Chapter 35: The Devil's Evaluation Report (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: The Devil's Evaluation Report (5)
Lee Ru-da reads the evaluation report written by Jeong Yeon-woo before setting it down on the table.
"What does everyone think?"
The core heroes of Square Garden were gathered in the conference room.
From Lee Ru-da’s own party members to high-ranking heroes like Song Ha-el and Seo Han-na from the Queen Bee Party, everyone had finished reading Jeong Yeon-woo’s report.
"I have one question. Is the supervisor who wrote this really D-rank?"
"No. Actually, he isn't even active as a hero."
"That makes even less sense... I thought this was a report the Strategy Department had spent months researching."
As one hero spoke with a frown, Song Ha-el chimed in boastfully.
"Our Yeon-yu is quite amazing, isn't he?"
"Ha-el, what’s your take on this?"
"I watched him evaluate from the very beginning. After seeing the first battle, he immediately picked up on what you were looking for, Ru-da."
At Song Ha-el’s words, Lee Ru-da’s expression hardened.
She had intentionally withheld her objectives from Jeong Yeon-woo. She feared that if she told him, he might evaluate through a biased lens, but he had caught on instantly and drafted a report that hit the mark perfectly.
Feeling Lee Ru-da’s gaze, Seo Han-na shrugged.
"It’s true. And most of what’s in that report, Yeon-woo wrote right there on the spot while watching the battle."
Normally, analysts would watch the footage over and over again, so Square Garden had provided the recordings, but Jeong Yeon-woo hadn't played them even once.
Yet, look at the content.
He hadn't just listed the heroes' strengths and weaknesses; he had mapped out their future paths and specific training focuses.
And that wasn't all. As if he already possessed a deep understanding of how to integrate support roles into a party, he had attached several tactics utilizing supporters.
It was as if he were providing a guide on exactly how to use the evaluated heroes within a team.
Since the Belarus incident, many clans had begun to question the strategy of clearing dungeons with only Attackers.
The first to initiate change was the United States.
Even the U.S. was only just beginning to experiment with various role combinations, but Jeong Yeon-woo seemed to already have a complete system established in his head.
Even these simple tactics he provided as a guide were several steps ahead of the major American clans.
Anyone can think of the simple concept of using a Supporter—just have them use their skills at the right time.
However, the level of detail Jeong Yeon-woo provided was peerless.
"I thought the media just latched onto a pretty face, but he’s a real monster."
Oh Na-eun, a member of Lee Ru-da’s party, let out a hollow laugh as she put down the tablet containing the report.
Most of the heroes gathered there felt the same as Oh Na-eun.
When it was suggested they try the tactics being tested in the U.S. following the Belarus incident, the heroes of Square Garden had thought it would be easy.
However, integrating a Supporter into a party was far more difficult than expected.
While they certainly helped, the overall attack power dropped, significantly slowing down dungeon clear times. It felt like a double-edged sword—beneficial in theory, but awkward in practice.
They felt like they were on the verge of a breakthrough if they just researched a bit more, but the solution remained just out of reach.
To see someone who wasn't even a hero come along and completely overhaul the tactical framework while they were struggling so hard was nothing short of staggering.
If they used this report—no, this tactical manual—as a foundation to build upon, the potential for Supporter utility could be limitless.
"Um... but are we really going to... deliver this report to Yuna and the other heroes?"
When a hero in the corner spoke up hesitantly, everyone’s expression turned contemplative.
"They’re just starting to adjust. Will they accept being told to change their weapons?"
"They’ll have to change their entire combat style, too."
"The problem is, this isn't a proven tactic. Will the kids really trust it and follow along?"
Jeong Yeon-woo had given failing grades to everyone in this party.
While he rated their abilities as Attackers highly, if they were to work with a Supporter, their entire mindset would need to be flipped upside down.
Lee Ru-da, who had been quietly watching the tablet on the table, spoke in a calm voice.
"For now, we’ll only have those who want to do it train. Forcing them to do something they don't want to won't help. However, Lee Yu-na will do it, no matter what."
Based on the experience she had gained climbing to S-rank, she judged that this tactic was correct.
Her younger sister had talent, but her skills were support-type—specifically, the kind that forced her out of the fray when used. It had always been a point of concern.
It might be fine at lower ranks, but once she reached the higher tiers, Attacker-centric parties wouldn't give her a second look.
Lee Ru-da intended to do everything in her power to ensure her sister’s talent could truly shine.
"I’ll try to persuade the kids for now. I believe this is a true innovation as well."
The other heroes agreed with Lee Ru-da, and the meeting came to an end.
"Achoo—"
What was that? Is someone talking about me?
"Oh, Manager, did you catch a cold? You need to keep yourself warm."
"I’m quite warm myself; should I come over and heat you up?"
The apprentices started fawning over me just because I coughed once.
When they first received my evaluation reports, they looked like they wanted to kill me, but after I took down Kwon Ye-jin, they were suddenly all over me.
As expected, it’s not about what you say, but the status of the person saying it.
Once I proved my skills, the apprentices—who had been pouting with indignation—became as obedient as puppies, acting as if they’d follow my every word.
Now, it’s just annoying how they ask me to oversee their training every single day.
And the jealous glares from the actual trainers, who are being ignored by the apprentices, are quite awkward.
Especially when we enter a dungeon together; they go wild trying to catch my eye, making it impossible to evaluate them properly.
I eventually gathered them all and told them I’d fail anyone who kept acting like that, which made them snap out of it, but their clinginess hasn't quite gone away.
To be honest, having beautiful women acting cute and pushing their chests toward me isn't exactly a bad thing, but since I’m in the position of an evaluator, I can't just mess around.
No matter how much I like sex, I have to draw a clear line here.
It would be a problem if rumors started spreading that you could get a better evaluation by offering your body.
...Wait.
Is it the opposite in this world?
I briefly wondered if it even mattered, but then I thought of Park Sung-jun and decided not to go looking for trouble.
Right now, there’s only one apprentice I’m actually interested in.
Kwon Ye-jin, who is currently crouching in the corner of the training ground like an outcast.
With higher stats than the others and the ability to ruthlessly eliminate enemies with her skills, she was the most standout individual among the apprentices.
However, her hot-tempered nature led to a lot of friction with the other apprentices, and she had been aggressive toward the staff.
Given that, it’s only natural that others might think she got what she deserved after being humiliated by me.
But she was just the one who stepped up as the representative to face me; there weren't even three apprentices who had calmly accepted my evaluation report.
They didn't stop an angry Kwon Ye-jin, and some even followed her lead.
Kwon Ye-jin just happened to take all the blame, but the other apprentices were no different.
No, if anything, these girls who flipped their attitudes the moment they saw my strength are the worse ones.
And looking further back, there was the decision from above to recklessly distribute my reports.
In the end, Break Line is the root of all this.
That damn Park Sung-jun.
With my thoughts inevitably leading back to "it's all Park's fault," I approached Kwon Ye-jin with a grim expression.
Perhaps she’d had a change of heart after her defeat, as she had dyed her hair a bright purple.
She had been lost in thought, her plum-colored hair hanging down, when she looked up at me.
"There are about three days left. Have you made a decision?"
"Yes... Sigh... Defender. I'll be a Defender. I'll do it, okay?"
Her voice was full of resentment, but Kwon Ye-jin had agreed to the role change.
However, what she said next wasn't as promising.
"But... no matter how much I think about it... I mean, I know you're skilled, Manager. But, you know. Me learning from you..."
"...It hurts your pride?"
"...Yes, a bit."
Kwon Ye-jin spoke sullenly, avoiding my eyes.
Aha, so it hurts your pride, does it?
I crouched down in front of her to meet her eyes.
With her purple hair, which made her look even more like a delinquent than when she was blonde, she met my gaze with sharp eyes.
"Ye-jin."
"...Yes?"
"It hurts your pride? Your pride is wounded? Then I guess I’m the one in the wrong. Of course—we can't have our Ye-jin’s pride getting hurt. My mistake, then?"
"No, that’s not what I meant."
"Do you want me to tell you what really hurts your pride? If you leave Break Line now, you’ll be a failure for the rest of your life. Wake up. No one else is going to take you in. Your name is plastered all over the internet for being a 'talented D-rank,' do you really think any clan is going to want you?"
For a hero, image is just as important as skill.
A hero who saves people.
Even though they are both Awakened, this was a concept that didn't exist in my previous world.
Because in this world, they’ve managed to keep the monsters from escaping the dungeons, and people live in peace.
In the world outside the dungeons, a hero’s top priority is keeping citizens safe.
They go to disaster sites like fires to rescue people, and even when villains are on the loose, protecting people comes before capturing the villain.
People can tolerate a bit of a prickly or cold personality, but causing harm to others is unacceptable.
Clans keep heroes with truly terrible personalities quiet, letting them only run dungeons without public exposure.
And thanks to a thoughtless staff member leaking the story for "satisfaction," Kwon Ye-jin’s name had been branded with a negative image in the public eye.
"You’ll never get into a clan. So, what then? Are you going to harbor a grudge against the world, become a villain, and end up in a correctional facility caught by the very heroes you wanted to be? Oh, sure—you’ll find a job easily enough using your Awakened abilities. And then, every night, your future will be falling asleep miserably while watching the exploits of heroes on the internet. How’s that? Does that satisfy your pride?"
"..."
"Get it together, Kwon Ye-jin. Right now, I’m throwing you the final lifeline of your life."
Kwon Ye-jin couldn't say a word in response.
Her trembling eyes reflected my image.
The anxiety about the future and the creeping sense of dread made her fierce eyes look pitiful.
I stood up and looked down at her.
"There are three days left for the apprenticeship, but make your decision by tomorrow. After that, the lifeline will be cut. I’m begging you, don't be such an idiot that you can't recognize your last chance."
I left her there and walked out of the training ground.
I expected it, but her ego is just too big.
I don't like bullying people, but she needs to at least listen to me to some extent.
Actually, honestly, that wasn't even bullying. I just told her the facts.
She’s still young, so she’s lounging around with the illogical confidence of 'I can do it because I’m me,' but she was standing on the edge of a cliff.
The reason I’m even trying to take her with me is that I’m cleaning up the mess that brainless staff member made, and because it would be a waste for someone with her talent to be buried by some internet post.
Still...
Yeah, I’ll admit it. I was a little pissed.
I never dreamed I’d hear something like that.
Learning from a man hurts her pride? It was so absurd I was speechless.
My anger still hasn't subsided.
As soon as I returned to the office, I called Baek Bo-min in to vent my frustration.
She was flustered because she didn't know why I was doing it, but Baek Bo-min enjoyed the "punishment." After I scolded her and stroked her hair as a thank you, she giggled and said she liked it because I was rougher than usual.
I really can't understand the sensibilities of the women in this world.
The next morning, while I was idling around as usual, I heard a knock.
Sensing it was Kwon Ye-jin because the door didn't open immediately, I told her to come in.
"You can just come in without waiting from now on. The other staff do."
"Yes, understood."
Kwon Ye-jin gave a small reply and stood in front of my desk.
She still had a bit of that delinquent air, but unlike before, she seemed to be full of resolve.
It felt like a Japanese delinquent biker trying way too hard to look cool.
I’m sitting in a chair, so why is she staring straight ahead?
Standing tall in a "parade rest" position, Kwon Ye-jin didn't look down at me but stared intensely forward as she began to speak.
"First, I deeply apologize for the trouble I have caused the Manager!!"
I was so startled by Kwon Ye-jin’s loud voice as she bowed 90 degrees that I almost dropped my mug.
The thunderous sound was loud enough that I could hear murmurs from beyond the wall.
Straightening her back to a right angle again, Kwon Ye-jin continued to speak while staring straight ahead.
"I am grateful for the opportunity you have given someone as lacking as myself. I will dedicate my life to following your every command."
Is she in the Marines?
I raised my hand high and waved it in front of her face, but her eyes didn't waver, remaining fixed forward.
No, I never asked for a stiff soldier like this.
I barely escaped the military; don't trigger my trauma.
"Uh... I can see you're motivated, but why don't you sit on the sofa?"
"Understood."
I clutched my forehead as I watched Kwon Ye-jin walk with a stiff, rhythmic gait and sit on the sofa in a rigid posture.
"Sit comfortably."
"This is comfortable."
"Sit comfortably. And don't make me say it twice."
"..."
Sensing my aura, Kwon Ye-jin glanced at me before shifting into a relaxed posture.
She leaned back against the headrest and spread her legs wide—a truly "comfortable" position that made me wonder if she was mocking me.
"Anyway, you agree to everything, right?"
"Yes. Just give the order. I’ll do anything."
"Really?"
When I gave a meaningful smile, Kwon Ye-jin flinched slightly but nodded and confirmed she meant it.
"Good. Then I’ll make sure to put you through your paces."
"I... I look forward to it."
"And your speech—this isn't the military, so just speak naturally. I don't mind if you use informal speech."
"Is that... is that really okay?"
"Yes, it’s fine."
"Underst... Got it. Got it, Manager."
She really did get comfortable fast.
I can't tell if she’s just bold or has no sense of boundaries.
Is she fearless?
I told her to use informal speech, so I wasn't going to complain, but the sudden shift was so fast it was hard to adjust to.
"Oh, one more thing. I’ll give you some good news."
"What is it?"
"Since you like your pride, I’ll give you something to be proud of. Not right now, but in the somewhat distant future."
She tilted her head, trying to understand what I meant but coming up blank, then looked back at me.
"A-rank. Would that satisfy your ego? Follow me closely. First, I’ll make you an A-rank, and then I’ll take you all the way to S-rank."
"...Ha, it sounds crazy... but you say it with so much confidence that I actually want to believe you."
After her cocky remark, Kwon Ye-jin stood up and bowed at a right angle to me once more.
"I’m counting on you, Master. Make me an S-rank. I’ll do anything."
She said she’d do anything. You promised.