"...So you really didn''t see the Hero Association''s Ranking List, which was released today?" Diana inquired after noticing my perplexed expression.


    "Are you referring to the seasonal ranking list that the Hero Association publishes every three months?" I questioned, intrigued.


    "Yeah, that''s the one, did you see it?" Diana asked.


    "Oh, it came out today?" Surprised, I inquired.


    "Yes, it was released this morning, but it''s pretty much fucked up," Livia replied abruptly.


    "...."


    I was speechless when I saw Livia curse.


    ''How much fucked up is it that even made Livia curse?'' I wondered, having never seen her curse before.


    "You should see it for yourself," Diana said as sheunched the hologram of the ranking list.


    "This is the traditional ranking list for the older generation," Diana borated.


    "...."


    When I saw the rankings, I was left speechless because Mika wasn''t in the top 10.


    "...Tania Elizabeth climbed from 6th to 3rd ce?" I said after a few moments of scrutinizing the Ranking List.


    "Yes, it appears that they discovered Miss Tania''s prowess was stronger than they had previously believed after her fight with Mika Amami," Lucas stated.


    "The top rankings remained static because battles between the top 10 were rare. After a decade, it seemed to finally change," A Exined.


    "And since there is no technology avable to assess prowess that exceeds SS-Rank, the only way to determine who is powerful enough between the SS-Ranks is to engage in battle with one another," ude remarked.


    "Where does Mika stand on the ranking list?" I disregarded their conversation and asked Diana.


    Diana scrolled down the Ranking List after hearing me and made an awkward face.


    "17th? Even lower than the S-Ranks, Huh," I chuckled as I spoke.


    "...."


    "I''m not sure what they were smoking when they made this ranking list," I said, stillughing.


    "...Where did master rank previously?" Ziona questioned me.


    "Oh, she was previously ranked 7th, just below Tania," I replied, finally stopping myughter.


    "...So she fell 10 ranks because she lost once?" Ziona expressed her confusion.


    "It seems so," I said.


    "Oh, even your eldest brother, who is an S-Rank, is well above Mika Amami in the ranking list," A stated abruptly.


    "...Where does he rank?" I inquired curiously.


    "Here, see it for yourself," Diana said as she scrolled up.


    "...."


    "Sheesh, he''s ranked 12th?" I said andughed again as I found it intriguing.


    As I believe Mika alone can defeat three of him.


    "I know, right? I don''t even see my Mother Empress on this list," Diana expressed her displeasure.


    We were all left speechless after hearing her and just stared at her.


    "...Don''t tell me you''re unaware that Kings and Empresses are not included in the Ranking list?" A expressed her disbelief.


    "Howe they''re not included?" Diana looked perplexed.


    "Yes, this is so typical of an Elven Princess," ude remarked.


    "I''m afraid she''ll start wars once she bes Empress," A worried.


    "What? Did I say something incorrectly?" Diana inquired, still perplexed.


    "...."


    "Alright, Let me exin. Do you believe you can beat Kevin?" Ziona inquired of Diana.


    "Huh? Why me—" Kevin was about to say something, confused as to why his name was being mentioned, but Ziona cut him off.


    "Quite! I''m exining something to her," Ziona stated.


    We all restrained ourughter and concentrated on Ziona to see how a muscle-head battle maniac would exin things to an Obtuse Diana.


    "Of course, I could easily defeat him," Diana answered firmly.


    "Now, Imagine you were ranked lower than him on the Ranking list," Ziona asked.


    "Hell no! I''m going to beat the crap out of him to prove them wrong," Diana spoke quickly.


    "Right?" Ziona smiled before continuing.


    "Now let''s start over, imagine you''re the Empress and Kevin is a...well, it''s not entirely feasible, but still imagine him being a King for once.


    Now, what will you do if a king who you think is weaker than you is ranked higher than you?" Ziona inquired, intrigued.


    "...We go to war," Diana uttered realizing abruptly.


    Ziona smiled broadly when she saw that her exnation was effective.


    "Do you now understand why Kings and Empresses are not included in the Ranking lists?" Ziona inquired.


    Diana nodded several times before speaking again.


    "If the Monarchs are ranked, it could cause conflicts between Kingdoms, and I don''t think even the Hero Association has enough power to rank them," Diana exined.


    We were impressed by her response and began apuding her unknowingly.


    p! — p!—


    ***


    "All right, now let''s move on to the younger generation''s ranking list.


    If you think, the older generation''s ranking is messed up, you ought to see the ranking list of the younger generations, Ares," Diana stated abruptly.


    Everyone fell silent upon hearing Diana, and Diana immediately opened the Ranking list of younger generations.


    For a few moments, I scrutinized the rankings.


    "Wow! Is this the real deal?" I said it aloud.


    Everyone remained silent and had awkward expressions on their faces.


    "...Seriously?" I remarked, surprised.


    "...."


    "So, the Ranking goes like this," I outlined as I began reading the names from the Ranking list.


    RANK #1 HERCULES ***


    RANK #2 LIVIA FROSTINE


    RANK #3 ZERIX MADLOCK


    RANK #4 ERINA VALDEMAR


    RANK #5 DIANA ELIORA


    RANK #6 LUCAS EUGENE


    RANK #7 ZIONA MADLOCK


    RANK #8 ARETRUS VON ROTHSTAYLOR


    RANK #9 KEVIN CEDRIC


    RANK #10 ARES VON ROTHSTAYLOR


    ...


    I halted after my rank.


    "Don''t worry about this stupid ranking list, Ares," Livia said, patting my shoulders.


    Actually, I don''t give a fuck about these rankings, but what bothers me is that the Hero association is targeting Mika.


    I had an idea after seeing Mika''s rank, but now that I''ve seen mine, I can confirm it.


    Tania''s Conference yesterday informed everyone that I was Mika''s Disciple.


    And now I''m ranked 10th, despite the fact that everyone was praising me as the strongest youngster or whatever until yesterday.


    I reckon anyone can tell what''s going on.


    They didn''t even try to conceal their intentions, ranking me below Kevin, seriously?


    "...."


    "Though I feel bad for you, Ares, but why hasn''t anyone noticed that I''m not even in the top ten?" ude stated abruptly.


    !?


    Hearing ude, everyone became aware and re-examined the ranks.


    "Huh? So, what is your rank?" Diana asked.


    "...It''s 15 or something," ude replied casually.


    "It''s Rank 16th," Diana replied after checking it again.


    "Pftt, hahaha, you guys see this, I am ranked higher than ude and Ares," Kevin eximed,ughing uncontrobly.


    "...."


    ***