New Recruit Open Recruitment (2)

I wiped the sweat from my brow after calming down the guy next to me, Kim Mun-ho, and scanned the exam hall.

Well... it's packed.

1,700 people was more than I'd imagined. The auditorium was overflowing, buzzing with the energy of a packed house.

This exam would select a handful—dozens at most, maybe even just teens.

Not that they weren't hiring at all, but out of everyone here, 99 out of every 100 would be heading home empty-handed.

For a megacorp like Mirae, this competition rate is par for the course.

Hell, I'd clawed through something similar to get in here myself.

That's what landing a big corporate gig means.

Back then, I didn't know jack about fieldwork or any of that crap.

And these folks? They'd have bigger worries than passing or getting hired—like staying alive.

That's my job, though. That's why the company hired me.

No, scratch that. It wasn't true. I didn't want this gig. Putting lives on the line and basking in some "special" glow? Not my style.

...Man, I'm beat.

Just fatigue. I let out a soft sigh.

The prelim passer next to me, Mun-ho, flinched.

"Something wrong?"

"No. Haha. Nothing. Yeah, nothing at all..."

He mumbled and averted his eyes, like he'd glimpsed something he shouldn't have.

Back in that 'watch three times and die' video, he seemed way more aggressive. Was that just the extreme stress?

The speaker crackled sharply right as that thought crossed my mind.

Beeeep—

I checked my watch. Exam time was almost here.

Focus.

No turning back now.

Do what I can. So, back to basics...

That's when someone stepped up to the podium.

A strange heat swept through ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the hall.

His voice cut like a blade.

In the silence of 1,700 souls, his voice sliced through the air, piercing straight to the heart...

It struck dead center in the examinees' fervor.

Cheers erupted. Roars followed. Some even jumped up, howling.

Few stayed composed. Credit to the eerie charisma in Kim Jun-sik's voice.

Ghost Tech's doing.

I eyed the boutonniere pinned to his suit lapel.

Something I'd seen in the welfare mall.

Yeah, that was the pitch.

I glanced at the roaring crowd, ears ringing.

Fake hype, sure, but damn effective.

Twenty million won? Worth every penny...

...No!

I snapped out of it.

What would I even do with that? Start a cult?

Not my thing.

I hated dealing with people.

The introverted type who holes up at home surfing the net unless it's work.

Useless for me. Snap out of it.

Plus, it was consumable. Same disclaimers as that "Ordinary Suit."

Feeling tempted by that? Guess torching fifty million on drugs last time warped my sense of money.

Kim Jun-sik's speech rolled on.

He scanned the now-silent hall with loaded intent.

His voice whipped through the coiled excitement like a storm.

Kim Jun-sik swept his gaze over the crowd.

More applause, more cheers. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠A single gesture from Kim quelled the frenzy.

He snapped his fingers. I held my breath.

It was starting.

Kim paused, drawing a deep breath.

"Finally..."

The prelim passer next to me, Kim Mun-ho, murmured in rapture.

"I've made it this far. I really am special..."

Flash! Light exploded—like camera strobes.

But I knew it came from the makeshift shrines lining the auditorium.

This was the standard entry to Dangsan Dowon.

Excited chatter from the examinees, screams from greenhorns barely touching this world...

Kim's whisper cut crystal clear amid the fading light.

"...I've got the section chief's line locked down tight. Connections up top in the company, too."

Hwang Eun-hye was an unlucky woman. And that statement was rock-solid fact.

Otherwise, a trainee like her wouldn't be dragged into the new recruit exam.

"So, stick right by me this exam, Eun-hye. Got it?"

Her sleazy senior slung an arm over her shoulder, eyes leering. No way a proper boss would pull that.

Just wanna go home and read...

Hwang forced a smile with her dark-circled eyes. Her senior grinned wide, pulling her closer slyly.

He probably saw her as easy prey.

Fair enough. With her look, that's the vibe she gave.

Mirae's no different, huh.

Exactly what she wanted. Underestimate her, drop your guard. Nothing easier to manipulate than the careless.

But.

Even if she aimed for that impression, wasn't this too blatant?

Hwang sighed inwardly.

Right then, the education department head's radio came in.

Her sleazy senior winked at her.

Ew, gross. Does trash like this even deserve to exist?

Hwang bowed her head, swallowing revulsion. To him, it looked like shy office lady blushing.

"Yes. Whisper one here. Whisper one."

Her senior flashed pearly whites in a smile as he replied.

"Handouts prepped. End transmission."

He clipped the radio to his belt, patted her shoulder, and flashed another "cool" grin.

"Trust me, right? No sweat. Picking up where we left off..."

Urk.

Stifling vomit, she blurted out.

"S-S-Senior, um, b-b-before that, th-they're c-c-coming soon, right?"

"Huh? Coming?"

"Th-Th-The exam-takers..."

"Oh, the rookies? No worries. Just stick with me."

Finally, his hand slid off her shoulder.

Petals from the dowon's flowers drifted between them on the breeze. Murmurs hit at the same moment.

"Where's this...?"

"Teleport? Their specialty?"

"Whoa, big corp life."

Her senior snorted.

"Handling rookies? My specialty. When it's like this, you..."

His smug voice faded from her ears. A familiar face amid the examinees.

Wait, him?

Oh Sung-jin, assistant manager. Mirae's golden quill employee, fresh transfer to the famed Post-Special Duty Division.

Why's he mixed in with the prelim newbies?

And not just him.

Hold on, Ko Kyung-min too? Huh? Why? Reapplying?

No way.

No reason for full-fledged Field Division staff to retake the exam.

Then...?

Hwang felt her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lifelong shadow—her trait, Bad Luck—creep in.

Something's about to go down!

Her eyes gleamed.

Bad Luck whispered. And she knew her trait inside out.

Perfect bad luck was perfect fortune in disguise.

"Got it? Stick behind me."

"Y-Yes... I-I t-trust you, s-senior. Only you."

We entered Dangsan Dowon. An overwhelming vista unfolded.

Petals swirled. Sweet scent hung in the air.

The atmosphere was heavy. Solemn, oppressive.

Adding to the weight: the structure ahead.

A hanok-style gate, enormous. Its massive signboard read:

Gasps echoed everywhere. Even I'd felt it on my prior visit; for first-timers, it was indescribable.

Huh?

But that awe faded quick. I froze in confusion.

Two approached the gate: exam proctors from Education Division assisting.

One unknown guy—his badge said assistant manager. The other...

Hwang Eun-hye? Why here...? Right, trainee in Education.

I tensed. My cover: exam-taker. Being recognized wasn't in the plan.

Would things go south?

...Stay low. Plenty of people here—not just me.

Least I won't bump into proctors mid-exam. Just don't get spotted here.

I blended into the crowd. Perfect blind spot from their view.

"Listen up, examinees."

The male proctor spoke just as I hid perfectly.

"Explaining once. No repeats—pay attention!"

Exam rules rundown. Irrelevant to me. I eyed the focused crowd and activated my earpiece radio.

"Broadcasting. Exam started. Team Two, all in safe."

"Rendezvous at Point 1 as discussed?"

"Confirmed. End transmission."

Right after signing off with Section Chief Jo—

Examinees bolted off.

The test had begun.