Dreams of Rankers and the Lord's Castle
There was a ranking system in Last Savior.
It ranked players who had chosen to publicly display their nicknames and basic info.
On the first of every month, the rankings refreshed, and the top thousand players were called rankers.
It was a glorious title granted to just one thousand out of over five hundred million RaSe users.
Countless players dreamed of becoming rankers and hunted monsters today as always.
It wasn't unique to RaSe—most games with rankings were the same.
Pouring money, time, and effort into maintaining rank was a natural flow.
That thrill of being superior to others!
The feeling of grasping what no amount of others' effort could achieve was beyond words.
And as usual in ranking games, powerful rewards followed suit—and RaSe was no exception.
On the first of each month, rankers could choose one of two rewards.
First: 50,000 gold.
Equivalent to about 60 million won in cash, paid in a lump sum.
But hardly any rankers picked this. For a RaSe ranker, earning 50k gold a month was a breeze.
So most chose the second reward.
A random box!
True to its infamous rep as a luck-based trash game, RaSe gave out random boxes as ranking rewards!
Overwhelming fame and the addictive random box.
That was why people risked their lives to become rankers.
Aside from the Lord's Castle, Ruana's central district had almost no other facilities.
Yet surprisingly, quite a few users lingered there.
They were players wandering around, desperate for even a peek inside the Lord's Castle.
A massive castle at the heart of the great city of Ruana.
Despite five hundred million visitors, fewer than could be counted on two hands had crossed its threshold.
No one who entered spilled the beans on what lay inside—and even those who did revealed only scraps.
Rumors swirled and grew wilder by the day.
'Hidden quests inside grant massive contribution points.'
'Clear the Lord's personal quests for at least a Unique item.'
'Raise affinity with the Lord for a title and hidden class change.'
Urban legends without a shred of proof.
But one thing was certain.
The tiny few who entered all became rankers!
Not bottom-tier rank 1000s, but top 100 elites.
That was why some haunted the castle like zombies.
'Damn! Thought I'd make it this time!'
Level 40 user Polcheon sighed in regret.
How many days had it been?
He'd lingered in Ruana so long, it felt more familiar than his college campus.
Looking back, hearing rumors that top rankers passed through here was his mistake.
'Screw it, I'll try too!' had snowballed this far.
Now sunk cost made quitting impossible.
'Almost there, though.'
To boost the gate guard's affinity, Polcheon tried everything.
Gifts galore, plus three books on rhetoric to charm better.
Effort he'd never given a girlfriend, all for an NPC guard!
It paid off.
The guard's attitude had softened dramatically.
Now he smiled and greeted Polcheon first.
So he asked for just a quick peek inside... but after hesitation, the guard refused.
'Don't give up. A bit more and...'
Haste makes waste.
As Polcheon greeted the guard and headed for nearby hunts—
'Huh?'
He spotted a robed user approaching the guard.
A face he'd never seen around.
'Another newbie chasing rumors.'
Polcheon smirked. Yeah, he'd been like that once.
But reality was harsh.
Pity mixed with amusement at the lamb facing slaughter.
As the robed man stood before the guard, a booming warning rang out.
"Halt! This is no place to enter lightly!"
"Nonsense. You don't just meet the Lord on a whim!"
The robed man seemed flustered by the firm tone.
Yes! That's it!
Hearing the guarded voice felt validating—his efforts shining through.
That strict guard being friendly to him gave a huge superiority rush.
But then—
"M-my apologies!"
As the robed man pulled out an item, everything flipped.
The guard paled, rushing inside frantically.
"...Huh?"
Polcheon blurted in shock at the unexpected scene.
Soon, a middle-aged man emerged from the castle—the guard captain, by Polcheon's memory.
"It's genuine. Forgive the rudeness. Please, enter."
The captain verified the item and escorted the man inside.
"......"
Polcheon denied reality. This couldn't be happening.
That easy to enter the Lord's Castle?
Then what about all his effort?
Dazed, he approached the gate.
The guard had returned.
"Phew. Never thought an outsider would have that item. Close call."
"Me too... "
"Oh? Polcheon, right? Weren't you off hunting?"
"Let me in too!"
"Told you no earlier. Rules are rules, even for you."
"All my effort—why him?!"
"Hey now! Thought you were decent, but no more chit-chat!"
"Nooo! This can't be!"
Polcheon's wail echoed before the Lord's Castle.
"Hm. To think the demons' reach extended to Ruana."
The middle-aged man before Carpe let out a short groan.
Marquis Chris.
He was none other than Ruana's lord.
"First, my thanks, outsider. Without you, Ruana might have fallen to great peril."
Marquis Chris's affinity has slightly increased.
Carpe inwardly cheered at the affinity notice but kept a straight face.
"No big deal. Just did what needed doing."
"Heard outsiders can be rude, but not you. Carpe, was it? Glad you're my first."
"First? Heard others visited the castle."
"Hm, yeah, reports mentioned some. Not important, so I handled via steward. Didn't meet personally."
So Carpe was the first user to meet Ruana's lord face-to-face.
"Demons threaten all humanity united. A hero who saved Ruana from such deserves my personal welcome."
Marquis Chris smiled, thanking him repeatedly.
"William. Fetch a reward befitting the demon-slaying hero."
"Yes, milord."
The elderly steward beside him bowed and vanished.
Soon he returned with a heavy pouch and a scroll.
"Modest, but please accept."
◈ Usage Restriction: Approved by the Lord
◈ Grants raid party creation rights to this outsider under Ruana's Lord's name.
◈ Allows free raid party creation anywhere in the Rudineria Federation.
"Huh? This is?"
"They say demon-slayers draw more demons. You'll fight them again—hope this helps."
The demon-slay reward: a Raid Party Freedom Pass.
An item even top guilds coveted—rarer than Legendary in some ways.
"Thank you, milord."
"I've held you too long. Any other requests? I'll assist as possible."
"Well, then maybe..."
The marquis nodded at Carpe's words.
"Thanks. Would've missed it without you. I'll handle it now."
At that moment, as Carpe claimed his reward in the castle—
"We... we did it! Victory is ours!"
"Woo! Jillian forever!"
"Wind Cave belongs to everyone!"
Jillian's Wind Cave Liberation Group had finally beaten KD guild.
KD was stronger than expected, but oddly few in number—securing victory.
Tears welled in Jillian's eyes from overwhelming emotion.
'Finally!'
Wind Cave was his!
Now he'd become a major streamer, raking in riches controlling it.
"Huh?"
"What's that?"
But sweet dreams shattered as soldiers charged in.
"By the Lord's order! This area's under special management due to demon sighting!"
"Lord's permission required for entry henceforth!"
"Wha... demon? Bullshit! This can't happen!"
"Daring to defy the Lord?! Smite the traitors!"
"Aaaah!"
Thanks to Carpe purging the demon, these two were unwittingly plunged into despair.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw