Chapter 82.2

Chapter 82 (Continued)

Would that be all?

Thinking this way made him increasingly curious about the limits of this ability.

Crack.

Woo-jin opened his hand and created a small rift in his palm. Then he closed his hand, extinguishing it.

There was still much room for growth.

Woo-jin teleported out of the abandoned building.

……

“How many applied to the Disciplinary Committee…?”

“Five thousand eight hundred….”

“No, stop. Did you figure out why so many applied?”

“Most of the students who didn’t get in last semester reapplied, and the student council’s survey showed a strong preference for the Disciplinary Committee among students. Also, the impressive performance of the Disciplinary Committee in the first semester made many think working under Leader Ahn Woo-jin would build a spectacular resume. As expected of you, sir.”

“Uh, I see….”

Sweat trickled down my back as I listened to the report.

I nodded calmly, but my mind was overwhelmed.

‘Why are there so many…? Can I handle this? Should I back out now?’

Had I rashly involved myself in personnel matters?

While my goal of capturing the six criminals was important, at this rate, I’d die of overwork before achieving it.

‘I’d better not get involved in the document screening.’

Even with Oh Baek-seo’s help, the workload would be unmanageable. Making her help with something unnecessary in the first place seemed too shameless.

There were also many tasks that had piled up over the break.

The investigation of Technomancer Moon Chae-won’s underground facility was still incomplete. It was absurdly vast.

I had ended up collaborating with Mayeon High School’s Disciplinary Committee Leader Lee Jae-ho on the Moon Chae-won case, but there were so many questions and points to investigate that it seemed my body wouldn’t survive.

‘Let’s be realistic.’

Yes, it was better to just participate in the interviews. They could handle the paperwork on their own.

But when I visited the personnel team, my composure crumbled.

“Leader… have you arrived…?”

Piles of documents stacked like a mountain.

Overflowing trash cans filled with high-caffeine drink cans.

The deep dark circles under the eyes of the Disciplinary Committee personnel… Even if their complexions differed, the heavy fatigue was evident on everyone’s faces.

They looked like zombies, groaning and wandering around.

“Are you alive?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Never mind. Are there really that many documents to review even after filtering by minimum criteria?”

The academy’s curriculum includes various forms of combat. The academy also conducts extensive practical training to rebuild Neo Seoul.

Most of the staff are AI. They analyze students and systematically record everything in their profiles.

On the plus side, you can get detailed information about each student.

On the downside, there’s a lot to review.

While other clubs may not have this issue, the Disciplinary Committee’s role is crucial, so we couldn’t select new members as casually as small or medium-sized companies recruit new employees.

As a result, the personnel work is intense.

‘Still, isn’t this too much…?’

Even though the AI had filtered the documents based on minimum criteria, the volume was overwhelming.

“As instructed, we prioritized selecting the most outstanding new members…”

Thud.

A student suddenly collapsed.

But everyone continued reviewing documents without paying any attention.

It seemed to be a common occurrence.

“Kill… me….”

The personnel team leader, who had greeted me, said, “Excuse me for a moment, Leader.”

He then helped the collapsed student back into a chair.

“Not yet… Finish the work before you die….”

“Argh….”

It was pitiful.

The personnel team leader returned to me.

“By the way, what brings you to such a humble place…?”

“Oh. I need the documents on the transfer students who applied to the Disciplinary Committee.”

It was to check on Kim Yeon-hee.

“Pardon? You didn’t have to come in person for that… Oh, never mind. Understood.”

Seeing my look, the personnel team leader quickly stopped talking.

I had come to see how badly the personnel team was suffering. As the Disciplinary Committee Leader, it was natural to be concerned about these aspects.

Turning my back, I said.

“…And.”

“Yes.”

“After the new member recruitment period ends, I will reward you generously. The Disciplinary Committee is flourishing, thanks to your hard work. Hang in there.”

I planned to give them mileage and Disciplinary Committee leave.

Enough to satisfy them.

“Sniff…!”

“?”

…Suddenly, he started crying.

“As expected, Leader… You acknowledge us…! Sob…!”

“……?”

“Thank you…! That alone is a great comfort…!”

It seemed my recognition as the Disciplinary Committee Leader deeply moved them.

Tears are contagious. Other personnel team members started to tear up, and I quickly left, maintaining a composed demeanor.

To be precise, I fled because it was too overwhelming.

……

“Hello. Applicant number 981, Kim Yeon-hee.”

Applicants entered the interview room in groups of ten.

It felt like my ears were filled with countless self-introductions from students. How many hours had it been? I was feeling increasingly drained but didn’t show it.

One of the applicants, a girl with braided silver hair, greeted me. She looked very nervous.

However, her pink eyes, visible through her large round glasses, showed no signs of wavering.

‘Focus.’

I met Kim Yeon-hee’s eyes.

“Is this the girl you were curious about?”

“…….”

“She’s prettier than I expected.”

Beside me, Oh Baek-seo, one of the interviewers, whispered into my ear, her breath warm and her tone carrying a strange mix of pleasure and intrigue.

By the way.

‘Why are you here?’

I still didn’t know why Baek-seo had decided to join the interview panel.

______________

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