Chapter 35: Ranker
Central Government Office, New Seoul.
In an area dominated by single-story houses, the imposing two-story mansion of the Central Government Office exuded a peculiar authority. Large watchtowers flanked the building, providing an unobstructed view of Seoul from their elevated positions. A portal leading to Seoul stood not far from the government complex. A plainly dressed man rushed through the portal and hurried to submit a routine report.
“Hmm.”
The man wore official robes reminiscent of a Joseon-era magistrate, his hat replaced by a paeraengi adorned with two white stars.
“This kid’s got potential.”
“Yes, they say he’s on par with Sato. Please ensure we secure him—”
“Hey.”
“Sir!”
“Everything’s written here. Get going.”
“Ah, yes!”
The messenger bowed and withdrew. After five days in Nova, he would return to Earth once the portal’s cooldown ended.
“Enough rest.”
“Understood! Loyalty!”
Major General Park Jun-pil, Commander of New Seoul’s Defense Forces, clicked his tongue.
“That bitch. Here we go again.”
Every time someone showed promise, it was the same damn circus.
“Fuck.”
He’d requested talented recruits, but they’d sent civilian profiles instead of military personnel.
“If he’s the head of personnel, he should at least dress them in uniforms. Passing the buck like this is bullshit.”
Park’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed as he read the report.
“Ogre Junior? How the hell did they take that down? Has any individual ever soloed a Final Trial field boss? Kim Sang-cheol, Im Chang-jin… Two soldiers and two civilians. The report claims all four did it together.”
He closed his eyes. Even a juvenile Ogre was still an Ogre—the Forest King. Rankers struggled to handle Ogres alone. Yet four rookies fresh from the Final Trial managed it? Past records involved overwhelming firepower, but this report cited only two rifles for support.
“The soldiers weren’t even the core.”
Had the soldiers led the operation, there’d be no reason for such fanfare. Clearly, this Cheol-du guy had pulled off something extraordinary—though the battle details were frustratingly vague.
“What’s this?”
The back pages of Cheol-du’s file overflowed with awards, spilling into two additional sheets. Park let out a disbelieving snort.
“Is this bastard insane? No matter how gifted, can one person dominate this many fields?”
“Hmm.”
Maybe the hype was justified after all.
Park barked toward his office door:
“You there!”
“Yes, General!”
“Summon the Special Task Force.”
“Which members, sir?”
“Every last one in the city!”
“Understood!”
“……”
When no further reply came, the aide glanced at Park and stiffened.
‘Fuck, he’s really committed to this historical cosplay.’ Military life varied by superior, but serving under a general steeped in sageuk drama tropes was… something.
“Yes, General. It will be done.”
“Good. Dismissed.”
After the aide left, Park stroked his beard.
“Hmm.”
A gat would’ve completed the majestic look, but production hadn’t reached that stage yet.
“Need to request more technicians.”
For Nova’s development, skilled craftsmen were essential. He began drafting the next report, meticulously listing required resources.
“You called?”
“Gah! Damn it, you startled me!”
Park jerked in his seat, ink splattering from his brush.
“You smudged the report!”
“Tch. Pencils were issued ages ago. Still using a brush?”
“You impudent brat! Is this how you address a superior?”
“Whatever. Why’d you call me?”
“You—!”
“Should I leave?”
“Sit down, you little shit.”
Park massaged his throbbing forehead as he eyed the suddenly materialized man. Competent people were always so damn willful—how could they be reined in? Carrots and sticks, he supposed.
“Captain Choi.”
“Sir.”
“Read this.”
“Hm? Draft dodger.”
“Tried recruiting him. Got rejected.”
“Let’s see… Wow, he tore up his conscription notice? Pfft.”
Sacred duty of military service my ass.
Captain Choi Jun-seop imagined this was exactly how a cocky high schooler would react.
“General, kids these days have no patriotism. They’d rather jail than enlist.”
“Exactly.”
“But this kid’s got chops. He could catch up to Rankers soon. Let’s see… Huh? He’s already in New Seoul?”
“Yes.”
“Oho. Tempting, but he reeks of trouble.”
“What if he joins bandits or rebels, like you said?”
“So what? Talent means nothing if I can cut him down in one strike.”
Choi shrugged. Prodigies were still kids. They needed time to mature—time that took even longer in Nova. Stat upgrades via stones couldn’t replace actual adaptation periods.
“You know Lieutenant Oh?”
“Yeah. That psycho.”
“He lost.”
“What?”
Choi frowned at the report.
“It doesn’t mention that.”
“Omitted. I heard separately.”
“Huh. Oh’s a lunatic, but he’s not weak.”
“Went all out and still got wrecked. Then discharged.”
“Why’d he quit?”
“No idea.”
“Dumbass. Who gives up tax-funded cushy living?”
“Brat. Watch your mouth in front of me.”
“Hey, if I didn’t have some perks, why stick around?”
“Ugh, fuck.”
Infuriating, but this was standard. Such misfits comprised the Special Task Force. Forcing a draft-resistant civilian into service? Conscription would only backfire—if he turned bandit, the headaches would multiply.
“Check him out. Go prepared.”
“You’re overreacting. He’s a Ranker. Oh probably spammed kicks and got owned. With blades, I’d win easy.”
“Take a few men.”
“One or two.”
“Assess his personality. Find angles for recruitment.”
“Yessir.”
Despite his slacker demeanor, Choi was competent.
After he left, Park stroked his beard again.
“Hah. What future awaits Seoul?”
This tasted bitter. He should’ve pushed harder to name the new city Hanyang.
Damn democracy.
“You there!”
“Yes, General!”
“Prepare for my patrol.”
“At once!”
And so, New Seoul’s Defense Commander continued his vigilant watch over the city.
Cheol-du and Jin-tae grew increasingly convinced they were lost.
“Is this right?”
“Way too many people.”
The forest’s advantage—ample hunters and mapped terrain—was also its curse.
Advertisements
Hunters swarmed everywhere, competing for Eagle-Owls that rarely dropped [Observation Skill Stones]. They encountered hunting parties every half hour.
Thwack!
“Squawk!”
Without the occasional attacking “Gnolls,” they’d have left out of boredom.
“Four again. These guys pay well, huh?”
“Blessing’s effect. Normally they drop two coins.”
“Really?”
Jin-tae glanced enviously at Cheol-du, whose [Scan] skill revealed hidden info using minimal mana.
A bipedal dog-like creature exiled from its pack. Guaranteed Drop: 2 Coins Rare Drop: [Sprint] / Agility Orb
The low [Sprint] drop chance made Gnolls worth hunting.
“Get [Observation] and upgrade it fast.”
“Ugh, just kill whatever.”
“There!”
Cheol-du turned toward a mana fluctuation—someone using a skill. Likely an Eagle-Owl observing something.
“Got you.”
He hurled a stone the moment he spotted the owl.
Screeeech! Thud!
The downed owl yielded two coins.
“No luck.”
“It’ll drop eventually. Let’s train.”
“Okay! With you here, no rush.”
Cheol-du smirked, adjusting Jin-tae’s stance.
“Deeper thrust. Extend more.”
“Starting to get the hang of swords.”
“Don’t get cocky before unlocking a skill.”
Skill creation required surpassing average proficiency.
“Keep grinding, Jin-tae.”
“Got it.”
“100 overhead slashes while moving!”
Slash!
They trained while exploring. Jin-tae fought Gnolls for practice, occasionally hunting Eagle-Owls.
A night of hunting earned decent coin but little progress in skills or stones.
Crackle.
“This is weirdly fun.”
Jin-tae kept his sword handy even by the campfire—a rookie’s budding passion. Cheol-du smiled. Interest itself was talent. Jin-tae would likely unlock a sword skill within days.
“Hear that?”
“Probably monsters or animals.”
Cheol-du had sensed the presence earlier but kept quiet. Hostile monsters would’ve been drawn to the fire; regular animals would flee. With plenty of game meat, there was no need to hunt for sport.
“Let’s eat.”
“Yeah.”
Jin-tae unpacked camping gear—a massive upgrade from skewering meat on sticks.
Sizzle!
Salt sprinkled on cast-iron grilled meat.
“Damn, gear makes all the difference.”
Bushcraft was fun, but proper camping gear reigned supreme—especially with inventory storage eliminating bulk concerns.
“Something’s coming.”
“Huh?”
Cheol-du stood as the presence neared. Drawn by the meat’s scent?
“Huh?”
“Kekeke!”
A creature emerged from the bushes—not a Gnoll or deer.
“Goblin?”
A goblin with a large sack on its back stared dumbly before shrieking:
“Kekekeke!”
It fled. Cheol-du instinctively gave chase.
