#11 Scenario: Excellence, Superior, Beauty, Good, Passable
In life, we face all sorts of tests.
Qualification exams, job interviews, blind dates—they're no different from exams.
Among the many tests, the most important one was undoubtedly the Quality Evaluation.
The Quality Evaluation, starting at age 20, was the most crucial test in navigating life.
Excellence (秀), Superior (優), Beauty (美), Good (良), Passable (可)
There were five grades in total, and depending on your grade, you received different benefits in society.
The test method was simple.
During a set period, you received training from an examiner called a "Special," then took the test in front of acquaintances.
Grades were assigned based on your score.
Even if your score was low, you got protection from demotion twice.
Of course, no one wanted demotion, so everyone gave their all in the once-a-year exam.
Woo Da-hee.
She woke up early in the morning and started packing her bags.
"Starting today, it's training camp, right?"
Her husband, Choi Hyeok, had gotten up early too and was helping her pack.
"The men already took their exams a month ago... I'm so jealous~."
She gazed enviously at Choi Hyeok, who had already taken the test, and leaned on his shoulder.
He looked at his lovely wife with affectionate eyes and wrapped her in a warm embrace.
"You'll do great."
His warm encouragement eased her tense heart.
After packing everything for the training camp, she checked her phone for messages.
Attire:
Clean suit and dress shoes.
Items to Prepare:
Personal essentials for the training camp period.
The next message included the address and duration, along with an attached photo.
"Whew."
She took a deep breath and double-checked her bags.
It was an annual test, but its weight always made her nervous.
She checked another message.
Superior
2nd Failure
If you fail this year's exam, you will be demoted.
The word "failure" stabbed like a dagger, making her even more anxious.
The benefits of Superior grade were special.
Discounts on national health insurance and various taxes, plus extra national pension contributions.
Not to mention major discounts on transportation, benefits when buying goods, and above all, priority access to top school districts for future children.
There were so many benefits it was hard to list them all.
Naturally, dropping a grade meant losing a ton of them.
"If I fail this time..."
They had plans for kids, so missing out on those top school district benefits would be devastating.
"It's okay. You'll do fine."
Her husband had defended his grade this time, though he hadn't advanced to Superior.
Benefits were based on the lowest grade in the couple, so she felt even more pressure.
"Shall we head out?"
Woo Da-hee took the hand of her sweetly smiling husband and headed to the test site.
Woo Da-young.
Passable
Grade Maintained
She sighed as she read the message before heading out.
She'd been taking the test since her 20s, but good scores eluded her.
Beside her was the boyfriend who'd stuck by her for seven years.
He'd advanced again in the men's exam.
Excellence
Grade Maintained
It was the polar opposite of hers.
Everyone started at Passable at 20, and most nabbed Good on their first try.
But not everyone did.
"You've practiced a lot this time, so it'll be fine."
Kim Woo-hyun reassured her, patting her back.
"Still, at least I'm taking it with Da-hee unnie this time."
It was a relief she could take it with her sister, someone to lean on.
Woo Da-young gathered her faltering resolve, hugged Kim Woo-hyun tight, and said,
"I'm definitely getting Good this time. Then we can get married right away."
Marriage required at least Good grade.
Kim Woo-hyun, who loved her despite her Passable, was her incredibly loving and proud boyfriend.
He saw the real her, beyond the grade supremacist bullshit everyone else spouted these days.
"Ready to go?"
Dressed in sharp suits, the two left the house.
Maeng Soyul.
Working days and studying nights, she'd passed the notoriously tough national civil service exam for examiners.
She remembered that day vividly.
How her grandmother and little siblings, left behind after her parents left, had rejoiced.
And today was her first day on the job.
Up before dawn, she put on her suit and teared up at her reflection in the mirror.
"Finally..."
Now a Special-grade examiner, she'd live for her grandmother, who'd sacrificed everything, and her growing siblings.
Gazing at her sleeping family huddled in the tiny one-room, she vowed to work hard and slipped on her shoes.
"Hoo."
With clear eyes, she opened the door and stepped out.
The cold air bit, but compared to her life so far, it was nothing.
She strode confidently through the slum alleyways she'd navigated her whole life.
"Hm, nice. As long as I act the part perfectly, it'll work."
First time trying this world setup.
No idea what changes it would bring.
"Urgh~."
Stretching, Nam Siu put on the pre-ironed suit.
"I'm the examiner. I'm the examiner."
Brainwashing himself to immerse in the scenario's character.
Fully dressed, he pulled out his prepared props.
Profile forms and test sheets to fill out.
They looked legit from afar, but up close, the content was bizarre.
"Made these for potential use in other worlds later."
He'd filed them in binders from the office supply store nearby to make them convincing.
"Time to head out."
Checking the clock, he went to meet Maeng Soyul.
"Whoa, cold."
The chill hit as he opened the door; he grabbed his puffer jacket.
"Shouldn't have said to wait outside."
Bundled up, he felt warmer.
Smoking to kill time, he spotted Maeng Soyul in her suit getting off the bus at the stop.
He'd set clear goals for each participant, so anticipation was building.
Maeng Soyul walked toward him, tense like she was heading to an interview.
"I'm the examiner. I'm the examiner."
As the Quality Evaluation examiner, he reminded himself of his role and waited.
As she neared and noticed him staring, she flinched but bowed politely.
"Hello! I'm the examiner, Maeng Soyul!"
"Mm, you're the new hire, right?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, let's go."
Examiners were special in this world.
Male examiners especially—far rarer than females due to the test's difficulty.
That elite status ramped up Maeng Soyul's tension.
"You know the test theme, right?"
"Yes!"
"Tell me."
As they walked, she recited what she'd memorized, trotting beside him.
"This test's theme is the ideal wife and wise mother! So the venue is a home."
"Correct."
He'd texted her the theme just in case, and she'd memorized it perfectly.
The scenario started last night, plenty of time to study.
Ding.
Inside, he checked the time.
"The test-takers arrive in about an hour, so let's prep first."
"Yes! What should I do...?"
He led her to the workspace.
The monitors showed webcam feeds from around the house like CCTV.
"All tests are recorded for fairness. Newbies usually handle camera duty."
"Ah, yes."
"Memorize all the camera positions."
Cams Woo Da-hee had bought. Handy once set up.
"This is the test venue, so know it cold."
"Yes."
While she looked around, he sat on the sofa, pretending to review his forms.
"All done?"
"Yes."
"Hm... Maeng Soyul, 23 years old... height 161cm, B-cup breasts."
"Yes."
She stood rigid with tension. Made sense—male examiners outranked females by miles in the setting.
One of the few male examiners in the country.
"You took the Special test from Excellence, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I'll verify your profile matches."
He set the papers down, stood, and approached her slowly.
"Take off your jacket."
"Yes."
Maeng Soyul removed her neat suit jacket.
"Unbutton your shirt."
Hanging her jacket on the sofa, he watched as she undid her shirt buttons from the top.
"Hmm..."
Like inspecting for a test, he circled her slowly, eyes serious.
Smooth.
His hand brushed her breast; she flinched and trembled.
Examiner touches weren't harassment by default, so probably just nerves.
"Lift your shirt."
She raised the blouse underneath; he unhooked her bra from behind, hands sliding up her skin to grab her breasts.
"Hngh...!"
Hearing her tense moan, he lowered his hands, unzipping her suit skirt's side zipper.
"Bend over the sofa."
"Yes."
"Thighs only."
Skirt down, her stockings showed.
"Stockings too."
Stockings lowered, Maeng Soyul presented her ass to him.
"Nice firm ass. Deserves Excellence."
"Th-thank you."
Not on Woo Da-hee's level, but she was elite in this setup.
"Heard your family's poor. You must've worked hard."
"Yes... I really did."
"Hm..."
Fondling her ass got him hard.
Wanted to back off, but the sisters were almost here.
"Got it. Put 'em back on."
Satisfied watching her obey instantly.
"Assist well during the test."
"Yes! Please take care of me too!"
Pausing while raising her stockings to her thighs, she bowed to him.
Not her usual quiet self.
This passionate side suited her too, he thought, prepping to greet the sisters.
Thud.
Dressed again, he handed her the binder sheets.
"Profiles for Woo Da-hee and Woo Da-young, and forms to give them."
"Yes."
"Memorize the profiles."
"Yes!"
He took her to the apartment parking lot.
En route, she studied the binder.
A familiar car pulled in.
"They're here."
Maeng Soyul closed the binder, clasped her hands in front.
Two couples stepped out after parking.