"You Have the Qualifications"
“Goliath right now...”
“He's approaching that newbie.”
“Does he have something to say?”
As the distance between Jayden and me gradually closed, the noise filling the hall began to die down bit by bit. Everyone stopped talking to their neighbors again and turned their attention our way.
Eventually.
“...”
Jayden halted right in front of me, staring at me with utterly emotionless eyes. He was just staring. Even though he'd come right up to my face, he didn't say a word—no greeting, nothing.
...What the hell?
Even amid my bewilderment, a pure exclamation welled up in my throat. Just standing there facing off like this, his overwhelming presence was crystal clear. It was a pressure unlike anything from a constellation.
This is the level of an Ender 7.
The world is vast, and there are many strong ones. I felt that truth deep in my bones once more.
“Oh...”
Jayden, who had been staring at me so piercingly it was burdensome, suddenly lifted the corner of his mouth and let out an odd sound.
And the next moment.
He whispered just one short phrase, quiet enough for only me to hear.
“You... have the qualifications.”
With only those words left behind, he spun on his heel and returned to his spot.
Curious about what he'd said to me, the surroundings grew rowdy.
“That's it?”
“What did he just mumble?”
“Was that a subtle love call to join his guild?”
“No way. He's famous for having insanely high standards.”
...It wasn't anything special.
You have the qualifications.
Probably meaning I have what it takes to become a mega ranker or something like that.
“...He carried the weight of the entire world just to say that?”
'But aren't you happy to be acknowledged by one of the Ender 7?', Sung Hyun-sook tilts her head!
Of course I'm pleased. But...
Is there any reason to make a big fuss?
I've been living with constant praise from Mom, the undisputed number one among the Ender 7.
***
As stated in the invitation letters, we have gathered you all here today for one specific reason—
The International Player Conference officially began, and with everyone seated, they focused on the woman who had taken the stage.
Olga Bilkova.
Her voice, as the president of the World Awakening League, echoed through the hall via the speakers.
The earpiece interpreters handed out beforehand translated her words into each person's native language in real-time, so there was no trouble listening.
—Five days ago, a purple gate was confirmed to have appeared in the Mount Hiei area northeast of Kyoto, Japan. We are here to discuss countermeasures with all of you.
On the large screen behind the stage, aerial photos of Mount Hiei's scenery appeared as reference material.
Mana waves are intangible, so from this alone, it just looked like a beautiful, ordinary mountain...
The site right now is practically a radioactive contamination zone.
I knew full well that place was no different from hell on earth.
I'd watched live broadcasts of even a few S-ranks collapsing from the massive mana waves.
Japan's Gate Management Bureau dispatched staff immediately upon detecting the signs and measured the detailed mana wave values. The results—
Perhaps to state the precise numbers without error.
Olga Bilkova glanced at her script briefly before continuing.
The mana wave at the site measured 17,364.
Murmurs—
The hall grew noisy with people's shocked gasps.
We predict the wave will peak at up to 20,000 once the gate fully manifests.
“For real...?”
“No way...”
“20,000—that should be classified as black, not purple.”
“This... it's bringing back trauma from the Extinction Crisis bit by bit.”
Eventually, someone even mentioned the Extinction Crisis.
'Compared to those damn Extinction bastards, that's just a drop in the bucket,' Sung Hyun-sook snorts!
...Well, it's not entirely wrong, but calling it a drop in the bucket feels a bit much, Mom.
Just counting the S-ranks who died, Full Moon Canyon was on par with the Extinction Crisis.
The estimated gate manifestation is in 168 hours. One week from now.
Right.
Thanks to calculations based on vast databases, they nailed it exactly.
As always, the purple gate raid will proceed as a large-scale joint operation with S-rank players from at least five countries.
Afterward, the participating countries and their representatives were listed one by one from her mouth.
Korea, Japan, China, the US, Russia.
Korea's reps were me and Choi Kwang-hyun.
Seo Chae-yeon was out due to injury during a gate raid.
Jin Soo-hyun was... busy playing with her summons on Wild Island.
“Whoa... did you hear that, bro? Your name came before Choi Kwang-hyun's.”
“Yeah... I heard.”
Why are you getting excited over something like that, Seong-su...
My ranking's higher, so of course my name comes first.
Next, the roster for the vanguard teams who will enter first. Selection for the vanguard was based on the most recent world ranking updates.
Finally, they moved on to the vanguard teams.
But I wasn't tense at all.
No reason to be.
Among those who expressed intent to join the joint raid, the selected vanguards got prior contact asking for confirmation.
Of course, a mega ranker like me got it too.
And I accepted, naturally.
First Vanguard Team includes...
From Jayden Goliath first to my name last.
A total of eight members for the First Vanguard were announced one after another.
Hm. Perfect.
Satisfied, I listened to the rest of the announcements leisurely.
***
“Kahaha! The ways of the world are truly unpredictable! Who'd have thought you'd surpass me in the rankings!”
During the reception after the announcements ended, Choi Kwang-hyun, whom I hadn't seen in a while, laughed heartily and slapped my back.
He encouraged me purely, without a trace of envy or jealousy.
...I nearly spat out my wine, but still, what a great guy.
I wanted to introduce him to Yoo Seong-su and Heo Dae-ri, but they had returned to the lodging early for guild business.
“This is all thanks to you recognizing me as S-rank, Choi Kwang-hyun player.”
“Haha! For a mega ranker to say that, I don't know where to put myself!”
It wasn't flattery to make him feel good—it was the truth.
If he hadn't acknowledged me as S-rank back then, I wouldn't have risen to mega ranker in such a short time.
Grateful, I poured wine into his glass and spoke up.
“Come to think of it, this'll be our first time entering the same gate, you and I.”
“Mm. Shame we won't be in the same raid team, though.”
With the recent ranking update, his position had risen from 50th to 41st.
But it didn't meet the mega ranker threshold, so unfortunately, he was assigned to the Second Vanguard.
Choi Kwang-hyun shook off his regret and held out his glass.
“Still, I'll catch up soon, so watch out!”
“Gotta stay on my toes, or I might get left behind.”
Clink—
As we burst into cheerful laughter and clinked glasses.
“Maybe it'd be better if you dropped to the Second Vanguard.”
A snide voice wormed into my ear.
I paused with the glass to my lips and turned around.
“Doubtful you'd even qualify for that, though.”
“Sorry. He's a bit drunk.”
It was Miura Kei and Sawajiri Yuki, the ones who'd glared at me like I was their mortal enemy earlier.
They speak Korean, huh.
'Why are these bastards stirring trouble again?', Sung Hyun-sook scowls!
I could guess the reason...
But I hadn't expected such a blatant provocation.
“Better to drop to Second Vanguard? What do you mean by that?”
Actually, the one who snapped first wasn't me—it was Choi Kwang-hyun.
His voice dripped with hostility, but the guy, ranked several spots higher than him, wasn't about to back down.
He scoffed.
“Do you know the role of the First Vanguard? To experience and clear all the dungeon's hazards before the follow-ups.”
This prick's ignoring Choi Kwang-hyun like his words are nothing.
“Those with great power have a duty to bear the corresponding responsibility.”
“I see.”
I replied half-heartedly and sipped my wine.
I had a 2016 Château d'Yquem in hand—who cares about this idiot's bullshit?
“But do you have that kind of power?”
“That's why the League put me in the First Vanguard.”
“Nonsense. The League made a huge mistake. Putting a player awakened less than half a year ago in the vanguard? For a purple gate raid, no less?”
'Why's this moron picking on our son♡ about that?', Sung Hyun-sook swallows hard in frustration!
That actually piqued my curiosity too, so I asked.
“If you're unhappy, go complain to the League. Why bring it to me?”
“Know your place, newbie.”
Know your place, newbie.
Ugh, my toes are curling.
This guy's watched too many animes...
“If you screw up as First Vanguard, the damage hits the follow-ups too.”
He stepped closer to me.
Trying to build a menacing vibe, huh? Fine.
Might as well grab my collar now.
I'll beat you fair and square.
“That'd fail the raid, trigger an outbreak, and kill countless Japanese.”
“Theoretically, yeah.”
“So I don't like that you're in my raid team. If you get it, withdraw now.”
I had no clue what he meant, so I ignored him.
Don't feed the troll.
No more ruining my drink, so I turned to leave with Choi Kwang-hyun.
“Without your parents' halo, you couldn't even scrape high ranker.”
No. I tried to leave.
—Halt.
My steps stopped.
“Uh, uh... Miura? That's a bit too far, don't you think—?”
“Frankly, if you weren't the son of the 'S-rank Couple,' could you have become a mega ranker this fast?”
Even with the woman trying to stop him, the meathead's mouth showed no sign of stopping.
'That's crossing the line,' Sung Hyun-sook's eyes flash coldly!
That's not just crossing the line—that's shredding it.
Finally, unable to hold back, Choi Kwang-hyun exploded in fury.
“That's a diplomatic discourtesy to a Korean rep! Apologize before I report you to the League...!”
“No need for apologies.”
I cut off Choi Kwang-hyun's outburst.
Apologize? That'd be a disaster.
Let a guy who dared mention my parents off with just sorry?
No way in hell.
Not that an apology would ever come from that mouth anyway.
—Clink.
I set my glass down on the table.
Then, quietly to Choi Kwang-hyun grinding his teeth beside me.
“Choi Kwang-hyun player. Looks like we might end up in the same raid team after all.”
“What? ...You don't mean you're dropping to Second Vanguard because of that guy—?”
“—Of course not. I mean, a spot might open up in the First Vanguard.”
I said it loud enough for anyone to hear, then turned back.
There,
“If I ask the League nicely, don't you think they could slot in one Choi Kwang-hyun player?”
“You little...”
Good thing he caught on quick—the meathead was glaring at me with a horribly twisted face.
They threw manners out first, so I can too.
I met his bulging eyes straight on and said.
“Choi Kwang-hyun player's way better than some brainless fuck.”