Ch.31. Applied as an Intern at an S-Rank Guild (3)

The interviewees confidently pressed the submit button on their tablets.

The interviewers, including Maria, directly checked their answers. Soon, one interviewer spoke.

“As you know, an operator’s most important role is assessing situations in the field, followed by tactical direction. Now, based on the answers you’ve submitted, let’s simulate a hypothetical mission.”

The interviews began according to the predetermined order. Then Maria, with cold eyes, asked one of the interviewees.

“Applicant Kim Soo-hyuk. You chose to proceed with the attack as your tactical directive. As noted in the problem, the raid party that entered the dungeon is in a considerably dangerous situation. Why did you decide to proceed with the attack despite this?”

The interviewee who met Maria’s gaze answered nervously.

“Yes! I’ll explain my reasoning to you, interviewer.”

The explanation continued. As mentioned earlier, this was a simulated mission based on a hypothetical raid party.

‘But any aspiring operator should know this case.’

Ten years ago. A dungeon conquest that transformed Glory Banner from a small guild into a famous one. It was undoubtedly modeled after the conquest of that AA-class dungeon.

As Maria had said, the situation just before the attack was extremely unfavorable. The raid party had numerous injuries, and their supplies were insufficient.

‘Yet they succeeded in the conquest.’

Though it was an unknown guild, the party leader was an A-class hunter. Led by that party leader, they chose to push forward and somehow succeeded in the conquest.

Sure enough, the interviewee emphasized this point to Maria.

“While it may seem impossible at first glance, if you check the logs in the problem, this party’s dealer is exceptionally skilled. If all party members focus their support on that dealer, the conquest is not impossible.”

“Hmm. I see. The main dealer’s rank in the problem is clearly A-class. Is that how you made your judgment?”

“That’s correct.”

“But isn’t this too much of a gamble? It’s a situation where the raid party could be completely wiped out if something goes wrong.”

The interviewee seemed flustered by Maria’s question. But since the actual case had succeeded, he soon replied with a confident expression.

“No, it’s possible! As you can see, considering the MCI recorded here…”

MCI (Mental Contamination Index).

Even awakened individuals who can use mana experience mental interference when entering dungeons or coming into contact with monsters.

When the mind becomes contaminated due to this interference, the MCI rises.

And if the MCI exceeds the limit, one becomes subject to numerous debuffs incomparable to when the index is normal.

“I calculated the MCI based on the party members’ conditions provided in the problem. The results show their minds can endure sufficiently. Especially since the A-class hunter’s MCI is far below the limit, even if some other party members slightly exceed the limit, the conquest can…”

Maria nodded at his response.

“Thank you for your answer. Next applicant.”

Similar explanations continued. The next interviewee also chose to push forward. The difference from the previous interviewee was:

“As you know, a hunter guild is a business! Considering there was a similar case in reality, I believe that dungeon conquests like this, which can bring significant benefits to the company’s future, must be pursued regardless of the risks!”

He answered with a bit more of his own perspective. The interviewers discussed among themselves and nodded. The interviewee’s expression soon became triumphant.

Eventually, it was my turn. Maria remained silent for a moment. Then another interviewer addressed me.

“Now, next is applicant Lee Min-soo. Let’s check Min-soo’s submitted answer.”

The interviewers all looked at the tablets in front of them. Suddenly, Maria’s expression changed.

“Oh. This answer is completely opposite to the other interviewees. ‘Absolutely impossible to proceed. Immediate retreat recommended.’ Min-soo, do you have specific grounds for this tactical judgment?”

At that moment, not only the interviewers but also the other interviewees all turned their attention to me.

“Yes, I do. Let me explain my reasoning…”

I addressed the interviewers.

***

The practical interview was over.

Besides the question based on the Glory Banner guild’s case, there were several other practical interview questions.

So after the interview, all the interviewees sighed in exhaustion.

‘That was more tiring than I expected.’

And at that moment, one of the interviewers said:

“Since we already had prepared answers for these questions, the grading is already complete. Please check your tablets.”

The interviewees hurriedly checked their scores. Soon they began murmuring in confusion.

“The correct answer is ‘absolutely impossible to proceed, immediate retreat recommended’? How is that possible?”

“This can’t be right. This case is clearly about Hunter Ha Jun-hyun of Glory Banner. That guild actually succeeded in the conquest!”

Most seemed unable to accept the answer. The interviewees glanced at me.

‘Not surprising.’

It seemed I was the only one who had judged the conquest impossible.

Maria raised her hand slightly to calm the commotion among the interviewees.

“Everyone, please look at this screen.”

As if anticipating this reaction, the screen displayed a detailed explanation of the problem. And when everyone had read it:

The interviewees spoke in disbelief.

“Wait, that… most guild members retired within months after the dungeon conquest?”

“Come to think of it, Glory Banner did disband. While Hunter Ha Jun-hyun went on to become S-class and is still thriving today, the other party members…”

“And they retired due to severe trauma? PTSD… Now that I think about it, the casualties in that mission…”

After a moment of silence among the interviewees, Maria spoke.

“Now you understand why we set the answer as ‘impossible to proceed.’ Glory Banner succeeded in conquering the dungeon, but as a guild, they failed. No, beyond failure, the guild completely disbanded. That example is the opposite of our guild’s direction.”

The interviewees nodded at her words. But one interviewee exclaimed, seemingly unconvinced:

“But I don’t understand! According to my calculations, the party members’ indices didn’t exceed the limit. So at least for this hypothetical problem, isn’t that the correct answer? At the very least, it’s not wrong!”

But Maria firmly shook her head.

“You’re Seo Dong-yun, correct? The MCI you calculated… No. It might be easier to show you directly.”

Maria displayed three answers on the screen: Flame’s standard answer, Seo Dong-yun’s answer, and my answer.

After checking the MCI values written there, the interviewees began murmuring again.

“What? This is completely different from what I calculated!”

“My numbers are similar to Seo Dong-yun’s. Wait, but Flame’s answer and his are completely different?”

“Conversely, Flame’s standard answer is similar to Lee Min-soo’s.”

That was true. In Flame’s standard answer and my answer, the party members’ MCI had already exceeded the limit.

In simple terms, before even attempting the conquest, the party members had already suffered severe mental contamination.

“I definitely considered all variables that could be known from the interview text! How can there be such a difference between my calculation and theirs?”

Maria immediately responded to that:

“The MCI theory is a recent theory that hasn’t even been around for 10 years. Of course, operator applicants would know about it. And that means…”

All the interviewees waited for her next words.

“This theory is constantly being revised and developed even now. And the MCI used by our Flame Guild is also being updated based on the latest papers. Especially those by Dr. Sung Chae-rin. So how recent were the calculation methods you all used?”

Everyone fell silent at her words. Most guilds, and most aspiring operators, calculate MCI based on standard theories taught at academies.

‘The latest theories have higher dimensional variables and are more difficult. And they require more resources to teach.’

This meant those interviewees had calculated based on theories that were years behind.

‘Still, Flame’s standards are probably too high.’

Usually, no guild pays such meticulous attention to MCI. Hunters are consumables. Rather than carefully managing their mental health, it’s easier to hire new hunters.

So the interviewees wore expressions of disbelief.

“But even Lee Min-soo’s calculated MCI is slightly different from Flame’s answer! So it might not be correct either!”

Thinking they might be eliminated, one interviewee desperately raised an objection. Maria then asked me:

“That’s a valid point. Our guild uses Dr. Sung Chae-rin’s latest theory. If Min-soo calculated correctly, there shouldn’t be any difference in the values. Why is that?”

I answered straightforwardly:

“A few days ago, there was an international academic conference of the MCI Society. Dr. Sung Chae-rin presented a new paper there. I calculated based on that paper.”

Most of the interviewees looked dumbfounded.

“Dr. Sung Chae-rin? I know she’s the top authority on MCI, but… I could never understand her papers.”

“But I heard many major corporate guilds are adopting her theories these days. Of course, even at the academy graduate level, it’s not easy to understand her papers…”

“You prepared that thoroughly just for an intern interview?”

The interviewees whispered quietly.

But Maria was the most surprised. She briefly checked something on her smartphone.

“Indeed, the academic conference and the new paper have been uploaded to the academic journal. Just two days ago. This means applicant Lee Min-soo used a more recent theory than our guild.”

She wore an expression of disbelief. And shortly after, Maria displayed the final scores for the practical interview on the screen.

The interviewees exclaimed:

“What! Those scores…”

“How?”

My practical interview score was perfect.

***

The interviewees left the interview room one by one. They all seemed to sense their elimination, their faces in disarray.

‘I’ll leave a bit later.’

Not wanting to hear any unnecessary resentment, I waited for them all to leave.

‘Now all that’s left is the personality interview.’

Besides the people who interviewed with me, there was another group of operator applicants, but it seems I’ve passed the practical interview.

The final hurdle for ultimate acceptance is the personality interview. I think Yuri would accept me, but…

It’s not an interview with the guild master but with executives. That means executives like Maria from earlier will also participate. They might oppose me.

‘But it doesn’t matter. I’m determined to get into Flame one way or another.’

I steeled my resolve.

Through the guild master Yuri, or even through such underhanded solicitation, I had a compelling reason why I absolutely needed to join this guild.

At that moment, I heard Maria’s voice. She spoke to the other interviewers:

“I have something to discuss with that applicant, so could the rest of you step out for a moment?”

“Understood, Executive Director Maria.”

At her words, the other interviewers all left the interview room.

It was telling that they so obediently followed the words of Maria, who was only in her late twenties. It showed her position within Flame.

Anyway, for a moment, only she and I remained in this interview room.

A heavy silence ensued, characteristic of people who know each other but cannot speak comfortably.

But Maria soon broke the silence:

“Lee Min-soo… no, Min-soo. I was impressed. By your answer earlier.”

“It’s nothing. I just happened to read the paper in advance.”

And silence again. Maria seemed to have something else to say to me. Soon, as if having made up her mind, she approached and stood before me.

“Min-soo! On behalf of Lady Yuri, I sincerely apologize to you.”

It was unexpected. With her hands politely folded at her lower abdomen, she bowed almost 90 degrees. It was a very formal apology.

Maria was Yuri’s lady-in-waiting, not a mere maid. As someone who directly attends to the princess, Maria is also a noble lady from the Slavian Kingdom and an executive in this guild.

Yet such a Maria remained bowed, without the slightest movement, until I responded.

After a moment of silence due to my complex feelings, I sighed and said to her.