"You're dissatisfied with the grade results, I hear."
Without any common pleasantries, the conversation dove straight into the matter at hand, as if there wasn't even time to introduce names, an impatient and perfunctory attitude that was nothing short of displeasing. Managing to keep his expression neutral, Si Hyun took a breath before responding.
"I'd like to know on what criteria the evaluation grades are based since mine turned out to be lower than expected."
"The evaluation grades are determined by a combination of the tester's skill application, skill strength, physical endurance, time taken to eliminate irregulars, and reflexes shown in combat. I cannot provide more detailed information due to our internal regulations."
The stubborn tone left no room for further inquiry. Understanding that pressing for additional information would lead nowhere, Si Hyun changed his approach.
"Then, I'd like to know why I didn't receive an A grade. Someone else who completed the same test in 1 hour and 20 minutes received an A, yet I, finishing in under 59 minutes, got a B+."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"…Excuse me?"
The retort, devoid of any hesitation, irked Si Hyun. When he sought an explanation with an inquiring look, the examiner, with a displeased flick of his tongue, fluttered the paper in his hand. It was Si Hyun's submission receipt.
"Mr. Si Hyun. Did you not hear about the test format for the support class?"
"I did."
"Yet, you didn't pay any attention to the helper even once during the test. Whether you didn't notice or forgot, since you didn't use the helper doll despite awakening as a support class, we had no choice but to see it as a lack of awareness on your part. The only healer abilities we saw from you were barrier and basic healing. Hence, B+."
While the examiner maintained a confident tone, Si Hyun couldn't understand. After all, he was a quadruple awaken. Having three awakened classes, not fully utilizing the healer class shouldn't have been such a significant issue.
"I judged I could finish quickly without using the helper, so I didn't."
"Of course, that may be the case. Hence, it was difficult for us to assess your qualifications as a healer. You must bear the consequences of your choices. The threshold for A grade isn't low enough to promote someone whose abilities are unclear."
"I believe my completion time alone proves my abilities."
"That's not for you to decide."
The examiner scoffed, aggravating Si Hyun further. Clenching his fists under the table, he sighed and stood up, realizing this wasn't a dialogue he could continue.
"Since a grade correction is impossible, I'll be leaving. It seems pointless to protest further given your intransigence."
"It's unfortunate about the grade issue."
"Yes. So, I thought of writing about it."
"…"
"I plan to post online how, despite passing the test in under 59 minutes as a triple awaken, I still didn't make it to A grade, citing insufficient demonstration of healer abilities. It's a good thing I didn't finish my fourth awakening for the test, or things could have been much worse."
Wrapping his coat around his arm, Si Hyun finished speaking and stared at the examiner who had informed him that a correction was impossible.
Judging by how the other examiners treated him, it seemed this man held significant sway. It wasn't surprising his grade turned out this way, given the apparent hostility. The direct conversation made it all too clear.
His cool blue eyes turned icy as he considered further argument futile.
"Or perhaps I should verify if it's the Korean association that's peculiar by taking tests in other countries, like the USA or UK."
As he laid out his veiled threat in a calm tone, the previously passive examiners began to stir. Ignoring their wavering gazes, Si Hyun was about to leave when suddenly,
"Wait a moment!"
One of the other examiners spoke up, having been ignored until now, hurriedly suggesting that a grade adjustment might be possible.
Seems the idea of losing a domestic awaken to foreign lands was troublesome enough.
Their reaction was proof enough that the grade assigned to him was unjust. Finally feeling like a proper conversation was possible, Si Hyun turned back to face the anxious-looking examiners. The one he had argued with appeared to be barely containing his anger.
***
"Teacher Hwaseung is a bit eccentric by nature. I apologize if you felt offended."
"So, that person's name is Hwaseung."
Having finally secured an A grade after the exchange and nerve-wracking tension, Uiheon offered a formal apology. Si Hyun hadn't known the name since no introductions were made nor business cards exchanged, but thanks to Uiheon, he now knew.
Could he be the fire talker, given his fiery personality?
Recalling the events in the reception room, Si
Hyun straightened his disheveled hair.
"It seems he didn't take kindly to me."
"He's not fond of young talents."
"Then why only give me a B+? The other kids in the A class are young too."
"Perhaps it's related to the shadow world…"
Uiheon stopped mid-sentence, pressing his temples. Si Hyun slowed his pace, sympathetically observing the man in discomfort.
Perhaps he was upset about the shadow world incident.
The search team dispatched to the shadow world belonged to the association. They couldn't find what Si Hyun did in just a few hours after waking up from unconsciousness, which must have irritated them.
It's baffling why someone of his age would be so inflexible.
It was clear they intended to crush him while he was still young and powerless, a move so transparent it was insulting. If they were going to target him, they could at least have been subtle about it, but their open hostility made it impossible not to notice.
Having to argue for a grade that was rightfully his felt like insisting on a merit he didn't deserve, even though he knew that wasn't the case. The unpleasant feeling lingered as Si Hyun entered the waiting room.
Throughout the walk, Uiheon, who had been scrutinizing Si Hyun's mood with a look of concern, stepped aside in front of the waiting room. Si Hyun turned around without responding to the suggestion to rest easy, only to be met by five pairs of eyes brimming with curiosity, causing a slight twitch in his shoulders. Under different circumstances, this scene might have drawn an involuntary smile from him if his mood hadn't been soured by the grading issue.
"You're back sooner than expected! So, how did it go?"
"How else? They corrected it as they should."
"They just corrected it without fuss?"
"Had to wrestle a bit for it."
"Why did you get a B+?"
"They said it was because I didn't use the helper doll, even though I had awakened as a support class."
"What? That's just absurd."
"It must have been tiring dealing with them."
Listening to the consolation from the five children, Si Hyun let out a deep sigh and sat down. The lingering gaze of the examiner who had been staring at him caused him to furrow his brow, which was promptly smoothed out by Seo Woo's hand.
"Frowning will give you wrinkles."
"Just let them come."
"It's prettier without them, why bother?"
Seo Woo's gentle voice flowed soothingly, attempting to cheer him up. Si Hyun, despite being a high school student, found himself being massaged on his forehead, neck, and shoulders, which led him to express his annoyance.
"This is annoying..."
The children's gazes gathered at his blunt remark. Their shocked expressions, as if he had said something taboo, made Si Hyun furrow his brow even more.
"What's with that reaction?"
As if on cue, detecting something amiss, Hae Un's eyes sparkled with mischief. Sensing impending doom, Si Hyun tried to slide away from his chair, but Hae Un launched at him without missing a beat.
"It's totally understandable to be annoyed! Right, right?"
"Hey, are you crazy? Let go!"
"But it's kind of cute."
"What now?"
"You being this open about your feelings!"
Seizing the rare opportunity, Hae Un tousled Si Hyun's hair, hugged him tightly, and spun around. Exhausted by Hae Un's antics, Si Hyun surrendered, allowing Ha Min and Seo Woo to intervene and pry the clingy boy off.
"Don't dwell too much on the unpleasant things. There's no need to be upset all day just because you spilled water once."
"Grades aren't water."
"It's just a saying, you know? Ever heard of a metaphor?"
Trying to offer comfort, Ha Min's tone sharpened as Si Hyun playfully contested his words. Familiar with such exchanges, Si Hyun smiled and agreed, taking deep breaths to dissipate his lingering frustration.
Just as Ha Min had suggested, there was no need to let a fleeting issue continue to irritate him.
While indulging Hae Un's playful antics and leaving Seo Woo to mess with his hair, Si Hyun managed to lighten his mood. Just then, Jihye, who had been watching, burst into laughter, the loudest he had ever heard, prompting Si Hyun to ask what was so funny, only to end up having his picture taken.
Jihye showed Si Hyun the photo she had taken with her phone, revealing he had somehow ended up with an apple hairdo. Si Hyun grabbed his head in disbelief.
"Seo Woo."
"It looks cute, why?"
"If it's so cute, you wear it. Hae Un, do his hair."
In an era far removed from the 2000s, apple hair was an odd choice.
Despite aiming for a laughably outdated hairstyle, Hae Un adeptly styled Seo Woo's hair, much to Si Hyun's chagrin when it turned out surprisingly well-suited.
Requesting a funnier makeover, Hae Un accepted the challenge and approached Seo Woo with exaggerated hand motions. Sensing danger too late, the platinum-haired boy stood up as the waiting room erupted into chaos with their antics. By then, the tests had resumed, following the conclusion of negotiations with the examiners.
"Well done."
Eight individuals took the test, and all eight achieved A grades. Pleased with the outcome, Si Hyun glanced back at Uiheon, who had accompanied him to the lobby. Despite feeling sorry for Uiheon's impending troubles, Si Hyun resolved not to forget today's rudeness from the association. Just as he was about to express this sentiment, Uiheon received a box from an employee and handed it over.
"...What's this now?"
"Eel extract. The chairman of the association, having heard about the friction with the examiners, asked you to accept this as a gesture of apology."
A gift of all things, ginseng and now eel. Did he really look that depleted?
Si Hy
un accepted the gift after a brief glance in the mirror to inspect his appearance.
"While I appreciate the chairman's gesture, I have no immediate plans to transfer to the association."
"I understand, given the circumstances. I'll contact you later about how the issue with Teacher Hwaseung has been resolved. Here's my business card."
As Uiheon extended his business card with another apology for the association's rudeness, Si Hyun, not wanting to cause further discomfort, was about to accept it when a voice from behind intervened.
"Sorry, but he's with us."
A large, straight hand snatched Uiheon's business card away. Looking up to see who it was, Si Hyun met the gaze of a man looking down at him, their eyes meeting mid-air. The man's purple eyes curved slightly.
Thank you for reading this far! You can access more chapters from HERE by joining my Patreon community. You'll gain exclusive early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
As a member of my Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For $5
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public.
- You also get access to all the novels I'm translating, you can find them here HERE.
- Your name will be featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
For $10
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- You get access to Digital art.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
For $20
- You get to recommend a Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
