Chapter 95 – (RE) Ranked (2)

“Before ranking? Oh… You mean the contest the other kids were talking about?”

After searching for a while, Riel answered.

“Yes.”

“I am not interested in such entertainment. You hate being a spectacle.”

“All academy students are forced to participate in the ranking match, is that okay?”

“It’s okay. In the first place, the principal also wants me not to participate in the ranking match. I just intend to abstain.”

Fortunately, contrary to my worries, Riel had no intention of participating in the ranking match.

“Okay.”

Feeling relieved now, I let out a small sigh.

“Hmm… Siwoo will participate in the Blessing Ranking Tournament… Ah, so you care about your lovers.”

Riel told me with her eye smile.
From that expression, I could sense that he was proud of me.

“That’s right.”

“Whoops, yes. If my sister participates, the ranks of the lovers will go down one by one.”

After Riel let out a small laugh, she said.
Anyone else would have thought it was a joke, but Riel’s words would make her different.

Currently, she is 10 years old.

Compared to the time when he fought against the demons before coming to this world, he was only 5%.

The average awakening time of first-year students in the garden was five years ago, so if you look at the number of years, the difference is twice as large.
And when it comes to attaining a realm, she doesn’t gain a level of realm just by cultivating for a year.

According to Riel’s standards, the top class C students in the garden are about three years old, she said.
That’s why there wouldn’t be a single student among the current freshmen who could deal with Riel.

Even if it wasn’t only that, the combat experience and sense would be on a different level.

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry. Maybe the lovers want to get the winning prize, but that kind of stuff is nothing to my sister.”

She said in a calm tone, as if she had no interest in the winning prize.

1st prize. One Epic-class Artifact in the Garden. 2nd prize. Two rare artifacts in the garden.
3rd prize. A rare Artifact in the Garden.

Epic level artifacts are not something that can be easily obtained with money.
Of course, it was a product that would catch the eyes of students who had not graduated from the garden yet.

The mana recovery ring and magic amplification ring I’m currently using were rare and common artifacts, respectively.

She fills her shop of things with mostly unique-grade or higher artifacts.
Among them, there were also legendary class artifacts.

There was no way that an epic level artifact would catch the eye of Riel.

“Let’s stop talking about this and start today.”

Riel grabbed my pants and looked up at me, she said.
There was a hint of bewitching in the slightly raised corners of the eyes, but today was also a failure.

“… The magic…”

Riel was muttering something of her own ominously.

I felt an eerie sensation for a moment, but it must have been just my illusion.

∴

“Tomorrow is the day before the rankings. Prepare diligently.”

Closing time after class.
The homeroom teacher said to us.
It was a booming voice that made it hard to believe that he was in his 60s.

“Yes!”

Other students also responded loudly to his words.
It is an opportunity for broadcasters from all over the world to come and show off their skills to each guild.
Some were not very reluctant to do so, but most were full of will.

If Chloe and Riel were the former, Laysha and Ayoung were the latter.

The homeroom teacher nodded briefly to see if the students’ answers were satisfactory.

‘First of all, I’m confirmed as 1st place…’

None of the first year students would follow my blessing technique.
I heard that among the current year 1 blessing magician students, the highest ranking student except for me achieved 60BP and achieved C grade.
‘What should I do with Chloe…’

I know roughly what the level of the other students Laysha said was.
Of course, there was a ranking match event in the game, and their fighting ability is lower than Laysha.

So, even though she was defeated, Ayoung, who showed a close battle with Laysha, could easily rank in the rankings.

However, Chloe’s offensive ability is too lacking.
Although there is swordsmanship, it is at a much lower level than shieldsmanship.

‘What happened in the game…’

If I remember correctly, in the preliminary round, the battle time was over and I was defeated by decision.
Because I couldn’t even attack a single time, I only defended.

In party play anyway, it doesn’t matter much if she only defends her.
However, ranking matches are not team matches.

“And Kim Si-woo, follow me for a while. I have something to say about the ranking match.”

After thinking for a while, the homeroom teacher looked at me and said,

At that moment, the eyes of the other students turned to me.
In particular, I felt hope in the eyes of the two blessing magicians.

Laysha had said that even though I am a Blessing Sorcerer, there are many opinions about whether or not I can participate in the Blessing Ranking because I use different abilities and skills.

“… Yes.”

Is it wrong to eat it raw?

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, see you later.”

Before standing up, I had a brief conversation with Ayoung.
I decided to do personal training today, so it doesn’t matter if I’m called by the homeroom teacher for a while.

Our destination was the counseling office located next to the principal’s office.
This is the place I came to with Ayoung the other day.

“What are you doing?”

After sitting down, I asked the teacher.

“You know that. There is a lot of talk among students these days about whether you are qualified to participate in the Blessing Ranking.”

“Yeah, I know.”

And I know that it was the first-year blessing magician students who formed that public opinion.
At my answer, the homeroom teacher made an uncomfortable expression.

“Sorry to say this, but the Blessing Ranking Match is reserved for Blessing Master students who cannot acquire other abilities.”

“But I’m a strict blessing sorcerer, too.”

“Yes, no one can deny that you are a blessing mage. I also know that the public opinion on whether or not you are eligible to participate was formed by other students of the blessing magicians to rank high.”

Whoa…
The homeroom teacher sighed and looked at me.

“Like you said, you are an outright blessing. I have enough qualifications to participate in the Blessing Ranking.”

“Are you leaving it up to me?”

“Okay. It was decided at a staff meeting.”

“Hmm…”

At his words, I fell into trouble for a while.

Even if I participate in the general ranking match, I am confident enough to be in the top 3.
Right now, I have a lot of energy, and I can deal with a C-class orc by myself.
In the general glass world, not in the garden glass world.

But if that happens, my plan to win prizes for all three of Ayoung, Laysha, and Chloe will collapse.

“I will participate.”

“Is it.”

The homeroom teacher nodded briefly and said.
I had no intention of giving in like a hogu.

Opinion of other students?

In the end, it’s just public opinion formed viciously by the people to occupy high rankings.
Students who are swept away by such public opinion may get a bad evaluation, but it doesn’t really matter.

Rather, if I step back from here, I should be careful that I will be perceived as a hukou by students who have even a little thought.

Ayeong, Laysha, and Chloe get the winning prize, and I get the winning prize in the Blessing Ranking Match.
There are no modifications to this plan at all.

“Then you may go back now.”

“Yes, good bye.”

I said goodbye to the homeroom teacher and got out of the counseling room.

∴

“Whoa… Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yeah, you did a good job too.”

After the sparring, we took a short break in the waiting area.
Chloe’s defense skills are by far the best among the first year students, but her sword skills are in the middle to low level.

‘At this rate, third place will be difficult.’

But I had a solution in mind.

“Chloe.”

“Yes?”

“How about attacking with a shield instead of a sword?”

“You mean the shield…?”

Chloe answered my question with a slight hesitation.
Then she looked at the sword standing beside her.

When she was appointed a Knight of Leisha, she was bestowed with a sword.
In my memory, it was a rare grade item.

“Can you put an aura on your sword?”

“No. Impossible.”

“Yes? Since you can enclose an aura on your shield, I think you can use it not only for defense but also for offense.”

“… I do, but.”

Shield technique is not just a defensive technique.
The iron shield can also be used as a blunt weapon, not just for defense.

Hitting or pushing the opponent.
Throwing it like a boomerang wouldn’t be bad either.

Chloe’s swordsmanship talent is D-, although she seems to still have a little lingering attachment to the sword.

Rather, it would be much more efficient to polish the shield technique.

“Why don’t you try using the shield just this once? If you don’t like it, just use the sword again.”

At my words, Chloe began to worry.
She must have realized long ago that she had no talent for her swordsmanship.

Just mediocre talent.
Of course, it’s not high, and it’s not that low.

If Chloe only practiced swordsmanship, she wouldn’t have to feel inadequate, but isn’t there a comparison target called shieldskills?

“What level is Chloe’s shield technique?”

“It’s level 10.”

“Then what about swordsmanship?”

“… Level 4.”

Chloe put on a slightly somber expression at my question.
Seeing her expression like that made her feel sorry for her, but it was not an option for her to keep insisting on her sword.

“Hmm… I see. This time, I will give up my sword and engage in sparring.”

And she seemed to have finally made up her mind, she said as Chloe got up from her seat.

“Yeah, well thought out.”

I got up from my seat and said.

I went into sparring thinking of Captain, a hero who uses a shield in the movie.
She, who has a high basic shield skill level, has been pressuring me while wielding her shield as if she’s used to it.

And.

“Bout…!”

The aura covered by the shield reached right in front of my neck.
No matter how much she said that she dealt with Chloe without stealth, invisibility, or instantaneous acceleration, she did not expect that she would be defeated so overwhelmingly just by changing her main weapon.

“I lost.”

At my declaration of defeat, Chloe widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Did I really win…?”

“Yeah, I lost.”

Chloe was no longer just defending herself.

Chloe clenched her fists with a small smile.
Was it a ceremony of its own?

“Let’s rest for a while and then go buy a new shield.”

Chloe currently uses a medium shield that covers two-thirds of her body.
It’s enough for now, but a round small shield would be more comfortable to use as a weapon than a rectangular medium shield.

Isn’t the captain’s vibranium shield also a small circular shield?

“All right.”

We moved back to the waiting area and took a break.

“…Would it be okay if I waited for a while?”

Chloe asked me, blushing a little.
It looks embarrassing that he’s holding on to his own training pants a bit.

“It’s going to smell a little bit now, are you okay?”

Unlike before, she evaded Laysha’s attack using a shield and intermittently counterattacked.
That’s why, unlike the last time he used magic, he moved his body violently and sweated a lot.

“Okay, it’s okay…”

Chloe blushed even more in response.
Rather, I felt that I liked it more.

“Okay. Oh, and since you won this time, let’s go on a date next time.”

“Yes…!”

I nodded my head, and Chloe answered with a happy face, then slowly leaned her upper body towards me and leaned her face on my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around Chloe’s shoulders.

“Thank you.”

“What am I I was just giving an opinion.”

In the end, it was because of Chloe’s outstanding ability that I didn’t do much.

“Is that so. Uh…”

Fortunately, Chloe said as she slowly closed her eyes with a pleasant expression, as if my shoulders were comfortable.
He didn’t seem to agree with me.

“Haa… Sup… Heh…”

And slowly began to inhale the smell.