Ch.39Special Evaluation, Not Grade Evaluation – 3

“Juyeol Chang. Second year, Martial Arts Class. Being ranked first in Silver means he must have attempted Gold promotion several times.”

When I examined him with The Third Eye, he was neither a thug like Junwoo Park nor trash like Yuhyun Jung.

Just a truly ordinary ability user. A student with moderate talent who puts in moderate effort.

“You want to spar? Why so suddenly?”

“Since I’m already Silver rank, I can’t receive an assessment. This isn’t about winning or losing. I just want you to see that current Silver students deserve to be in Silver.”

He might be saying that because he’s afraid he’ll win.

Asking for a match but saying it’s not about winning or losing. That’s nonsense.

He must think little of me as a Silver rank examiner.

“Alright, student Chang Juyeol. An assessment-like match. Let’s do it.”

“Thank you! Let’s go right away!”

I turn and head toward the assessment arena.

I never expected keeping my match with Yuhyun Jung secret would snowball like this.

If that had become known, this sweet situation wouldn’t have happened.

What Silver student in their right mind would challenge an examiner who defeated even a Gold?

They could bow their head, say “I’m sorry!” and run away, and no one would blame them.

Of course, assessments aren’t matches, so winning or losing isn’t important.

If examiners evaluate using objective criteria and approve, promotion is possible.

What if examiners take bribes and let anyone pass?

Students’ levels become obvious during professors’ lectures.

These professors have been in the field for years—they can tell.

‘And doing that would land you straight in prison if caught.’

Besides, higher rank means more responsibilities to shoulder.

If your level is Bronze but you go to Silver, can you handle it?

What if you encounter monsters or villains beyond your capabilities during field training?

That’s why neither examiners nor students engage in or suggest such practices.

Therefore, students never question their current rank.

They did their best, and examiners evaluated without bias.

Even Silver students, considered the most basic of basics, understand this.

That’s why they secretly looked down on Bronze students who couldn’t even reach that level.

At least until the great storm named Hyunwoo Lee came along.

“Examiner, are you really going through with this?”

Somehow Hana Kang had caught up and asked with a worried voice.

She must be concerned I’ll face consequences for acting on my own as a civil servant.

I was concerned about that with Yuhyun Jung too.

Fortunately, that Supremacist had enough shame to keep it secret.

Otherwise, I might have faced quite an awkward situation.

“Yes. I’m doing it.”

But this time there’s no issue whatsoever. Yes, absolutely.

“If any problems arise, I can just write an incident report.”

“Isn’t that… an inadequate precaution?”

She might think I’m really prepared to write an incident report. Absolutely not.

I’ve already spoken with Hakjun Ma. And quite positively at that.

He fell for my persuasion and asked me to work hard as an examiner at the Academy.

I was even identified as someone who might be connected to Rina Lee.

Those two connections are more than enough cover.

Even in this world, connections remain an important part of life.

“I’m ready, Examiner.”

“Good. Before we begin, there’s something we need to clarify.”

“What is it?”

What else? A very important matter. Your regression to Bronze.

“If you don’t receive a positive assessment from me, what do you plan to do?”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“Student Chang Juyeol, it seems you want to overcome my assessment that Hyunwoo Lee couldn’t pass, to secure justification. Am I wrong?”

Juyeol Chang couldn’t say anything. Because it was true.

He wasn’t bad enough to calmly lie.

“If I acknowledge you, it proves you’re better than student Hyunwoo Lee. That’s fine. But if I assess that you’re also not at Silver level, what then?”

Perhaps Chang already knows the answer.

He’s just hesitating because it’s too burdensome to say it himself.

“In that case…”

He keeps hesitating when he should answer quickly so we can begin.

Is he reluctant to return to Bronze after living as the king of Silver?

Did he challenge me without being prepared for that?

“Obviously, your Silver qualification would be revoked. What more needs to be said?”

“Huh? H-Headmaster?!”

Somehow Hakjun Ma had appeared and was sitting on a bench, chuckling.

It really makes me wonder if he truly retired from the front lines due to old age.

“Student Chang Juyeol. What will you do? Can you accept these terms?”

“Yes… Headmaster. I will.”

Perhaps he judged there was nowhere to retreat now.

Chang Juyeol finally accepted the condition of returning to Bronze.

If he refused, that would create its own problems.

“Then by my authority as Headmaster, Examiner Seojin Baek, let’s begin this special assessment.”

“Special assessment…?”

“It’s not a match, nor is it a regular assessment. So let’s call it a special assessment.”

There was something strange about Hakjun Ma’s manner.

I wondered why he was acting this way, but it seemed he wanted something too.

Dealing with elderly people is uncomfortable because you can’t read them.

“One who tries to advance, and one who tries to block. I wonder what the result will be.”

Indeed, Headmaster. I’m curious too.

I wonder how many Silver students will return to Bronze today.

Based on others’ characteristics that only I can see…

I did see a few who seemed worthy of Silver besides Hyunwoo Lee and Soohyun Kim.

That was somewhat fortunate. I was worried there might be none.

*

‘Even the Headmaster came? This is getting too big!’

Meanwhile, Hana Kang was internally screaming while standing in the back.

The reason she agreed after hearing Soohyun Kim’s suggestion and seeing Seojin Baek’s actions:

She judged it was the only way to contain the current uproar.

That didn’t eliminate all her concerns.

In fact, the current incident might grow even larger.

What if no one passes Seojin Baek’s assessment? They’d all become Bronze.

If the Silver rank’s #1 couldn’t pass, the rest would obviously fail too.

Couldn’t they just ignore it? Who would recognize those ranks anymore?

‘He even defeated Yuhyun Jung. Chang Juyeol doesn’t stand a chance. Neither do those below him.’

They would all lose. That would wipe out the Silver rank entirely.

What would those Silver students say then? They’d surely try to contest it.

By Hana’s prediction, they might even demand reassessment of Gold rank.

Given Seojin Baek’s skill, no one in Gold could defeat him either.

If even Gold students lost, they too would drop to Bronze.

‘What is the Headmaster thinking, supporting Examiner Baek with this “special assessment” title? This could completely collapse the ranking system we’ve maintained!’

After thinking hard, Hana made one prediction.

In Yuhyun Jung’s case, there was a clear reason he angered Seojin Baek.

How could anyone in Korea make jokes about someone’s parents to their face!

That’s why an enraged Seojin Baek completely destroyed him.

But these Silver students are different. They haven’t done anything to Seojin Baek.

So unlike with Yuhyun Jung, he might go easier on them.

Seojin Baek must know that being too harsh would cause problems.

‘Could the Headmaster know this and be planning to end this at the Silver level?’

Some students in Silver coast through, satisfied with being in a safe zone.

If this is meant to give those students good motivation, it might not be bad…

CRASH!

“Huh…?”

The one rolling and falling face-first on the floor was definitely Chang Juyeol.

This happened exactly 10 seconds after the special assessment began.

Hana mentally screamed and clutched her head.

‘This shouldn’t be happening!’

Judging if he deserved Silver rank? Seojin Baek had answered.

By telling him to shut up and get lost to Bronze. That this level wasn’t even close!

‘Wait, if this continues…’

Just as the student council president’s vision was darkening…

“Well, it seems we need to reassess the Silver rank.”

Hakjun Ma was chuckling with a satisfied expression.

Despite Seojin Baek’s defeat of Chang Juyeol signaling major upheaval…

Hakjun Ma seemed delighted beyond measure.

That’s when Hana finally understood the Headmaster’s true intentions.

‘I see! The Headmaster wants to completely reestablish student standards!’

Stagnant water rots. Once rotted, it can never be restored.

The Headmaster had brought winds of change before that could happen.

Although the process might cause much talk and trouble…

For the majority of middle-tier students who were becoming complacent…

He had created an opportunity to raise standards through harsh discipline.

‘This is getting serious.’

Silver has fallen. And Silver won’t die alone—Gold is in danger too.

What about Gold if they’re dragged down? Even she, as Platinum, couldn’t feel safe.

Feeling a sense of crisis for the first time in ages, Hana stared at Seojin Baek.

‘If this person isn’t some kind of special agent, maybe I should invite them to our clan?’

Though currently a civil servant, clan positions are more preferred than government ones.

And being recruited rather than applying? That’s the fastest way to rise in the ability user world.

‘This person could be an enormous help to the Matap Clan in the future.’

While Hana kept nodding and thinking…

“…”

Soohyun Kim was watching Seojin Baek with sparkling eyes, completely captivated.