Ch.3I Became a New Examiner – 3

“Haa.”

Jiyoon Han sighed deeply and leaned back in her chair.

S-class ability user, leader of one of the world’s five major clans.

Even a single one of these titles puts her on par with most national presidents.

Yet why was such a figure working as an Academy professor?

The answer to this question came from intelligence received recently.

“The movements of the villains are concerning.”

When ability users first appeared, they were initially considered saviors who would fight for humanity.

That’s why the whole world momentarily forgot.

That humans, when given power, inevitably desire to wield it.

Monsters, considered enemies of humanity, are at least “monsters.”

With few exceptions, they can’t be mistaken for humans.

But villains are different. They too are human. They’re people just like us.

It had become common consensus that humanity’s worst enemies weren’t monsters, but villains.

“Especially this time, I hear even ‘The Elder’ has made a move.”

Damn it. Jiyoon Han spat out the words.

She never thought she’d hear that name again.

Former colleagues who had now succumbed to their desires and become traitors.

If only they hadn’t stabbed her in the back, things would be better now.

“You need to go to the Academy. We need to apply pressure so they can’t operate openly.”

She recalled the unusually tense face of the Association President.

She understood. Villains alone were headache enough, but The Elder making a move too?

Even the Ability Users Association couldn’t handle this level of threat.

The Elder referred to former S-class ability users who had become villains.

Buzz—

She glanced at her phone as it vibrated.

A very brief message had arrived.

[Situation]

Clicking her tongue inwardly, Jiyoon Han sent a reply.

[Nothing yet. Nothing special. It’s quiet.]

[Don’t let your guard down]

[When have I ever let my guard down? If you’re worried, come yourself.]

[Busy]

‘This woman. Is she being too curt with her older sister?’

She wanted to call and give her a piece of her mind, but held back.

She wasn’t the only one deployed. The others would be busy too.

Elder-level movement could mean simultaneous attacks.

There were other facilities as important as the Academy that needed protection.

‘And at a time like this, these students are acting without any sense of responsibility.’

How did it come to this? Jiyoon Han held her face in her hands.

It wasn’t like this at first. It began when ability users started appearing on broadcasts and becoming famous.

After that, they took over advertisements, dramas, and even internet broadcasts.

At some point, becoming an ability user became the ultimate career path—making money and becoming famous, a rosy future.

Of course, not everyone had that mindset.

Many students still admired ability users who fought for people.

They trained with a sense of responsibility to fulfill that duty themselves.

They shed sweat while accepting they might lose their lives.

But even they would eventually realize.

No matter how many monsters they catch or villains they fight.

If they don’t become famous, nothing remains.

“This isn’t right…”

If you awaken abilities, you should have responsibility. You shouldn’t be blinded by money and fame.

But I can’t force beliefs on them. That’s a matter of individual judgment.

Lost in these thoughts, Jiyoon Han suddenly had an ominous feeling.

‘…I haven’t become an old fogey without realizing it, have I?! I’m only in my mid-twenties!’

Absolutely not. Being called an old fogey at this age would be the end.

Open-mindedness! Understanding heart! I’m not automatically right!

Knock knock—

“Clan Lord… ahem. Professor.”

The person who carefully opened the door was an assistant.

Actually an ability user from the clan in disguise.

“About that new grade examiner you were talking to earlier.”

“Examiner… ah, Seojin Baek. What about him?”

“He just went into an examination.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

Jiyoon Han touched her forehead and sighed.

This is why the Academy entrance exam should include character and ethics sections.

They’re desperate to show off their skills, but this is too much.

Yet they have no hesitation. They cause trouble and leave others to clean up.

The students know that the world will take their side rather than the civil servant’s.

If someone says an examiner this weak is useless, there’s no counter-argument.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that awakening abilities gives extra points in civil service exams, now the civil servants themselves are subpar ability users?

The media would pounce, journalists would go wild, and all sorts of rumors would spread.

That’s why everyone keeps quiet and endures the current situation.

“Which one is it this time?”

“Student Junwoo Park.”

Tap tap tap—

She immediately searches the interface. Junwoo Park, Junwoo Park…

‘Found it.’

Junwoo Park. Martial Arts Class. Entered as C-grade. Received Gold examination by Academy standards.

“…A guy who received Gold examination is taking a Silver examination? Why?”

“You know how it works. If they deliberately fail the exam or fall below standards, they can drop down. They’re exploiting that. They can always climb back up if they want.”

“Kids these days…”

Gasp! She quickly covers her mouth. No old fogey mindset!

“Anyway, Examiner Seojin Baek. He’s not badly hurt, is he?”

Jiyoon Han was already assuming the examiner’s defeat.

It’s a fight he can’t win. Why would someone who awakened abilities choose to be a civil servant?

Because of the talent gap. Awakening isn’t the end.

You need the potential to make that ability grow stronger.

‘Plus, the kids here have real combat experience.’

An ability user who hasn’t been in the field is all flash and no substance.

Civil servants with awakened abilities are exactly that. That’s why they’re disrespected.

They’re neither ordinary people nor field personnel.

‘He seemed like a decent person. Quite handsome too. What a shame.’

“Um, Professor.”

“What is it? Is he badly hurt?”

“That’s not it… the result was the opposite.”

Opposite? What does that mean? As Jiyoon Han blinked, the clan member continued.

“Junwoo Park lost. Cleanly. And three of his ribs were broken.”

“…What?”

Both Jiyoon Han hearing the news and the clan member delivering it.

Neither could help but wear expressions of complete incomprehension.

*

– The Third Eye is active.

◎ Seojin Baek

: The Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details

: Without the Gatekeeper’s permission, no one may pass.

◎ Number blocked

: 1 (1/10)

The text I was viewing through The Third Eye had changed.

Until yesterday. No, until just a few minutes ago, I was a low-level civil servant.

‘Gatekeeper? The same Gatekeeper I encountered before is now… me?’

The description itself is very strange. No one can pass?

‘Could what just happened be because of this?’

That strange feeling from earlier is still vivid.

It was just a moment, but I could clearly read Junwoo Park’s movements as he rushed at me.

Despite being an adult, his words were worse than a child’s.

But his skills were undeniably solid.

‘That tattooed punk’s movements. They seemed extremely slow.’

To make a comparison… yes. It felt like those slow-motion scenes in action movies.

Park was slow and I was fast. He was weak and I was strong.

I dodged his attack by a paper-thin margin and targeted his opening.

It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t something else fighting in my place.

I instinctively knew that those movements represented my limit.

It seems I pushed it to the extreme. The intense fatigue I feel now is proof of that.

‘Have I ever been like this before?’

I thought carefully, but never.

If I had such talent, I would have entered the Academy instead of becoming a civil servant.

Having abilities but lacking the talent to use them.

That’s why Seojin Baek—why I—chose a hopeless civil servant life.

‘Then indeed. There’s only one reason.’

The Third Eye. The ability to know exactly what someone is, beyond prediction to certainty.

It’s telling me precisely what change has occurred in me.

‘Gatekeeper, it says.’

I still don’t understand exactly what happened.

But at the same time, I think some things don’t need to be understood.

After all, could I ever understand how I became “Seojin Baek” instead of “me” in the first place?

“Examiner Seojin Baek!”

The security officer who had taken Junwoo Park away approaches me.

His expression is twice as urgent as before, filling me with tension.

That guy was rolling on the floor saying he was dying—he didn’t actually die, did he?

“Um, what happened to student Junwoo Park?”

“Pardon? Ah, student Park is in the treatment room.”

“His condition…”

“Three of his ribs were broken, I heard.”

…Isn’t broken ribs a serious injury?

Then why are you talking about it like it’s just a scratch?

“By now he should have finished treatment and be sleeping after receiving a sedative. When he wakes up, his bones will be healed, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

“Oh.”

I had forgotten. This is the Superpower Academy.

They have treatment facilities that can fully restore even severed body parts.

In that case, a few broken ribs would be considered a minor injury.

“Please follow me. There’s somewhere you need to go.”

Somewhere I need to go. I have an ominous feeling, but there’s no avoiding it.

Whatever the reason, someone got hurt as a result.

Are they going to hold me responsible? Will there be no leniency?

“I was really surprised, Examiner.”

“Pardon?”

“About student Junwoo Park. He’s definitely skilled. He reached the Academy’s Gold threshold in no time after enrollment. And you defeated him with a single strike!”

I had noticed he was skilled, but to that extent?

What a real punk. Gold means he’s at least a C-grade ability user!

What was he lacking that made him try to take down a poor civil servant?

“Um, where are we going right now?”

“Oh! Didn’t I tell you?”

No. You just told me to come along.

“Haha! I apologize for the oversight. Actually, the Headmaster has summoned you.”

The moment the security officer said “Headmaster,” I couldn’t help but gasp.

White hair, narrowed eyes, and elderly.

I was about to meet an old warrior with the “trinity” characteristics.