Ch.5I Became a New Examiner – 5

Hakjun Ma’s concerns were not unfounded.

As soon as I left the Dean’s office and returned to the main building, students swarmed around me.

“Examiner! I want to take the Silver rank examination!”

“I was here first! If I don’t advance this time, I’m in big trouble!”

A quick glance showed just under ten students.

And looking more carefully, they were all at almost the same level as Junwoo Park.

‘These bastards?’

The rumor that Junwoo Park had been thoroughly defeated by the Silver rank examiner must have spread like wildfire.

His behavior was exactly like that of a delinquent, so he probably had more enemies than allies.

If they could defeat me and secure Silver rank, they’d gain bragging rights over Junwoo Park.

That’s probably why these guys had gathered. Looking at them with The Third Eye, I was certain.

Opportunists, attention-seekers, popularity-chasers, and so on…

Every single one of them was trying to take advantage of Junwoo Park’s defeat.

‘How is it that not a single one of them is decent?’

Now I understand why Jiyoon Han and Hakjun Ma were worried.

The students gathered before me are a minority. They don’t represent the Academy.

But it’s incredibly easy for negative evaluations to be made because of that minority.

Even students who are properly preparing to become superpower users might get lumped in with them and criticized.

To think that people who made it to the Academy already have this kind of mentality. I can’t help but sigh.

I really want to tell them all to just get lost.

But my current position is Academy rank examiner.

I’m a civil servant dispatched from a public department, living on taxpayer money.

“Get ready in order. We’ll begin the examination immediately.”

– The Third Eye is activated.

◎ Seojin Baek

: The Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details

: No one can pass without the Gatekeeper’s permission.

◎ Number blocked

: 1 (1/10)

Nothing has changed. It’s still the same as when it changed after my clash with Junwoo Park.

The sensation I felt in my body earlier is still vivid.

I can do this. I can definitely fight against Academy students.

“Here I come! Haaah!!”

The first challenger is a Weaponry Class superpower user. He chose the most conventional weapon, a sword.

Although it’s a wooden training sword rather than a real one, it would still be serious if I got hit.

In the past, I would have instinctively stepped back.

But now, I was certain that moving forward was the right choice.

I slightly lowered my body and pushed off strongly with my foot to slip between his defenses.

The wooden sword brushed past my ear, and the student’s face was right in front of me.

“Huh?!”

Perhaps it was because I had so easily ignored his thrust and charged in.

The male student was visibly flustered. He must have used his most confident technique right from the start.

He desperately tries to turn his body. Naturally, his footwork gets tangled.

A gap opens wide. I pushed off with my foot again to break through that momentary opening.

“You fail the examination.”

Tap tap—

I lightly tapped his neck with the edge of my hand, and the male student let out an “Ah…” in dismay.

His eyes showed clear disbelief. He must have been absolutely certain of his victory.

In reality, he was only slightly better than Junwoo Park.

“Next.”

I wasn’t even out of breath. I wonder if my body has ever felt this light before.

If I wanted to, I could quit my desk job and switch to fieldwork.

It’s not just my body that’s changed. When I first set foot in the Academy, the students made me uncomfortable.

People with talents on a completely different level from mine. Future heroes managed by the state.

But now, all that wariness and subconscious fear has completely disappeared.

“You’re pretty good, Examiner.”

This one seems to be from the Martial Arts Class. His stance is no joke.

Seeing how he’s wiped all traces of a smile from his face, I wonder if they’re finally starting to realize the seriousness of the situation.

‘Not that it will change anything.’

As soon as we began, once again, the opponent charged first.

Woong—!

A terrifying roundhouse kick with the left foot as the pivot.

I never imagined such a sound could come from a kick.

I need to block it. I need to… no, wait. Do I really need to block that?

Although my heart skipped a beat at the thought of getting hit, I felt a strange confidence.

I slightly twisted my upper body to the side, barely avoiding the kick.

And before the opponent could launch his next attack, I targeted his pivot point.

After using a powerful skill, there’s always a moment of vulnerability.

“Argh!”

I lightly stomped on his defenseless left thigh.

It wouldn’t have broken any bones, but it would definitely leave a nasty bruise.

“Next student, please.”

Only then did the students who had been eagerly rushing in seem to notice something was off.

They were backing away slowly, as if they wanted to give up on the examination…

‘Nope. You can’t leave. You might have come here of your own free will, but you don’t get to leave that way.’

*

“What’s going on? How many have failed already?”

“Eight.”

“He faced eight opponents in a row without a break?”

“Is that person really a Silver rank examiner?”

The whispers from the students gathered to the side grew louder.

At first, they probably thought there would just be one more pitiful examiner.

But it was the challengers who were getting knocked down, so their surprise was understandable.

‘All of them have at least Silver rank skills, some even bordering on Gold.’

It’s not like I have no experience in the measurement department.

And my superpower is in the Support Class, specifically detection and measurement.

Those guys deliberately dropped to Bronze by not participating in rank examinations.

They probably thought they could climb back up anytime with their skills.

“Next.”

Of course, they probably didn’t expect the situation to turn out like this.

I understand. I couldn’t have imagined it would turn out this way either.

– The Third Eye is activated.

◎ Seojin Baek

: The Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details

: No one can pass without the Gatekeeper’s permission.

◎ Number blocked

: 9 (9/10)

The number blocked is 9. Only one left until 10.

I have no idea what will happen when I block 10 people, but it can’t be bad.

If it were, The Third Eye would have warned me in some way.

“Is there no one else?”

“I’m here, Examiner.”

Unlike the others who were huddled together whispering, a male student standing alone at a distance raised his hand.

He was different from the previous challengers who had shown obvious swagger.

“Pleased to meet you, Examiner Seojin Baek. I’m Hyunwoo Lee, Bronze rank.”

As he introduced himself as Hyunwoo Lee, snickering could be heard from around us.

Unlike the others, this student seems to have been genuinely Bronze from the beginning…

‘…Wait. Who did he say he was?’

But more than any student I had faced so far, I had to swallow hard looking at this Bronze rank student named Hyunwoo Lee, whom the other students were busy mocking.

– Activating The Third Eye. –

◎ Hyunwoo Lee

: Master of Effort Beyond Talent

◎ Details

: He loves extreme training.

He will surpass everyone someday.

Training effects are doubled.

Training fatigue is reduced by half.

‘No doubt about it. It’s that Hyunwoo.’

I checked The Third Eye again just to be sure, but the result was the same.

The name Hyunwoo Lee, and the title “Master of Effort Beyond Talent.”

This male student is definitely the protagonist of the original work. I’m certain.

‘Come to think of it, Hyunwoo did start as Bronze.’

A guy like him would explosively grow to Diamond rank in just one year.

Defeating monsters and growing, defeating villains and growing again.

He was like a sponge, absorbing everything. The title “Master of Effort” wasn’t wasted on him.

Thanks to that, all those who mocked him as a “Bronze nobody” at the beginning of the semester were destined for ruin.

But regardless, Hyunwoo Lee is currently Bronze rank.

His explosive growth, stopping monster waves, fighting villains…

That’s not now. Right now, he’s just an ordinary student being laughed at.

‘Sorry, Hyunwoo. You won’t be advancing to Silver today.’

Honestly, I briefly considered just going easy and letting him win.

He’s the protagonist. The original work’s blessing must be with Hyunwoo in some way.

So I thought it might not be bad to just go with that flow.

But I quickly changed my mind.

Who am I right now? The youngest in the superpower measurement department? A civil servant dispatched to the Academy?

◎ Seojin Baek

: The Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details

: No one can pass without the Gatekeeper’s permission.

◎ Number blocked

: 9 (9/10)

Why is a gatekeeper called a gatekeeper? Because they block the way.

And there’s no guarantee there won’t be a penalty if I fail at being a gatekeeper.

I can’t throw away this opportunity from the start.

‘I’m also curious about what will happen when the number blocked reaches 10.’

It’s unfortunate, but let’s postpone your Silver promotion, Hyunwoo.

You’ll have plenty of chances. By the way, I tried 99 times and still couldn’t make it.

“Shall we begin, Student Hyunwoo Lee?”

“I look forward to learning from you.”

Unlike the previous students who charged in immediately at the start, he’s different.

Good posture. Being cautious is a hundred times better than overestimating oneself.

Of course, just constantly probing won’t end the match either.

‘There’s a time limit, and automatic disqualification if it’s judged you have no will to fight. Hyunwoo must know this.’

Watching Hyunwoo looking for openings here and there, I want to give him a chance.

Nothing could be more anticlimactic than just running out the clock and ending with a timeout…

KWAAAANG—!!

“KYAAAAH?!”

“W-What’s that?!”

A deafening explosion rang out, so loud it felt like it was tearing my eardrums. It was intense enough to cause temporary tinnitus.

At the same time, a powerful vibration hit, strong enough to make even those who were sitting stagger.

As I was trying to quickly assess what was happening…

EEEEENG—!

[Code Black. Code Black.]

Along with the siren, a sharp warning sound echoed throughout the campus.

The students who had been in spectator mode until just now jumped up and started running.

‘Did the broadcast just say Code Black?’

I quickly racked my brain to recall the meaning of the term “Code Black.”

It’s an Academy code that sounds when an emergency occurs. It would appear in the novel from time to time.

When that announcement comes out, ten times out of ten, an incident has occurred.

And among them, Code Black. If it’s Code Black… could it be villains infiltrating the Academy?

‘Wait a minute. Come to think of it, Hyunwoo’s first moment of glory was when… villains launched a major…’

Damn it. Why did I only remember now?

The appearance of Hyunwoo means there’s about to be a villain attack!

KWAAAANG—!

KWANG—!!

Another thunderous sound echoed. This time, it wasn’t coming from one direction, but from all around.