Chapter 96 – The Interviewer (3)

Association President Jo Byeong-doo. He watched the screen of exam hall 402 with an anxious heart.

On the screen, Seo Ji-han and the 9 examinees were facing each other, and the exam was just about to begin.

“Manager Kim. Everything will be fine, right? In room 402, I mean.”

Jo Byeong-doo was deeply bothered by the fact that he had appointed Seo Ji-han as an interviewer in his haste.

If Seo Ji-han were to show a disgraceful sight during the exam, it would damage the authority of the Association that was supervising the exam.

The excuse that he had to be brought in as a substitute in an urgent situation would just be a shabby one.

“First of all, Unit Leader Seo Ji-han’s qualifications are sufficient. Isn’t he holding the position of a unit leader in the most prestigious family, the Haewon Sword Family?”

Kim Seon-woo gave a typical responsibility-evading answer.

There was no error in the appointment of the interviewer according to regulations, so whatever happened during the exam process was an accident that could not be prevented.

“Yes, you’re right. The qualifications are sufficient. The qualifications.”

Still, that part was a great comfort.

Even in the worst-case scenario, if he just endured some level of embarrassment, he would be able to keep his head. Jo Byeong-doo decided to comfort himself with such self-rationalization.

“And isn’t Unit Leader Seo Ji-han the most talked-about rookie in the industry recently? Although his skills haven’t been accurately revealed, the rumor is that he’s amazing for a rookie.”

“Hmm.”

But being a rookie was the biggest risk factor.

Because there weren’t many things that had been properly verified.

Anyway, the die was already cast, and all he could do now was pray that the exam in room 402 would end without any accidents.

“What did Unit Leader Heo Jeong-ah say? She must have recommended Seo Ji-han because she had some faith in him, right?”

“She said she didn’t know either.”

“What?”

“She said she was also curious about Unit Leader Seo Ji-han’s skills. And she said she was very happy to be able to see it today.”

“Did Unit Leader Heo really say that?”

“Yes. That’s right. President.”

“Is she crazy?”

For a moment, Jo Byeong-doo’s face went blank.

Because, in fact, Heo Jeong-ah’s guarantee had played a large part in the reason for appointing Seo Ji-han.

“Oh? President! It looks like they’re about to start!”

But before Jo Byeong-doo could get angrier, the examinees on the screen all began to aim their swords at Seo Ji-han at once.

“Turn up the volume for room 402!”

“Yes. Understood. President.”

I’ll give you a pass for exactly fifteen moves. It’s a consideration for you fledglings, so make good use of it.

And just now, contrary to Jo Byeong-doo’s anxious heart, Seo Ji-han was spouting leisurely words.

“Did Seo Ji-han just say fifteen moves?”

“Yes. I heard it that way too.”

“That! That! That! Crazy!”

It was customary for interviewers to concede the first few moves, but it was usually within five moves. It was rare for it to exceed ten moves, even at most.

No matter how much of a skill gap there was, the examinees were in the absolute majority.

For that reason, interviewers generally gauged the level of the examinees they would be facing and decided in advance how many moves they would concede.

But Seo Ji-han, who had come in as a substitute, was ignorant of any information about the examinees.

To concede fifteen moves in such a situation went beyond taking a big risk and even looked reckless.

But that thought was momentary.

“P-President!”

The result was very surprising.

“I know! I’m watching too!”

“I don’t know if this situation even makes sense!”

During the fifteen moves they were given, the examinees not only failed to pose a threat to Seo Ji-han, but they also couldn’t even touch a single hair on his head.

“Anyone watching would think it’s staged.”

“I know, right!”

Every time the examinees’ attacks unfolded, Seo Ji-han would leisurely move out of that spot as if by appointment.

His movements were faster by just a fraction of a second.

Yet, he didn’t look rushed.

His expression was full of composure, and every single one of his movements was imbued with grace.

“Is Seo Ji-han reading all the moves of the examinees right now?”

“I don’t know if it’s possible to read all the moves of not just one or two, but nine opponents!”

It was like a situation where everyone was flailing their arms trying to catch a flying bird with their bare hands.

In a situation like this, the advantage of numbers was also meaningless.

“Amazing! I really didn’t know that Seo Ji-han, still a rookie, was this good!”

“Come to think of it, I don’t think Unit Leader Heo Jeong-ah recommended him for no reason! Even though she said that, maybe she actually knew Unit Leader Seo Ji-han’s true skills?”

“Of course! There’s no way the influential successor of the Taeseong Sword Family would go around talking nonsense!”

“Just a moment ago, I think you asked if Unit Leader Heo Jeong-ah was crazy……”

“Did I?”

“Ah, no. I must have misheard.”

“You’re the crazy one.”

And at this time, Heo Jeong-ah couldn’t close her wide-open mouth.

‘Does that even make sense?’

Of course, she thought that if she were in that position, she would have shown composure against the still-amateur examinees.

Because there was a skill gap large enough to end it in a few seconds if she went all out.

But it was definitely not like that.

‘Impossible.’

Right now, Seo Ji-han looked as if he had all nine examinees on the palm of his hand and was observing them.

Suddenly, the Seo Ji-han she had experienced in Abyss overlapped in her mind.

From the escape from Claude’s island to obtaining the Holy Sword Bastian in the final stage. In fact, nothing was ordinary.

But today was the first time she was properly seeing Seo Ji-han’s true worth. It was a moment that made her terribly curious about what had happened during the 7-year gap she was disconnected from him.

***

“That’s it. The exam is now over.”

Seo Ji-han declared the end of the exam in a dry tone and left without looking back.

Watching the spot he had left, Shim Gyu-seong panted heavily.

Sweat was still pouring down his whole body like rain.

The exam was over.

A sense of futility washed over him at the unbelievable situation.

How reckless his plan to gain the attention of the Haewon Sword Family by defeating Seo Ji-han was.

His sword had not even grazed Seo Ji-han’s collar even once.

‘Is this all my skill amounts to?’

The fact that all nine people in exam hall 402 had failed to land a single attack was not a great comfort.

Because the cynical expression on Seo Ji-han’s face was like an implication of everyone’s failure.

In fact, far from landing an attack, all the examinees in room 402 had only shown a helpless appearance.

In contrast, Seo Ji-han hadn’t shed a single drop of sweat.

And it seemed everyone was feeling something similar.

“Was the wall of a pro this high?”

“I thought it was a total jackpot that Seo Ji-han was the interviewer for our group!”

“We’re all screwed, right?”

“Haa! How am I supposed to wait for the next exam again!”

Shim Gyu-seong felt like he would go crazy with self-loathing if he stayed here any longer.

Waiting for the announcement of successful candidates was a meaningless act.

Just as he was thinking of just going home, the speaker in room 402 began to crackle.

“Is it the announcement of successful candidates already?”

“Hey, no way! It can’t be out that fast.”

“No. It might be them telling us to just leave since we’re all failing without even needing to be graded!”

It was someone’s self-deprecating comment, but Shim Gyu-seong also thought it would be better that way.

Because it was better to quickly compose himself and look forward to the next exam rather than be tortured with false hope.

Examinee number 98. Please come to the exam headquarters on the 19th floor immediately.

At that moment, Shim Gyu-seong, who had been lying sprawled on the floor, suddenly snapped to his senses.

Because examinee number 98 was him.

***

Shim Gyu-seong knocked on the door without knowing why.

The person waiting for him inside was someone completely unexpected, none other than Seo Ji-han.

“What are you so surprised about? Sit down for now.”

“Yes.”

Facing Seo Ji-han like this again, the nightmare of the third exam from a little while ago came back to Shim Gyu-seong’s mind.

“You passed.”

A random statement thrown by Seo Ji-han.

Shim Gyu-seong couldn’t understand what he meant, so his mind went blank for a moment.

“Pardon?”

“Your hearing seems to be bad.”

“I think you just said I passed……”

“You heard me right, but you’re asking again? Is it our first meeting, but you’re already very comfortable with me?”

“N-no, sir! It’s not that, it was just a completely unexpected statement. But are you really saying that I passed the exam?”

“If you can’t accept it, go to the Association President’s office right now and protest.”

“No, sir!”

Shim Gyu-seong couldn’t understand what was happening right now.

Being called separately to the exam headquarters like this, the fact that he had passed, and being notified of his passing separately like this, everything was just bewildering.

“You must have thought you failed because you couldn’t do anything against me.”

“……Honestly, yes.”

“Do you think the interviewer is a joke? Or am I a joke?”

It wasn’t that he thought it was a joke, but it was true that he had thought that if 9 people attacked together, it would definitely be worth a try.

Because Seo Ji-han was just a rookie who had obtained his license a few months ago.

“Seeing that you can’t answer, I can tell what you were thinking.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, the reason I called you here separately is because our Haewon Sword Family is thinking of recruiting you.”

“T-the Haewon Sword Family wants me?”

At that moment, a shiver ran through Shim Gyu-seong’s entire body.

“Why? You don’t want to?”

“No, sir! How could that be!”

The Haewon Sword Family was the place he had always dreamed of.

To be precise, it was the Wolyeong Knights of the Haewon Sword Family.

“Looking at your application form, it seems you have no connection with any guilds or sword families, and you didn’t attend a swordsmanship academy either.”

“Yes. I learned swordsmanship separately while attending a regular school!”

Because his family was not well-off, all he had was learning swordsmanship for short periods at a private swordsmanship academy.

But he was always proud of the fact that he had shed more blood and sweat than anyone else.

“No wonder your swordsmanship had no foundation. Well, that’s not important. What I looked favorably upon was something else.”

“It is an honor that you looked upon me favorably!”

“Have you had any thoughts about our Haewon Sword Family usually?”

“Actually, it is the place I have always admired!”

“You didn’t just make that up, did you?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Then, if you know any of the sword units of the Haewon Sword Family well, tell me just one.”

“I know well about Unit Leader Seo Ji-hoon’s Wolyeong Knights!”

At that moment, Seo Ji-han’s brow twitched.

“Wolyeong Knights? An honest fellow.”

Shim Gyu-seong immediately felt a sense of regret.

The person in front of him was Seo Ji-han. To get a good score, he should have recalled the name of the sword unit he operated, but unfortunately, it did not exist in his memory.

Because until now, Seo Ji-han had been a person outside his interest.

“But you know, I hear the Wolyeong Knights have no new recruits for the time being.”

As expected. He had somewhat anticipated that.

The Wolyeong Knights were known to pursue a small elite force, and their organization and balance were already complete.

“Well, if you want, I can look into it for you. It’s a connection that we’re sitting face to face like this, isn’t it?”

Those words from Seo Ji-han were unlikely to be empty.

Shim Gyu-seong could intuitively feel that this answer was very important.

An opportunity that might never come again. He quickly made a decision and opened his mouth.

“To be honest, I have admired the Wolyeong Knights until now.”

“I have that much sense.”

“But as of today, I have decided to change my mind.”

“Suddenly today?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

A clear reason didn’t come to mind, but for some reason, Shim Gyu-seong felt that way.

That the lifeline that would change his life seemed to be Seo Ji-han.

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