Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

“What? A straggler?”

“Yes, someone from the standby team fell off the cliff…”

The conquest team, who had gone ahead.

It wasn’t long before they too heard the news of Habin’s fall from the cliff.

“…You’re saying the person who fell is Hyun Habin?”

Kang Taeseo, at the forefront, double-checked the information. Beside him, Chae Jiseok turned his head in unison.

‘Hyun Habin?’

Several others also murmured in puzzlement.

Some of them sneered.

“Isn’t that area where you just need to wait quietly? How did she fall from there?”

“This is why you shouldn’t bring rookies carelessly.”

And some were worried.

“Will she be okay?”

“Unless she’s a non-Awakened, anyone B-rank or above shouldn’t be in danger from a fall. If she packed potions, that is.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

Amidst the numerous speculations, a mix of sneers and concerns.

Only Chae Jiseok, who knew Hyun Habin best, thought differently.

‘Is this a new method of playing hooky?’

He wasn’t even worried. A cliff like that would be no more than a single step for Hyun Habin.

‘But why did she fall? She could have stayed comfortably at the entrance.’

Was she bored?

“……”

It was impossible to guess her intentions with ordinary common sense.

While Chae Jiseok was lost in thought, others reached a conclusion.

“There’s nothing we can do right now, so let’s just go.”

“We announced that we wouldn’t retrieve stragglers until the conquest ends, so we have no choice.”

“We can’t risk more casualties by clumsily trying to rescue her, right?”

These were all reasonable opinions. Everyone resumed their original positions.

Except for one person.

‘Hah, I knew this would happen.’

Hwang Maru, one of Caligo’s executives who had been silent, secretly smirked.

Hwang Maru.

Ranked 6th nationally.

Although he was a high-ranking executive of Caligo, he always had many complaints. He was always dissatisfied with the actions of the guild master, Kang Taeseo.

Today was no different. Why on earth did he bring along a rookie like Hyun Habin?

‘Bringing someone to a dungeon just because they’re his friend. Is this some kind of childish game? Tsk tsk.’

To think they gave the title of the country’s number one hunter, entrusting the future of our nation, to someone like this?

‘But that arrogant attitude ends today.’

Hwang Maru exchanged meaningful glances with those around him, hiding a twitching smile.

They were all like-minded individuals who shared Hwang Maru’s intentions.

‘Let’s oust Kang Taeseo from Caligo!’

While Kang Taeseo was quite popular publicly, that was only popularity supported by ordinary people and fans.

Due to his cold and sharp demeanor, there were quite a few anti-fans who disliked him, saying he ‘seems to lack manners.’

Especially Hwang Maru, despite being a powerful 6th-ranked hunter nationally, was dissatisfied with always being under Kang Taeseo.

‘How many years have I been groveling under that brat…!’

Hwang Maru originally wanted to become a guild master.

But the duopoly of Caligo and Solaris was too solid for him to create his own guild and wedge himself in.

With the number one ranked guild (Caligo) and the number two ranked guild (Solaris) being so formidable, what chance would a 6th-ranked hunter have saying ‘Please join our guild!’ while trying to create his own guild between them?

So Hwang Maru had planned from the beginning.

‘I’ll enter Caligo, pretend to grovel, and when the opportunity arises, I’ll devour Caligo whole.’

A strategy to seize control of Caligo’s key internal personnel.

That way, he could absorb Caligo’s existing reputation and factions while getting his hands on a guild.

Hwang Maru, skilled at sowing discord and persuasion, had successfully recruited several figures within Caligo.

Fortunately, there were quite a few people within Caligo who sympathized with his views.

‘That’s right, Kang Taeseo. His looks, his way of speaking. I never liked him because he lacks manners.’

‘It was really annoying how he’d order us around despite being so young.’

‘If Hwang Maru-nim takes the lead, I’m all for it.’

‘We’re on Mr. Hwang Maru’s side.’

‘Right. If I become the head of Caligo, I’ll guarantee each of you a high position!’

‘Sounds good. Don’t forget those words.’

Fueled by their individual greed and jealousy, the ‘Anti-Kang Taeseo Faction’ was finally formed.

Hwang Maru, the leader of this faction, smiled with satisfaction.

‘Hehe, Kang Taeseo. Today is the day. The day I take over Caligo and make you eat crow!’

Hwang Maru glanced around surreptitiously.

Unfortunately for Kang Taeseo, all the Caligo guild members who came to Kill Screen today were anti-Taeseo forces gathered by Hwang Maru.

‘What an idiot. Bringing us along without knowing who’s friend or foe.’

Hwang Maru smiled contentedly.

This is Kill Screen.

A high-difficulty dungeon where it wouldn’t be strange if someone died.

Moreover, inside Kill Screen, there are no safe zones, no police, no CCTV.

…Meaning, whatever happens here, the outside world can’t intervene.

‘We’ll drive Kang Taeseo to his death here!’

Hwang Maru had it all planned out.

Honestly, he wasn’t confident about defeating Kang Taeseo, whether one-on-one or many against one.

‘So we’ll borrow the hand of the boss here.’

When they reach the boss room, they’ll deliberately send Kang Taeseo in alone.

‘Even Kang Taeseo can’t defeat the 26th floor boss alone. Hehe.’

Then the boss will take care of killing Kang Taeseo, right?

‘The rest of us can return, pretending to be sad about losing our guild master.’

Perfect. It’s perfect.

As he reviewed his plan, Hwang Maru secretly hid his twitching lips.

◆◇◆◇◆

Meanwhile, in the dungeon boss room where Habin was.

The room was already strewn with miserably defeated magical beasts and broken dungeon decorations. Broken candlesticks and wall fragments rolled about.

It was a thoroughly half-destroyed room in utter disarray.

Amidst this, Habin was poking the unconscious Demon King Kriksha.

“Hey, hey, boss, wake up.”

“Ugh……”

Kriksha opened his eyes with difficulty. Spitting out blood-tinged saliva, he glared at Habin with bloodshot eyes.

“Ugh…… My name isn’t boss, it’s Demon King Kriksha!”

“Okay, Demon King Kriksha.”

What a weird name. Who adds a title in front of their name? Habin muttered softly with a frown, and Kriksha flared up.

“……My name is just Kriksha, without the Demon King part. It’s the name my parents gave me!”

Habin quickly added:

“Now that I think about it, it’s quite a cool name, isn’t it?”

“Just what are you!”

Kriksha shouted, dumbfounded. He looked around with a bewildered expression.

‘What in the…!’

Even upon reflection, the situation defied logic. The elite army of the Demon King, undefeated for thousands of years, taken down by this one human—it was unbelievable to anyone.

Kriksha barely managed to raise his body, still lacking strength.

“No, are you even human to begin with? How can a human possibly do this? Just who are you and where did you come from……”

As he spewed words in disbelief, Kriksha’s eyes met Habin’s. She was still holding Ahezar in her hand.

“What? Go on.”

“Well……”

Kriksha suddenly recalled the memory of being beaten just moments ago.

The iron sword Habin was holding.

‘I wasn’t even cut, just hit with the back of the blade, and yet I was sent flying and crashed….’

It had been a series of attacks he had no way to counter. If he were to experience that again, he might truly die.

Feeling the fear of death for the first time in his life, Kriksha’s tone became polite.

“Who… are you, and where did you come from?”

“Do I really need to explain?”

“Well, I suppose you don’t need to reveal your identity.”

“Hmm.”

Habin plopped down on a sofa that had somehow remained intact.

“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.”

“……”

“I really like people who can quickly change their attitude.”

Ahezar, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.

[……Quick change of attitude. Isn’t that what you do best, Hyun Habin?]

“What? When have I ever changed my attitude?”

[At least among the people I’ve seen, you’re the best at it!]

“Ehh. Despite how I look, I’m actually a very upright person, straight as a bamboo.”

[Bamboo is……!]

Ahezar swallowed the words he was about to spit out.

Bamboo is flexible and bends easily. And it’s not even a tree. It’s grass.

“Bamboo is what?”

[Ah, nothing. Ahem.]

“How dull.”

Losing interest, Habin jerked her chin towards Kriksha again.

“Kriksha, I’m just asking out of curiosity. Does the dungeon close if we kill the boss here too?”

“Eek, eek!”

Kriksha shrank like a startled snail.

This might have been a casually thrown question, but for Kriksha, it was a matter of life and death.

‘If I answer wrong, won’t she kill me?!’

If he were to cheerfully say ‘Yes! If you kill the boss, it’s cleared!’ here, she might just go ‘Oh, really?’ and swish! His head could be cut off.

No, it would definitely be cut off. Just look at all the evil deeds this human woman has committed so far…!

Kriksha hastily answered.

“Yes, that’s right. However……”

“Oh ho? So if I kill you, it’s all over?”

“No, no! You can end it without killing me! I can surrender and retreat to another floor!”

Retreat.

It wasn’t a commonly used method.

Until now, not a single boss had fled to another floor. Most either died without a chance to escape, lacked the ability to flee, or accepted death to maintain their pride.

But Kriksha was different from other bosses. He was a self-proclaimed smart and capable Demon King. Wasn’t using any means necessary, no matter how vile, a virtue of demonkind?

He thought differently.

‘Fools. Life is the most important thing. First, escape, wait on an upper floor, and then take revenge!’

Just like he was doing now.

He was already secretly casting a portal to escape to the 50th floor, without Habin noticing.

‘Just need to buy time until then. Once the portal is summoned, I’ll escape to the 50th floor immediately! Hehehe.’

No matter how great this human is, she won’t be able to follow to the 50th floor. Even if she does, it would take at least a few years to climb up in order. Hehe.

“I surrender, I surrender!”

Having finished his calculations, Kriksha raised both hands smoothly. Seeing this, Habin asked with an indifferent face.

“If you surrender like that, what about the rewards?”

Kill Screen had tremendous clear rewards for each floor. That’s why many hunters rushed in for them. This woman was probably the same.

“Rewards…… Shall I give you some?”

Kriksha asked.

‘Giving out some rewards is fine. As long as I can save my life.’

Kriksha gestured in the air. It’s much better business to give away a few good items and save his life than to die.

Soon, items appeared before their eyes with a swoosh. Rare items of the Demon King that one would obtain upon clearing the 26th floor.

“Take your pick.”

Armor, swords, jewels, necklaces……. Habin glanced at the various items.

[Solid Pride]

Grade: Legendary

Effect: Defense +50

(Caution: When equipped, slightly lowers the user’s judgment)

[Sword of Vanity]

Grade: Legendary

Effect: Attack Power +30

(Caution: When equipped, slightly lowers the user’s judgment)]

[Necklace of Vanity]

Grade: Legendary

Effect: Charm +15

(Caution: When equipped, slightly lowers the user’s judgment)

‘Huh? The stat boost is only 30? 50?’

“……These are junk items.”

“?!”

Habin frowned.

‘Who does he think he’s trying to fool with these?’

From Habin’s perspective, whose stats were in the 2000s even in an inactive state, these weren’t worth taking even if given for free.

Plus, there was the penalty of lowering judgment when used.

“If you wear all three, your judgment would be lowered three times, basically turning you into an idiot. Did you deliberately bring out the crappy ones?”

“N-no! These are all items I cherish……”

Kriksha muttered, sounding wronged.

While this was Habin’s perspective, these were all items that would make others scream with joy.

It’s hard enough to raise even one stat, but these items raise them by 50 just by equipping them.

Considering that SSS-rank hunters’ attack power stats hover around 150-200, this was incredible.

There’s a reason they’re classified as ‘Legendary’. Other hunters would call these overpowered items!

“I-I really did bring out the good stuff.”

“But they’re useless to me.”

Faced with her consistently unimpressed reaction, Kriksha bit his lip.

‘She really isn’t an ordinary human! Her standards are so high.’

Kriksha had seen countless humans over the years. As a Demon King, he had often tried to win people over.

‘Usually, everyone would fall for items of this caliber.’

There were even heroes who betrayed their kingdoms in exchange for such items.

“……If items of this level are useless, what on earth do you want?”

Overhearing Kriksha’s muttered words, Ahezar strongly sympathized.

[That’s right! That’s exactly how I felt! When I first met this human, I was treated as useless too!]

Excited, Ahezar shouted quietly so Kriksha couldn’t hear, while keeping an eye on Habin.

[How dare a mere Demon King try to gain the recognition I couldn’t get with a few paltry gifts? You’re far from it!]

Ignoring the grinning Ahezar, Habin asked curiously.

“Kriksha, you’ve been quiet for a while. Are you done talking?”

Kriksha flinched. While she had asked out of genuine curiosity, it sounded different to Kriksha.

‘H-have you heard my last words and now you’re going to kill me?!’

This was the standard of Kriksha, who had lived the life of a cruel Demon King. After all, he himself had often said such things before killing his opponents.

‘Any last words?’

Mockingly listening to the opponent’s last words,

‘Please spare my life. I’ll never enter this place again.’

‘Please save me, I have family waiting for me back home!’

No matter what the answer was,

‘Why should I?’

‘I’ve heard you out, now go to hell.’

He had mercilessly killed countless humans in the past, and those memories flashed before his eyes.

‘……No!’

His own actions, always without mercy. But now that he was in that position himself, he was terrified.

He hastily opened his mouth.

“This, this is just a gift, of course I have even better things!”