Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Promotion Exam (3)
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Conversation was prohibited while the exam was in progress.
The Black Badgers watched the three rookies board the Chinook with precise movements.
The Chinook lifted off into the sky with the rookies and instructors aboard.
“Armed drop?”
“Yeah, obviously.”
People now conversed in lowered voices.
“They all boarded fully armed.”
Aerial insertion was the most dangerous event in the Black Badger exam, but as long as no issues arose during landing, it was also one where most passed.
The spectators chewed on the yogurt sticks they had brought while waiting for the three rookies to drop like tiny mushroom spores.
Soon, the Chinook arrived over the drop zone.
The doors opened, and the rookies leaped out into the blue sky.
The sky grew clearer by the moment. Against that blue backdrop, three green parachutes unfurled one after another.
“Ah, helicopters are the best.”
Someone let out a quiet sigh.
“I wanted to jump from a Chinook too.”
“Don’t even talk about it. I barely jumped from a balloon during my exam because of the rain.”
“Hey, planes make you so seasick.”
As the conversation continued, the rookies’ parachutes slowly descended.
Since they didn’t collide midair or tangle, a sense of peace settled over the media room.
Then, as three drones caught the rookies nearing the ground, the tension returned.
The first was Hesy Lyle.
The spectators let out oohs and aahs as they watched the rookie roll perfectly across the ground.
“Textbook PLF.”
“Her dad’s a general in the military. She has to pull that off.”
“I heard she already completed airborne school before joining.”
Hesy sprang to her feet and yanked in the parachute lines.
The crowd gasped again at how swiftly she coiled them around her arms. Meanwhile, on one of the split screens, Tom approached the ground.
The spectators burst into laughter at the redhead who landed peacefully and rolled around.
“That kid rolled on purpose!”
“Nice landing. Good job.”
“A model student, rolling just for show.”
Tom, who had landed as lightly as a dandelion seed, began methodically recovering his parachute.
As Richard grumbled, “No problems, but his form clearly isn’t ingrained yet,” Hilde’s turn came.
Hilde rolled across the ground too.
“He looks a bit struggled?”
The spectators commented as they watched the white-haired rookie stand up.
“Did he not wake up fully? Or twist his ankle?”
“His landing form was perfect.”
“No issue with his legs.”
Richard, arms crossed and scrutinizing the screen, spoke up.
“No problem with his form, and his legs don’t seem to hurt.”
“Exactly. If something went wrong on landing, he wouldn’t have recovered so cleanly.”
“But he really does look wiped out.”
A mix of bewilderment and concern spread through the media room.
“Did he stay up all night from nerves?”
The first exam passed without incident.
The rookies recovered their parachutes and headed back to the instructors. The observers stretched comfortably and caught up on chit-chat. They only tensed briefly during the landings, now leisurely enjoying the break until the next event.
But Ami shot to her feet.
Ignoring the puzzled looks from Shu and Ricardo, she stepped into the aisle.
“Oppa.”
She approached Yoon’s row and spoke. Yoon turned.
“Why the long face?”
“Who’s got a long face?”
A curt reply came back.
Ami didn’t answer.
Her little sister stared up at him intently. Unable to withstand the silent gaze, Yoon let out a small sigh.
“Go sit down.”
“Will you tell me after it’s over?”
“Watch.”
Yoon replied shortly and nodded for her to return to her seat.
“You’ll probably figure it out by the end anyway.”
Ami returned to her seat at those words.
“Why, Senior?” Shu asked.
Ricardo also waited with his eyes for Ami’s answer, but she plopped down and said she’d asked Yoon about something she was curious about, and he’d tell her later.
She was quick to shift gears.
Pushing aside her unresolved doubts, Ami reached out, saying it was her first time trying salt & vinegar and it was so good.
As Shu explained the addictive nature of salt & vinegar to her, Ricardo interjected.
“Why’s he in that state?”
Ami immediately understood the question.
“He didn’t tell me. But I’ll find out by the end.”
“He’s not the type to tense up over an exam, though…”
Ricardo muttered to himself and leaned back in his chair.
Ami crunched on her chips without replying.
Until a husky voice came from behind.
“He looks like he’s in pain.”
The three heads in front turned.
Sylvia ignored the stares directed at her. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the white-haired rookie among those heading to the climbing wall.
Renowned for her sharp instincts and hunting skills, she eyed Hilde with her blue eyes.
Sylvia asked without looking at Ami.
“Did he eat something bad?”
“Oh. Could be.”
The round-eyed senior watched the screen, chip in hand.
The three rookies stretched their wrists and ankles, preparing to climb.
Ami muttered to herself as she watched Hildebert, who lacked his usual composure and nonchalance.
“Gotta pee?”
***
“Argh!”
“Whoa!”
“Damn.”
The second event: rock climbing.
Less dangerous than the first but boasting a high failure rate, the Black Badgers watching cried out.
Richard furrowed his brow.
The three masters’ expressions darkened.
The spectators exhaled as they watched Hilde, who had slipped but held on with arm strength, dangle briefly like a pendulum before shooting his arm up and resuming the climb.
“Seriously aged me ten years.”
“Great arm strength. Thought he’d fall, but he shot right up.”
“He climbed HQ last time. If he can handle that smoothly, this natural wall is a breeze.”
“He’s fast.”
“But his legs look shaky, no?”
The Black Badgers’ eyes focused on Hilde, who was in the lead.
Hesy and Tom weren’t as fast as Hilde but climbed steadily.
That’s why eyes had been on Tom and Hesy until now. With no confidence they’d finish in time, attention went to the underperformers.
The biggest reason for failure in the climbing exam was speed. Most summited safely, but many failed due to time.
Tom lagged the most, carefully confirming each foothold, slower than the other two.
Not disastrously slow, but a big gap from Hilde.
As they watched Tom under time pressure, Hilde, who had been fine, slipped.
“He’s barely using his legs.”
Someone noted as the rookie climbed on, seemingly forgetting he’d nearly fallen.
“Did he really twist his ankle on landing?”
“No, I said it’s not that. He just looks low on energy?”
“Feels like he’s pushing to finish quick and rest.”
The seniors chuckled softly.
“Nearly fell, but now he’s even faster.”
Hilde summited first.
He lay flat and didn’t move while waiting for Hesy and Tom. The seniors’ eyes shifted back to them. They climbed steadily without a single slip. Someone muttered Tom’s time was tight, but not failing.
Shu smiled faintly, noting all three were much faster than her.
Ami eyed Hilde, who showed no sign of getting up.
“Not needing the bathroom, then. Just looks exhausted.”
“No recent missions, right? Thought he’d just been training in…”
Ricardo narrowed his eyes, arms crossed.
Ami tilted her head.
“Yeah. Nothing he could’ve gotten hurt on.”
She stared at Hilde, who only slowly rose after Tom summited.
“Catch a cold or something?”
The morning schedule wrapped up quickly.
Everyone passed smoothly, so lunch came early. The three rookies huddled together and started eating the prepared food. People in the media room left for lunch too. Seeing some head out entirely, figuring they’d pass.
The masters stayed in the media room.
The youngest among them, Angela, returned with pre-ordered lunches.
The three, usually quiet off-duty, chewed their sandwiches without talk.
Shu and Ami remained seated too.
“Not leaving?”
“Nope. About to order burgers. Want one, Shu?”
“Yeah, just cheeseburger for me.”
“Me too.”
Ricardo told Ami, who was browsing the delivery app.
The man, leaning in his chair, watched the rookies eat lunch.
“Add a sparkling water…”
“Got it.”
Ami ordered for Sylvia too, then went out and returned with the food minutes later.
The now-deserted space.
Those remaining in the media room ate burgers while watching the rookies rest on screen.
Ami’s brow furrowed as she chewed, staring at the screen.
“Guess he really has a cold.”
On screen, Hilde leaned on the table with eyes closed.
“Overtrained?”
“But I saw the rookies’ faces around 5:50 yesterday.”
Shu raised her brows in confusion, glaring at the screen.
The youngest Black Badger there, aside from the three on screen, muttered in her usual flat tone.
“They looked totally fine then? Condition seemed great.”
Afternoon exams came quickly.
Black Badgers who’d left for lunch trickled back. Many didn’t return, but new faces entered in their place—those who’d slept in or finished morning duties.
Among the latter, Lee Ho-chang burst in just before shooting started.
“Whew. Thought I was late.”
Panting, he walked over to Ami, who waved wildly.
“Shooting starting now?”
“Yeah! Soon! Sit by Rick, Ho-chang.”
“No worries on the other two, but Hilde’s got me concerned.”
Lee plopped next to grinning Ricardo and scratched his head.
Recalling how Richard had chewed out Hilde outside the core, he first glanced at the white-haired rookie.
“Did he practice shooting?”
The rookies passed the shooting exam smoothly.
Tom scored highest. Hilde lowest. But Hilde still cleared the pass mark.
The seniors burst laughing at Hilde, who spread his arms and celebrated silently after his final shot.
“He’s so happy.”
“Guess shooting worried him most. Looked tired after leading the climb.”
“Last place and he’s thrilled.”
Hilde kept silently celebrating until the next event prep.
Hesy and Tom, unable to speak, grinned and thumbs-upped.
Laughter rippled through the media room.
“Chicks.”
“Just ocean swim left?”
“After basic fitness check. They’ll all pass fine.”
“Who knows. Ocean swim’s the toughest. Most drop there.”
As the masters held back, chatter continued.
“After a day of tense exams, their stamina’s probably drained, right?”
Basic fitness ended.
The rookies now headed to prepare for the final event: ocean swim. They walked to the dive point, then removed boots. Hesy finished first, neatly arranging hers and stripping off her top, folding it aside.
Tom did exactly the same.
Hilde quietly removed his boots.
“Not taking off his shirt?”
Unlike Tom and Hesy, Hilde showed no sign of removing his black t-shirt. People muttered.
“Swimming in that, the seams’ll chafe.”
“Doesn’t he know?”
“Well, not a big deal.”
“Didn’t they teach removing the top is better?”
Richard frowned and glanced at Yoon.
Yoon didn’t reply. Didn’t even look at Richard. He just scowled faintly, glaring at the screen with the same anger and irritation from when he first entered.
The emotion was so vivid that people gradually fell silent.
The media room grew a bit quieter than before.
Thanks to that, exam sounds carried clearly—then the rookies’ splashes echoed loudly.
Splash!
Churning waves.
The rookies dove in, sending up white foam, then surfaced from the dark water.
The swim exam began.
Hesy cleaved through the waves first, Tom following.
“Huh?”
Leaving Hilde behind.
“Why’s his face like that?”