The Rankers Guide to Live an Ordinary Life - CH 19

【…Huh?】

Zio crossed her legs and slightly raised her chin.

“I never said I would sign the contract yet why is it that you are acting like you caught a fish? Am I a fish to you?”

【What the hell! You are a cat. I don’t accept such strange interpretations.】

Wait, no this isn’t right.

【Why?】

As if he was a raccoon that lost its cotton candy while washing it by the stream, the deity felt a sense of loss.

【Where else can you find a contract that gives you everything like this?】

Customer, the situation is difficult if you suddenly change your mind like that.

The deity was like a novice worker who was in the first month of their career, he listened and acted emotionally.

However, the nine-year-old elementary schooler Gyeon Zio was unyielding and acted like an experienced customer.

“No, there aren’t a lot of options, but it just doesn’t make sense to me.”

【Of course, you won’t understand it just by hearing the word. Just experience it yourself. You will feel amazing!】

You had to try it for yourself to really feel the difference from others, unni.

A child who has been picked out and chosen by the universe. You will never regret it.

In response to the typical hype-selling mall worker answer, Zio folded her arms like a veteran customer who had gone through all sorts of hardships.

This sort of posture was often psychologically interpreted as discomfort or defense towards the other party.

“…..”

No more words were needed.

A master could press on without words.

The nervous deity changed into a nervous worker who started changing things to adapt to the standards of the customer.

【O-Okay.】

【I said it a bit too hard. Agreed. Reflected on. And regretted it. I did it out of greed because I wanted to look cool, I apologize.】

【But listen carefully. Baby, don’t you want to have a contract with this oppa? Then, even if you play around, eat and sleep all day you can stay in 1st place.】

【Seon Yeong is that top student from next door who always ranks 1st, even if you don’t show it doesn’t it make you feel stressed? This Oppa knows how upset it makes you.】

“Hmm…”

【Now whenever Seon Young boasts about being number 1 all little Zio has to do is laugh at her and say.】

【“Hey you little bitch! Aren’t you only 1st place in morning star? I am number 1 in the world. It’s a truck made by my Unni’s and Oppa’s! Hmph!”】

“Hmmmmm…”

As a Korean who was weak against retaliation cider, Little Zio was a bit shaken up, not only that the vocal mimicry of unyieldingness was particularly delicious.

Following that, a life full of comfort different from everyone else was guaranteed, a life of luxury where you wouldn’t even have to get a drop of water on your hand.

The deity who brought up all sorts of tempting offers finally said his final lines.

【I-I’ll let you walk on a flowery path.】

“…”

【Let’s do everything except the things we don’t want to do, Gyeon Zio.】

“Good.”

【If that’s not enough, then…! Huh?】

“I said it’s good.”

Why? Didn’t you dislike it?

She didn’t care.

Zio proudly stretched her arms and laid her back like a tyrant from the Joseon Dynasty.

…That ferocious little girl. She was just playing with him.

He immediately called his administrator before the rat-sized little girl changed her mind again.

【Babel.】

Gyeon Zio’s feet floated

The transcendents who appeared alongside the catastrophe that brought the end of the world, the deities. As to who they really were, the opinions were still divided to this day.

Some believed that they were good beings that came to aid mankind, while others loathed babel since it was the cause of many deaths.

However, after considering all the factors, the conclusion reached was always the same.

Good or evil, whatever it was.

If it wasn’t for them the end of mankind would have arrived way sooner.

There was never a price they asked for in exchange for the powers they granted their ‘incarnations’ who they once had been associated with.

On the skies above the tower, the stars just watched and helped. And they even helped defend it.

Thus, humans overcame their limits through their contracts with the stars and succeeded in being reborn as something more than just an awakener.

The babel called this kind of contract the sacred promise, the ‘covenant’. As if that’s what it had been called for a long time as if it was natural.

Zio took a deep breath.

To be different,

Even a little kid could tell that something huge was going to happen ‘properly’.

The environment suddenly darkened.

And soon there was a heavy presence explosively intruding through space.

Deity. The ultimate level.

– -. – – – .

Unknown golden patterns began filling the air.

And as if there was a crack on the wall, a space opens up to reveal a pair of eyes within the abyss!

‘What?’

Zio swallowed her dry saliva, and her hair stood up. Goosebumps? Fear?

As instinctive fear came over her at the overwhelming difference, a soothing whisper sounded out.

【Don’t be afraid.】

【You have no reason to.】

【This is a vow of soul and origin.】

【In accordance with our oldest promise, you and I will share a fate.】

【I will watch over you until you take your final step.】

【Gyeon Zio.】

【Would you like to form a contract with me?】

……

……

She didn’t like being vague and disliked being weak. So if she was going to do this, she had to do it right.

Zio confirmed for the last time.

“Are you really, really strong?”

【It’s hard for an incarnation to be this young. Yeah, strong.】

“…I want you to be an unni instead. It’s uncomfortable to always be with an Ahjussi. It feels like a pervert.”

【Even when you are saying nonsense you are cute.】

“You said I was an incarnation. Of course, I’m the only exception.”

【You haven’t even answered yet.】

“I’ll do it.”

The deity laughed.

It couldn’t be seen, but she could feel it.

「The ultimate deity, ‘■■■■’ asks the administrator to finalize the covenant.』

[The babel network, checking the external special contract.]

[Accessing the history of the target, Gyeon Zio, for approval.]

[Insufficient access. Operation aborted.]

[With the help of higher system authority, the verification process for the covenant approval is granted.]

[Enforcing the covenant imprint.]

At the same time the notifications she saw for the first time in her life, something else appeared.

A pattern became visible under her floating feets, and an emblem of Babel which Zio was familiar with.

Soon, the space quickly went out.

“…Heuk!”

A silent scream rang out.

She couldn’t tell where the ceiling or the floor was. Zio was rapidly falling, changing directions outside of her will, and before she knew it she was lying down on her back.

Chack chack

The feeling of chains binded her whole body.

Dark gold chains that rose from the air surrounded Zio and swallowed her. And just like that, her vision was fading away.

【My little Zio.】

[The sole true Incarnation – Gyeon Zio]

【The covenant has been created.】

[Your covenant, ‘Reader of fate’ informs you that the covenant has been signed.]

【You are.】

[You.]

【This time again, ■■■■ you belong to me. ■■■■】

[-An error has occurred. The voice of the deity cannot be read.]

***

Within a cloud of consciousness.

The last thing she remembered was a touch that swept through her forehead alongside a soft voice.

【Don’t be sad when you go back. It was an inevitable time to receive a different rank.】

【Whether it’s early or late. The results wouldn’t have changed.】

***

The meaning of those words immediately became clear.

When Zio opened her eyes she was in a hospital bed.

It was a hospital in Seoul and not an oriental hospital, the families around were all dressed in mourning clothes.

“Z-Zio-ya. Haa, Zio-ya. Thank you, thank you…. Our Zio. My daughter, my cub, my baby… Mom is here. Does my lovely daughter recognize her mother? Are you alright? Huh?”

“Mom…”

“Yes. It’s mother. It’s okay, everything is okay now. It’s over, It’s all over…”

Gyeon Zio stared blankly at the calendar amid the sobbing of her mother who was softly caressing her.

She had woken up on April 1st.

How funny and coincidental it was,

That it’s April fools day.