I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 224

224.

The flight to Hawaii takes about eight hours. The Hunters on board passed the time in various ways.

Some simply closed their eyes and slept, others read books or listened to music, while some gathered in groups of three or five to play card games or chat. So far, so good.

However, some hot-headed Hunters got into arguments and tried to fight on the plane. The plane almost crashed, but Yoo Ji-an managed to calm them down.

In the process of calming them down, two Hunters ended up with broken bones and vomiting blood, but no one seemed to care. There were several skilled Healers on this plane, after all.

“Oh, really. These Hunters.”

Baek Eun-hee clicked her tongue as if she had a headache, then raised her whiskey glass and emptied it.

“Speaking of which, Guild Leader, you were also arguing with Wang Chun-yu earlier…”

Yang Tae-woo, who was about to point out Baek Eun-hee’s words, flinched at her sharp glare and avoided her gaze. Apparently, she didn’t like the way Wang Chun-yu treated Seo-ah. Yoo Ji-an didn’t stop her at the time, so if Seo-ah hadn’t intervened, a real fight would have broken out.

Instead of looking at Baek Eun-hee, Yang Tae-woo sat next to Seo-ah, whose seat happened to be empty. He had been wanting to say something for a while but hadn’t had the chance.

Seo-ah, who had been sitting and blankly looking outside, felt Yang Tae-woo’s presence and turned to look at him.

“Oh, Hunter Yang Tae-woo.”

“It’s been a while. I don’t think I properly greeted you earlier.”

“That’s right, I was a bit out of it earlier. How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, thanks to you.”

Yang Tae-woo stared intently at Seo-ah, emphasizing the words ‘thanks to you.’ Seo-ah, puzzled at first, made an ‘ah’ shape with her mouth as if she had remembered something.

“That…”

“Thank you, it was you last time, right?”

Yang Tae-woo was talking about the skill [Reverse] he had received. At the time, he didn’t know how it had come about, but the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Seo-ah had been responsible.

Seo-ah smiled brightly, as if to confirm.

“Are you using it well?”

“Don’t even mention it. I’m making the Healer work as a Dealer because of it.”

Even while grumbling, Yang Tae-woo seemed happy. He had been secretly envious of Song Jin-ho of the Sun Guild, an A-class Healer who was not only an excellent Healer but also wielded a mace very well.

For reference, Song Jin-ho was in another Gate and couldn’t participate in this Legend Gate. Instead, the Sun Guild decided to send the ranged Dealer Kim Soo-hyuk and the water mage Kang Hae-in this time. They had just finished clearing a Gate in the United States and were on their way on a plane from there.

“Anyway, well… I came to say thank you.”

As he said that, Yang Tae-woo blushed as if he was embarrassed. Seo-ah also felt proud at his words.

“It’s nothing, I received a gift too.”

Yang Tae-woo’s [Reverse] was not currently in a slot, but it was stored in a Mana Stone. With five 99-use stones, she probably wouldn’t run out for the rest of her life.

“So, anyway, that’s why I was wondering. Should we have a meal together when we get back? My treat.”

“A meal? Oh, I’d love to… but.”

Seo-ah, who was about to answer cheerfully, trailed off and glanced behind Yang Tae-woo.

Yang Tae-woo also felt a terrifying aura behind him and turned his head in surprise. Yoo Ji-an was standing there.

“…Ah.”

Yoo Ji-an didn’t threaten him in any way, but just looking at him with a blank expression made him feel stiff.

“Move.”

At the short word, Yang Tae-woo quickly got up. Seo-ah gave Yang Tae-woo a look of apology, then looked at Yoo Ji-an, who sat down next to her.

“Is it quiet now?”

“Well, yeah.”

Yoo Ji-an replied bluntly with a sullen face, then looked straight ahead. What was he unhappy about this time?

Seo-ah took the scone she had received from the flight attendant and spread raspberry jam on it, bringing it to Yoo Ji-an’s mouth.

“This is delicious. I saved it to eat with you.”

Yoo Ji-an didn’t look at Seo-ah, but obediently opened his mouth and ate the scone. Soothed by Seo-ah’s affectionate behavior and the taste of the sweet scone, Yoo Ji-an looked at Seo-ah.

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

“To eat, you said.”

“Oh… with Hunter Yang Tae-woo? But…”

Would Yang Tae-woo really like that? He would be very uncomfortable if Yoo Ji-an joined them. Knowing Seo-ah’s concerns, Yoo Ji-an offered a solution.

“We can invite Baek Eun-hee too.”

“Ah! That would be great.”

Yoo Ji-an knew that Seo-ah liked Baek Eun-hee so much that she would say okay. Only then did Yoo Ji-an seem satisfied, and he leaned back in his seat with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.

Neither of them, nor even Yang Tae-woo, mentioned that this would only happen if they safely completed this Gate and returned alive.

While they were resting and chatting, the plane arrived at Honolulu Airport in Hawaii.

Planes from other countries had already arrived.

Seeing the sight of 55 S-class Hunters and 63 A-class Hunters, a total of 118 Hunters, made her head spin.

It was truly an amazing sight. With this many people, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to dream of conquering the Earth. No army or modern weapon could stop them.

But conversely, no one could say for sure that they could prevent the Earth’s destruction.

Anyway, Seo-ah tried to get to know as many people as possible by greeting them individually. To make sure [Lamp’s Genie] appeared during the battle, it was important to increase [Affinity] even a little bit.

From her experience so far, the skills that suddenly appeared through [Lamp’s Genie] were of great help in solving difficult battles.

Seo-ah believed that would be the case this time as well.

“Yo!”

“Kim Soo-hyuk! Hunter Kang Hae-in!”

“Hi, Ji-an hyung is here as expected.”

After a while, Kim Soo-hyuk and Kang Hae-in of the Sun Guild greeted them happily and joined the group. And when they moved to the harbor, a ship was already docked and waiting to transport the Hunters.

Seeing the Hunters boarding the ship, it felt real.

‘We’re really going now. To the Legend Gate.’

The ship shook with earthquakes and rough waves in between, but there were no major problems with the Hunters boarding.

Most of them chose to jump up rather than use the stairs quietly.

After seeing the last person board, Seo-ah also jumped onto the ship with Yoo Ji-an. By the time the ship departed, the sun was setting.

Seo-ah stood on the deck, facing the sea breeze, and looked at the receding harbor. Yoo Ji-an came and stood next to her.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I’m hoping it can end with as few sacrifices as possible. What about you, Hunter Yoo Ji-an?”

When Seo-ah looked up, Yoo Ji-an smiled complexly and looked ahead.

“I hope this life is the last one. With you.”

“…Ah.”

Seo-ah sighed for a moment, then quietly took Yoo Ji-an’s hand.

“It will be.”

[Lamp’s Genie] indifferently did not grant this kind of wish. Still, Seo-ah desperately hoped.

At that moment, the door behind the deck opened and a boisterous sound was heard.

“What are you doing, you two! Come in, the party has started.”

At Choi Eun-gyeol’s shout, the two turned around.

Confetti exploded in the sky and music flowed out. Of course, there was no confetti on this ship. The Hunters were using their talents as they could to liven up the atmosphere.

No one blamed them for it, and rather cheered. And before they knew it, Seo-ah and Yoo Ji-an were also holding champagne glasses in their hands. They climbed to the highest point of the ship with their glasses and sat side by side.

They had to sail for about ten more hours to get to the Legend Gate. Rather than spending that time in tension, it was much better to spend it enjoying themselves like this.

Even in the midst of all this, the immense magic power of the Legend Gate was approaching more and more greatly, but no one mentioned it, not yet.

The beautiful singing of an Irish Hunter with sound wave skills filled the ship.

As the confetti shot into the night sky drew flower shapes and heart shapes, Yoo Ji-an and Park Seo-ah also secretly kissed lightly.

‘Probably the last peaceful time…’

Seo-ah wanted time to stop like this, but on the other hand, she was swept up in an unknown excitement.

The expectation that she could get one step closer to the truth of this world, and the instinct as a Hunter to face an unknown enemy, were blooming in the hearts of everyone, including Seo-ah.

As they were sailing, someone pointed to the dark sea in the distance and shouted.

“It’s there!”

The ship was instantly filled with silence, and the moment the Hunters’ heads turned all at once.