What should I do when standing in front of the examiner? I'm still confused.
I'm sad hearing about his birth and the tragic end of those around him.
I want to show righteous anger at those who committed heinous acts.
But when I remember the examiner patting my head saying it's okay, don't worry, I unconsciously smile.
They say a very long time has passed, they say he's fine.
But everyone who says such things must be carrying wounds too.
Grandfather said the same thing after learning the examiner's secret.
"Grandfather, what should I do then?"
Whether it's right to suffer together by his side, or whether I should make him smile.
When I said it was hard to decide, grandfather thought the latter would be better.
"If it were just a passing connection, that might be different, but Suhyeon, you want more than that. Lovers, no. That's what family is. Always giving strength, making them laugh. You should become that kind of person for Examiner Baek Seojin. That's what you want, isn't it?"
Grandfather seemed to know everything now.
He always said he supports me, and if it's that person, he absolutely approves.
"However, Irina. I'm worried about that girl. She seems similar to you."
At the worried voice, the past me would have been extremely tense.
But not this time. I even got a promise from the examiner recently.
I wasn't aiming for it, but when he said he'd grant anything I asked.
I unconsciously said this without realizing.
"Examiner's day. No, two days. Could you give them to me?"
I don't know how nervous and embarrassed I was.
Worried that the examiner might say no.
Or that he might notice the meaning behind that promise.
If he looked at me strangely, I'd be too sad.
But I was too desperate right now to help it.
I waited for the examiner's answer with both hands tightly clenched.
"...Alright. I understand."
When the examiner, who had been thinking briefly, nodded.
Even though the situation wasn't good at all, I unconsciously jumped and hugged him.
It's done. With this I can get ahead of that woman, Irina.
I was already worried because she keeps trying to cut in line.
No matter how much that woman is, she won't do anything unseemly in the examiner's eyes.
This kind of promise with the examiner - she can't interfere with it! Absolutely not!
When would be good? It's only Tuesday, so I should think more...
No, that's not right. Grandfather said it. Worry briefly, act immediately.
This weekend? Or Friday evening? Right. That would be good.
Looking at it, the examiner seems to be in the best mood on Friday afternoons.
If I aim for that time, the examiner will surely be even happier. Yes, he definitely will.
"Oh! Suhyeon! Comrade!"
The person approaching from ahead is Lee Hyunwoo. One of the few males who talks to me comfortably.
The reason is... first, it's comfortable. There's absolutely no reason to see him as difficult.
He's similar to grandfather. Only effort, more effort, interest only in getting stronger.
Other male students look at me with burdensome gazes, but Lee Hyunwoo didn't.
And he has absolute trust in the examiner, just like me.
I heard that when interests are the same, you become good friends regardless of gender or age.
That was a good example. I always felt like I communicated well with Lee Hyunwoo.
Other people. Even Hana unnie and Dasom senior say it's strange.
From my perspective, it would be hard to find someone more comfortable than Lee Hyunwoo.
If he were a female friend instead of a male friend, it might have been a bit better.
"You must be coming back from an evaluation today too."
"That's right! Got thoroughly beaten again today!"
"You look refreshed for someone who got beaten."
"Hey! The advancement evaluation ended as of today!"
Ended? The advancement evaluation ended? What does this mean?
"As of today, I'm Silver too. Now I'm not a Bronze comrade but a Silver comrade!"
"Uh... that's unexpected. I thought you'd stay in Bronze forever."
"Me? Why?"
Why indeed. Anyone could see you were seriously into evaluations.
Even on weekends you'd ask for them, even when the examiner was sick you'd ask.
You even said to change the rule about only one evaluation per day.
That person who did all that no longer needs evaluations?
"Honestly, it's a bit regrettable, but I achieved what I was aiming for."
"What you were aiming for?"
"Becoming a better evaluation subject than anyone who's taken rank evaluations from the examiner until now."
I'm slightly puzzled. What about other people, but what about me?
Lee Hyunwoo isn't weak. I can see that person is definitely skilled.
But at the same time, I, who receives evaluations alongside Lee Hyunwoo, am also skilled.
I've gained confidence in myself now. I don't doubt myself like before.
Why? Because if I don't, there won't be a single student to make the examiner proud.
For him, and incidentally for me too. I need to become strong now.
"And starting tomorrow, instead of evaluations, I can do sparring!"
"..."
Right. Yeah, that's like Lee Hyunwoo.
The examiner will probably slap his forehead saying he's tired, but he'll smile inside.
He can never be harsh with those who work hard.
"Where are you going? Ah, to the examiner as usual?"
"Yes. I couldn't go to school together with the examiner today because of lectures."
"Really? Ah, speaking of which, someone came to see the examiner earlier."
Came to see him? Who? Maybe grandfather?
No. If it were grandfather, Lee Hyunwoo would know too, so there'd be no reason to say "someone."
This uneasy feeling I'm suddenly getting - what is it?
"By any chance, was it a woman?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't have mentioned it if it were a man."
Ah. No way. Really, no way.
"The hair was blonde? And long enough to reach here?"
"It was blonde but tied up tightly."
After hearing that, I immediately grabbed Lee Hyunwoo's shoulder.
Blonde who can freely enter and exit the Academy despite being an outsider, clinging to the examiner.
Like this, there's only one identity! That insane woman!
"By any chance, wasn't that woman Irina?"
"Irina? You mean that S-rank?"
"Yes. That crazy blonde. Irina."
At my question, Lee Hyunwoo goes "Well?" and touches his chin.
What? Is it Irina or not?!
"I'm not sure. She seemed to be a white person... and wore glasses, and thinking back now, her appearance was a bit different. I don't think it's Irina? ...Ah, maybe because of makeup? But if it were that woman, she wouldn't be laughing and clinging to the examiner like that..."
After hearing that, I immediately left Lee Hyunwoo behind and ran toward the examination hall.
This crazy bitch! Did you crawl here again to steal the examiner away?!
I don't care about other things, but within the Academy, I'm first. I'm first!
*
Why do you keep crawling in when you're not even a student and wagging your tail!
"Hehehehe! Wuhuhuhuh!"
Please stop laughing. I'm going to get neurosis at this rate.
Irina appeared with a disguise that wasn't even a disguise, but somehow deceives people well.
And today for some reason, she even put on makeup.
Strangely, when she dresses up like that, the Irina feeling does fade.
"Isn't it really funny? Walking here, nobody thought I was Irina! Ahaha!"
Of course they don't think so. No, they can't. How busy are ability users these days?
From the lowest ranks to S-rank. I heard it's absolutely hellish.
How much so that they even pulled out security personnel from the special residential area.
What's funnier is that villains have also become quiet because gates and monsters became hell difficulty.
Of course, some real lunatics are still causing accidents, but the rest are quiet.
Anyway, I definitely heard S-ranks' workload increased tremendously and everyone's struggling.
There's a good example right nearby - the poor soul Han Jiyoon.
She lives as a professor in the morning, S-rank ability user in the afternoon, and clan master at night?
"Congratulations on becoming S-rank, that's not empty words. Seojin. I'm really happy because a colleague to share the hardships was born, not just me but other S-ranks too."
The moment I heard those words, I wanted to quit being S-rank.