Ch.34Luck Comes Unexpectedly – 2

The second time I’ve come to the Principal’s office. I’m probably the only temp worker who’s visited this often.

“Have a seat.”

At least this time, he wasn’t crushing a student like before.

To be honest, he treated Yuhyun Jung somewhat similarly, but nothing happened.

He’s probably keeping quiet because his pride was hurt.

“I heard you had a difficult time yesterday.”

“Ah… not at all, Principal. Other ability users were already there, and the monsters weren’t as…”

“Not that.”

Not that? Then what?

“That crazy… ahem. I heard you were with Rina Lee.”

I couldn’t help but inwardly exclaim in amazement.

How much of a lunatic must she be for even Hakjun Ma to call her crazy?

“You mean Rina?”

“Yes, Rina. Until recently, she was our student. She would have been a sophomore or junior by now.”

“I heard about that. She graduated early because she was unbelievably powerful.”

“If she were just powerful, that would have been fine. The problem was that she was as unpredictable as she was strong.”

“Was she really that bad?”

“And I’m putting it mildly.”

Hakjun Ma let out a long sigh.

Seeing that made me appreciate how extraordinary Rina truly was.

There was a good reason why villains called her The Yellow Madwoman.

“Anyway, I wanted to ask about yesterday in more detail.”

“I’ll answer honestly, but I don’t know much.”

“Was it really a gate? Not someone luring monsters or capturing and releasing them?”

That’s something villains occasionally do—luring or capturing monsters and releasing them in urban areas.

Then ability users naturally engage in battle, and they exploit the momentary gap in security.

To rob somewhere, assassinate someone, that sort of thing.

From Hakjun Ma’s perspective, it’s reasonable to be suspicious.

The suppressor had been working fine until now. It had drastically reduced gate appearance probability.

Suddenly a gate appears—it makes sense to consider other possibilities.

But what happened yesterday was real. It was a kind of precursor.

We’ve moved past the introduction and into the development phase.

“It was a gate. I’m certain. I saw it up close.”

“It was truly a gate?”

“Yes, it was.”

“But the suppressor was reported to be functioning normally…”

Seeing him mutter while stroking his chin, he must have verified this.

“If even you say so, then this is truly serious.”

“Also, about Rina…”

“It’s too difficult to believe that child. You’ve experienced it yourself, haven’t you?”

He’s convinced that even after one encounter, I would understand Rina’s unpredictable madness.

That’s when I realized it again. The Yellow Madwoman was even crazier than the rumors suggested.

“Seojin Baek.”

“Yes, Principal.”

“Actually, I just received a request to see your field agent evaluation.”

“Me? But I already failed the field agent test before.”

“Failing once doesn’t make it impossible forever. Besides, there’s been a shortage of state-affiliated ability users lately, so they’re desperately looking for new talent.”

State-affiliated ability users. They’re “civil servants” too, but the treatment is worlds apart.

The salary, future pension, and social status—everything is different. No, saying they’re “different” would be an understatement.

“So I’m asking you this. If you want, you can end your temporary assignment and return to your department. Then you’ll take the field agent test soon after.”

“I see.”

Not bad. It’s a good opportunity. Enough to call it a life-changing reversal.

If you fail to enter the Academy, becoming a state-affiliated ability user is what’s left for those who awaken abilities.

But Seojin Baek failed at that too and ended up choosing a level 9 administrative position.

As a result, he was pushed around with the label of a low-level civil servant.

And now they’re pushing him to take the field agent test?

That means there’s almost a 100% chance of passing—they want to reestablish the relationship.

‘This is good. It’s good, but…’

Remember, when things seem to be going perfectly well is when you’re most likely to stumble.

Always look down carefully. Is there a stone somewhere that might trip you?

If you don’t spot it and run happily, you’ll fall and break your chin.

And for me right now, that stone is none other than the Gatekeeper trait—my stepping stone for reversal.

“To be honest, I’m not really interested.”

Even though I’ve reached the incredible stage of manifesting my trait against monsters, or against invisible game enemies.

The Academy is the place where I can grow more definitively.

Plus, the waiting time is specifically set for “within the Academy” evaluation.

I don’t plan to stop here. No, I must not stop.

Like Hyunwoo Lee and Soohyun Kim, I too must continue to grow.

Even if I eventually fight monsters and villains.

Right now, the Academy is my battlefield and my gate.

If I had to specify, my “lane” for growth is the “Silver rank examination hall of the Academy.”

“Why aren’t you interested? Your skills seem incomparable to before.”

“That’s true.”

“If you truly have nothing to hide, possessing such skills but refusing to advance might appear suspicious to others.”

Hakjun Ma’s concern was extremely practical.

I took both the Academy entrance exam and the field agent test but failed both.

Now that I’ve gained sufficient strength, I suddenly want to give up.

Honestly, even I would narrow my eyes in suspicion.

‘No choice. I’ll have to talk my way through this.’

Fortunately, I already know Hakjun Ma’s tendencies.

He’s an old man who values a caring heart for others.

Even though he himself could live without worries like Minseong Kang,

he voluntarily took on the quite troublesome position of Academy Principal.

“When I first awakened my ability, I felt like the world was mine. But as time passed, I realized there are countless people like me, and many who are far more talented. If I hadn’t pushed myself so harshly, I wouldn’t have grown this much.”

In reality, I just repeated the cycle of going to work and coming home.

I didn’t even exercise properly, let alone train. I just played games at home.

But since it would be difficult to investigate my subsequent actions, I decided to embellish a bit.

Something like a low-level civil servant who secretly worked hard alone, sweating profusely.

“That made me realize something. Even someone who isn’t particularly talented might grow more if pulled with full force. If I could reach this level, couldn’t those more talented than me do even better? People who might seem insignificant now but could become exceptional ability users someday.”

“…Then wouldn’t it be better for you to become an instructor, or at least a faculty member?”

“That would be good too. But what I want to observe isn’t the already talented people, but those who were pushed aside like me for lacking potential. Those who still want to move forward despite that.”

I think I answered well. Hakjun Ma’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

That reaction definitely comes when he hears an answer he likes.

“At first, I was almost forced to take this Silver rank examiner position. But as I did it, I realized this is exactly what I wanted. A position where I can push harder and pull stronger.”

“Then I suppose you conducted such severe examinations for similar reasons. A superficial examination wouldn’t help those children at all. It wouldn’t provide any stimulus for growth.”

That’s right, exactly that, Principal Hakjun Ma.

I beat the drum, and Hakjun Ma plays the janggu. There couldn’t be a clearer moment.

With this, I’ve built a justification for refusing the field position and wanting to remain in my temporary assignment.

Hakjun Ma seems to believe this is my true feeling, as he keeps nodding.

“Normally, taking the field agent test would be appropriate…”

This is unwelcome news. If my trait slips up even slightly, it would be disastrous.

The Academy, where my trait manifests 100%, is the safest place.

Even if I eventually leave the Academy, I need to grow as much as possible here.

Eventually I’ll need to team fight and battle for objectives,

but it’s no different from needing to grow step by step starting from the laning phase.

“If your resolve is that firm, I can help you.”

“Really?”

“Despite appearances, I know many people. If I ask those friends, it wouldn’t be difficult to keep you as an examiner here at the Academy.”

As expected of a former hero—impressive connections. Yes, this is the Hakjun Ma I know.

If he helps, there won’t be any more talk about field positions.

It’s my freedom and my decision whether to take the test anyway.

They can’t force me just because there’s a shortage of state-affiliated ability users.

“If you’ve finished what you wanted to discuss, I’ll return to my post now.”

Though in reality, I’ll just be swatting flies again when I get back.

Hakjun Ma nodded, indicating I could leave.

“Seojin Baek.”

“Yes, Principal.”

“Thank you.”

I wonder what this sudden expression of gratitude is for.

As I silently questioned what he was thankful for, Hakjun Ma continued.

“For evacuating citizens yesterday and helping your fellow ability users. It was admirable. Things this old body can no longer do. I’m truly grateful that fine young people like you are now accomplishing these tasks.”

For a moment, I almost burst out laughing.

Old body. Literally an aged body. A term referring to the elderly.

It’s what Hakjun Ma calls himself. That’s why it was so absurd.

Could someone who blocked The Elder’s spear head-on really be considered old?

“You may go. And in that position, do your best as you said.”

A veteran soldier who’s the most reliable ally to have.

I nodded at Hakjun Ma’s words and left the Principal’s office.

*

“…You heard everything, I presume.”

After Seojin Baek disappeared, Hakjun Ma slowly parted his lips.

Then, from a phone cleverly hidden on the desk, a voice responded.

[What an unusual fellow, senior.]

“No. He’s an admirable fellow.”

[So, should I keep him in his temporary position?]

“I’d appreciate that. Having such a young man at the Academy gives me some peace of mind.”

[Understood.]

“Thank you, Association President. It was somewhat of an unreasonable request.”

[Not at all. Actually, I received a similar request.]

“A similar request?”

At Hakjun Ma’s question, the Ability User Association President sighed before speaking.

[Actually, Senior Minseong Kang also asked to keep Examiner Seojin Baek at the Academy.]