Ch.1I Became a New Examiner – 1

# The Life of a Low-Level Civil Servant is Miserable

The life of a low-level civil servant is miserable.

The salary is ridiculously low, but the workload is disgustingly high.

When complaints come in, you have to handle them even at dawn, and you can’t get angry even when complainants act like jerks.

When a superior curses at you, you become their punching bag. When a superior orders you around, you become their slave.

But the most miserable part is that I didn’t choose this civil servant life.

Seojin Baek, affiliated with the Superpower Assessment Department.

Below average as a civil servant. Below average as a superpowered individual.

Perfect specs for a passing extra A.

That’s me.

More precisely, I became Seojin Baek.

“Seojin. Dispatch request.”

“What? Me? Me?”

“Yes. You have to go, Seojin. Is there anyone else in our department?”

There are plenty of other people. Why are you sending me specifically?

I want to throw that resignation letter everyone supposedly carries around.

I want to, but I’m holding back because bank payments are due next week.

Even after being possessed, my financially struggling life hasn’t changed.

Some people get possessed and end up in noble families or chaebol households.

If I’d known this would happen, I should have read fantasy novels instead.

“Where am I being dispatched to? Is it another kindergarten…?”

“The Academy. A position just right for your level opened up.”

“What about the person who went before? Someone was sent two weeks ago.”

“Hospitalized.”

Sent to an educational institution and ended up hospitalized? What does that mean?

“Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and get ready.”

I want to ask how, where, and why they got injured.

My instinct tells me I need to know this to survive.

But my boss coolly dismissed me. That bastard.

Before disappearing from my boss’s sight, I examined that person one more time.

I activate “The Third Eye,” the ability given to me as a possession perk.

◎ Chungin Lee

: Typical old-fashioned authoritarian

◎ Details

: Increases hostility in others every time he opens his mouth.

As I thought, a complete bastard.

*

[Next news: A series of gates in Bundang District, Seongnam City…]

[Retired superpower users demanding improved treatment for the injured…]

Humans are creatures of conformity and adaptation.

I was like that too. There was a time when I screamed “what is this?” at first.

Now I’m indifferent even when gates appear nearby.

I’m more sensitive to news about civil servant salary cuts.

There’s no visible way to return, so I need to survive here first.

These days, I fear complainants and superiors more than monsters or villains.

At least the former have clear desires. But the latter don’t.

And I can at least run away from the former, but not from the latter.

‘Civil servant life, fuck.’

I blame my past self again. If I’d known, I should have read thug novels instead.

[Next station is Academy Station, Academy Station.]

My glorious first forced attendance at the dispatch location.

I pray that today I can safely leave work on time.

Glancing to the side, I see what appear to be Academy students getting off too.

I envy them. Some people like me had to become civil servants due to lack of talent.

Those kids will be called heroes, recruited by clans, living rosy lives.

It’s bitter. Despite being a possessed person, I had no notable talents.

In novels I read, people who get possessed have “regression” with cheat-like potential.

Or they have incredible family backgrounds or connections, but sadly, the character I possessed has none of that.

I do have The Third Eye as a possession perk, but…

Unfortunately, this alone isn’t enough to accomplish anything exceptional.

‘I’ll be late.’

Being late on the first day could make a bad impression.

After walking about 10 minutes from the station exit, I see the main gate.

I show my civil servant ID to the person on duty at the front.

“Where are you from?”

A slightly nervous expression. Would they faint if I said “I’m from the Inspection Department”?

Don’t worry. I’m not from that department, and I’m just a low-level employee.

“I’m from the Superpower Assessment Department. I’ve been dispatched here.”

“Let me check. Assessment Department dispatch… dispatch… ah.”

The guard brightens as if finding something. But their expression gradually changes strangely.

“Ah… Ah! You’re the new rating examiner. Oh my…”

Why is it turning into a sigh? And what’s with that pitying look?

“Ahem! Verification complete. Welcome to the Academy, Seojin Baek. The faculty office is straight ahead on the second floor.”

“Thank you. Keep up the good work.”

“Not at all. You’re the one who’s going to have a tough time.”

Why do they keep saying such ominous things? If there wasn’t someone waiting behind me, I would have asked.

The Academy interior was far more massive and majestic than I had imagined.

I heard that building the Academy cost about a year’s worth of the national defense budget.

Some said they practically used money instead of cement.

I thought it was a joke, but seeing this, it seems true.

‘They say superpower users are at the top of the social hierarchy. The Academy is truly impressive.’

Even the person on guard duty just now was a superpower user, not a soldier or police officer.

All Academy faculty members are also superpower users. Even the cleaning lady is a superpower user.

That’s why villains who constantly target the Academy haven’t succeeded yet.

It would be an attractive target if they could succeed, but the power difference is too overwhelming.

If they sent just anyone, they’d get beaten up by the cleaning lady and driven away.

Why was I dispatched to such a terrifying place?

No matter how I think about it, I can’t see a good future…

“H-hey! Watch out!!”

At someone’s shout, I instinctively dropped to the ground. Too sensitive, you say?

This has helped me survive at least five times.

And my instinct wasn’t wrong this time either.

Swoosh—!

A fireball passes through where my head was just two seconds ago.

Life-threatening from the start. Dispatch work is truly spectacular.

Meanwhile, it’s legendary that I wondered if getting hit would qualify as an injury during official duties.

As I get up and dust off my clothes, someone runs toward me.

“I-I’m sorry!!”

A female student immediately bows her head and apologizes in a trembling voice.

“I acted carelessly! I’m really sorry!! Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It didn’t even graze me, so don’t worry too much.”

The Academy gathers only the elite among South Korean superpower users.

So I heard most of them are extremely self-conscious and unpleasant.

‘That must have been an exaggeration.’

This makes more sense. Who would be arrogant after almost injuring someone?

“What? Why are you apologizing? That person walked into the training ground.”

…There is someone arrogant after all. And he’s a tattooed thug.

– Activating The Third Eye.

◎ Junwoo Park

: Tattooed creep who wants women

◎ Details

: Women automatically frown at him.

How accurate. Being a possession perk, it’s certainly effective.

“Excuse me. How can you just walk into a training ground like this? Can’t you see?”

The tattooed thug, Junwoo Park, pointed to a sign.

[Caution when approaching training grounds. Risk of injury]

If it’s dangerous, shouldn’t they put up a fence?

The path led me here, so what am I supposed to do when they say it’s a training ground?

In my mind, I’ve already cursed several times.

But unfortunately, I’m not an ordinary person right now.

I’m a civil servant with a duty to work for the convenience of citizens.

“I’m sorry. It’s my first time at the Academy today.”

“Are you a professor?”

“No, I’m a civil servant here on dispatch duty.”

“Oh. Just a civil servant.”

This bastard. To think I have to be looked down upon by guys like this.

But there’s nothing I can do. This is the social climate.

Superpower users with strong abilities are treated as elite.

Especially if they’re good enough to enter the Academy, their future is guaranteed.

Even a tattooed thug like this becomes a top marriage prospect if his superpower is good.

‘This filthy world that only cares about superpowers!’

Getting angry and fighting here would only hurt me.

A fight between an Academy superpower user and a low-level civil servant? Even I would side with the Academy student.

And if I fought, I’d immediately be criticized for not maintaining civil servant dignity.

Ignoring comments like “he’s scared” or “he’s running away,” I head to the faculty office.

Some passing students gave curious glances.

But as soon as they saw my civil servant ID hanging from my neck, they turned away.

Why is the perception of civil servants so low? And why did the original owner of this body choose this?

While seriously considering retirement, I reached the faculty office.

After a brief self-introduction, they ask me to sit and wait.

The atmosphere suggests they’re bringing a superior. Ah, I want to go home.

“Are you Seojin Baek?”

Looking up, I see an incredibly beautiful woman standing there.

I quickly stand up. Not because she’s a woman, but because of the nameplate on her chest.

“Hello, Lord Han…”

“You can simply call me Professor here.”

The identity of the smiling woman sitting across from me is Jiyoon Han, one of only five S-rank individuals in Korea.

She’s also the head of one of the world’s five major clans. Hence her title “Lord.”

A figure who wouldn’t be outmatched anywhere in the world. I heard she even receives diplomatic treatment.

An achievement reached in just her 20s. Naturally, she has a huge fan base.

But recently, there was breaking news that she suddenly applied to become an Academy professor.

So just yesterday, when I said I was being dispatched to the Academy, some people were envious.

‘I cursed them right to their faces.’

Saying a low-level civil servant wouldn’t get to see someone like her.

I snapped that seeing her face even once would be a miracle.

“Welcome to the Academy.”

And yet, that miracle actually happened. Ta-da.

Should I apologize to the people I cursed out?

“You look very surprised.”

“Ah, yes. Honestly… I still can’t believe it.”

“That I came out personally?”

I unconsciously nodded at Jiyoon Han’s question.

Globally, there are fewer than 100 S-rank superpower users.

Jiyoon Han, one of them, came to greet a low-level civil servant?

If this gets out, there will be quite a few people coming to strangle me.

Even now, look at the strange glances from people beyond the room.

“I see. It’s understandable. But I had no choice.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

At my question, Jiyoon Han gives an awkward smile.

Then she hands me the documents she was holding.

“What is this?”

“Take a look first. Questions can come after.”

It’s rising. This is an ominous feeling.

I carefully examined the documents Jiyoon Han handed me.

“…”

And after looking through about half a class, I understood.

‘Those bastards.’

The department had made me a sacrificial lamb.