The Struggles of the #1 Rank - Chapter 22

Joo-ah was lying on the ground, staring up at the letters floating in the air, when she suddenly sat upright.

 

“My level went up?!”

 

Her hand quickly tapped the system window.

 

【Name: Seo Joo-ah】

 

【Level: D-rank】

 

【Ranking: Korea No. 998 / Unranked internationally】

 

【Attribute: Light】

 

【Special Skill: Angel’s Blessing】

 

【Special Notes: Primarily uses healing abilities and displays her potential in dangerous situations.】

 

It wasn’t just her level that had increased.

 

Seo Joo-ah’s name had finally appeared on the domestic rankings, where she had previously been unranked.

 

In a country like South Korea, where countless Hunters existed, Seo Joo-ah had been so insignificant that she might as well have been invisible. Now, for the first time, she had stepped into the spotlight.

 

Joo-ah pressed and held the Special Skill section, bringing up a detailed list of skills.

 

【Purification: Cleanses dark and impure energy.】

 

【Healing: Increases stamina, mana, and other stats.】

 

【Enhancement: Increases attack power, defense, agility, and other stats.】

 

【Devour: Absorbs an opponent’s stats and makes them her own.】

 

Joo-ah carefully examined the name of the skill that had just been added.

 

Among Seo Joo-ah’s skills, which had previously consisted entirely of pure Light abilities, a single offensive skill had finally appeared.

 

It was an ability that allowed her to take an opponent’s stats and make them entirely her own.

 

“Now this is starting to feel like a proper fight.”

 

She spoke with a bright smile.

 

Thanks to her level increase, all her other stats had risen as well.

 

【Anonymous Constellation sponsors a ‘Celebration Cake’ coupon, saying they look forward to Big Sister’s impressive performance.】

 

Joo-ah stared at her status window for a moment before glancing through her item inventory.

 

【Item List】

 

【‘An Energy Drink for You Who Work Hard’ Coupons ×50, ‘Celebration Cake’ Coupon, Low-Grade Mana Recovery Potions ×8】

 

Two pieces of the monster’s half B-rank magic stone, which Joo-ah had just obtained by defeating it, would soon be added to the list as well.

 

After looking through her items, Joo-ah clicked her tongue and muttered.

 

“This still isn’t nearly enough to buy a mid-grade Taser Gun.”

 

At that moment, another blue status window appeared before her eyes.

 

【Anonymous Constellation expresses regret, asking why Big Sister would waste items on unnecessary things when her weapons would be replaced once her level increased anyway.】

 

It wasn’t wrong.

 

When she was E-rank, reaching C-rank had seemed like a distant goal. But now that she had become D-rank, the situation had changed. What once seemed far away was suddenly much closer.

 

In that case, there was no need to spend a fortune on a weapon in a hurry. Her weapons would be replaced once she reached C-rank anyway.

 

Joo-ah stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes.

 

Then she extracted the magic stone from the monster’s fallen body.

 

【Half B-rank Magic Stone: Increases mana by 8.】

 

“I’d be better off selling this to a street vendor.”

 

Joo-ah placed the magic stone into her item inventory and examined the other sponsored coupons.

 

【‘An Energy Drink for You Who Work Hard’ Coupon: Increases stamina by 2.】

 

【‘Celebration Cake’ Coupon: Increases skill success rate by 20%.】

 

“Hmm, not bad.”

 

Looking at the screen floating in the air, Joo-ah raised her hand and tapped the sponsored coupon.

 

【Would you like to use the ‘An Energy Drink for You Who Work Hard’ Coupon?】

 

【Yes / No】

 

Without the slightest hesitation, Joo-ah pressed 【Yes】.

 

【You have used the ‘An Energy Drink for You Who Work Hard’ Coupon.】

 

【Stamina has increased by 2.】

 

Joo-ah repeated the same action over and over.

 

【Stamina has increased by 2.】

 

【Stamina has increased by 2.】

 

【Stamina has increased by 2.】

 

The ‘An Energy Drink for You Who Work Hard’ Coupon wasn’t particularly impressive when considered individually.

 

But fifty of them were a different story.

 

【Stamina: 413 / 413 (+100)】

 

【Mana: 293 / 293】

 

The increase in her stats from leveling up had been combined with the effects of the sponsored coupons. Her stamina was now comparable to that of an ordinary C-rank Hunter.

 

Joo-ah also used the ‘Celebration Cake’ Coupon, increasing her skill success rate.

 

Feeling pleased with the sudden boost to her stats, she hummed a tune and turned around, intending to leave the alley.

 

However, the moment she spotted someone leaning against the wall, she stopped dead in her tracks.

 

Joo-ah’s expression stiffened.

 

“…Chairman.”

 

Tae-jun was watching her with an inscrutable expression, his arms crossed.

 

Unable to hide her bewilderment, Joo-ah parted her lips.

 

“W-When did you get here…?”

 

Tae-jun slowly straightened his back from the wall.

 

“Let’s see. Perhaps when you confidently set off to look for monsters?”

 

He had been watching from the very beginning.

 

Perhaps Tae-jun had been passing by the Tower when he happened to spot her entering the alley and decided to follow her.

 

“However, I was more surprised than I expected.”

 

Tae-jun slipped both hands into his pockets and slowly approached her.

 

“For an E-rank Hunter, you seemed quite experienced in combat.”

 

Joo-ah tried her best to conceal her embarrassment before speaking.

 

“Me? I wouldn’t say I was that experienced… I don’t know if you saw it, Chairman, but I was on the verge of dying before I obtained my new skill.”

 

As she spoke, Joo-ah suddenly frowned and looked at Tae-jun.

 

“Then does that mean you watched me nearly die and didn’t do anything to help?”

 

“You’ve already received my help once. That should be enough.”

 

He seemed to be referring to the time he had helped her in the alley before. Apparently, that had been the last time he intended to help her.

 

Joo-ah looked at him with displeasure, but soon relaxed her expression and smiled sweetly.

 

“You’re right. Thanks to you not helping me, I obtained a new skill. If you had that possibility in mind, then I’m truly grateful.”

 

She had made the remark as sarcastically as possible. Tae-jun’s eyebrow twitched, apparently displeased with her tone.

 

After silently looking down at her for a moment, he muttered with an indifferent expression.

 

“You’ve acquired a Hidden Skill in less than a month since entering the training center.”

 

His pitch-black eyes stared sharply at Joo-ah.

 

“Are you sure this is really your own ability, Miss Seo Joo-ah?”

 

Joo-ah’s expression twisted.

 

He still suspected that she was a Hunter who had formed a contract with a Constellation.

 

It was utterly ridiculous. Tae-jun had explicitly said that he wasn’t convinced she was a Contractor, yet he still refused to rule out that slim possibility.

 

Joo-ah let out a small laugh.

 

“Why are you so suspicious? A skill is just a skill.”

 

She shrugged casually and continued.

 

“You can see that for yourself by looking at my information. I barely survived a life-threatening situation. The level I gained from my new skill only brought me up to D-rank. What else is there to be suspicious about?”

 

Tae-jun merely chuckled briefly, as though he found her amusing. Then he glanced at the communication watch on his wrist and asked her,

 

“I believe Higher-Ranked Group B has received a call to deploy. Why didn’t you go?”

 

Joo-ah let out a deep sigh before answering.

 

“Because my rank is far too low to climb a high-level Tower.”

 

She looked at him as if asking whether she really had to spell it out for him. Tae-jun responded without backing down.

 

“Responding to a call is mandatory. Refusing an Association order simply because your rank is low makes no sense. If this matter is questioned, you could face disciplinary action, Miss Seo Joo-ah.”

 

What an absurd thing to say.

 

It was practically the same as telling her to jump into a blazing fire with no armor to protect herself.

 

But rules were rules, and she had no other argument to make. Tae-jun’s interest quickly faded.

 

“Then I’ll look forward to seeing your performance during the next call.”

 

Tae-jun leisurely turned and left the alley.

 

Joo-ah glared fiercely at his retreating figure and muttered irritably.

 

“What an obnoxious bastard.”

 

She clenched her teeth and resumed walking.

 

The Gate didn’t close until evening, and as always, her teammates were given time off afterward.

 

“…You’re sleeping here again.”

 

Joo-ah entered the special-class room early in the morning and found Jae-rim asleep on the sofa.

 

His brow was deeply furrowed, just as it always was.

 

Familiar with the scene by now, Joo-ah walked over and placed her hand on Jae-rim’s forehead. A dark shadow fell across his face.

 

“Get some proper rest now.”

 

With her gentle voice, a warm sensation flowed from her fingertips. Jae-rim’s furrowed brow gradually smoothed out, and his faintly trembling eyelashes settled into stillness.

 

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, the door to the special-class room opened.

 

“E-rank, you’re early.”

 

Chan-hee strode inside with his long legs.

 

Joo-ah quickly pulled her hand away from Jae-rim’s forehead. Seeing her, Chan-hee smiled with an inscrutable expression.

 

“What were you doing to Shin Jae-rim? When you were alone with him.”

 

“…”

 

“Like a beast.”

 

Joo-ah stared at him in disbelief at his final remark.

 

Chan-hee had already approached the sofa and was looking down at Jae-rim with a crooked posture.

 

“He’s sleeping pretty deeply for once.”

 

After quietly watching Jae-rim sleep, Chan-hee handed something to Joo-ah.

 

It was a palm-sized paper envelope with nothing written on the outside.

 

“What’s this?”

 

Chan-hee answered casually.

 

“Sleeping pills.”

 

He pointed his chin toward Jae-rim, who was asleep on the sofa.

 

“Give them to Shin Jae-rim when he wakes up.”

 

It seemed Chan-hee had brought them from the infirmary for Jae-rim, who struggled to sleep peacefully because of his insomnia.

 

As though that was all he had come to do, Chan-hee turned around.

 

However, he hadn’t gone far before stopping again.

 

With his brow furrowed, Chan-hee turned back toward Joo-ah.