I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 14

14.

Seo-ah tilted her head, wondering if she had misheard.

“I don’t know what method you’ll use to kill me, but…”

Finally understanding, Seo-ah wore a dumbfounded expression.

“What? Is there a Prophet in my position? No, how could I possibly kill Yoo Ji-an?”

How could an E-grade healer like herself, or even an S-grade supporter if one were to appear, kill a monster like Yoo Ji-an? And more importantly, why?

“Not a Prophet, but such a future exists.”

“Does ‘such a future’ mean there are other possible futures?”

Yoo Ji-an stared at Seo-ah and nodded slightly.

“Maybe.”

Yoo Ji-an stopped there, not inclined to elaborate.

“You don’t even know *why* I would kill you? Then why do you want me, someone who *might* kill you?”

“As I said, your hidden ability is valuable.”

“I could kill you if I’m with you? Not that I have any intention of killing you, of course. But it could be dangerous.”

It was a strange, impossible scenario, but Yoo Ji-an’s attitude was even stranger.

“I’m curious. How you might kill me. Aren’t you curious too?”

“Just because of curiosity?”

Seo-ah questioned Yoo Ji-an’s sanity, but he simply smiled faintly.

His unfamiliar smile was so charming that Seo-ah was momentarily speechless.

‘Smiling like that with that face is cheating.’

Seo-ah quickly regained her composure and returned to the main topic.

“So, the murderous intent I feel from you is related to that?”

“It’s a natural reaction to someone who might kill me. As I said before, try to be careful. Don’t mind it.”

“Okay, please.”

Whether she could really ignore it was questionable, but suddenly feeling a chilling sensation even when things were going well significantly lowered her quality of life.

Anyway, Yoo Ji-an had revealed an important secret, so Seo-ah read the remaining [Fighting] skill description.

“Increases the strength and agility of the touched target by 10% for 5 minutes. Also applies to oneself. The percentage or time increases with level.”

“As useful as it is, it’s a dangerous skill. Don’t tell anyone about it.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Except me.”

“Ah…? Yes.”

He said it so confidently that Seo-ah just answered. But in reality, she planned to tell Baek Eun-hee later, depending on the situation.

Both Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee were important figures to Seo-ah.

“Come in.”

At that moment, after a knock, Kang Su-jeong cautiously entered, following Baek Eun-hee.

Baek Eun-hee, who had gone out to take a call, looked somewhat tired. What could tire an S-grade hunter? Had a gate suddenly opened?

“Sigh, Seo Ah-hyun found out I went to a D-grade gate. How did she find out? I specifically asked for it to be kept secret.”

It seemed Seo Ah-hyun was the only one who could tire Baek Eun-hee with words. Seo Ah-hyun, the vice-guild leader, practically ran and managed the Royal Guild.

Seo-ah, who had inadvertently learned a small secret about Baek Eun-hee, simply smiled.

“Yeah, how’s your body? How about resting in the hospital for a few days until the raid? If you, so fragile, wander around and get hurt again…”

“No, I’m fine! I’m perfectly fine now. I have things to do back there.”

Hearing Baek Eun-hee’s words, Seo-ah realized her choice was right. Asking this person for training would result in recuperation, not training.

“Okay, if you’re fine, that’s a relief.”

Baek Eun-hee sat back on the bed, naturally holding Seo-ah’s hands.

‘Maybe Eun-hee unnie’s [older sister’s] increased power before was due to the [Fighting] skill. Now that it’s an active skill I can control, there won’t be any changes even if I touch her. So, unnie must have noticed?’

As Seo-ah gazed at Baek Eun-hee, Baek Eun-hee smiled knowingly.

“Seo-ah, as you’ve learned from this incident, there are many bad hunters in the world. No, all hunters are bad guys. Except me.”

She had just heard ‘Except me’ from Yoo Ji-an.

“So, don’t trust any of those hunters. I’ll protect you no matter what.”

“Thank you.”

This was also what she had just heard. Seo-ah smiled slightly, crinkling her eyes.

Baek Eun-hee and Yoo Ji-an left first, but Park Seo-ah could only leave the hospital after finishing all her nutrients. Baek Eun-hee had urged her, but Seo-ah wasn’t the type to waste such expensive nutrients.

She was going to take the bus as usual, but at Baek Eun-hee’s earnest request, she took the car provided by the Royal Guild and returned comfortably.

Seo-ah had Kang Su-jeong ride along to drop her off on the way.

“Seo-ah unnie.”

“Yeah?”

Kang Su-jeong hesitated and fumbled in the air, taking something out. She seemed to be searching her inventory. On Su-jeong’s outstretched palm was a smooth pebble.

“Take this.”

“What is this?”

As Seo-ah took it, a system window about the pebble popped up. It wasn’t an ordinary pebble.

[Pride of the Stone Knight: A crystal containing the pride of the D-grade boss Stone Knight. Holding this allows you to deliver a final blow to the enemy at the moment of life-threatening danger. The power is the user’s strength x100, and the enemy’s defense is ignored at this time.]

“Why are you giving this to me?”

Seo-ah stared at Kang Su-jeong. Kang Su-jeong hesitated and stammered.

“It’s an item that came out of the Stone Knight. Since it’s from a D-grade boss, it’ll be quite valuable. Or unnie can use it as is.”

“You were the one who caught the boss, Su-jeong.”

“Um, no. I think it’s right for unnie to have it. I’ve already received more than I deserve.”

Kang Su-jeong smiled at Seo-ah. Seo-ah looked at her with an unreadable expression, and suddenly her skill came to mind. Could the newly acquired [Breakthrough] have been applied to Kang Su-jeong?

“Su-jeong, by any chance…”

Kang Su-jeong suddenly linked arms with Seo-ah and stared at her with pleading eyes.

“Unnie, you’ll meet me again, right?”

“Huh? Ah, um. If you want.”

“Then please put your number in my phone!”

Kang Su-jeong handed over a phone with a cracked corner with an excited face.

Seo-ah entered her number on Kang Su-jeong’s phone and pressed the call button. But when she tried to call, the power was off.

Ah, how long has it been off? Didn’t they contact me from the hospital? The total time spent inside the gate was about 36 hours, a little over a day.

“Send me a message, I’ll save it later.”

“I will, mister! Please drop me off in front of that alley.”

As soon as the car stopped, Kang Su-jeong quickly got out. There was no sign of fatigue on Su-jeong.

‘Is it because she’s young, or are all hunters like that?’

Maybe both.

Park Seo-ah watched Kang Su-jeong running up the steep alley and the surrounding scenery.

It was a neighborhood not much different from where she lived, or even more run-down.

‘Of course, there must be circumstances, seeing her participating in raids at her school age.’

Seo-ah saw her own reflection in Su-jeong. That’s why she felt more sorry and drawn to her.

She should carefully ask about her situation next time.

“Hunter, may we depart now?”

The Royal Guild’s driver asked Seo-ah in a very polite tone. She could guess how Baek Eun-hee had spoken about her.

“Ah, please go to Health Hospital.”

“Health Hospital, you say? Understood.”

The car started smoothly.

The excessive treatment was burdensome, yet pleasant. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. There was a reason for providing all this, and Seo-ah wanted to be helpful to them as much as possible.

‘The only way to repay them is to unlock the supporter.’

[※ If you fail to activate the position ‘Supporter (S-grade)’ within the period, you will die! (D-94)]

[Mission 2. Receive words of praise three times inside the gate.]

The ‘You will die!’ displayed with the countdown hadn’t disappeared yet. And a new mission had appeared. She didn’t know, but if she followed those missions, the supporter would unlock.

‘But… receive praise inside the gate? What is this.’

She thought it was quite embarrassing for a mission given by the system. Anyway, since it said inside the gate, it meant she had to go on a raid.

Moreover, to hear such words on a raid, she would have to do something praiseworthy. Would there be a chance to hear such words on a raid with high-ranking hunters?

‘It seems like it won’t work if I *make* them say it.’

Soon after, the car stopped in front of the hospital.

On the way, Seo-ah sold all the byproducts obtained from the raid to the store, except for the pebble Su-jeong gave her.

And she exchanged all but a small amount of gold for Korean currency [Korean Won].

“Geon-hoo.”

“Ah, noona [older sister].”

Geon-hoo smiled happily as she entered the hospital room.

“Hyung [older brother], noona. When can I leave the hospital? I’m tired of hospital food now.”

“Um, that’s… soon?”

Seo-ah pretended to organize the drinks, hiding her flustered expression. Geon-hoo, who had been watching her, opened his mouth.

“Noona.”

“Yeah?”