Click! Click! Click—! It felt like a full-blown celebrity event. Cars pulled in one after another, a red carpet laid out to greet them as a butler opened each door, only to be met by a sea of reporters.
"Please look over here!" "Over here!" "Look my way! Look my way! You look absolutely amazing!" "This way!" Camera flashes went off in blinding bursts, and people dressed in all kinds of strange outfits paused to have their photos taken. This was no different from the events that I was used to back in my world, and just the mere thought of having to step onto such a red carpet made me feel sick. "...Do we have to go?" "There's no other way." Kyle shrugged, "You need to move past the red carpet in order to get to the entrance." "Surely there is some sort of back entrance." "Hmm, maybe so, but it's too late now." Kyle pointed at the back, where I saw several other cars lined up. I then looked at the front, where another car appeared, and realized that we were trapped from both sides. Even if I wanted to leave, I'd still be surrounded by reporters and photographers. I want to puke. Not even anomalies made me feel this way anymore. '...So many strangers.' Rubbing my stomach, I reached for my pocket and took out some indigestion pills. Taking a bottle of water, I downed them in one go. Halfway through my motions, I stopped, feeling a certain gaze directed my way. I hesitated before showing her my bottle. "Do you want some?" "....." She didn't answer. Instead, her eyes narrowed further. I gulped silently. "Don't tell me..." "I'm still not satisfied." "—!!" I moved to the side. No, not this again... "Nevermind, get ready." Looking away, Zoey reached for the door as the car slowed down. And soon—
The car stopped, and Zoey opened the door. "Let's go." Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! I was met with a sea of light. *** "Luthor! Luthor! Look this way, Luthor!" Click! Click! Click! The sharp clicks of camera shutters echoed nonstop, mixing with the shouts of paparazzi and photographers calling out from every direction. Standing at the center of the red carpet was a tall man, nearly two meters in height, his dark hair slicked neatly back as his broad frame towered over those around him.
His presence was no joke. Despite not being close to him, his presence felt suffocating for the many reporters standing. It was almost as if they were standing before a warlord from ancient times. But—
Click! Click! "Just a little longer!" "Please stop for a little longer!"
"Yes, please just stay like that." "What do you think about the upcoming rankings? Will you finally crack the top 50?" "I heard that you're thinking of moving Guild. Is there any truth in the notion?" Work was work. As suffocating as his presence felt, it wasn't anything that the reporters weren't used to. One after another, they each threw a question. From rumors about his Guild allegiance to even dating rumors. They asked just about anything they could think of. "Wheeeew." Wiping the sweat from his brow, Reporter Song glanced at his camera and scrolled through the photos he'd taken.
'This is good. This is not bad. I guess I can work with this." Luther was quite famous. He was ranked within the top 100, and whilst he hadn't participated in the Malovia incident, he had been on his way to support. Whilst his general image amongst the public had dipped, it was still fairly high. "I guess this will do." Reporter Song was confident his boss would be satisfied with the pictures that he took. "Oh... Not bad. Not bad at all." Suddenly, a head popped up next to the reporter, startling him for a moment. "You—!" "Haha, it's me." With a camera hanging from the strap around his neck, dressed in loose clothes and sporting an unkempt beard and hair, the man slung an arm around Reporter Song's neck.
"It's been a while, Reporter. I see that you're taking photographs of everyone." "That's because I'm employed, unlike you." Pushing the hand away, the Reporter fixed his clothes while glaring at the man standing next to him. Reporter Song was all too familiar with him. In fact, he had even worked with him. It was just that the man was too unconventional. He was someone... who had too high a standard. "How did you even get invited to the event?" The Reporter looked at the man up and down. "Especially dressed the way that you are." "Who said that I got invited?" "....." "I'm fucking with you." Crudely smiling, the man glanced toward the red carpet while absentmindedly fiddling with the camera in his hand. Luther was still standing there, posing for the cameras, but the man showed little interest. If anything, he looked outright bored.
"You really haven't changed, Simon." Reporter Song sighed. "I don't get it. You're actually quite good at your job. In fact, you're probably one of the best in the business."
This was no lie.
As infamous as he was, Simon was a sort of legend in their industry. At one point, he had been dubbed 'Midas Eyes'. In the sense that he never failed to spot a talent when nobody else could. He was also the one who had predicted that the current top-ranked Paragon would take first place way before they were even famous. But alas, all legends eventually faded. From never missing a talent to always getting it wrong. His name faded into obscurity not long after. "Still, even if your eyes aren't the same as they were in the past, if you just wrote a random article here and there, you wouldn't be out of a job. You wouldn't even have fought with the boss and gotten fired. Why can't you just..." "It's not that I have high standards, it's just that everyone has low standards." Simon answered, still fiddling with the camera in his hands as the smile slowly faded from his face. "You see, I have very special eyes." Simon turned around, looking straight at Reporter Song with his gray-ish eyes. "...I can just tell when someone is special." "That's..." Reporter Song wanted to rebuke him, but seeing his current state, he could only hold his lips shut. "Well, sure." In the end, he gave up. He didn't want to argue further. It was also at this point that the surroundings grew rowdy. All of a sudden, another one of the cars opened, and several figures began to show up one by one. Click! Click! Click! "Over here!"
"Look this way!" "...Please look this way! Members of the Severed Guild! This way!" The commotion was nowhere near as loud as when Luthor had arrived, but it was still quite rowdy, especially after the events that had occurred in Malovia. The Severed Stars Guild's fame had skyrocketed, and they were now just a hair's breadth away from reaching King Grade.
Stepping out of the cars, several people instantly grabbed the attention of all the reporters and photographers. Kyle, Zoey, and Catherine. The three of them simply stood out the moment they got out. It wasn't just their looks, but the way that they carried themselves. Everyone present could tell that all three of them had massive potential. Click! Click! Click! Click! "Hmm, not bad." Even the usually indifferent Simon couldn't help but praise them. But then—
Another figure stepped out of the car. The moment he did, the clicking paused for a moment. No one could really explain it, but the moment he stepped out, it felt as though the air itself had grown colder. His appearance was striking, yet that alone wasn't what made everyone pause.
His eyes... Yes, his eyes. There was something about his deep eyes. So dark that it seemed to hold no light at all. To some extent, his eyes almost made it seem as though he wasn't alive, so that some shuddered at the sight. But that was all there really was to it. He looked intimidating, but his presence was nowhere near as large as that of everyone who had appeared before him. Not even Kyle, Zoey, and Catherine. But still, the surroundings turned chaotic. Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! "Over here!" "It's him...!!" "He's the one!!" "Oh my god!" For everyone had recognized him. He was Severed Stars' newest Ace. Seth Thorne. Click! Click! "Not bad. Rumors about him are definitely exaggerated, but he's definitely not bad. I can see why they're pushing him." Taking photos, Reporter Song turned to look at Simon when he froze. Especially when he noticed the sudden change in his expression. "Haa..." A chuckle escaped Simon's lips, his hands trembling as he brought his camera to his eye. What others couldn't see, he could see. The endless darkness that surrounded the man. A darkness so vast that it almost seemed like it wanted to swallow everything. Click—! "Fuck me."
-x-X-x-
"Do you think you'll gain a placement in the upcoming ranking?" "...Given your achievements in Malovia, luck or not, there's no denying your contributions. Do you think it's worth enough to achieve a ranking?" "What do you think? Do you think he'll achieve a ranking?" The questions wouldn't stop. It was the same with the camera shutters, which clicked relentlessly without pause.
Click! Click! Click! It was getting really annoying. And yet, when I looked up, I saw Kyle, Zoey, and the others smiling and waving at the cameras. At times, they even paused, making sure to pose for better shots.
'Right, they're used to this.' I didn't really feel the need to copy them. Instead, I followed quietly from behind and ignored all the questions directed at me. It was one of the instructions I'd been given before the event, specifically by the PR team.
Something about building a 'mysterious' image and whatnot. I found the entire idea to be weird, but it worked out for me since I didn't want to talk. And so— "Just one question. Please answer one question!" "What do you think of the upcoming announcement? Are you aware of the fact that if any one of you manages to reach a ranking, the Guild will reach the King-Grade? There must be a lot of anticipation." My steps suddenly paused. For some reason, the last part of the question struck something within me. 'The Guild will reach the King-Grade if someone manages to get ranked? This is new to me.' Nobody had told me something like this. Looking up, my gaze landed on Section Chief White. Unfortunately, it seemed he had been chosen as our representative. He hadn't done anything bad to me personally, but there was something about the way he looked at me that felt quite uncomfortable. 'He doesn't like me.' Of this, I was almost certain. Thankfully, he seemed responsible enough not to cause any trouble. "This way." Past the reporters, we were finally guided into the main building of the event.
The space was grand, vast enough that my footsteps echoed clearly even as the crowd continued to file in behind us.
High ceilings stretched overhead, arched and imposing, lined with intricate patterns carved right into the stone. The polished marble floors reflected the lights above, each step forward producing a sharp, hollow echo that lingered longer than it should have.
The corridor eventually opened into a massive hall, and what immediately caught my attention were the long rows of banners hanging along the sides.
Each one bore a distinct insignia, proudly representing a different Guild, their colors and symbols filling the space with a quiet, overwhelming presence.
Rows upon rows of seats curved outward in a gentle arc, all of them facing a raised stage bathed in warm, golden light. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead like frozen constellations, scattering soft glimmers across the hall. Long crimson carpets stretched along the floor, guiding guild representatives toward their assigned sections.
It really did feel like one of those grand events I was used to seeing on TV.
Except that instead of actors and directors, this place was filled with people who could level entire cities.
Everywhere I looked, there were famous names, Guild Masters, Vice-Captains, and elites whose exploits were something that the news reported all the time. Some laughed casually, others spoke in low, guarded voices. A few simply sat in silence, eyes sharp and calculating, as if judging every soul that passed before them. The moment we entered, I felt several stares directed my way as whispers followed. "We're here." Section Chief White stopped, turning his attention back towards us. "The event will begin in about ten minutes. Until then, everyone should find a seat. Our assigned seats are on the far left—Row 17, Section Z." The Section Chief gestured toward our designated area. I was about to follow the others when he suddenly stopped me.
"Actually, wait a moment." He looked at me through his gold-rimmed glasses, then gently nudged me aside.
"There are a few things that I need to talk with you about." The others stopped, looking at us with questioning expressions, but I ignored their gazes and turned to the Section Chief instead. In the end, I nodded and mumbled, "Sure."
"Don't worry. It won't take long. You guys go." After dismissing the others, the Section Chief led me toward the stairwell, where the crowd thinned, and there were fewer people around. Coming to a stop, the Section Chief looked around before adjusting his glasses. The smile faded from his lips. "I don't like you." Shocking. This piece of news shocked me to the core. No, it didn't. I saw it coming from miles away. "…I don't like how you've suddenly become the ace of the entire Guild while your true capabilities remain unclear. I acknowledge that you managed to resolve the situation in Malovia, but the fact remains. You're still far weaker than most of the people present here, and your achievements pale in comparison to theirs." Crossing his arms, the Section Chief paused as he looked to the side. A group of two appeared, and as they passed us, he gave them a nod before turning his attention back towards me. "I honestly can't understand why the Guild Master would place his hopes on you, when a single mistake on your part could cause our entire reputation to crumble. I don't understand why the Guild Master is willing to take such a risk, but the facts are these, and I can't do anything about that. That's why I called you here to warn you." Taking out his glasses and polishing them, the Section Chief's tone turned harsher. "Conduct yourself properly. From this point on, everything you do will represent the Guild. No more sloppy appearances. No more swearing on live streams, and no more crude behavior." Putting his glasses back on, the Section Chief adjusted his clothes and proceeded to walk away. "I hope you heed my warning. I'll be closely monitoring you." Clank—
He left right after that. "....." Staring at the door that led to the main hall, I didn't follow him immediately. Instead, I leaned back against the side of the wall and closed my eyes. Thinking about how he knew about the live stream, I couldn't help but smile. '...He sure is quite dedicated.' *** Ranking Announcement, Main Hall. One by one, the Guilds arrived. Camera shutters clicked nonstop as photographs were taken of every new arrival. The excitement hung thick in the air, and just as one group began to move on, another line of cars pulled up.
The moment the cars arrived, the entire venue turned quiet. Then—
"They're here!" "Quick! Quick, they're here!" Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! A wall of white. That was the best way to describe the scene as the cameras flashed without pause. Soon after, the door to one of the cars opened, and a figure stepped out. A long black dress flowed down onto the red carpet, and her equally long black hair swayed gently behind her as she emerged.
A pressure that was different from any other that had come beforehand emerged, filling the entire venue as the reporters stopped at once. Unlike the suffocating pressure exuded by Paragons like Luther, this presence was far more subdued. Yet undeniably regal. It felt as though it belonged to someone who naturally stood above everyone else.
Liora Halecrest walked forward, eyes ahead, never sparing a glance at the mass of reporters closing in around her. One by one, figures exited the car behind her. Their auras were sharp, intimidating enough to unsettle even veteran Guild members.
Yet they followed her without question.
As if that, too, were inevitable.
They crossed the carpet in silence, the crowd parting instinctively. At last, Liora spoke.
"You said that he's here, correct?" "...Ah, yes. He should be." One of the people following behind her answered. "He's already arrived." "Mhm." Liora's dark eyes flickered as she looked towards the entrance of the venue. In all honesty, she wasn't particularly keen on attending the event. Rankings meant little to her, especially when she already received more than enough benefits from her Guild. Nevertheless, it was still an event that she had to attend. But she was curious. "What do you think about him?" Her pace never changed as they passed beyond the red carpet and into the Main Hall. Only then did the figure beside her answer.
"I've looked into him. His record is impressive, but not extraordinary. A promising talent. Exceptionally consistent. There are rumors he's never failed."
"Never failed?" Liora's lips pulled into a thin smile. She found it to be somewhat amusing. "I was like that too, wasn't I?" "Yes, yes. You were also like that once." "But eventually, I failed." "That's..." "There have been many like him," Liora continued, unbothered. "Rookies who shine brightly and capture the attention of a lot of people. Still, in the end, we all fail. There's no one who doesn't fail. There's bound to be a failure somewhere."
The entourage remained silent as Liora slowly turned her head, her sharp eyes flickering with a certain light. "So tell me. Why would my grandfather bother sponsoring this one? Is there something that I'm not aware of?" Chewing over her words, she and her entourage finally entered the hall. All attention fell on them as they arrived. How could it not? For they were the representatives of Obsidian Bastion. One of the Big Five.
-x-X-x-
The larger Guilds came last. Was it a show of strength? ...Or was it more to leave a lasting impression? 'Well, it's certainly leaving an impression.' Staring at the new group that had entered the venue, I couldn't help but sit up straight as the pressure coming from them left me breathless. Their presence was unlike anything I had felt from the other Guilds, and as they entered, it was almost as if everyone stopped what they were doing.
All heads turned, and whispers followed. 'It's them. They're finally here.' '...They are the first ones to arrive.' 'What do you think they'll rank this year?'
'I don't know, but I'm sure it's going to be high. With all the resources they have available, there's no way they'll rank high.' Listening to the conversations around me, I had a better idea of who the newest entrants were. This prompted me to give them another look. 'Obsidian Bastion...' How could I not be familiar with them? Especially after the recent events with the sponsorships. Even now, I was left confused by the sudden offer. I mean, how could a company that exclusively worked with members from one of the top five guilds suddenly want to work with me?
There was something going on in the background, and it was no doubt orchestrated by the Guild.
I just didn't know what it was.
It was also for this reason that I was extremely cautious when it came to them. As if I had been staring for too long, one of the Guild's members suddenly turned their head in my direction. The moment our gazes met, my expression froze, a pair of deep black eyes locking straight with mine. "——!!"
It was as if I had been submerged in the deepest pits of the sea. The surroundings constricted tightly around my chest and neck, the noise fading until all I could see were those pitch-black eyes staring back at me.
'...I can't breathe.' Under such a gaze, I found it impossible to breathe. 16:15
I wanted to reach for my throat with both hands. Under such a gaze, I found it impossible to breathe. I wanted to reach for my throat with both hands. But thankfully, before things reached that extent, the eyes looked away, and the figure walked off alongside everyone else. The last thing I recalled seeing was her long black hair, swaying with her movements as she slipped out of my vision.
By the time I snapped out of my daze, they were already far gone. Leaning back against the chair, my shirt clung to my body, sweat sticking tightly to it.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. 'Just who in the world was that?' "Are you alright?" As if noticing my strange behavior, Kyle turned to look at me. He wasn't the only one. I felt numerous gazes directed my way, the Section Chief's in particular feeling rather stinging as I shook my head.
"No, I'm fine." "...Are you sure?" "Yeah, I am just a little uncomfortable." "Ah." Kyle seemed to understand as he finally looked away. "Too many people?" "...Too many." "Makes sense." He proceeded to lean back against his chair. Everyone else followed. All besides one gaze, her eyes fixing on me for a tad too long. Looking back at her, our eyes met. Catherine's brow rose, and she mouthed. "What are you looking at?" "....." "Stop looking." Only after noticing my speechless expression did she turn around, looking completely satisfied. Looking away, I turned my attention towards Zoey and couldn't help but shake my head. 'Why are the two of them so different?' Zoey tended to be prickly, but only if you crossed her. I did that, and I acknowledged my fault.
It was completely different from her sister who just seemed to be naturally crazy. "Hm?" As if noticing my actions, Zoey's gaze met with mine. She blinked. "Why?" I looked away. "Eh? Why? Wait, why...?" *** Each Guild received different treatment based on their standing.
"Please make yourselves comfortable."
This was only normal, taking into consideration the size and power of each top Guild. Especially for a Guild like Obsidian Bastion. Not only were they among the top five, but their annual turnout of fragments and clearances was also among the highest.
The owners of the venue wanted to build good connections with them. But outside of that, they also commended a lot of respect. "…If there's anything that any of you desire, please let us know immediately. We will try our best to accommodate you."
"Mhm." Dismissing the attendant, Liora walked toward the balcony, allowing herself a glimpse of the entire venue. From high up, the view was quite grand. She could feel several looks of envy directed her way, but none of it concerned her.
She was used to such stares. But... 'It's peculiar.' There was one particular gaze that Liora couldn't forget. It had merely been interest at first. She had just wanted to see if there was anything special about the one her grandfather had chosen. Taking a look at him firsthand, he really didn't seem to be that special. He was still at the First Order. There was no denying that. But it wasn't his Order that grabbed her attention. 'Those eyes.' Liora thought back to those eyes that had stared at her, seemingly dead and emotionless, eyes that hadn't even wavered under her gaze. To some extent, they resembled her own. In an almost chilling way. But her eyes were special. Something that only those from her family had. But more than anything, there was a slight difference between her and his eyes. While her eyes carried a deep darkness, his were different. Rather than holding the darkness, it was almost as if they were trying to contain it. As though those eyes were a cage, restraining the darkness within.
'Am I overthinking things?' Gripping the marble rail before her, Liora's eyes narrowed as she continued to survey the people below.
Flick! Flick! The lights of the auditorium flickered at once, allowing for the darkness to take over. All noise ceased at once. And through such silence, Liora's lips parted. "...Are those the eyes that belong to a human?" *** Flick—! Light came after the darkness. The stage lit up at once, and a figure appeared at its center. He wore a dark suit, his black hair neatly parted to the side, and he smiled broadly. The MC of the event had finally arrived. Applause followed. I mimicked those around me, despite not knowing who the man was. But judging from the reception around, he appeared to be quite well liked. Even Kyle looked excited. "Thanks! Thank you very much! Thank you! Welcome to the Ranking Announcements." The man bowed a couple of times before the noise ceased. Off in the distance, the swooshing of cameras echoed as they moved about, capturing every moment of the event.
Right, this event was being live-streamed. "For those following us, it's been a tough couple of months for us." Adjusting his tie, the man put on a troubled expression. "Well, at least most of us." He eyed a few groups in particular, prompting laughter to echo out. I blinked a couple of times, not quite understanding the joke. Then it clicked as I watched the expressions of a few turn ugly. He was poking fun at those who didn't attend the Malovia incident. "Well, jokes aside, not too long ago, an incident swept across the entire world with the emergence of one of the most dangerous Gates to date. An
With a sigh, the man looked up. "This is no easy job. We risk our lives every single day in order to protect the general peace of this world. It's for this reason that we host an event such as this one. Not merely for recognition, but to remind the world that capable people exist."
"That even in the hardest times, we'll be here to hold the lines against the dangers that plague us. You may despise some for not showing up, but their achievements speak for themselves." "Their contributions have been marked for the world to see. Therefore, I'd like everyone to appreciate all the colleagues who have made it this far. They aren't here due to connections. They're here because they've earned it!" Clap! Clap! Clap—! Thunderous applause followed his speech. Looking around, I could see that many were moved by the man's words. Even Kyle looked moved, his hand reached for the corner of his eye. The fuck? "Alright, without further ado, let's not waste any more time. Let's get right into the ranking announcement. I'm sure everyone present is eager to see what their ranking is."
Pausing, the MC smiled ambiguously as he looked around. As he did, I couldn't help but feel his gaze linger on me a tad longer than on the rest.
This wasn't my imagination, right? "...There's going to be a lot of surprises."
-x-X-x-
"Because there are a thousand names we need to announce, we'll be doing so in batches. This is to ensure the event proceeds smoothly and doesn't drag on for the next several hours."
The MC reached for his pocket and took out his phone. "For everything to flow smoothly, those who are likely to be announced for the rankings will receive a notification on their phone. They are to stand up and head to the stage at once with everyone else who has been called. In the meantime, as they make their way up, I'll be announcing their achievements. We'll proceed in batches of fifty. After that, everyone will receive their official ranking, and we'll move on to the next batch."
The instructions were straightforward. There was nothing anyone could complain about. In fact, I was glad things were set up this way. The thought of attending an event that lasted for hours, with every single individual giving their own speech, felt nauseating.
"Shall we start?" The MC smiled at the cameras, and the lights dimmed. An attendant stepped onto the stage shortly after, handing the MC a golden envelope. For some reason, the atmosphere turned tense, all eyes fixed on the MC. Looking around me, I could see everyone else wearing the same strained expression.
This was especially true for the Section Chief.
He kept casting glances in Clara's direction. Thinking about the piece of information that I had learned, I knew that she was the Guild's greatest hope in achieving a ranking. If she received a ranking, then it was likely that she would be promoted to King-Grade. Shifting my attention towards Kyle, I mumbled, "I wonder if he's got a chance too." "Hm?" Overhearing my thoughts, Kyle turned around. He then pointed at himself. Me? I shrugged. 'Why not?' "Impossible." Kyle shook his head. "My achievements are not nearly enough." He sounded rather confident. Well, fine. I turned my attention back towards the MC as he finally began speaking. "For our first Paragon of the year, taking the 1000th rank, we have Randy Cavalier from the Iron Bound Guild." A wave of applause followed immediately as a tall man in a gray suit stood up. His face gleamed with joy the moment his name was called, and brushing back his slick hair, he walked toward the stage with confident strides.
"With an average clearance rate earning a solid B grade, more than one hundred and fifty successful gate clearances, and notable contributions to the recent Malovia operation, Cavalier has secured his place among this year's distinguished honorees. Making his first appearance in the rankings at just twenty-six years of age, his future shines with remarkable promise. Please join us in congratulating Cavalier."
The claps grew louder as Cavalier finally reached the stage, where the MC handed him a shiny metal card. From where I sat, I couldn't see exactly what it read, but it was most likely official confirmation of his ranking.
But not everyone seemed happy. The Section Chief's expression was rather strained, his hands gripping the armrest incredibly tight.
For a moment, it almost felt as though the chair was creaking. "Next up, we have another new entrant." Holding onto the card, the MC smiled. And at the same time he did—
Ding! I heard a sudden notification. The area around us froze at once as all heads slowly turned. "The fuck?" Holding onto her phone and staring at the message, Zoey slowly lifted her head. Before she even had the time to properly process the situation, the MC spoke.
"At rank nine hundred and ninety-nine, we recognize Zoey Terline of the Severed Stars Guild. Through undeniable talent, she has ascended to the Fifth Order, and her decisive contributions during the Malovia incident have not gone unnoticed. Yes, many of you may already sense the pattern emerging tonight. This year, service rendered in Malovia carries considerable weight in the ranking measurement. Please join us in applauding Zoey Terline."
Still stunned, Zoey slowly stood up. "That's... me, right? I'm not imagining things, am I?" "You're not." The Section Chief spoke up, his expression oddly tame as he loosened his grip over the armrest. Was he happy, or was he angry? I couldn't tell. "You should hurry. Everyone is looking. "
"Ah, uh... yes." At the Section Chief's behest, Zoey snapped out of it and immediately walked toward the main stage. The round of applause was just as loud as before, with many congratulating her along the way, but judging by her expression, I didn't think Zoey even registered the situation.
She looked completely out of it. But that wasn't the end of the surprises. "…And at rank nine hundred and seventieth, we recognize another distinguished member of the Severed Stars Guild. Like his colleague, Zoey Terline, his accomplishments at the Malovia Gate were impossible to overlook."
Ding! Kyle's phone rang a moment later as he stared at it in a daze. In the end, he walked toward the stage in much the same fashion as Zoey. When he received his card and stood beside her, the two looked at each other with the same dumbfounded expressions.
Is this real? I leaned back in my seat, glancing at the remaining members of the Guild. There was one person in particular I was paying attention to.
Catherine... Although her expression looked normal, happy even. I could feel it deep within me. She was seething. The way she looked at her sister and the way she gripped the armrest of her chair were the biggest giveaways.
Looking away before she could explode at me, a new name was called up. "…This isn't her first time in the rankings, but it is the highest she's ever been ranked. Usually, dropping out and then coming back in, we have another member of the Severed Stars Guild."
Pausing, the MC muttered, "They seem to be on fire this year." Ding! Clara stood up without even looking at her phone. The applause was far more subdued this time, everyone's gaze shifting between her and Kyle and Zoey on the stage. Although they sat at the lowest rank, the Severed Stars Guild now had three Paragons. That was an achievement that nobody could ignore. I could feel the way people look at us change slightly. No, it was more like… they were giving us a second look. Something nobody had bothered doing since the start, aside from staring at me out of sheer interest.
"This will be it for the first batch. Let's have a round of applause for everyone. In just a few moments, I'll be announcing the next batch. For those standing on the stage, please return to your seats."
A loud round of applause followed as everyone walked back to their seat. Clara, Zoey, and Kyle returned a moment later, and as they sat down, none of the three said a word.
Until—
"This isn't fake, right...?" Zoey spoke, her eyes wandering to the card in her hand. Kyle shook his head. "It's... not." "We really ranked, right?" "Yeah, we did." "How did we even make it? Realistically, it shouldn't be possible." Zoey covered her mouth, the weight of the situation finally dawning on her.
Taking a deep breath, Kyle put his card away. "They already said it, no? It's because of our contributions in Malovia." "Yeah, but if we're talking about contributions..." Then, as if something clicked in her mind, she turned to look at me, her eyes widening slightly.
She wasn't the only one. I could feel numerous gazes turn in my direction.
Feeling all their gazes, I merely shook my head. 'Impossible.'
There's just no way...
-x-X-x-
The notion that I could even make it in the rankings was ridiculous. Let alone the fact that I was publicly a First Order, but besides the Malovia incident, what other achievements did I truly have to warrant a ranking?
I had juggled with the idea of potentially making it to the rankings, as unlikely as the idea was, but in the end, I realized that it was simply not possible. If by some crazy circumstance I did make the rankings, it'd be towards the very end of the rankings. At around the nine hundreds. Therefore—
"And with that, the seventeenth batch comes to a close. In just a moment, we will continue with the next, under the same rules. But take note: we are drawing ever closer to the top one hundred."
By now, all thoughts about making it into the rankings were gone. I could maybe force a reason for the 1000th spot, but near the top 100? Nonsense.
It was simply not possible.
"…I guess you didn't make it, huh?"
Eve Kyle and the others had long given up on the idea of me getting ranked. I felt a lot more relaxed. As if a weight had been taken off my shoulders. "It wouldn't have made sense for me to have made it in the rankings. I'm still at the First Order, after all."
"Yeah, I guess."
Kyle didn't say anything else. He just patted me on the shoulder, seemingly trying to cheer me up, but it wasn't like I needed it. I never had high hopes in the first place. I knew my limit, after all.
"But I think it doesn't make sense."
At least, I assumed that everyone was on the same page as me.
Turns out, maybe not.
"I get that Seth isn't as strong as the rest, but if the Malovia incident is a strong weight for the upcoming rankings, then he should have been ranked. This seems a bit unfair."
Surprisingly, it was Rowan who complained.
With his legs crossed, his finger tapped against the armrest in a steady rhythm.
He spoke as the MC started to announce the next batch. "Seth's achievements aren't just small. Taking into consideration what everyone here did, compared to what he did, it's practically negligible. He practically cleared the Gate by himself. Although there was an element of 'luck', it doesn't take away from his achievements. He should've gotten a ranking."
"I don't think you're wrong, but there's never been a Paragon that's only at the First Order."
Kyle spoke up, his lips pursed. Although it looked like he had been resigned a moment prior, it did seem like he also thought the same as Rowan. At least, a small part of him. Nowhere near as much as Rowan.
"Never happening doesn't mean it shouldn't happen."
"…That's ridiculous."
Unable hold back, Zoey joined in on the conversation.
"Do you guys realize the amount of backlash the BUA will receive for placing a First Order in the rankings?"
The way she looked at Rowan and Kyle was as if she were looking at two weirdos.
"Taking aside the fact of whether he deserves it or not, the citizens will start to think of the rankings as some sort of joke. Not just that, but Seth will probably incur a lot of hatred and ridicule from the papers and other Paragons. It would just be bad for all parties involved. There's nothing good about Seth getting a rank." I silently nodded my head.
Yeah, pretty much. The idea of getting a rank was tempting, but it was far from practical. Even though there was a lot of attention on me, it was still manageable. If I got a rank and became a Paragon…
I started to shudder at the thought.
"Yeah, but so what?"
It was as if Rowan didn't care at all about Zoey's points. Instead, his brows were furrowed.
"Seth deserves a rank. I'm just stating what is fair."
"You… ah."
Sigh. With a sigh, Zoey looked away. "You, I swear. It's like a cult."
Overhearing her words, I raised my brow. Cult? What sort of nonsense was she spouting? But then—
"He's right, you know?"
An unexpected voice chimed in, prompting everyone to freeze as we slowly turned our heads to stare at the indifferent Clara, her gaze still locked onto the stage.
"Based on his achievements, he does deserve a ranking."
"…."
"…."
After a brief pause, Zoey turned to face my direction.
Then, with her eyes wide, she muttered.
"You… what have you done to them?"
I'd like to know myself…
Clara's involvement was wholly unexpected, even to me, but just as my lips opened to speak, my phone vibrated. Ding!
A chime followed right after. It almost felt as though time itself had frozen.
No, it was more like the entire area around me had frozen.
I tried my best to remain relaxed. 'There's no way. I probably got a message from someone.' Taking out my phone, I looked at the message that I received. But—
[Congratulations! You've made it through to the rankings. Your name will be announced in just a few moments. Please get ready!]
My hand turned weak. For a moment, I almost dropped the phone in my hand as several eyes locked onto the message on my phone. "There's no way, right...?" Zoey's dumbfounded expression was interrupted by the MC's words as he began to speak.
"The next name may come as a surprise. By all expectations, he should not have been in attendance this evening. And yet, after rigorous evaluation and careful consideration of his contributions at the Malovia Gate, he has broken into the top one hundred, carving his name at the very top of the Paragon list." Slowly, I raised my head. My stomach churned the moment I did. Feeling the weight of all the stares in the venue, I felt my stomach turn weak. By now, there was no doubt about the validity of the message on my phone. I could pretend like it was a joke a few seconds ago, but not anymore. The MC continued. "For the first time since the creation of the ranking system, we see not merely an entry, but a complete surge past every threshold, culminating in a place within the top one hundred. This is a feat without precedent, and one unlikely to ever be repeated, especially when one considers that the individual stands at only the First Order. Luck may be argued. Fortune may be questioned. But the conclusion is undeniable. The results are final."
With a pause that seemed to hold the collective breath of everyone present, the MC announced the next name. "...At the 98th Ranking, please welcome Seth Thorne of the Malovia Guild." My name.
-x-X-x-
It was as if all the noise had been stripped away from the surroundings.
With the silence, thousands of eyes shifted in my direction. My skin crawled. I felt every hair on my body raise as I struggled to comprehend the situation. And yet—
My body moved on its own. Standing up as though it was only natural, I began to walk towards the stage. The gazes felt piercing, but strangely, they didn't seem to affect me as much as I'd expected them to. Instead, the more time passed, the more the gazes felt 'right'. It was odd. This strange sense of calmness... Even when facing the Guild Master a while back, I had felt this strange sensation. For what reason am I acting like this? For what reason was I able to remain so calm under such extreme circumstances? It wasn't like I didn't feel fear anymore. I still felt it. Just not as much as before. But even under such fear, my body and expression remained calm. It was a strange feeling that I couldn't quite explain. "Take this. Congratulations. From this moment forward, you'll be a Paragon." Arriving by the MC, he handed me a sleek metal card. Taking it, I got a good look at its simplistic design. The card was entirely black, with a photo of me on the right. Written in large, light-gray numbers, big enough to span the entire card, were the digits 98.
That was all the card had. However, I knew that it wasn't that simple. The card wasn't just an ID; it had extra features I could use.
'I think I'm supposed to download an app or something?' I wasn't too sure. Nevertheless, I knew that Kyle and the others most likely knew. I could just ask them. "Thank you." Putting the card away, I walked toward the main area and stood next to the 99th- and 100th-ranked. Their expressions weren't quite good. It looked like they had both eaten shit. They weren't the only ones. I could see the same sort of expression on many of the people in the venue. If not for the fact that the rankings were fixed, I wouldn't have been surprised if they had all jumped out of their seats and started shouting things like, "This is bullshit! This is unfair…! What went through your mind to do something like this?"
Ah, yes, there's also them... I looked at the cameras that were pointed at me. Thinking about the online discourse at the moment, and the articles that would inevitably be churned out, I knew the next few days were going to be very annoying.
Still, I couldn't change the situation. Since things had already progressed to this point, the only thing I could do was accept the result and make the most of the benefits assigned to me as a "Paragon."
Names continued to be called after that, but the mood had already been ruined. Standing under the bright lights, I felt increasingly uncomfortable, not just from the eyes of the audience, but from the people around me as well
They were clearly the most annoyed ones. "Our next honoree is a name well known to us all. A longstanding presence within the rankings, her most recent exploits during the Malovia incident have propelled her several places higher this year. Representing the Royal Chamber Guild, and entering the 54th spot, please welcome, Geneva!"
Finally, the applause grew more genuine as a certain woman stood up. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back as she wore a suit that, despite looking rather loose with her tie not done properly and top buttons unbuttoned, fit her well as she walked toward the stage and received her card.
After which, she proceeded to stand with us. Just like the others, the moment she arrived, she also stared at me. Her gaze in particular felt rather bothersome to me as she fiddled with the card in her hand. Personally, I had never interacted with her. However, the same couldn't be said for the doppelganger. As the "boss" of the Gate, I had been aware of everything happening inside. I knew that the doppelganger and she had teamed up for a brief moment. While I didn't know the exact words exchanged, I knew the doppelganger had given her a hard time.
I could practically feel her resentment coming from miles away. 'Ah, shit.' "That concludes this batch. Please join me in giving all our honorees a well-deserved round of applause. We kindly ask those on stage to exit through the rear and return to their seats."
The round of applause did come. It wasn't very enthusiastic, but it came. Shortly after, we filed out through the rear, slipping past the heavy curtains beyond the stage. Staff were waiting on the other side, quietly guiding us along the proper route back into the venue.
I followed in silence, trying to not bump into anyone, afraid of giving them an excuse to start something with me, but it looked like I didn't even need to do that as I soon felt a hand press against my shoulders. I came to a direct stop while holding onto my breath. "You..." A rough voice followed as several others followed. Drake Ferguson? This was the man who had ranked right after me. Seeing his expression, I knew that he didn't mean well. And sure enough—
"Frankly, it's difficult not to find this… embarrassing. People here have worked relentlessly, pushed themselves to the brink, to earn their place in the rankings. And yet someone like you, barely within the First Order, has managed to reach a position many of us nearly died countless times to achieve. All because of some luck. You may fool the world, but you can't fool me." The few around us stopped, turning their attention towards me. I could tell from their expression that none of them appeared to be interested in stopping whatever was happening. If anything, it looked like they were interested in seeing how I'd reply. "I could have accepted it if you'd merely made the rankings. Absurd as that already is, I would have let it pass. But for you to climb this far? It's difficult to call that anything but absurd."
His grip over my shoulder tightened. Surprisingly, my expression continued to remain unchanged. Not because it didn't hurt, or not because I wasn't scared, but because my attention was elsewhere. It was towards the numerous red dots on his body. My hand twitched. For a moment, I almost felt my hand grasp something. Almost like a knife. But the sensation only lasted half a second. I quickly realized I wasn't holding anything.
But I could've sworn... "I have a suggestion for you." Drake's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Looking straight into his deep brown eyes, I watched as his bushy brows narrowed. "If you have any sense of shame, return your card. Other people deserve the ranking over you, and—" "Stop." A soft voice suddenly cut through. All heads once again turned, falling on a certain woman.
Drake's expression changed. "Geneva? That's... I am." "Shut up." Reaching into her pocket, she took out a pack of gum and shoved a few pieces into her mouth. Chewing, she looked around and shooed them away with a wave of her hand.
"What is this crap? All of you are old enough to start your own families, and some of you already have children. I'd expect better maturity from the lot of you. Go on, stop holding the line back. Can't you see you're troubling the staff?"
"But..." "Fucking, did you not hear me?" Chewing even harder, Geneva glared in Drake's direction. He stared back at her, unwilling to back down, but eventually shook his head, realizing it wasn't worth it. In the end, he childishly bumped my shoulder and walked away. Of course, he didn't forget to glare at me the entire time. I didn't bother looking at him and instead looked at Geneva. Just as I was about to thank her, she walked past me and muttered, "I didn't do it for you. I did it for him." A loud chewing followed. "...I know what I saw." She proceeded to leave right after that. Blinking slowly, I lowered my head before looking back at the staff. "Where am I supposed to go exactly?"
In the end, I never made my way back towards my seat. This wasn't something within my control. Apparently, news of my ranking had shaken the entire world. Reporters swarmed the entrance, while the online community fell into complete chaos.
'It's better this way.' Thankfully, the venue had a sort of 'secret' exit that the people attending could use. But it only made sense considering who was in attendance. It was a pity that I couldn't see the remaining ranks, but it was for the best. The stares were uncomfortable anyway.
Making my way out of the venue, I was eventually led to a secluded parking lot where a black car waited for me. Recognizing the driver, I went in and took out my phone. The others were already aware of the fact that I had left earlier, so I didn't message them. Instead, I started to scroll through the internet. I wanted to see what sort of outrage the event had caused. Breaking — [Stunning Debut: Seth Thorne Enters Paragon Rankings at an Unheard-Of 98! Shocking, or Scandalous?] Breaking — [Outrage in the latest Paragon Ranking! A never-before-seen feat!] Breaking — [Outcry Over 'Weakest Paragon' as Judges Grant Unprecedented 98th Rank!]
Breaking — [Questions Mount as Seth Thorne and Others Receive Shockingly High Paragon Ranks] Breaking — [A New Power Emerges: Can the Severed Stars Hold King-Grade Momentum to the World Congress?] Every time I refreshed the page, a new article would pop up. They were endless, and it didn't seem like they would stop anytime soon. The online community also showed no sign of stopping, with threads appearing all over the place. [Seth Thorne places 98th in the Paragon Ranking? What do you guys think?] ↳ Honestly, I'm not even surprised. They did say that the Malovia incident holds a lot of weight. There's no denying his contributions, and so it's only fair. ↳ Yeah, but he's still a fraud. He has no real achievements under his name besides that incident. ↳ 'That' incident. You speak as if it were some sort of trivial incident. ↳ Guy got fucking lucky. ↳ And? You're still here because of that very same guy. ↳ Bah. That's bullshit. Not all the Paragons were there. I'm sure they would've been fine even if he wasn't there.
↳ That's bullshit, and you know it. ↳ Tbh, I don't really care. He'll eventually fall off anyway. Let him enjoy his ranking since he did help in Malovia. Don't see what the problem is. ↳ But he took Drake's position! ↳ So? The discussions were endless. I felt a headache just looking through them, but surprisingly, not all of them were negative like I had originally expected. The general public seemed to be okay with the decision, while the people who were more in tune with the Gate world deemed it to be a robbery. This wasn't surprising. I had noticed the pattern back before the ranking announcement. The general public liked me ,while those from the Gate world didn't like me. "Still, this is getting quite annoying." Going back to the home screen, I quickly deleted several apps. The number of notifications I was receiving from them was starting to get really annoying. This was mainly due to the sudden influx of followers that I was getting, but they were making it really hard for me to use my phone. Clank—! Right then, the door of the car opened, and several figures came in. "How... are you still so calm? You do realize in what sort of mess you're in, right?" Kyle was the first to enter, his expression still weird as he looked at me. I scooched over to give him some space. "Who said I'm calm?" "Your face." "...Hm. I'm not calm." I really wasn't. "Sure. Sure." Kyle sat next to me while Zoey, Clara, and Rowan came in right after. Entering the car, Zoey looked at me with a dazed expression. I could tell that she was still struggling to process what had happened. I was, too. But soon—
"This is absurd." Zoey muttered, her hand reaching for her face. "...This is so fucking absurd." Removing her hand, she raised her head to look at me. "You're fucking absurd." *** Severed Stars Branch Guild. News of the results had already reached every corner of the place, a joyful mood suddenly engulfing the Guild. Confetti flew, and drinks were shared. With several members of the Guild suddenly reaching "Paragon" status, the Guild was set to officially become a King-Grade Guild.
This piece of news was something that was worth celebrating. The difference between a Queen-Grade Guild and a King-Grade Guild was massive. King-Grade Guilds held far more power, and the benefits were just as significant. The increase in status was also something few could ignore.
Guild Master Office. Unlike the joyous mood enveloping the Guild, the Guild Master's office was rather quiet.
Almost as if the Guild's imminent rise to King-Grade was meaningless.
Scribble~ Scribble~ Accompanying the scratch of a pen on paper were slow, deliberate footsteps drawing closer. They soon stopped, and the Section Chief fixed the Guild Master with a tense stare.
Eventually, the scribbling sound stopped. "Guild Master." The Section Chief's voice followed. "The results of the rankings have been announced. We'll be promoted to King-Grade. Zoey, Kyle, Clara, and... Seth have all reached a ranking." "..." The Guild Master showed no reaction. Instead, he just carried his usual smile. "I knew the Malovia incident would carry considerable weight, but I didn't expect it to influence the final rankings this much. Were you aware of this as well?"
Putting the pen down, the Guild Master leaned back against his chair and tapped his finger against the desk. Tap!
Tap—! Tap——! Stopping, his lips parted. "There's a lot we need to prepare for. Since we'll soon be reaching King-Grade, I'm sure the nearby Guilds will try something. We should contact the press and present our stance on the situation. It would also be good to hold some kind of event with the other Guilds to build connections."
Standing up, the Guild Master turned to face the large glass windows behind him, allowing himself a glimpse of the city's bright lights as cars moved below.
"…We should also work to stabilize our position. I'm sure we'll receive plenty of offers for the others, but let's hold off for now. The Guild may not be as rich as the others, but we're not in desperate need of money. We're not a feeder for the bigger Guilds."
The Guild Master continued outlining the next steps and moves the Guild should take, but as he spoke, the Section Chief's lips pressed into a tight line.
This wasn't what he had asked... Suddenly, the Guild Master paused. As if reading the Section Chief's thoughts, he slowly turned around, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"Whether I knew about their rankings in advance or not isn't relevant. What matters is that we make full use of the situation to our advantage and advance the Guild further. We shouldn't be satisfied with merely reaching King-Grade. We need to aim higher."
"...I understand, but—" "You're worried about Seth, aren't you?" The Guild Master suddenly interrupted the Section Chief. With the same smile, the Guild Master turned his gaze back to the view below.
"He should be the last person you should be concerned about, at the moment. He's in the very position that he should be in." "But what if he fails? He's not just a Paragon, but amongst the top one hundred. It'll be hard to keep his ranking. What if he fails? Then..." "Then I'll be disappointed." The Guild Master answered calmly, and the city street below reflected in his calm pupils. "...I'll be disappointed."
Even as the days passed, the news didn't die down. Instead, it grew even more explosive. The entrance of the Guild was practically packed, making it almost impossible to enter. From reporters to scouts of other Guilds, all sorts of people had gathered.
Aware of this, I didn't leave the Guild the entire time. Not that it mattered since I usually never left the Guild anyway. My room was also in the Guild, and... '...Do I have a life outside of the Guild?' I sighed and looked up. "Wow, it doesn't look like it'll die out anytime soon." "This is pretty crazy. The amount of hate that you're receiving his crazy." "It's even gone as far as reaching our game. Our rating has dropped quite a bit." "There are some that are supporting us, but it's nowhere near the amount of the ones that are dropping our ratings." "Still, the sales are constantly jumping." Listening in on the conversation, I stood up and left the game studio. Walking back into my office and checking my phone, I didn't know how to feel. ——●
[Trash] ↳ 0.1 hours played. : Honestly, I expected more from this game. It wasn't really that scary, like they're trying to suggest. A massive waste of money. ——●
There were a lot of reviews like this. I knew most of them were from trolls dissatisfied with their favorite "star" being replaced by me, along with the usual troublemakers. I contacted Dock in order to address the issue, but they had yet to reply. Perhaps there were simply way too many trolls for them to do something quickly. "On a good note, I'm at least making good money." ...And it wasn't like all of this was bad. In fact, it was good. The more people who purchased the game, the better. I put my phone away. "Soon." The update was coming really soon. By then... To Tok—! A sudden knock on the door disrupted my thoughts as the door opened not long after. "Excuse me?" Holding onto a box was a person I wasn't quite familiar with. Meeting my gaze, he lowered his head. Seemingly afraid of looking at me. "I was told to hand this to you." "This is...?" I walked and took the package. I scanned the top of the box and felt at a loss. But soon, taking note of a certain notification, my brows jumped up. "Okay, I'll take this. Thank you." "Yes." Not wanting to stay any longer, the one who delivered the package to me left, closing the door on his way out. I didn't pay any attention to his attitude and placed the box on the table, extending my finger as a dark film formed, and I swiped down, cutting the tape off. "Haha." Staring at the contents within the box, all I could do was laugh. "...Good thing it's finally here." Reaching down, I took out the fax machine and placed it on the table next to me, patting it a couple of times. "I was just about to get impatient. Now that it's here, I guess I can start reaching the Fourth Order right away."
Reaching down from my desk, I retrieved a small bag. 'This should be enough.' With the Guild Master's sponsorship, I wasn't worried about lacking fragments. He had sent me quite a few, including several of high purity. I gathered all of the best fragments and placed them on the table. Of course, I didn't forget to remove their attribute as I did. I also used the fax machine to improve the purity of each of the fragments. I didn't bother saving any of the SP I had and just tried my best to increase their purity. The end result...? [Forty fragments have been located!] [You have met the criteria to advance] [The purity level is 86.4%] [Do you wish to advance?] ▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]
I hesitated. "This should be good enough, right?" 86.4%... The purity of the fragments wasn't what bothered me. For me, this level of purity was good. Great, even. What worried me most was my Cognitive Shard. Even though I had supposedly improved it with the Emblance Shard, a part of me was still uneasy.
What if I turned? What if—
"Why are you hesitating so much, human?" A voice suddenly whispered into my ear. Turning slightly, I saw the Conductor staring at me with its empty eyes, the stitches already torn as the darkness in its gaze locked firmly onto me.
"…I can tell your mind has stabilized a lot. Even though I can see something else trying to influence it, your mind is far more resilient than before. There shouldn't be any problems with you entering the Fourth Order. I need you to hurry."
The Conductor's lips twisted sadistically. "Now that I've had a taste of your abilities, I can't wait for you to become stronger. It won't be long until you can freely replicate what you did back in Malovia. For that, I need you to improve quickly." Grasping the table, the Conductor's hollow gaze seemed to twist as its body trembled, almost as if it were experiencing withdrawals.
"I don't know how long I can endure. D-o it... You must do it quickly." The Conductor's eyes twirled even further, and for a moment, chills ran down my entire body. This was also the moment I pressed [Yes]. I didn't quite understand what the Conductor was going through, but I didn't plan on stopping. My goal was clear. I wanted to reach a high ranking in the [World Congress]. Alongside the fact that there was still a 'traitor' within the Guild that seemed to be aware of some of my secrets, I knew that I couldn't waste time. "——!" A familiar pain invaded my body a moment after I pressed [Yes]. The fragments flared to life a moment later, their light blinding the room as I drew a sharp breath, trying my best to hold myself back as my mind entered a familiar space where I took notice of a large lattice. 'This place...' I had been here before. I recognized it immediately as I noticed a certain mist off in the distance, alongside a red dot that seemed to call out to me.
Beneath were thousands of different orbs. Each divided into different 'layers' connected with one another. The lattice trembled as I fixed my attention on three orbs in particular. I could feel my connection to them, and as I stared at those orbs, a new path appeared, linking towards a series of different orbs. I felt connected to the new path. As if I could move it at will. Looking around the lattice, I stared at the numerous different orbs that I could connect to. I didn't really know what I was doing. But as if my mind were already aware, I locked my eyes onto a particular orb, not hesitating as I connected to it at once. I didn't even know why I connected with such an orb, but it just felt right, and the moment I connected to it, the world faded from my sight. A string of notifications followed right after. [Advancement complete!] [Second Order shop unlocked!] [Intermediate Node: Herder] [Fragments: 0/80]
-x-X-x-
"H-hoo." Slumping back into my chair, I felt exhausted. Not so much physically, but mentally. The step wasn't particularly hard or painful. At least, when compared to the previous times, it had been a lot easier. Perhaps, I had long been ready to reach the Fourth Order. Nevertheless, it was still rather exhausting. But—
"Herder, huh?" I closed my eyes and felt my new node. I didn't quite know what the new node did, but I had a hunch. 'If it's based on the fact that I did reach the Fourth Order before, even if I wasn't in the right state, it should be "that" skill, right?' I tried my best to hide my smile. If it really was the skill I was thinking of, then it would be a massive boost to my strength. Alongside the knife, I was almost certain my rank wasn't unjustified.
In fact, I had a feeling that I could probably rank even higher. But these were just my guesses. At the end of the day, I didn't truly know how strong I had become. "...I guess I'll find out soon enough." I turned my attention towards the Conductor. It seemed that the Conductor had calmed down a little bit, its expression a lot more relaxed as it sat on the seat opposite me, its hand over its interlocked legs. With its lips curling, it raised both hands and started clapping. "Congratulations. It seems like your ascent was successful." Clap! Clap—! I could tell that its praise was genuine, but the way the Conductor was clapping seemed almost sarcastic. "Hm. It's not too bad." "It's certainly a start, but..." The Conductor paused, its hands stopping. "Are you satisfied with just this?" I frowned. "What do you mean?" "I can see your strength has increased a lot, so much that you might even think you're as strong as those humans deemed 'Paragons,' but…" The Conductor's eyelids opened, revealing its dark eyes once more. "...You're still not at their level. You might think that they're weak considering what had happened back on the island, but it was simply due to the fact that you had become too strong." My frown deepened. The Conductor wasn't wrong, but was my strength really not comparable to theirs? If I went all out... "Why must you corrupt yourself for power?" The Conductor's words shattered my thoughts. "If you wish to become powerful by turning, or by letting your mind be corrupted, then be my guest. I won't stop you. In fact, I'd encourage you to do so." A raw, ripping sound echoed as the stitches on the Conductor's lips snapped, its mouth pulling into a twisted, sinister smile. Coupled with its twisting eyes, my body subconsciously started to tense. "I'd love it if you could just return to what you were back on the island. The more out of control you are, the more amusing it is to me."
A sinister laugh escaped the Conductor's lips. It truly did seem to mean its words. I was once again reminded of just how twisted this Conductor was. "...Unfortunately, I'm sure that you don't want things to progress in such a manner, correct?" "Yes." I didn't plan on losing myself anytime soon. "In that case, you're still far from strong. I'd even guess that your friend, 'Kyle,' is stronger than you." "...Maybe." "You don't sound convinced?" "I didn't say anything." "Well, it doesn't matter whether you believe me or not. What matters is that you can become far stronger than you are now."
"How? Don't tell me it's by reaching the Fifth Order. I'm still—" "Of course not. You've just reached the Fourth Order. There's no way you could become a Fifth Order so quickly. I'm talking about a different method." I paused, letting the room fall into a state of silence. Then—
"What is the method you're talking about?" I asked, trying my best to keep my voice even as I stared into the Conductor's deep eyes. Eventually, its lips curled further upward as the Conductor pointed at itself.
"How else?" A chuckle left its lips. "By acquiring another anomaly." Not finished, it added. "One as strong as myself." *
Clank—! Even as I left my office, the Conductor's words continued to ring inside my mind. It wasn't as if I hadn't entertained the idea of acquiring even more anomalise. So far, I had acquired four anomalies. The Realm Walker, Mirelle, Mr. Jingles, and the Conductor. I had yet to reach the limit on the number of anomalies that I could acquire. Although I didn't know what the limit was, I knew that I could still absorb two more without any problems. The only issue was that I didn't know which anomaly to acquire. Since I knew I couldn't just take in every anomaly I wanted, I had to be careful with my selection.
'But finding one that was just as strong as the Conductor?' This was a bit too much. In fact, it was practically suicide. I had been 'lucky' with the Conductor. Had it not been for the fact that it wasn't looking to kill me directly, I would've already been dead by now. There was no guarantee that the next anomaly at that level would simply make a bet with me. 'In fact, I should just quietly improve the skills of all my anomalies.' "Yeah, let's not rush this decision." There was still time for me to think about things properly. Making up my mind, I headed back to my room. I needed to get some sleep. *** The days continued to pass. A week and a half had passed before anyone knew it. Despite this, the excitement and controversy behind the ranking announcement had yet to calm down. In fact, it had only gotten worse. So much so that it became impossible to leave the Guild without getting bombarded by questions. Nevertheless, everyone quickly adapted, and things moved on. The Guild officially became a King-Grade Guild. This piece of news once again dominated the headlines. The birth of a King-Grade Guild was nothing short of trivial, regardless of where the Guild belonged. Added to the fact that this was the same Guild that had dominated the headlines for the past week, it only added to the excitement of the situation. The online community was once again thrown into chaos. Even more reporters showed up at the front of the Guild, but despite all the chaos, within a certain room, aside from the rhythmic sound of keys being pressed, everything was relatively silent.
Click! Click! Click! It was as if the noise outside had no meaning to them. And soon—
"Done!" Click! "I'm also done!" Click! Click! "...I'm also done. Final check complete." Click! Three heads raised in unison, turning toward the figure seated at the main desk, his dark eyes fixed on several large monitors. Quietly massaging the dark circles beneath his eyes, Seth eventually stopped. He reached for the mouse and checked a couple of things. The room bathed in silence as all attention remained fixed on him. And soon—
Click! A click echoed. Followed by a certain voice.
"I've sent it." Seth raised his head to look at the others, his expression even more lifeless than usual. "The update is live."