Chapter 184: REAL IDENTITY

Chapter 184: 184: REAL IDENTITY

"It should be..." Nyx said. "Both your parents are legendary S-rank Esper and Guide pair. One of the greatest ever seen by the nation..." He continued explaining.

June stared at him, certain that he was missing some important information. "What are you two talking about now...?"

At that moment, Nyx and Ryan paused, staring at him. They could tell that June was genuinely confused.

Ryan suddenly burst into laughter. "Don’t tell me you didn’t get... everything happening?"

June raised an eyebrow. "Get what?"

Ryan laughed even harder. "I’ve already shown and told you everything to satisfy your curiosity. I mean, it’s right before your eyes. Don’t tell me you didn’t get it?"

"...."

June blinked, even more confused. "What did you show me...?"

He didn’t understand how everything they had encountered so far was supposed to explain why Ryan had such strange skills for someone who was supposedly an F-rank Guide.

At that moment, Ryan smiled and shook his head. "So classic of you," he said before turning and continuing forward. "Follow me to my room while I explain."

He smiled, leading the way as June and Nyx followed behind.

On their way, Ryan casually asked, "Do you know of my family at least? The Quinn family? You should have heard enough about them to know their history..."

But June didn’t know. At least, the book had never shed any light on the family. They weren’t important to the plot.

Just like Ryan wasn’t important to the plot.

June shook his head awkwardly, while Nyx smiled at him. "It’s okay... I’ll explain to you." He smiled, gently patting June on the hair.

"They’re an elite family with national connections," Nyx explained.

The Quinn family was apparently much bigger than June had thought.

They had a lineage of nobility, and that alone added to their influence, which expanded even further because Mr and Mrs Quinn had been extremely powerful S-rank Esper and Guide during their youth.

They were exceptional, possessing immense power that had helped them become the most popular pair of their era. They cleared endless dungeons that had seemed impossible while winning the hearts of the nation, which crowned them the Golden Pairing of the Year countless times.

Their fame had been beyond words at the height of their youth. It lasted until they eventually got married and retired at a certain age, after which they ventured into business and politics, expanding their influence immensely in both fields.

They were popular figures in both spaces—so popular that almost everyone knew them.

But June didn’t.

And in that moment, he felt incredibly dumb.

"So..." June slowly turned to Ryan as they finally reached his room. "And that’s supposed to mean that...?"

He tilted his head.

Ryan smiled as he pushed his way into the massive bedroom. The room was about the same size as June’s, but with a completely different design. It felt extravagant yet neat, almost too pristine, making it clear that Ryan didn’t use the room very often.

"It means I’m not an F-rank," he explained.

He made his way toward the table, his fingers running over a framed image of himself in high school, standing between his parents.

"I’m an S-rank Guide."

June needed a moment to process that.

He stood there in shock, staring at Ryan without a word. He was so stunned that he even forgot to admire the room or the posters of familiar BL manhwa couples decorating the walls.

"You’re what...?" June blinked as he slowly pieced the puzzle together.

Ryan smiled at him. "An S-rank Guide," he repeated.

June hesitated before turning to stare at Nyx, who didn’t seem nearly as surprised.

"Am I the only one hearing this, or...?"

Nyx smiled. "I already figured it out earlier."

"Huh?"

"When we saw his parents, I figured he wasn’t an F-rank at all. The popular S-rank duo never gave birth to an F-rank. Even though the media doesn’t broadcast much about their child, it’s at least known that their kid was an S-rank."

Nyx glanced at Ryan. "So at least I could tell that he was an S-rank..."

June gasped.

He guessed he really was the only one who had been left behind. He felt dumb.

Ryan smiled. "I thought you were playing it cool." He shook his head. "Little did I know you didn’t get it. Classic you."

June hesitated before shaking his head. "Woah, that’s something I..."

He scratched his hair with a smile. "I never expected this would be the case. I thought it could have been something like you having a powerful background that helped you with information and everything you needed, but..."

June smiled at him. "But I never thought that you were actually... an S-rank." He hesitated before adding, "That also explains how you knew the Minister..."

Ryan nodded with a smile, sitting on his bed. "Yeah. Sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier. It must have been confusing and suspicious and all..."

He sighed. "I needed time before I could share something like this with anyone."

June shook his head with a smile. "No. No need to explain at all. I completely understand. It really is... big..."

June began pacing around the room in thought.

"But how was it possible that you got into the academy as an S-rank?"

He stopped and looked at Ryan. "Why would you even hide your rank to get in? I mean, being an S-rank is already great and comes with a lot of benefits, so why would you...?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"It makes sense now... The skills. It could only be from someone with such a rank, at least, and all..."

June shook his head again. "But why would you hide it? You’d easily get in with such a rank and background, so..."

He stared at Ryan, clearly curious.

But Ryan only smiled, folding his arms as he stared back at June.

He guessed he had some personal explaining to do with regards to the choices he had made.