Ch.49Chapter 49 – Test (3)

‘What? Why is that person glaring at me?’

Shin Jaehyuk stared with a puzzled expression at the suited man who was glowering at him from behind the reception desk. The man’s face kept brightening and darkening, and he was scribbling furiously on a piece of paper. He seemed mentally troubled. Seeing the circular bald spot on top of the man’s head made Jaehyuk feel even more sympathetic.

‘Ah, this isn’t the time to be distracted.’

Jaehyuk quickly shifted his attention away from the man and sat down in front of the counter displaying his waiting number.

“Welcome, Shin Jaehyuk, prospective awakened one! Thank you for visiting the Association.”

The counter clerk greeted him while entering the submitted documents into the processing system. Though it was relatively quiet now, the clerk knew that people would soon flood in following the celebrities, so she promptly focused on her task.

“Hmm, I see you’ve checked ‘Yes’ for the awakening status item…”

“Yes. I’m here to self-report.”

“Ah! I see. Congratulations on your awakening! And thank you for self-reporting. It’s not common these days, but occasionally people try to hide their awakening and end up getting caught by mana detectors and forcibly conscripted…”

‘So there really are idiots who resist until they get drafted…’

It was a chilling and terrible story. While similar to mobilizing reserves in wartime, forced conscription in 21st century South Korea seemed unthinkable.

This was one of the reasons Jaehyuk was registering his hunter license under his real name. Now that the concept of mana had become commonplace and even divine power had been revealed, it was only a matter of time before he would be reported as an unregistered awakened one if he carelessly displayed his powers without a license.

‘I must avoid such a terrible fate at all costs…’

He had no time to waste on military conscription. Jaehyuk reaffirmed his resolve. As a Master Paladin and the last survivor of the 12 Heroes, he had a duty to confirm Eden’s continued existence and kill demons.

But he couldn’t kill all the demons of hell alone. He couldn’t even imagine how many demons had multiplied over the nearly eternal time since hell’s creation.

Therefore, he needed to eliminate the root cause of this terrible calamity. The culprits—the Four Heavenly Kings and the Demon Lord.

‘As civilization level rises, the Four Heavenly Kings and the Demon Lord will naturally be summoned to Earth… I need to build my strength until then to prepare for the final battle.’

The clerk, interpreting Jaehyuk’s stern expression as typical nervousness, smiled gently and said:

“We’ve completed the basic personal information processing, and now you’ll need to go inside for mana measurement, followed by skill testing and physical ability assessment! Don’t worry, nothing will hurt! It’ll be over quickly.”

“Thank you. Keep up the good work.”

Jaehyuk headed toward the room the clerk had indicated. The inside resembled a spacious, clean hospital CT room. Everything that could cause measurement errors had been removed to ensure accuracy.

“Oh, that’s…”

Jaehyuk exclaimed in admiration at the sophisticated machine in the center of the room. It was the round device he had seen on TV—the famous mana measuring device, the original instrument used to classify awakened ones.

‘Professor Park Jeongkwang’s historic invention…’

A female employee was waiting to assist with the test. She tapped on her tablet to retrieve the examinee’s information.

“Hello.”

“Your name is… Mr. Shin Jaehyuk? Ah, you must be the person Director Hong Harin mentioned.”

“You know Hong Harin? Perhaps…?”

Suddenly, the employee lowered her voice.

“Yes. As you might suspect, I’m with the National Intelligence Service.”

Indeed. She appeared to be some kind of spy planted in the Association by the NIS.

‘I wondered how they would falsify the test records—they have an inside collaborator.’

The woman’s words confirmed his suspicion.

“We need to keep a record that you took the test, so please place your hand on the testing device and pretend to take it. I’ll record your mana level as that of an average B-rank awakened one.”

The process of obtaining a forged license seemed to be going smoothly.

‘Hmm… but this is a rare opportunity in life.’

Suddenly, Jaehyuk became curious. He was interested in seeing the testing device in person for the first time, and he was also curious about his own objective level. Carefully, he asked:

“Would it be possible for me to take the actual test?”

He thought she might refuse, but the woman readily agreed.

“Hoho, you seem curious. Of course, no problem. Please place your hand on the palm-shaped sticker in front.”

Jaehyuk followed her instructions and placed his right hand on the device.

“I’ll start the machine now. Please don’t remove your hand until I tell you it’s done.”

The testing device began to hum with a strange operational sound.

‘Oh…’

He could feel a subtle flow of mana entering through his right hand. Jaehyuk didn’t resist and accepted the wave exploring his body. The mana pulse emitted by the device traveled through his mana channels, scanning every corner of his body, before returning to the device through his hand.

“All done. You can remove your hand now.”

“Ah…”

Jaehyuk let out a sigh of disappointment as the refreshing sensation that felt like it was cleaning his mana channels ended. The employee spoke understandingly:

“Feels good, doesn’t it? Most first-timers react that way. I’ve heard some awakened ones even purchase these expensive testing devices just for that refreshing feeling. Anyway, the results will be out soon, so please wait a moment.”

About thirty seconds later, the computer chimed to indicate the calculation was complete. The employee checked the results on her tablet and casually said:

“Based on mana quantity alone, you’re D-rank. Of course, hunter ranking is determined by a comprehensive evaluation including physical abilities and achievements, so don’t be too discouraged.”

The employee announced this nonchalantly, with an attitude suggesting she didn’t care whether he was D-rank or E-rank. Jaehyuk appreciated her demeanor.

‘She claims to be an NIS agent but doesn’t know I’m S-rank. NIS internal security seems reliable. At least there’s little chance of my information leaking from their side.’

His information seemed to be strictly classified even within the NIS. Probably only the director and Hong Harin knew about it. He was satisfied with how things were being handled.

As Jaehyuk relaxed, the agent—who couldn’t dream that the person before her was S-rank—tapped on her tablet.

“Normally, you’d go to the skill testing room next, but we can handle that part. You can just take the physical examination and go home. What kind of skill should we forge for you?”

“Something that won’t attract attention… A regeneration skill would be good.”

“Understood. I’ll report it as rapid regeneration. That’s all we need to do here, and another NIS colleague will be waiting for you in the physical examination room over there.”

Jaehyuk gave a light bow and headed to the next testing area.

***

After completing the physical test, Jaehyuk dragged his exhausted body toward the main entrance. The morning commotion had subsided, and the plaza in front of the Association was quiet again. People had probably left when the celebrities disappeared from view, or some might have followed them to the event venue.

In any case, it was none of Jaehyuk’s concern. He was more worried about his legs than celebrities or events. Even though he was a gym enthusiast, he was completely drained after the physical test.

“I thought it would be simple, but it turned out to be the hardest part…”

The strength test, which only required lifting maximum weights, wasn’t too difficult, but the endurance test had him running on a treadmill for hours until his legs were shaking. Having to run to his limit using only his physical strength without any abilities had made him sweat profusely…

As he restored his legs using divine power, he bought an ion drink from a vending machine. The cool sensation quenching his thirst improved his mood considerably. As he tilted the can, he noticed a couple who seemed to have just finished their tests walking by. The woman stopped and tugged on her partner’s arm.

“Oppa, on our way out, over there…”

The woman was pointing to a tent. The kind of street tent that would typically display cheap advertising slogans like “Magic Pen for Your Child’s Education!” or “Apply for a Card Now and Get Benefits Galore!” It was unusual for a young couple to be interested in such a street vendor, which piqued Jaehyuk’s curiosity. He read the banner above the tent.

“Join Paradise Church and get a free potion every month..?”

An indescribable surprise spread across Jaehyuk’s face. Wasn’t Paradise Church that famous cult these days? He looked at the inverted cross symbol on the tent with displeasure.

‘These heretics with no foundation, only thinking about exploiting their followers… I’ve seen countless such groups in Eden. It’s obviously a scam to steal personal information, who would join such a thing?’

“Oh, that! I saw it online too, and they really do give them out monthly! We should definitely join.”

“Yes, yes! It’s totally sweet, right? They say if you diligently check in at church every Sunday, they give you a few more bottles!”

Jaehyuk’s eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, he doubted his hearing. When the couple unhesitatingly signed the registration forms, he suspected it might be a marketing ploy with the couple and Paradise Church working together. Only when they received small potions from a box behind the tent and left did he finally believe what he had seen.

‘They really give out potions just for joining? Does Paradise Church have that much money?’

He had thought this since that mission with the 20 billion won reward—Paradise Church seemed to spend money lavishly. Potions that could instantly heal even deep wounds cost at least 200,000 won each, even for the lowest quality ones. Giving such expensive items away monthly just for joining was baffling. What kind of financial situation did they have?

‘Well, maybe they hooked some wealthy patron. Anyway, such cults will collapse soon. Eventually, the news will report that the cult leader ran off with the money or that it was all a scam.’

Jaehyuk quickly lost interest in Paradise Church. Whether it thrived or not was none of his business. He had mountains of tasks ahead, and no time to waste on a cult that would soon collapse. He carelessly tossed the empty can into a trash bin and hailed a taxi to return home.

***

“How did it go?”

President Park Jugwan asked in the Blue House office. His voice was uncharacteristically anxious. Hong Harin, who had overseen the emergency operation at the Association, reported:

“Nothing happened. It seems Hwang Heejong couldn’t find Shin Jaehyuk either.”

“Phew… Well done. Very well done. Thank you for your hard work.”

Relief was evident in his sigh. He had been unable to predict what that rat Hwang Heejong might try, but fortunately, the awakening test had concluded without incident. Regaining his composure, Park Jugwan leaned back in his plush chair.

“We need to make things difficult for him for a while to prevent any more mischief… Any other notable findings?”

“Yes. According to reports, Hunter Shin Jaehyuk also possesses mana. The measurement shows D-rank level. It seems he’s indeed a special case with both divine power and mana awakened. It’s likely related to the achievement called <Convergence>.”

“Hmm… So that’s why he could launch such powerful attacks compared to others at his level?”

Park Jugwan nodded, recalling the pillar of light in Incheon’s sky that was faintly visible even from Seoul. As a non-awakened person, he didn’t understand the significance of handling two different types of energy, but having two abilities seemed better than one.

The low D-rank measurement didn’t disappoint him either. If he could do all that at D-rank, his future potential was quite promising.

“Good. Anything else to report?”

Hong Harin briefly considered whether to mention what happened at the Association today, then decided the President should know.

“During this examination, the ‘official’ twenty-fourth A-rank was born. A police officer named Cha Eunkyung, previously B-rank, successfully ranked up during an event prepared by the Association with broadcast cameras present, instantly gaining fame. Her past efforts rescuing civilians during the first gate incident and her Special Ability Response Team’s achievements are being highlighted. Her outstanding performance is receiving widespread public praise.”

“The Special Ability Response Team! Wasn’t that one of my policies?”

Park Jugwan broke his poker face in surprise at the unexpected name. The Special Ability Response Team was a department he had created within the police force as a formality, not wanting to concentrate all power in the military. Now, an officer from that department had become such a valuable asset. A stone had turned into jade.

‘A policy I didn’t even expect much from has yielded such a great catch! This will help solidify my approval ratings, which have been showing signs of instability lately.’

Park Jugwan laughed heartily. His political opponent’s failure and this unexpected windfall! The succession of good news put him in an excellent mood, enough to bestow calculated favor.

“Does she have sufficient growth potential?”

“Still in her late twenties, she’s considered promising material who could grow to S-rank. Being a civil servant, she’s also beyond Hwang Heejong’s reach.”

“Good, very good. I like her already. Cha Eunkyung, was it? Push her forward from now on. Promotions, funding, equipment, special treatment. It might even be good to create a department specifically for her. Promote her occasionally through broadcasts too. Let’s try to nurture her to S-rank…”

“You son of a bitch!”

Meanwhile, in the director’s office at the Association, harsh shouts were flying. The atmosphere was the complete opposite of the cordial one at the Blue House.

“You incompetent bastard! Were you raised without parents and education? I even assigned an A-rank hunter to you, and you failed at such a simple task? You fucking bastard, are you Park Jugwan’s spy? A secret agent?”

Hwang Heejong crumpled a list covered in red marks and threw it at his secretary, Oh Byeongtae. His face was as red as the marked list. The paper ball hit the secretary’s despised face with precision, but it wasn’t enough to quell his anger. Hwang Heejong grabbed and threw whatever objects were within reach.

“Aaaaargh!!! How, how precious an opportunity this was! A once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn things around-!!”

“I’m, I’m sorry, Director! Please give me one more chance!”

Secretary Oh Byeongtae cowered and trembled, trying to avoid his boss’s volcanic rage. While apologizing profusely, he cursed his superior inwardly.

‘Damn it. I only did what I was told…!’

Oh Byeongtae couldn’t help feeling wronged. The A-rank hunter had checked every single person on the list without missing anyone. If they couldn’t find the S-rank, either the A-rank had done a poor job, or the list was wrong from the start. He wasn’t responsible either way.

As Oh Byeongtae nursed his grievances, Hwang Heejong’s anger temporarily subsided. He too found the situation strange. With a cooler head, he tried to understand what had happened.

‘No matter how incompetent, this guy who made it to my secretary position can’t be that stupid… What went wrong? Did Park Jugwan somehow switch the inspectees? That’s impossible… He wouldn’t have had time to respond, receiving the report only that morning.’

Hwang Heejong picked up the crumpled paper and flipped through it irritably, looking for suspicious points in the background investigation. His cornered brain worked frantically.

‘One of these must be the S-rank… The rest would be NIS agents as Park Jugwan said. …Wait. A civilian hiding among NIS agents?’

The tree hides in the forest. But what if that forest is artificial? Rather, a real tree hidden among too-natural artificial ones would stand out more…

‘Yes. Among those with suspiciously clean backgrounds, there must be someone who seems out of place.’

That person is the S-rank.

Hwang Heejong’s hand stopped as he flipped through the report. The page displayed information about a young man.

‘An orphan, living in Gwanak District, in his own house, paying taxes regularly…’

An orphan, in Seoul, with his own house?

“—It’s him.”

He muttered unconsciously. His sharp instinct, honed in the political arena, screamed that this was the one, this was the S-rank. With a smile of delight on his lips, Hwang Heejong roughly tore out the page. Then he tossed the torn page to his secretary, who was still prostrate on the floor.

“This is the last chance you’ve been begging for. Investigate everyone connected to this person thoroughly. …Yes, start with the orphanage. Don’t outsource to a private investigator where Park Jugwan might find out—go investigate yourself!”

With the desperation of someone grasping at their final lifeline, Oh Byeongtae respectfully accepted the crumpled paper Hwang Heejong had thrown. At the top of the wrinkled paper were three characters forming a name:

‘Shin Jaehyuk’