I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 173

173.

The Sword-Wielding Knight was eventually crushed by Noh Yoonji and Kang Sujeong’s tag team.

With the scythe, axe, sword, shield, and arrow knights defeated, only the book and key-bearing knights remained. Well, the arrow knight wasn’t entirely dead, just incapacitated.

‘I get the key, but what’s with the book?’

As soon as I thought that, the pages flipped. Even though it was clearly an ice book, it made the sound of turning paper.

Mana pulsed in the air.

This was definitely,

“Magic.”

The one with the book was a mage. Come to think of it, Choi Eun-gyeol also used a magic book as a weapon.

The mage statue was looking at the arrow-wielding one. The ice block that Noh Hak-young hadn’t completely melted was trying to revive.

Seeing this, Seoah didn’t hesitate and jumped towards the ice statue, shoving her laundry bat into the mouth that was opening to cast a spell.

Thwack!

“Wow!”

Kang Sujeong exclaimed at the somewhat violent attack, but Seoah’s attack was effective.

Unable to move its mouth, it couldn’t cast the spell, and the surging flow of mana quickly subsided.

After that, it was smooth sailing.

Seoah smashed the mage ice statue’s head, while Noh Yoonji and Kang Sujeong simultaneously attacked the lower body.

The statue, unable to use magic, couldn’t respond to the close-quarters combat at all.

“Leave the rest to me!”

Noh Hak-young, as always, finished off the fallen statue. Noh Yoonji muttered, looking at the ice block that had melted beyond recognition.

“It was so quiet, I thought it was weak….”

“It was weak, wasn’t it? It couldn’t do anything once we blocked its mouth.”

Noh Yoonji replied to Kang Sujeong’s remark.

“It might have been different if the magic had been cast. We’re lucky it didn’t attack simultaneously with the others.”

“Anyway, the problem is that one.”

Kang Sujeong also saw it. The key-bearing one was the strongest of them all. Didn’t it defeat the axe-wielding one in an instant?

She swallowed, looking at it with tense eyes, when Seoah strode forward.

In fact, all along, the skill [Treasure Hunt] had been pointing to that key.

“Sister?”

Kang Sujeong called out in a surprised voice, and Seoah turned around and said calmly.

“It’ll be okay, but stay there just in case.”

Seoah stopped in front of the ice knight holding the key.

“We’ve defeated them all now.”

Those behind her couldn’t understand Seoah’s intentions. Why was she suddenly talking to the monster?

But then, something amazing happened.

The ice statue bent its massive body forward in a polite bow, extending the hand holding the key.

Seoah also reached out her hand towards the key.

Whoosh-

At the same time, the ice statue turned into water and disappeared.

“It disappeared?”

Noh Hak-young couldn’t hide his surprise, and the group quickly approached Seoah.

Then, a system message window popped up.

[You have defeated the ‘Guardian Knight of the Ice Castle’!]

[Reward item: Guardian Knight’s Allegiance]

In Seoah’s hand was a small, sparkling key. This key was the ‘Guardian Knight’s Allegiance’ itself.

Of course, she didn’t know its purpose yet, other than opening doors.

“What happened?”

At Noh Yoonji’s question, Seoah turned around.

“Maybe the knights weren’t all on the same side. It’s just a guess, but the real knight guarding the castle was just one.”

“…Ah? Then, that key-bearing knight?”

Seoah nodded, looking at Kang Sujeong.

In fact, even if they had defeated the key-bearing knight, they probably could have obtained the key.

Since this gate is C-grade, it wouldn’t have such a complicated clearing method.

Still, although she didn’t know the circumstances, she hoped that the monster’s resentment was eased even a little.

Seoah thought to herself, holding the key and approaching the door. Before inserting the key and turning it, she looked back at her companions again.

“From here on out, it’s the boss.”

A powerful flow of mana was felt beyond this door. The singing grew stronger in the wind.

“Are you ready?”

She expected that the boss wouldn’t just rely on simple combat, but caution was necessary since they didn’t know what would come out.

“Yes!”

“I’m ready.”

Noh Hak-young raised the [Flamethrower] to chest height with a firm expression.

“I’ll open it.”

Click.

The key turned, and the door opened.

Inside the door was a hall even larger than this place. The entire castle was made of ice, but the ice on the ceiling was particularly transparent, allowing sunlight to enter directly.

In the very center of the sparkling hall was an ice sculpture. It was about 2 meters tall, not as large as the knights from before, and delicate details were used to depict long hair, flowing clothes, and accessories.

The model for this ice sculpture was clearly a beautiful high-ranking woman.

The most striking accessory was a necklace that had the only color in this pure white world. A necklace with a large, red jewel was around the sculpture’s neck.

But beauty was only on the surface; Seoah could see the enormous mana writhing inside. It was the boss, no doubt.

‘That’s the ‘Necklace Queen’.’

Unlike the still relaxed Seoah, the others didn’t have time to examine the ice sculpture.

Lalala-

The singing was heard.

“Ugh, what is this?”

Kang Sujeong panicked and covered her ears, but it was no use.

It was clearly a high and beautiful voice, but the moment she heard it, her heart pounded, and she suddenly hated Noh Yoonji next to her, with an unknown rage surging up.

‘She’s always looked down on me.’

And it seemed to be the same for Noh Hak-young and Noh Yoonji, who glared at Kang Sujeong with reddened faces, suddenly gripping their weapons tightly.

“Noh Yoonji, die!”

“You too…!”

Just as they were about to swing their weapons at each other, Seoah, realizing something was wrong, blocked them.

“Calm down.”

Seoah grabbed Kang Sujeong and Noh Yoonji’s wrists in both hands and lightly resisted.

[Skill ‘Silent Night’ is activated.]

At the same time, the strength in their hands holding the weapons weakened.

“…Ah.”

“That song seems to be a type of mental skill. Don’t leave my side. And keep your wits about you.”

At Seoah’s warning, the three closed their mouths tightly and stared at the [Necklace Queen] in front of them.

Seoah took a step closer.

Then, the sculpture reached out its hand and sang a different song. The three were startled and tried to cover their ears, but this time it was different.

Suddenly, a fierce blizzard blew from the outstretched hand of the sculpture, and the hall instantly turned into a snowy field.

The accumulated snow became the material for [Snowmen].

Snowmen were created everywhere. Kang Sujeong stuck out her tongue as if she was tired of it.

“Ugh, again!”

Since they couldn’t leave the attacking snowmen alone, the three fought the snowmen around Seoah first.

Meanwhile, Seoah looked closely at the sculpture’s eyes. Small ice grains, like tear stains, were attached near the eye sockets.

And this [Necklace Queen] seemed unable to attack directly, only able to summon snow and wind to create monsters.

Seoah looked around.

A world of cold air, cold snow, and cold ice.

Was it like this from the beginning? Or did this [Necklace Queen] cause this?

In any case, they had to deal with the constantly generated snowmen first.

“If it can’t sing, it can’t do anything.”

Seoah went to Noh Yoonji, who was fighting the snowmen, and lifted her up.

“Eep!”

Noh Yoonji was startled and tried to struggle, but calmed down when she realized it was Seoah.

“Yoonji, we need to break that thing’s mouth.”

“Mouth, mouth?”

“Yes, can you do it?”

It was the same method as breaking the mage statue’s mouth earlier. Noh Yoonji looked at her fist and slightly rotated her wrist.

“Yes, I’ll try.”

“Good, the rest of you slowly come this way too.”

The snowmen continue to regenerate as long as there is snow.

Even if Noh Hak-young melts the snow, it quickly accumulates again if this thing sings.

Then, it’s right to cut off the source from the beginning.

Let’s break the sculpture.

Seoah instructed Noh Hak-young and Kang Sujeong to stand by for an attack. And she gave them new buffs.

“Here we go.”

It was C⁺ grade, so relying solely on Noh Yoonji’s strength wouldn’t be enough for the [Necklace Queen]. That level wouldn’t show overwhelming destructive power.

Seoah clasped her hands together and supported them from below, and Noh Yoonji lightly jumped and stepped on those hands. At the same time, Seoah forcefully raised her clasped hands upwards.

Noh Yoonji’s jumping power was combined with Seoah’s arm strength, sending her flying at an incredible speed.

“Ha!”

Noh Yoonji’s fist turned red-hot and slammed directly into the sculpture’s mouth, which was slowly gaping.

Thwack!

Noh Yoonji immediately did a somersault and landed on the ground. At the same time, Kang Sujeong used [Fist Strike] to blow off the sculpture’s hand, and Noh Hak-young melted the sculpture’s legs with the [Flamethrower].

However, it was definitely tougher than the knights they had met earlier.

Even with everyone attacking, it only got scratched and was of little use. Rather, the snowmen’s attacks became more violent, increasing the party’s injuries.

Seoah first cast healing skills from a distance.

Then she noticed the red light of the jewel on the necklace flickering.