Prologue
A long, long time ago. A time when kings ruled the world—or perhaps even before that.
Since the very first page of history was turned, ‘Constellations’ were always alongside humanity.
The word ‘Contract,’ found in ancient folktales, refers to precisely this. A transcendent power awakened when a human contracts with a Constellation.
In some documents, it was described as a preface to heaven and earth; in others, as a mysterious conception dream or prophecy. At times, it was spoken of as a bell endowed with miraculous power…….
The system! The proof of a ‘Contractor’ who transcends human limits to clear the fractures!
However, in ancient Korea, the presence or absence of a system did not seem to matter all that much.
『In that unknown year, the Jade Emperor sent his crown prince down to the human realm to play… (omitted) …Because the prince possessed a mysterious power, people revered him as a Constellation and a Heavenly Being…』
『…One day, he took a human as his son and made a contract.』
No matter which historical record you searched, mentions like this were the extent of it.
Someone a little special, but fundamentally an ordinary human. That was how history and the public evaluated Contractors.
And that evaluation abruptly shifted 30 years ago when the Tower suddenly appeared and the ‘Fractures’ began to manifest.
[‘Golden Spoon’ Ranker ‘Fake’ Relic Controversy… Apologizes in Tears]
[‘No Intention to Deceive Subscribers’ Pledges Deceived Public, but Sentiment Remains Cold]
Ranking.
A system that lined up Contractors based on how effectively they cleared the Fractures.
With grades ranging from F-rank to S-rank established, a gap opened between the upper and lower tiers. As eyes converged on the high rankers and grade disparities were highlighted, people spoke with one voice:
An F-rank can never succeed.
If they step into a Fracture, they’ll die or end up crippled within less than an hour.
[Oh Ji-yoon Succeeds in Clearing SS-Rank Fracture… The Rebellion of an F-Rank]
[Russia, the Nation Holding a Fracture for the Longest Time, Sparks Controversy by Stating ‘We Already Made a Scout Offer’]
Thus, F-rank Oh Ji-yoon’s success sent shockwaves through the world.
[Breaking News! Oh Ji-yoon Retiring? Ranker Support Headquarters Currently Assessing the Situation…]
Down to the perfection of her retiring immediately right after.
Chapter 1
The initial start of the storm that swept through Korea was simple.
As always, without any warning signs, an SS-rank Fracture appeared.
This time, in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do.
[Breaking News! SS-Rank Fracture Manifests in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do]
[Same Rank as World’s Longest-Maintained Fracture… Concerns Grow: Will It Become the Second “Bear Ferry of Creation”?]
“My family is in there right now!”
“Sir, you’re going to save my daughter, right? Sir….”
“You cannot enter this area!”
People flooded into Gumi immediately. Families of those trapped inside, journalists chasing a story, and guilds and rankers aiming for the clear.
Yes, guilds and rankers. Those who contracted with Constellations to gain transcendent power, and their gatherings. Called Awakened, standing beneath mythologies, urban legends, and folklore depending on the nature of their contracts.
Forming ranks, they rushed into the Fracture all at once.
Noticing the arrival of the rankers, the Fracture shuddered violently…….
【WARNING】
【SS-Rank Fracture, “Maitreya of Creation,” is expanding its domain.】
“A-Ah, oh no…!”
The moment the interior of the Fracture flickered into view, a desperate wail echoed through the crowd.
【SSS-Rank Relic, ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty,’ is observing the SS-Rank Fracture, “Maitreya of Creation.”】
【Counting the deceased……】
Of all things, the rank of the newly manifested Fracture matched the one that hadn’t been cleared in 15 years. Of all places, it was in Korea, which was said to be suffering a severe drought of top-tier rankers.
[Public Opinion Boiling Over to Blockade Gumi… Appealing to Government for Swift Decision]
[Korea Ranker Support Headquarters: We Will Deploy More Personnel]
Public sentiment plummeted in an instant.
[Title: Honestly think we need to blockade Gumi]
Body: Just what the title says. If we leave it like this, it might grow even bigger. A blockade is the cleanest option.
└ LOL would you say the same if it were Seoul??
└└ Everyone there is probably dead anyway… How could anyone survive that…
└└└ (This comment has been deleted by CleanBot)
Even those opposing the blockade couldn’t bring themselves to say that survivors should be saved. After all, it was rare for survivors to return intact even from a B-rank Fracture.
They were probably all dead anyway. That was what everyone thought.
“Excuse me. Where should I put these people?”
The evening of the first day. Until an F-rank ranker suddenly emerged and set down the survivors.
The moment F-rank ranker Oh Ji-yoon put the survivors down, all eyes converged on her.
‘What in the world.’
That was the thought that flashed through everyone’s minds.
A small, unbothered face and a body without a single scratch. Setting down the survivors almost as if it were the natural order of things, she stared blankly at the control officer…….
If the SSS-rank Relic, ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty,’ hadn’t measured the woman’s rank, they would have assumed she was an S-rank Contractor.
That was why it felt so eerie.
It was the F-rank ranker, Oh Ji-yoon, who broke the silence first.
“…I’m Oh Ji-yoon.”
It was her own logical deduction as to why no one was answering her.
However, the people were frozen for a completely different reason than Oh Ji-yoon thought.
‘An F-rank……?’
An intimidating, eerie presence emanated from her. Why? Because she survived an SS-rank Fracture despite being an F-rank? Because an earring gleamed beneath her shoulder-length black hair?
No one knew the reason. Yet, every time Oh Ji-yoon shifted her feet to rebalance herself, it felt as though the very ground was tilting.
The sound of creaking time passed by…….
“Ah.”
Staring blankly at them, Oh Ji-yoon let out an exclamation of realization. Turning her head, she raised a hand and slowly waved it.
Clack. With the sound of something shattering, the heavy air eased up.
Oh Ji-yoon said:
“Sorry. I forgot.”
【SSS-Rank Relic, ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty,’ records the opening of Oh Ji-yoon’s Astral Status.】
【SSS-Rank Relic, ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty,’ observes the cancellation of Oh Ji-yoon’s Astral Status opening…】
Astral Status. A fraction of authority granted by a Constellation recorded in a high seat to their Contractor. People blinked in bewilderment, never expecting to see an Astral Status from an F-rank ranker.
Gradually, their senses returned.
Realizing just how incredible this situation was, people’s jaws dropped wide open.
…Right now, a ranker named Oh Ji-yoon had just brought out survivors from an SS-rank Fracture for the first time in world history!
“Yoo-hyun!”
As if frozen time began moving again, reporters screamed and pulled out their cameras. A mother burst through the crowd, calling out her son’s name; cheers, shouts, and noises that were hard to tell whether they were chants or sighs of relief rang out loudly.
Behind them, while an SS-rank Fracture writhed and the ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty’ counted the dead, an F-rank had walked out without a single scratch, bringing survivors along?
Excited people pulled out their phones to open social media, pouring out claims that things would be different this time. Though mocked by some, it gained a degree of shared hope, even if optimistic.
It took only a few minutes.
A genuine F-rank. Unique skill: Random Gacha (F-rank). Lost both parents in a fire at age 10, then became a ranker.
Information about Oh Ji-yoon—the exact kind reporters loved—was laid bare.
“Ranker Oh Ji-yoon! You are the first in the world to survive an SS-rank Fracture…!”
“Do you believe your determination to rescue survivors stemmed from the flaw of being an F-rank?!”
Even as the party involved merely observed the chaotic wave before turning back toward the Fracture.
Regardless, the uproar continued.
[Title: Looks like there’s gonna be a huge rank shift this time??]
Body: Is there anyone here who doesn’t know Ranker Oh Ji-yoon now? Since ranking includes recognition factor.
└ Still, she’s F-rank, so she’ll probably land around rank 500. If she only rescued people, she won’t have much contribution score.
└└ Yeah, but still solid.
Ranking was the sum of public recognition and Fracture raid contribution.
While many lamented her limitations since grades never change throughout a lifetime, the majority felt that achieving this much was already incredible.
However, Oh Ji-yoon didn’t stop there.
【Day 1 Raid Progress: 7%】
【01. Oh Ji-yoon (2.3%)】
【02. Aran Mexicuire (0.7%)】
【03. ……】
It was surprising enough that an SS-rank Fracture reached a 7% raid progress on the first day, but her contribution score alone was 2.3%.
That wasn’t a number achievable by simply rescuing people.
The message boards blew up once again.
[Title: How on earth did she get that contribution score!!]
Body: How’d she do it? How’d she do it? How’d she do it? She only saved people, so how’d she do it??
While some marveled,
[Title: About that contribution score though]
Body: Maybe because it’s the ‘Maitreya’ Fracture? LOL Giving contribution score for saving people from a Buddha perspective LOL
└ Legit plausible..
└└ Isn’t her skill a gacha too? She must’ve drawn a crazy good one this time LOL so lucky LOL
The prevailing opinion was that ‘she was just lucky.’
That’s right, luck. Up until then, that was the primary interpretation. She happened to save people in the “Maitreya” Fracture, and she happened to draw a good skill.
So people believed it.
That it was all a stroke of luck and would end soon.
Why? Because she was an F-rank.
└ As if she’ll ever hit another Fracture like this again, it’s just a one-hit wonder.
A Fracture where saving people granted contribution points, drawing the nation’s undivided attention, all while landing a great skill pull.
Many claimed that once she failed to encounter such a specific Fracture again, she would eventually be forgotten. To those remarks, Oh Ji-yoon answered with raid progression speed.
【Day 2 Raid Progress: 47%】
【01. Oh Ji-yoon (23%)】
【Day 3 Raid Progress: 99.99%】
【01. Oh Ji-yoon (78%)】
‘Yeah. If I do really well this time, I won’t have to worry or struggle in the future.’
It was an undeniable achievement that silenced the chatter of busybodies and kept those who admired her in continuous awe.
Tributes of gratitude also poured in.
[Title: I want to send a thank-you letter to Ranker Oh Ji-yoon ㅠㅠ]
Body: Will she receive it if I send it to her guild agency!
[Title: Give Ranker Oh Ji-yoon an award]
Body: And penalize the rankers who gave up on rescues whenever it exceeded A-rank.
[Title: Ranker Oh Ji-yoon is pretty admirable]
Body: She’s barely 20, practically a baby ㅠㅠ So proud, so proud ㅠㅠ
Faced with this overwhelming favorable sentiment, Korea came to a realization.
The number one reason for Korea’s slowing economic growth rate, as predicted by economists—the ‘anxiety caused by the severe shortage of top-tier rankers’—was finally about to be resolved!
Right here, at the scene of Ranker Oh Ji-yoon clearing the Fracture and giving her interview!
Ranker Oh Ji-yoon could do it. On day one, no one predicted a clear. On day two, doubts turned to faint hope. By day three, the scene had turned into a frenzy of people embracing rescued family members and cheering over the rapid raid progress.
The protagonist who successfully cleared an SS-rank Fracture no one believed possible. The ranker standing tall with a 78% contribution score.
An F-rank. Unknown for 10 years, Oh Ji-yoon!
【”Creation Myth” level “Maitreya of Creation (SS-Rank)” Fracture Ecosystem Cleared】
【Dismantling Fracture Ecosystem】
Reporters waiting for Oh Ji-yoon to emerge swarmed forward.
If things went well, it meant a promotion; at worst, it was still a massive story.
“R-Ranker Oh Ji-yoon! Please look over here!”
“A shift in the world rankings is guaranteed! How do you feel going from being unknown for 10 years to becoming the World Rank 1!”
Flashes burst continuously. What would Ranker Oh Ji-yoon say? Just three days ago, she was an ordinary F-rank. An unlucky domestic ranker sitting at 28,000th place.
The journalists stared expectantly at the approaching figure.
Amidst all that attention, Oh Ji-yoon trudged forward, gripped the microphone, and spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
With a tired yet indifferent face, she said:
“Starting with this Fracture, I am going into tentative retirement….”
