I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 37

37.

“Okay, I think I get the gist. Right now, the matching rate is terrible. Less than 20%.”

“…Ah. Still, you wrote it quite well.”

“Even if you did, you couldn’t unleash even half of this weapon’s true power. In your current state, no matter how much you use it, you won’t be able to level up the weapon. This toy hammer seems very dissatisfied right now. Like it doesn’t appreciate someone not recognizing its worth.”

“Weapons can talk?”

“Would it really talk? I’m just interpreting it roughly.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Maker was still brusque, but the conversation continued in its own way.

Seo-ah might not have known, but Baek Eun-hee and Yoo Ji-an, who knew the Maker well, were actually a little surprised. They had initially expected that this meeting might fall through.

The Maker was originally very sensitive and extremely disliked meeting people. Even S-class Hunters had to offer precious items to barely get a meeting.

So, the fact that the Maker was facing Seo-ah and having a conversation was astonishing.

“Anyway… what’s strange is that the matching rate is 100% when the condition is met. I’ve never seen such an extreme case in my life.”

“100%….”

Seo-ah murmured quietly.

Baek Eun-hee had to cover her lips with her hand to hide their twitching. She seemed happy that the weapon’s owner had been properly found.

“What is it? That condition you’re talking about.”

“Perhaps, it’s related to unlocking my hidden position.”

“A hidden position, huh… similar to me. What’s your hidden position?”

“S-class Supporter.”

The Maker widened her eyes at Seo-ah’s calm answer. And along with her, Baek Eun-hee, Yoo Ji-an, and others also looked surprised.

This was the first time Seo-ah had properly revealed her rank and position name to them.

“S-class? Seo-ah, are you really S-class?”

Baek Eun-hee grabbed Seo-ah’s shoulder from behind and leaned in. Then Seo-ah smiled brightly and said again clearly.

“Yes, my hidden position is S-class Supporter. I ended up telling you only now, sorry.”

“Sorry for what! Seo-ah, you’re amazing. Awesome.”

While Baek Eun-hee was sending Seo-ah affectionate praise, Yoo Ji-an seemed to have something to say but didn’t end up saying it.

“S-class Supporter, huh. So that’s why. What’s your current position then?”

“Still an E-class Healer.”

“Tsk, E-class. That’s why it’s so extreme. To put it bluntly, this toy hammer won’t budge until you unlock that position.”

“…Ah.”

“So, until then, this weapon is worse than normal grade. If you choose well among normal grade items, there are much better options than this right now. Not to mention special grade.”

Seo-ah stared intently at the toy hammer in the Maker’s hand. Yoo Ji-an, who had been quiet, spoke.

“What about using another weapon until you unlock the Supporter position?”

“That’s not a bad idea, but legend-grade weapons have strong egos. Would they accept an owner who uses other weapons and then comes back to them later?”

“Weapons have egos?”

“Only legend-grade ones. Because they’re weapons with history. That’s why Baek Eun-hee had some trouble taming Splint.”

Then Baek Eun-hee nodded in agreement.

“Don’t even mention it, she’s so haughty.”

“So, you choose.”

The Maker handed the toy hammer back to Seo-ah.

“Whether you use this one, or start with something else and switch later.”

Seo-ah stared blankly down at the toy hammer.

“But, I’m just borrowing this, so becoming the owner is a bit…”

Then Baek Eun-hee quickly interjected.

“Seo-ah, you’re the one using it for now! Just think about that, okay? A 100% matching rate is definitely not common. My matching rate with Splint is 93%. Yoo Ji-an’s is probably similar?”

Baek Eun-hee looked at Yoo Ji-an as if asking for help, and he said nonchalantly.

“Mine is 96%.”

Baek Eun-hee frowned slightly, looking a bit annoyed, but still watched Seo-ah’s reaction.

Seo-ah held the toy hammer in her hand. Now that she thought about it, the handle seemed to be buzzing nervously, very subtly.

‘Unlock the S-class Supporter?’ Seo-ah chuckled to herself.

Even if this thing didn’t set that condition, Seo-ah had to unlock it no matter what.

“[※If you fail to activate the position ‘Supporter (S-class)’ within the deadline, you will die! (D-81)]”

Because she would die otherwise.

“I’ll use this one. I don’t have any other weapons anyway.”

Even though the attached bonus stats were worse than normal for now, she liked that she could choose between lethal and non-lethal attacks, and that the duration of buff skills was attached as an option.

“Good choice!”

Baek Eun-hee was overjoyed and patted Seo-ah’s shoulder.

“Alright, then.”

The Maker accepted it indifferently and handed Seo-ah a pen.

“Write your name there, wherever you want.”

“My name?”

“Yeah, or you can write a nickname or something. Anything you can recognize.”

“Then….”

Seo-ah carefully wrote ‘Park Seo-ah’ on the upper part of the toy hammer’s handle. Then suddenly, an amazing thing happened.

She thought it was just an ordinary pen, but as soon as she wrote the name, light came out of the letters. Then the toy hammer started buzzing and vibrating.

“That’s it. Now we just need to finish up.”

The Maker quickly took the toy hammer inside. They could hear sounds of something being hammered and broken.

Seo-ah and her companions waited quietly for the Maker.

And after a while, Seo-ah’s eyes widened as she looked at the toy hammer the Maker brought out.

Just a moment ago, it was a toy hammer that could be commonly found in stationery stores. But she didn’t know what the Maker had done; the exterior had changed when she brought it back.

The red head part had turned into a sparkling golden color. Also, the plain and rough plastic stick that was the handle had been transformed into a sleek shape with a subtle sheen.

“Here, hold it.”

Seo-ah held the toy hammer that the Maker handed her. It felt much more comfortable and lighter in her hand than before. The letters ‘Park Seo-ah’ that she had written with the pen were clearly engraved.

“Wow, it’s really… cool.”

“Now you are the owner of this weapon. You even engraved your name. You should use this weapon as much as possible unless there are special circumstances. Legend-grade weapons have strong pride and are very jealous.”

She didn’t quite understand it when she heard it earlier, but now she understood.

As soon as she grabbed the toy hammer, she knew. It was hard to explain in words, but she felt the emotions of this weapon being conveyed directly. It was unfamiliar, scary, and also touching at the same time.

“Thank you, Maker.”

Seo-ah stood up from her chair and bowed politely to the Maker.

“Well, I only did it because you kept nagging me. How much would you have bothered me if I didn’t do it?”

“I’ll think of you every time I use it.”

“Hmph, do whatever you want.”

The Maker retorted brusquely, but Seo-ah didn’t miss the slight upturn of her lips.

“Hehe, Maker’s skills are still the best.”

Baek Eun-hee interjected with a happy face.

“Alright, alright. Seo-ah, wait outside for a bit. I need to have a deep conversation with the Maker.”

“Ah… okay, then.”

Seo-ah greeted the Maker once more and went outside. Yoo Ji-an silently followed her out.

Seo-ah waited for Baek Eun-hee outside the door, staring blankly at Yoo Ji-an standing next to her. They stood with a door’s width between them.

“…Um.”

Seo-ah, feeling awkward just standing there, carefully opened her mouth. She felt Yoo Ji-an’s gaze, which had been looking straight ahead, turn towards her.

“Thank you for helping me all along.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

This time, Seo-ah turned her head to look at him. Yoo Ji-an’s gaze was facing forward again. Was it her imagination that his ear was slightly red?

The notification that [Warm Sunlight] had been activated did not appear.

This time, Yoo Ji-an threw out a question.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone earlier?”

“Ah, the phone rang just as I was about to get out of the car. But why did you call?”

“…….”

“Yes?”

When Yoo Ji-an didn’t say anything, Seo-ah took a step closer to him.

“Just….”

Just as Yoo Ji-an was about to answer, he suddenly pulled Seo-ah’s arm towards him. At the same time, the door burst open outwards. If Yoo Ji-an hadn’t pulled her, Seo-ah would have bumped into the door.

“Seo-ah? Where’s Seo-ah?”

Seo-ah ended up being embraced against Yoo Ji-an’s chest, but she hid her embarrassment and answered her words.

“Yes, yes!”

“Ah, what are you doing there? Let’s go now. I’m done talking with the Maker.”

“That’s, um, well.”

She turned around, wondering if they might misunderstand, but Yoo Ji-an had already disappeared. Baek Eun-hee’s expression showed that she hadn’t seen him either.

“Seo-ah?”

“I’m coming.”

Seo-ah followed Baek Eun-hee, looking around, but she couldn’t see him at all.

She looked back one more time before leaving the gate, but there was no one inside. It seemed like they were the last ones leaving.

‘Did he leave already? Without even saying goodbye?’

She felt a slight sense of disappointment for some reason, but Seo-ah quickly forgot about it and followed Baek Eun-hee and Seo Ah-hyun outside.

And Yoo Ji-an was standing in the far corner, watching them leave.

Behind him, the Maker approached and spoke to him.

“Yoo Ji-an, keep your promise. If you find the ‘Heart of Ignis,’ you must bring it to me. I gave you a lot of extra service, after all.”

Yoo Ji-an nodded silently.

“Okay.”

“Seriously, this is quite something. For you to go this far. Baek Eun-hee just hit the jackpot, didn’t she? Her eyes widened so much at the freebie, it was quite a sight.”

“It’s not for Baek Eun-hee.”

After answering curtly, Yoo Ji-an watched the Royal Guild’s car drive away before heading outside.

“Seriously, this is quite something.”

The Maker shrugged and went back inside. Soon, the gate at the foot of the mountain disappeared without a trace.