The Rankers Guide to Live an Ordinary Life - CH 18

A white space.

And as soon as Zio recognized the area as a ‘space’ the background changed as if paint was spreading.

The new area was a small European-style lab that reeked of old books.

The titles of the books were all written in unrecognizable letters.

Outside of the half-open window, a field of rice could be seen.

The papers blown away by the wind fell towards Zio’s feet.

Zio chose one of the papers and picked it up.

‘What were these called…? A formula?’

【I see. Is this the landscape that comes from you? No, perhaps it’s a little mixed up with mine.】

A voice echoed throughout the space.

She couldn’t see anything. Zio was puzzled as she looked around.

And then a sound of laughter came.

Something touched Zio’s cheek as if it was caressing it.

【I missed you】

【My ■■■■】

【Ah, I guess it’s ‘Gyeon Zio’ now. Gyeon Zio】

“…who are you? Where the hell are we? Did I get kidnapped?”

【You are still as fearless as ever. I wish I was a kidnapper, but this is just your unconscious world. I had forgotten that your rank is infinitely insignificant and weak compared to mine.】

【Even engraving a holy marriage is difficult, so I had to forcefully use it. So to be more precise, it’s your unconscious body inside me.】

“What are you talking about?”

【Hmm. is it because you are still young? You have not grown enough yet. Haven’t the runners talked about it yet? About the white world and encounter with the holy beings.】

Higher being

A star(Deity)

And those chosen by them.

…the incarnations.

As if a lightbulb turned on, these things suddenly came into Zio’s mind.

Zio shouted in surprise “Star?”

The star laughed.

【Please note that the process you would watch from TV isn’t as peaceful】

【What a merciful Deity I am. You are without a contract huh? The casualties I would have to deal with in case our cat gets hurt…】

‘Awakening. An awakening… wait, dad!’

“Dad, what about my dad? My dad is a hunter, he is out there in danger! I shouldn’t be here. I need to go get my dad. Get me out of here!”

【…】

The deity responded in a somewhat convincing tone.

【What will you do if you go out there? Is there anything you can do by yourself?】

“What’s the matter with you star-ahjussi!”

【A-Ahjussi?】 (She basically referred to him as an old man)

A beam of light.

“Let me out! I am here! Open the door! Save me, Gyeon Zio!”

【Choose your words carefully. You like the kidnapping play yet you don’t intend on becoming a real kidnapping victim.】

“Dear mom and dad. Zio is okay, so don’t give in to threats, and the 100 million won the kidnapper requests is for my brother’s tuition…”

【Hey. can you put down that pen!】

Zio rudely threw the quill and ink bottle, they felt uncomfortable to use.

Lying down, Zio glared at the air.

“What do you want! You filthy bastard.”

【What the hell does your mother show to her daughter? Hold on a second… a husband’s seduction, wanted, secret, what’s wrong with all these titles? You are supposed to watch Pororo as a kid.】

“Are you kidding? I stopped watching Pororo when I was 4 years old.”

Zio raised the bridge of her nose as if she was a prodigy of a thousand-character pen.

Then she glared with contempt.

“Now that I look at it, there is a sticker…”

【It’s not a sticker, It’s a stalker.】

The deity murmured in a tired tone.

【I didn’t want to say it in a situation like this, but you are not giving me a chance to set the mood.】

“Who are you! What are you going to do to me!”

【I will give you the world.】

“…huh?”

Hwak-

Little Zio’s short hair fluttered.

A wind flew by behind her back.

She was sure she was lying on the floor, but it suddenly disappeared.

Before she knew it, Gyeon Zio was floating in the air. And when she blinked again…

Milky way

She was in the middle of it.

Hundreds of millions of stars were at odds with birth and extinction.

‘Wow…’

Born noble, live fiercely, yet die in vain.

The said series of events were being constantly repeated around Zio.

A phenomenal yet overwhelming sight that a human eye wouldn’t dare understand.

As she was looking at it with a blank stare, a sound came into Zio’s ear.

【Wealth, and power

Victory and glory

Omniscience and omnipotence.】

【I won’t fail and I won’t be defeated.】

【Victory for mortals can’t last an eternity, but yours will.】

【The world will be at your feet whenever you want.】

【If you wish for it, even death won’t dare take you.】

The sound no longer echoed throughout the room.

【However, all this is only possible if you and I are connected.】

He whispered closely, caringly and lovingly, like an affectionate lover.

【You belong to me. So once again be connected with me.】

【Let’s sign a contract, Gyeon Zio.】

【Just one word, and then both me and the world will belong to you.】

Gyeon Zio almost gave an answer as soon as she heard it.

It was almost like that.

But the one word ‘I will’ stopped right before it came out of her throat.

The thing that caught the little girl who was about to fall into the temptation of a star was…

Her father, Gyeon Tae-song.

It was her back that she was watching a few hours ago.

Before she knew it, the space went back to its original white color.

Her feet touched the floor that didn’t have a floor. Zio looked up into the air.

There was nothing, yet she could undoubtedly feel a gaze.

“…”

The gaze of a hesitant nine-year-old Gyeon Zio.

The transcendent generously responded.

【Not bad. You are a human being, and if we had to separate it, you would be in the middle, closer to the line.】

“…can you hear me?”

【Is it an exception if I read your thoughts.】

It felt a little embarrassing because this star was strangely sweet.

Maybe that’s why. Zio groaned in a complaining manner.

“Are you stupid? I want to have power, but how come it’s not bad enough to want to be a hunter?”

Power came with responsibility.

Gyeon Zio remembered the eyes that stared at her father’s back.

Eyes that were violent and barbaric enough to be considered traumatic.

She wanted to have power to be able to protect her family and loved ones, but…

She didn’t want to be pushed aside just because she had that power.

To be more precise.

It was scary.

【Hmm.】

The deity who was looking down laughed.

【I am in a position where I am begging for a contract and wish to comfort you. Otherwise, I can’t erase your sadness that comes from your useless worries.】

It was a tone that would be used when dealing with a child. So of course, Zio was furious.

“What, the rest of us are serious right now!】

【You don’t have to.】

“Huh…?”

【Come out only when you are angered.】

【You can do that.】

【That’s right. The play you are doing this time. Think of it as if you are the role of a king out there.】

A bystander king, who had no work to do, yet was full of power.

【You are pushed back? You can hear the dog eating its grass.】

【Who dares to bark at the throne built by power? The world will be grateful just by having you.】

The voice of the deity spoke sternly. It would have been even more perfect if he had said it while drawing faith.

Little Zio rarely felt embarrassed.

“No, that…”

【This is why you chose the role of a king.】

“T-That’s true.”

【Lazy, violent, capricious, and selfish.】

【What can I do about your true nature as a tyrant? You don’t have to change your nature just because you got awakened.】

‘T-The ahjussi is just spitting out whatever he wants…’

【I told you I am not an ahjussi.】

Is also a bit petty.

Zio argued since she felt annoyed.

“How old even are you? I am only nine years old.”

【…Anyways. It’s fine to just eat and play every day, or do whatever you wish, you just have to go to the tower often.】

“Tower?”

【The Babel Tower. It’s less restrictive there.】

There was no direction, but the wind blew through the bridge of her nose.

It was as if she was being tickled by fingertips. Zio shook her head to get rid of the feeling.

The deity gave a low laugh.

【How sad and unfortunate. It will take quite some time until we can talk directly like right now.】

【After completing the covenant, you and I will only get to communicate through ‘Babel’.】

“Why?”

There were many echoes mixed in with his voice, but it felt clear as if it was only one to Zio.

【Because we are different.】

‘Lonely.’

As if it was just an illusion, his tone changed yet again.

【Because you are so small. No matter how much I try to split, I can’t even see you properly. What can I do?】

【But when you visit the tower, the Babel will serve as a buff, that way I hope you can grow up fast…】

“By the way.”

【Hm】

“I never said I would sign the contract.”