Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Spendthrift Necromancer (177)

World RankerHe found Han Sia.

Just as when she'd taken the Elixir, her complexion was far brighter than before.

Probably because she'd regained the talent Lucas had stolen from her.

“Miss Han Sia. How are you feeling?”

“Much better than before, I think. I'm not coughing anymore either.”

She answered with a bright smile. Griff's people had hurriedly fled Korea after the Duel. With Lucas gone, she was finally experiencing true freedom.

That aside.

It was time to get to the point.

“About becoming a Priest. What do you think?”

After thinking it over, she nodded. She'd learned not long ago that she had an aptitude for being a Priest.

After all, she'd blessed Kim Minwoo through Prayer of Hope while he was fighting Jonas.

And she'd realized something in the process.

Praying and blessing others felt far more enjoyable than she'd expected.

“I think I'd like it. Even though my Class is Mage right now…….”

“Then I have something for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes. Take it.”

Han Sia's eyes widened when she examined what he'd handed her.

“A Class Change Ticket?”

“Seo Yerim used one too.”

“Ah, so that's how she became an Archer…….”

“Yes. Would you like to take this opportunity to change your Class as well?”

Han Sia stared at the Ticket and spoke.

“Is this…… really okay?”

“What is?”

“This looks incredibly valuable…….”

The description alone made that obvious.

People normally chose their Class, sure, but how many people wished they could change it afterward?

And considering it even said Skills and Titles would be altered to match the new Class, this wasn't something whose value could simply be measured in money.

“What matters isn't whether this is valuable. What matters is whether you want to change your Class.”

Han Sia quietly stared at the Class Change Ticket in her hand.

To her, the Mage Class was almost a symbol of wounds and humiliation.

Memories of having her talent stolen by her father and being subjected to painful experiments flashed past like a revolving lantern.

Did she want to change Classes?

She did.

She had in the past, and she still did now that her talent had returned.

“I want to change.”

“Then use it. A lot of things will change.”

“Can I……

become a Priest?”

“Of course.”

Then thank you very much.

Versatile blessings and healing.

On top of that, Light-attribute attacks.

Priest was a very solid main Class. With Han Sia's aptitude, there was hardly any need to say more.

Hadn't she created an S-rank Skill with only around twenty percent of her talent?

“Oh, right.”

“……?”

“When you go there, you'll probably meet an Evaluator. If possible, look for one named Popo.”

“Popo……

?”

“Yes. He looks like a teddy bear. Mention my name and he'll help you quite a bit.”

He said it just in case.

Last time Seo Yerim had used a Class Change Ticket, Minwoo had gone with her to the Trial Grounds, but there was no guarantee the same thing would happen this time. If Han Sia was transported alone, and happened to meet some Evaluator other than Popo, this would prepare her for that possibility.

“I will. Is there anything I should prepare before going?”

“Probably not.”

“……

Then can I use it now?”

“Of course.”

Han Sia nodded.[Using Class Change Ticket!][State the desired Class!]

For the last time, she thought of the Mage Class. She decided to place all the pain, sorrow, and regret of the past into it and leave them behind.

Because from now on, many things would change.

She inhaled and spoke.

“Priest.”[Target ‘Han Sia's’ Class changes from Mage to Priest!][All Titles and Skills are transformed!][Beginning ‘Reassessment’!][Entering Trial Grounds.]

Flash!

Her vision changed.

Everything around her was pure white.

As she looked around, something caught her eye.

It was a tiny teddy bear.‘I-Is that him?’The teddy bear met her gaze, then toddled toward her.―Ahem! I am Popo, Evaluator of the Reassessment Division! You must be the candidate who used a Class Change Ticket?

“Y-Yes. Um, do you happen to know someone named Kim Minwoo?”―Lord Kim Minwoo? Of course. I know him very well!

The teddy bear's eyes sparkled as he answered energetically.―Are you perhaps a member of his guild?

“Yes, I am.”―Well now, we have quite an honored guest. Judging by this, you're here for a Priest Reassessment…….

Flip.

Popo leafed through a paper booklet and tilted his head.―Huh? This is a first…….

“What's wrong?”―The Reassessment topic is a little unusual. Normally the scale isn't this large…….

“……?”―Um, by any chance, are you familiar with war?

“War……

?”

Seeing Han Sia's uncertain reaction, Popo nodded.―It's fine. You can practice plenty before the actual test. Let's run a simulation first. Ah, right!

Popo glanced around and whispered into her ear.―Technically, I'm not supposed to do this.

“I-Is that so?”―Yes. I'm helping you in advance, so it's sort of preferential treatment. Hehe…… you know what I mean, right?

Nod.―So, um…… after the Reassessment is over, please put in a good word for me. With Guild Master Kim. That's all I need…… you understand, right?

She thought she understood why Kim Minwoo had told her to find Popo.

Han Sia, having roughly caught on, nodded once more.[Simulation begins!][Entering an unknown ancient battlefield!][You are a ‘Third-Class Priest’!][Fulfill your role!]

Her surroundings changed once again.

Into a battlefield where blood and flesh flew everywhere.* * *The impact of the Duel had reached the American company Forbes as well.June was the most important month of the year for Forbes. It was the month when they compiled all the data gathered so far and determined the rankings of Awakened.

Of course, rankings changed outside June too, but June was unquestionably the month with the largest shifts.

That was why a heated debate was currently underway at Forbes.

“I'm telling you, he has to be included among the world rankers. No, this discussion should've ended the moment he beat Lucas.”

“Of course I acknowledge Kim Minwoo's strength. But Gate-clear contribution is also something we absolutely have to consider. His score in that area is far too low.”

“To be precise, that's the only area where he's low. Fame? He already has over a hundred million NewTube subscribers. His Skills are obviously powerful. And his growth potential is completely insane.”

“I know. I know all of that. But we've never had a case like this before. Going straight into the world-ranker bracket? Even Isabella started around Rank 1,000. Promoting him that quickly is…….”

“That Isabella didn't beat a world ranker six months after Awakening, did she?”

“Don't be sarcastic. I'm saying we need to look at this objectively. Objectively. There are only three days left until the ranking announcement. When are we supposed to gather and analyze all the data?”

“What do you mean only three days? We still have three whole days. We can get on a plane right now, fly to Korea, and ask him directly.”

“From what I hear, there isn't much data from that Duel either. It's all hearsay. There isn't even any objective analysis footage.”

“God, you're frustrating.”

“I'm the one who's frustra…….”

“Enough!”

Bang bang!

Marco, head of Forbes's evaluation team, slammed the table.

The evaluators, who had been engaged in a heated debate—no, an outright fight—fell silent.

“All right, let's organize this. The opposing side's reasons are lack of data, lack of analysis time, and the fact that his ranking would rise far too quickly. Correct?”

The evaluator opposing Kim Minwoo's inclusion in the world rankings nodded.

“And the supporting side says none of that matters because he already beat a world ranker, so he should be included.”

“Correct.”

Marco rubbed his chin.

“Then let's put all that aside and look at it from a sales perspective. If we include Kim Minwoo, do sales explode or not?”

“……

They absolutely explode. No question.”

“Right?”

Everyone nodded.

World ranker.

Integrated Ranking Top 2

0

0.

The ranking that received the greatest attention and carried the greatest honor.

Which was only natural.There were one billion Awakened, and only two hundred places.

The top 0.0000002%. As a percentage, it was absurd.

That was also why the bracket rarely changed much.

The Awakened inside it were veterans so seasoned they'd gone beyond stale and started rotting.

Even when changes happened.They were usually minor shifts, such as Rank 201 becoming Rank 200.

This time was different.

An Awakened who hadn't even been anywhere near the rankings was suddenly about to enter the top 200. On top of that, his fame was already overwhelming.

If Kim Minwoo were selected as a world ranker?

Whether he landed far above Rank 200 or hovered near it, Forbes itself would draw enormous attention for managing the rankings. And all of that meant sales.

This wouldn't even be a one-time sales boost.June simply had the biggest ranking changes. It didn't mean rankings never changed in other months.

Subscribers would increase just to see whether Kim Minwoo's position changed each month.

“Our subscribers already complain that the rankings are a stagnant veterans' club, that they see the same names every time. Isn't it about time we refreshed things a little?”

The evaluators nodded at Marco's shrugging remark.

“And honestly, it isn't even that much of a stretch. Sure, his Gate-related score is low. But he already beat a ranker. If we don't rank him after that, people are definitely going to complain.”

“……

Well, that's true.”

“Let's see what information we actually have…….”

Marco picked up the file and began reading.[Kim Minwoo][Level: Estimated at least 251 or higher based on his ability to summon Dullahans and his equipment.][Skills: Summon Merhen, Summon Cedric. Various basic Necromancer summoning Skills(+9). Given the enormous quantity of materials he purchases, presumed to possess numerous additional Skills.][Gate Clear Contribution: 1,011 points (roughly top 7%).][Future Growth Potential: Impossible to estimate.][Fame: Over 100 million NewTube subscribers. Highest tier.][Special Notes: SS-rank Achievement Awakened, holder of Level 1 Gate world record, winner of three-person Guild Battle, 1st place in Super Rookie Selection Tournament, defeated Lucas in a Duel, extremely wealthy.]

“We really don't have much.”

“We had too little time to analyze him. And since we never expected him to enter the rankings this year…… his analysis kept getting pushed down the priority list.”

Marco nodded.

Even his Level was absurdly unclear.

“At least 251” was practically meaningless.

Even that was merely inferred from his Dullahan summons and things Kim Minwoo himself had said.

The less information they had, the more difficult it became to assign a ranking.

Forbes was a major publication whose rankings demanded fairness, and rankings inevitably had to be based on objective information.

“Everyone gather up. We don't have much time, so we need to move quickly. We're going to Korea.”

“What? We're all busy…….”

“Does that matter right now? Analyzing a new world ranker is more important! Push everything else down the priority list. The rankings of those old fossils barely change anyway. Everyone move. We're going to the airport.”

Marco's eyes gleamed.

If they didn't have enough information.

They only had to meet Kim Minwoo.

Forbes's analysis team began moving.