Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Interview (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, we were riding in the company vehicle again.
The atmosphere was tense in a different way from our first outdoor mission.
Today was the day of the practical interview to select new blood for Dongto's Exploration Teams 16 through 20, and we were on our way as the "observers."
"Team Leader, are there a lot of applicants for the Exploration Team interviews?"
As I asked while gazing at the bleak scenery outside the car window, Park Cheolwoo, gripping the steering wheel, sighed in response.
"Lots. Every time we post a notice, people flock like clouds. No matter how dangerous it is..."
"Come on, of course!"
Han Sora, sitting in the passenger seat, jumped in.
"They pay a ton, and it's only four days a week—who wouldn't flock? In this day and age, where else can you find a job like that!"
"...But you have to risk your life..."
"There are plenty of jobs where you risk your life and get paid peanuts, right?"
"Ah."
She had a point.
In this world where monsters were like an open secret, Dongto's Exploration Teams were seen as dangerous jobs that guaranteed solid wealth and work-life balance.
I nodded at the mention that even without monsters, there were plenty of life-risking jobs.
"Of course, tons of people quit right away because of the danger... but every now and then, some truly exceptional people join. Folks who seem born for Exploration Teams. Whether it's natural physical talent or special abilities... Some rookies go straight to Team 1 upon hiring."
Park Cheolwoo added.
"Special abilities... like what kind...?"
I asked cautiously.
I'd recalled the shamans or priests from the Monster Gallery.
I hadn't seen any with my own eyes yet, but in the videos, they spat fire from their hands or summoned strange auras around them.
In a world with monsters, did people with real superpowers exist?
Before Park Cheolwoo or Seo Ji-hyun could answer, Han Sora turned to me with a smile.
"Hmm... some summon lightning with talismans, some control weird animals, and some are super strong like you!"
"...Uh... um."
"Ahem..."
I stammered in embarrassment.
Seo Ji-hyun shot Han Sora a quick warning glance, and Park Cheolwoo cleared his throat awkwardly.
Only then did Han Sora seem to realize something, whipping her head away and casually changing the subject.
"...Speaking of which, Team Leader, what's the format for this interview?"
"Ah, I didn't hear much about that either... Just to focus on spotting spies properly... Ah, we're here."
Screech—.
The car stopped at a wide open lot on the city outskirts.
It used to be a military training ground, they said.
Beneath the overcast sky, on the damp earth, dozens of applicants already waited with tense expressions.
"Over there—Team 6 and Team 12."
"Oh, yeah."
We exchanged light nods with the Team 12 members including Rahee in the distance, then formally greeted Team 6, the overall supervisors of the interview.
"We just arrived. Team 15."
"Ah, yes. Looking forward to it."
Team 6's leader nodded at Park Cheolwoo's words.
The dark circles under his eyes spoke of his exhaustion.
Busy as an upper team, maybe.
He spotted the Returning Sword at my waist and widened his eyes for the first time.
"You picked a weapon as your first gear. Rare choice these days..."
"Is it?"
His voice was languid, but his gaze sharpened, piercing right through me.
"Heard you did well in the Slab incident too."
"Ah..."
"So, about that—this time, I'm assigning you some... troublesome interviewees."
"...Pardon?"
Before I could respond, his gaze shifted elsewhere.
That's when a familiar semi-transparent window slid into view before my eyes.
'Quest?... Who's Park Sunja.'
The moment the semi-transparent window appeared, I pegged it as a quest, but the content was a bit puzzling.
A quest to protect some unfamiliar old-fashioned name of an interview applicant.
Just a simple interview, yet it included "protect."
I had a bad feeling this wouldn't go smoothly.
"We'll now form groups. Starting with Team Leader Park, please take supervision of Groups 5 through 8 in order."
"Pardon? What is this all of a sud—"
"Details later. First, these."
"Wait...!"
Team 6 handed out name tags marked with group numbers, then slowly walked to the center of the lot.
Soon the lot filled with interview applicants.
Roughly over forty, by my estimate.
The reality that so many were risking their lives to join an Exploration Team hit bittersweet.
"Alright, we'll form groups now! When called, move to the supervisor wearing the corresponding number tag!"
"...Better pin these on quick."
At Team 6's sudden announcement, we fumbled in surprise but pinned the tags to our chests.
I took Group 8's tag and attached it.
Applicants began bustling to their called names.
Four came to me, eyeing my tag.
"Pleasure~"
"Hmm."
The four assigned to me under Group 8 were young men and women who looked relatively relaxed.
Just from greetings, their strong personalities shone through.
Their outfits, mannerisms, composure—clearly different from other participants.
Probably the "troublesome interviewees" Team 6's leader mentioned.
"Supervisors, check your group's applicants on your phones now."
I pulled up the info on my group's members.
'...No Park Sunja.'
No such old-fashioned name among them.
With groups formed, Team 6's leader grabbed a megaphone and explained the practical.
"You'll now undergo a real-combat-like test in a virtual labyrinth built by the research team! Everyone, step back one pace from the lot."
As he finished, the ground beneath us hummed and shifted—woong-.
"Ooh..."
"What is all this...?"
Not just applicants—our team and Team 12 murmured too.
What had our research team cooked up?
The earth split, walls rose, and in an instant, a massive, intricate labyrinth towered before us.
Artificial, yet laced with eerie vibes—like monsters could burst out any second.
Each labyrinth entrance bore a group number.
"The rules are simple! Applicants are 'fugitives'! Your supervisor plays the 'monster' chasing you!"
He shouted to the murmuring applicants.
"Find the exit somewhere in the labyrinth and escape within the time limit, or survive the monster's pursuit for a set duration—pass! We'll evaluate your crisis response, teamwork, and... survival instinct!"
He grinned, pointing to one entrance.
"Fugitives first! You get 10 minutes head start! Supervisors enter after."
Applicants dashed into the labyrinth with tense faces.
My Group 8 fugitives didn't rush—instead, they chatted among themselves, strolling in calmly.
Confident strides.
As applicants entered, Team 6 addressed us supervisors.
"Supervisors, use the provided gear to corner them as monsters and evaluate your charges' actions."
Small devices appeared by the entrances.
Weapons fit the monster role—ugly, mostly electric shockers.
I picked the sword-shaped shocker.
Most familiar.
They gave protective suits too, festooned like something a monster would wear.
"...No need to get too into it. This is practical—evaluation first. Use shockers to threaten or point out blatantly wrong judgments."
Team 6 seemed worried we'd overheat into our roles.
Then, in a quieter voice:
"...If you spot a suspected spy applicant, mark it separately—we'll reflect in results. Ah, and."
He looked my way.
"Group 8... you gotta go all-in... they're not your average friends..."
His worried tone tensed me up, even though I wasn't interviewing.
I got lucky.
Right after my spy mission, Dongto started recruiting more Exploration Team members.
Thanks to the fake ID White Tiger handled, I passed the paper interview instantly.
Even grouped with a renowned family's heir and a famous exorcist who hunted monsters solo.
If we had to compete, worst group ever—but this practical was about cooperating to evade the supervisor and escape.
I eyed the supervisor.
Unknown face.
Not even team leader level.
Not in White Tiger's intel—probably a Team 12 or 15 newbie.
Easy pickings, honestly.
"Ugh... running ain't my style..."
"...Same here, actually."
Then groupmates started suggesting.
The exorcist spoke first; the heir agreed.
"Wanna go for it? Hunt the monster."
They never planned to run.
Subdue the monster-role supervisor, outlast leisurely, or escape.
And they could pull it off.
The heir even carried subduing items.
No rule against items.
"Let's do it."
Man.
I got lucky.