Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The Ranker's Arrival
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“Are you alright?”
Western Flower Garden approached Yuseong and asked. Yuseong replied.
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not what it looks like with your armor all smashed up.”
“I survived, didn’t I? That’s what matters.”
“…Is it?”
Western Flower Garden looked over Yuseong’s body, inwardly impressed.
‘I’ve never seen armor shattered so perfectly.’
Not just the helmet or chest plate—even the boots were thoroughly wrecked. That meant he’d kept fighting and defending right up to the end, even after individual pieces broke.
‘I get why Cooking Day speaks so highly of Mr. Yuseong.’
Whether it was his physical prowess or combat sense, this guy was undeniably, exceptionally skilled in battle.
“First off, thank you. You saved my life.”
Yuseong bowed his head.
“But what brings you here?”
He couldn’t guess why she—who should be at the front lines—had suddenly shown up in Sillaremit.
“To help.”
“Help?”
“You’re handing over a copy of the Necronomicon to Beauty Art, right?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s causing you a lot of headaches right now.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s why Cooking Day sent me.”
“To protect me?”
“More precisely, to ensure the Necronomicon copy gets to Beauty Art safely.”
“That’s surprising. I’ve heard top rankers like you value every minute, yet you can leave the front lines this often?”
“No way. It’s just that I’m not so incompetent that skipping a short break like this would make me tremble.”
[Whoa, so cool.]
[Western Flower Garden has every right to say that. She’s one of the absolute top rankers.]
It seemed Western Flower Garden was even more skilled than he’d thought.
“Besides, it’s not like I’m wasting much time. I was already in Edwin for some business.”
“Edwin?”
“A city near Sillaremit. It’s not far from here.”
If so, Edwin probably wasn’t a much higher-level area than this region. Why would a top-tier ranker like her be there? He felt a twinge of curiosity.
Sensing Yuseong’s doubt, she spoke up.
“I had some ad work.”
“Come to think of it, I saw your picture in an electronics store.”
“I shot a TV commercial. It’s probably airing right now.”
She said it casually, as if it were nothing.
“That’s why I took this job. I was the closest available. I’ve got more filming in a few days anyway, so I couldn’t head back to the front lines—I had to stick around this area. Monster levels are about the same here or in Edwin, so helping you out doesn’t cost me anything. No need to feel like you owe me.”
Then she added,
“Plus, I’ll get properly compensated.”
“What do I owe you?”
“It’s not from you. It’s from the guild. More precisely, the guild master.”
He got a rough sense of the situation. He nodded.
“Then let’s head back to Sillaremit. I need to buy replacements anyway.”
His armor was trashed, and all he had left was a single gun with its durability nearly depleted.
‘This is gonna cost a fortune.’
He let out an involuntary sigh. At that moment, Western Flower Garden spoke again.
“By the way, didn’t Cooking Day say he’d make you some gear? And that he’d deliver it through Beauty Art?”
“That’s music to my ears.”
Armor crafted by a master alchemist like Cooking Day. He couldn’t help but get excited.
‘And it’s free, too.’
That fact made Yuseong even more pleased.
The two crossed the swamp back toward Sillaremit. Along the way, they ran into obvious scavengers gunning for the Necronomicon copy, but none dared approach with Western Flower Garden at Yuseong’s side.
Of course, there were the occasional fools too ignorant or arrogant to recognize her, but they all paid the price for their folly under her blade.
It wasn’t long before the pair returned to Sillaremit.
* * *
This happened shortly after Yuseong obtained the Necronomicon copy.
Word that Yuseong had the Necronomicon copy spread quickly through Ark. Naturally, high-level necromancers who needed it caught wind of the news.
Not every necromancer rushed to Sillaremit where Yuseong was, of course.
Some thought stealing from others was wrong, others figured the odds of snatching it were slim to none and sought other paths, and some feared arbitrary retaliation.
For their own reasons, many necromancers gave up heading to Sillaremit.
But just as inevitably, some were determined to wrest the Necronomicon copy from Yuseong by any means.
Most were simpleminded types thinking, “We’ll figure it out when we get there.” But one had devised a meticulous plan to steal it.
“That’s why I’m asking for your help.”
A man in a robe etched with repulsive runes and a staff adorned with equally distasteful ornaments—one who screamed “necromancer”—spoke.
Contrary to his appearance, his voice was remarkably clear and bright.
The woman listening, however, was long accustomed to his mismatched image.
“Hmm, a Necronomicon copy.”
“I’ll pay you properly. You won’t feel shortchanged. And if you ever need upgrade items later, I’ll help you out—not just once. Even if you fail multiple times, I’ll keep helping until you upgrade.”
“Those are some sweet terms.”
“I’m that desperate. Upgrade chances don’t come around every day. You know that.”
“True enough.”
She tapped the hilt of the dagger at her waist with her index finger, pondering.
“But you sure about this? The target’s from that Freestyle crew.”
“So?”
“We clashed with them recently. And it was the same guy, Yuseong. If we steal the Necronomicon copy, won’t it spark a full guild war?”
“Let me ask again. So?”
“Ah, you don’t care. Fine by me. I love that simple, reckless attitude of yours.”
The woman grinned. The man flashed a similar smile beneath his robe.
“I’m not just being stubborn. Wouldn’t it benefit our guild more if I upgrade with the Necronomicon copy instead of Beauty Art?”
“Yeah, that’s sophistry where you rig the conclusion and backfill the reasons. Love that too.”
“Thanks. So, what’s your answer?”
“Alright, I’ll help.”
“Knew you’d come through.”
“But you’ve got a plan, right? If it’s just ‘let’s wing it,’ I’m out. I don’t want to waste time on a low-odds gamble.”
Given the situation, Yuseong would obviously stash the Necronomicon copy in the bank until Beauty Art arrived in Sillaremit.
Stealing it then? A low-probability long shot was putting it kindly—it was flat-out impossible.
She was a ranker too. She had no interest in squandering her valuable time on nonsense.
“Of course. I don’t waste effort on lost causes either.”
“That’s my pumpkin head.”
The woman beamed at the man—Halloween Pumpkin.
Halloween Pumpkin smiled back at her.
“Then let me explain the plan.”
“Lay it on me.”
And so, C.O.T.S’s two rankers set their sights on the Necronomicon copy and began to move.
* * *
Beauty Art was in the best mood she’d been in lately.
Since starting Ark, she’d been on a nonstop winning streak.
She’d joined Freestyle Guild, which suited her willful personality perfectly, climbed into the ranker standings, raked in massive income, and gained worldwide fame.
But as her level cap approached, she grew increasingly anxious.
Her income and fame all stemmed from being a ranker. If she got stuck at the cap, it’d all vanish like smoke.
She might not even be able to stay in the guild.
Sure, everyone there was great, and they wouldn’t kick her out just for failing to upgrade.
She’d do the same—support any teammate who stalled at the cap rather than abandon them.
But if she were the only one falling behind, could she handle it?
The guild master desperately denied it, but Freestyle was undeniably an elite few guild.
‘I don’t know.’
She didn’t. Maybe she’d get fed up with her stagnation and storm out, or maybe she’d adapt and stay.
One thing was certain: whatever happened, her mindset wouldn’t stay the same.
Upgrading and breaking the cap would solve all those worries, though.
But it was insanely difficult.
The upgrade item for necromancers—a Necronomicon copy—was rarer than rare, practically oozing Utopia’s malice.
She’d pulled out all the stops to acquire one as her cap loomed.
All failures.
Price wasn’t the issue. There simply weren’t any on the market.
No reliable way to obtain one.
Upgrade items dropped from monsters of all levels. That made it seem easy, but the drop rate was obscenely low—enough to make you curse.
In Ark, where countless monsters died daily, the constant cries of “no drops” said it all.
Then, out of nowhere, a Necronomicon copy appears. And it belonged to a new recruit in her guild, Freestyle.
That alone was shocking, but he was willing to sell it to her.
When she first heard, she doubted if she was dreaming. Pain felt muted in-game, so she logged out and pinched her cheek—multiple times.
The pain was real. Meaning this was reality, not a dream.
She was overjoyed. Ecstatic, even.
No wonder Cooking Day gave up trying to calm her.
Sure, it was embarrassing in hindsight. But she couldn’t contain her joy.
Her future had opened wide again—how could she not rejoice?
That’s why she couldn’t hold back her rage toward anyone blocking that brilliant future.
“Get out of my way!”
“Not happening.”
A needlessly refreshing voice clashing with his appearance. She gnashed her teeth, vowing revenge.
Once this was over, she’d buy a ton of pumpkins and smash them all.