563 – That’s not how you come up (5)
“I’ll erase your name from the ranking board and ‘gift’ you safety.”
Upon realizing Papa’s true intentions, Titosso wiped the tears off her face in relief.
“Phew! What the heck? I thought I was in big trouble! If you were going to do something so nice, you could have told me earlier!”
“Hahaha. It’s just that Titosso is so cute. It’s fun to trick and mess with you more easily than what’s written in the foundation scholarship students’ regular reports.”
“Ugh, I got tricked again…? That’s just mean… I tease Oknodie every day, and now Oknodie’s dad is teasing me too!”
In the cozy atmosphere, Isabel still didn’t lower her guard and asked.
“So what exactly is that ranking board? Why do they just put my name up there without asking me?”
“Think of it as a kind of popularity contest. It’s like choosing the ten most famous people in the world for a given field. The problem is, you’ve become famous by being involved in too many big incidents.”
A highly uncomfortable expression spread across everyone’s faces, making it seem like even a dog that spilled its water wouldn’t be this alert.
“So, people who lack confidence in their abilities but still want to maintain their honor often run into trouble. I think you and Isabel should quickly throw off that heavy burden!”
“You still haven’t told me why I wasn’t picked?”
“Jiang is my bestie, so I know him well. I can trust his combat power, so even if he gets ambushed somewhere, he won’t have his name taken away by the continent’s top ten thieves!”
Isabel cautiously raised her hand.
“I haven’t done any thieving though?”
“Oh. Isabel has made it onto the continent’s top ten masters. Ranked 10th, the Dark Master Isabel. Her name became known around the Revolutionary Army, making her the tenth most famous master in the world.”
“Ugh. I’m not even an adventurer, and I’m being called a master first. It’s confusing whether I should be happy or not.”
“You mean you shouldn’t be happy? Anyway, it seems tough to keep your life safe with those aiming for your honor, so it was decided by the committee.”
“Hmm?”
“Just because you’re weak doesn’t mean it’s different from hearing that, does it?”
Isabel’s arms, which had been crossed under her chest, tensed up.
“Oknodie said it earlier too. This is a list of good kids, and good kids follow instructions without question. If that’s the case, Oknodie, you picked the wrong person.”
Behind Isabel, the knife case opened itself, and various types of knives from numbers 1 to 9 were pulled out automatically.
“Am I supposed to know how much my cooking skills have improved by chopping up tough, firm monster dishes in various cooking methods?”
“Wow! When did you learn telekinesis magic?”
“By self-study. But that’s not important. What matters is that I’m not as weak as you think.”
Right then, Isabel chopped potatoes, onions, and meat on three cutting boards simultaneously, placing them into pots and frying pans while filling them with water using her magic tool, then raising the heat with a portable fire magic tool!
Tatatach! The sound delighted the ears, and I realized something while watching the pots and pans blowing out steam at breakneck speed.
“Time acceleration!”
“Correct answer.”
“Wow. How did you cast that expensive magic?”
“Jezel has a lot of money.”
Jezel awkwardly wiped her nose.
“It’s a personal investment. The more Isabel excels as a chef, the more variety of food I get to eat. So I provided a little help so she can manage both her studies and cooking.”
Everyone marveled at Jezel’s foresight, but I suddenly noticed Papa looking awkwardly.
It felt like Jezel was distracting the gaze of gratitude and admiration that should have been aimed at Papa, making him look unamused!
“Papa, you should be quite proud as well!”
“Haha. Even just saying it, I appreciate it. This must be why everyone enjoys raising daughters.”
As the atmosphere became more relaxed, everyone subtly lined up in front of Papa and asked.
“Uh, excuse me, but may I ask what ranking I received?”
“Son Ohchun, you are ranked 10th as a bounty thief in the continent’s top ten thieves.”
“What about me? Am I a light thief?”
“Titosso has made it to the 5th rank as the Radiant Saintess in the continent’s top ten saints. She’s the first revolutionary saint not affiliated with any church in human history.”
“That’s odd. Eungchilgeom wouldn’t be sufficient to make it to the continent’s top ten swordsmen.”
“Hiscliff is ranked 9th in the continent’s top ten knights. His appointment as the new Emperor’s guard instead of the Seonhwang was highly regarded.”
“Then I’m a thief in the continent’s top ten too?”
“Jiang, you have made it onto the continent’s top ten assassins. A few existing top contenders failed to accomplish their assassination aims under the Seonhwang, so your rank naturally rose.”
Everyone seemed to have achieved some growth in both experience points and fame.
Just for reference, among the veteran players, the term ‘nong’ means like in a modified form, while ‘jjuk’ refers to wanting to grow tall, hence ‘nongjjuk’ means something small has grown big.
I should tell Jiang and Titosso and the mob about this later!
“Is Jezel not asking?”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Are you seriously fine? People might be coming after your name in some field.”
“Isabel is right. That lad, with his revolutionary army connections, overflowing wealth, good looks, decent grades, and considerate personality—what has he got to be so arrogant about?”
“Feeling oddly relieved all of a sudden?”
Isabel scolded Son Ohchun for not being half as good as Jezel, but I found myself agreeing more with Son Ohchun’s words.
“To be honest, Jezel is just a piece of trash without those things I just mentioned!”
“She does seem a bit weak.”
“Well, it looks like I could manage even with my light stand!”
After hearing comments from Sadako’s disciples, Jezel apologized with a clueless expression.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know much, but if I’ve done something wrong, may I ask what ranking I am in?”
“Of course, you are ranked 5th in the continent’s top ten moguls. The achievement of selling the notion of revolution to the citizens of the empire and having them buy it successfully is something that can solidly earn you that title.”
Judging solely on combat power, Jezel seemed underestimated compared to Titosso, but as it turns out, she had become a much greater figure who didn’t even need to grow her strength!
The idiot misjudged the situation and said Hieek! as she desperately flickered the light stand.
“Titosso, why is the light stand flickering?”
“It’s a sign of apology, shining in pure white, symbolizing innocence and purity!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Once they understood the reality of the gift, everyone’s hearts shifted, and they all conferred with each other before bowing their heads in unison in front of Papa.
“We apologize. We are grateful for your kindness, but we cannot accept your gift.”
“Oh? Is that sincere? You all might personally experience just how troublesome the Seonhwang of the Empire has found his opponents. You could be attacked by industry veterans aiming for nothing but your honor or by new challengers seeking validation.”
“We’re receiving education at the Gift Academy, the world’s number one educational institution. As those destined to graduate as the best in their fields, we shouldn’t fear competition.”
Though Jezel expressed it maturely, the idiot had no such modesty.
“You know that saint isn’t much to talk about! There was one in the Warrior Party, and it looked so weak that if I slapped it with my light stand, it would fall flat!”
“Hahaha. To describe Saintess Yufi of the Golgotha of Beheading like that is quite intriguing. I can understand why my daughter keeps her close.”
“Hehe, I might be a bit strong, right?”
I hope Papa notices her gentle silence, which never confirms she is strong!
“But how was Papa planning to take that position if we were to step aside?”
“Of course, I was planning to pass it on to the maids here. Bella is skilled in assassination, Haran is not bad either. Sting has a knack for cooking.”
“What about Jezel’s sophistication and Titosso’s saintliness?”
“Fortunately, among the assassin maids, there are knowledgeable people good for being face cards. They can also serve as guards, of course.”
Among the assassin maids, many were capable enough to make it onto the teen series rankings if they wanted to!
“Why are such amazing people assassins…?”
“I’ve always thought of assassins as scary, especially when I look at the mouse and its buddy, but seeing them like this, even assassin maids are terrifying.”
“Titosso is currently undergoing assassin maid training too!”
Son Ohchun looked incredulous, saying to stop the accusations, forcing Jezel to apologize, while Titosso looked at Bella, who was digging her finger into the wall of the transfer station out of boredom.
Can it really evolve like that? Under questioning gazes, I unintentionally looked away.
Honestly, I have my doubts too!
“Then, let me activate the teleportation magic circle to the academy. Any journey where you acquire what you desire is always filled with joy. I hope that becomes such a journey for you all.”
As Papa placed his hand on the teleportation magic circle and reached out to me, I realized, Ah, it’s a prank pattern?
Only after grabbing the hands of everyone who would move with me did I hold his hand.
Papa chuckled as if he noticed the trap, and all locks and alarm spells on the teleportation magic circle were terrifyingly deactivated.
“At least I had a very satisfying time.”
With Papa’s monologue, I saw a dark branch taking shape.
Huh?
A globe…?
As I wondered if I misread something, the teleportation magic circle activated.
Something feels off!
Anyway, that’s in the past now.
Once the light of the magic circle faded, we arrived at the Gift Academy branch’s transfer station.
“Oknodie’s dad was way kinder and cooler than before!”
Papa isn’t actually all that nice, but I don’t know why he let us go so easily—still, good things are good.
In front of us, now turned into clueless strays, several people revealed themselves.
“Gotcha.”
“Wait, is this really happening?”
“Life is definitely a breeze.”
The opponents weren’t professors, instructors, or classmates either.
“Eh? Why are the seniors here?”
The seniors, who should have been hanging out in the Student Dormitory Zone, were gathered at the transfer station in front of the academy.
