Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!

Chapter 510  Ranking Announcement [4]

The notion that I could even make it in the rankings was ridiculous. Let alone the fact that I was publicly a First Order, but besides the Malovia incident, what other achievements did I truly have to warrant a ranking?

I had juggled with the idea of potentially making it to the rankings, as unlikely as the idea was, but in the end, I realized that it was simply not possible. If by some crazy circumstance I did make the rankings, it'd be towards the very end of the rankings. At around the nine hundreds. Therefore—

"And with that, the seventeenth batch comes to a close. In just a moment, we will continue with the next, under the same rules. But take note: we are drawing ever closer to the top one hundred."

By now, all thoughts about making it into the rankings were gone. I could maybe force a reason for the 1000th spot, but near the top 100? Nonsense.

It was simply not possible.

"…I guess you didn't make it, huh?"

Eve Kyle and the others had long given up on the idea of me getting ranked. I felt a lot more relaxed. As if a weight had been taken off my shoulders. "It wouldn't have made sense for me to have made it in the rankings. I'm still at the First Order, after all."

"Yeah, I guess."

Kyle didn't say anything else. He just patted me on the shoulder, seemingly trying to cheer me up, but it wasn't like I needed it. I never had high hopes in the first place. I knew my limit, after all.

"But I think it doesn't make sense."

At least, I assumed that everyone was on the same page as me.

Turns out, maybe not.

"I get that Seth isn't as strong as the rest, but if the Malovia incident is a strong weight for the upcoming rankings, then he should have been ranked. This seems a bit unfair."

Surprisingly, it was Rowan who complained.

With his legs crossed, his finger tapped against the armrest in a steady rhythm.

He spoke as the MC started to announce the next batch. "Seth's achievements aren't just small. Taking into consideration what everyone here did, compared to what he did, it's practically negligible. He practically cleared the Gate by himself. Although there was an element of 'luck', it doesn't take away from his achievements. He should've gotten a ranking."

"I don't think you're wrong, but there's never been a Paragon that's only at the First Order."

Kyle spoke up, his lips pursed. Although it looked like he had been resigned a moment prior, it did seem like he also thought the same as Rowan. At least, a small part of him. Nowhere near as much as Rowan.

"Never happening doesn't mean it shouldn't happen."

"…That's ridiculous."

Unable hold back, Zoey joined in on the conversation.

"Do you guys realize the amount of backlash the BUA will receive for placing a First Order in the rankings?"

The way she looked at Rowan and Kyle was as if she were looking at two weirdos.

"Taking aside the fact of whether he deserves it or not, the citizens will start to think of the rankings as some sort of joke. Not just that, but Seth will probably incur a lot of hatred and ridicule from the papers and other Paragons. It would just be bad for all parties involved. There's nothing good about Seth getting a rank." I silently nodded my head.

Yeah, pretty much. The idea of getting a rank was tempting, but it was far from practical. Even though there was a lot of attention on me, it was still manageable. If I got a rank and became a Paragon…

I started to shudder at the thought.

"Yeah, but so what?"

It was as if Rowan didn't care at all about Zoey's points. Instead, his brows were furrowed.

"Seth deserves a rank. I'm just stating what is fair."

"You… ah."

Sigh. With a sigh, Zoey looked away. "You, I swear. It's like a cult."

Overhearing her words, I raised my brow. Cult? What sort of nonsense was she spouting? But then—

"He's right, you know?"

An unexpected voice chimed in, prompting everyone to freeze as we slowly turned our heads to stare at the indifferent Clara, her gaze still locked onto the stage.

"Based on his achievements, he does deserve a ranking."

"…."

"…."

After a brief pause, Zoey turned to face my direction.

Then, with her eyes wide, she muttered.

"You… what have you done to them?"

I'd like to know myself…

Clara's involvement was wholly unexpected, even to me, but just as my lips opened to speak, my phone vibrated. Ding!

A chime followed right after. It almost felt as though time itself had frozen.

No, it was more like the entire area around me had frozen.

I tried my best to remain relaxed. 'There's no way. I probably got a message from someone.' Taking out my phone, I looked at the message that I received. But—

[Congratulations! You've made it through to the rankings. Your name will be announced in just a few moments. Please get ready!]

My hand turned weak. For a moment, I almost dropped the phone in my hand as several eyes locked onto the message on my phone. "There's no way, right...?" Zoey's dumbfounded expression was interrupted by the MC's words as he began to speak.

"The next name may come as a surprise. By all expectations, he should not have been in attendance this evening. And yet, after rigorous evaluation and careful consideration of his contributions at the Malovia Gate, he has broken into the top one hundred, carving his name at the very top of the Paragon list." Slowly, I raised my head. My stomach churned the moment I did. Feeling the weight of all the stares in the venue, I felt my stomach turn weak. By now, there was no doubt about the validity of the message on my phone. I could pretend like it was a joke a few seconds ago, but not anymore. The MC continued. "For the first time since the creation of the ranking system, we see not merely an entry, but a complete surge past every threshold, culminating in a place within the top one hundred. This is a feat without precedent, and one unlikely to ever be repeated, especially when one considers that the individual stands at only the First Order. Luck may be argued. Fortune may be questioned. But the conclusion is undeniable. The results are final."

With a pause that seemed to hold the collective breath of everyone present, the MC announced the next name. "...At the 98th Ranking, please welcome Seth Thorne of the Malovia Guild." My name.