Chapter 121: The True Rankings Revealed

“Silence,” the Archmage commanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs. “Lucia and Julie’s scores are not in question.”

“Did you not witness what emerged from the cross earlier? The aura of those mysterious figures was likewise absorbed into it. There were over a dozen third-tier practitioners among them, alongside several fourth-tier ones.”

“Their accumulated grievances far surpassed those of ordinary specters, making it effortless for them to surpass the thousand-point mark.”

‘So, Lucia and Julie were attacked and managed to repel those individuals?’ a practitioner mused. ‘That certainly explains it then…’

Upon hearing the Archmage’s detailed explanation, the practitioners who had previously harbored doubts about Lucia and Julie’s scores finally tempered their skepticism. The specters they themselves had encountered were predominantly of the Contaminated-level, equivalent to first or second-tier, with a significant portion barely reaching first-tier.

Considering Lucia and Julie had managed to defeat over a dozen third-tier practitioners, it was undeniable that their strength far exceeded their own. Faced with such mysterious adversaries, many realized they would likely struggle even to survive.

In truth, even Julie herself was considerably surprised by her team’s final score. While she had anticipated her team would likely surpass Lucia’s once two-fifths of Lucia’s points were added, she had never imagined their total would breach the two thousand mark.

Only after listening to the Archmage’s explanation did she fully grasp that all those private soldiers had been converted into cold, impersonal scores.

Despite this, she harbored no sorrow for the fallen private soldiers within her heart. Instead, a wave of secret delight washed over her, for she had shattered her personal record in the Monster Hunt Exercise.

While reaching over two thousand points was a result of an unexpected turn of events and additional scores, the Monster Hunt Exercise was fundamentally designed to assess a practitioner’s true capabilities. This outcome simply served as proof of Julie’s superior strength.

Provided no similar incidents arose in the future, her score would likely remain unrivaled, setting a precedent for all who followed. Upon her return to the Royal City, she was certain to achieve widespread renown, earning the profound esteem of the Church. She even entertained the thought of being appointed as the next Church Saintess.

As for the lives of those private soldiers, Julie remained utterly indifferent. They were orphans from the outset, and in her estimation, they ought to feel honored to have served under the Crimson Family, expending their last vestiges of value for her sake.

Meanwhile, Lucia and her two companions, despite their sighs and evident disappointment, found themselves surrounded by numerous practitioners. These onlookers regarded them with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.

While their scores didn’t quite reach Julie’s heights, they too had surpassed the two-thousand mark, a clear indication that they had vanquished a considerable number of mysterious figures.

Both Julie and Lucia were presently enveloped by throngs of other practitioners. Each person, brimming with curiosity, eagerly inquired about the mysterious figures and the Bloodkin, seeking every detail they could.

“Lady Julie, you weren’t injured during your battle with those mysterious individuals, were you?”

“Are those mysterious figures truly practitioners just like us? Can they wield our magic? Is that real?”

“Do they truly dissolve into blood upon death? How terrifying…”

Confronted with this barrage of questions from the practitioners, Julie’s side appeared flustered, uncertain how to respond. The truth was, they had never encountered the black-clad figures or the Artificial Bloodkin, and thus had no knowledge of their abilities or whether they mirrored those of other practitioners.

Julie’s team members skillfully redirected conversations, attempting to placate the other practitioners, all while subtly casting expectant glances at Julie. They hoped she would step forward and offer some explanation.

Every member of the team was aware that the impressive score rightfully belonged to Lucia’s group. Yet, they remained unsure of Julie’s current intentions. She seemed to revel in the admiring glances of the others; surely, a sudden confession would only humiliate her. It was better to allow Julie to speak for herself.

Julie, naturally, perceived her companions’ growing discomfort. She knew they hadn’t witnessed the private soldiers firsthand. However, she was unwilling to relinquish this prime opportunity to flaunt her perceived achievements.

Thus, she deliberately stepped forward, her voice ringing out as she came to her companions’ rescue.

“My apologies, but my companions are quite exhausted from their arduous battle with those individuals. Please, spare them any further questioning. Direct any inquiries you may have to me instead.”

“Yes, those practitioners were indeed just like us, wielding identical magic and abilities.”

“And yes, they truly did dissolve into blood upon death. To be perfectly honest, it gave me quite a fright at the time.”

In stark contrast, Lucia’s team, despite their subdued spirits, continued to patiently answer the practitioners’ questions.

“Thor, I heard there were fourth-tier practitioners among those black-clad figures. Are you all right?”

A younger, knightly girl, her face etched with concern, turned to Attestor.

“We’re fine.”

Attestor shook her head gently.

“While we did sustain some injuries, we were fortunate to receive timely treatment. There are no lasting issues now.”

“Lady Lucia, are those individuals truly practitioners, just like us?”

A Nun approached, her demeanor respectful, yet she found it arduous to rein in her burgeoning curiosity.

“…Yes, they possessed both knights and mages. There were no Nuns among them, but they did have the rare class of Assassins.”

“They are clearly practitioners just like us… why?”

While this Nun shared the pervasive confusion, the Church’s adherents harbored the most profound hatred for Fantasy Creatures, which only intensified their disdain for the mysterious figures’ actions.

Imeline stood silently behind Thor and Lucia, her expression unreadable. She overheard Julie’s grandiloquent pronouncements from nearby, and a wave of indignation washed over her.

‘Julie possesses no shame,’ Imeline thought, seething. ‘She never even encountered those black-clad figures. Their sole target was Lucia!’

‘Both the black-clad figures and the Artificial Bloodkin were vanquished by us,’ she mused. ‘How is it that Julie now claims such immense credit?’

‘Something isn’t right…’

Observing Julie, who was still speaking with such confident eloquence, Imeline was overcome by a profound sense of unease. Julie had never encountered those black-clad figures, so how could she appear so self-assured, so utterly convinced that they were exactly as she described?

If this was merely a fabrication or an elaborate act, then Julie’s psychological fortitude must be extraordinary. To portray such naturalness and provide such precise descriptions was truly astonishing.

“No!”

Imeline’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharpening. The seed of doubt, planted earlier, began to sprout anew within her mind.

There was, in fact, another possibility that could account for Julie’s eerily accurate descriptions of the black-clad figures: those black-clad figures were dispatched by Julie herself!

Even if she hadn’t personally dispatched them, Julie, at the very least, must have known them. Coupling this thought with the hidden secrets of the Crimson Family’s orphanage, Imeline grew even more certain that these black-clad figures were somehow connected to the Crimson Family.

‘No wonder they immediately tried to retreat upon seeing Lovelenica, instead of fighting back with desperate ferocity,’ Imeline realized. ‘If every single one of them had attacked us in a near-suicidal manner, much like that Black-robed Mage, we would never have survived.’

“Silence.”

****

After a brief interval following the initial announcement of the score list, the Archmage once again spoke, gesturing for the assembled crowd to quiet down.

“Given the unique circumstances of this event, there will be a slight divergence between the initial score list and the final overall ranking,” he declared. “What I am about to announce now is the true, definitive ranking.”

Upon hearing the Archmage’s unexpected words, the crowd collectively froze, their murmurs instantly ceasing. They fixed their gazes intently upon the Archmage standing on the altar, holding their breath in anticipation of the final rankings.

“First place: Lucia’s team.”

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