episode_0037

“From now on, kill each other… no, form teams.”

Everyone was thrown into confusion by this sudden announcement.

“Suddenly form teams?”

“No, like, so suddenly.”

“What are we supposed to do…”

The trainees cautiously sized each other up.

Just because they were told to form teams didn’t mean they could just pick anyone.

Everyone would want to team up with the most outstanding exorcist possible.

In that sense, people like Cheok Jiyeon and Go Juyeong were the top priority targets.

With their skills, they’d be effective in any field.

‘But Jiyeon has a bad image in many ways, and they seem to ostracize her…’

The trainees’ gazes naturally turned to Go Juyeong.

“Juyeong-ssi, would you like to team up with me?”

“Yes?”

“If you join us now, we’ll have three, so we can fill the four spots perfectly! You definitely won’t regret it…!”

“Ah, just a moment. Please wait a bit.”

Go Juyeong, who was quite used to this sort of thing, didn’t get swept away by it.

She calmly refused the offers and surveyed the people.

Meanwhile, some quick-witted people were choosing those they had been eyeing beforehand.

“Hey, let’s be on the same team. I saw you dealing with curses before. I’m confident when it comes to fighting.”

“Hmm… really? Then, shall we?”

They had already spent quite a bit of time in the company and had made many friends in the process.

Cheonjihae was a place of both colleagues and competitors.

Many would have been keeping an eye on each other’s skills.

Even amidst the confusion, they were slowly forming teams.

‘As expected, they prioritize friendships above all else.’

That must be human nature.

They’d feel more at ease teaming up with someone they were even a little bit close to.

Of course, there were cases where that wasn’t the case.

“Hey! What about us if you leave like that!”

“I’m sorry. But this team has exactly four people, and they’re all skilled.”

“Do you think everything ends just by forming a team? We still have a long company life ahead of us!”

“Still, don’t we need to become interns first to continue our company life?”

That’s right, we’re not doing a school talent show or even taking an exam right now.

‘If I had to say, it’s closer to a survival situation.’

Whether or not we can stay in Cheonjihae depends on how we get through this evaluation.

They were all adults who had already forgotten their innocence, so prioritizing friendship or loyalty was out of the question.

They wouldn’t see each other again if they were dropped from Cheonjihae anyway.

It was more advantageous to stick with the side that had a higher chance of passing.

“Um, Do-hyeong-ah, if it’s okay…”

Of course, there were also relationships that didn’t consider such advantages.

“Let’s go to Jiyeon first.”

“Ah, okay!”

Eunhye’s face brightened at my words that it was only natural to be together.

‘It’s foolish to abandon the friends you’ve made just because of this intern test.’

After all, my friends are all talented enough to stay in Cheonjihae regardless of me.

If I make enemies over something like this, it’ll definitely come back to me like a boomerang.

‘I don’t want to pass the test in that way in the first place.’

I do think that abandoning close colleagues for the sake of passing is part of the strategy.

But I don’t want to abandon Eunhye and Jiyeon because of that.

“Then we should meet Jiyeon first…”

When I turned my head, I was able to find Cheok Jiyeon quickly.

As expected, she was popular, and Jiyeon was already surrounded by people.

“Jiyeon-ssi, let’s go with us.”

“I have always respected Jiyeon-ssi regardless of my family.”

“Our team has good balance. If we have your swordsmanship, our success is as good as guaranteed!”

As expected, even after the family was destroyed and discriminated against, a prestigious family was still a prestigious family.

It seemed that people who wanted to team up with her had flocked to her.

‘…But she’s really ignoring them without batting an eye.’

The problem was that Jiyeon didn’t seem interested at all.

Cheok Jiyeon, who had a somewhat dazed and anxious expression, beamed when she made eye contact with me.

“Oh! Nam Do-hyeong! You were here!”

Cheok Jiyeon ignored everyone around her and strode towards me.

“Um… If it’s okay, would you team up with me? I’m still confident with a sword…”

She even seemed worried about being rejected and was looking at me cautiously.

The burning gazes of the people who had been recommending themselves earlier were directed at me.

‘Ah, if you’re so annoyed, you should have been friendly with her usually.’

They openly ignored her or even badmouthed her.

It’s ridiculous that they’re suddenly looking for Jiyeon now that they’re in a hurry.

‘More than that, I’m the top student with a higher ranking than Cheok Jiyeon and Go Juyeong, so why am I being treated like this?’

Are you discriminating against people just because I’m from a commoner family beyond being unknown?

It’s so sad to be from a poor family.

“Ho, perhaps you’ve already gathered four people?”

Cheok Jiyeon’s face momentarily filled with despair, so I quickly replied.

“What are you talking about? Of course, I was looking for you to team up with.”

“…Is that so? Thank you for that.”

Cheok Jiyeon blushed and fidgeted with her fingers.

Seeing this reaction makes me confused as to whether she really is that Sword Demon from the game.

“But other people offered too. Are you really sure you don’t want to think about it?”

“Huh? Offered? Did I get an offer?”

“……”

Is she not able to see people around her at all?

‘Well, that might be very Cheok Jiyeon-like.’

She was originally a girl who couldn’t see anything other than swords.

“But I’m worried. I wonder if anyone will come between the three of us. Unlike you guys, I…”

Jiyeon trailed off and sized me up.

She doesn’t care about other people’s offers at all.

But she seems worried that her family’s problems will harm us.

It’s actually a realistic concern.

It’s surprisingly difficult to bring in just one person in this situation.

“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared in advance for times like this.”

“Prepared?”

Yes, I had prepared to solve the problem of the number of people since I got the information about the group assignment.

To be precise, I had scouted out a talented person who would be good to have in our team in advance.

I led the two of them straight to that person.

It was easy to find her because she was always surrounded by people.

“Hey, Yoo Yeonhwa. You’re going to join our team as promised, right?”

“……”

Yoo Yeonhwa, who I had already spoken to, glanced at me.

Her faction members, who had already formed a team, were lined up next to her.

“Haa…. I was wondering why you were offering to join first. Were you aiming for this from the start?”

“You already knew everything, so what’s the point.”

The reason I asked Yoo Yeonhwa to form a team with me.

Because one person was missing with just me, Yoo Eunhye, and Cheok Jiyeon.

I knew from the original knowledge that the teams were four people each.

That’s why I had recruited one person in advance.

‘Aside from that, there’s no one as talented as Yoo Yeonhwa.’

A person who doesn’t have a big impact on the main story even if they’re on my team.

At the same time, a person with excellent skills that can carry us.

If you pick that intersection, it’s unconditionally Yoo Yeonhwa.

“Anyway, you’ve already predicted the situation and properly filled your faction members, right?”

“Keueung.”

“And objectively, our team is pretty good. If you join, the combination will be perfect.”

Ignoring me, who’s a one-shot one-kill type.

It’s undeniable that Cheok Jiyeon and Yoo Eunhye are talented people.

“…That side needs to cultivate a bit of a cute taste.”

Yoo Yeonhwa sighed deeply and stood up from the chair she had been sitting on elegantly.

“Well, fine. A promise is a promise, so I’ll join you.”

“Good choice.”

With this, we quickly filled the four spots.

I was worried about what would happen if her mind changed, but it was unfounded.

“…Heumm, is this woman coming into our team?”

Cheok Jiyeon looked at Yoo Yeonhwa with a slightly displeased expression.

“Yes. Do you have any complaints?”

“I don’t have anything to complain about in my situation…”

Cheok Jiyeon glanced at me.

Then she stared at Yoo Yeonhwa and nodded.

“Well, it’ll be fine.”

“Wow! What is it?”

I was wondering why she was acting lightly, unlike Jiyeon.

For some reason, Yoo Yeonhwa flared up.

“What’s with that look just now? Are you saying it doesn’t matter because I’m no match for you?”

“…I didn’t say anything like that.”

“You didn’t say it, but it’s obvious in your eyes!”

“Well, unlike other men, it’s a relief that even if you do something shady, it won’t work.”

“Ha! That’s funny. Rather, a dim-witted woman like you will be rejected by men!”

“…Don’t attack with facts cowardly.”

“What? Were you secretly worried while pretending not to be?”

…Why are these two fighting?

I started to worry even before the full-fledged group project started.

“Now, now. Calm down, you two. We’re friends who will be working together from now on, so we have to get along.”

“Friends…….”

“…Ehew.”

But this time, for some reason, the two of them looked at me and sighed at the same time.

“Haa.”

Even Eunhye, who was listening next to me as if she was in trouble!

No, really, why?

Why is the atmosphere that I’m the one in the wrong for stopping the fight?

‘Anyway, is it okay since the team is formed?’

Unlike us, who completed the team early, the surroundings were still a mess.

It’s because we ended it quickly thanks to our original friendship and preparation.

Others were still making a fuss about who to put in and who to take out.

In particular, there were usually many problems if they were friendly with 5 people or only 3 people.

In this case, it’s ambiguous to take out only one person.

On the other hand, it was also ambiguous to take out one person from another team.

In the meantime, you also have to look at which side has a higher chance of passing.

“…Are your faction members okay?”

“Oh my~ Of course. I’ve already made arrangements in advance. I’ve planted spies in other teams, not to mention maximizing the benefits.”

…As expected, she’s a meticulous Yoo Yeonhwa.

I wonder what happened under the surface after being hooked by her cunning words.

‘I’m glad I made a good relationship early on.’

In the meantime, the designated time was over.

“Okay, time’s up! Those who have formed teams, please move to this area.”

We all went to the designated place together.

When we gathered, there were surprisingly many people who couldn’t form a team.

It seemed that things didn’t go well because everyone was trying to go for the most profitable side.

There were still enough people, but time had already passed while they were negotiating.

“Heumm. There are more than I thought.”

Han Sujin nodded as she looked at those who couldn’t form a team.

“Anyone who doesn’t form a team within the time limit will be eliminated.”

The faces of those people paled at the resolute voice.

It seems they didn’t expect it to really end with them not being able to form a team.

“Th, then! What happens to those who couldn’t form a team?”

“I told you. They’re automatically disqualified from the first intern test.”

“Th, that can’t be!”

Everyone looked upset and even angry.

The reason they worked so hard was to become interns.

I understand how they feel because one of those opportunities disappeared in just 20 minutes.

“That’s ridiculous! How can you disqualify us just because we couldn’t form a team!”

But Cheonjihae is not a place where such spoiled behavior is tolerated.

“Haa! You don’t understand our intentions at all.”

Han Sujin glared at the trainee who spoke and reprimanded them.

“In the field, there are times when you have to join hands with exorcists who are like enemies in order to deal with monsters. Do you think those who can’t even form a group of four with their colleagues can survive? Such people don’t deserve to get an opportunity at Cheonjihae.”

No one could answer Han Sujin’s cold words.

“Well, this isn’t the only opportunity. Try to prepare well so you don’t miss the next test.”

That was the end of it.

Those who couldn’t form a team were immediately kicked out without even having a chance to protest.

Some were trembling with injustice, and some were even shedding tears.

‘…I might have been one of them.’

It’s just that I was lucky enough to make friends.

If not, I might have been an outcast and ended up isolated without being able to form a team.

‘The team I have now is reassuring just by looking at it.’

I turned around and looked at our team members again.

Cheok Jiyeon, Yoo Eunhye, and Yoo Yeonhwa.

They were all named characters who had been active in the original story.

‘With this much, the test won’t be difficult.’

That’s how the combination, which would last quite a long time, was completed.