Ch.24Not on Purpose – 3

After sending Soohyun Kim to class, I headed to where the evaluations were taking place.

I waited quietly for evaluation applicants, but there were none. Not a single one.

‘This isn’t right.’

Just yesterday, evaluation applicants were flooding in, but today I’m coming up empty-handed.

A few students passing by glance at me and immediately run away.

It’s so bad that I wonder if Yuhyun Jung has done something foolish.

This doesn’t make sense. How could things change so drastically in just one day?

I admit I was too strict with the ‘mere’ Silver rank evaluations. Yes, I acknowledge it.

I’ll confess that I approached it with a mindset of not letting anyone pass.

But I absolutely did not hold back people who were more than qualified.

I could feel it during the evaluations. They were still far too lacking.

As my ability activated, I felt some kind of “resonance” inside. That sending them through would lead to disaster.

Sure, they might happily wear their Silver badges and attend the Academy now.

But in the not-too-distant future, the day would certainly come when those students would face tragedy.

Regular students, Hyunwoo Lee, and even Junwoo Park and his thugs were all similar.

There are some skill differences, but ultimately they’re all about the same level.

If they face a crisis situation like this, nine out of ten will die or be seriously injured.

As for Yuhyun Jung… well, let’s consider him an exception.

‘But I can’t exactly tell them that all sorts of disasters will unfold within a year.’

I even considered saying, “Actually, my superpower is seeing the future!”

That way, I could explain everything from Soohyun Kim’s situation to the need to strengthen the current students’ abilities.

That was my initial thought.

But I soon realized my foolishness and immediately erased it from my mind.

First, I don’t know enough to claim I have a future-reading ability.

I wasn’t even an avid reader, and the novel wasn’t even completed.

At best, I know that Soohyun Kim becomes The Crimson Witch, disasters will strike soon.

That certain people are actually villains and some will die. That’s about all I know.

It’s too little to even claim “I can only see specific futures.”

And if a genuine future-reading ability user appeared?

There’s a high probability my life would no longer be my own.

Reading the future. Even I find it an incredibly tempting ability.

From individuals to groups, and even nations. They would immediately try to control me.

‘That would be the best-case scenario. Villains would immediately target me too.’

My confrontation with Yuhyun Jung yesterday only strengthened my conviction.

I admit the Gatekeeper ability is not just powerful—it’s broken.

But for now, I can only handle Gold-ranked opponents.

If I push myself to the limit, I might be able to deal with Platinum somehow.

But Academy-standard Platinum is roughly between B and A rank by outside standards.

Considering that renowned ability users and notorious villains are all skilled A-rank,

And thinking about how “The Elder” was a former S-rank ability user…

‘If I stand out more, there won’t be a next time. Right now, I absolutely can’t handle it.’

I didn’t really stop Hyuk Kwak, the Elder I met before.

After just two attacks, my body was on the verge of being crushed.

I only survived the third attack because Hakjun Ma blocked it.

If Hyuk Kwak hadn’t retreated, I would have died right there.

That’s why I need to become stronger than I am now.

Simply put, for my own survival. And more broadly, for everyone’s sake.

‘But the students need to show up first.’

The thought comes to me naturally. Ah, we’re doomed.

“Examiner!”

But it seems the universe isn’t completely against me.

Looking up at the energetic voice, it was exactly as I expected.

“I’m here for the evaluation again today! I’m definitely going to make Silver today!”

It was Hyunwoo Lee, who crushes even talent with his effort.

“Oh. But I don’t see any other students today.”

“It might stay this way, not just today.”

“What?”

“I heard students are already avoiding you because you’re too strict with evaluations.”

Hyunwoo blinks at me with confusion.

He clearly doesn’t understand what I’m talking about.

If it were anyone else, I might understand, but this is “Hyunwoo Lee” we’re talking about.

Someone who values effort, getting stronger, and every drop of sweat in the process.

If something is difficult, get stronger so it becomes less difficult.

If you can’t overcome something, work harder until you can.

That’s Hyunwoo’s mindset. He doesn’t know the meaning of giving up.

Literally an exceptional talent whose mental fortitude won’t break even against an extreme gatekeeper.

“Hyunwoo, you look like you don’t understand?”

“Honestly, no. I mean, evaluations aren’t child’s play. If you can’t pass, you just need to work harder until you do, right? I don’t understand why they’re suddenly looking for easier evaluations.”

You too, huh? I feel the same way. But what can we do?

Some don’t want to be called Bronze, others have urgent circumstances.

They’ll regret it later, but what can I do? It’s their choice.

“I won’t be like that. I’ll be evaluated by you, Seojin Baek, pass, and reach Silver.”

“Hyunwoo.”

Though I can roughly guess, I still wanted to ask.

“Why do you insist on being evaluated by me? Like other students, you could ask other faculty members and reach Silver much more easily.”

As a freshman, he won’t face academic probation for being Bronze.

I was asking with that nuance, wondering if that’s why he was so relaxed.

“Because I hate doing things half-heartedly. If I’m going to do something, I want to build myself up properly, do it perfectly. Finish it with style and move on to the next thing, and do the same there.”

“It’s going to be extremely difficult.”

Hyunwoo smiles at my words, acknowledging they’re true.

“You’re right, Examiner. But wouldn’t all that effort pay off later?”

Indeed, the description “effort genius” suits him perfectly.

It’s not that he lacks talent, but he combines it with effort that surpasses talent.

No wonder he’ll achieve the insane feat of rising to Diamond in just one year.

‘The second time in the history of the Superpower Academy, right?’

The other person who set such an impossible record was “The Yellow Madwoman” Rina Lee.

Unlike Hyunwoo, she didn’t even take a year.

She reached Master before the first semester ended and graduated early.

Afterward, she began demolishing gates and villains as Korea’s strongest ability user.

‘The author’s certified ultimate cheat character.’

If Hyunwoo is a case of talent enhanced by effort, Rina was simply broken by existence.

Thanks to that, I could set relatively detailed goals for Hyunwoo.

Not just reaching Diamond in a year as originally planned, but Master.

That means raising him to the level of a quasi-S-rank ability user by outside standards.

Two things are needed for that.

First, keeping him at Bronze semi-forcibly to build up stacks.

That part isn’t a problem. Hyunwoo isn’t the type to despair when he can’t overcome something.

Rather, he’s the kind who burns with even more determination to surpass it through effort.

Because of that, the second requirement is forced upon me.

That is, my own skill to keep up with the insanely strengthening Hyunwoo.

That’s why I need more Silver evaluation candidates.

To raise Hyunwoo, my level needs to rise proportionally.

For now, I’m relieved that I can handle up to Gold somehow.

But after that, I’m uncertain. Honestly, I lack confidence.

Like Rina, Hyunwoo is also a cheat character, so his growth will be tremendous.

“Examiner?”

“Oh, yes. Did you call me?”

“Aren’t we starting the evaluation? I’ve been ready for a while.”

That’s Hyunwoo for you. He’s not disrespectful like Yuhyun Jung.

He could have attacked first, but he waited patiently.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something else. Are you ready for the evaluation?”

“Of course. I look forward to working with you again today. Oh, Examiner! Since no one’s waiting behind me today, we can go longer, right?”

I don’t mind. If anything, the longer it goes, the more pitiful the opponent becomes.

Of course, for our effort master, Hyunwoo, it won’t be a problem at all.

“Oh, right. Examiner! Have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“You know there’s a student council organization at the Academy, right?”

Of course I do. I even met core members of that student council just yesterday.

And I learned that one of them is the worst of the worst.

“All their core members are at least Gold, with some even at Platinum. But this morning, a notice was posted on the bulletin board. It said the vice president was demoted to Bronze?”

Oh. I thought it might be the case, but the student council president, Hana Kang, really handled things properly.

Demoting someone from Gold to Bronze in just one day. The student council president’s influence is certainly strong.

Or perhaps Hakjun Ma already knew about Yuhyun Jung’s rotten character.

He might have trusted Hana Kang’s insight and judgment and immediately approved it.

“But why are you bringing this up?”

“I don’t know why a Gold was demoted to Bronze, but it’s not good news for Silver rank examiners. Won’t he immediately try to raise his rank again?”

I see. So Yuhyun Jung will crush Silver examiners and return to higher ranks?

Sorry, but that won’t happen. It’s something that will never happen, even if Yuhyun Jung were to die and come back to life.

That guy will be Bronze forever. He’ll graduate as Bronze and live as Bronze after graduation.

He was rotten from the start, so his life will probably be Bronze too. No, even lower than that.

“Let’s stop chatting and begin, shall we?”

“Yes! Examiner. Here I come!! Hyaaah!!”

With an energetic shout, Hyunwoo charged at me like lightning.

Watching him, I activated my ability.

◎ Bittersweet Triumph

: Ability activated.

: Target – Hyunwoo Lee

: Stack 1