Chapter 64: Trial Grounds (1)
“I can’t just keep something like this under wraps. There’ll be others who’d feel just as disgusted as I did.”
―N-No, sir! I won’t look down on people anymore! I swear!
Popo responded in a panic.
“So you want me to keep quiet about it?”
―Please…
“Popo. You definitely wronged me, didn’t you?”
―Y-Yes.
“Is spitting in someone’s face and saying sorry enough? Apologies mean nothing if they’re just words.”
―Then what should I…
Asking directly here would be the mark of an amateur.
A true master…
“Think about it. What is it you can do?”
Guides them to the answer.
The bear doll’s ears, which had been trembling, suddenly perked up.
And then…
―I-I’m just a lowly junior examiner. Th-That… your name…?
“Kim Minwoo.”
―…Yes. Someone as impressive as you, Mr. Kim, who even sponsored a Job Change Ticket… I have nothing worthy to offer.
“You have nothing. Does that mean someone else might? Why not ask them as a favor, then.”
―Th-That’s…
“Eh, forget it. What am I even doing? Hey! Anyone there?”
―W-Wait a second!
Popo grabbed his hand with both paws, eyes glistening.
―I-I’ll ask my senior! She’s close to me, so she’ll definitely listen!
“Fine. It’s not like I’m after that puny reward anyway. You get that, right?”
―O-Of course! I know without you saying! You’re doing this to give me a good scolding!
Sure.
That’s what the bear doll could believe for now.
―Um, Ms. Seo?
“Yes?”
―C-Could you wait a moment? I need to go see my senior…
“…Go ahead.”
Popo’s form blurred and vanished in an instant. Seo Yerim glanced over and said.
“You’re ruthless.”
“Why? I just saved that poor bear doll from retirement.”
“That’s why you’re ruthless.”
“I’m wronged. It’s all for our Earth.”
“…?”
“The stronger I get, the better I can clear Gates and protect Earth.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
Since we’re already here, might as well snag something.
Popo avoids retirement—good for him.
I get an unexpected bonus—good for me.
Win-win.
No reason to be ruthless.
* * *
Popo swallowed hard in front of the door. Inside was a being far too exalted for someone like him to even dare look up at.
Angel Jipael.
Angels were the ultimate aspiration for all.
A noble realm reached only after countless ages of earning merits and recognition. And Jipael wasn’t even a low-rank angel.
She was a mid-rank angel.
For Popo, who had only just become a full-fledged examiner, even speaking to her was daunting.
Yet he could muster the courage because they had once worked together as examiners long ago.
About a millennium back.
When he was a trainee examiner, and she was a seasoned top-tier examiner.
By sheer luck, they’d been paired, and he’d received her guidance.
Back then, Popo had earned her affection thanks to his appearance.
And that hadn’t changed.
Jipael still occasionally called him over, hugging him tight like a cherished doll.
‘I-I’m not really a doll, though…’
He was a great bear doll with a soul—far from some ordinary plaything.
Anyway.
Thanks to that connection, Popo could escape his immediate crisis.
‘I-I have to convince senior no matter what.’
Only then could he fully escape this nightmare.
Popo cautiously knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
―I-It’s Popo. May I come in?
The door flew open!
Jipael burst out, beaming as she hugged him.
“Popo! First time you’ve come to me, isn’t it?”
―Guh! C-Can’t… breathe!
“Oh dear, sorry. I got too excited.”
She smiled sheepishly but didn’t loosen her embrace one bit.
Then, tilting her head, she asked.
“Popo. What’s wrong? Why the long face? Did some other examiner bully you? Want big sis to chew them out?”
―N-No, it’s not that.
“Then what? Tell me. Quick.”
―W-Well…
Popo stammered through his explanation. Jipael listened with hums, then chuckled and flicked his nose.
“Our Popo is just too naive for his own good.”
―Huh?
“Think about it. If he were that impressive, wouldn’t he have already taken the ‘Trial’?”
―Y-Yeah, probably.
“Then you would’ve spotted it right away. But what did you see?”
―N-No traces of taking the trial. S-So I thought it wasn’t a big deal and…
“Then doesn’t that seem off?”
―I-It does. Now that I think about it…
Her great senior was right.
Someone that impressive would’ve taken the trial ages ago.
Why hadn’t he?
No benefit to skipping it, no matter how you sliced it.
So then…
Could it be… he couldn’t?
‘Then… he’s not that impressive after all?’
Popo’s eyes widened in grand realization!
“Hmm. Interesting. No trial, but came with a companion. And sponsored a Job Change Ticket?”
―Yes. He definitely said he’d sponsored it.
“Hand over the paperwork.”
―H-Here.
[‘Re-examination’ Subject]
[Seo Yerim]
[Race: Human]
[Observed Dimension: 10th District/Earth]
[Level: 411]
“…10th District? Isn’t that where the lowest dimensions gather?”
―Yes, exactly. That’s why it was so shocking. Hardly any way to earn achievement points there… So I thought he was amazing.
Jipael pondered.
‘Then the guy next to her… from a higher dimension?’
Humans lived scattered across various dimensions.
Higher dimensions made earning achievement points easier, so a human sponsoring Job Change Tickets wasn’t odd.
One could wander districts, spot intriguing beings, and interact.
But the mystery was…
Wandering dimensions freely, handing out treasures like candy, yet never taking the trial. Someone like that should be a big shot.
‘Doesn’t add up. Could he be from ‘that side’?’
Curiosity bloomed in Jipael’s heart.
“So, you want my help?”
―W-Well, he doesn’t seem that impressive after all… Now I think maybe I don’t need to…
Jipael chuckled at Popo fidgeting with his fingers.
“No. Even so, if that human throws a fit, our Popo might suffer. Let’s go together, sis and you.”
―Y-Yes!
“Hand.”
Popo reflexively offered his paw. Jipael took it, and their forms vanished with a whoosh.
* * *
Suddenly, a female angel emerged, grasping the bear doll’s hand.
Literally.
An angel.
She looked like a total winner. Seemed she’d brought a proper senior.
The angel then stared right at him.
That’s when.
Popo waved his free hand frantically and said.
―You! How dare you trick a bear doll? He’s not even that impressive!
“Trick you how?”
―Huh? Well, uh, that is… tricked how?
That’s when.
The angel, who’d narrowed her eyes, suddenly beamed.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jipael, Popo’s senior.”
“Kim Minwoo. But… are you really an angel?”
“Yes. And you—same planet as that woman?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your level?”
“151.”
“Hmm…”
Jipael smiled warmly.
“I heard my junior was rude. As his senior, I apologize on his behalf.”
“Just words?”
“You haven’t taken the trial yet, right? Want to?”
Trial?
“What do I get?”
“Rewards based on difficulty level.”
“Danger to life?”
“No death. No aftereffects. But… fail, and no more retries. One-shot ticket.”
“Success means I can retry?”
“If you want.”
“Let’s do it.”
No death, no aftereffects.
Passing this up would be idiotic.
Sure, leveling more for an edge sounded nice.
‘But might never come back here.’
Discounted Job Change Ticket led here as a tag-along.
Full price? 23,000 achievement points. Might be a one-time shot.
So now it is.
That’s when.
―S-Senior! How can you assign a trial without a certificate!
“It’s fine. I have a spare.”
―B-But! That’s super rare…
“Shh. Popo, what did I say about when sis is working?”
―Keep your mouth shut… gulp!
Popo clamped his mouth shut, holding his breath. Pure reflex.
Looked like years of training.
“Good boy, our Popo. Now you work too. Got it?”
Nod.
Jipael approached.
“Shall we? To the Trial Grounds.”
He took her proffered hand, smiling.
Kim Minwoo and Jipael vanished in an instant.
―…
“…”
The remaining bear doll and woman stared at each other.
Then.
―S-So, re-examination?
“…Go ahead.”
In the awkward silence, Popo began fumbling through the motions.
* * *
[Entering the Trial Grounds.]
Another vast, empty white space.
“Here.”
Jipael handed over a diamond plaque.
[Diamond Sponsorship Certificate]
[Grade: Special]
[A sponsorship certificate that seems to grant special privileges upon possession.]
[Effect 1. Allows taking trials in the ‘Trial Grounds’ while held.]
[Effect 2. Trial range up to ‘Diamond’.]
Kim Minwoo tilted his head at the description.
“How are the grades divided?”
“Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze. That’s the order.”
“So this is top-tier?”
“Expensive.”
Hands it over just like that?
To the guy who pressured her junior?
Thought maybe she was making him take it as punishment at first, but no.
Even Popo called it super rare.
“Fallen for me already?”
“Pardon?”
Jipael blinked, then her eyes curved in amusement.
“You’re fun. Curious why?”
“Yes.”
“Reserving you.”
“Reserving?”
She smiled brightly.
“Simply put, I see high potential in you.”
“Based on what?”
“Oh, various things? Anyway, Mr. Kim, just remember one thing: Jipael here sponsored you big-time.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. No greed on my end. Speak well of me later.”
“…To whom?”
“Oh, you don’t know yet?”
“…?”
“You’ll find out in time. Too heavy for me to say. Good luck on the trial.”
Waving, Jipael’s form faded.
‘What the?’
Felt like someone was watching him, from her words.
Someone even an angel hesitated to name.
‘Not some outer god, surely.’
Outer gods and angels on good terms?
Doesn’t compute.
Maybe another angel?
Higher rank than Jipael. That’d explain the attitude.
‘Anyway, wants a foot in the door.’
Good for him, no downside.
Why refuse freebies? Gobble them up.
“But how do I activate?”
That instant.
[Verifying eligibility…]
[Hold Diamond Sponsorship Certificate.]
[Current Level 151.]
[Level 100-200 bracket.]
[No prior trial record.]
[Beginner-stage trial starts.]
[Select difficulty.]
[Stage 1, Bronze]
[Stage 2, Silver]
[Stage 3, Gold]
[Stage 4, Platinum]
[Stage 5, Diamond]
[Tip 1. Initial difficulty selected becomes your maximum difficulty permanently.]
[Tip 2. Fail a difficulty, and it locks out forever.]
[Tip 3. Once chosen, trials stick to that difficulty until failure.]
[Example. Pass Gold Beginner Trial → Proceed to Gold Practitioner Trial]
He read slowly.
‘Got the gist.’
First pick sets the ceiling. Fail, and you’re stuck dropping lower.
‘That’s why Diamond’s precious.’
Puts you on the royal road from the start.
Hence the rarity.
Difficulty: Diamond, obviously.
[‘Beginner, Diamond’ difficulty trial begins!]
[Wishing you luck!]
The scenery before him began to shift.