LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 28 - Rank Assessment 4
Chapter 28: Rank Assessment 4
『May Ark and your infinite glory and development shine ever brighter!
Congratulations on becoming a part of Ark, humanity’s last bastion and hope!
Originally, many procedures were required for your admittance into Ark as a returnee from another world.
These included the Barrier Agency’s rank assessment, the Outer Impurity Verification Center, the Non-Human Ideology Verification Agency, and even approvals from eight third-class Overseers.
However, the benevolent Gre-Oriya Administrative Execution Agency has deemed these verifications unnecessary administrative burdens.
With the approval of two first-class Overseers and one administrator, your case has been expedited!
Indeed, Ark is ready to welcome you as its newest member!
Humanity’s greatest remaining paradise and hope eagerly welcomes you, urging you to fan the flames of hope within Ark with your abilities.
Returnee registration has been finalized.
Final Rank: Ultima-class Returnee [Deemed highly human, with potential and actions expected to greatly benefit Ark].
Approval Guarantors:
First-Class Overseer Oriana Haleson
First-Class Overseer Fira Dunhill
Gre-Oriya Administrative Execution Agency Administrator Rilstia Frostia.』
“Is the Ultima rank a high one?”
Honestly, Alice had thought her rank would be classified with combat power values like F-class to S-class, as often seen in hunter stories.
However, the returnee rank assessment evaluates how well a returnee adapts to Ark, avoids causing trouble, and whether their strength and potential benefit Ark, rather than simply quantifying combat power.
“Hehe, it’s the highest rank a returnee can receive! Oriana and I pulled some strings.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Hehe, be even more grateful!”
“Oh, much more grateful.”
Though there had been minor disturbances at the Barrier Agency, they served to demonstrate Alice’s potential and abilities, acting as a sort of endorsement.
Thanks to this, she gained the certification of two first-class Overseers and the approval of a high-ranking administrator.
What would normally take weeks for a returnee’s assessment was completed in less than three days, which ultimately worked out well for Alice.
“Hohoho, anyway, congratulations! With this, Miss Alice officially becomes a proud member of Ark, and, in a sense, a junior to Oriana and me!”
In a leisurely café during the day, Alice, Fira, and Oriana gathered to celebrate Alice’s successful admission to Ark and to discuss their plans moving forward.
The more populous the residential district, the richer and more diverse the culture became, resulting in places like the Kowloon Steps becoming melting pots of culinary and multinational influences—even cafés weren’t exceptions.
The current location, a medieval fantasy-themed maid café called [Glass Teacup], exemplified this trend.
In contrast to other maid cafés, where maids might wear revealing outfits showing panties, thighs, and even their buttocks, some even allowing physical contact if requested, [Glass Teacup] offered a different experience.
Its maids, seemingly trained to serve nobles, exhibited no skin exposure and displayed elegant movements and graceful manners, marketing their poise as the main attraction.
Even the café’s music came from classical heritage, played on records instead of holographic speakers.
It was an ideal spot for those wishing to indulge in an old-fashioned sense of romance.
“Hohohoho! Truthfully, I played a major role in this! Without me, there wouldn’t have been enough people to guarantee Alice’s identity!”
Securing the endorsement of two first-class Overseers is virtually impossible.
What method could a returnee, who had just arrived in Ark with no family, friends, or acquaintances, possibly use to obtain the guarantees of not one but two first-class Overseers?
The process of a returnee becoming a full citizen of Ark was incredibly strict, but there was a reason for this.
Ark’s greatest enemy and humanity’s existential threat, the calamities, often took human forms or imitated them.
There were numerous instances in the past where calamities masqueraded as returnees to infiltrate Ark.
Each time, Ark suffered casualties numbering in the tens of thousands, and during the Great Calamity, there were unverified reports of a million deaths.
It was only natural for the process of admitting returnees—or any external humans or intelligent beings—into Ark to be stringent.
“So, Miss Alice?”
“What?”
“Why don’t you try calling me ‘sister’ once? And add my name—say ‘Sister Fira’ while you’re at it!”
“Sigh.”
Alice was not someone naturally equipped with manners.
Her mental age might have been around her teens to twenties, but having lived her third life, she was older than most.
Moreover, having once lived as the Demon King, her soul outright rejected the idea of speaking delicately like a refined lady and calling someone “Sister~.”
On top of that, watching Fira laugh loudly enough to draw the attention of those around her reminded Alice of a rowdy noble’s daughter, making her even less inclined to call her “Sister” obediently.
Still, it was true that Fira had helped her this time.
Alice steeled herself and decided to address Fira with a title that conveyed respect and gratitude.
“Thank you, Aunt Fira.”
“Ohhoho! That’s exactly—wait, what the hell did you just say?”
“…….”
Oh dear.
Was that a sore spot?
For a fleeting moment, something resembling the Demon King appeared on Fira’s previously smiling face.
“Alice, dear? I can tolerate the childish pranks of a young girl to some extent. However, calling me such a title is inappropriate for someone who has yet to take a husband. How about trying something else, like ‘Sister,’ ‘Big Sis,’ or even ‘Onee-san’?”
“…..”
“Come now, repeat after me, Alice. Sister!”
“Aunt.”
“…..Alice, dear? I understand that adapting to the language here may be challenging for a returnee like yourself. Shall we try again? Follow me—Un.”
“Un.”
“Ni.”
“Ni.”
“Wonderful! Now put them together—Un. Ni.”
“Un. Ni.”
“Excellent! Now add my name to it. Repeat after me—Thank you, Sister Fira~.”
“Thank you, Aunt Fira.”
“You little brat.”
Was it just her imagination, or did Fira’s face just split vertically, revealing sharp teeth, before returning to normal?
Blinking in surprise, Alice saw that Fira’s face was once again that of a serene noblewoman.
“Could Fira not be human either?”
Well, that was possible.
There were elves and insectoids here, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Fira was also of a different race.
Regardless, Alice decided not to be intimidated despite witnessing Fira’s terrifying side.
Her years of experience and accumulated life events had dulled her sense of fear for something like this.
Besides, the title “Aunt” was one she had carefully chosen, infused with her own form of respect.
“Haah… huff, huff, huff…”
Barely calming herself, Fira forced her lips into a semblance of a benevolent smile, though it looked more like a rigid mask.
“Alice, dear, this is quite simple. Why do you test me so?”
“Well, you know… It’s just that, doesn’t Fira look much older than me at first glance?”
“Wha—ugh!? O-Older!?”
Hearing the word “older” as if it implied “aged,” Fira bit her lip tightly.
“T-Then why not just call me Sister…!”
“Oriana, who picked me up, is practically my adoptive mother, isn’t she? So, does that make Aunt Fira the same age as Oriana?”
“N-Not exactly the same, but our ages are similar!”
“Calling a forty-year-old ‘sister’ is basically throwing etiquette out the window, isn’t it?”
“F-F-F-Forty?! You little brat!!! I’m 38 years old!!! I’m not in my forties yet!”
“Oh, you’re 38? Then ‘aunt’ fits perfectly!”
“Darn it…!”
If Alice had been completely devoid of manners to the point where she made others truly furious and impossible to deal with, Fira wouldn’t have vouched for her during the returnee assessment process in the first place.
As a first-class Overseer who had built her career encountering all sorts of human behavior, Fira found Alice to be a rather refreshing case.
For one, Alice’s doll-like beauty had made a strong impression from the start, but what intrigued Fira even more was how Alice stood her ground and refused to be intimidated by her.
“I didn’t know Fira had such a sharp tongue.”
Returning after a call with an administrator, Oriana noticed Alice and Fira having fun and raised the corners of her lips.
“Oriana! Help me! That wretched brat called me ‘aunt’!”
“She’s not wrong, is she?”
“No, not you too, Oriana…!”
-Thud!
In the end, the exhausted Fira slammed her face onto the table with a sorrowful expression.
She had hit the table so hard that it seemed to have developed a faint crack.
Guess she’d have to compensate for that later.
“Sniffle, this is the end. I’m doomed to be called terms like ‘ma’am,’ ‘old lady,’ or ‘has-been’ from now on. It’s such a cruel fate…!”
“No way. Since I’m calling you ‘Aunt Fira,’ you’re not a ‘ma’am’ just yet.”
“That’s not comforting at all!!!”
“Then what should I call you? Is there a more fitting title than ‘aunt’?”
“Just call me ‘Sister’ already!”
“Not that.”
Alice’s firm attitude made it clear she had no intention of ever calling Fira “Sister,” causing Fira to grit her teeth before letting out a deep sigh.
“…Just, just call me by my name casually.”
“Oh, casually? I like that. From now on, I’ll just call you Fira. Doesn’t it feel nice, like we’re the same age?”
“Oh my, if Miss Alice calls me Fira, does that mean we’re the same age now?”
Oriana seemed like she wanted to say something but held it back.
Fira, laughing brightly again, seemed unusually simple-minded today, whether intentionally or not.
“Hey, she’s the same first-class Overseer as me, right?”
When one thinks of a first-class Overseer, the image is usually of cold, calculating individuals with steely eyes and judgments as harsh as a winter gale.
They are seen as the shield protecting Ark and the sword cutting down its enemies.
But Fira was particularly out of place within that mold.
“Ohhoho! Fine! From now on, Miss Alice can call me Fira!”
“Got it. Hey, pass me the water.”
“Hey? Hey? Heeeey? What did you just call me?!”
“We’re the same age, so I’m speaking informally.”
“O-Oh…aha! Right! We’re the same age!”
Oriana decided not to mention how the word “same age” carried implications of looking old.
Seriously, did she eat something weird on an expedition? Why is she so hung up on age?
Her intelligence seemed a little off too…
“Well, at least she looks happy.”
In truth, Fira was quite happy.
To put it simply, it was the typical, cliché feeling of “You’re the first person who’s ever made me curse!”
Fira was sociable with everyone and excessively lenient, but she didn’t have relationships she could truly call friendships.
In other words, she didn’t have a best friend she could greet with crude remarks like, “Go die, you bastard.”
But with Alice, the two had quickly become close enough to trade sharp words and informal banter.
Of course, part of it was because Alice’s appearance aligned perfectly with Fira’s preference for pretty, petite, doll-like figures, softening her even further.
“By the way, Alice, the administrator now officially recognizes your existence.
You’re now an official Ultima-class returnee, with both me and Fira as your guarantors, making you a full-fledged member of Ark.”
“So, does that mean I’m like the two of you’s adopted child? Waaah, Mama Fira, feed me!”
“You little…huff, Alice! I’m not a mother yet!”
“Pfft, no, not an adoptive child—just a guaranteed returnee. Think of us as your sponsors. Now you’ll have to go through the process to become a true successor.”
“Wait, I’m not a successor yet after this procedure?”
“Not exactly. To become a successor, you’ll need to put in the effort. It doesn’t just happen.”
At Oriana’s words, Alice looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Ah, so I need some sort of achievements to become a true successor?”
“That’s right. Becoming a successor is a difficult process. Once you earn the title of successor, you’re essentially treated as an Overseer. This is where Alice gets her options…”
“Options?”
“One is to shadow me for about seven years, assisting with tasks and earning commendations. Another is 15 years of mandatory service as an executor for the agency. Or you could work 25 years as an administrative assistant for the agency…”
“Ugh…”
Terrible, disgusting options.
Service? Work?
Living a third life, only to face something like the military again, or live the life of a corporate drone?
“I might as well reset my brain at this point.”
“If not that, then you’ll need to become a Hunter, earning my sponsorship while achieving a certain level of merits.”
Alice understood why Oriana had brought this up.
To become a successor, one must accumulate merits.
Although Alice had already earned merit by defeating a True Ancestor at the Barrier Agency, it couldn’t officially be recognized.
No one would believe that someone who had just returned defeated a True Ancestor, and worse, someone might try to dissect Alice, who absorbed the True Ancestor’s blood for energy.
“They’re pushing for me to achieve merits while fulfilling that transactional relationship at the same time. It’s basically the real final option.”
Previously, Oriana had proposed two things to Alice.
To become a successor and to conquer unexplored dungeons.
In return, Oriana would back Alice and provide all the support she needed.
While Alice didn’t know Oriana’s personal circumstances, it was clear Oriana wanted to resolve something through Alice that she couldn’t handle herself.
“Then, it looks like being a Hunter is the only option.”
“Right? Good.”
“A Hunter, as in what I think? Hunting monsters and all that?”
“Yes, from now on, you’ll truly have to stand on your own, Alice.”
“Ohhoho, Miss Alice. If standing alone scares you, this lady can assist you!”
Ignoring Fira’s flirtatious whisper, Alice smirked.
She would essentially have to start from scratch.
Hunter sounded impressive, but in reality, it was the same as the adventurers often depicted in medieval fantasy.
Start at the adventurers’ guild from the bottom, work your way up, and someday you’ll defeat the Demon King and save the world.
Wasn’t that a story often found in fantasy tales?
“Sounds fun. Alright.”
“By the way, starting tomorrow, Fira and I will be returning to our Overseer duties, so we won’t be able to help you directly. But there’s one last thing we can give you.”
“What is it? Are you giving me a legendary item?”
“Not a legendary item, but if you follow me…”
“Oh, wait. Let’s finish eating this first.”
With that, Alice expressed her desire to stay a bit longer.
On the surface, it seemed like Alice simply wanted to enjoy the classical music playing and the coffee brewed by the skilled master…
【Internal Energy Charging – Current Capacity: 93.2%】
【Charging will be complete in 7 minutes and 38 seconds.】
Ah, this place is expensive.
I probably won’t get to come here often, so I might as well make the most of it while I’m here.
If I’m not coming back, shouldn’t I leave well-fed?
Be it coffee or electricity?
With that thought, the tendrils on the back of Alice’s neck focused on the invisible blind spot where they connected to the café’s power outlet.
The tingling sensation traveling up her spine seemed to electrify her brain parts and body components.
“Heh, hehe…sip.”
To avoid suspicion, Alice took a sip of the coffee Fira had ordered.
-Bzzz!
“Ahh.”
“An android body like one from the movies, and you can even drink coffee. That’s pretty amazing. Doesn’t it short-circuit or anything?”
“I-It’s fine. Hot. This place is tasty…”
“Ohhoho! It’s only natural for someone of this lady’s same age to enjoy it! I knew the coffee here would suit Miss Alice’s taste!”
“Mm, mm-hm. It’s good. Here.”
The electricity at this café tastes like coffee milk.
I want to come here again.