Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

Hyun Siwoo originally had a slight inclination to side with Ahezar.

Let’s try to prevent the world’s destruction, fighting!

Something along those lines.

Surprisingly, Ahezar’s prophecy of destruction was true. It was also true that they had failed to prevent the destruction before the regression.

That’s why Hyun Habin had given Siwoo the regression item, saying she’d do better in the next life.

‘Of course, she’ll fight against the system this time too, right?’

Yes, that’s how Habin used to be. So he thought she would follow the same pattern this time.

Honestly, considering how he had struggled for five years to obtain Ahezar, and all the hardships he endured to reach the first rank…!

He had hoped that Hyun Habin would start pulling her weight now.

But Hyun Siwoo stopped abruptly in front of the house’s front door.

The small voice coming from inside.

“All those times I had to pretend to know when everyone talked about watching Sweet Home or Tale of the Nine Tailed! I’m late, but I’m going to binge-watch them all now!”

“I need to go to the PC bang I couldn’t visit before, and the karaoke, and the movie theater…”

“……”

[What are you doing not going in?]

So that’s how you’ve lived for five years, Hyun Habin.

Unable to enjoy what others did, without a moment’s rest.

A corner of his heart felt a sharp pang.

By this time, the pre-regression Habin would have already reached the world’s pinnacle and been thriving.

Yet the reason she couldn’t do that was…

Because Hyun Siwoo had taken Neaiba, which should have been her first constellation, instead. This was the butterfly effect caused by that.

‘Well, strictly speaking, it was all instructed by the previous life’s Hyun Habin anyway. Blame yourself, little sister.’

Not my fault.

Anyway, not my fault.

[How long are you going to stand there? Aren’t your legs tired?]

“Anyway, it’s not my fault. This is all the fault of the previous Habin.”

[Good grief.]

“When I heard information through indirect channels, they clearly said she was living well. I had no idea she was living so difficultly.”

I should replace all my informants at this point. I really didn’t know about the debt either.

Hyun Siwoo grumbled as he entered through the front door.

◆◇◆◇◆

And now.

In this situation, with his collar firmly grabbed.

‘…Wow, her strength is no joke.’

She really has awakened, hasn’t she.

Hyun Siwoo glanced sideways. Does this mean I’ve definitely lost my de facto world rank 1 position?

It was partly due to the constellation’s influence, but I still worked hard for it.

“This isn’t something you mistakenly brought from your company or some organization, is it?”

Habin asked, pointing with her foot at the wooden box discarded in the corner. Hyun Siwoo shook his head.

“No? It has ab~solutely no~thing to do with my work.”

In fact, it was related.

“Then what is it?”

“How would I know! It was your request!”

“I never made such a request?”

Habin asked back, as if it was ridiculous.

At this point, there was no choice. Hyun Siwoo had a plan. It was something he had thought of from the moment he bought the Melona.

‘Pretend not to know at all costs. Feigning ignorance is the only way to survive!’

It was the most effective method that had worked when they fought and clawed at each other in the past, when they caused trouble, and when they had to make excuses to their parents.

‘Don’t know, don’t know! I definitely don’t know. Really don’t know!’

‘Then who did this?’

‘I wonder. Is there a ghost in our house?’

‘……’

Roughly this kind of exchange would usually defuse the nagging situation to some extent.

Even if it was cowardly, he had no choice. He couldn’t tell Hyun Habin the truth.

‘And let the current Habin clean up the mess made by the previous Habin. Please, don’t drag me into the middle of this…’

If I’m reborn, I should never become a regressor again.

Hyun Siwoo, having quietly organized his thoughts, opened his mouth.

“It was a package that came in your name before. It said to bring it home. I forgot about it and left it there, then remembered and brought it.”

“I thought you were missing? How could I have sent a package?”

“Oh my, that’s right?!”

Pretending to be genuinely clueless. Feigning goosebumps.

“You didn’t even think that much? Where and how did it come from?”

“That… I threw away the packaging years ago, so I don’t know either.”

“And you’re sure I sent it?”

“Wasn’t it you?!”

Pretending to be truly surprised.

“Then what’s this about it being my birthday present?”

“Well, I just wanted to pass it off as that.”

“What about saying you obtained it with great difficulty?”

“Of course… I just wanted to make myself look good.”

“Wow, that explanation is annoyingly plausible?”

Habin scrutinized various parts of Siwoo’s face, as if trying to determine the truth.

But there wasn’t anything particularly suspicious to latch onto. That incredibly natural expression, even the face color of genuine surprise.

‘There’s no way Hyun Siwoo could act this well.’

In fact, he could.

And at a very high level, too. Hyun Siwoo was currently giving a perfect performance.

‘This is the ability of someone who’s lived two lifetimes, acting while treading the line between life and death, foolish little sister! To catch up to me, dying and coming back once wouldn’t be enough!’

Hyun Siwoo, who had quickly become excited after successfully deceiving her once, cleared his throat and asked nonchalantly.

“What’s the problem? What was it? Was there something bad inside? What’s this about a sword?”

“Ah, geez, that’s…”

He really doesn’t know.

If Hyun Siwoo didn’t know, Habin wasn’t sure how much she should explain. She tried to think realistically.

And then.

[This world will soon perish! Help me, Hyun Siwoo!]

Ahezar had no thoughts.

“Argh, can’t you be quiet? What if you blabber that to everyone!”

[Humanity must know!]

“Some things are better left unknown!”

“Pfft.”

Hyun Siwoo finally failed to maintain his expression.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Hey, you better watch your mouth from now on. If you blabber like that in front of other humans again, I won’t let it slide. I’ll seal you away again where no one can find you.”

[I’m sorry.]

“And don’t you think that I could be killed if you mess up? We don’t even know who’s an enemy or ally right now.”

[I’m sorry…]

Ahezar added dejectedly.

[But, I judged this human to be safe.]

“How on earth did you come to that conclusion?”

[I can’t explain it exactly, but the aura he gives off…]

“What nonsense about auras. Are you a fortune teller?”

[Fortune teller…?]

“Hah.”

Habin seemed to think it was better to placate him, so she spoke gently with a transcendent smile.

“Now, think before you act from now on. Strength isn’t everything. Isn’t this why you failed in the previous world?”

[I-Is that so…!]

“Yes. So, think before you speak from now on, okay?”

Hyun Siwoo, who had been silently listening to this tragicomic conversation, thought.

‘They really do get along well.’

It was time to wrap up this ridiculous conversation.

“So, to summarize, this is a constellation, and it’s saying the world will end soon, so it wants to take down the system together? With you, Hyun Habin?”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t believe it. It’s really unbelievable.”

“Right?”

Hyun Siwoo didn’t stop pretending not to know.

Wow. Re.al.ly?

Such.an.a.ma.zing.thing.is.hap.pen.ing?

“So when did it say?”

“I asked about that, but even it wasn’t sure of the exact timing. It seems we’ll last at least 25 years if we live quietly.”

“What, so it’s not imminent destruction.”

“That’s right. I’m just going to plant an apple tree here.”

YouTube on one side, Netflix on the other.

Apples are red too, so it should be fine, right?

‘I should buy all Apple series devices while I’m at it!’

Listening to Habin’s diligent apple orchard plan, Ahezar, who had been quiet, flared up.

[That complacent attitude is the problem with you humans! That’s why you don’t protect the environment and leave it to future generations!]

“That’s true, but where did this come from? How do you know about that when you don’t even know YouTube?”

As Habin poked at the sword, Hyun Siwoo quietly asked.

“So you’re just going to rest?”

“Rest? I’m going to have fun. Doing things I want to do.”

“Were there a lot of things you wanted to do?”

“Yeah. I already have a backlog of dramas to binge-watch, a list of restaurants to visit, hobbies to pursue. Also…”

“…I see. I understand.”

Hyun Siwoo nodded calmly and stood up.

“Then you have nothing more to say? If not, I’ll be going now.”

“Hey, no… um, oppa.”

Habin stopped him. She looked a bit urgent. Hyun Siwoo, for his part, froze in place.

‘Look at that form of address. Does she have another favor to ask?’

“Sorry for suddenly calling you. Um… I ended up telling you everything, but keep my awakening a secret, okay? You understand, right? I really want to live quietly. Please, just this one thing.”

It was a serious voice, different from her previous grumbling.

Siwoo looked at the crack in the floor once, Habin’s cozily decorated desk once, and Habin’s small shoulders once, then turned around.

“…Alright. As if I’d go around talking about such things. Do as you see fit. It’s none of my business anyway.”

◆◇◆◇◆

Hyun Siwoo left the house just like that. As soon as he got outside, Neaiba’s flustered voice followed.

[Really? For real? You’re just going back like this? No persuasion?]

“What else can I do? She says she wants to rest.”

[Then who’s going to prevent the destruction? Without power on the level of Hyun Habin, the chances are slim!]

“Sometimes the world rolls along and reaches its end. That’s just how it is.”

[……?]

“Or, is there absolutely no possibility of preventing it with just me? Come to think of it, that’s a bit disappointing in its own way.”

[……]

A long silence.

“You think it’s not possible, I see. I understand.”

Hyun Siwoo laughed lightly.

Neaiba tended to be bad at lying. Given its nickname as the ‘Thinking Staff’, its calculations were probably accurate.

‘But a kid who’s just happy to finally have some time to rest…’

How could I force her back onto the battlefield?

[…So that’s how you think.]

“……”

Besides, there’s no guarantee of success even in this iteration.

Rather than harboring potentially futile hope and suffering again…

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to give up, accept fate, and find what happiness is given?

[Still, we might be able to prevent it this time. This iteration’s Hyun Habin has stronger power than ever before.]

“No.”

Hyun Siwoo added, as if making an excuse.

“Neaiba. Even you of Aurayden failed at this once. And we failed once too. No matter how strong this iteration’s Habin might be…”

[……]

“It doesn’t make sense to forcibly push someone for just that reason.”

[…Then what about the five years you’ve struggled?]

Hyun Siwoo grinned.

“I didn’t struggle at all. Rather, thanks to that, I’m now reaping the benefits of being ranked first. Hyun Habin probably struggled more.”

Neaiba fell silent. Thinking that his contractor was being particularly boastful today, he added with a sigh.

[But you can’t cover the sky with your palm. If that child has that level of potential, it will be revealed to the world someday.]

◆◇◆◇◆

And a few days later.

Habin fell into despair upon seeing the official document that arrived at her home.

[You are a subject for Awakened inspection. A report has been received of signs of an Awakened in your area. You are required to undergo re-examination as soon as possible…]

Trembling.

“Damn it… Who the hell reported this?”

[Oh, what is this!]

“Awakened inspection… Well, anyway, there’s such a thing.”

Habin muttered in disbelief and buried her face in her hands.

“I’m doomed. If I don’t go, it’s not just a fine, but straight to jail.”

[Jail? You mean where criminals are confined! You become a criminal if you don’t reveal your power!]

In contrast, Ahezar seemed very excited.

[This country is really efficient! They don’t let those hiding their power get away!]

‘What do you mean efficient!’

Habin shouted in shock.

“You lunatics! Is this what a democratic country should do? Where are human rights, human rights?”

[You can’t take the path of a criminal! Uphold the spirit of law-abiding!]

“Don’t just bring that up when it suits you!”

After the Gate incident, Awakened no longer had the freedom to hide their power, nothing of the sort.

Every country in the world would immediately re-examine at the slightest hint, trying to secure as many Awakened as possible.

The number of Awakened possessed equates to national power!

That’s why they investigate down to the last grain.

“I haven’t even dared to look at my stats yet because I’m scared.”

[Let’s go for the inspection right away! What are you waiting for! Start by hitting world’s strongest first!]

“No way, you madman! Hah, I guess I should at least get a sense of how much it’ll be. Should I buy and chug some debuff potions?”

Habin opened her status window with a trembling voice.

“How much are the stats…”

[Status]

……

Health: 2.14 billion (Inactive)

Mana: 2.14 billion (Inactive)

……

“This can’t be fixed!”

All stats at 2.14 billion each.

Are these numbers insane?

Habin tried to pin her hopes on the word ‘Inactive’ next to it.

Right. So logically, it’s not applied yet, right?

[Currently in inactive state.]

[In inactive state, only 0.000001 times efficiency is generated.]

“Oh, 0.000001 times, that’s a huge reduction. Then it should decrease a lot, right?”

Let’s calculate.

0.000001 times is one millionth.

2.14 billion divided by a million is…

2,140?

Even being generous, this is still SSS-rank at minimum.

“…It’s still too much!”

Habin wailed.