I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 48

48.

A gap had opened in the ground, likely caused by the earlier tremors.

Seo-ah immediately ran towards it, with Go Geon-hu right behind her.

“Ah, the gap’s widening. Damn it!”

Yang Tae-woo grumbled, seemingly frustrated, but he kept close to Seo-ah.

He maintained a constant watch on the battlefield, even from that distance, casting recovery and vitality barriers on the three of them. Fortunately, it was enough to prevent the parasites from pushing them back.

“Please hurry and grab on.”

As Seo-ah reached into the collapsed gap, someone inside grabbed her hand and pulled.

“Ugh!”

She pulled with all her might, but Seo-ah’s slight frame looked unsteady. Unable to watch any longer, Go Geon-hu stepped forward.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, please step aside. I’ll take over.”

“Ah, okay.”

Seo-ah instead focused on helping those who had already emerged.

“Those who are out, this way!”

“Thank you… gasp, oh my goodness!”

The survivors were stunned by the scene outside.

Realizing that this side was holding its ground, they seemed relieved and moved aside.

The rescued people were in terrible condition after being trapped for so long. Some had minor injuries, but others were near death.

Seo-ah first used her recovery skills on the critically ill, then called out to those in pain.

“Line up here! I’ll heal you!”

“Ugh, here… I sprained my ankle.”

“I hurt my back!”

“Yes, just a moment! I’ll help you in order.”

While Seo-ah treated the survivors, Yang Tae-woo anxiously watched her.

He needed to focus on the battle and couldn’t directly assist her, leaving Seo-ah to handle the situation alone for now.

Casting multiple recovery spells made her feel slightly dizzy. Seo-ah immediately drank a Maker’s potion to replenish her mana.

Many people were still groaning in pain, looking at Seo-ah with pleading eyes.

Seo-ah forced a smile and gestured.

“Come this way.”

A woman, seemingly a mother, carefully brought her child forward. The child was emaciated and had a bleeding head wound.

Seo-ah took out a Maker’s healing potion, poured half of it on the child’s head, and gave the other half to the child to drink. Then, she used her recovery skill.

‘I need to show this child to Hunter Yang Tae-woo later. I can’t handle this alone…’

The external wounds were somewhat healed. As she treated them one by one, only a few remained. Those who had regained some strength helped others to come up.

After the last person was rescued, Go Geon-hu stretched his back. Roughly thirty people had survived. They said there were over a hundred initially, meaning less than half had made it.

Once everyone was treated, Seo-ah handed out a white pill to each person.

“Please take this.”

The people were confused, unsure what the medicine was, but they obediently swallowed it.

Watching the last person take the pill, Seo-ah sighed in relief. She looked at the three still fighting. The giant mountain of corpses had almost disappeared.

‘They’re all amazing. I wish I could fight like that too.’

Seo-ah glanced at the man standing a little further away.

He sat on a rock, observing the situation. His anxious expression remained, but he awkwardly smiled when he met Seo-ah’s eyes.

The man’s bones and cheeks looked noticeably gaunter than before.

Just then, Yang Tae-woo leaped over to Seo-ah.

“Should we deal with him now?”

Yang Tae-woo had apparently noticed the man as well.

“…That’s right. But let’s wait for Eun-hee unnie [older sister or close female friend] to come.”

“Well, yeah. Let’s not touch him yet.”

As if realizing they were talking about him, the man strode towards Seo-ah. His relaxed demeanor was gone, replaced by a subtly twisted expression.

“You’re really amazing. You’ve almost taken care of everything.”

“Yes, because they’re skilled.”

“You saved all the people too?”

“Not all of them. There are fewer than before. I think some were crushed.”

“Still, this is good enough… Do all the people outside the gate have such great power?”

The man showed a strong curiosity about the outside world. Seo-ah avoided answering by deliberately looking away.

“…….”

“But you know this isn’t the end, right?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the ground shook again. The three who had defeated the enemy flew over and stood side by side in front of Seo-ah, as if to protect her.

“Eun-hee unnie, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Are those the people you saved over there?”

“Yes, everyone together… Ah, they’re coming again!”

Seeing the black shapes approaching, Baek Eun-hee muttered through gritted teeth.

“Ha, those damn bugs are persistent.”

Most of the parasites had died in the previous battle, but it wasn’t over.

Some had escaped and found hosts. An army of scorpions, ants, and humans infected with parasites was slowly swarming towards them.

This was the truly terrifying aspect of parasites.

Parasites weren’t particularly strong on their own, but they could become much stronger depending on the host they controlled.

Seo-ah cast buff skills on everyone again. Seol Jin-ah exclaimed in admiration.

Despite her impressive performance, Seol Jin-ah didn’t seem tired.

“Seriously, I felt like I was flying with that buff! I see why Go Geon-hu is so smitten!”

“Stop talking nonsense and focus, Seol Jin-ah!”

Go Geon-hu said gruffly, but he closely guarded Seo-ah. Even without Baek Eun-hee’s instructions, Go Geon-hu naturally protected Seo-ah.

Seo-ah took out her Bbyong Hammer [onomatopoeia for a bopping sound] this time. Yang Tae-woo also took out his rod and glared at the approaching creatures.

In reality, there wasn’t much need for them to step forward.

Before the ant swarm could attack, Seo Ah-hyeon’s black axe began to dance. Every swing of the Black Double Axe crushed an ant’s head.

Seo Ah-hyeon stared blankly at the hand holding the axe for a moment, then gave a faint, unknowable smile.

Next, Seol Jin-ah flew like the wind, landing on the heads and backs of the ants. She began to draw a large, round magic circle in the air.

As the magic circle seeped into the ground, the ants and scorpions above it struggled to move, as if stuck in glue. Seol Jin-ah wore a delighted expression.

‘This is the first time I’ve made one this big. It works!’

Not missing the opportunity, Baek Eun-hee’s Splinter [likely a weapon name] passed through the sluggish monsters like lightning. The circular saw blade easily pierced their hard exoskeletons, cutting more than ten at once into pieces.

Swish, thud!

Baek Eun-hee caught the returning Splinter, shuddering with the thrill she felt.

This feeling, this overflowing, surging power, was why she brought Seo-ah here.

This sensation was addictive. The fragile child being protected in the back gave her this immense power.

‘Park Seo-ah, she’s precious. So very precious.’

Baek Eun-hee smiled brightly at Seo-ah, but one human host she had missed charged towards Seo-ah.

“Seo-ah!”

Startled, Baek Eun-hee tried to rush over, but a golden Bbyong Hammer made *bbyong bbyong* sounds above the host’s head.

The human host collapsed powerlessly.

Seo-ah made a circle with her thumb and forefinger towards Baek Eun-hee, indicating she was okay. Since the human host wasn’t a monster, Seo-ah could defend herself.

Baek Eun-hee chuckled and threw the Splinter back. Despite her peaceful expression, the Splinter flew back with terrifying force, taking out more than a dozen monsters.

Seo-ah watched their battle with admiration. They fought hordes without struggling, while she and Yang Tae-woo couldn’t handle even one.

Auras of light followed their bodies. If they got even a small scratch, Yang Tae-woo would cast a recovery spell.

Having returned to his original position, Yang Tae-woo looked much more relaxed and confident.

After examining the group, Seo-ah habitually looked for the man again.

He was nearby, his expression openly unpleasant and trembling. She felt she knew why.

Then, she heard vomiting from behind.

“Ugh, puke!”

The people Seo-ah had treated were lying on the ground, vomiting. Seo-ah looked at them with concern, but didn’t rush over.

The medicine she had given them was taking effect. But the man’s expression twisted sharply.

“What on earth did you do to these people…!”

He looked at Seo-ah with a terrifying expression and approached, but seemed to be losing strength in his legs and staggering. His body wasn’t under his control.