I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 71

71.

“Team 3! Please gather for an announcement!”

Seo-ah approached the staff and received a few instructions. After listening to the familiar information again, she returned to Su-jeong.

However, Su-jeong was surrounded by kids her age.

Fearing she was being bullied, Seo-ah approached, only to find a surprising conversation taking place.

“Hey, Kang Su-jeong. Good luck!”

“Yeah, No Yoon-ji was always annoying anyway. Make sure to knock her down a peg.”

“Do you have enough potions? I can spare some if you need them.”

Seo-ah instinctively looked around. As expected, No Yoon-ji was nowhere to be seen.

When No Yoon-ji was around, these kids wouldn’t dare talk to Kang Su-jeong, but now that she was gone, they were all trying to say something to her.

It might seem cowardly, but Seo-ah thought No Yoon-ji and these kids were all just young.

‘Cute.’

Seo-ah smiled silently as she approached, but a loud voice erupted from the group.

“Ugh, I can’t concentrate! Can’t you all just go away?”

Su-jeong burst out in annoyance, but the kids seemed used to it and didn’t care.

“Kang Su-jeong, fighting!”

“Make sure you land a hit, okay?”

“Ugh! Go away, all of you! Won’t you leave? You’re annoying, you’re distracting me!”

“Hahaha.”

Only when Su-jeong was about to explode did the kids laugh and leave. It became clear that No Yoon-ji was the one isolating Su-jeong.

‘Hmm.’

Seo-ah approached Su-jeong from behind, now that she was finally alone.

“Su-jeong-ah.”

Seo-ah gently touched Su-jeong’s shoulder from behind.

“Ah, I told you to leave…! Oh, Unnie [older sister or female friend].”

Su-jeong, who was about to burst out in anger, recognized Seo-ah and quickly calmed down.

“Su-jeong, you’re popular?”

“Ugh, don’t even mention it. Those guys don’t say a word when No Yoon-ji is around, but they all swarm me when she’s gone. It’s so annoying.”

Su-jeong grumbled, looking at the chattering kids. But judging by her eyes, she didn’t seem to hate it that much, and a hint of shyness was visible.

“I understand, you. They all have their own reasons.”

Su-jeong pouted but couldn’t bring herself to argue with Seo-ah’s kind words.

“By the way, the match is about to start, but where did No Yoon-ji go…”

Su-jeong, who was looking around, stopped her gaze somewhere with a shocked expression. Seo-ah turned around and saw No Yoon-ji, who had disappeared, walking back.

But her gauntlet had changed. It used to be silver and close-fitting, but now it was gold and much larger.

Most of all, there was a blunt blade attached to the elbow, which looked like it could take someone out with just one hit.

“Wow, how unfair to upgrade her weapon in the meantime. What else would you expect from a gold spoon [born into wealth and privilege].”

Su-jeong clicked her tongue and glanced at her own twin swords.

She had upgraded them once when she first met Seo-ah, but they were still ‘Normal’ grade.

“Tch.”

Su-jeong tried to hide her envious expression and looked at the arena.

Seo-ah could only smile bitterly and didn’t say anything more. This was something Seo-ah couldn’t help with right now.

“Now, please enter the arena for Team 3. Again, hunters belonging to Team 3, please stand in your designated positions.”

A total of 11 hunters entered the arena. There were originally 10 people from 5 teams, but Seo-ah’s team had 2 people, making it 11.

The 5 or 6 winners will advance to the next match.

Seo-ah and Su-jeong stood in one of the five roughly drawn squares in the arena. No Yoon-ji then entered and stood opposite them.

When they faced each other, Seo-ah could tell that No Yoon-ji’s eyes were distinctly different from usual.

Considering that she usually ignored them as E-ranks, it was unexpected. Her eyes weren’t relaxed or careless at all. It was the look of someone genuinely facing an opponent.

Seeing that made Seo-ah feel nervous.

Seo-ah was about to take out her Bbyong Hammer but stopped. She had promised to focus on Su-jeong’s attacks in this match.

“We will now begin the countdown. Stop attacking if one side becomes unable to fight or declares defeat! Then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Start the match!”

The whistle blew loudly and for a long time.

They had agreed to try without buffs first.

“Hah!”

As soon as it started, Kang Su-jeong used the skill [Sprint] and flew towards No Yoon-ji like the wind.

Whoosh-

Kang Su-jeong’s twin swords quickly pierced towards No Yoon-ji’s upper body.

Clang!

The swords and gauntlet collided, creating an unpleasant metallic sound. It continued several times.

However, Kang Su-jeong’s continuous attacks were all nullified by No Yoon-ji’s defense.

“Tch!”

Frustrated by the narrow misses, Su-jeong’s posture faltered. No Yoon-ji didn’t miss the opportunity and swung her gauntlet wide.

Thwack!

Kang Su-jeong’s body, hit by the gauntlet, flew backward.

“Su-jeong-ah!”

Seo-ah barely caught Kang Su-jeong in the direction she was flying. They fell together, but at least she didn’t crash into the wall.

“Calm down, don’t get excited.”

[Skill ‘Silent Night’ is activated!]

Su-jeong took a deep breath and jumped up.

“Yes, Unnie.”

Fortunately, Kang Su-jeong seemed to have calmed down quickly and stared intently at No Yoon-ji while standing.

It seemed she was scouting before charging this time.

But No Yoon-ji didn’t give her time to scout and charged straight in. Just like the first time, No Yoon-ji was serious about this match and had no intention of holding back.

It was admirable that she didn’t become arrogant despite her young age, background, and skills, at least not in the match.

But now was not the time to admire her, she was the enemy.

Dodge the incoming No Yoon-ji, Seo-ah and Su-jeong simultaneously dodged to either side. And as they had discussed before the match, No Yoon-ji targeted Park Seo-ah, not Kang Su-jeong.

“Unnie!”

Seo-ah, who was running away, quickly turned around and grabbed the Bbyong Hammer horizontally. And she accurately blocked the right hand blade flying towards her.

Clang-

A tingling pain ran through the hand holding the Bbyong Hammer.

Indeed, a C-rank monster and a C-rank hunter were distinctly different. She didn’t stop after being blocked once.

No Yoon-ji grabbed Seo-ah’s collar with her other arm and threw her away.

“Ugh!”

Seo-ah’s body flew away and rolled on the floor several times before barely stopping. Her arm, which she used to brace herself, throbbed, but Seo-ah immediately got up.

“Hey, that’s unfair!”

As soon as Kang Su-jeong saw Seo-ah flying away, she charged in. Judging that the blade was not very helpful in this fight, Su-jeong clenched her bare fists.

And then used [Punch] as it was.

“Hyah!”

No Yoon-ji crossed her arms to block Kang Su-jeong’s punch.

Thud!

At the same time as the dull impact sound spread, Kang Su-jeong stepped back again.

‘It definitely landed just now.’

Although it was blocked by the defense, she clearly felt No Yoon-ji’s body, which was like a solid rock, pushed back a little.

“Unnie!”

Su-jeong ran to Seo-ah without delay.

As soon as Su-jeong came close, Seo-ah cast a recovery skill on her. A subtle light enveloped Su-jeong’s body.

Kang Su-jeong guarded Seo-ah, wary of No Yoon-ji, and asked.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. How about you? Do you think you can handle it?”

“No, it’s like fighting a wall. I knew that girl was strong, but she’s much stronger when I’m up close.”

“That’s right, but look closely.”

At Seo-ah’s words, Su-jeong carefully looked at No Yoon-ji.

No Yoon-ji was not continuing the attack, but was standing still and looking at her right arm. She seemed to be wondering something.

“Hey, what are you doing!”

When Kang Su-jeong shouted loudly, No Yoon-ji raised her head and smiled.

“Oh, I’m just surprised because you’re too weak.”

“What? You, you’re so annoying!”

“Su-jeong-ah.”

Seo-ah grabbed Su-jeong’s shoulder to calm her down, who was about to get angry again. Su-jeong, who was panting, quickly turned to Seo-ah.

“Unnie, how are you now?”

Then Seo-ah shook her head.

It wasn’t time to give buffs yet. In fact, participating in this game wasn’t just to cheer up Su-jeong.

‘The conditions are not yet complete.’

Seo-ah glanced at her status window and pointed to No Yoon-ji with her eyes.

“Stick with it a little more.”

Seo-ah rejected Su-jeong’s suggestion, but Su-jeong accepted it without any further comment.

“Okay.”

Su-jeong glared at No Yoon-ji again with renewed determination. No Yoon-ji also stood facing the two.

No Yoon-ji took her eyes off Su-jeong and glanced at the Bbyong Hammer Seo-ah was holding.

‘That weapon must be pretty good.’

Her right arm, which had collided with it earlier, was quite throbbing.

Of course, it was because she had struck it with all her might, but No Yoon-ji thought Seo-ah would be pushed back as it was. But surprisingly, she was holding on.

‘Well, she has something for an E-rank.’

No Yoon-ji, who was looking at Seo-ah’s Bbyong Hammer and Seo-ah, was startled.

“Where! Are! You! Looking!”

Kang Su-jeong’s fist flew quickly towards No Yoon-ji’s face. No Yoon-ji was a little surprised, but that was it.

After tilting her head slightly to avoid it, she brushed off each of Su-jeong’s punches with her arms.

Su-jeong did not give up on that and continued to throw punches. It was fast and strong for an E-rank. She admitted that.

‘So what.’

No Yoon-ji was a C-rank.

The stat limit for C-rank was 100, and No Yoon-ji’s average stat was 70. It was the most outstanding figure among the same age C-ranks in the Sun Guild.