Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Animal Abuse
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"We're in big trouble."
"What is it?"
What big trouble? Obviously just one thing.
The Ranking War.
An event that lasts a full week, held exactly twice a year—a stage for pitting your skills against others.
That's the flashy official line, but in reality, it's just a festival. There are real festivals separate from it, but it's easier to think of it that way.
Scouts and civilians flock in from outside, street vendors pop up, and shops inside the island buzz with activity.
Up to that point, it's fine. Festival? Just enjoy it. No problem.
But the real issue is something else. The issue is—
"My moving plan is dead."
"No way!! Seong-hoon, you promised last time! Living three people in this tiny room is too cramped, so let's move somewhere bigger!!"
"Can you stop talking like a newlywed couple dreaming of a rosy future?! That's memory distortion. What I clearly said was I'd move to a bigger place, so you get your own room and get out?!"
Ignoring Raphael's retort of It's the same thing, the original Ranking War schedule was after the dungeon experience. Kim Tae-hyun gets a weapon in the dungeon experience and shines with it in the Ranking War and related events—that's the story beat.
And that weapon. I tried to steal it. Steal that weapon, boost my rank in the Ranking War, then move to a bigger dorm—that was the plan.
But what about reality?
Damn angel lady summons the Reaper, cleans up his mess, and now the Ranking War gets moved up.
This is reality? The bitter taste of life? I've been tasting it way too much since coming here.
"Still, life has its ups and downs. Bad things come with good. Thanks to that guild master, you ranked up. And you got so much holy water? That's a win, right?"
"...The holy water's great. Of course it is, but three people in this cramped room is suffocating. Two beds and it's already full. Who decided 1000-rank students live alone in the dorms?!"
"Usually they do live alone?"
The dorms are made for solo living, so yeah. Then why don't you, the cause, leave? I shot a glare at the blonde.
She averted her eyes and whistled. Then, as if remembering something, she raised a finger.
"Oh! It's because there are three of us!! Keep Lachesis from roaming in human form?!"
Oh. Is this really an angel? I marveled at Raphael, whose thinking was so different from others.
"Do you have a personality problem?"
So in the end, only one option left.
Right now, without that weapon. For a weakling like me to climb the ranks in the Ranking War, nothing left but that.
What? Obviously skill grinding.
With just these skills, I could behead a vampire in one stroke?
Anyway, cutting to the chase, I opened [Skills].
And that's how I racked up a decent pile of points. Especially the Reaper—being an out-of-scenario powerhouse, it gave extra.
That's why people run raids. Tough, but rewards are solid.
Anyway, the skill I'm getting now is set. I've been saving skill points for it.
What is it? Magic, obviously.
I wanna try it. Men's romance No. 1. Come to a fantasy world and not cast a spell? Pointless.
I wanna do it too. Spit cool lines from my mouth, weave spells with incantations.
Churning turbid sentences, vessel of insolent madness—y'know, that stuff. Always wanted to try.
And now. Time for that long dream to come true.
But I have no mana. No mana, how cast magic? If you ask that, the answer is this.
Obviously yes. Then I naturally clicked 「Rune Magic」 to read the description.
At the same time, something filled my head. Hard to describe—like a wiki spawned in a corner of my brain.
For some reason, I feel like I could do anything now. That inexplicable confidence the night before a test?
I grabbed a nearby pen and scribbled runes on pre-bought sticky notes.
Rune magic. Or engraving magic.
A relic from the past, rarely used in modern times where a few words trigger spells.
But just infuse mana into pre-engraved runes to cast—super convenient for me.
This lets mana-less me cast magic. Can't do churning turbid sentences, though.
Of course, plenty of downsides. Hard to learn, can't use in combat without prep, power capped compared to chant magic.
But I can offset them all.
Hard to learn? Skill-fixed it. [Inventory] lets me stock near-infinite runes. Power... gotta settle.
Hey, magic's magic.
The biggest flaw? Needs pre-filled mana.
"Suddenly getting chills? Is our house haunted?!"
Our house has two mana tanks... no, illegal squatters.
"Girls."
"Yes?"
"If you're crashing comfortably in someone else's house, pay rent, right?"
Right? They exchanged glances at my question and tried to bolt.
"M-my... arms won't move."
"Why the dramatics? Anyone'd think I'm forcing unpaid labor. I bought you food. Whatever you wanted, right? Be grateful."
Ignoring their Not enough~, I looked around. We'd left the dorms for Justitia's bustling streets.
Should be class time, but Ranking War means no classes for the week—free to roam.
Rules are loose. Simply: one challenge ticket per student per day. Challenge another student; win, rank up. Simple, free-form.
Defenses unlimited, so higher ranks disadvantaged. Key is climbing while holding your spot.
"Good thing Seong-hoon's at the bottom of the rankings. No one's gonna pick a fight."
"They do, they're crazy."
Original story focused on Kim Tae-hyun's defenses here. No big events, just minor stuff—no tension.
What matters to me: Can I rank up? Escape this cramped room?
Life's crossroads. House-hunting's life's biggest deal.
Wondering who to challenge for a sure win, someone caught my eye in the crowd.
Waving at me.
Justitia packed despite morning—scouts, civilians, families. Swarming, but her beauty stood out unavoidable.
Brown hair, petal-pink eyes, flawless bright face.
Yang Min-ji.
"Lee Seong-hoooon~~"
Nickname changed. Used to be annoying guy or guy who beat Isia. Now full name?
She ran up waving wildly, plopping naturally at our outdoor table.
Grinning ear-to-ear. I stared—what's the deal?—she tapped her lips with a finger.
Mmm~ she hummed, then spoke.
"Thanks!! Came to say that!!"
Thanks? For what? Reaper yesterday was thanks and done.
Near-death gave her weird dreams?
Best to ignore. I said nothing; Raphael answered instead.
"Thanks for what~? Just did what needed doing~"
"Yeah. Pretty sis, thanks even more!"
"I am pretty cute."
Playtime, huh. Watching them flirt, a thought hit me.
"Know where Isia is? Got magic questions, but no reply."
"Mmm~ Know where, but she's the worst. Ignores unless she needs something?"
Can't argue that—
I froze.
Chills down my spine; turned to see a man. Fedora pulled low.
Black aura pouring off. Overheard us? Daughter-only-when-needed pissed him off?
Scared stiff, I turned back and sat meek.
Sir, scary.
"Whatever. Isia's probably meeting her dad now? Won't reply awhile."
"What?"
Isia's dad here? For Ranking War? Why?
No way that tsundere watches her fight—
Then unease flashed.
"Nah, probably not."
"Not what?"
"Said it, done! I'm off to date Dad!! Bye bye!!"
Yang Min-ji waved running to the man, then arms behind back, yelled Thanks!! once more.
Makes no sense.
Eh, nothing big. Dads watch daughters' matches, right? Yeah?
Yeah. Original story, Ranking War's a nothing event. Fine.
"Seong-hoon."
"Shut it. Gonna say something weird. Don't."
"Know the word 'plague'?"
Nope.
Dark space.
Likely a building basement. A student in teal-green uniform faces a formal-looking man.
Man's face shadowed, but suit and demeanor scream not ordinary.
"Sure, doable. 1028th rank? Piece of cake. Easier even."
The rudely—no, arrogantly—seated student's nameplate was black.
"No. Not just win the Ranking War."
"Then?"
"Kill him. Kill. Must kill."
"...That far? Killing's tricky?"
Boy grimaced troubled, but nodded at what followed.
"We'll handle cleanup. Accidents covered, money you'll never touch otherwise. High position if wanted."
High position. Money. Cover-up. No reason to refuse. Worst case even, life-changer. No rejection.
"Lee Seong-hoon. Lee Seong-hoon. Kill him for sure."
No room to wonder why that guy. Boy just nodded.
"Leave it to me."
1028th rank? Not even a snack, obviously.