Episode 4
Yunhee’s expression was serious as she looked at the workbook I had solved. I tried my best to solve it, but it didn’t seem to please me.
“Anyway, this is a bit serious, isn’t it?”
“I’m reflecting.”
“You’re really reflecting, right?”
“That’s right. “Can’t you see the truth?”
“The problem is that you can’t feel any sincerity, you burnt-out.”
Yunhee sighs and says.
“It’s not like that in other subjects in the first place, right? Everything was correct. “Why is this subject like this?”
“haha.”
I just laughed as I looked at the ‘Ethics’ workbook that Yunhee was waving at me.
“Is the problem difficult?”
“I thought it was the right answer, but I kept getting it wrong.”
“of course! “You talk about the destruction of villains first!”
“Isn’t that the right answer?”
“no!”
I can’t stand it anymore and scream.
“Even if you don’t understand, just memorize it! The first priority in ethics subjects is the safety of citizens! Citizen safety! “This must be established as a premise!”
“If you eliminate the villain, the safety of citizens will naturally be guaranteed.”
“It’s not a chicken or the egg! Always think about the safety of citizens! Because public servant hunters call for the safety of citizens. “Then we’ll go halfway.”
“okay.”
“I just need to do well in this subject, okay?”
I responded again and again like a parrot to the words that sounded like they were admonishing me.
I thought maybe he was angry because he didn’t have enough pocket money, so I gave him some pocket money, but he only got more insults. I guess it was my fault.
But they didn’t return the money I gave them.
Anyway, the first study I did in a long time was quite fun.
To the point where I wonder why I stayed away from it in the past. Being able to be treated as an elite just by studying well was a great advantage.
On the other hand, I also had this question.
In the end, what I needed from the public servant hunter I wanted to become was strength.
There are ethics courses that require a sense of justice, but they just want stereotypical answers. With this, there was no discriminatory power to filter out that the test taker was a villain.
Nevertheless, they advocate justice. What is justice? The answers vary, but it is clear that protecting something is expressed as justice and is evaluated as a noble value.
The villain is the opposite of that. Take, annihilate and destroy.
There is something I realized about this fact.
“So you’re saying I can be just, too?”
At this point, civilian Choi Jun-ho is a good citizen.
If you become a public servant hunter and do your best at the task given to you, you will never be treated like a villain.
This means that you can maintain your current peaceful life.
What I had wanted so much in my past life was something I was able to get so easily.
I felt like I knew why people took up arms to protect their peaceful lives.
To do that, you have to pass the exam first.
I thought back to what Yunhee said once again.
‘It’s best to protect innocent citizens.’
But to do that, you have to stop the villain, so wouldn’t it be right to eliminate the villain first?
The ethics subject was quite difficult.
* * *
The most important thing in being a public servant hunter is awareness.
Other tests are at the minimum level of general education.
If the awakening ability is 80%, the remainder is about 20%.
The cutoff point is 60 points.
They say it’s about high school level difficulty, and that’s true.
Korean language, foreign language, Korean history, and ethics were tested one by one, followed by a practical test.
The practical test conducted at the practical training center is proof of the awakening stage.
This is something that can be done as long as you have the minimum level of ability.
That is a public servant hunter.
Just as there was a perception that awakened people had gathered here and there, the people who gathered were also diverse.
“Miss, why is it so hard to get along?”
“They say you can stick to it as long as you awaken?”
“therefore. “It will stick this time.”
“Once you stick together, you have to stick together because it’s an iron rice bowl. “If it doesn’t stick, it might all turn over.”
Listening to their conversation reminded me of the past.
Dissatisfaction and hatred towards the world are excellent nourishment for becoming a villain. ‘Slash’ Jong-yeop Oh, who followed me for a long time, also became a villain after getting into trouble several times while preparing to get a job as a hunter at a large company.
I still remember lamenting that if it weren’t for that mistake, I would have been lowered to a civil servant job.
If they fail the test and cannot resolve their dissatisfaction and hatred, there is a high possibility that they will become villains.
Is it really justice to cut off sprouts before they appear?
I was curious how Dahyun Jeong would respond.
It was when I thought I would ask about it later.
There was a commotion on one side, and someone’s shout shook the practical room.
“uh? “It’s Jeong Da-hyeon!”
“what? Dahyun Jeong?”
“Why did Dahyun Jeong come here?”
People’s attention was focused on Jeong Da-hyeon, who appeared. I also spotted Dahyun Jeong coming inside. Today she wore light makeup, a white blouse, and black jeans, highlighting her innocence and slender figure.
We are now living in an era led by awakened people.
Levels are evaluated as a measure of strength, and their achievements are used as all kinds of entertainment elements.
Da-Hyun Jeong has never been left out of the top prospects (20-22 years old) in Korea, which are counted every year.
In addition to her striking beauty and unique history of moving from a large company to the National Protection Agency, she was a celebrity that no one knew about.
But why did she appear here?
Is it because you don’t feel at ease because of Son Sok, who brutally subdued the villains? So to monitor?
Just when a glimmer of doubt arose, our eyes met. A smile appeared on her expressionless face and she approached me.
“Did you do well on the test?”
“Yes, I enjoyed it. “What are you doing, Secretary?”
“It’s a place where people who work for the country gather, so it’s natural for them to come.”
He looked at me with somewhat excited eyes.
“And there are also talented people we are coveting.”
“Thank you for a good look. “Do you feel good?”
“What. You have to move like this in advance so you don’t lose it. “We need a lot of talented people in the villain task force.”
I listened to Jeong Da-hyeon seriously and then asked.
“But is this the general form?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That is, when someone of the rank of a secretary comes to visit.”
“It won’t be normal, right?”
I knew it.
“Because talented people like Junho are rare. When a talent like this appears, we need to take the lead first. “If you look at the flow from that perspective, it’s natural.”
“It is an honour.”
“It’s a natural thing to do. So, if you pass, can you come join us?”
Dahyun Jeong looked at me with hot eyes. If you decorate it beautifully and look at it, the gaze of those around you is unusual.
Are you really trying to draw attention to me and prevent me from making a rash move? It seems like there are some doubts about me, so I need to be careful.
“I think passing comes first.”
“I don’t think Junho has any reason to worry about failing the exam, right?”
“I’m not worried about the practical skills, but I’m worried about the written skills.”
“ah······!”
“But I think I’ll be able to pass because I got some tips from my younger brother.”
“Then I’ll look forward to the practical test.”
Dahyun Jeong moved to the interviewer’s seat.
When I looked around, as expected, people’s eyes were focused on me. For an average person, the attention can be a burden, but on the other hand, it feels good, so why do I keep thinking about the need to get rid of witnesses?
“It’s hard to be normal.”
After grumbling a little, I started the practical test.
* * *
Lim Hae-cheol, a level 6 civil servant hunter, looked at Jeong Da-hyeon sitting next to him.
I feel it every time I see it, but it is an elegant beauty. The confidence that comes from skill, the upright beliefs, and even the beauty that makes them shine even more.
Today in particular was exceptionally beautiful.
I’ve been dating him ever since I saw him last year, but he came back with a cold rejection.
Lately, we haven’t even encountered each other at all.
“I didn’t know the secretary was coming.”
“Because I’m interested.”
“The secretary is interested? “When you say that, I’m also interested.”
“······.”
“And aren’t we supposed to cooperate in arresting the villain? “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to become closer.”
“are you okay.”
“yes?”
“The budget for the villain task force is sufficient. “I can only express my gratitude to Director Lim Hae-cheol for his kindness.”
It is an iron wall.
Lim Hae-cheol clenched his teeth at Jeong Da-hyeon’s answer, which did not give him the slightest chance.
“But who is the candidate you are interested in?”
“That’s him.”
“Well, it doesn’t look special.”
“He’s a great guy. “He was the one who subdued Unrak and other robbers.”
“I heard that story too.”
but······.
What do those eyes mean?
The way Dahyun Jeong looked at the test taker was something that even she had never seen before.
‘Then I have no choice but to show that I am better.’
If I make a mess in front of Jeong Da-hyun, I will change my mind.
No, that wasn’t enough. It will leave you rolling on the floor in the most miserable way. If you cut off one of her arms and goug out her eyes, Dahyun Jeong wouldn’t be able to look at her like that.
The seething energy that I usually tried to suppress rose to the point where it was pointless.
Im Hae-cheol said, forcing a smile.
“Then how about this method?”
“Do you have any good ideas?”
“I will deal with that candidate.”
“Director of duty?”
“Then wouldn’t it be a good decision for the secretary?”
“I feel like I’m causing trouble for no reason.”
“No, I was curious too. “The applicant’s outstanding skills attract the attention of the administrator.”
“It must be difficult.”
Im Hae-cheol’s expression crumpled at that one word.
“Do you mean me?”
“yes.”
“I take it that you gave permission.”
Lim Hae-cheol, who looked at Choi Jun-ho, no longer hid his desire to live.
* * *
Proof of awakening in the practical exam was a very simple process.
The awakened person was expressed in each stage as his or her abilities blossomed, and if he or she showed the amount of impact of level 1, he or she passed.
In order to get into a large company, you have to deal with a lot of shock, as well as sparring and survival skills to cope with various situations.
Compared to that, the civil service hunter exam is simple.
This may be due to differences in the skills of those taking the test.
I took the test in turn, and when it was my turn, my attention focused again.
Is it because he is a former villain? As expected, the attention was not very pleasant. When there are a lot of people looking at it, I start to feel like I have to get rid of it all.
The reason I feel this way is that there is still a long way to go to reach mediocrity.
As I was about to take the practical test, a shy-looking guy stood up from his seat.
“I will personally deal with this applicant.”
A murmur spread as if this was an unusual situation.
Meanwhile, Yapsap came forward and stood in front of me.
“I am Hae-cheol Lim, a level 6 civil servant hunter.”
At the mention of level 6, the murmur grew louder.
Thinking back on what Yunhee said, at a young age of 6, she was a skill equivalent to level 3-4.
He is a promising public servant hunter and has the skills to transfer to a large company at any time.
From my perspective, I was the fire moth that died first.
By the way, why does he openly exude life?
Could it be that he has the gift of seeing through past lives? I thought it was a ridiculous idea and asked Yapsap.
“Why am I in sparring?”
“There are people who want to see the test taker’s skills.”
At the same time, Jabsap glanced at Jeong Da-hyun.
“If you’re scared, you can refuse. “The practical exam will proceed normally.”
“Is this common?”
“Of course it’s not common. This doesn’t happen unless you’re the one paying attention. When we think of people as talented, we find out their skills through sparring like this. “So did I.”
And then he smiles triumphantly. Seeing as how his pride is being touched in a strange way, I guess he wants to give it a try.
“I’ll adjust your strength appropriately.”
Jabsap held up a wooden sword with an unsharpened iron core. Even though it couldn’t cut, it was a sword that was perfect for beating an opponent.
“Raise your sword.”
“This is all I need.”
“I guess it’s from the martial arts family.”
The posture of the guy holding the sword was pretty standard. A persistent look to find an opening and the mighty power at the tip of the sword. Little by little, you find your direction, all the way to your feet.
I felt like I received a good basic education. But these guys don’t survive for long.
The technical education may have been good, but he is naturally arrogant, so even if he succeeds, he is destined to die in front of the powerful without being able to understand the subject.
As soon as an opening is revealed to the guy who was circling around, he rushes in like a moon.
The sword with strong force was aimed at the shoulder. However, the power contained was not in a normal form.
The power that a Force awakener could use was imbued with the power to kill. I held it with my right hand.
“······!”
As he faced his face with a spread of astonishment and pulled out the sword, the wood on the outside shattered and the iron core on the inside was crushed.
“Huh?”
I extended my left hand towards the right shoulder of the guy who was dragged forward. The guy’s crisis instinct came into play and he twisted his body so desperately that his shoulder armor was crumpled like a piece of paper.
I thought this was enough, so it was time to let go of my left hand.
“die!”
The deadly force exploded and stabbed my heart with a hidden dagger.
“omg!”
“What are you doing now!”
Everyone was shocked, but when I saw that distorted face, a memory came back to me.
Im Hae-cheol, the lustful demon.
He is a villain who harassed and murdered over hundreds of women in his last life.
Now that I thought about it, I remembered that he was a hunter. Later, I was called a salt hematoma because I even sucked the victim’s blood, putting a stain on my name.
Thanks to this, my presence was highlighted again, and more than a hundred hunters followed after me.
Of course I killed them all.
Since he was a future villain, he seemed special from the beginning, so I decided not to take matters into his own hands.
With my right hand, I grabbed the wrist of the guy holding the dagger. The guy’s wrist was crushed with a crunching sound. The damage from the mine didn’t stop there; it damaged every bone in my arm.
“Aaaah!”
Yapsap screamed and tried to back away, but the hand that held him was strong and he was pulled in.
I never let the guy who tried to kill me go away. Of course, you have to be prepared to die. Without hesitation, I reached out to his neck.
“Junho!”
I came to my senses when I heard a cry that was almost like a scream.
Oh right. If you die here, you will fail.
I changed the trajectory of my hand that was heading towards the guy’s neck and grabbed his shoulder. The sound of bones breaking as they caved in was heard, and soon the other shoulder was also broken.
dump!
Yapsap, which escaped from my hands, collapsed with its eyes closed.
“I’ll stop here.”
“······.”
Emergency personnel who were waiting when the end was declared rushed over and began providing first aid to Yapsagi. I just watched quietly in the silence that surrounded my son-in-law.
At that time, Dahyun Jeong called me with a stern expression.
“Choi Jun-ho.”
“Yes, Secretary.”
“Please follow me.”
“All right.”
I quietly followed Dahyun Jeong. I was wondering what she was going to talk about, but the place she took me was a nearby white bar.
I was quite impressed while watching them order soybean paste stew. He had an eye for food.
Before the food came out, Jeong Da-hyun apologized.
“I’m sorry about the matter with Officer Lim Hae-cheol.”
“Why is the secretary apologizing?”
“I agreed with Director Lim Hae-cheol’s plan to test Jun-ho’s skills.”
“Did you have bad intentions?”
“That’s not it. “Director Lim Hae-cheol wanted to see Jun-ho’s skills, and I thought it wasn’t a bad opportunity.”
“I am okay. But will there be any disadvantage on the test?”
“no.”
Dahyun Jeong shook her head.
“It was Director Lim Hae-cheol who first showed his will, and it was Director Lim Hae-cheol who became overly reliant. There will be no disadvantage to Mr. Junho.”
“thank god.”
It doesn’t matter as long as I pass the exam.
It was slowly becoming more unbearable.
“Can I eat now?”
I pointed to the soybean paste stew in front of me.
Jeong Da-hyun’s expression becomes cautious.
“I wonder if you don’t like soybean paste stew?”
I shook my head firmly.
“I can’t eat it because I don’t have it.”
“Try it. “This is a restaurant I recommend.”
“is it so?”
“yes!”
Dahyun Jeong’s loud remarks made me curious, so I picked up the spoon.
After taking a bite, I quietly put my thumb up.
* * *
“Oppa! “What about the test?”
“I enjoyed it.”
“Did you do well in the ethics class?”
“I did as you asked.”
“really? “It’s not a lie, right?”
“Oh, Dahyun Jeong said she would pass too.”
“Jeong Da-hyun? “Why does that name appear here?”
“He came to proctor the test.”
“If Jeong Da-hyun had said I would pass, I would have passed. “How did you fill out the answer sheet?”
“Of course I did as you taught me.”
When he recalled what Yunhee had said and told him what he had written down, his face heated up as if it were going to explode.
“You crazy person! If you write like that, you’ll fail!”
* * *
At that time, the judges grading the Civil Service Hunter exam were arguing over the answer sheet of one candidate.