important how Hyeonu reacted.

“Me? When was I agitated? I am the same as usual, right?” Hyeonu looked at the chat window and made an expression like it was unfair. However, remnants of agitation remained in Hyeonu’s tone. He tried to disperse it quickly, but there was a limit to that.

-Yes, you were agitated.

-Is he being insistent?

-It is his specialty, right? He is pretending.

The viewers were busy making fun of Hyeonu.

‘I don’t know if it is acting or real, but... his talent as a streamer is awesome.’ Jamie Moore looked at Hyeonu before starting to speak again.

He said, “It is hard, but aren’t I used to it? Honestly, even if I struggled in the rankings, can they be as tenacious as Jin Sijong? Can they be as perfect as Alley Leader in front of me? I’m a bit slower than my opponents, but I can overcome my weaknesses.”

Hyeonu’s expression brightened at Jamie Moore’s words. He thrust his face toward Jamie Moore’s and urged, “So it’s 20-0? Are you sure you won all three of the remaining battles?”

“Yes, that’s right. 20 victories and 0 losses. I did my homework perfectly.” Jamie Moore nodded.

Hyeonu exclaimed while holding back a smile, “I thought so! I believed in you. Who taught you? There is no way I didn’t think so.”

Nevertheless, he couldn’t hold it in. Anyone could see that he was happy.

-What nonsense about believing?

-So why did you get angry just now?

-You would’ve died today if he lost just one.

-It would probably be two hours of being beaten up.

The viewers clicked their tongues at the sight of Hyeonu changing his words in a single breath. However, someone couldn’t smile. It was the viewer who promised Hyeonu 1,000 gold coins.

-What are you doing? Aren’t you giving the gold coins quickly?

-If you lose the bet, you have to hand over the things quickly.

-Pay the price for your words.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 1,000 gold coins for one chat message... How much did they lose?

Like Hyeonu, the viewers changed their attitudes in a flash. They immediately stood on Hyeonu’s side and urged the viewer for the gold coins. Hyeonu, the party involved, didn’t say anything.

-I am giving it. Who isn’t giving the gold coins? I would do it even if you didn’t urge me.

-Then give it.

-I can also give with words as well.

-I am doing it right now. Look well.

-Streamer Argon has gifted you 1,000 gold coins.

“Thank you, Streamer Argon, for the 1,000 gold coins... Argon?”

Hyeonu was reading the nickname of the viewer who gave the gold coins without much thought when his eyes widened.

Streamer Argon—it was Yeongchan.

“Hey, someone said I have bad eyes and just moved my mouth. Isn’t that my friend, Argon?”

The smile on Hyeonu’s face deepened even more.