Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Interview (5)
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The bull collapsed, and a brief silence fell.
The Group 8 applicants sighed in relief that their trap and coordinated attack had worked, but they still didn't let their guard down as they advanced through the labyrinth.
At that moment, a quest completion window appeared before my eyes.
[Quest completed.]
[Reward will be given.]
A ticket fluttered down from thin air.
The ticket bore the words [Stat Selection Ticket], with blank boxes next to Strength, Agility, and Intelligence.
As if telling me to check the empty slots.
"...Later."
I pocketed the ticket and looked at the four of them.
'Park Sunja...'
I stared at the backs of the four, especially Park Soyoung's back, and felt certain.
Certain that she was Park Sunja, my protection target.
Her appearance looked far too young for her name, but among the applicants this time, she was the only woman with an unclear identity.
'But why hide her name and come in here?'
Two possibilities came to mind. One was, as expected, a spy.
Whether from White Tiger or some other faction, there was ample reason to hide her name if she was a spy.
The other was... maybe she'd really changed her name or something?
It was a name that could warrant a name change, after all.
In any case, I kept my suspicions as I followed behind them.
My quest was complete. But their 'practical' test wasn't over yet.
Before they fully explored the labyrinth, I needed to appear before them again at least once as the practical proctor.
I slowly revealed myself from the corner of the hidden corridor.
Step, step.
At the sound of my footsteps, the four jumped in unison and turned toward me.
But this time was different from before. They didn't charge recklessly or take aggressive stances like last time.
Instead, they moved with astonishing speed and composure.
It seemed like with each fight, they were growing more adept at taking positions and responding.
Shun and Hanbit immediately put distance between us, securing escape routes into the left and right corridors respectively.
Their eyes were fixed on my hands and the sword at my waist.
Bora pulled out her talismans again but didn't throw them, instead staring me down as if piercing right through me, searching for an opening.
Park Soyoung stood slightly behind the other three, wary of me while quickly scanning the surrounding terrain.
Rather than attacking me recklessly, they had shifted strategy to staying cautious and securing escape routes.
"...Proctor. What happened to that monster over there?"
Bora asked without lowering her guard.
Her voice was calm, but laced with tension, as if ready to respond at any moment.
I inwardly admired their changed demeanor and shrugged casually as I replied.
"I don't know much about that monster myself. It must have been dangerous, but you all handled it well. It'll definitely be positively evaluated in the test. But the test isn't over yet. Please continue."
Normally, as the monster role, I shouldn't be talking to them, but I couldn't help it.
A real monster appearing during the practical test was too suspicious no matter how I thought about it.
We maintained a tense standoff, probing each other for a moment.
Since we couldn't stay like that forever, I began slowly stepping forward.
At my movement, the Group 8 applicants exchanged glances briefly.
They no longer saw me as a rookie proctor.
Their response was markedly different from before.
"Now!"
Tadak!
The moment Hanbit shouted, the four moved in perfect unison backward.
It was a retreat.
This time, their intent to harass me while fleeing was clear.
Shun quickly crouched and scooped up a few solid-looking pebbles from the floor, hurling them at me.
Whoosh—!
It felt less like a direct attack and more like an attempt to annoyingly divert my attention.
They were pretty fast, but I could see and dodge them easily.
At the same time, Hanbit pulled a small bead-shaped item from his pocket and threw it to the ground.
Pang—!
The bead burst, unleashing a blinding flash intense enough to dazzle the eyes.
I reflexively closed my eyes and covered my face with my arm.
"Paper soldier!"
Bora didn't miss the opening and shouted.
The talismans she flung from her hand intertwined in midair, instantly forming the shape of a life-sized paper soldier.
With movements too agile to believe it was made of paper, it charged at me spear-first, talisman lance aimed right at me.
And amid all the chaos, Park Soyoung calmly scanned the walls and soon spotted a faintly glowing emergency escape panel, shouting.
"Found it! Over here!"
In sync with her cry, Shun, Hanbit, and Bora harassed me while rushing toward the emergency exit Park Soyoung had found.
It was teamwork and situational judgment close to perfection.
I easily twisted my body to dodge the barrage of pebbles.
The flash that blinded me was momentary; my vision returned to normal quickly.
The charging paper soldier shattered into fluttering scraps with a single casual punch.
"Th-that...! My talisman!"
Bora shrieked in horror as she fled.
None of their attacks or disruptions posed any threat to me.
I leisurely countered all their responses and moved to pursue their fleeing backs.
As the 'monster' role. To press them harder.
But I soon halted the chase.
"Hmm."
I replayed their actions from moments ago.
Swift situational judgment, effective harassment and escape route securing using each person's abilities, and even finding the exit.
Though ineffective against me, their coping skills and teamwork surpassed rookie applicant level.
I saw no major mistakes in their actions worth criticizing.
'...Let them go.'
I quietly lowered the sword-shaped stun device.
As a proctor, their performance was passing.
My real mission was rooting out spies and protecting Park Sunja anyway.
I watched the backs of the four as they grew distant.
They finally escaped the labyrinth through the emergency exit.
All that remained in this sector were the wreckage of the shattered paper soldier and me alone.
"Hmm."
I exited the labyrinth through the same escape route the Group 8 applicants had used.
As if waiting, the Team 6 leader approached me, glancing toward where Group 8 had gone, and asked.
"Kim Minjun. How were the Group 8 applicants? Any movements that caught your eye...?"
I sensed his last question hid intent regarding spies.
"Yes, Leader. The Group 8 applicants were all outstanding. Great teamwork, and their situational response was beyond applicant level."
"...As expected."
I praised their capabilities first, then hesitated briefly.
Park Soyoung, or rather Park Sunja.
The possibility she was a spy was still high.
But should I report it now?
Why had the quest told me to protect her? If she was just a simple spy like Choi Employee, there'd be no reason for a quest.
Maybe she was one of the key figures in this 'game' that I didn't know about.
After some thought, I decided to keep my suspicions about her hidden for now.
Instead, I chose to report the unexpected incident.
"But Leader, there was something unusual. A real monster appeared during the test. A massive one resembling a bull."
At my report, the Team 6 leader's eyes widened slightly.
"Pardon? A real monster...? What happened?"
"The Group 8 applicants cooperated directly and, astonishingly, subdued it with their own power."
"Them on their own... Well, Group 8 has the skills to fight, after all..."
I didn't report the fact that Group 8 had ambushed me earlier.
The Team 6 leader looked surprised for a moment upon hearing me, then nodded in acceptance.
"As expected, all of Group 8's members will pass the practical. I need to check on the other groups first. Maybe a monster appeared there too."
"Yes."
He hurried off elsewhere.
I watched his back and let out a sigh of relief. The immediate fire was out.
Team 6's leader was worried, but there was no need to fret about monsters in the other labyrinths.
No red dots appeared on my map.
I returned the protective gear and sword-shaped electric stun device I'd worn for the 'monster' role.
Back in my neat black suit uniform, I finally looked like a normal proctor.
I caught my breath for a moment and searched for the Group 8 applicants I'd overseen earlier.
I approached them slowly. At the sound of my footsteps, all four pairs of eyes turned to me.
Their gazes mixed wariness, a hint of fear, and curiosity.
Bora's eyes, who had called me the 'weird proctor' inside the labyrinth earlier, were especially sharp.
I stood before them and opened my mouth with the softest expression possible.
"Group 8, good work."
I gave a light bow.
"I'm Kim Minjun from Exploration Team 15, who served as your group's proctor and evaluator for this practical test. Nice to properly introduce myself."
At my polite introduction, the four glanced at each other in brief confusion before reluctantly starting brief self-introductions.
Wary tones lingered in their voices.
"...Hanbit."
Hanbit said curtly, his posture stiff.
His formal speech sounded a bit awkward.
He was still staring at me, as if analyzing.
"I'm exorcist Bora. What did you do to my talisman earlier...?"
Bora stared at me with meaningful eyes as she spoke.
She still seemed curious why her talisman hadn't worked.
"Shun."
The Japanese Shun was the quietest.
He just stated his name briefly and shut his mouth. But his eyes observed me more sharply than anyone.
"...Park Soyoung. Good work, Proctor."
Finally, Park Soyoung offered a cautious greeting.
She avoided my eyes and bowed her head slightly.
She harbored wariness toward me too.
Brief introductions were exchanged, but the awkward, tense atmosphere between us didn't dissipate easily.
They were still on guard against me.
"The results will be announced soon. I hope you all get good ones."
As I said that and passed by, I muttered just loud enough for Park Soyoung alone to hear.
"Park Sunja."
I focused all my attention on her.
Her eyes widened, and I heard her swallow her breath.
That reaction alone confirmed it.
'It's her.'
It wasn't the reaction of someone hearing an unfamiliar name.