Good Work, Civil Servant
“B-rank…?”
The measurement result came back as B-rank? I thought I’d misheard. How could that possibly be right? “But you fought an Elder!” I was sure the examiner was joking. Yeah, it had to be a joke. There was no way a B-rank could come out of this. …Wait a second. Was the examiner the type to joke around like that?
“No. The examiner isn’t that kind of person.” Right. The examiner wasn’t someone who would joke about something like this. I could tell from his expression. I understand that you don’t get it, but this is the truth. The remeasurement really did come back as B-rank.
“E-examiner, is there any chance the results were measured incorrectly…?”
“That’s why we remeasured three times. Ah, or was it four? I believe that’s what we did.”
Ah. So that’s how it is. Makes sense. After all, he works in the Ability Measurement Department. If the results had seemed off, the examiner would’ve been the first to file an objection.
“Then that really means he’s B-rank.”
Does that even make sense? How could a B-rank fight an S-rank and an Elder? I still can’t forget that day. The examiner swinging his sword fiercely against the Elder, scattering blood yet never backing down—it’s still vivid in my mind.
Even Father had said it. That Examiner Baek Seojin would become the next S-rank. That Chairman Kang Minsung’s eye for talent never fails. That this was a great blessing for Korea!
But the result was B-rank. He didn’t even receive an A-rank.
“If there had been a problem, the examiner would’ve been displeased first.”
I studied the examiner’s face. He looked incredibly calm. Like someone who had expected this all along. That’s when a small doubt crept in. The examiner’s efforts and achievements so far didn’t match this strangely low measurement record. I’d thought he would naturally be in a bad mood. But he was only wearing a relaxed smile.
“Are you all right?”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. I worried I might be disturbing the examiner while he was barely keeping his emotions in check, but the words were already out. Just as I started worrying whether I’d been rude—
“Why? Because the rank came out low? Not at all. A low rank doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t erase the fact that I fought an Elder. And there’s a witness like Kang Hana.”
A low rank doesn’t change anything. His words struck something deep in my chest.
Every ability user in this world stakes their life on their rank. Even I had done the same. Higher ranks bring greater benefits and better treatment. Lower ranks mean enduring mockery and contempt regardless of age or gender. That’s why we keep pushing ourselves, striving for more achievements and recognition. People say rank supremacy is a problem, but in the end, rank is everything. I used to think criticizing it was nonsense. If your rank is low, it’s because you didn’t put in the effort. Those words were just the final desperate cries of the incompetent.
Whenever I heard things like that, I’d simply let them pass. Now those memories came flooding back.
“Rather, it’s good that I got to see my limits in advance. Now I just need to work harder. This isn’t so bad, is it? Even a B-rank can fight an S-rank if they give it everything they’ve got!”
Instead of telling me to just accept my low rank and stay in my place, he said to work harder because my rank was low. That I might be able to surpass my limits. The way he presented that possibility left a deep impression on me.
‘…I see. He means not to be bound by rank.’
It felt like I’d been struck on the back of the head with a club. While the entire world obsesses over “rank,” the examiner was looking much further ahead! He was warning against inverting means and ends! Rank is merely a line that divides skill—it shouldn’t become the goal itself. It’s not about working hard just to obtain a high rank. It’s about gaining the strength to overcome any situation through grueling effort. Rank is merely something that follows afterward. That’s what he seemed to be saying.
‘I’m jealous.’
I’d heard he’d gone through difficult times in the past. Yet the examiner could maintain such composure—I envied that. At the same time, a foolish thought suddenly occurred to me. Suhyun, who seemed so close to Examiner Baek Seojin… I was jealous of her too.
*
“I heard the news. The results came back as B-rank.”
When I nodded, Ma Hakjun let out a thoughtful hum and nodded as well. Did he also think I was hiding something?
‘…That’s probably the most likely scenario.’
I’d heard that Ma Hakjun had been quite close with Kwak Hyuk. He’d said Kwak Hyuk was a talented junior who would’ve taken over in the future. The problem was that while his skills were excellent, his personality and character had flaws. The arrogant and conceited man had been defeated by Irina, who was still a high school girl at the time. Naturally, Kwak Hyuk’s eyes had flipped, and he’d walked the path of corruption. He’d thrown away his position as an ability user and appeared as an Elder.
“Are you disappointed?”
“No. Not at all.”
Saying I was disappointed would’ve made my expression management look completely pathetic. After all, there’s no point in telling a lie that’ll get found out anyway. When I answered honestly, Ma Hakjun let out a small chuckle.
“I see. Well, I suppose you wouldn’t be.”
The way he nodded and spoke made it seem like he knew something. There’s no way Ma Hakjun would know about my trait. He was probably just slightly mistaken about something else.
“There are occasionally people like that. Those who display overwhelming strength in actual combat.”
Yeah. Something like that. Well, that level of misunderstanding was acceptable. At that level, I could just go along with it.
“So you’re saying I’m one of those cases.”
“From what I can see, you’re a hundred percent that type. Otherwise, there’s no way you could’ve fought an Elder like that. Kwak Hyuk, the Water Ghost. Even if he’s arrogant, he’s definitely not the type to let his guard down.”
That was certainly true. Even while still looking down on me, there was almost no sign of him letting his guard down or becoming overconfident. The defeat he suffered at Irina’s hands must have been quite painful.
“Innate talent for actual combat. That alone is enough. So what if it’s B-rank? What does it matter what rank it is? Actually, it worked out well. If the rank had come out high, it would’ve been incredibly troublesome for you. Maintaining your position as an examiner would’ve become difficult too.”
With those words, Ma Hakjun gestured for me to come closer. When I stepped forward, he held out a file that had been on the table. The first words visible on the page were none other than “Academy Regulations.”
Wondering why he was suddenly shoving this at me, I looked at Ma Hakjun. Had I done something wrong again? Was there a problem?
“Open it.”
Following Ma Hakjun’s words, I quietly opened the file. Inside were several sheets of A4 paper densely covered with small text. He must’ve handed it to me so I could read the contents. So I slowly read through the text as Ma Hakjun wanted…
“…Principal?”
Don’t tell me, this is…?!
“What do you think? As you can see from those regulations, you don’t necessarily need to be affiliated with a government agency that dispatches personnel. You can still qualify as an Academy examiner. That is, if you ‘want’ to.”
In other words, he was suggesting I transfer to become a permanent Academy examiner. His true intention was clear—don’t keep suffering while tied to a civil servant position.
“If you have any attachment to that position, then there’s nothing I can do. But as you know, civil servants are stricter than you might think. From now on, that position might actually become a hindrance when you work as an examiner.”
Indeed, I’d been feeling that little by little for a while now. From the fact that I had to focus solely on evaluations with absolute thoroughness, to the tension of potentially receiving another complaint if I slipped up, and even the lack of belonging that came from being an outsider.
“In my opinion, Examiner Baek Seojin, you consider that position your calling. You’re probably planning to stay here at the Academy as long as possible, until all the students obtain their Silver ranks.”
“…That’s almost accurate.”
“Then transfer your affiliation to the Academy entirely. That would be more comfortable for you. You wouldn’t have to worry about your department’s opinions, and you’d be able to get along well with the Academy faculty too.”
And even if I became closer with some students, it would be less of a problem than when I was in my previous civil servant position. Ma Hakjun spoke as if he knew about my relationships with certain students.
“Hmm.”
I fell into thought. Honestly, the fact that I was even hesitating was a bit ridiculous. This wasn’t a proposal that would harm me. On the contrary, it was entirely for my benefit. I could just say “Yes! I’ll quit this damn civil servant job and transfer to the Academy right now!” It’s not like the Ability Measurement Department would collapse without me. As for building good memories—honestly, I just wanted to escape as quickly as possible.
‘Even so, the reason I’m unconsciously hesitating like this is probably…’
It was probably because of the influence of this body’s original owner, whose memories I couldn’t recall. Thinking about it now, I had no idea what Baek Seojin had been thinking when he became a civil servant. At first, I’d assumed he’d chosen it because it was the only way to make a living. But as time passed, I started to think that might not have been the whole story.
The moment I thought “Let’s quit being a civil servant,” both my body and mind had hesitated. This inexplicable hesitation that even I couldn’t explain—wasn’t that proof?
“Principal.”
“Have you decided? Speak freely. You can follow my suggestion, or you can do as you wish.”
Yeah. I’d decided. No matter how many times that inexplicable hesitation tried to surface, I pushed it all aside, organized my thoughts, and answered Ma Hakjun.
“…Please transfer my affiliation to the Academy. I would be grateful.”
“Really?”
“Yes. To be honest, being a civil servant is just too difficult.”
I felt sorry toward the past Baek Seojin, the original owner of this body. It felt like I was erasing even the last traces that he had existed in this world. But now, I am Baek Seojin. Baek Seojin is me. And I—the current Baek Seojin—was better suited for the position of Silver-rank evaluation officer at the Academy rather than as a civil servant.
“Ah, but before I quit, there’s one thing I’d like to resolve.”
“Resolve?”
There’s this annoying old man I’d like to mess with a bit.