“Sigh. No prospects, no prospects.”
Right in the middle of the physical aptitude test, a woman shook her head and voiced her complaint.
Snow-white silver hair and burning crimson eyes. Added to this was an unassuming youthful face that would not feel out of place among the students.
She was none other than Ryu Jung-min, the Guild Master of one of South Korea’s five representative guilds, Yeon-wol, who had appeared at Han-yul Military Academy.
To watch the showcase of her juniors.
“Looks like everyone’s the same around here.”
But when the results were finally revealed, they were far from satisfactory. Though it was only the first day, it was difficult to find even one student who showed promise.
All of them fell short of the required standard.
“At least, back in my time, it wasn’t this bad.”
More than a decade has passed since Ryu Jung-min herself graduated from Han-yul Military Academy. There was a time when she too had undergone the physical aptitude test.
Back then, everyone approached the tests with determination and intensity. They writhed and twisted in their attempts to shave off even 0.01 seconds from their running records.
But these days, the students seemed complacent, lacking the grit of the past. Instead of trying their best, they seemed to be conserving energy. The atmosphere was different.
“But this year’s average record is the highest.”
“…”
Her reminiscing was interrupted briefly when a staff member from the personnel department showed her the tablet screen.
The graph charted historical physical aptitude test records, pointing in an elegant upward incline. It was proof that records had improved each year.
“Personnel, remove that tablet from my sight before I hit you. How dare you interrupt an elder while they’re speaking?”
“…”
Even though their age difference wasn’t significant, the personnel staff deeply sighed and put away the tablet.
“What I’m trying to say is not about the immediate records. It’s about the distinctiveness as an awakener.”
Ryu Jung-min continued unfazed.
“These days, the students all seem similar. Like products mass-produced in a factory, there’s a sense of standardization, don’t you think?”
“For finding distinctiveness, just through an athletic ability assessment is a bit…”
“Personnel? Didn’t I say that already? Who interrupts an elder while they’re speaking?”
Ryu Jung-min grinned faintly. Within that smile lurked a hint of menace. The HR staff decided not to respond further.
“Anyway, Rashid’s jump was impressive enough. The best among the students I’ve seen so far…”
Peeeeek—!
Just at that moment, the sound of a whistle rang out as a student attempted a standing long jump. It was Rashid’s turn next.
Ryu Jung-min’s eyes naturally turned toward the track.
“Huh…?”
Something felt off to Ryu Jung-min as she watched the male student jump.
This student just used magical power at the moment of takeoff, didn’t they? How could someone with no visible muscle jump over 4 meters without magical power? Pure strength alone?
This definitely involved the use of magical power.
—What are you doing?! Jumping using magical power, huh? Go back and do it again!
The record official berated the student with a roar and whacked his head. The student had indeed used magical power.
Ryu Jung-min smirked and then burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her stomach.
“Ho ho ho ho ho! Personnel, who was that student? Truly, I’ve seen all kinds of weirdos today!”
“Uh….”
Caught off guard by such a situation for the first time, the HR staff member struggled to find words and the glasses askew on their face went unnoticed.
—Hmph! Do you think the physical test is a joke?
Other guild associates seated nearby reacted similarly. They all betrayed a sense of confusion as some even voiced complaints about the audacity of the act.
“My aching sides! That was hilarious!”
Only the Guild Master of Yeon-wol, Ryu Jung-min, found the scene amusing. Far from being upset, she laughed heartily, enjoying the moment.
This had momentarily relieved the boredom of the day.
“Hey, Personnel. Did you not hear me earlier? What’s that student’s name?”
“Ah, I’m sorry…!”
Realizing his faux pas, the personnel member quickly grabbed the tablet and started searching for data. Ryu Jung-min was given the report.
“Combat Division, second-year Shin Yoon-seong. He’s C-rank.”
“Ah, so Shin Yoon-seong, huh? Anything else?”
“Other special notes… Hmm?”
The personnel staff narrowed their eyes and stared fiercely at the tablet for some time, eventually adjusting their crooked glasses.
“The pre-test evaluation records… They’re all losses.”
“What? All losses?”
Ryu Jung-min tilted her head in confusion while the HR staff showed her the scouting report via the tablet for confirmation.
“Yes, exactly 0 wins, 24 losses. Out of this, 23 were losses against Arna Kristin Dotir.”
“Dear me.”
Ryu Jung-min was impressed. What was more surprising wasn’t the fact that he lost 23 consecutive times, but that he continued challenging Arna even after being defeated repeatedly.
Typically, after being beaten once or twice, a person would acknowledge their limits and stop, right? What made him keep submitting evaluation challenges? Did he think time was irrelevant to him?
The curiosity was mounting.
“Alright, what about the other loss?”
“A loss against Kang Tae-hoon.”
“Not only Arna but now the heir of Kang Yoon Group? This kid’s just provoking everyone, isn’t he?”
Looks like he’s determined to get himself in trouble. Despite being only C-rank, he challenged everyone from S-rank to A-rank.
Is this kid devoid of shame? Every awakener should have their sense of pride and ego.
Looking at his evaluation records alone, it appears he cared nothing for self-respect. He didn’t fear failure.
“Ho ho, interesting.”
Her interest was piqued. There was an unexpected tenacity in him unlike the typical students these days. She sensed a certain grit in his persistence.
He might be a bit foolish, but his refusal to quit was very appealing.
“Alright, personnel, add that Shin Yoon-seong to the favorites list for now.”
“Excuse me? Recruiting a C-rank awakener for Yeon-wol?”
The personnel staff blurted out incredulously at the suggestion. Ryu Jung-min shook her head.
“This isn’t recruitment. It’s just placing him lightly in our basket. That’s possible, right?”
“Our Guild Master’s at it again with the hipster syndrome…”
If she had intended to select proven students, she wouldn’t have come here. She could have just sifted through the data and selected them.
Ryu Jung-min wanted to see with her own eyes.
To find students brimming with potential hidden within the data.
“I don’t prefer polished gems. I like finding pearls buried in the mud myself.”
The earlier complaint about a lack of prospects was now retracted. She had already found a student with promise on the first day alone.
Perhaps she could find even more talent in the remaining days.
This was a rare moment for the Yeon-wol Guild Master, Ryu Jung-min. Her heart was racing.
*
After taking the long jump test honestly, without using magical powers, I received quite a shocking grade.
“Just failing to jump over 2 meters…”
My exact record was 1 meter 80 centimeters. It was effectively equal to women’s performance. This was the first time my testicles inside the undergarment felt ashamed.
Not only was I struggling as an awakener, but also from the physical aspect—multiple reasons pointed at a very frustrating character. This Shin Yoon-seong fellow seemed to check all the boxes.
No wonder I was frequenting the emergency room every day.
“Foot, a mere 1m 80cm.”
Arna was suddenly on the track. After seeing my record, she started laughing slyly.
This was her way of retaliating for mocking her about her weight earlier.
“Did you have sandbags strapped to your ankles or something?”
“…”
“Unless you did, not clearing even 2 meters… Hmm, for a student in the Combat Division, it’s pretty bad.”
Following this, Arna adjusted her shoe laces and positioned her foot on the starting line.
“How long do you intend to stay there? I need to jump, move aside please.”
The loser has nothing to say. Clutching my disgraceful record, I was forced off the track.
“Wh-What is it…?”
Yet, leaving like that seemed a bit unfair. I walked back to the starting line and stood directly behind Arna.
“You’re done, weren’t you…? Why are you standing behind me?”
“Mind your own business and continue.”
With my arms crossed, I fixatedly stared at Arna’s back. It made her slightly uncomfortable, her eyebrows furrowed.
“You standing back there so openly is just inviting accusations of foul plays! Move away please!”
“What, is the so-called hero so concerned about such trivial tactics?”
The guild representatives seated in the stands, as well as the other students in the outdoor training center, were all watching Arna closely.
They were curious about what kind of results the idol of Han-yul Military Academy would achieve.
It was a situation that an ordinary person might feel under significant pressure.
“Hmph, if that’s all it takes to be baited, then perhaps I’m just that kind of hero?”
But Arna acted as if such pressure was routine and nonchalantly kept her gaze forward while waiting for the signal.
Peeeek—!
The whistle sounded, and amidst the tense silence of everyone waiting, Arna slowly swung her arms back and forth.
Moreover, she bent and straightened her knees several times in preparation for the leap.
I couldn’t help but mutter something unconsciously as I watched her from behind.
“Wow, bread rolls.”
“…”
In an instant, Arna slipped on the take-off board. Then, she face-planted into the sand.
Thud—!
The distance covered was a mere 5 centimeters from the starting line, measured from the back foot. It was perhaps the shortest jump of the day.
“…”
No one had predicted this kind of result from Arna. The guild representatives, who had been watching the track, were at a loss for words. They nervously glanced around, silently sweating.
“—Hohoho! Personnel, check this out! She face-planted into the sand! This is hilarious!”
Everyone except for the Guild Master of Yeon-wol, Ryu Jung-min, who seemed to find the situation amusing.
“Uhn.”
For a while, Arna couldn’t raise her head. She remained face-down in the sand, completely silent.
She must have been too embarrassed to show her face.
After all, even Arna was human.
