I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 93

93.

Seo-ah quietly nodded. Hearing that story, she could understand why Ignis had been so enraged and driven mad.

“We have to save the Spirit Master, no matter what.”

Seo-ah hardened her expression, speaking as if making a vow to herself.

After everyone was healed, the group descended to the ground.

Walking slowly across the field as the sun set, they discussed their next steps.

“So, where is this guy we need to catch?”

“Didn’t they say he’s somewhere southeast of the village?”

“Being everywhere and strangling you when you’re off guard sounds terrifying.”

Kim Su-hyeok nervously rubbed his neck, looking around. In such a vague situation, there was only one person to trust. Everyone looked at Yoo Ji-ahn.

Yoo Ji-ahn, who had been walking beside Seo-ah, gradually stopped.

“Being everywhere means it’s a matter of the mind. It’s exactly as it sounds. Don’t let your guard down.”

“Who would let their guard down in an A-rank gate? Unless they have a death wish.”

Yoon Ah-jung grumbled, while Song Jin-ho and Kang Hae-in still looked puzzled.

“Let’s focus on finding the Spirit Master first.”

At Yoo Ji-ahn’s words, the group nodded and resumed walking. Seo-ah also moved forward, her gaze fixed on Yoo Ji-ahn’s profile.

‘By the way, what was that he said earlier? Something about Ignis having seen it before. I barely heard what he said after that.’

Suddenly, Yoon Ah-jung playfully nudged Seo-ah.

“Wow, Ji-ahn oppa’s face is going to wear out [He’s so handsome]. He is handsome, isn’t he?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s not that.”

As Seo-ah blushed in embarrassment, Yoo Ji-ahn glanced at her, his eyes barely moving.

His face was almost expressionless, but somehow, he didn’t seem displeased.

Then, Song Jin-ho subtly approached from the side.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, are you feeling unwell anywhere? Is it difficult to walk?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“Ignis attacked your heart earlier…”

“Hmm, this.”

Seo-ah pressed her left chest with her hand, tilting her head.

“I don’t feel anything now. That’s a relief, it seems the Spirit Master is still safe.”

“You’re probably the only one who would call that a relief, Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

“Haha, well, I’m fine now anyway.”

“Make sure to tell us if you feel unwell.”

Yoon Ah-jung watched the two, or rather, the three of them, with amusement.

They eventually arrived back at the village entrance. It was night, but there were still people wandering around.

“Anyway, we need to blend in while we’re in the village, so let’s change our clothes again.”

Yoon Ah-jung smiled brightly at Seo-ah, who looked slightly upset.

“Our young lady needs to change too, right?”

***

Seo-ah, dressed in a gown, appeared with an awkward gait, holding up the hem of her skirt.

“Is this… really necessary?”

She then glanced at Yoo Ji-ahn’s attire. He was wearing old clothes that a slave or laborer from the Middle Ages might wear.

But as they say, fashion is completed by the face; Yoo Ji-ahn looked like he was simply sporting a cool vintage style.

“You benefited greatly from that outfit earlier, just bear with it a little longer.”

“Yeah, it suits you quite well. You look like a princess.”

Seo-ah glared at Kim Su-hyeok, who was teasing her from the side.

“Stop making fun of me.”

Even so, Seo-ah subtly checked Yoo Ji-ahn’s reaction. Yoo Ji-ahn, whose eyes met hers, paused slightly before slowly opening his mouth.

“It suits you.”

Seo-ah fell silent at those words. Hearing that from his handsome face, she couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Alright, alright. Now that we’re dressed, how do we find the Spirit Master?”

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, Yoon Ah-jung, and I are the only ones who know the face properly, so it’s best to search around us.”

Song Jin-ho stepped forward, pointing to Seo-ah and Ah-jung in turn.

“Ah, just a moment.”

Feeling something strange, Seo-ah opened her inventory and took out the red gem.

What had seemed like an ordinary gem until now was emitting a faint light intermittently.

“It’s been glowing like this since earlier.”

“Let me see.”

As Yoo Ji-ahn held out his hand, Seo-ah placed the red gem on it.

He squeezed it once and released it, and the red gem burst into flames. Seo-ah, startled, took a small step back.

“What, what is it?”

“This is a Spirit Stone. It allows even non-Spirit Masters to use the power of spirits, even if only temporarily.”

“Oh, why would Alice give me something like this?”

“Spirit Stones aren’t special. Any Spirit Master can make them. They can also be a source of income. In urgent situations, they can be made and used instead of money.”

“…Ah.”

So, Alice gave her this Spirit Stone as payment for healing her and giving her food?

Yoon Ah-jung picked up the red gem from Yoo Ji-ahn’s hand and looked at it.

“Well, if it’s a Fire Spirit Stone, should we think of it as a fancy lighter?”

“Something like that.”

“Why is it shining like this?”

At Seo-ah’s question, Yoo Ji-ahn took the Spirit Stone back from Yoon Ah-jung, examined it, and handed it to Seo-ah.

“I think we can find the Fire Spirit Master with this.”

Seo-ah looked at the Spirit Stone with curious eyes. And as Yoo Ji-ahn had done, she clenched and unclenched her hand, causing flames to erupt.

Strangely, the hand holding the gem wasn’t hot.

“Let’s go now.”

“Ahem.”

As Yoo Ji-ahn reached out his arm to Seo-ah, Yoon Ah-jung took out her cosplay sword, still in its scabbard, and placed it on his arm.

“How dare a person of low status try to touch the young lady?”

Seeing Yoo Ji-ahn’s eyebrow twitch, Yoon Ah-jung quickly cleared her throat and shifted her gaze to Seo-ah.

“Let’s go, young lady.”

Yoon Ah-jung seemed to be enjoying this Middle Ages role-playing quite a bit, acting like this since the afternoon. Seo-ah followed her with an embarrassed face, and the rest of the group also moved forward.

Yoo Ji-ahn lagged behind, scanning the surroundings broadly.

‘Southeast, huh.’

The location wasn’t much different from the information he already knew. He had pressed Ignis to be more certain.

If they secure the Fire Spirit Master here and eliminate the guy, the mission for this gate will be complete.

The situation seemed smooth, but Yoo Ji-ahn’s eyes darkened.

In his first life, he had subdued Ignis without meeting the Spirit Master.

In his second life, the Fire Spirit Master he met was a gray-haired old woman, and in his third, a middle-aged man.

Back then, they had met Ignis, regained their strength, and defeated the final boss together.

When one Spirit Master dies and another is born, they become younger than before. Considering that this one is a child.

‘It’s much further into the future than then.’

In that case, Ignis’s rampage wasn’t early at all. It meant he had endured for much longer.

And Ignis wouldn’t be the only one who had endured.

‘The guy too, probably.’

The final boss they would face was likely to be much stronger as well.

Yoo Ji-ahn slowly followed, fixing his gaze on the members, especially Park Seo-ah.

This life had an unusual number of minor variables. Those variables were both annoying and instilled a sense of anticipation. It was perhaps the anticipation that this time might be different.

Park Seo-ah, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around and waved at Yoo Ji-ahn.

“Hunter Yoo Ji-ahn! Hurry up!”

Yoo Ji-ahn, who had paused for a moment, unknowingly smiled. He didn’t say much, but Park Seo-ah’s different appearance in the dress was quite pleasing to the eye.

“Alright, I’m coming.”

Yoo Ji-ahn cleared his mind and strode forward.

‘First, let’s focus on this mission.’

***

Seo-ah periodically took out the red gem to get her bearings.

“I think it’s this alley. The light is flashing more intensely.”

“Hmm, this way? It looks like a hotel.”

Even though it was a run-down village, it had once been quite prosperous, so it had everything it needed.

The largest building in the village, second only to the lord’s castle, was the hotel. The building itself was large, and its exterior was luxurious.

As they approached the hotel, the red gem’s light flashed strongly.

“A child is in a place like this?”

“Let’s go inside for now.”

As Yoo Ji-ahn tried to enter, two gatekeepers extended their spears to block him.

“No, you can’t just go in here.”

“Get lost! This isn’t a place for the likes of you.”

As usual, just as Yoo Ji-ahn was about to simply reach out and deal with them, Seo-ah suddenly stepped forward.

The gatekeepers immediately retracted their spears upon seeing Seo-ah’s attire.

“We’d like to stay for a night, do you have any rooms available?”

“…Are you a noble?”

“Yes, we came from the capital at the invitation of the lord of this place.”

“I see, then are the people behind you with you?”

“Yes.”

One of the gatekeepers scanned the group one by one, then pointed at Yoo Ji-ahn and said.

“The others are fine, but this man is not allowed. It’s a matter of the hotel’s dignity.”

Yoo Ji-ahn’s brow furrowed, and Kim Su-hyeok and Yoon Ah-jung chuckled quietly.

“I told you, you shouldn’t have worn those clothes.”

“I told you to change one more time.”

Seo-ah turned to Yoo Ji-ahn with an apologetic face and said awkwardly.

“Ahem, you… wait outside.”

“…….”

The group went inside, leaving only Yoo Ji-ahn outside.

“Welcome. Where are you coming from?”

As soon as they entered, the hotel manager came out and bowed at a 90-degree angle to greet them.

Yoon Ah-jung poked Seo-ah in the side as if to say ‘see?’, then brazenly replied.

“We are from the capital, Keras. Give us the best room.”