𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒𝟒
Defeated once again, there was no sign of disappointment or regret on Sophia’s face.
Only a sense of relief existed.
“Yeah. I’m satisfied with this much. I also saw areas for improvement. I won’t lose next time.”
With that, Sophia left the arena and returned to her seat.
The final winner of the first match was none other than me, and I was given a 5-minute break during which time I could choose to forfeit the next match and leave the arena.
「. . . . . . .」
Honestly, I would’ve been fine with stopping here. I became the perfect winner of the 1st round, and I also had a great match with Sophia in the process.
I’ll probably receive the highest score among the examinees this time.
However, that wasn’t enough to satisfy me.
As I said before, what I wanted out of this qualification exam was a perfect result. I wanted to surpass the record set by the nineteen-year-old Cheong So-ha and raise my reputation.
That’s why I didn’t leave the arena until the next round started, and I fought fiercely once again to survive until the end.
Wow.
Wow, wow.
『This is crazy. Did he survive again?』
『This isn’t even at the level of a trainee; I’ve never seen anyone this skilled among the 3rd-grade exorcists.』
『. . . . . . .』
Thus, the battle continued without stopping.
Three times, four times, and then a fifth time.
And finally, when I left the arena, gasping for breath.
I noticed that everyone watching had awe in their eyes.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
“Whew, yeah. I’ll actually get to see this kind of sight.”
A sight created by just one exorcist trainee.
It was truly a rare and shocking result.
“Perhaps Cheong So-ha’s qualification exam was something like this.”
“Actually, the 48th examinee’s record has already surpassed Cheong So-ha’s in many ways. If the record for the 3rd test, which hasn’t been tallied yet, is also outstanding, then perhaps. . . . . . .”
Everyone’s expressions changed colorfully at those words.
The fact that Cheong So-ha’s record had been broken was by no means insignificant.
“Even if you consider the difference in era and the changes to the exam content, it’s a great achievement.”
“It’s a record that hasn’t been broken so far, even under those conditions.”
“At least among those around the same age, Han Kang-yoon is more outstanding than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
The torrent of compliments continued, but no one voiced any opposition to them.
Han Kang-yoon’s demonstrated skills were that overwhelming.
Just as someone had said earlier, it would be difficult to find anyone even close to his level among those of a similar age.
“Well, if you think about it that way, the same goes for Sophia, who was his opponent in the last match.”
“Han Kang-yoon was just a bit more experienced, but in terms of their inherent abilities, she might even be better.”
“Honestly, there’s no point in even comparing them. Both of them have already far surpassed the skills of a 3rd-grade exorcist.”
Even those present here wouldn’t be confident in winning against those two.
Considering that only experienced exorcists who have gone through numerous real battles can obtain the qualifications of an examiner, this was truly a great achievement.
As everyone continued to express their admiration sincerely, the score for the postponed 3rd written test was finally calculated.
“How did it turn out?”
“. . . Honestly, I’m a bit shocked. You’ll see for yourself when you look at it. His way of thinking is different from ours.”
The score determined for Han Kang-yoon was perfect. It is said that all of the examiners agreed unanimously without any objections.
The examiners who checked Han Kang-yoon’s answers couldn’t help but make strange expressions.
“. . . It’s hard to believe. Do you mean to say that he actually performed all of these calculations in his head while fighting?”
“To be exact, it’s a bit different. He probably didn’t calculate the answers one by one in his head.”
The 2nd-grade exorcist who brought the results, Yoon Su-ah.
When everyone’s attention turned to her, she answered like this.
“It’s just that he naturally arrives at those conclusions. Like how you think something looks tasty when you see a delicious-looking meal, or how you think something is hot when you see a fire.”
Indeed, when you heard it like that, it made sense.
Even to the examiners, the vast answers that Han Kang-yoon had written in that short amount of time didn’t seem like something that could have been produced through thinking and contemplation.
The time delay method when facing a formidable yokai alone, how to deal with a battle in an urban area filled with civilians, how to form an encirclement against a powerful yokai, etc.
Han Kang-yoon’s answers to all of those questions were incredibly well-developed.
Rather, they were so good that it made you wonder.
Whether he could actually carry out all of this in practice.
“I don’t think I could do it even if you told me to.”
Even if a perfect plan exists, the human carrying it out isn’t perfect.
An overly advanced plan could end up becoming sloppy.
“But it’s definitely possible for him.”
And, in fact, there are already several such people in the world.
Those who hold the title of special-grade exorcist.
“. . . Maybe in about 5 years.”
Lee Moon-soo, the examiner with the most outstanding skills who worked as a 1st-grade exorcist, muttered those words softly.
“This country will have one more special-grade.”
Those words were clearly filled with conviction, not prediction.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Two days later, we were finally able to receive the results of the exam through individually sent documents.
Whether it was surprising or as expected, the results were that all five of us had passed.
“I guess training together helped more than I thought? The exam content itself was pretty much as we expected.”
“I guess Han Kang-yoon’s predictions were accurate.”
Guilford nodded and gave me a small thank you.
“Honestly, I would’ve been lost if I had tried to prepare on my own. I benefited from it.”
“It’s thanks to everyone’s hard work.”
Since it was an individual notice, the documents also included various other unusual details, such as the examiners’ evaluations and final rankings.
“Compared to his abilities, he’s too passive and inactive. Was that me?”
“Hmm. Han-sol tends to set his own limits too much? Even when facing me, he gives up on his own all the time.”
“No, that’s because I can see the results anyway. Huh? Then does that mean you’re really talking about that kind of mindset?”
Although he said it regretfully, Jung Han-sol’s final ranking was also quite high. It was the third highest after me and Sophia.
On the other hand, the one who received a lower ranking than expected was none other than Hwang Ji-hak.
“What the heck? Your ranking is surprisingly low? Did you screw up during the exam or something?”
“. . . . . . .”
Since I was also a bit curious about that, I turned my gaze towards Hwang Ji-hak.
After a moment of silence, he looked slightly embarrassed and avoided my gaze as he answered.
“. . . I got a stomachache.”
“What?”
“I had a stomachache the whole time, so I couldn’t concentrate.”
It was a very ordinary and pathetic excuse.
“Oh, that. Well. Everyone gets that sometimes. Don’t worry.”
“Oh my, that’s strange. I thought Ji-hak was made of steel, so I didn’t think he’d even get sick.”
“Don’t be too disappointed. You passed, so that’s good enough.”
Indeed, it might be even more impressive that he managed to achieve better results than others even in that situation.
Hwang Ji-hak nodded in agreement.
“Since the goal was to pass anyway, it doesn’t matter. I just reflected a bit on my self-management.”
After that, as expected, Sophia was revealed to have achieved the final 2nd place ranking.
In fact, it would have been stranger if it hadn’t been her, so it was a natural result.
「. . . . . . .」
And so, it came down to the final result.
Feeling everyone’s gazes focused on me, I quietly revealed the result.
“First place.”
“I knew it. There wasn’t anyone better than him anyway.”
“Congratulations. Your hard work paid off.”
As soon as I revealed the result, a torrent of congratulations poured in, and Jung Han-sol playfully ruffled my hair.
After the commotion died down a bit, Sophia, who was smiling faintly, spoke to me.
“Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“Do you have any regrets?”
“Not at all. It was truly a refreshing match.”
Since Sophia had been the most notable of the younger generation so far, I was worried that she might be shocked, but it seems that was just my imagination.
Rather, Sophia seemed to have been stimulated by this battle, as she kept smiling pleasantly.
“Yeah. I’m actually feeling a bit motivated for the first time in a while. For a while now, I’ve actually felt like everything was meaningless.”
Those were slightly frightening words. If she was this skilled even while neglecting her training recently, then her growth rate if she put her heart into it might far exceed my expectations.
「𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚?」
I don’t know what the results of this difference in mindset will be, but if she becomes even stronger than she was in the original work, it won’t be a bad thing for me.
That’s why I obediently offered my encouragement.
“Yeah. Thank you. I’ll try hard again. So if there’s another chance, will you have a match with me?”
“. . . . . . .”
Faced with her bright smile, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
First place in the exorcist qualification exam.
The fame that came with that title was by no means small.
And what if the person who achieved it was a third-year academy student who had taken the exam early?
Just as Han Kang-yoon had predicted, such news caused considerable waves in Korea’s shamanic community.
“An early examinee got first place? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s certain news. And they say it’s a newcomer who hasn’t made a name for themselves yet.”
“Whew, tell me more.”
From influential figures who occupied a single position in various powerful families to organizations of national institutions and major corporations.
All of them began to gradually memorize the name Han Kang-yoon.
Among them was also the Special Task Force Red Unit of the Exorcism Headquarters, who had kept an eye on Han Kang-yoon during Cheonghwa Academy’s public presentation.
“Team Leader, have you heard the news? That guy from back then got first place in the qualification exam. And he took the exam early, too. This isn’t verified information yet, but they say he even broke Cheong So-ha’s record.”
“Yes. I’ve already heard that news five times today.”
Shin No-eul, the team leader of the Red Unit, had already evaluated Han Kang-yoon as being just as talented as Sophia.
And that had been proven true today. The name Sophia was listed as the runner-up, who had lost to Han Kang-yoon.
“The team leader’s judgment is definitely different. Honestly, I thought it was nonsense when you said that back then.”
“. . . Oh, is that so?”
“No, honestly, doesn’t it make no sense? At that time, Han Kang-yoon was just a nobody compared to Sophia Charlotte.”
However, conversely, that meant that he had grown to be even more noticeable than Sophia in that short amount of time.
Shin No-eul pondered this for a long time before finally coming to a conclusion.
“I can’t help it. He’s too tempting.”
“Yes? You were saying it was unrealistic just the other day.”
“I don’t know man. I’ll try to persuade him first and then think about it. I’ll go see him as soon as I have some free time, so let him know.”
Shin No-eul, the team leader of the Special Task Force Red Unit and the one who had been recognized as a new special-grade exorcist just last month.
Her gaze lingered on the picture of Han Kang-yoon.
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