Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Peach Source Fragrance (3)
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Damcheong repeated to himself endlessly in his mind.
Do not get overly tense.
Focus on the interviewers' questions.
Do not argue during the group discussion.
In the meantime, it was his turn for the interview.
Numbers 151 through 155 were called—five numbers in total.
Damcheong was 152.
The four other examinees rose to their feet at once.
Damcheong stood up from his seat a bit late.
Unfortunately, he was in a different group from Seoran.
Damcheong followed the staff member's guidance out of the waiting room.
After walking down the hallway for a moment, they arrived at the interview room.
Chairs were lined up along the wall.
The staff member said to the examinees.
“Please sit in order on those chairs and wait. I'll let you know right away when the previous group finishes.”
The five examinees shuffled over to the chairs.
They were good chairs, certainly comfortable.
Comfortable for the body, at least.
After waiting uneasily for a short while, the previous group's interview finally ended.
The firmly shut door of the interview room opened.
Examinees 146 through 150 emerged.
Damcheong's insides tightened.
Two of them were sobbing uncontrollably.
It was terrifying to think what had happened inside.
The staff member said in a businesslike tone.
“Numbers 151 through 155, please enter.”
Damcheong's group entered the interview room, tense as could be.
Three interviewers sat side by side.
Each had an extraordinary air about them.
The interviewer in the center said.
“Please, sit comfortably, everyone.”
Hearing the voice made him even more uneasy.
The five examinees sat down one by one.
Damcheong swallowed dryly while maintaining a straight posture.
And so the third round of the Judicial Official Examination interviews began.
*****
The interview schedule had all wrapped up.
Seoran and Damcheong left the interview hall together.
Dusk had already fallen before they knew it.
Seoran looked at the sunset and asked.
“Damcheong, how did your interview go?”
“It seemed all right.”
“See? No need to worry.”
Damcheong nodded silently.
The interview atmosphere had been pleasantly cordial throughout.
Contrary to their intimidating appearances, the interviewers had cracked jokes now and then to ease the examinees' tension.
There was no pressure to be found.
Having finished the interview, Damcheong suddenly grew curious.
What on earth had those two who had bawled their eyes out been about?
He wanted to ask why they had cried, if he got the chance.
Damcheong asked blankly.
“Seoran, is it all over now?”
“Well, pretty much. All that's left is the appointment ceremony, at most.”
“Do you know when the results will be announced?”
Seoran counted on her fingers as she said.
“The pass notices themselves won't take long—a few days at most. The official announcement will come after the appointment ceremony, and academy enrollment should be around then too.”
“Come to think of it, how many years does one have to attend that academy?”
“Ten years.”
Damcheong recoiled immediately.
“Eek, ten whole years? Does that mean the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique comes ten years from now too?”
“No, that's not it. The Lifespan Mirror Wall Technique is handed out along with the judicial appointment certificate.”
“What a relief.”
The two walked back to their lodging along streets dyed by the sunset.
A few days later, the pass notices arrived.
Seoran and Damcheong both passed without any hitches.
The Golden Bamboo Sect family rejoiced upon hearing the results.
A few days after that, the appointment ceremony was held.
Seoran and Damcheong dressed in formal attire and headed out.
Their destination was the Peach Source Fragrance headquarters, the Black Ebony Palace.
When they stated their purpose at the reception desk, a guide was assigned.
The guide led Seoran and Damcheong to the grand hall.
The grand hall was packed with prospective judges.
A ceremony staffer approached the two and said.
“You both remember your interview numbers, right? Please take the seats matching those numbers. Here's the program—give it a read. Oh, Investigator Ryu, could you come this way for a moment? There's something to pass on separately.”
Damcheong parted from Seoran and headed to his seat.
152 was pretty far forward.
Thanks to that, he found it quickly.
Damcheong sat in seat 152.
Sized for adults, the chair felt a bit large.
Leaning back turned him half-reclined.
Damcheong unfolded the program handed out earlier in that position.
It wasn't a complicated agenda.
A high-ranking official would give a short address, followed by the representative oath, appointment certificates, technique transmission, and finally some guidance notes—then done.
Unusually, the address was to be given by Sage White-Haired Black Formation General.
Damcheong finished reading and folded the program into origami.
With skillful hands, he made a paper ball.
In the meantime, the appointment ceremony began.
A Near-Immortal Dragonkin mounted the stage and spoke.
“For the order of the Immortal Realm, our ever-busy Supreme Judge, Sage White-Haired Black Formation General, has stepped away on urgent business. Therefore, we will omit the address for the 342nd Judicial Official Public Recruitment Exam—Dragonkin Track Final Successful Candidates Appointment Ceremony.”
A broad smile bloomed on Damcheong's face.
He had thought it would be boring anyway—blessed luck.
His respect for Sage White-Haired Black Formation General surged.
The Near-Immortal Dragonkin, having asked for understanding, proceeded with the agenda.
“Next, the representative oath. Everyone, please stand. And the successful candidate representative, to the stage.”
Damcheong's gaze turned to the side of the podium.
Amid a shower of applause, Seoran was ascending the stairs.
She stepped forward before the Near-Immortal emcee.
Seoran raised one hand to head height and said.
“Oath. We, the prospective judges, all together...”
Seoran read the oath in a clear voice.
As befitting the genre, it was laden with florid rhetoric.
In summary, it pledged to devote one's body to upholding the Immortal Realm's legal order.
The representative oath concluded.
Next came the appointment certificates.
Due to time constraints, Seoran received hers as representative.
The emcee, finishing the reading, extended the appointment certificate and said.
“Sincere congratulations on your success, Judge Ryu.”
Seoran accepted the appointment certificate with thanks.
Now it was time to distribute the Lifespan Mirror Wall Technique.
The Near-Immortal Dragonkin's horns spewed lightning.
Thunderbolts containing the technique struck the successful candidates directly.
The Lifespan Mirror Wall Technique was stored in Damcheong's mind.
The technique manual included a seal as well.
This was probably to prevent unauthorized leaks.
Having finished the transmission, the Near-Immortal Dragonkin said.
“All information regarding the Lifespan Mirror Wall Technique is classified. The moment you record or disclose it, we can pinpoint who and where. Keep that in mind—the seal created by Sage White-Haired Black Formation General is absolutely unbreakable.”
The Near-Immortal Dragonkin, surveying the room, continued.
“Then, finally, some guidance notes. As you all know, newly appointed judges must without exception complete ten years at the training academy. However, due to circumstances within the Supreme Court, your 342nd class will substitute residential training with video lectures. Fail to complete them, and your appointment is revoked—don't forget. Any questions?”
One successful candidate raised a hand.
The Near-Immortal Dragonkin pointed to the questioner.
“What would you like to know?”
“How are Inspectors selected?”
“Likewise, from the top performers by score. Any more questions? None? Then this concludes the 342nd Appointment Ceremony. Once again, sincere congratulations on your success.”
The agenda ended amid enthusiastic applause.
The successful candidates exited holding their appointment certificates.
Seoran and Damcheong did the same.
On the way back to the lodging, Damcheong asked.
“Seoran, what's an Inspector?”
“They're the ones who oversee whether the officials are committing corruption.”
“Ah.”
Damcheong showed no particular interest.
*****
The time for the official results announcement drew near.
Not just the Judicial Official Exam board, but the entire Immortal Officers Exchange Society buzzed with related talk.
And the Peach Source Fragrance Daily News, which everyone had awaited anxiously, was posted on the Heavenly Net.
Breaking News) Pass List Dropped!
‘342nd Judicial Official Public Recruitment Exam—Dragonkin Track Successful Candidates Announcement - Peach Source Fragrance Daily News’
‘Youngest Top Scorer in Judicial Official Exam History! Final Score: Written 61, Practical 70! - Immortal Realm Daily’
‘Judicial Official Exam Top Scorer Revealed as 682-Year-Old Half-Human Half-Dragon Supreme Star Realm Investigator from the Lower Realms—Shock! - Central Daily’
It was a post quoting articles without any original content.
But the headlines alone said plenty.
Enough to set the replies ablaze.
Reply) This can't be right~
Reply) Whoa, the age...
Reply) 682 and top scorer? Is this for real?
-Passing to begin with doesn't make sense~
Reply) Keep this up and I can't cultivate~
-Just quit already.
-Member, where do you live?
Reply) What even is a Pure Bone anyway?
-What, like Heaven-Earth Sole Divinity or something?
-What's Heaven-Earth Sole Divinity?
-I just made it up.
Reply) Ah, please...
-Say it's fake quick...
Reply) Yeah, I'll die.
Reply) But can Half-Human Half-Dragons even take the Dragonkin track?
-Excuse me, are you a species discriminator?
Breaking News) Pass Notes Dropped!
‘Studied hard to repay my sect family who ascended with me. - 342nd Top Scorer Ryu Seoran.’
Ascended about 32 years ago, prepping for the Judicial Official Exam for the last 6 years, apparently.
Reply) Don't lie~ I won't believe it~
Reply) Couldn't finish the pass notes, had to scroll past...
-Me too, just scrolled down...
-Chest feels too tight to keep looking...
Reply) Bunch of idiots here. 680 years old? 6 years studying? You really gonna buy this naively? Total lie, nine times out of ten.
-Yeah, easy to fake age as a Half-Human Half-Dragon.
-Looks like a 5000-year-old yokai.
-What 5000? Clearly not fully grown.
Reply) Whoa, what? A 1100-year-old Dragonkin passed this exam too?
-Would've been the youngest ever if not for the 680 top scorer.
-Nah, there's a 900-year-old passer before.
Reply) Was this exam easy? Top scorer's final: Written 61, Practical 70.
-You mocking Sage White-Haired Black Formation General?
-Average pass scores say it wasn't that easy.
-Solo'd 5 points above the top bracket average.
-If it was easy, why didn't you pass?
-Member, seriously, where do you live?
The arsonists torching the Judicial Official Exam board—how many were the same person was known only to Gold Young-young herself.