Up to this point, the Gospel had refreshed seven distinct leaderboards, namely the Art Ranking, Family Ranking, Schemer Ranking, Happiness Ranking, Heretical Arts Ranking, Assassination Ranking, and the Madmen Ranking, which went live the previous night. Now, the upcoming Culprit Ranking loomed on the horizon.

Ashe had frequently crossed the screen in all seven prior iterations, occasionally securing more screen time than the literal protagonists, yet he had never actually held a rank of his own. His solitary entry existed purely under the shadow of Miss Annan's creation, as if the evaluation system deemed his only positive attribute to be his association with her.

When the Madmen Ranking dropped the night before, Annan and Ashe were preoccupied with far more pressing matters. Skipping the broadcast proved to be the right choice; it offered no real revelations.

Placement on the Madmen Ranking had nothing to do with personal strength, grand ideals, or sheer willpower. The sole prerequisite was luck, though whether this luck counted as a blessing or a curse remained a massive question mark. Without exception, every individual on that list was destined to survive a gauntlet of endless tribulations, stubbornly enduring until the bitter end.

Severe physical disability was practically a baseline entry requirement, and many had completely lost their memories....