190 – Nymphs and Autumn Preparations #2
Buzz.
The sound of bees buzzing around the room was loud.
“Stay still, you guys!”
Tang So-hae caught a large pumpkin bee that was flying around and hugged it close.
The pumpkin bee was warm and fluffy, providing a sense of stability to her heart.
“…I’m nervous…”
It was a moment of tension.
It was Tang So-hae’s first S-rank video conference, having been promoted to 31st place in the S-rank.
3, 2, 1—.
As if a signal rang out, the monitor screen lit up.
Soon, S-rankers from various countries appeared on the screen visible through the camera.
Of course, not everyone was present, and some were absent, but for Tang So-hae, it was an exciting, awkward, and unfamiliar experience.
“Wow, it seems there are more participants than expected for a temporary meeting this year? Is that a face I haven’t seen before? How long has it been since we had a newcomer?”
A man in a gray fedora with a thick cigar in his mouth spoke.
Tang So-hae recognized him as the German Awakened “Smoker – Roberto,” who was ranked 10th.
‘He’s a powerful ranker who wields abilities through “smoke,” right? The person next to him wearing the eye patch, is he the German ranker Weber? He can supposedly hear all sounds in the city if he concentrates…’
The S-rankers were rumored to be monsters among humans.
Tang So-hae felt slightly intimidated, but regained her composure quickly.
“I am Tang So-hae, the new S-rank Awakened from China! Although I’m currently ranked 31st in S-rank, just wait and see! I will catch up to everyone and rise to the top! My bees are strong!”
It was an impressive ambition.
Indeed, she was like a deity who became an S-ranker known as “Bee Tang So-hae.”
“Isn’t that a masterpiece?”
“So you fight with bees? How on earth do those small, cute bees engage in battle?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really have anything to say about it, but all S-rankers are weird people! Haha!”
S-rank Awakened laughed on the monitor, and some even applauded.
“Enough small talk; let’s move on to the main topic.”
The S-ranker from Egypt, Teto, who was ranked 4th, opened her mouth.
She was a strong wielder of the artifact known as the “Divine Card” called “Phonsinbyeong.”
As she spoke, the atmosphere among the people quieted down, and soon the strongest of Greece, Achilles, who chaired this conference, began to speak.
“As you are all aware, powerful entities such as Typhon and Apophis have been appearing one after another recently. As evidenced by the ‘Spacetime Typhoon’ in the Pacific, the power of the cracks is growing in strength and danger.”
The world was changing.
This winter would be exceptionally cold and harsh due to abnormal weather conditions.
“Teto has recently received a prophecy. Within the next ten years, a powerful crack that we have never experienced before could come as a disaster to this Earth—. All of this is a warning.”
The Oracle Teto.
She could foresee problems and predict events through mysterious insights.
Thanks to the national treasure artifact, “Pharaoh’s Staff,” in her possession, she had such foresight.
This prophetic ability was one reason she maintained her high rank of 4th in S-rank, as her direct combat abilities were evaluated as somewhat weaker compared to other aggressive S-rankers.
She contributed significantly to world peace.
“We must grow stronger to solve the problems that lie ahead. However, for S-rankers like us, the ways to strengthen ourselves are honestly limited.”
S-rank.
They were already geniuses at the pinnacle of their fields.
There was no higher place to ascend.
Therefore, they could be seen as both the best and simultaneously stagnant.
“Increasing the Awakened’s magic power requires a great crisis that shakes a person’s psyche, as well as an urgent situation where one has to stake their life… but we lack such events.”
Life was easy for S-rankers.
Whatever they desired was within their grasp.
The Indian powerhouse known as “Lion King – Thing” frowned.
“Of course. Even a terrifying T-rank crack is nothing but a trivial assignment for us, right? Nowadays, even breaking through a T-rank crack can make one yawn.”
“Tch.”
Someone clicked their tongue at Lion King Thing’s aggressive yet overconfident demeanor.
It was the American S-ranker, “Wanderer – Bron Bright,” ranked 8th.
“You brat, you fell to 20th place after being beaten by the Fire Witch and you’re still showing off.”
“What, you punk? If we fought directly, I would win every time! The rankings were adjusted based on the number of T-rank crack subjugations and various scoring criteria. It’s not that I’m weak, you fool!”
The competition was palpable even across the monitor.
Right at that moment, Teto spoke.
“That’s exactly it. Only other S-rankers can ignite the fighting spirit among S-rankers. However, until now, due to treaties from nations and organizations, our direct disputes have been prohibited.”
Private duels or disputes among Awakened individuals were generally prohibited.
If S-rankers fought and one ended up severely injured or worse, it could create a gap in global peace.
“However, I, Teto, propose here today a clearer and more direct method for ranking assessment and its initiation—the so-called ‘Ranking Battle’.”
In other words, it was the introduction of “Rank Games.”
Soon, the Indian ranker Thing grinned, baring his fangs.
“Great! Finally, we can have a solid ranking! Honestly, it’s been frustrating until now! It’s infuriating to be ranked lower than those weaker than me!”
The rank of Awakened indicated strength, but on the other hand, it did not accurately reflect true strength.
It was a rough ranking often formed based on formal contributions and reputation.
That’s why even the strongest, Achilles, was stuck at 5th place.
The opportunity to properly assess such rankings had arrived.
Tang So-hae thought this was a chance for her, silently cheering.
‘If I can fight and defeat someone of a higher rank, does that mean I can take their ranking? I’m ranked S 31st! There’s no way down, only up from here!’
Just then, the German S-ranker Weber, who had been wearing an eye mask, took it off.
His face and eyelids bore severe horizontal scars.
“To be able to raise the ranking… that alone might come off as a bit lacking in terms of compensation and motivation. Is there another reason we should strive to raise our ranks?”
“There is. We are considering imposing penalties on the lower 30 percent of the rankings among the 31 S-rankers. Being low-ranked itself might also serve as a penalty.”
At the mention of penalties, everyone scoffed.
S-rankers were inherently confident and believed they would never find themselves in the lower 30 percent if assessed on actual strength, leading to a lukewarm reaction.
Just then, a previously off screen lit up.
The chaotic atmosphere changed in an instant, and everyone’s attention was drawn to that spot.
“Wow, an unexpected person has arrived?”
Bron, who had been casually lounging with his legs on the desk, sat up with a look of interest. Even the German Smoker Roberto was surprised enough to drop the cigar from his mouth.
“Saint Michaela. Is this real? You’ve actually shown up at this temporary meeting.”
He was a man who rarely made an appearance.
Called the first S-ranker, the pinnacle of this era.
S-rank 1st. Saint Michaela.
He concealed his face beneath a white robe and spoke in a calm voice.
“I will grant the use and ownership of my holy relic, the ‘Holy Grail,’ to anyone who successfully challenges me and takes my ranking. I hope for your active participation.”
# # #
“Wow, if you achieve 1st place in S-rank, you can obtain the ‘Holy Grail.’ Is this really happening?”
I was moved as I watched the news online.
Just the idea that S-rankers were entering Rank Games made my heart race, but the reward for achieving 1st place was beyond my imagination.
Inoi asked.
“I, Inoi, don’t understand what this ‘Holy Grail’ is…! I don’t know why it’s causing such a fuss!”
“Um…”
Inoi was a well-informed nymph but had no clue about this.
The “Holy Grail” was far removed from Greek and Roman mythology, so it was understandable that he didn’t know.
I decided to give a brief explanation.
“It’s an immensely powerful holy relic. It’s an artifact that Michaela, the first S-ranker, obtained. Word has it that it was this relic that enabled Michaela to reach S-rank.”
I didn’t know its actual abilities, but the rumors indicated it must possess tremendously powerful effects.
Having dealt with the divine card “Phonsinbyeong,” which was an Egyptian national treasure-grade artifact, I knew well the amazing power such artifacts could hold, and thus I coveted the “Holy Grail.”
“How envious.”
S-rank.
It was entirely their own league.
The fact that I could only watch their Rank Games as an audience was quite regretful.
Is it really okay to just stay like this?
—Kkungkkung…!
—Zzzzi…
—Hioooong…!
Should I just pet Kkungkkungi’s soft and warm back like this, wear the fluffy clothes Ahn Ahn washes for me, and enjoy my daily life with Bang Bang’s songs as calming background music?
Could I just get a massage while being whipped by Kalilnoi’s wings?
Honestly speaking, my daily life had become way too comfortable and easy.
I could live with satisfaction with the way things were!
“No, I can’t have that! I can’t stay like this!”
I meditated.
It was to receive the completion rewards for the training of the “Hero’s Path” and update that list.
Sssss—
I felt the magic power swirling within me.
Had my endurance increased by 1 NP?
『Training List – Expected rewards upon completion of all』
『Rewards – Hyper Evolution Duration + 60 seconds』
When I opened the book, the training rewards and lists had also been updated.
For this training, the duration of Hyper Evolution was increased by a full 60 seconds! Given that my average maintenance time was around 5 minutes, that meant an increase of approximately 20 percent!
This training and rewards were tailor-made for me, Haildo!
So, what was the content of this training?
『Kissing Core’s Ball 0/1 time』
『Getting kissed by Core on the ball 0/1 time』
“……”
No, is this for real?
Why does my training list always look like this?
Wouldn’t it be more training-like and cooler to have something like “Hit the Wooden Dummy 1000 times with a Fist” or “Thank a Thousand Times”?
“……”
Anyway.
Once again, it was a bizarre training content.
I thought about kissing my older sister Hailae, and just the thought of it made my head spin with horror.
Kissing the cheek of a fully grown older sister.
Why would I do that?
“This is serious. Upon reflection, this is actually a tough training content. What principle determines this content? It’s utterly malicious.”
Ding dong—
At that moment, a message came.
It was a text from my mother.
“Here is the address of the virgin oracle you asked about. But why? Are you planning to check compatibility with your girlfriend?”
I had received the address of someone who had previously made effective talismans for me.
And at the moment I saw that address, a slightly old memory came to mind.
“This place…, I think it was Ari’s house.”
