Ch.44Those Who Welcome, Those Who Don’t – 3

“Hmm.”

◎ Number Blocked

: 44 (44 / ???)

I look, look again, and examine it once more.

That damn hook mark doesn’t disappear no matter how many times I check.

Why on earth is something like this showing up here?

At first, it clearly indicated a figure of 10 people.

Why is the next one not 50 or 100, but a question mark of all things?

‘This isn’t going well.’

Just yesterday, when I received the notification that the waiting period for the required number had ended.

I don’t know how many times I shouted “Finally!”

Even though I only met the requirement of 10 people, the reward was tremendous.

I wondered how much stronger my abilities would become when I reached the next requirement.

With that thought in mind, I hastily activated The Third Eye, and that was the result.

They say expectations lead to betrayal.

That saying holds true no matter where you go.

I guess it’s better not to have expectations at all.

Ding—

But, even so, I find the strength to go on once more.

Why? Because it’s 6 o’clock sharp. The end of the workday I’ve been waiting for since I arrived.

Yes, the Silver rank evaluation is the most important task.

But if possible, not doing it is also a good thing.

Work is just unpleasant, whether it’s easy or difficult.

‘At least the progress is going smoothly as expected.’

I didn’t push the entire Academy into special evaluations.

For now, I’m just trying to raise the Silver rank personnel again, as that’s most urgent.

The problem is, as always, my inner conflict.

The desire to hold onto them for as long as possible, and the reality that I inevitably have to let them go.

These two keep clashing over and over.

For one thing, keeping Hyunwoo Lee and Soohyun Kim around longer is beneficial.

Thanks to the Bittersweet Triumph trait, it’s better for everyone.

But other students are different.

Without giving them the Bittersweet Triumph trait, and needing to fill the Silver positions again.

Keeping them indefinitely at Bronze rank would cause more harm than good.

‘Even as The Silver Gatekeeper, those who need to go must go.’

I’ve already made my decision. I’ll let those who truly deserve it move up.

I’m worried about penalties, but there’s no more time to hesitate or worry.

The justification I have is good in its purpose and beginning.

It provides motivation for the Silvers to work harder by instilling urgency.

By helping them build skills to aim for Gold when they become Silver again.

If that state stimulates even the Golds, it can be considered a success.

But for that to happen, some students need to rise to Silver rank.

Whether they’re qualified, have great potential, or never slack in their efforts.

For whatever reason, they need to escape Bronze and overcome the gatekeeper.

‘Though it’s regrettable… I should let go of those who don’t need to be held back anymore.’

Students who become complacent at Silver and stop trying, only to die in vain later.

My goal is to provide them with an opportunity to extend their lifelines, even if just a little.

Under that principle, I’ve included my own strengthening as well.

…That’s what my reason is trying to convince me of, but the regret remains.

Letting them go means fewer people with enthusiasm will regularly visit the evaluation hall.

No matter how much I push them, there are always those who eventually give up.

If only those types remain later, my growth will stagnate too.

“Sigh…”

There’s a little less than a year left until the predicted catastrophe.

I hope that when the time comes, both they and I will be prepared.

“Examiner.”

Did I just hear Soohyun Kim’s voice?

Looking up, I saw Soohyun Kim standing at the Academy entrance.

Around her were people who were obviously trying to look like bodyguards.

“Soohyun… ahem, are you heading home, student Kim Soohyun?”

If I spoke casually here, those bodyguards would probably give me disapproving looks.

So I raised my speech level, causing Soohyun Kim’s eyes to widen as she approached me.

She must be surprised by my sudden formal speech, so I decided to explain the reason subtly.

“Those people with you seem to be bodyguards.”

“What? Oh, yes…”

Though Minseong Kang permitted it, they probably don’t know.

In that situation, a young man speaking casually to the beloved granddaughter of Minseong Kang.

I don’t need to see it to know those people’s expressions would turn grim.

“Yes. Even though I said I was fine, my grandfather insisted they accompany me…”

“They must have it tough.”

I tried greeting them slightly, but as expected, there was no response.

Wrinkle-free suits and sharp-looking sunglasses.

Even in a world where monsters rampage and villains cause havoc, bodyguard attire remains the same.

At least they’re not stopping me by asking who I am, which is fortunate.

Being recognized helps in situations like this, which I hadn’t expected.

I never imagined that Rina Lee would be helpful one day.

“Um, Examiner. What are your plans for dinner?”

“Dinner? Well, I don’t have any plans, so I’ll probably eat at home.”

“I-is that so?! If you don’t mind, would you like to… have dinner together?”

Wait a minute. Was Soohyun Kim always this proactive?

Looking around subtly, I noticed the bodyguards trying not to show any reaction.

But they clearly seemed surprised as well.

As expected, this seems to be the first time something like this has happened.

‘If I refuse… it would only pile up negative consequences.’

It’s a proposal that Soohyun Kim made with great courage.

With her timid personality, it must have been difficult to make the first move.

Despite that, the fact that she stepped forward like this is a good thing.

Plus, honestly, having dinner together isn’t a problem at all.

If Soohyun Kim were a high school student, that would be different. I’d have no defense if arrested.

But I’m an adult, and so is Soohyun Kim. There’s nothing problematic about it.

“Why not? To be honest, I was worried about what to eat for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, then let’s go together! Please get in this way!”

Hey, Soohyun. Even so, that’s a bit much.

How can you open the door for me like you’re a bodyguard?

The actual bodyguards are stepping in, surprised, saying they’ll do it.

Besides, this car. The interior looks about 100 times better than my house.

Is that normal? Well, I guess it makes sense since it’s a car used by Minseong Kang’s family.

Minseong Kang and his family are a formidable, massive force, so it’s understandable.

‘Hmm…’

I wish Soohyun Kim would say something.

I got in the car because she invited me to dinner and told me to get in, but…

It’s awkward just sitting here without saying anything.

Perhaps my desperate thoughts were conveyed.

“Um… is there any particular food you’d like to eat?”

Thankfully, Soohyun Kim finally opened up a conversation.

“Well, if you have a place in mind, I think that would be fine.”

“Is that okay? If you don’t like it…”

“That won’t happen. I eat pretty much anything.”

Greens, fish, meat—all okay.

I learned both in my previous life and here that being picky about food is pointless.

Life itself is a struggle to survive, so making a fuss about food is nonsensical.

I quietly looked at the scenery passing by outside the window.

I remember seeing these sights from buses or trains before.

Back then, the world seemed so difficult and lonely.

But riding in this incredibly expensive car makes everything look beautiful.

No wonder people are so obsessed with nice cars.

‘Though I personally prefer having three decent meals a day over a fancy car.’

Anyway, the city looks quite beautiful, unlike before.

Those brilliant lights that appear when night falls.

The various people enjoying the sweetness of after-work hours beneath them.

Some spend the night alone, others together.

And that shooting star over there adds to the romance…

‘…Wait.’

Why is the shooting star flying toward us instead of falling from the sky?

“Soohyun Kim!”

“Yes?”

Simultaneously, tremendous noise and flames filled the surroundings.

*

“Yahoo. Direct hit.”

The car, hit squarely by the fireball, swerves and crashes into a building.

Seeing this, the one-eyed woman pats the back of the dark man who cast the spell.

“We don’t have much time. Superpower users will swarm here soon.”

“It’ll be quick. Some strange guys got involved, but that actually works out better.”

The one-eyed woman extends her hand, and the dark man hands her the axe he was holding.

“Let’s finish this and get out of here. Before those crazy bastards arrive.”

At those words, the dark man makes a slight gesture.

Taking that as a signal, villains hiding here and there began to reveal themselves.

“Boss.”

“What?”

The man observing the situation slightly frowned and said:

“It seems most of them are still alive.”

“Is that so? Didn’t you cast your spell properly?”

“The vehicle must be high quality. And those bodyguards aren’t non-powered.”

As he said, the car that was thought to be a fireball was surprisingly intact.

And bodyguards were jumping out from the front and back, immediately handling the situation.

“They look about B-rank. At least one of them must be A-rank.”

“What should we do? If we engage, dealing with the target will be delayed.”

“I’ll hold them off while you finish it.”

“It might take longer.”

“Be prepared if you’re late for drama time.”

The one-eyed woman cackles at his comment about watching reruns.

Then she shows him the axe and pats his shoulder.

“Want me to chop them up?”

“…I’ll take care of it.”

“That’s more like it.”

Holding the heavily damaged axe, the one-eyed woman leaps forward.

If someone were to ask why they’re doing this, she would answer:

Does the world always need a reason? It’s simply because she wants to.

That’s the main principle of villains. Nothing stops their immediate desires.

If they want to commit something, they commit it; if they want to kill, they kill.

Today, the target just happens to be that man coming out over there—Seojin Baek.