episode_0038

“Hello, nice to meet you, hello.”

As I entered the examination room, I kept nodding. Not to brag, but I got a job at the guild quite early, and so all the other examiners were older or higher-ranking.

Luckily, the friendly staff greeted me, and I was so happy to see them that I kept saying hello and looking around.

I heard you clearly prepared a seat for me… .

It wasn’t until I got to the end of the judges’ bench that I found my seat. It was right next to the door on the opposite side. If I had known this was going to happen, I would have come in the other direction.

“Welcome.”

“Oh, oh…! Oh, hello!”

Besides, there was someone I knew sitting next to me.

Even though he is older and has wrinkles around his eyes, he still has a healthy physique. His blond hair is so wavy that it makes you wonder what kind of shampoo he uses. In the past, he used to let his hair down like a lion’s mane, but now he has it tied up neatly, giving him a much neater impression.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Yes, well. Thanks to Justice.”

“Hahaha, what did I do? You got what you paid for.”

I try to relieve the tension as much as possible and continue the conversation with a gentle smile. It’s a normal conversation, not flattery or show-off.

“I appreciate your advice. How have you been, Justice? Are you having a hard time? I’ve been a receptionist for 4 years now, so please trust me and give me advice anytime!”

In some ways, Justice is the most familiar hero to me. Of course, it may be because I often see him in various media, but he also saved me in front of the Easty station when I was a high school student, and he was the one who helped me pass the interview.

“I’m glad you seem to have adapted well. If I get the chance, I’ll definitely ask for your help. Please take care of me then.”

“Yes, yes! I’ll be waiting.”

A proud smile appeared on my lips. I felt like I was showing off my growth to my teacher.

The student I saved has grown up and now comes to me for an interview and even volunteers to be my counselor. I don’t know if Justice would think so, but I’m glad he doesn’t feel bad about me overstepping my bounds. In fact, Justice isn’t the type of person to do that.

“By the way, can I ask you one question?”

“It’s okay to be relaxed. It’s always fun to talk to young talents.”

Young talent. Justice is praising me too much.

Although I was embarrassed and shy, the corners of my honest lips kept twitching.

“Actually… I don’t really understand why I was chosen as an examiner. The branch manager said that everything will be done when the time comes… . I don’t know if I can be entrusted with such an important task… .”

Hero ratings are a matter of life and death. If the judge makes a mistake and assigns a mission that does not fit the rating, it cannot be undone.

Aside from the nervousness, my shoulders feel very heavy. I feel like I’ve been given an opportunity that doesn’t suit me.

“You are the one who encounters the heroes the most in the guild. That’s why I always try to listen to the opinions of receptionists like you.”

Every word Justice spoke struck my heart.

Right place, right time.

It seems really obvious and simple to hear, but it is also something that is difficult to keep when common sense and status become entangled.

“I talked big, but I don’t know if it answered your question.”

Justice turned his head forward as he finished speaking, and I smiled as I looked at the still empty courtroom.

“That’s enough. Thank you… .”

What other dream job could there be? A boss who communicates with his subordinates with an open mind. Wouldn’t this alone be an incredibly happy job?

I was glad I got a job at the guild… .

*

You can’t… go with us.

I couldn’t say that. From the moment I gained the ability, everyone was given the opportunity to act as a hero. The guild was always struggling with a manpower shortage.

“Participant #23. Participant #24. Thank you all for your hard work.”

The man and woman who had been facing each other bowed their heads toward us.

The hero cannot see the judge’s face because the glass is made of magic mirror. Although the probability is very slim, there is a risk of retaliation.

But seeing that he greets people politely, it seems like he has basic manners… .

I turned my gaze to the evaluation form I had received in advance.

Kim Jae-min, rubber lariat.

He was a man whose arms stretched like rubber. Even though the receptionist must have explained that it was unnecessary to write it down, he insisted on writing his nickname next to his real name.

Written evaluation: C+

Physical rating: A

Strength Rating: B-

Ability Rating: B

I read through the evaluation sheet. The grades I got from the standardized evaluation. Nothing stands out, but there aren’t any areas where I’m particularly lacking. In particular, stamina is a huge strength for a hero. It’s a matter of how long you can maintain your abilities.

Practical Assessment: C

However, the practical part, which was empty, did not give a high score.

Overall: Powerful, but lacks flexibility to deal with a variety of situations. If you don’t obsess over Lariat, you may be able to achieve better results.

It’s painful to evaluate someone. But I couldn’t avoid harsh criticism. I just hope that Lover Lariat can grow even more through this opportunity.

I also wrote down my honest opinion to the contestant who faced the Rubber Lariat.

His handwriting is excellent, but his overall physical ability is too poor. However, if he uses his stealth ability appropriately, it will help him deliver a fatal blow. In order to do that, it seems necessary to build up his stamina first.

I wrote it as carefully as I could. If it’s about hiding, you can act like a thief. In the end, you’ll need a certain level of physical ability to approach the demon.

“Participants 25 and 26. Please enter.”

As soon as I finished writing, the next participants came in.

Contestant number 25, Park Han-na. She was a quiet-looking woman wearing round glasses.

“Huh… ?”

And when I checked participant number 26, my eyes were fixed on the girl who had entered leisurely.

Contestant number 26, Serika Tachibana.

You’re the student council friend that Mirae was talking about!

Moreover, the pure white hair like the first snow and the creepy red eyes somehow look familiar.

Well, she’s a pretty girl who often appears in anime and manga. You can’t help but feel like you’ve seen her somewhere.

Written Assessment: S

Physical rating: C-

Strength Rating: C-

Ability Rating: F

There is no plus or minus in S. After all, S is only given to those who get full marks.

But isn’t the rest too much? Physical strength and brute force were practically at the lowest scores, and ability was given an F, which is a recommendation to give up.

In fact, there are many heroes who go on to find other jobs because they received an F in the evaluation. Since it is a dangerous job, cool-headed self-objectification is also important.

But according to what Mirae said, that kid definitely passed the entrance exam with 3rd place… .

“Then let’s begin.”

As soon as the announcer’s voice finished speaking, a beeping sound came from the horn.

The two contestants stand off from each other for a moment, looking at each other. This is usually the case unless they are overly aggressive. Rushing in without knowing the other person’s abilities is also a factor in lowering points.

However, as the standoff time grew longer and longer, and Serika Tachibana did not move until the end, contestant Han-na Park approached cautiously.

I wonder if there’s something wrong.

Even though Park Han-na approached within arm’s reach, Tachibana remained frozen.

Park Han-na is the owner of incredible strength despite her appearance. Her strength score is A, and her ability score is B+. Her physical strength and written score are not that high, but her strength and ability are very well matched.

“It can’t be helped because it’s a test… .”

A grayish glow begins to form on Park Hanna’s arm. There are countless heroes with enhanced body powers, but Park Hanna is one step ahead of them. She can partially harden her body like a rock. Perhaps, if she can support her stamina, she can increase the range of enhancement.

I swallowed my saliva nervously. I don’t intend to give the future friend a good score. I just hope the contestant doesn’t get hurt.

It’s close enough that you wouldn’t be surprised if you could feel their breath. If Park Han-na’s fist were to fly, there’s no way to dodge it.

But Tachibana still didn’t move, and no one came forward to stop him.

There is no defense or evasion. If you were to receive Park Han-na’s blow with your bare body in that state, a terrible tragedy would occur.

Shouldn’t it be stopped?

My mind went blank for a moment. I couldn’t remember exactly whether there were any security guards or not.

Above all, the situation was not relaxed enough to assess such uncertain factors.

Bam─

“Okay, hold on! Stop, stop!”

I opened the judges’ table door and ran out, squeezing between the two contestants. It was fortunate that Park Han-na was a good person. I could buy some time while she hesitated whether it was okay to hit her.

“Hah… !”

As I was putting down my hand that had been raised high and waving, saying that I had put out such an urgent fire, I suddenly felt a strange sensation and my legs gave out.

The back of my neck feels hot. At the same time, my spine feels cold and goosebumps appear, and I feel dazed as if I just woke up.

“We met again. And… You haven’t changed at all… .”

The whisper I heard from behind resembled the feeling I was experiencing just now.

Creepy yet somehow sweet.

Before I could even understand the meaning behind the voice, I eventually collapsed to the floor, unable to maintain my standing posture.