I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 138

138.

– Song Jina: Yes, go ahead.

– Baek Eunhee: Did you have any luck?

– Song Jina: No, someone beat us to it. How about your side?

– Baek Eunhee: Same here. Yoo Ji-an, what’s the situation there?

There was no response from Yoo Ji-an. Seo-ah was the same.

– Song Jina: Seems like they’re in a tight spot and can’t answer.

Then, Cha Taewoon, finally snapping out of it, chimed in.

– Cha Taewoon: Let’s at least regroup.

– Baek Eunhee: Okay, we’ll head your way. Let’s meet up and move together.

After ending the team chat, Song Jina and Cha Taewoon surveyed the area around the treasure chest.

“The fact that someone else got to it first is pretty strange.”

“Looks like we’re not the only ones after the elixir.”

“There aren’t any signs of a fight. Looks like they ran before the pirates even showed up. We just cleaned up the aftermath.”

Just then, they heard a rattling sound and voices nearby.

Surprised, Cha Taewoon and Song Jina ducked behind a large model.

“What, this is boring.”

“Mom, Mom! Treasure ship, treasure ship!”

“Okay, there’s the treasure ship. I wonder where the pirates are?”

The sightseeing train was running again. They cleaned up so fast they’re already getting tourists?

“Could they also be monsters…”

At Song Jina’s words, Cha Taewoon raised his index finger and pointed upwards.

“Let’s get out of here for now.”

Song Jina nodded, and as soon as the sightseeing train passed, they quietly slipped away along the train tracks.

Once they were above ground, they hid behind a tree and looked around, bewildered.

The place that had been a mess just moments ago was now peaceful, as if nothing had happened. All the tourists who had fled had returned.

“This… doesn’t make sense.”

Even if the monsters disappeared, there’s no way it could be restored this quickly.

Cha Taewoon also examined the tourists with a stiff face before cautiously speaking.

“This is just my speculation…”

“What is it?”

“I was wondering if the moment the gate opened because of the chest, it became another dimension.”

“What? How does that make sense?”

“I only saw it briefly, so I can’t explain it in technical terms, but I’ve heard of something called a multi-dimensional gate.”

“A multi-dimensional gate? Never heard of it.”

“It’s a term that appeared in a paper published by a researcher who died a while ago. It was just one person, and even that person said it was just a theory.”

“Ugh, I’ve been through so many gates, but this is the first time I’ve felt so uneasy.”

Song Jina grabbed her head with both hands, looking troubled.

If a strong monster had appeared, they could have fought to the death. Since S-class Hunters were gathered, they would have managed somehow, and even if they didn’t, they would already be dead, so it wouldn’t matter.

But this place… the monsters themselves weren’t that strong, but something was constantly bothering her.

The sight of acquaintances as soon as they arrived, the absurd situation that felt like a dimension shift.

They sat on a bench in a secluded area, silently watching this surreal scene. The people looked happy and cheerful.

“By the way, what kind of life did you live that you’ve never been to an amusement park?”

“I lived a busy life.”

“No… who doesn’t know that. Were you busy even when you were young? Didn’t your parents take you?”

“I’m an orphan.”

“…Ah, sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

An awkward and embarrassed atmosphere settled between them. Song Jina felt like it would be nice if Seo-ah were here at times like this.

When Seo-ah was around, the atmosphere flowed smoothly even if she didn’t say anything. Is that also an ability of an S-class supporter [a Hunter specializing in buffing and healing allies]?

She decided to ask since she thought of it.

“What do you think of Hunter Park Seo-ah?”

“I haven’t received proper support yet, so I can’t say much, but I think she’s a very valuable asset to the Hunter world.”

“Hmm, is that all? Don’t you want to keep her by your side or anything? I’m tempted.”

“I want to keep her by my side. Always, if possible.”

Song Jina chuckled and crossed her legs.

“Then we’re rivals.”

“Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eunhee met first and formed a bond of trust before that. It’s a shame. If only I had been at the Hunter Association that day…”

“Well, can’t change the past. I’ll just have to seduce her over time.”

As soon as she said that, a buzzsaw wheel flew towards her neck from out of nowhere. They nonchalantly tilted their heads to avoid it.

“Get close to who? Don’t you dare covet our Seo-ah.”

Baek Eunhee, who had overheard their conversation from afar, approached with the click of her heels.

“This crazy Hunter… I almost died!”

Song Jina, who had easily dodged it, stood up and yelled at Baek Eunhee.

“That’s what I’m saying. What a shame.”

“Okay, why are you guys like this? Didn’t we gather to have a strategy meeting?”

Choi Eunkyul, who had belatedly chased after them, stood between the two.

“Will we come up with a good idea just by talking amongst ourselves? We need to meet that Yoo Ji-an.”

“Then let’s head to Yongin as well.”

Cha Taewoon also stood up from his seat. He looked around with a stiff face.

“Okay, let’s move. But first, we need to deal with these guys.”

S-class Hunters stood back to back, guarding all directions.

“They’re here! The monster is here!”

“Evacuate the people!”

The Hunters of this world had tracked them down.

Once again, they saw the faces of Hunters they knew, and the S-class Hunters’ expressions darkened.

Come to think of it, it was inevitable. Even in their world, if a monster escaped, their top-ranked guild members would be the first to rush over.

Among them, the only fortunate thing was that none of them had encountered their doppelgangers yet.

“It’s an intelligent monster! Approach with caution!”

At Seo Ahyeon’s shout from the other side, Baek Eunhee gripped Splinter [likely a weapon] tightly.

“What are we going to do?”

Song Jina glanced back and asked, and Baek Eunhee replied in a grinding voice.

“What else can we do? We have to fight them. If we just leave them here, they’ll keep chasing us and bothering us. We can’t let them follow us all the way to Yongin.”

At Baek Eunhee’s words, the other S-class Hunters answered with heavy silence. They each saw faces they knew here. But they couldn’t waver. Their real guild members were still safely in ‘that’ world.

“Let’s go.”

With the signal, they each took out their weapons, and this time, a proper battle began.

***

“Hah, hah… We’re finally here.”

Seo-ah looked at the entrance of ‘Neverland’ in Yongin, grabbing her knees and panting. On the other hand, Yoo Ji-an’s breathing wasn’t even slightly labored.

‘Even though I became an S-class Hunter, why am I like this?’

It was because she was comparing herself to Yoo Ji-an. Seo-ah didn’t realize that she was able to keep up this much *because* she became an S-class Hunter.

Finally catching her breath and straightening her back, Seo-ah tilted her head, looking at the unusually quiet amusement park entrance.

Judging from the number of cars in the parking lot, many people must have visited. But Neverland, as seen from the entrance, was eerily quiet.

“…Are we already too late?”

Yoo Ji-an’s low voice broke the silence, and Seo-ah quickly turned to look at him.

“Yes?”

Instead of answering, Yoo Ji-an grabbed Seo-ah’s hand tightly.

“Park Seo-ah, if… you or I are inside there…”

“D-Doppelgangers?”

“Yes, you could say they’re doppelgangers. If you see them, run away no matter what.”

“…….”

‘Then what about Hunter Yoo Ji-an?’

Seo-ah wanted to ask, but the atmosphere wasn’t right, so she kept her mouth shut for now. His feelings were strongly conveyed through her grasped wrist. His anxiety was even greater than before. Now that she felt it, she couldn’t pretend not to know.

Anyway, just like last time, she wouldn’t leave him alone this time. Seo-ah resolved in her heart.

With her hand firmly held by Yoo Ji-an, Seo-ah passed through the entrance of Neverland.

When viewed from a distance, the rides were still running. But the excessive silence bothered her.

Seo-ah was only able to understand the reason after entering.

“…Ah.”

People were bleeding and collapsing here and there. Seo-ah let go of Yoo Ji-an’s hand and ran to the fallen people.

Yoo Ji-an examined the wounds on the corpses in front of him. They were sword wounds.

“They’re all… dead.”

Seo-ah sat down and looked around with a dazed face.

“Park Seo-ah, these are residents of the gate. You know what this means, right?”

“…….”

Seo-ah nodded and shook herself up. She hadn’t fully accepted the meaning of those words in her heart yet, but she now understood the concept.

They accept themselves as monsters. And Seo-ah had to recognize that as well.

“But, why did they die like this?”

In the distance, the merry-go-round, Viking ship, and roller coaster were still running with loud noises. The cheerful music flowing from the facilities made the situation even more bizarre.

“Someone went through here before us.”

Saying that, Yoo Ji-an took out Ruin Blade [likely a weapon].