Ch.176Everyone’s Doing Well – 1

“Hyaaaaaah!!”

Your spirit is commendable, but just shouting loudly doesn’t make everything work.

Just look at yourself. You’re charging in with all your vulnerabilities exposed. How is this supposed to be an attack?

This is nothing more than a new type of suicide, running in while screaming “please kill me.”

“Ugh!”

I deflect the attack slightly and strike her stomach.

If this were a real combat situation, it would have left a gaping hole.

“Urgh…”

The female student sprawled in front of me clutches her stomach, groaning.

At least she’s not screaming in pain like the previous student.

I’m not sure about her skill or growth potential, but her tenacity is undeniable.

“I’ve told you repeatedly, Student Sujin Jung. Recklessly attacking isn’t the answer, and even if you do attack, you should first eliminate your weaknesses, or at the very least, hide them.”

“Y-yes, you did say that.”

“And today is the same. You’re not covering your openings at all. This is nothing more than begging to be killed. What if I were a villain or a monster instead?”

What would happen? She’d die. In a miserable and painful way.

She seems to realize this too, as she shivers with goosebumps.

I can tell by how she’s getting up while still clutching her aching stomach.

“If you question your efforts, think about the future.”

Gate surges and monster cataclysms. Both are disasters for humanity.

For those growing accustomed to the present, there could be no worse nightmare.

Yet sometimes, such changes can have positive effects.

‘The reason to become stronger at all costs, the instinct to survive, and perhaps even the desire to become much more famous than now.’

When I first became a Silver Gatekeeper, there was strong resistance from students.

It was so bad that I questioned whether what I was doing was right.

But not anymore. The situation has completely changed.

Now, students want me to be even more rigorous with them.

They want to fight better in real situations, to survive.

And if they’re lucky, they dream of becoming famous like others.

“Review the evaluation process we just went through. All the hints are already there.”

“Y-yes! Thank you for your guidance, Arbiter!”

The hint I mentioned. Hyunwoo or Soohyun would have figured it out already.

That the path I used to avoid your attack could become your best attack route.

And that the counterattack I delivered is the path you must absolutely block.

I hope that student realizes and improves on this herself.

Spoon-feeding them won’t help. They need to learn on their own.

Only then can they become heroes rather than liabilities in real combat.

“Next student.”

The next male student was a head shorter than the others.

Already short in height and small in build, he couldn’t help but look diminutive.

His physique seemed unsuited for any physical work, let alone being a superpower user.

“It’s been a while, Student Donghyup Lee.”

“Yes, Arbiter.”

Yet the reason I evaluate this student very positively:

Though his current skills are poor, he never stops trying.

It’s not just tenacity. He has confidence and belief in himself.

Although right now, even taking one step forward is difficult for him.

Unlike others who repeat the same steps, he’s making progress, however small.

“Have you improved on what I mentioned last time?”

“I think I’ve made improvements, but I’d like to hear your assessment.”

“Good. The fact that you can say that is proof you’ve been working hard.”

Led by Soohyun and Hyunwoo, all the skilled ones have moved up to Silver.

Those remaining in Bronze are either average in skill but unable to grow,

Or those showing potential for growth but lacking in basic skills.

My goal is to somehow get all of them to Silver.

Whether they lack skill or don’t know how to achieve growth,

Whatever the reason, I’m determined to help them overcome it.

So they can pull their weight and avoid dying meaninglessly.

“Let’s work hard today too, Donghyup.”

“I’m ready! Hup!”

Though small, his superpower clearly belongs to the Martial Arts Class.

That’s why I need to be more rigorous during his evaluation.

The sweat shed today will substitute for the blood that might be shed tomorrow.

◎ Number Blocked

: 774 ( 774 / ??? )

“Hmm.”

The question marks still haven’t disappeared. It doesn’t show the exact number.

If this had happened shortly after discovering my ability, I would have been very anxious.

How painful it is to run toward a goal you can’t clearly see.

I might have tried everything possible to erase those question marks.

But now I’m fine with it. I try not to mind too much.

Whether those question marks change or not, I’ll continue to be here.

And I’ll keep doing this job, and eventually, there will be change.

‘Now is not the time to focus on this.’

The more urgent issue is “what to do with the remaining Bronze students.”

The students I’ve sent to Silver rank each had their reasons.

Either they had good basic skills, or they just needed a little polishing.

Or maybe they were just unlucky to have remained in Bronze.

But the remaining students, unfortunately, don’t fall into those categories.

Either their basic skills are terrible, or they’ve already hit their growth limit.

Or they simply lack the will or intention to make much effort.

The latter actually makes me feel better. They’ll naturally be weeded out anyway.

The Academy isn’t just about getting in; students need to remain vigilant even after admission.

I’ve talked with Hakjun Ma to remove the disadvantages for Bronze students for now.

But there’s no reason to maintain that for those who make no effort to change.

Such students should be cut immediately. Hakjun Ma would probably prefer that too.

There’s no need for those who can’t behave properly in a tax-funded institution.

‘The problem is with the first and second cases.’

This is quite a troublesome issue no matter how I look at it.

“What are you planning to do? Looking at it, all the students qualified for Silver have already moved up. Those remaining were either originally Bronze or were Silver but with poor performance.”

Hakjun Ma, sipping his tea, also seemed concerned about this.

Anyone who gets into the Academy is certainly a decent superpower user.

But that one screening is not enough. That’s just passing the admission criteria.

Here, becoming stronger and improving one’s skills is much more important.

“You can’t keep conducting Silver rank evaluations forever, Seojin Baek. We won’t just have Bronze and Silver at the Academy; we need to prepare for the next evaluation soon.”

“The next evaluation…”

“Gold rank evaluation. We need to show something better to the students who’ve reached Silver.”

From Hakjun Ma’s perspective, it’s natural to be ambitious.

With an S-rank person directly overseeing students, he wants to bring up those who can grow.

“I’m not saying we should abandon struggling students. They also need people to guide them. But there’s no reason for you to continue being there, is there?”

He’s not entirely wrong. I understand why Hakjun Ma is saying this.

Instead of continuing to hold onto students who may never grow,

He wants to elevate those with guaranteed growth to higher levels.

He wants to nurture more outstanding juniors that way.

“Headmaster.”

But no matter how I think about it, that doesn’t seem right.

“I want to take full responsibility for that matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“First, I’ll have Hyunwoo Lee take care of the Bronze students who lack growth potential or talent.”

“Hmm? Are you saying you’ll use him as an assistant even though he’s still a student?”

No way. He’s literally still a student, so he can’t be an assistant.

I just need someone to set the tone and provide motivation.

“No. I just want him to train alongside them.”

“You want them to make up for lack of talent with effort?”

“Something like that. No matter how lacking they are, if they practice and practice, they can reach the average level.”

That’s how it should be for Academy students. This isn’t a place where just anyone gets in.

If they train with Hyunwoo after meals and still don’t show results, it’s due to lack of effort.

“Conversely, for students with current low skills but showing potential, I plan to pair them with Soohyun Kim and others. They’ll be good stimulation for each other.”

“And it reduces the feeling of isolation among Bronze students. Am I wrong?”

Hakjun Ma nods, seeming to understand this much.

Yet there’s still one aspect he can’t easily accept.

Crossing his arms, he continues while looking at me.

“Leave the Bronze students aside and take charge of the Silver students. Isn’t it time we needed a Gold Gatekeeper?”

I shook my head at Hakjun Ma’s words.

If that was my intention, I wouldn’t have pushed the students so hard.

“Others will handle the evaluation for Gold rank.”

“Others?”

“Hyunwoo Lee and Soohyun Kim. These two.”

Hakjun Ma’s expression slightly distorts at my words.

Not because he dislikes it, but because he doesn’t quite understand.

“Although both students are A-rank, they’re still students. We’ve never had students overseeing other students. Moreover, they’re first-years, so how…”

“Not immediately. Next year, when they’re second-years, wouldn’t that be sufficient? And if they receive S-rank, the students won’t be able to complain.”

Hakjun Ma’s expression turns serious as he asks a question.

Are the two students really at that level? Though he agrees they’re outstanding.

Are their skills so tremendous that we’re already discussing S-rank?

“They’ll do well. And students at that level already have basic self-management and skills. It would be better for those two, who have spent the same time working hard, to take charge rather than me.”

I’ll remain here as the Gatekeeper for those transitioning to Silver.

And I’ll stay until the last Bronze student finally becomes Silver.

That’s the significance of my ability, the driving force that got me here.

Above all, it’s the path that will make me stronger.

“I have one goal. To make everyone, down to the last person, capable of ‘pulling their weight.'”