Quiz Deathmatch Survival: Owl Show

There was a long line snaking outside the Response Bureau. It was so packed that slipping through to the entrance was a real challenge.

Even when I came for the 15th Grade qualification exam, it wasn't this crowded.

"Hey, Jeong lil' bro!"

A friendly voice calling out made Jeongchan turn his head.

"It's me! Jang Namgyu!"

His classmate from the qualification exam.

"Hyung, you're still alive."

"Of course. And you made it too. Though I figured you would."

Even after passing as a 15th Grade agent, survival rates within the first three months barely topped 60%. In other words, about half bit the dust before then.

"Not taking the exam today?"

"What exam?"

"The 14th Grade one today."

"Oh, so that's what this line's for."

Jeongchan's blank expression made Jang Namgyu tilt his head in confusion.

"You're not taking the 14th Grade? I figured you'd be there with the rest of our class."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You and Yoon Eunbyeol up there—I knew you'd both go for it."

"No need for me."

Jeongchan pulled out his grade badge from his pocket. The one he'd received early.

"9th Grade in three months?"

A short gasp escaped Jang Namgyu's lips at the absurd result.

He'd known Jeongchan was different since the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠qualification exam, but he hadn't expected him to stand out this much, this soon.

"No one's trying to recruit you onto their line yet?"

"What line?"

Why would I ride something like that?

Cars and women.

That's all I ride.

For now, anyway.

"Listen up—"

"Next examinees, please enter!"

"Damn, next time I'll tell you."

"Sure. Good luck on the exam."

Jeongchan headed inside the Response Bureau and sought out the receptionist.

Lee Bohye, a retired agent now working the desk.

"Jeongchan, right? Let me confirm."

"Here's my grade badge."

"Confirmed. Nahee's told me all about you. Handsome just like she said."

"For real?"

"If I had a daughter, I'd introduce you."

"I'd be happy with you too, Bohye noona."

"Hohoho. Flatterer. What's good about an old lady like me?"

Maybe it was the rare gold-star compliment, but Lee Bohye's voice brimmed with cheer as she continued.

"Anyway, business time—quick and to the point. You wanted a broadcast-related mission, right? I picked ones suited to your strong mental barrier. Take a look."

Lee Bohye plunked a thick stack of documents on the desk.

"All these are broadcast-related anomalies?"

"Pick one?"

"Why so many?"

"Agents with strong mental barriers can handle all sorts of roles. I can filter more if you have preferences."

Jeongchan answered without hesitation.

"The anomaly's gender being female would be great."

"Female?"

Agents thrown into anomalies constantly battled mental pollution. Plenty developed weird quirks as a result.

Lee Bohye, a veteran herself, knew it well. Nahee had tipped her off too.

Still, specifying gender was rare enough to make her ask.

"Why female?"

"I'm totally hooked on the charm of female anomalies."

"Aha... Got it. No need to elaborate on the charm."

"Too bad."

Lee Bohye smoothly cut him off.

She'd heard enough rambling monologues from quirked-up agents to last a lifetime.

"Female-type should be fine, right? Not guaranteed."

"Perfect."

"Anything else?"

"Some free time to act solo inside the anomaly would be nice."

"Team ops okay too?"

"Yeah, fine."

Lee Bohye handed over a single sheet.

"How about this? Hazard rating unmeasurable, but management rating's low enough for even a 15th Grade."

Hazard rating meant the level needed if things went wrong inside.

Management rating was the difficulty for escaping or completing the mission by following the rulebook.

Per Lee Bohye, it was safe as a normal sewer if you stuck to the rules.

"Let's see."

The mission brief was hefty.

The quiz attachment with answers was novel-thick.

"You have to memorize all this? It'll take a while."

"Yeah, no problem."

He skimmed the attachment, activating Direct Gaze.

"Any data on the female anomaly?"

"Knew you'd ask. Prepared it."

Lee Bohye pulled a file from under the desk.

"This photo's the MC of the Owl Show, Raopf."

Wait, what?

Grainy photo and video, but her allure shone through.

Legs exuding perfect proportions.

Joints twisting at inhuman angles.

Yet topped with a perfectly human head—pure charm.

"And those limbs are variable."

"Meaning?"

"They shift shape at the anomaly's will."

Lee Bohye played the video. An arm morphed into a mantis claw, shredding the audience seats in one swipe.

Hidden gimmick too...

"That puts her hazard rating at..."

"Varies daily, averages around 7th Grade. Doesn't get stronger with kills, but retains memories—annoying one."

Lee Bohye slapped his arm.

"Don't worry. No fighting. Never happened since rulebooks started."

"Sounds good."

"Plus, plenty of female staff. Whatever you're after, female anomalies galore."

Uh... need more thinking?

"Perfect. I'll take it."

"Smart choice. Safest of the bunch."

Quiz show deployment day.

Familiar faces.

"Jeongchan?"

"Lil' bro Jeong?"

Nahee and Jang Namgyu, who'd passed the 14th Grade.

"Nahee, doing well? Team leader now?"

"No, call me sunbae. Junior."

"Got it, sunbae."

"Can I call you sunbae too, team leader?"

"Say it after you hit 9th Grade. Namgyu."

"...Yes ma'am."

Nahee eyed Jeongchan and Jang Namgyu alternately.

"Oh right, you two were classmates."

"Don't compare us? It'll hurt. Team leader."

"As if. Hitting 14th Grade in three months shows talent. Junior's just off-spec in every way."

"You two C Team?"

"Nah. We're going in as staff."

To help trapped civilians escape. Hypnosis made sense for keeping panic down.

"Junior's D Team, with that mental barrier."

"Yep. Done D Team? How is it?"

"Once. Brutal. Self-hypnosis barely got me through. You'll be fine without."

Nahee remembered nearly cracking near the Diver Mother. Still gave her chills.

"Anyway... why this mission? Don't tell me..."

Nahee's face twisted like she'd seen something horrific.

"Civilian rescue this time. Gotta hold back."

"No idea what you're thinking, but it's not that."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Unfair. Haven't done anything yet.

No chance for misunderstanding in a live TV show.

"I'll trust you. Stick to rules as much as possible. At least till civilians are out."

"Don't worry. My rule-following spirit's ironclad."

Never crossed paths with rulebooks before, but he liked following them.

They'd been absent or twisted till now.

This time would be different.