The hammer that Baek Yi Hyun provided wasn’t very big or heavy. It might work on transformed dead people, but not on skeletons.

“…Don’t just ask for help, escape on your own. And… those people are already dead.”

It was a statement no one would hear, but I uttered it out loud anyway.

I have to do something, at least.

The cleanup in the sky is almost finished.

“Listen up, everyone! These monsters’ attribute is death. If there’s anything alive, they’ll instinctively go after it, craving life. You won’t turn into the same thing if bitten by a zombie, so just manage your wound infections properly!”

As I shouted, a few who had been standing dazed seemed to come to their senses and moved. Since dying from skeletons won’t turn you into that state, zombies won’t increase once the sky monsters are cleared.

“I, I don’t want to die…!”

But the skeletons on the ground kept increasing. Where were they all coming from, rushing in like that?

We won’t be able to hold out like this.

If they crave life…

[Error!] [Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error! Error!] [Syste∬:: Decrypting locked information.] [Error!] [System:: Starting update.]

I will become that life.

[System:: Information confirmed] [System:: Fairy King’s successor, Cheon Shin Ah updates information.] [System:: Error confirmed] [System:: Updating information of Fairy King’s successor, Cheon Shin Ah.] [Name: Cheon Shin Ah

Overall Rank: S

Alias: Yohwa (謠華)

Attributes: Four Seasons (四季), Fantasy (幻想), Life (生)

Characteristics: Fairy King’s Successor (Ex), Queen of Enchantment (Ex)]

The wind blew. Everything stopped. All the death craving life turned to look at me. A strange sensation flowed through my entire body.

“…Everyone, come to your senses and run away.”

It was my voice, yet at the same time, it was unfamiliar.

People who had come to their senses started to flee. The monsters aimed at me.

−An unpleasant being dares to intrude in my domain.

A low voice resonated. The monsters that seemed about to pounce on me stood frozen in that posture.

“Dare, you say. Who invaded first and killed people?”

Mocking words tumbled out of my mouth on their own.

The scent of death grew stronger. Seems it got angry. As I slowly raised my hand, a skeleton that noticed the change rushed at me.

“…Shin Ah!”

Likewise, Baek Yi Hyun, who had been fighting in the air and noticed something strange, fell to the ground. Clang, the sound of metal hitting metal rang loudly in my ears.

“If you’re dead, you should stay quietly in the afterlife. Why try to kill living people too?”

From where I stretched out my hand, the ground froze solid white. Along with the ground, death also froze.

−Such a thing will only stop movement, you can’t do anything else.

As the low, unpleasant resonance grated on my ears.

“Ha! This was worth rushing here despite opposition! To think I’d witness the awakening of a new S-rank up close.”

Someone appeared, kicking a skeleton’s head.

“Hey, are you Cheokcheon’s sister?”

Sharp eyes with wispy gray hair. The knuckles studded with five-colored jewels shone their own colors clearly even under the red sky.

That person is…

“Oh, you froze them all so they’re easy to break? This is convenient! Hm? Our little one is here too. Hey, kiddo!”

“…I told you not to call me kiddo, Guild Master.”

“Let’s go! Cover me!”

“…Haah.”

The frozen skeletons started shattering to pieces. I stood three steps away, watching the scene.

Finally, when the last skeleton turned to scattered dust.

−…Wait at the bottom of the lake.

The unpleasant, sticky voice left just one sentence and disappeared.

[This is the timeline separator]

The situation was quickly resolved. People who survived among the piles of corpses were blankly staring into space.

“Ah, aah…”

“It’s okay now.”

I hurried to heal the burst and mangled wounds of the people first.

[Skill use− Four Seasons’ Poem (S):: Spring’s Joy]

: Heals wounds and increases regeneration.

People’s complexions gradually improved. Though I couldn’t restore them to perfect condition, this should be fine for immediate first aid.

As I stood up to look for people still in bad condition, an unfamiliar voice came from behind.

“Oh, you have quite a rare skill. What a shame. If you weren’t Cheokcheon’s sister, I would have recruited you.”

The man who had wiped the blood off his face said cheerfully. Before I could respond to his words, Baek Yi Hyun spoke with a sigh.

“The cleanup is mostly done, but don’t just stand around, help out. If people gather, they’ll swarm in again soon like that.”

True to his words, black mists in the air were repeatedly gathering and dispersing.

“Since when did our promising rookie start talking weak? I’ll leave the sky cleanup to you, kiddo. No need for cover on the ground, so go wild on your own!”

Those two will manage on their own. I hurried to rescue people.

As the rescue was nearing its end, the man spoke to me again. He was someone I knew.

“Nice to meet you. Are you Cheokcheon’s younger sister?”

“…Baekya Lee Ryeo Hyun?”

“You know me?”

Baekya, Lee Ryeo Hyun showed his white teeth in a grin.

The second most famous… well, maybe not that far, but nearly as well-known S-rank hunter in Korea after Cheon Shin Woo. Lee Ryeo Hyun, the owner of the shining domestic rank 2 and guild master of Amwol, tapped my head lightly.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“…No, not for now.”

“Well, that’s good then!”

With a cheerful personality that didn’t match his thug-like appearance, he put his hand on his waist and laughed. I felt dazed.

I never expected Lee Ryeo Hyun himself to come. At most, I thought A-rank hunters from the association would come as an advance party.

Ignoring my lukewarm reaction, Lee Ryeo Hyun stroked his chin and looked at me.

“Hmm. I’m asking just in case, but you. Is your alias Yohwa?”

“What?”

What is he talking about? As Lee Ryeo Hyun’s slanted gaze fell on me, a window popped up.

[World Ranking change!] [Updating information for Yohwa (謠華) Cheon Shin Ah.] [(New!) World Rank 42, Yohwa (謠華)] [Domestic ranking is changing.] [(New!) Korea Rank 6, Yohwa (謠華)]

“…”

What is this? I rubbed my eyes.

[World Ranking change!] [Updating information for Yohwa (謠華) Cheon Shin Ah.] [(New!) World Rank 42, Yohwa (謠華)] [Domestic ranking is changing.] [(New!) Korea Rank 6, Yohwa (謠華)]

The window floating before my eyes was the same. Could it be…?

I hurriedly called out for my status window.

“Status window!”

[Name: Cheon Shin Ah

Overall Rank: S

Alias: Yohwa (謠華)

Attributes: Four Seasons (四季), Fantasy (幻想), Life (生)

Characteristics: Fairy King’s Successor (Ex), Queen of Enchantment (Ex)

Affiliation: Cheonrang (Vice Guild Master)]

The windows floating before my eyes didn’t even budge, as if confirming that the information I was seeing wasn’t false.

Awakening? Me? When? Come to think of it… I just used a skill, didn’t I?! The fact that I only now realized due to the chaos was unbelievably surprising.

I quickly called out other words I knew.

“Status, Skill window.”

[Name: Cheon Shin Ah

Health: 31

Strength: 27

Agility: 57

Intelligence: 61(99)

Wisdom: 87(99)

Mental Power: 99

Charm: 73(99)

Control: 99] [Name: Cheon Shin Ah

Four Seasons’ Poem (S) −Active

Rune Magic (A) −Active

Enchanting Illusion (S) −Active

Fairy’s Aria (A) −Active

Manifestation (S) −Active

Paradise Summon (Ex) −Active

King’s Aura (A) −Passive

Spirit Affinity (A+) −Passive

Mental Barrier (S+) −Passive]

Familiar yet strange letters were shining on the translucent window. My current feelings couldn’t be explained in any words.

Lee Ryeo Hyun, who had been watching me from behind, pouted.

“Seems you have some pretty good skills. Rising to 6th place right after awakening… Geez, what’s a hard worker like me supposed to do?”

There’s no persuasiveness when the domestic rank 2 says such things. When I didn’t react, Lee Ryeo Hyun shrugged and showed his white teeth again.

“Well, whatever. Anyway, the conclusion is that there are two S-ranks here, right? Then there’s no need to waste more time. Come on, let’s go!”

“…Go where?”

“Where else? To defeat the boss, of course.”

It was such an outrageous statement it seemed foolish. In place of me who was dumbfounded, Baek Yi Hyun, who had returned at some point, protested.

“Even with two S-ranks, it’s difficult to attack without information and preparation. We need to check the attributes too.”

“What does that matter? It’s darkness and death attributes here anyway, right? You have light attribute, I have light attribute. That’s enough, right? Let’s go!”

Lee Ryeo Hyun pointed at Baek Yi Hyun and himself with his finger. Were death and light opposing attributes? As I frowned at the information that didn’t come to mind well, Baek Yi Hyun sighed again.

“…Shin Ah just awakened, so she probably doesn’t know the mechanics of her skills well.”

“Oho. Then it’s an even better opportunity! How often do you get a chance to practice in real combat?”

“…”

It was miraculous logic. I chewed over and over on his words. So, he’s saying the three of us should attack an S-rank Invasion Gate now…?

“Wait, wait a minute! You’re saying we should go defeat the boss? This is S-rank, you know? No, it could even be Unknown! And you’re saying just the three of us should go? Practice in real combat? Did I hear that right?”

“Oh, you understood correctly, young lady. Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. If we can clear it ourselves, isn’t it better to do it quickly? If it’s an Invasion type, new damage is probably occurring all over the place even now.”

His pearly white teeth sparkled distinctively. Just what nonsense is this person suddenly spouting?

Looking at that sight, one fact came to mind.

The fact that Lee Ryeo Hyun once attempted to solo clear an S-rank gate to beat Cheon Shin Woo, but ended up crying and being rescued by his guild members…

It seemed necessary to calm him down first.