"Student Hyunwoo. There's something I'm curious about."
"Before I hear your answer, let me clarify something. The question I'm about to ask isn't directed at Hyunwoo as a person. Think of it as asking any student at the Academy."
Suddenly, I became curious about what Hyunwoo thought.
I knew he was different from the other Academy students. True to being the "protagonist," he focused only on effort after effort. I knew that.
But he was still an Academy student, after all. What I wanted to hear now wasn't the opinion of Hyunwoo the training maniac. It was the opinion of a Bronze-rank student attending the Academy.
"How do you feel, Student Hyunwoo? About me conducting such strict evaluations."
"I think it's a good thing..."
"I told you. I'm not asking Hyunwoo as a person, but as a student."
Hyunwoo was the only one I could ask so candidly.
There was Kim Suhyeon too, but she would only say good things about me, so she was excluded. Others like Kang Hana or Yoo Dasom weren't Bronze or Silver, so they were also excluded.
In contrast, Hyunwoo was someone who could view the situation relatively objectively. Plus, he was the protagonist, and he was upright, so I could trust him.
It seemed he realized exactly what answer I was looking for. After a moment of silence, Hyunwoo thought a bit and then answered.
"I personally don't mind, but as a Bronze-rank student, it's admittedly burdensome."
"I'm sure you're asking the students to meet your standards even just a little, not to defeat you."
I nodded vigorously at Hyunwoo's question, indicating he was correct. It was truly unfortunate when students misunderstood this point.
This was already stated in the evaluation regulations. Students didn't need to defeat the examiner standing before them. Even if they lost, they could pass by showing something impressive.
What the examiner wanted wasn't just immediate sharpness. It was also the hidden potential that could become sharper in the future.
"But Examiner. Even that might be burdensome for students."
"Is it because of my recent achievements?"
"Yes. Fighting monsters and villains. That alone was intimidating, but now fighting an Elder? I don't mind, but other students might not feel the same way."
How can they satisfy someone who fights an Elder and survives? Whatever they do would just be child's play in the examiner's eyes.
Some students might ignite their fighting spirit even more, like him. But others might extinguish what little flame they had managed to keep alive. Hyunwoo sincerely answered my question, saying that's what worried him.
I understood. I had expected this.
They weren't trying to reach Platinum rank, just Silver. Yet some strange examiner was conducting strict evaluations, which was frustrating.
If his skills were pathetic, they could somehow break him and at least curse him. But after the fight with the Elder, everyone knew I wasn't an ordinary person. From the students' perspective, I had become a barrier that was too difficult to overcome.
"Examiner. There is a solution."
"That's right. It's simple. Evidence that you too can do it. That would be enough."
Whether Bronze students or original Silver students. Pick one and say, "You pass the exam! Promotion successful!" By showing that possibility, people's mindsets would immediately change.
"But from what I see, Examiner, you don't seem like the type to be so lenient."
Hyunwoo had quite an accurate grasp of me. As expected, though a bit strange, a protagonist is still a protagonist.
"You must have a lot to consider. I wish I could be more helpful, but honestly, I just enjoy the evaluations themselves, so I don't think I can offer any useful advice."
With those final words, Hyunwoo said he needed to go swing his sword before his sweat cooled down. He quickly turned around and started running like crazy toward the training ground.
At that level, he seemed more like a "training ghost" than an "effort genius." If someone couldn't grow after putting in that much effort, they simply lacked talent.
"Anyway, this is difficult..."
At first, I believed everything would work out if I proved my skills. But now that it had happened, I faced an even more problematic situation.
What could someone like you possibly lack! No matter how much it's for the students, isn't the hurdle too high! When confronted with such arguments, I had no response.
To prove that wasn't the case, I eventually had to gradually promote some to Silver.
"Examiner. I... would like to take an evaluation."
Shortly after Hyunwoo disappeared toward the training ground. A male student cautiously approached and requested an evaluation.
He was a student who had come several times before. I remembered his skills were decent. And I felt that he had been growing a little with each evaluation.
So would I promote him to Silver? If asked that question. The answer would be, well, it's still too early to easily promote him with so many flaws.
"As always. Just show me everything you've prepared."
The male student, of the martial arts type, nodded and took his stance. After briefly checking the situation, he closed the distance and aimed for the outside of my torso.
Not a bad body blow. His magic was also quite neatly concentrated. His speed was adequate, and though I hadn't been hit, his power seemed substantial too.
For a moment, I thought about whether to dodge. It was fast, but not so fast that I couldn't avoid it. In fact, it was slow by my standards. But instead, I chose to block his punch with my arm.
'This is an evaluation. Rather than showing off my strength, I should make him feel that I'm assessing his skills.'
After his attack was blocked, he immediately extended his leg inward, targeting my knee. Quite good judgment to aim for such a vulnerable joint. But what if your own weakness is exposed by doing so?
I lightly struck his throat, and the male student reflexively stepped back. He was too focused on his own attack and failed to notice my counterattack.
"Your response is good. But, before you respond, you should observe your opponent's actions first."
"I'm sorry. I got too excited..."
"Let's try again. From the beginning, again. Don't get excited. Stay calm."
I slightly changed my approach. Before, I would offer advice after completing the entire evaluation. But now I gave feedback immediately after each exchange. As if this wasn't an evaluation but a sparring session for feedback.
Like before, the male student started with a punch—no. This time he began with a high kick.
In his mind, he probably thought this was a good feint. But his stance had already given it away.
'Next time, I'll tell him to also pay attention to his foot placement.'
Next, the angle and speed of the incoming kick. As I mentioned before, this student's kicks were less refined compared to his punches. His hand techniques were about average, but his kicks were below average.
Among martial arts types, more than half focused on using their hands. It was much more comfortable than using feet, and also easier to infuse with magic. This student probably trained mostly with punches and only recently started focusing on kicks.
As a result, even a slight disturbance easily caused his core to collapse.
"Looks like I need to train more on my kicks."
"Yes, I agree. I just tried it once but... I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. Such attempts to incorporate variety are excellent."
As the male student bowed his head and stepped back, a female student requested an evaluation. More students continued to come, most of them were familiar faces I had seen frequently. Those who didn't care much about my fame or skills, but were quietly putting in effort.
I think they weren't dissatisfied with my presence here. Rather, they probably saw it as a good opportunity and kept coming.
Those students would likely survive well during the great upheaval period later. The sweat they shed now would substitute for the blood they might have to shed in the future.
Couldn't they just wait and train during that period, you ask?
Due to rampant Gates and strengthened monsters, the number of ability users would drastically decline. As a result, not only graduates but even current students would be pulled in to help.
In that situation, having the luxury of time to train? No way. Only those who had honed themselves in advance would survive to fight.
'Should I have played the role of a prophet?'
A plan I had considered before but abandoned because it seemed absurd. Yet it came to mind again because the upcoming situation looked so bleak.
"Um, hello, Examiner."
I turned my head at the voice calling me. At first, I thought it was another Bronze or Silver-rank student.
But when I saw the face, I let out an "Oh?" in surprise.
"You're the student from... Team 5, Squad 1 last time, right?"
"Yes. You remember me."
The female student holding a sword nodded with a smile.
She was a student who had been in Team 5, Squad 1 during the recent Academy field training. Which means this female student wasn't Bronze or Silver rank, but Gold rank.
"What brings you here suddenly?"
"I was wondering if... about the Silver rank evaluation. Could I... not take it?"
"The student standing before me is Gold rank."
If I were an Academy professor, I might have handled it differently. But right now, I'm here as a dispatched civil servant, not a professor.
The permission I received was to evaluate up to Silver rank. Evaluating students beyond that would clearly be overstepping my authority. Even if Ma Hakjun said it was okay, someone else might raise an issue, which would be troublesome.
"I see... it's not possible. Well, in that case..."
"But let's assume hypothetically that you could take it."
However, it's not that there's absolutely no way.
"If I said you're not good enough, what would you do?"
"I'd do the same thing. I'd give up my current rank and go back to Bronze."
"That's not something to say so lightly."
"It's true, but... I watched you evaluating the students earlier. It seemed like an evaluation but... also like you were showing them how to act in real situations, pointing out their current strengths and weaknesses."
I nodded as she spoke.
"I also want to... gain something new."
"I see. Then let's do it, an evaluation."
"If you want to be evaluated, you should be."
"But... you just said it wasn't possible...?"
I did say that. That's what I said. This would definitely cause talk if it got out. But that's exactly where I could benefit from my recent fame.
The state even assigned A-rank ability users as bodyguards. What does that mean? It means I'm a special person of national interest.
Fame is meant to be used . To have things overlooked from above, no matter what is said.