Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

“Hyun Habin, hasn’t your sick leave ended?”

“…….”

“It should have ended, so why…… are you at our house again today?”

Chae Jiseok gently nudged Habin, who was sprawled on the living room floor, with his toe. She remained motionless, stretched out as if she were dead.

‘She is alive, right? She hasn’t moved all day…….’

Just then, Habin lifted her head with a bright expression.

“Today’s an unexcused absence!”

“Ah, you startled me! Hey!”

Why aren’t you going to the training institute!

[Tsk tsk, isn’t it time to give up? Hyun Habin isn’t the type to be persuaded.]

“I know you’re also enjoying your web novels, Ahezar-nim! When did you get so hooked?”

At Chae Jiseok’s reprimand, the pure white sword that had been glued to the phone screen flinched.

[O-oh, not today! There’s a 45-episode free event today! I must, without a doubt, binge-read it…… And this work here has a free event every hour until today……]

‘Let’s not even bother.’

Chae Jiseok, who had been something of a mentor figure, shook his head as if giving up. As he was busily packing his things, Habin asked:

“That’s Jise-unni’s luggage, right?”

“…….”

Chae Jiseok looked up. His eyes met Habin’s, who had been watching him for who knows how long.

Jiseok looked back down at the potion bottles and items spread out on the floor. All items that the siblings had been saving for important battles.

“That’s right. Tomorrow’s the day for the 50th floor conquest.”

“…….”

The 50th floor conquest.

At the last SPES meeting, as soon as the talk about the ‘Guardian of Deception’ ended, Fides got to the main point.

After all, the original purpose of that meeting was about conquering the 50th floor.

Jiseok briefly summarized the explanation.

“According to Fides-nim, the 26th and 50th floors are deeply connected. The 26th floor boss is a Demon King, and the 50th floor also has a demon realm theme. So there’s apparently a magic that links the two. He said he researched it diligently on his own.”

The 26th and 50th floors.

Habin fell into thought.

‘Come to think of it, Kriksha also fled from the 26th to the 50th floor.’

This allows for a simple deduction. It seems Fides can use similar magic.

“However, he can’t move many people, so only the top 10 elites can go. They asked for volunteers.”

The so-called ’50th Floor Expedition’.

“……So, Jise-unni volunteered?”

“I said I would go, but nuna insisted on going instead.”

Chae Jiseok sighed. With a complicated expression, he muttered:

“Still, I believe she’ll return safely.”

“…….”

Habin looked at the luggage on the floor. Despite Chae Jise being famous as a healer, Jiseok was carefully selecting the most expensive and rare recovery potions for her.

It was a solemn and very familiar hand movement, as if sending someone off to their final battle.

He seemed experienced in this kind of thing.

Habin, still lying on the floor, propped up her chin.

‘Well, I’ve heard the Chae siblings have been through a lot.’

These days, many forget due to their wealthy image, but the Chae siblings are active hunters.

Considering that many people quit being hunters and focus on work-life balance once they make some money, their path was quite unusual.

From the moment the Gate Crisis hit, they’ve always been at the forefront without rest.

They must have faced countless crises, from the very first gate to the strongest existing bosses.

And each time, they must have packed like this. Perhaps thinking this might be the last time.

“……That’s right. Unni will return safely.”

Habin nodded. Just as she picked up a potion bottle that had rolled near her,

The front door swung open with a bang.

“Jiseok, have you packed everything…… Oh my, Habin’s here too! Didn’t go to the training institute?”

“Unni!”

Jise, who had burst into the house, smiled warmly. As they greeted each other excitedly, Jiseok added:

“She skips more days than she attends.”

As if to deny it, Habin quickly exclaimed:

“No, I was waiting for unni today! To say goodbye before the 50th floor conquest!”

“You skipped the institute to see me? I’m truly touched!”

Jise, who had been answering Habin, looked to the side. Noticing the items Jiseok had been packing, she let out a small laugh.

“Hey, why did you pack so much again?”

“What? We always pack this much when going to dangerous places.”

“Come on, my inventory is full. I can’t fit all this.”

“But it’s the 50th floor.”

“…….”

A brief silence fell. Though they had overcome numerous crises, even for them, the 50th floor seemed quite daunting.

An unknown realm that humanity had never reached before.

And not through steady progress, but using an unconventional method.

Chae Jiseok tossed the bag he had been leaning on to Jise.

“If your inventory’s full, put it in the backpack. Your strength stat is good, right? You can wear it.”

Jise, catching the bag, smiled brightly.

“As expected of my brother, sometimes you’re smart!”

“Just sometimes?”

“Right. I’ll correct that to often smart.”

Jise replied while putting potion bottles into the backpack. She spoke as if suddenly remembering something.

“Oh, and I’ve already briefed Secretary Lee at the guild about most things. The two of you should be fine running Solaris. You remember everything I told you, right?”

“……Yeah.”

“Good. I’ll trust that you’re often smart.”

“…….”

Chae Jiseok frowned, as if displeased.

“Come back quickly. There’s too much work without you, nuna. The three of us—me, Secretary Lee, and you—used to handle it, but with you gone, Secretary Lee might start singing his resignation song again.”

The tasks they used to handle comfortably as a trio. With just two left, it might turn into a series of overtime and coffee-fueled nights.

“He’s already in an uproar about losing the one who could heal among the three of us! He’s wondering how we’ll manage overtime without you. We’ve been getting by with your buffs and healing instead of coffee, Hot Seven, and expensive potions. He says it might have been better if I had gone instead.”

“Haha, that’s true. Secretary Junhwi will have to work hard since I’m leaving so suddenly. If it gets too much, just leave it. I’ll handle it when I get back.”

“Unni, don’t forget we were supposed to go to the strawberry buffet. You know? I’ve been craving strawberries for a month now.”

Habin, who had been beside them, chimed in. Jise made an ‘oh right’ expression.

“That’s right. Come to think of it, we haven’t been to most of the places I promised to go with you, Habin! We’ve only been shopping together!”

Jise smiled awkwardly, as if regretting it.

“Let’s go when I come back.”

“……Okay.”

So come back safely.

Though it sounded like grumbling, Jise couldn’t miss the worried looks from the two pairs of eyes directed at her. After a brief silence, Jise added confidently:

“Don’t worry, everyone! I’ll come back safely. You know the famous saying in the stock market, right?”

Jiseok chuckled.

He couldn’t possibly be unaware of the famous saying that ‘The path Chae Jise chooses never fails.’ But a saying is just a saying after all.

“Alright, just be really careful.”

In truth, no matter how excellent Chae Jise’s precognition ability is, she can’t predict everything.

Her consistent success in investments is because she only ventures into fields where she’s certain of success after thorough consideration.

Even she can’t predict everything—gate conquests, humanity’s future, her own life and death.

“…….”

Jise lowered her eyes.

Still, with her siblings cheering her on like this, she has to return no matter what, right?

“Don’t worry, little ones.”

She grinned and picked up the full backpack.

◆◇◆◇◆

The next day.

Having no choice but to attend the training institute, Habin sat in the very back of the classroom.

Of course, she wasn’t listening to the lecture. Instead, she secretly took out her phone to watch the news livestream.

Soon, her precious fully-charged Bluetooth earphones gently settled in her ears.

[Yes! Today’s the day! Humanity’s first conquest of the 50th floor!]

The screen showed Fides, Chae Jise, Kang Taeseo, and several other rankers. About 10 people in total.

[They’ve already been nicknamed the ’50th Floor Expedition’, and from our country, Kang Taeseo and Chae Jise volunteered.]

[They’re both the most exceptional hunters in our country, aren’t they? So isn’t there significant concern from people? Sending two of our country’s treasures…… to such a dangerous place, voices of worry are being raised.]

[But it could also be an opportunity. A chance to experience the higher floors before anyone else. If they didn’t participate, they might fall behind. That’s why there were more high-ranking volunteers than expected. They filled all ten spots in no time.]

The scene showed the hunters just before entering Kill Screen. Numerous reporters, along with their families and colleagues, were giving them a final send-off.

A familiar blonde was visible to one side. Chae Jiseok had also attended to see Jise off.

‘Pfft. He went after all. Saying it was noisy and he wouldn’t go.’

Initially, Habin had wanted to go too, but Chae Jise had preemptively stopped her.

‘Besides, if I skip one more day without excuse, my training life might be in danger…….’

Habin had already used up her sick leave and unexcused absence combo. Even the Kang Taeseo card had its limits. Moreover, Kang Taeseo himself was away from the guild due to the 50th floor expedition…….

Habin, resting her chin on her hand out of boredom, turned up the volume.

‘Since I couldn’t see her off in person, I’ll at least do it through the news livestream. This is legal, right?’

It was a good justification.

[Above all, Fides’ confidence must have had the biggest influence on the hunters’ decision to participate.]

[Yes, that’s right. Fides stated that he has a way to safely return from the 50th floor!]

[Oh…… With Fides’ guarantee, there’s no reason not to participate, is there?]

Just then, the screen focused on Fides’ mask.

The root cause of sending Chae Jise to the 50th floor!

So it was that guy?

Habin muttered unconsciously.

“That mask-wearer! If you don’t bring our unni back safely, I won’t let you off easy!”

“You there! Who’s talking?”

“…….”

Habin quickly ducked down, trying to avoid the instructor’s gaze.

‘Ugh, this training institute…… I’ll definitely escape from here someday.’

She clenched her fists tightly. Ahezar asked curiously:

[Do you dislike training that much? Isn’t this a place where you can be discharged if you just diligently attend classes?]

‘Training, my foot! It’s those damned classes that are the problem!’

The classes at the training institute were always a series of crises.

At least, for Hyun Habin specifically.

For example, in monster combat practice:

“……Now, let’s try using an attack skill, imagining this dummy is a monster.”

‘This is bad.’

Skill? Use a skill?

In a split second, Habin quickly asked Ahezar:

‘Kim Jaljal! What’s the weakest skill we have?’

[What? Weak?! What nonsense are you spouting! There are no weak techniques among mine! How diligently I honed these skills! Each one is a precious gem!]

‘Oh, shit. What should I do?’

This life is ruined.

After pondering, Habin decided to just slice the dummy very gently.

‘Let’s go without a skill. That’ll be the weakest.’

Still, she had to make it look like a skill somehow, so Habin imbued a little mana.

Just a little, and if she slashed gently…….

‘It should work, right?’

“Yah!”

-Boom!

However, the dummy couldn’t withstand the impact and exploded.

“…….”

“…….”

[…….]

The atmosphere turned awkward. The training institute assistant blankly picked up the shredded dummy.

Habin quickly added:

“This is, as you can see, my ultimate technique! Final skill! What was it called again? Ah! Blade Hurricane……!”

“…….”