Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Promotion Exam Roster
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How far had he scrolled down the phone screen?
The participant list inside quickly filled his view.
This round's promotion exam.
Those were the entrants.
'As expected, plenty of guys hiding their jobs and names like me.'
Yoo Seokwoo stroked his chin.
With the promotion exam just one day away.
He was checking all the participants via the info app Remus, but unfortunately, some had their details set to private.
What kind of jobs they had.
What gear they mainly used— he'd only find out tomorrow.
Who knew?
One of those hidden ones might end up as his enemy or partner.
So pre-exam recon was essential.
'One of these guys will definitely be my partner.'
Or my enemy.
For now, the two users to watch from the public list.
Rookie 2nd, Petra, and Rookie 4th, Plack.
A flame-specialized mage.
A berserker focused on burst firepower.
Their positions differed, but they shared one key trait.
Both had AoE skills specialized for multi-target fights.
Even facing just one of them would be a headache.
Both as enemies? No need to say it.
'The worst possible matchup.'
But if they ended up as teammates? Couldn't ask for better.
'It's not just one-on-one duels. Defending against monsters changes everything.'
What did that mean?
Simple.
He could fail the promotion exam too.
Thief-types were specialized for single targets anyway.
He had fewer combat skills than others and almost no AoE.
And the biggest issue: opponents were monsters, not humans.
Various types, in groups.
A guy who'd spent his life PKing wouldn't be used to fighting those.
'Worst Criminal in History achievement won't trigger either.'
Human bonus damage: 100%.
That was the killer.
No room for complacency.
One slip, and he'd be out before he knew it.
'Gonna need some luck too, huh?'
The opponent.
And the partner—whoever they were would swing victory or defeat big time.
Of course, he'd prepped for the worst case.
Scouring the public auction house for Night King drops.
Researching info like this to snag the rest of the items he needed.
All that was left was testing the new skills and items in detail.
But he could do that once he logged in today.
'Finish grabbing the last items from the auction site first...'
Log back into Agas.
Tsss!
Seokwoo stubbed out his cigarette and stepped out of the break room.
He grabbed a drink to wet his throat and headed to the counter.
Shift change time already?
Sure enough, Jonghyuk and Bora were there, finishing handover.
"What, switching shifts?"
"Yeah, I need a break too. Bora noona's up now... Oh, hold on."
Jonghyuk glanced at his phone mid-sentence.
A pleased smile spread as his fingers flew across the screen.
Chatting happily with someone.
Seokwoo grinned slyly and sidled up.
"Girlfriend?"
"Whoa! You scared me!"
"Kid got spooked."
"Hyung!"
Jonghyuk calmed his pounding chest.
Then nodded, beaming ear to ear.
"Yeah. Started dating recently."
"Park Jonghyuk, you sly dog!"
"Ahahaha."
"Pretty?"
"Obviously."
"Yeah? Show me a pic. Gotta see for myself how pretty..."
"Hyung, don't freak out when you see it. Check the profile pic..."
The two guys huddled close, glued to the phone.
Bora chuckled from the counter, watching them.
"Holy shit!"
"Pretty, right?"
Seokwoo let out an exclamation and threw an arm around Jonghyuk's neck.
"You bastard, what kind of magic did you pull?!"
"Hyung, give! Give!"
Sneak headlock.
But Jonghyuk's smile didn't fade through the pain.
Happiness overriding it all.
After some rough brotherly tussling(?).
"Alright, I'm off then."
"Yeah, go rest."
Jonghyuk soon left the capsule room, quiet returning.
Seokwoo glanced at the door, then turned to the counter.
"Young love, huh."
"Young love? You'd think you're some 30-40s uncle."
Bora muttered, chin in hand.
"Just sayin'."
"Hey, oppa and us aren't that far apart in age?"
"Really?"
"Jeez. Anyway, ring this up?"
"Yeah, please."
Bora smirked and rang up the drink.
Beep!
The POS machine chimed in the capsule room.
This quiet off-shift hour.
All customers inside capsules.
Only Seokwoo out here.
So Bora's gaze from the counter kept drifting his way.
To Seokwoo, back turned, staring up at the wall-mounted TV.
"......"
Mysterious silence.
'Girlfriend?'
'Pretty?'
'You bastard, what kind of magic...!'
The recent convo about Jonghyuk's girlfriend replayed in Bora's mind.
Normally she'd brush it off, but today it nagged at her.
Plus, no other customers but Seokwoo.
No better chance to ask.
After some hesitation.
Bora finally tossed the question at his turned back.
"That oppa..."
"Huh?"
"No girlfriend?"
"Me?"
"Who else? Just curious since you're here every day. Don't answer if you don't want..."
Fidgeting fingers.
Gaze slid away involuntarily.
But then.
"I'm single."
Her eyes trembled at his blunt reply.
Single.
No girlfriend.
At least not now.
An unfamiliar feeling raced through her.
"What? So bold it threw me off."
She played it cool, hiding it.
"Come on. First single guy you've met?"
"No, but."
"Hitting a sore spot outta nowhere... Oh, wait."
Seokwoo's face turned mischievous.
"You got a thing for me?"
Flinch!
Smile froze.
Brain stalled.
No quick comeback in the fluster.
But soon.
"...Hey, even I'd get hurt if you look that serious. Kidding, kidding. Lighten up."
Seokwoo broke the ice first.
"Ah, I just freeze up with shocking stuff. Sorry."
"Ugh, critical hit..."
Seokwoo clutched his chest dramatically.
His usual over-the-top act.
Seemed to blow over fine.
Bora finally relaxed and turned away.
Of course.
Thump!
Her heart still raced.
'What am I doing, acting like an idiot.'
This vibe.
This flow.
Didn't sit right.
Just left her more unsettled.
She cursed herself inwardly and sighed.
'Drop it.'
As she turned back.
A past memory surfaced.
Early part-time days.
Not long after learning the ropes.
Made all sorts of mistakes back then.
'You caused me to aggro a mob and crash! What now?!'
That day was one.
Capsule misconfiguration.
A customer stormed the counter.
Clearly her fault.
She kept apologizing, bowing repeatedly.
But he wouldn't calm down.
Things blew up.
Splash!
He dumped his drink over her head.
Blank in the shock.
No clue how to react.
Drip drip!
Soggy hair.
Drink pooling on the floor.
Murmuring customers.
Total mess.
Even as he yelled in her face, it barely registered.
Ears ringing.
Or mind numb.
Didn't matter.
Boss would handle it soon anyway.
CCTV caught it all.
But that wasn't the point.
Why it stuck so vividly: dozens of customers just watched.
Silly to expect help, sure.
Her mistake.
Part-time gigs have hiccups.
Still, wished someone had stepped in.
Felt abandoned in the world.
Didn't want to linger in that.
And then.
He emerged from a capsule.
Plain young guy, nothing special.
But his move was legendary.
Splash!
Dumped a drink on the guy, same as he'd done to her.
Then said:
That was Bora's memory of Yoo Seokwoo.
Their first meeting.
Grip!
Fist clenched.
Recalling the past, Bora spun around.
Marched right up to Seokwoo, staring at his phone.
"Wh-what? What's up?"
Obvious fluster.
Didn't matter.
Beating around the bush wasn't her style.
Ambiguity even less.
Face-to-face with him, she blurted it out.
"If you are."
Seokwoo blinked blankly.
"Huh?"
Wondering if he misheard.
But Bora pressed on.
"If you're interested, what then?"