A Ranker’s Guide to the Good Life
Chapter 10

“Hey, this is uncomfortable.”

Tiger glanced down at Jio, then lightly tossed her up so he could carry her under one arm instead. Because he stopped carrying her by the collar like a piece of luggage, he looked more like a man playing the single father of a bratty child in some Hollywood drama. Even so, neither of them seemed the least bit uncomfortable with the new arrangement.

“I distinctly remember giving you a key card. Why’d you make a scene like that down there?” Tiger asked.

“I lost it,” Jio muttered.

“Let me see your phone.”

Before she could start to hand it to him, he took her phone from her hand and unlocked it with ease by tapping “1111.” Since she was the sort of person who treasured simplicity, it was just the sort of passcode one would expect her to have and never change.

He installed a resident portal app on it for her while they were riding up to his penthouse in the elevator.

Then he casually said, “I don’t think I’ve seen you wear that before.”

“This? I’ve... always had it. Don’t act like you’ve seen all of my clothes. We haven’t met up in a while, you know.”

She looked indignant as if she were a high schooler whose mother had just caught her buying clothes online without permission. Tiger hesitated for a moment before dropping her onto his sofa.

He placed a hand on the armrest next to her then leaned over and said, “You know... You’re a real hard person to meet, Miss Jio. You show up after three months of silence wearing men’s clothing that’s multiple sizes too large for you with some sorry excuse that you’ve always had it...”

“Ahem! I-I have had this. I-it’s Jirok’s.”

“I know all too well what Bambi smells like. You and your excuses.”

He tapped her on the nose as he stood up straight again.

As she watched him step away, she grumbled, “Listen, old man, I came here ‘cause I need to talk to you. Where are you going?”

“It’s eleven o’clock. I need to get ready. As for why you came here, Jo...”

He trailed off as he removed his T-shirt, which scattered his bronze-colored hair. There were vivid scars all over his shoulders, and his broad, muscular back was covered in magical tattoos—all of which were forbidden enchantments.

He seemed to have a few more than the last time they met. Then as if he had just remembered something, he grabbed his phone on his way to the bathroom. That put an end to their conversation for a moment, but he soon returned after having a brief phone call.

“You’re here because you want your #1 spot back, right? Let me grab a quick shower, then we can head to the tower together. Just sit tight for now.”

She stared at him without saying a word.

“And have some food. You felt lighter than usual,” he insisted before closing the bathroom door.

Guess he was ordering room service, Jio thought as she hugged one of the cushions next to her, then she lay flat on her back to sulk a bit. I knew it... He’s as wonderful as ever.

[Your celestial Fate Reader whines that the snobbish bastard puts on too many airs. He asks why the man had to take off his shirt while you were looking, and he raises an ethical question about the age rating for such behavior.]

Your Jio objects your objection. The reason? Simple—I like to see it.

She turned her attention away from her fuming celestial, and within a few minutes, room service arrived.

Tiger lived in a complex occupied by the most wealthy and successful people in the country. It was so lavish that the tenants could order room service from one of the luxury hotels nearby. The staff was likely taken aback to see such a small girl sitting alone in the bougie penthouse and wearing an excessively oversized hoodie, but they were still professionals.

Once they set out the food, they vanished as quickly as they’d arrived. Jio found herself feeling deeply touched after taking just one bite. Then she flopped back onto the sofa to lay flat on her stomach, feeling ecstatic. It was at such times that crippling regret seized her conscience yet again.

“If only I was just ten years older...”

Then he wouldn’t have rejected me. Tsk...

On the day of her high school graduation, she had confessed her feelings to Tiger and was shot down almost immediately. She sucked her teeth as she dwelled on the memory of how final his answer had been, despite seeming to lack any reasonable basis.

She was still under the belief that the older man had refused her because of their age difference. In truth, the brazenness of her confession that day would have shocked anyone within earshot after hearing how dreadfully she had worded it.

[Fate Reader appears appalled and asks who would be foolish enough to accept a soulless confession that sounded purely motivated by greed? He nods in approval and says that man at least had his wits about him. He also voices his surprise to hear that he has a conscience as well.]

* * *

The Silver Lion guild was the largest and strongest one in the Republic of Korea. It also happened to have the longest history among the nation’s guilds. Not only did it sit at the top of Korea’s five most powerful guilds and rank eighth in the world, but everyone agreed that there was no equal to Silver Lion throughout all the peninsula.

It served as a global mercenary corporation that many held a deep trust in. The greatest contributor to its unrivaled status was none other than its president Seokwon Eun. Since his last name meant “silver” in Korean, he was his own guild’s namesake. Even so, he was simply known to many as “Lion.”

He was none other than the hunter who led the first generation of Awakeneds. The fact that the self-made individual—who had never dropped from the #1 spot until Jo emerged—still ran the guild was the very reason it maintained its prestige.

He was a veteran who had always fought disaster after disaster on the front lines. Thus, he was beloved by most Koreans and respected by the entire world. His character was considered flawless as well, which resulted in a number of people gathering to work underneath him. He was so popular that it was next to impossible to find a man, woman, or child who didn’t smile at the mere utterance of his name.

Seokwon had raised Tiger like his own son, so it was a matter of face that Tiger would one day inherit Silver Lion from him.

“Gramps has no business stealing the #1 spot from a girl who’s been preparing for college for the last three years! He’s old enough to know better. Where’d the old fart misplace his conscience?” Jio complained.

“That ‘old fart’ is still rather hale and hearty despite his age. Hasn’t it occurred to you that your laziness might be to blame?” the man said calmly as he looked over documents.

Since he was a famous car collector, a luxury brand had made a custom vehicle for him as a gift. Riding in it felt like being taken on a luxury cruise, but Jio didn’t care about such things. The glum look on her face didn’t appear like it would go away any time soon.

“I hope he chokes on his New Year’s rice cakes.”

“Jio Gyeon.”

What? I said what I said.

It was written all over her face that she had no intention of taking back her cruel wish, but she stopped talking after that and looked out the window.

It’s true what they say... Even the most unruly children will listen to their nannies, Tiger thought as he stared at the back of the young woman’s head.

Seokwon had taken him off the streets when he was still a child. His real name remained unknown, and his age and skill set were equal mysteries. In truth, not much was known about the man at all. Most people assumed he was currently in his thirties based on his appearance, but since he was ranked seventh in the nation, those in the top hunter tiers knew that he had several hidden cards up his sleeve.

If a hunter’s celestial was powerful enough, it wasn’t hard to fool even the eyes of Babel Network to some degree. Then there were the atrocious hexes he had gotten tattooed across his back after seeking out the Great Witch of the North.

With only that scant bit of information available to a small few, it was no wonder that most people suspected that he was harboring some dark secrets. Even so, he was Silver Lion’s first son and its leader’s right-hand man. His consistent efforts over the years had proven him more than deserving of his fame and status.

The bureau had even trusted him enough to assign him to be the guardian of the nation’s first ever S-tier hunter roughly ten years prior. He was one of the very few people who knew just how impossibly powerful she really was.

“It’s probably only temporary.”

Jio turned away from the window just enough to look at him out of the corner of her eye.

“You can ask him for the details yourself when you see him, but this morning when he woke from his meditation... he told me that he had finally reached his full potential. Honestly, I agree with him. The Lion’s preparing to make his last roar before entering the twilight years of his life. You should just let him enjoy it.”

Jio still didn’t reply.

“Everyone knows who that spot belongs to anyway.”

Jio fully turned away from the window as Tiger looked up from his documents.

“Sorcerer King,” he mouthed.

“Don’t you try to placate me. I can’t stand it.”

“But you like this sort of thing, don’t you? You’re kind of a peculiar character.”

“Who? Me?”

“Yes, you. Who else?”

“Once gramps retires and someone else takes over the guild, I’m gonna destroy the Silver Lion building.”

“Now that’s a little scary.”

“And I’ll spread rumors about you, Mr. Flashy. Like how you never shave when you stay home, and do that thing where you’re always scratching your belly. I’ll even upload photos.”

“Now that’s seriously cute,” he said just as the car came to a stop. A long shadow loomed over them due to the sky-high structure blocking out the sun. It was the Korean Babel tower.

Tiger was the first to step out, then he walked over to slowly open Jio’s door. As she stepped out of the vehicle, she pulled her hood over her face and cursed his name under her breath since he had mocked her for the entire car ride. He grinned as he continued to hold her door open, then placed his large hand on her hooded head after closing it.

He bent down low to reach her ear and whispered, “That’s a bit cruel. I meant every word I said.”

How could a man lie about someone being cute? he thought to himself. Well, I suppose she is still just a child.

* * *

[Confirming entry requirements. Loading...]

[Approved - Hunter (S)]

[Ranker confirmed - “Sorcerer King” Jo, #2]

《This marks your first visit.》

《Welcome to Babel Tower, Jio Gyeon!》

《Due to the ongoing tutorial, access to all floors is temporarily restricted to the ground floor.》

《Jio Gyeon (#2), as a top hunter, you have access to the monitoring room during the tutorial period. Would you like to enter?》

/Your rank and nickname will be made public upon entering the monitoring room. Do you accept?/

/You have declined. Jio Gyeon chooses to enter the monitoring room anonymously./

[Monitoring room| “Anonymous” has entered the room]

[You have now entered Babel’s Tower of Universal Balance & Astral Domain.]

《Powers of celestial “Fate Reader” have been partially liberated.》

《Powers will be applied to avatar of “Fate Reader” per celestial contract.》

《Jio Gyeon, True Avatar - Changes applied.》

[Tower accepts true name of avatar “Librarian of the Omniscient”!]

[Tower accepts first title of avatar “Sorcerer King”!]

[Librarian of the Omniscient (Unique) - While inside the celestial domain, you will receive 0.005% proficiency level boost to unique celestial skills with every passing hour.]

[Sorcerer King (Mythical) - All limits on magical progress are temporarily removed while inside the tower. You recover mana twice as fast. You are impervious to all magical damage from enemies.]

+ 00:00:04:31

+ Progression Buff - ON/OFF

[Proficiency level of exclusive celestial skill “Librarification”: 17.025%]

[Title traits “Qilin Heart” (Legendary) and “Mana Body” (Rare) reach level 2.]

Huh? N-no way… Gotta say I love all these freebies!