Ch.4I Became a New Examiner – 4

Since the birth of superpowers, who has been the greatest superpowered individual in South Korea?

If we’re talking about the whole person, not just their skills or abilities.

I think more than half of people would mention this name.

– Activating The Third Eye.

◎ Hakjun Ma

: A veteran who hasn’t fallen into past glory

◎ Details

: A person who doesn’t dwell on their past.

Though age has rusted their body, they remain strong.

They don’t break even in extreme situations.

One of the heroes who saved Korea during the early superpowered crisis.

In terms of field experience, he ranks among the top ten worldwide.

Although he’s stepped back from the front lines due to age, class is eternal.

I’ve heard he has such a strong reputation that no one considers him an enemy.

They say the white-haired, squinty-eyed old man character is a formidable force anywhere.

That legend was currently working as the principal of the Superpower Academy.

‘I can’t help feeling nervous.’

The reason he suddenly summoned me must be because of the Silver rank evaluation that just happened.

Though I was officially dispatched, I’m still an outsider.

Not a student, not faculty, not even security personnel.

On the other hand, while Junwoo Park acts like a thug, he’s still an Academy student.

Isn’t it obvious whose side the Academy principal would take?

‘No. If it’s that Hakjun Ma, he might make allowances.’

While I was lost in these thoughts, I arrived at the principal’s office.

The security guard told me to go right in and turned away.

I take a deep breath before grabbing the doorknob to enter.

“Phew.”

It’s impossible not to feel tense.

Skill, character, connections—he lacks nothing.

The chances of a mere civil servant’s life becoming difficult if I get on his bad side… one hundred percent.

‘No. Don’t be intimidated. I have nothing to be ashamed of.’

When you think about it, I haven’t done anything particularly wrong.

Lower-level assessment tests may be basic, but superpowered individuals are weapons themselves.

Even in a simple match, one mistake can cause serious injury.

I’ve heard that risk of injury is already part of daily life for Academy students.

“You’ll see a new day just grabbing that doorknob. Come in already.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Was he reading my hesitation too?

I hurriedly enter as a dignified voice calls from beyond the door.

Despite the grand title of “principal’s office,” there was nothing special inside.

Dozens of books, a few photographs, various commendations hanging on the wall.

And a sword emanating an extremely neat aura. That was all.

Past these, I finally met him—Hakjun Ma.

“Pleased to meet you. You’re the newly dispatched examiner, I hear.”

He looked exactly as described. A squinty-eyed old man with white hair.

At first, people debated whether he was a villain hiding his true intentions or a helper concealing his strength because of his appearance.

Of course, it didn’t take long for the latter to be revealed.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Principal. I’m Seojin Baek, dispatched from the Ability Measurement Department.”

“Hakjun Ma.”

After briefly introducing himself, Principal Ma offered me a seat and stared at me intently.

His gaze didn’t seem particularly hostile, but it was extremely uncomfortable.

“Let me get straight to the point. I’ll ask only once, so please answer in one go.”

His words made me even more uncomfortable.

Is he really angry about a student getting hurt?

“Why did you come to this Academy?”

“…Pardon?”

I couldn’t help but question his question.

It made no sense. Why was I here?

“Principal, I don’t understand what you mean…”

“I said I would ask only once. And you can only answer once.”

My opponent is Hakjun Ma. Though aged, he’s one of the best superpowered individuals.

I know he’s not the type to joke in this kind of atmosphere.

He’s asking a serious question and wants an honest answer.

“I…”

The problem is, this is really all I can tell him.

“Well, I came because I was ordered to be dispatched.”

Principal Ma said nothing in response to my answer.

He just looked at me with an even sharper gaze than before.

“Is that all you have to say?”

When the principal finally spoke, I reflexively nodded.

They say class is eternal. The aura he emits is truly no joke.

“…I see. If that’s your answer.”

The principal nodded and cleared his throat.

“I hear there was a small incident during the rank evaluation.”

“Ah, Principal. About that…”

“Don’t worry about it. Student Park Junwoo would have been prepared for it.”

From what I know, Hakjun Ma deeply cares for the Academy and its students.

So I was worried he might be angry that a student got hurt.

“He met his match. I knew he’d get a harsh lesson someday.”

As expected, Principal Ma was different.

From his reaction, it seems he had a good grasp of what kind of person Junwoo Park was.

“I’ll make sure there won’t be any problems even if reports go up to the higher-ups.”

“Thank you, Principal. Thank you so much.”

“You’ll have more trouble ahead. After this incident, more students will flock to you.”

That’s probably likely.

A student with decent skills failed in the lower rank evaluation that everyone had taken lightly.

There will definitely be some who find this interesting, or even approach with bad intentions.

“But not all students are like that. In fact, there are more good students. I called you to tell you this. I hope you won’t view all students negatively.”

Of course, Principal. I understand that very well.

The real trash is the minority, and the rest are students who want to do their duty as superpowered individuals.

It’s just that the minority are such trolls that they stand out.

“Keep up the good work. I appreciate your efforts.”

“Thank you, Principal. I’ll be going now.”

Though our conversation wasn’t long, I could clearly feel it.

Indeed, he was worthy of being called one of the greatest helpers.

*

“Hmm…”

Hakjun Ma closed his eyes and recalled the conversation they just had.

“Well, I came because I was ordered to be dispatched.”

The newly dispatched examiner from the Measurement Department. Seojin Baek, was it?

On paper, he didn’t seem special. Just an ordinary civil servant.

But what happened during Junwoo Park’s evaluation was far from ordinary.

‘That’s no ordinary skill. He induced carelessness and ended it in one strike.’

Even just reading the report, he could visualize the situation.

This is definitely not something a civil servant from the Measurement Department would show.

He’s hiding something. And it momentarily came out.

Hakjun Ma considered two possibilities.

One, he’s a pawn of villains targeting the Academy.

It’s not entirely impossible. His skills alone don’t make sense.

Hakjun Ma himself knows best about the skill level of the Ability Measurement Department.

With that level of skill, he should be working in the field, not in an office.

No sane higher-up would transfer field personnel to desk jobs.

‘A rookie might reveal their power despite needing to hide themselves thoroughly. And there have been reports of villains moving secretly.’

The other possibility was that he was an uninvited guest sent by his “friend.”

‘To think I’ve called such a person my friend for 40 years.’

Hakjun Ma pressed his temples as if he had a headache.

He had been receiving almost pleading requests recently.

“Please, I beg you, Hakjun. Look after my granddaughter. Make sure she doesn’t mix with bad company. She’s a particularly sensitive child. I’m so worried I can’t even sleep.”

Minseong Kang. A hero who saved South Korea from the brink of destruction alongside him.

The head of a prestigious family known for Weaponry Class abilities.

The Sword Wraith, feared even by villains for his overwhelming charisma and skill.

But in reality, he was a doting father and a bit of a busybody.

A childish man who would behave only temporarily when scolded to act his age.

His granddaughter had recently enrolled in the Academy.

‘Despite having decent talent, she suffers from inferiority complexes, I heard.’

He understands. Minseong Kang’s children and grandchildren all take after him and have made names for themselves.

In such a remarkable family, “decent” talent might as well be nothing.

She must have felt pressured to become a superpowered individual who wouldn’t shame her family.

That pressure made her passive, and further, pessimistic.

He’d even heard that some students who saw this weakness were approaching her.

One of them was Junwoo Park, who got thoroughly beaten today.

So it was natural for Hakjun Ma to suspect that Seojin Baek was a subordinate sent by Minseong Kang.

Eliminate all the trash hovering around my granddaughter.

For Minseong Kang, who deeply loved his children and grandchildren, it was entirely possible.

‘But that look in his eyes, that voice—they weren’t those of someone telling lies. Nor did he seem to be hiding anything.’

Actually, there was one more possibility.

That Seojin Baek really was nothing special.

‘Maybe he was lucky, or perhaps survival instinct created a miracle.’

In the end, there was only one answer: to observe Seojin Baek a bit more.

If he’s a villain’s pawn, deal with him; if he’s his friend’s subordinate, persuade him to leave.

And if he really was nothing special but showed such skill…

‘He might be a good stimulus for the children.’

Whatever the case, he needed time. There’s no use in being hasty.

After organizing his thoughts, Hakjun Ma began clearing the documents on the table.

– Seojin Baek. Male. 24. Support Class. Ability Measurement Department. Academy Dispatch Examiner. –

– Junwoo Park. Male. 22. Martial Arts Class. C-rank admission. Gold promotion examination by Academy standards. –

Then, in front of one document, he clicked his tongue.

“Tsk—”

Damn that guy. I can’t completely ignore a lifelong friend’s request.

Anyway, she is “Minseong Kang’s” granddaughter, so I should pay a little attention.

Muttering this, Hakjun Ma looked again at the personal information on the document.

– Soohyun Kim. Female. 20. Weaponry Class. E-rank admission. Bronze by Academy standards. –