Academy's Silver Gatekeeper

My resignation was processed in an instant. The salary issue was also quickly resolved.

I thought there would be some discussion about the 'money' part at least, but it was handled immediately. Is this why people go crazy for 'backing'? That thought crossed my mind.

The procedure for entering the Academy was also extremely concise.

Examiner Baek Seojin had already sufficiently proved his qualifications. He's an ability user of a level that could be hired as a professor right away without any issues.

That's the reason I became an examiner just one day after submitting my civil servant resignation.

'With Ma Hakjun also involved, it's only natural that things would go smoothly.'

Perhaps not just Ma Hakjun, but Kang Minseong might have also stepped in. There's even a possibility that government department officials, whom I usually couldn't even see, were involved. Although my rank came out somewhat disappointing, the fact that I fought an 'Elder' remains true.

And so, on the day I started work as a real Academy rank examiner rather than a dispatched civil servant, I was initially worried that the faculty might look at me with slightly resentful eyes.

After all, it did feel like I had parachuted in, in a way. They might say that I proved my skill, but people's hearts aren't always that straightforward. Unlike me, if someone had an easier path, it's natural to dislike it!

"Hmm."

To tell you the result first, I was just being paranoid.

'It was just a concern.'

Not only the professors but also the teaching assistants, and even the security personnel. Everyone warmly welcomed the new member who suddenly joined the Academy.

They even subtly asked if I had any thoughts about becoming a professor. With my skills, they said, I should come as a professor and help reduce their workload. They approached me with such friendly smiles that I almost felt embarrassed.

Honestly, I was somewhat attracted to the professor position. There's no better position than a professor for leading and teaching students. Especially considering the events that will happen in the future.

'...No, that's not right.'

But soon, I shook my head.

For me now, the best position is that of rank examiner. Even here, I can help the Academy students sufficiently.

Conversely, if I get greedy for the professor position, my own growth would be hindered.

Professors do conduct evaluations, but their main purpose is ultimately lecturing. If you're swamped with one thing, you naturally neglect the other. I've realized all too well while working at the bottom that humans aren't good at multitasking.

And above all, if I become a professor, I would have to study too. I don't want to add that kind of hell to a leisurely daily life I've just regained.

"Student Yoo Hosang."

"Yes, yes! Examiner!" 

"You've passed the rank evaluation."

"Really?! I passed? Me?!"

"Yes. I believe Student Yoo Hosang is now sufficient."

Additionally, after Suhyeon's pass, I've promoted five more students.

One from the weaponry category, one from the support category, two from the magic category. And now, Student Yoo Hosang from the martial arts category who has just been promoted.

Except for one, all of them are now Silver rank.

To be honest, none of the five are comparable to Suhyeon's level. They've just barely reached the threshold to be considered real ability users. Despite that, I passed these students because there was a good reason.

'I had to let the remaining students know.'

That Kim Suhyeon didn't get promoted just because she was exceptionally strong. It was because she showed potential, because she proved it to me. In that sense, the five students were sufficient to pass.

Either by honing their strengths to emit a sharper edge, Or by covering their weaknesses impressively to leave nothing to say. They perfectly met these two conditions.

Apart from these, there were still other candidates for passing. The base is not bad. Now they just need to find their own strengths. Even if they can't find their strengths, they should avoid exposing their weaknesses.

'No penalty either. So far, everything is going very smoothly.'

- The Third Eye is activated.

◎ Baek Seojin : Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details : Without the gatekeeper's permission, no one can pass.

...But why isn't there any change in the detailed information? Even Suhyeon had changes in her trait's detailed information.

This way, I can't objectively know how I should fight. While I'm making estimates by recalling my recent fight with the Elder, Without clearly stated conditions like Suhyeon has, it's frustrating.

"Examiner."

As I called the next student, a familiar face stood before me.

"You're coming to work today too, Student Lee Hyunwoo." 

"Of course. The daily attendance stamp is a must. By the way, have you ever considered weekend evaluations?"

This bastard is trying to take away my weekends too. Have you ever seen anyone more evil than Satan?

I wonder if he knows what he's saying. It might be just one evaluation for him, but not for me. Because I can't be special just for Hyunwoo, I would have to conduct evaluations on weekends too. If that happens, the probability is high that other students would come for evaluations as well.

"The world calls that a brain explosion." 

"Ahem."

"Weekends are for resting. No more mentions allowed."

Fortunately, it seems Hyunwoo also realized that what he said was a bit off. He immediately responded with "understood," so he must have felt a bit guilty?

"I look forward to today's evaluation too."

The reason I haven't promoted Hyunwoo to Silver yet.

Because the "No Pain, No Gain" trait is too precious? Because I want to accumulate it more? That was the case until recently. But not now.

Rather, I wanted to promote Hyunwoo. He was the one who refused it. More accurately, he changed the way he approached the evaluations.

"...That seems like Student Seongmin's movement, who passed recently."

"Oh. You recognized it immediately."

Of course, I would recognize it. Despite being support category, his movements were quite good.

The idea that the support category means always staying in the rear, Or that they're always safe, should be abandoned.

Monsters have at least minimal intelligence. And as their rank increases, they become smarter. From their perspective, the most vulnerable ability users are naturally those in the support category.

Being protected doesn't just mean being safe. It ultimately means that because their combat abilities are lower, they need protection. Monsters know this too, so they target the rear, especially those in the support category.

I emphasized this point to those in the support category. And the student who caught on to this first was Student Seongmin. The result was, of course, passing the Silver rank evaluation.

Clang—! Jing—!

Hyunwoo, who allowed my strike, staggers backward. The sword's vibration in my hand isn't clean. It seems he slightly deflected the attack in the midst of it.

"Are you trying to base it on that movement this time?"

"I thought there was a lot to learn. So I even sparred with him until yesterday."

Saying that, Hyunwoo mimics Student Seongmin's movement again. Yes. This is precisely the reason I haven't passed Hyunwoo yet.

He's not giving his all, but rather experimenting. More precisely, he's finding the weaknesses of those who have passed the rank evaluation. It seems like he's trying to apply those findings to complement his own skills.

"Hup!"

Crack—!

...Really, Suhyeon is one thing, but this Hyunwoo is also ridiculous. While the movement he's mimicking clearly isn't his own but someone else's, He's executing it nearly identically to the original.

By doing so, he's compensating for potential flaws he might have. Furthermore, he's considering which areas to target when facing such opponents. He's thoroughly utilizing this evaluation, considering all possibilities.

Indeed, Hyunwoo has honed and polished himself thoroughly and persistently.

"Shall we stop here?"

At my suggestion, Hyunwoo also seemed to think this was enough. He nodded and then said, "It's really difficult to mimic."

'You shouldn't say such obvious things like that, you crazy guy.'

It's normal to find it hard. It's natural to find it difficult. If it were easy, it wouldn't make sense. But Hyunwoo is actually managing to do these hard and difficult things.

Now, he's not taking the evaluation to advance to Silver rank. Rather, he's using me to eliminate even a single flaw he might have.

I'm not displeased. Rather, I wish other students would do the same. After all, I'm just someone who blocks, so they should try everything. It's not like I'll chase after them trying to kill them like villains or monsters.

When lunch time arrives, today again someone quickly runs from up ahead. That person is, of course, Suhyeon.

"Examiner!"

Now that she has confirmed her Silver rank, she has no reason to come to the rank evaluation hall.

But because of that, she was even resentful. She did as she was told and received the Silver rank, and while she felt good about helping me, She was sad that she wouldn't be able to take my evaluations anymore.

Of course, there's no regulation saying that once you become Silver, you can't come to the rank evaluation hall. When I reminded her of this, Suhyeon's sad expression finally returned to normal. Along with her answer, "I'll come more often for other reasons!"

"It's time for lunch!" 

"Right. What should we eat today?" 

"Whatever you like, Examiner!"

 "I'm fine with anything, really. I'm just too hungry because so many students came for evaluations."

As I've said before, whether it's fish, meat, or vegetables, it's all okay. Of course, if I had to choose, it would definitely be meat, but filling the stomach is the same anyway.

"Examiner Baek Seojin."

Just as I was about to fall into contemplating a suitable menu, a voice came from behind. Turning around, I saw Ma Hakjun directing his gaze at us.

"After lunch, could you come to the headmaster's office for a moment?" 

"Ah, yes. Understood. If I may ask, what's this about?" 

"The incident that happened recently."

"Perhaps, about the Elder..."

"No, not that, I'm talking about what happened in the dungeon. I've heard that the investigation results have come out. So I think we need to gather the professors and discuss the future direction of education."

If he's talking about what happened in the dungeon, he's referring to the 'monster mega-transformation.'

I heard it wasn't just experienced by the practice group I was in charge of. The phenomenon occurred elsewhere too, and there were even human casualties. It seems the nationwide investigation on that matter had reached a conclusion.

"Ah, and one more thing."

What else is there to say?

"The matter you asked for, it's been taken care of." 

"When you say the matter I asked for..."

"That superior of yours."

Ah. That old-fashioned guy. The one who would clock out on time but record overtime, And who would be doing other things from 4 PM onwards despite it still being work hours.

"I heard he received a disciplinary suspension."

Nice!