novelraw Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95 - The Interviewer (2)
At Heo Jeong-ah's suggestion, Kim Seon-woo wore a troubled expression.
“……You mean Unit Leader Seo Ji-han next to you as the interviewer?”
Even in this urgent situation, he was clearly reluctant to entrust the role to me.
Just a few months ago, I too was an examinee, and the ink on my license had not even dried yet.
“Why? Is there a problem with Seo Ji-han taking on that role? He holds a respectable position as a unit leader in the prestigious Haewon Sword Family, so his qualifications seem sufficient.”
“W-well, that is true, but.”
“Hey, Seo Ji-han. Don’t just listen, say something.”
Heo Jeong-ah nudged my shoulder.
The reason she recommended me was obvious.
She wanted to see my skills properly.
“Well, I’m not sure if I really need to do this.”
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re just going to watch and ignore the Association’s difficult situation? That’s not like the Haewon Sword Family.”
“It’s because the side that should be asking seems unenthusiastic.”
At my words, Kim Seon-woo immediately waved his hands in denial.
“It’s a misunderstanding, Unit Leader Seo Ji-han!”
“A misunderstanding? You’re anxious that I might thoughtlessly agree to be the interviewer.”
“T-that’s not possible! It’s just that I came here under orders from the Association President to ask Unit Leader Heo Jeong-ah……”
“Then you can go. It seems Heo Jeong-ah finds it difficult to take on that role.”
Kim Seon-woo was sweating, unable to do either this or that, just anxiously tapping his feet.
Just then, his cell phone rang.
“Answer it. Don’t mind me.”
“I’m sorry. Then please excuse me for a moment.”
Kim Seon-woo hurriedly answered the phone.
Judging by his speech, it seemed to be the Association President.
He was relaying the situation here in a flustered voice.
From the way things were going, it seemed the Association President was telling him to try and persuade Heo Jeong-ah again, but Kim Seon-woo, caught in the middle, was the only one in a difficult position.
Eventually, my name was even mentioned in the conversation, and a moment later, Kim Seon-woo, who had hung up the phone, walked over dejectedly.
He looked like he was being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
“Um, I have something to say to Unit Leader Seo Ji-han……”
“Go ahead.”
“I know this is sudden, but I still must ask. Would you be able to take on the role of interviewer today?”
In the end, the Association had chosen the second-best option.
No, maybe it wasn’t even considered second-best.
They must have made an unavoidable choice within the limits of the law and regulations.
But my answer was one that would betray their expectations.
“I’m sorry. I don’t feel like it.”
It was not a job that came with honor, nor was it one with a great reward.
It was a job one wouldn't take unless it was out of goodwill. Right now, I had no reason to bestow such a favor.
“W-well… I see. H-however, considering our Association’s position, if you could please reconsider……”
Kim Seon-woo was almost in tears.
“I still don’t feel like it, so what can I do.”
“Please, I beg you.”
At this rate, he looked like he might even get on his knees.
It was true that I was slightly offended, but I wasn't that bad of a person, so I decided to show some magnanimity.
However, not too easily.
“If the Association President comes here himself and asks me politely, I’ll think about it.”
“Pardon? The Association President himself?”
“If that’s difficult for you, then I can’t help it either. I was just about to get up, so I think I’ll be on my way now. Thanks to you, I had a good observation.”
“U-Unit Leader Seo Ji-han! Please wait, just a moment!”
Kim Seon-woo took out his phone again and hurriedly started pressing buttons.
And then, another flustered phone call began.
From the sound coming from over the receiver, the Association President seemed to be furious at my demand.
But there was nothing he could do either.
To put out the urgent fire, he had no choice but to come here himself.
The Association President, Jo Byeong-doo, appeared faster than I thought.
“Oh my! This is the first time we’re meeting in person. Unit Leader Seo Ji-han!”
“I heard you have something to say to me.”
Of course, I wasn’t asking because I didn’t know what it was about.
What I wanted was for him to politely ask me himself.
Jo Byeong-doo smiled awkwardly, as if this situation was awkward for him.
And I could feel the deep anger hidden behind that smile.
“As I’ve said, we are in a difficult situation right now due to an unforeseen event.”
“Yes.”
I replied shortly.
The one who had to do a lot of talking was the other party, not me.
“It would have been better if you had accepted over the phone, Unit Leader Seo Ji-han……”
“No. I think it’s better for you to do it in person.”
I cut Jo Byeong-doo off.
I detested long introductions.
“Of course, if you don’t feel like it, I will be on my way.”
“N-no! What do you mean you don’t feel like it!”
For a moment, I heard the sound of Jo Byeong-doo grinding his teeth.
And then, he continued speaking with another awkward smile.
“I am asking for your help, Unit Leader Seo Ji-han.”
He should have been polite from the start.
***
Shim Gyu-seong.
He was very satisfied with his scores so far.
He was first in his group and fourth overall in the second exam. Although all the exams were not over yet, if he acquired his license at this pace, he could expect many love calls.
He didn't have a flashy background like others, but he had done well so far with his bare hands, and now only one last hurdle remained.
If he did well in the third exam, his heart swelled with the excitement that he could become the Hunter he had dreamed of.
Then, he quickly collected himself.
‘Let’s be calm.’
He hadn't achieved anything yet.
Moreover, to achieve his goal of passing within the top 5, he couldn't let his guard down for a moment.
Shim Gyu-seong, the place he wanted to go was the Haewon Sword Family.
Among them, he had especially admired the Wolyeong Knights led by Seo Ji-hoon.
A small elite unit, but the sword unit showing the best results in Abyss recently.
Shim Gyu-seong had always dreamed of becoming a member of the Wolyeong Knights.
‘But it might be impossible with a rank in the top 5.’
It was possible that even if he took the top spot, he might not be able to attract Seo Ji-hoon’s attention.
The Wolyeong Knights had been operating with their current members for the past few years.
The reality that there seemed to be no room to squeeze in was just disappointing.
‘First, I should get the score and then worry.’
Who knows.
Maybe if he wished for it earnestly, it would come true.
As he was steeling his resolve with that promise, the door to the exam hall opened.
And then he doubted his own eyes.
‘Am I seeing things right now?’
The person who appeared as the interviewer in the exam hall was Seo Ji-hoon.
Impossible.
He had seen an article saying that Seo Ji-hoon and the Wolyeong Knights were recently conquering Abyss.
“A-are you perhaps Unit Leader Seo Ji-hoon?”
Shim Gyu-seong blurted out the question without realizing it.
But the answer that came back was one that snapped him to his senses.
“I’m Seo Ji-han.”
At those words, his vision suddenly cleared.
And then he began to see the face of the man who had just appeared properly.
He resembled Seo Ji-hoon, but he was a person who exuded a completely different atmosphere.
‘Seo Ji-han?’
Shim Gyu-seong was also familiar with that name.
The younger brother of the Unit Leader Seo Ji-hoon he admired, and a rookie who had recently risen rapidly in the industry.
“I’m sorry! I was mistaken!”
He then bowed his head deeply for his clear discourtesy.
But Seo Ji-han reacted coolly as if it were no big deal.
“Nothing to be sorry about, everyone warm up. The exam will start in 3 minutes.”
In this exam hall 703, 9 examinees would take the third exam at the same time.
The exam method was simple.
The 9 of them would face Seo Ji-han in a joint attack.
Shim Gyu-seong thought that this third exam was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Although he had committed a discourtesy, since his brother had come as the interviewer, if he showed an impressive performance here, word might even reach Seo Ji-hoon.
It could be wishful thinking, but as he thought that, his fists clenched with strength.
“Were you Shim Gyu-seong?”
“Pardon? Yes! That’s right.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but calm down. Your mana is suddenly becoming unstable.”
“……Pardon?”
Shim Gyu-seong was startled for a moment.
He didn't know the reason, but the fact that Seo Ji-han knew his name made him snap to his senses.
And his face flushed as if his thoughts had been read.
‘No way.’
It was true that his fighting spirit was burning and his heart was violently agitated, but it was impossible for Seo Ji-han to have read such a flow of mana.
“Just warm up.”
“Understood.”
Shim Gyu-seong immediately drew his sword.
As Seo Ji-han said, he needed to compose himself.
It was clear that he had been somewhat excited by Seo Ji-han’s unexpected appearance.
Whish!
Whish!
Shim Gyu-seong began to warm up by drawing sword forms in the air, one stroke at a time.
Then, a sense of calm gradually returned to him.
A true swordsman is most comfortable when holding a sword.
But that was also short-lived.
He felt Seo Ji-han’s piercing gaze.
He was staring intently only at Shim Gyu-seong, as if he had no interest in the other examinees.
And it was excessively blatant.
‘Don’t tell me, it’s because of the mistake I made earlier?’
If so, it was a huge failure.
If he was such a grudge-holding character, there was no way he would give him a good score.
He thought that since the interviewer was also a person, their evaluation would inevitably be subjective.
‘Wait! But…….’
A fact he had forgotten flashed through his mind, and an important question arose.
He knew that Seo Ji-han had also obtained his license not too long ago, so a rookie like him was coming in as an interviewer?
And a more significant question followed on the heels of that one.
Even if we were just examinees, did Seo Ji-han have the skill to face 9 people at the same time?
As his thoughts reached this point, Shim Gyu-seong quickly racked his brain.
‘I’ll take down Seo Ji-han!’
And in a very brutal way at that.
He judged that this was the way to leave the strongest impression on the Haewon Sword Family.
And the major premise of taking down Seo Ji-han didn’t feel like an impossible mission.
He didn't know how outstanding the person was, but he too was a rookie with little experience.
Moreover, the number of 9 people was not something to be ignored.
“Alright, let’s begin the exam. From now on, attack me using any means necessary.”
Seo Ji-han declared the start with a calm voice.
Shim Gyu-seong decided to fall back to the rear and observe the situation for now.
He wouldn't rush in recklessly from the beginning, but would aim for the moment Seo Ji-han exposed a weakness in the joint attack.
Of course, he shouldn’t forget to maintain his distance so that he could deliver the first blow to Seo Ji-han at the crucial moment.
“Ah, and I’ll give you a pass for exactly fifteen moves. It’s a consideration for you fledglings, so make good use of it.”
Fledglings.
For someone who was himself only a few months his senior, it was a truly arrogant remark.
Shim Gyu-seong once again burned with fighting spirit.
Tatadatatata!!
At the words that he would give them fifteen moves, a few motivated individuals immediately rushed in.
A promise was a promise, so he wouldn't be able to counterattack for now.
He felt that he might have to make his move faster than he thought. But.
‘……What is this?’
An unbelievable thing happened.
Seo Ji-han was casually parrying the strikes of the vanguards who had charged to attack him.
Chaeng!
Chaeng!
The examinees were clearly attacking haphazardly from all over the place, but Seo Ji-han was simply bringing his sword out here and there, comfortably neutralizing all the attacks.
His movements were not particularly fast, nor were they overflowing with power.
At a glance, it looked like he was extending his sword without any thought, but the result was unfailingly a perfect parry of the examinees’ swords.
‘Is this possible?’
If this continued, the fifteen moves Seo Ji-han had promised would be over in a flash.
Chaeng!
Chaeng!
But what was even more surprising was Seo Ji-han’s footwork.
He was leisurely weaving his way out of the formation of the examinees who had rushed in as the vanguard.
A fluid ease.
Before he knew it, Seo Ji-han was right in front of him.
And that figure felt like a great mountain.
He snapped to his senses.
The situation had already rendered all plans meaningless.
The moment he realized it was an absurd plan, Shim Gyu-seong felt pathetic.
‘Right! The Association isn’t stupid!’
Come to think of it, there was no way the Association would have appointed just anyone as an interviewer.
But for now, he needed to solve the problem in front of him rather than regret.
Shim Gyu-seong infused mana into his sword and extended it with all his might.
Seo Ji-han had said he would give them fifteen moves, so he wouldn't counterattack yet.
He thought that if he concentrated all his capabilities on the attack without calculating for defense, he might be able to achieve something.
Whooooosh!
As planned, the fully extended strike was almost touching Seo Ji-han’s clothes.