Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Test (3)

***

Choi Gi-yeol.

His father always emphasized discipline during training.

“A SAY, Choi Gi-yeol! What kind of family are we?”

“A Marine family, sir!”

“Once a Marine, always a Marine! Even though humanity rarely ventures into the sea after the Great Cataclysm and the few remaining guards are mostly specialized heroes, our spirit must remain unbroken! Do you understand?”

“I understand!!!”

What is a Marine, and why do they scream at everything and take pride in the smallest tasks?

Young Choi Gi-yeol didn’t know.

Training was painful, but his father’s scoldings and beatings were more terrifying, so he followed orders.

Now, as an adult, he sees all of it as his pride and honor.

Regardless of the reason, such teachings helped him conquer fear and exhibit the composure of a strong person.

Conversely, he felt disgust towards those who couldn’t maintain such spirit. But the man, who he thought would be a target of this disdain, turned back to face him.

“Oh, did my words hit a nerve?”

“Well, I’ve lived my life being told I’m nothing without resolve.”

The man replied in a blunt voice.

Previously, the man had spoken nervously, but after Choi Gi-yeol’s provocation, his demeanor had completely changed.

Though dressed in a suit, making him seem like an ordinary office worker or interviewee…

‘This man is no ordinary person.’

Yes, this man.

Even from the start, he never cowered before Choi Gi-yeol.

“Honestly, this is a waste of time… But after hearing that, I can’t just walk away. I’ll give it a try.”

Even as C-Class rookies fell one after another, his attitude remained unchanged.

Instead, his gaze turned authoritative as he prepared himself.

“Kuhaha! Fine, I acknowledge your spirit.”

Seeing this, Choi Gi-yeol smirked and focused his strength into his fist.

“Then let’s proceed without mercy!”

No more words were needed.

This was a test.

A moment to gauge the opponent’s qualifications.

-Krakk!

As he strengthened his fist, Choi Gi-yeol recalled his father’s advice.

“Father, may I ask you something?”

“You have permission. Ask!”

“What does ‘A SAY’ mean?”

“A SAY! It refers to immature individuals yet to be qualified! Our duty is to turn these A SAYS into exemplary Marines!”

“Father, aren’t we supposed to be teaching heroes…”

“Damn it, Gi-yeol!!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“Listen well, Choi Gi-yeol! Even heroes start as A SAYS! To become true champions, their immature minds must be molded with Marine spirit! Understood!?”

“A SAY!!!”

This punch isn’t meant to kill the opponent.

It’s a technique to gauge their level.

If they lack mental and physical fortitude, they won’t withstand it.

“A SAY ONE PUNCH!!!”

-Boom!

The punch, imbued with such teachings, struck the opponent’s abdomen.

But as his fist made contact, Choi Gi-yeol felt an unusual sensation.

‘The impact is shallow…?’

A superhuman would instinctively use their abilities to defend against a perceived attack.

Unless it’s a surprise attack, it’s impossible to consciously retract their powers.

‘Could he be non-superhuman?’

A fleeting moment of shock.

-Krrrk!

Instead of being blown away, the man’s legs rooted into the ground, halting his movement. He managed to stop without hitting the wall.

“…Cough.”

At that moment, blood surged from his mouth.

Startled, nearby people rushed to help, but the man raised his hand to wipe the blood away.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. This will pass with a breath.”

Placing his hand on his stomach, the man grimaced but showed no fear of death.

“Moreover… cough, seeing as you held back, if I couldn’t endure this, where would my pride be?”

Held back?

No, this wasn’t something one could take lightly.

His punch released a shockwave with immense superhuman strength to maximize damage upon collision.

Enduring the shockwave to prevent collision would nullify over 90% of the damage, but most fail to think that far, overwhelmed by his presence.

Even if they understand mentally, their instincts and reason are paralyzed by his aura.

Suppressing that fear and rooting one’s legs takes immense courage.

“What’s your Gift level?”

If he’s a non-superhuman, even more impressive.

“…E-Class.”

“E-Class?”

“Is there a problem?”

So, not entirely non-superhuman, but…

Regardless, being E-Class doesn’t change his assessment.

E-Class is just above F-Class, which is for the powerless. An E-Class fire user might light a fingertip, and an E-Class telekinetic might lift a pebble.

Even a healer might reattach a cleanly severed arm in seconds, but that’s only ‘faster and more efficient than modern medicine,’ not exceptional in a superhuman society.

Moreover, healers feel every bit of pain.

Unable to numb pain from damage or adrenaline, they endure several times more agony than normal people.

‘To withstand my attack with that resolve…’

Now he understood why the man bristled at being called lacking in grit.

The man’s display stirred something within Choi Gi-yeol.

“Now that I’ve endured, can I go?”

“Go? Where?”

“I mean, I wasn’t here for the test in the first place…”

“A SAY ONE WITCH!!!”

-Boom!

Another shout and stomp.

The atmosphere tensed again, but the man remained unfazed.

‘Yes, this man. He’s the one to follow in my footsteps as a Marine!’

Perhaps even more resolute than himself.

How could he let go of such a person?

“We’ll postpone the test. Follow me! I’ll personally train you to be the greatest Marine of this era…”

As his empowered hands moved to encircle the man,

-Click.

The sound of a lock disengaging echoed through the hall.

Someone entered the waiting room, drawing everyone’s gaze to the exit.

“Excuse me~ Is there someone here who received a recommendation letter?”

That included Choi Gi-yeol.

His face contorted at the interruption, only to turn pale upon seeing the newcomer.

“K-Kuh!”

“What’s this?”

The woman who entered seemed uninterested in the scene.

In a tracksuit and horn-rimmed glasses, she didn’t fit the setting of C-Class elites, yet she walked confidently through the waiting room.

“Hmm? Hmm?”

She stopped in front of the man who had faced Choi Gi-yeol, looking him over before pulling something from her pocket.

“Excuse me, why…”

“Hold on.”

Before he could question her, she placed a brown paper bag on his head.

The man was visibly bewildered.

“…What?”

“Ah! It’s you!”

But the woman expressed delight.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? Why didn’t you say anything and waste time here?”

“Wait, hold on…”

“Enough. Come with me. I have a lot to tell you.”

In the confusion, the woman grabbed the man’s hand and led him out of the waiting room.

Choi Gi-yeol regained his senses at that moment.

“Wait, Suzuki!”

He called her name urgently.

But his voice lacked the commanding tone from before.

Sweat trickled down his face, and his jaw trembled.

His previously stone-cold demeanor had shattered. The woman, Suzuki, glanced back indifferently.

“Why are you calling, A SAY guy?”

“Why are you taking him?”

“Why? Because he’s my guest. I called him here.”

“I… I see…”

“Whatever happened here must be a misunderstanding. I have business with him now, so you continue with your tasks, A SAY guy.”

A SAY.

A term she always used for him.

Though it signified ‘new recruit,’ Choi Gi-yeol felt no indignation.

Because she had the right to treat him as a ‘rookie.’

“Do you have more to say?”

Suzuki frowned at him.

Choi Gi-yeol gulped and bowed his head.

“…No, ma’am.”

In formal language, no less.

The woman smiled and led the man out, closing the door behind them.

As the tension lifted, the candidates looked at Choi Gi-yeol, but all his former bravado had vanished as he slumped to the ground.

***

“Um, I’m confused about what’s happening…”

After being dragged into the test and now pulled away by a woman I’d never met, I tried to gather my thoughts and asked.

The woman stopped and turned to me.

“Confused? Did you forget me?”

“I don’t remember ever meeting you… Have we met before?”

She sighed softly at my words.

Then, she released my hand and unzipped her tracksuit, pulling something out.

A pink baton with star-shaped decorations.

“Yap!”

She twirled the baton and began to move her legs as if dancing.

“Shining like a shooting star in the sky, I am the radiant symbol of hope lighting this era! Tremble in fear, evildoers! The star girl has descended from the heavens to purify you!”

-Swirl. Snap!

The baton stopped spinning.

She struck a pose, making a V-sign near her eye and winking.

A star-shaped lens over her eye made her unforgettable.

“Do you remember now?”

She asked expectantly.

I replied reflexively to her hopeful question.

“…Who?”

“How can you not recognize me after all this!?”

I did recognize her.

I just thought it better to return to the previous location.

Damn it, first a brute with a gut punch, now a woman who throws people at supersonic speeds?

End of Chapter