Sister of the Ranking 1st (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4

A chill swept over me. It was a cold that pierced to the bone. The temperature here didn’t seem unusually low, so what was this cold I was feeling? My mind was in chaos.

I’d been caught up in a Gate.

[This is the timeline separator]

If I were to explain how I got caught in the Gate, I’d have to start from what happened before.

After joining Cheonrang, my days settled into a routine of ordinary commuting.

It wasn’t entirely peaceful, though. Incidents and accidents kept erupting, and public transport during rush hour was torture.

Still, the work itself was manageable. Since I was pulling my weight better than expected, my teammates genuinely liked me.

Though they never said it outright, they’d leave canned coffee, candy, or chocolate on my desk.

Thinking back to my previous job, where I’d been quietly ostracized, made me want to cry even more.

By now, I’d grown fairly close to my team leader. She’d even suggested I drop the formal “Team Leader” and just call her “Unnie,” but when I declined, she gave me a sad look.

Worried that as a rookie, I might face Hunters directly, be overwhelmed by their aura, and quit, she’d specially arranged things so I wouldn’t have to interact with the combat team. She probably planned to assign me such tasks once I got more comfortable.

Of course, it was all familiar territory for me—but I pretended ignorance and gave a naive smile. I had to keep my ties with the Association a secret.

She often told stories from the past, saying that long ago, it was common for Hunters within guilds to threaten clerical staff using their Skills.

She laughed and said how fortunate it was that such things had stopped since the law was enacted—but her laughter didn’t sound genuine.

“The law’s been in place for quite a while now… When exactly was that?”

I asked cautiously.

“Back then… before I joined Cheonrang. At least Cheonrang’s staff only threaten with words, right?”

That was her reply.

She added that even now, in other guilds, clerks and low-ranked Hunters are frequently intimidated with Skills—and then she smiled, suggesting I consider becoming a full guild member.

Since I couldn’t just plant my stake wherever I wanted, I merely smiled.

By my second week on the job, I’d grown used to the hellish rush-hour trains.

Still, it was just as exhausting. Sitting on a bench during lunch, sipping coffee, I couldn’t help but groan aloud.

Fatigue had built up. I couldn’t possibly move my whole household for a mere three-month temporary clerical position, so I had no choice but to endure.

Sometimes, I let my mind wander into idle fantasies.

If I really did become a full Cheonrang guild member, maybe I could look for a place nearby? Though land prices here were steep, so rent would be outrageous. I’d have to find somewhere reasonably distant.

An unformed future began painting itself effortlessly in my mind. I even started dreaming of finding a house where I could keep pets—and definitely adopt a cat.

My imagination quickly sprouted wings and flew off to strange places.

What if my parents hadn’t passed away? What if my older brother were still alive—and greeted me warmly upon my return?

If only I’d had a family.

If only there’d been even one person who supported me.

“Huh? Haven’t seen your face before.”

“…?”

“Whoa, what’s this? You’re an unawakened one. Hey, you! This is a restricted area—how’d you even get in?”

“What?”

Lost in thought, I was suddenly confronted by a stranger.

I’d heard Awakened individuals could access each other’s Awakening data—so he must’ve tried to view mine. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

The man, with a distinctly aggressive look, frowned.

“What are you? How dare an outsider just waltz in here?”

“I work here.”

“Work? Don’t lie. Do you have any idea what I went through just to get in here…? Wait—seriously?”

When I showed him my guild ID, valid for only three months, his eyes widened in disbelief.

“Are you kidding me? They hired an unawakened person? Cheonrang? The Cheonrang? Hey, be honest—did you come from Am Wol? Or maybe you’re one of those…?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sorry, but I have to go now.”

“Hey, wait!”

I tried to slip away before things escalated further. That guy was clearly trouble.

My long history of part-time jobs screamed red flags in my head—but ignoring it, he roughly grabbed my arm and held me back.

“How dare you walk away when I’m talking to you!”

“What are you doing? Let go of me!”

Just as fear shot through me that this might actually turn violent—

Kkik. Kkikikik.

A strange ringing filled my ears.

It wasn’t so much a sound heard through the ears as an unpleasant, grating dissonance scraping directly against my nerves.

[Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error!] [System:: Normal access denied. Error!] [S§ste∞:: L§ading data for Awak§ned ∌h§n Shin Ah…] [Error!] [System:: Unauthorized access detected.] [Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error!] [Syst∭:: ¥§nce of the Etern§l W§nter King gr§nted ent…] [Error!]

Unfamiliar windows swam chaotically before my eyes. A sharp headache crushed me—as if someone had reached into my skull and violently scrambled its contents.

“What the—hey, hey!”

Noise, dissonance, ringing, discomfort, headache, distorted vision.

A dull impact slammed into my whole body. My vision went black.

[This is the timeline separator]

Somewhere nearby, the scent of flowers bloomed. The sweet fragrance scattered wildly in all directions.

‘…no matter what it takes… will you…?’

Someone asked me. The voice was achingly familiar and deeply missed.

What did I reply? I’m sure I answered, but I can’t remember.

Only the distorted expression and the gentle hand stroking me remained…

‘…then… if that is truly your… wish…’

She replied, her laughter sounding more like weeping.

A brilliant field of flowers. An eternal springtime realm. A paradise free of sorrow and misfortune.

A world where the purely preserved continue to live.

So this laughter must be…

Beyond my hazy vision, the woman wore a sorrowful expression. She spoke.

Amidst the blurred chaos, only her voice rang clear.

‘Someday, you must return to me, my child.’

What did I answer her? That I’d come back? Or that she shouldn’t wait?

My head throbbed.

No, ██. I haven’t accomplished anything yet. I…

[This is the timeline separator]

My head pounded. I’d never suffered such a headache—not even after drinking all night. Breathing was difficult. My limbs felt numb, the air bitingly toxic against my lungs. My vision was pitch black—so dark I couldn’t tell if my eyes were open or shut.

“Aaah… ah…”

I barely regained consciousness, only to be slammed by unbearable cold. With great effort, I pushed myself up and saw a corridor decorated in pure black—and beside me, one collapsed person.

“Unbelievable…”

They say when something is utterly absurd, you can’t help but laugh. And laugh I did—from sheer disbelief. No matter how many times I’d run emergency simulations, nothing compared to living it. I instinctively wrinkled my nose at the rotting stench mingling in the air.

A white afterimage flickered before my eyes, then dissolved. What was that? Rational thought began freezing under an overwhelming wave of terror.

My fingertips trembled. My throat went dry. Was there anything I could do? In this situation? Gritting my teeth, I shook the person beside me.

“Hey. Hey. Wake up. This isn’t time to sleep.”

“Mm… Mom… Mom…”

The man beside me wouldn’t wake easily. He seemed trapped in a nightmare.

A curse slipped through my teeth. I’d seen it countless times on the news—but now that it was happening to me, my mind went blank.

Setting aside the awful luck of getting caught in a Gate Sync, I’d never even heard of one opening inside a guild’s premises.

This was as unprecedented as an unawakened Returnee.

Anxiety surged, but I forced myself to shake off the dread.

No tears came. My fear-numbed mind instead rendered me unnervingly calm. What should I do in a situation like this?

Swallowing hard, I scanned my surroundings. Even the air itself seemed ominous—a murky, violet-black smoke flowing somewhere.

And that white afterimage drifting since earlier… There was no way I could survive this alone.

My fingers trembled violently. If I let my guard down even slightly, I’d collapse right there and start sobbing.

But I couldn’t just sit here, either. Swallowing again, I hoisted the unconscious man onto my back and moved.

Instinct screamed: do not follow where that murky violet-black haze flows. So I turned and headed the opposite way.

With every step, dark thoughts flooded my mind.

Would I die like this? Without achieving anything? With no family, who’d even hold my funeral? Would anyone mourn me?

They say ordinary people freeze completely when facing monsters. And there’s always that rotting smell. What would I do then?

The weight pressing down on me brought me back to reality. I wanted to abandon the unconscious man—but if he died too and I was truly alone, I knew I wouldn’t survive it.

“What did you even eat to be this heavy…?”

Since immediate danger wasn’t upon us yet, this much should be fine.

Perhaps because of the thick silence, the heavy scent of death brushed against my nose.

Normally, you’re never supposed to touch anything inside a Gate. The rule is to stay still and wait for rescue—but my instincts shrieked that staying put was a death sentence.

I kept supporting the man until I managed to get us both into a nearby room.

Only after stepping into the pitch-black room—where not a single light shone—could I finally drop him almost violently onto the floor.

He continued whimpering as if still trapped in a nightmare. Judging by his twisted expression and tear-streaked face, his dream must’ve been truly horrifying.

Still, having someone with me—however unconscious—somehow brought strange comfort.

Carefully closing the door behind me, the lights suddenly turned on.