The Rookie Examiner's Ordeal

Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. Injuries…. It turned out it wasn't just one or two. Dispatchments from the Ability Measurement Department to the Academy hadn't been limited to a handful of people. Every nearby regional office was sending examiners over in a steady stream. And every single one of them had withdrawn with injuries. The only saving grace was that none of the cases were life-threatening. The worst outcomes stopped at fractures.

“…What exactly is all this?”

“Before I explain the reason, let me first apologize.”

Han Jiyun bowed deeply. Thanks to that, my own position became awkward. I could see the professors behind her seething with rage. It looked like I'd be walking into a storm of sharp glares the moment I left this room.

“You know how the ability users being produced these days are different from before, right?”

I'd heard the discussions. The ethical awareness of ability users. Is this really okay? That sort of thing.

It had been quite a long time since abilities began manifesting randomly among people. An era of chaos and confusion. Then came the monsters and the birth of villains who used their powers for crime. In that turbulent time, the early ability users—called the First Generation—fought against every kind of threat. Naturally, to them, being an ability user became something like the concept of a hero. You had to fight whenever danger appeared. You had to be willing to sacrifice yourself.

But recently, the new ability users known as the Second Generation started raising questions. They acknowledged that ability users carried a certain level of duty. But why did it always demand unconditional sacrifice? We're human too. This is a job we do to make a living. The First Generation shouted about the importance of duty while the Second Generation protested against forced sacrifice. I'd seen current-affairs debates saying that's where the conflicts began.

Honestly, the First Generation's words were right in terms of the greater good, but they were hard to follow. Who in the world would want to throw their life away to save complete strangers?

“I'm well aware. I also know it's caused a lot of conflict.”

“Since you're a civil servant, I suppose you would be. Anyway, that's exactly why it's become so difficult to control the new students enrolling in the Academy these days. From their perspective, being an ability user isn't about dedication anymore—it's just another profession. And if you push them even slightly, the Human Rights Commission will come knocking.”

Han Jiyun let out a sigh and pointed at the documents I was reading.

“Not long ago, they suddenly started treating this as a challenge.”

“What do you mean?”

“How fast they can take out the rank examiner.”

For a moment, I was speechless.

“Why would they even…”

“You know the Academy has its own separate ranking system, correct?”

I nodded at Han Jiyun's question. Basic knowledge about a dispatch location was the absolute minimum. From Bronze all the way to Diamond. Unlike the public's E-rank to S-rank system, the Academy operated on its own league.

The Academy didn't hand out diplomas just for attending four years. Fall short of the standard and you wouldn't graduate. In severe cases, you'd be expelled. Surpassing Bronze and Silver to reach Gold satisfied the graduation requirements. At Platinum, clans started contacting you even mid-semester. Diamonds were considered promising talents, and the scramble to recruit them was intense. Master rank was treated as reserve S-rank, managed directly by the nation.

“I was told lower ranks are handled by measurement departments like mine, while higher ranks are tested by professors.”

“That's correct. The Bronze-to-Silver exam is especially simple. The examiners aren't that strong either. Ah, my apologies. If that came across as rude, I'll apologize properly.”

“No, it's fine. It's the truth anyway.”

I knew I was weak. It was almost embarrassing to even call it an ability.

“But I'm not sure who started it—some students have begun intentionally dropping their rank, then harassing the examiners responsible for the Silver promotion tests. On the surface they say things like how can someone this weak be allowed to conduct exams, bring us a proper person, but…”

“They're just proudly showing off their rotten personalities.”

Nod, nod— Han Jiyun gave a weak nod. That's when a question occurred to me. If it was just the work of a few immature brats, one clearing of Han Jiyun's throat should have been enough to scare them straight.

“Intervention from above is being blocked. They say it'll only make things bigger. And since it became a trend, there are simply too many cases.”

If even an S-rank of her caliber was reacting like that, it said everything.

“Still, it's surprising this hasn't been publicized. Something like this has happened multiple times…”

“Because the compensation was handled properly.”

Proper compensation or not, these weren't random civilians—they were civil servants who got beaten. And everyone just let it slide? Exactly how much compensation were they giving that made everyone shut their mouths and stay silent?

“The exact details are on the next page.”

At Han Jiyun's words, I flipped to the next page immediately.

“…Um, Professor Han? This number here. Is this zero a typo?”

“No. The amount you're looking at is correct, Mr. Seojin.”

“One billion? You're saying one billion is the right figure? One billion split among all these people?”

“It's one billion per person.”

The worst injury was a fracture, yet the compensation was one billion? At that rate, you'd break a bone with a smile on your face. So that's why none of this had been publicized. If it were me, I'd keep my mouth shut too. A small payout would make me angry enough to expose everything, but an insanely huge amount made everyone stay quiet and live peacefully.

“Once again, I'm truly sorry. If you feel you cannot do this…”

“Isn't it only natural for civil servants to make sacrifices for the citizens?”

They could call me materialistic if they wanted. You think you wouldn't do the same? If someone held out one billion and said, 'Get moderately hurt and it's yours,' who would refuse?

“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease a little.”

Han Jiyun stood and extended her hand. A handshake with an S-rank hunter. Something I never thought would happen in my lifetime.

“Um, instead of a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠handshake, could I get an autograph?”

“Ah… Yes, well. I don't see why not. We'll be working together at the Academy from now on, after all.”

One on my phone case. Several more on scrap paper. This should be enough to score a few free drinks.

While Han Jiyun gladly fulfilled my request, I secretly activated my perk.

It didn't seem like there was anything to worry about.

“I'll be counting on you, Mr. Baek Seojin. The faculty is doing everything possible to guide the students onto the right path. The students themselves understand what's proper, so if you endure just a little, everything should be fine.”

“Trends like this usually die down quickly, don't they? With you here, Professor Han, it'll disappear in no time. Besides, what could possibly happen on the very first day of dispatch duty?”

* This damn mouth of mine is my worst enemy. Worst enemy. I told myself not to speak so carelessly.

“Are you ready, Examiner?”

The moment I entered the Academy's main building, several students rushed over. They were none other than the applicants for the Silver-rank examination. Or, more accurately, examiner assaulters. There was definitely a mole in the faculty office. Otherwise, my identity couldn't have spread this fast.

“…I'm ready, but are you really Bronze-rank?”

“I showed you earlier, didn't I? It's Bronze. If I don't make it to Silver, I'll get beaten to death.”

Working at the Ability Measurement Department sharpened one skill in particular: the eye for people. More precisely, the ability to predict and judge exactly how skilled your opponent was. From that perspective, the tattooed delinquent Park Junwoo was definitely above me. No question about it. He wasn't even a brand-new freshman.

'Why did it have to be that bastard?'

They say enemies meet on a narrow bridge. It was the same guy from earlier. Irritation surged through me. If I could, I wanted to beat him senseless. Sadly, the odds of me being the one beaten were far higher.

“Let's finish this quickly. It's my first day on the job, after all.”

Fortunately, the rank I was responsible for was truly the most basic tier. In Academy terms, the Bronze-to-Silver section equated to roughly D-rank to C-rank hunters. I could go through the motions, declare 'Mm! Passed!' and escape without anyone complaining.

“But I want to give it my all.”

Yet our tattooed delinquent announced he wanted to give it his all. For some reason, that sounded exactly like he wanted to harass me with everything he had. Or was I just imagining it?

'Nothing's ever easy. At this rate I might get knocked out cold on my very first day.'

Park Junwoo had dragged all his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠friends along to sit as spectators. He was going to turn me into a sacrificial lamb to build up one glorious achievement in his life story. The compensation money was so sweet his teeth might rot, but… this was crossing the line.

“You're familiar with the examination rules, correct?”

“Of course. When the examiner starts, I start. When you stop, I stop.”

The fact that he knew the rules and was still going to pull this crap meant his skills were genuine. When I glanced around, the female student I'd met earlier was there too. Unlike the giggling delinquent friends, however, she looked extremely tense.

A genius fallen into an inferiority complex. The two words didn't match at all. There seemed to be some story behind her… but no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matter how hard I thought, I couldn't recall anyone by that name. I didn't remember any character named Kim Suhyun among the cast. I'd never seen that name among the heroines either.

“Let's begin. I'm ready.”

Park Junwoo took his stance with a cocky swagger. The guy had perfected the art of getting under people's skin. Maybe it was a deliberate tactic—provoke me until my eyes rolled back, make me charge in, then beat me down. For someone with such an irritating exterior, he might actually be quite sharp.

“Then let's start the examination.”

I'd endure as long as possible. If it became impossible, I'd surrender. With that thought, I took my stance….

'Crazy?'

Park Junwoo had closed the distance in the blink of an eye. This bastard was far more skilled than I'd anticipated.

BAM—!

“Ugh!”

It felt like I'd been hit by a truck. If I hadn't blocked, something would have definitely broken. It wasn't even a weapon—just a simple punch. There was no chance of victory.

'This should be enough…'

It was more than enough to qualify for Silver. So let's end it here. That's what I tried to say.

“You let your guard down, didn't you?”

But this bastard had no intention of letting me go. My guard crumbled on the next attack. My vital points were left completely exposed. I tried to dodge somehow, but Park Junwoo was much faster.

“Civil servant three-second cut.”

…You fucking son of a bitch.