Academy's Silver Gatekeeper

Thanks to Suhyeon's strong insistence, I decided to have lunch at the Academy cafeteria.

Despite me saying it was fine, that it had nothing to do with the lunch hour. Her reason was that she didn't want anything that could potentially get in my way.

"If the Headmaster is calling you, it must be something important. So you shouldn't be late at all. And wouldn't it be better if you went there early?"

Well, Suhyeon. Being late is certainly a problem, but going early is a bit much. Lunch hour is literally the time for resting, yet you're telling me to go early. I understand you're thinking of me, but this examiner is too sad.

"...Alright. Let's do as you say, Suhyeon."

Since she was trying so hard to take care of me, I finally decided to accept Suhyeon's opinion. Certainly, eating at the Academy was more time-efficient than going out for lunch. Considering travel time, she was technically right that it would be cutting it close.

'And considering the quality of the Academy cafeteria, it's actually better than most decent restaurants.'

The Academy is where they applied money instead of cement and paint. It's the best educational institution that produces the most important force—"ability users." How could a place like this have an ordinary cafeteria? They'd face too many complaints.

There's a famous story about a renowned chef who came here and was shocked as if he'd been slapped. Afterward, he returned to his home country and even berated his staff with a fresh insult: "You stupid sandwiches! You're making food worse than a cafeteria!"

"P-please eat a lot! Examiner!" 

"You too, Suhyeon. Slowly, so you don't get indigestion."

"Yes! I'll definitely do that!"

If someone heard this, they might think I was giving some extremely important order. Saying "I'll definitely do that!" in response to "eat slowly" sounds a bit strange.

As we ate, I occasionally glanced at Suhyeon.

When I first met her, she couldn't even eat properly, let alone have a conversation. Even during brief encounters, she was so busy being conscious of others' gazes. Like a baby deer on high alert, as if someone might capture her at any moment?

'The reality was that she wasn't a baby deer, but a witch hiding her power.'

I feel like things are flowing a bit differently from the original plan.

It all started when I couldn't hand Suhyeon over to the villain. Somehow, that red witch has become extremely dependent on me. As a bonus, I've become the center of attention for Elders I don't even want to deal with.

But it's fine. Am I anxious? Not at all. I'm not trying to return to my original world, nor am I trying to maintain the original plot.

I want just one thing. To achieve what I set out to do. To live more. To suffer less. And to smile more brightly.

"Um, Examiner. There's something I'd like to ask, if that's okay?"

Suhyeon, who had been eating earnestly, cautiously parted her lips. I had been expecting this for a while now. Her eyes had the look of "I'm too curious to hold it in."

"Of course. You can ask, but before that, let me guess what you're going to ask. You want to know if a disciplinary suspension is a severe punishment, right?"

"Wh... how did you know?!" 

"I have my ways."

I answered playfully like that.

But... why is her expression changing like that?

She's looking at me with round, wide eyes. Then she covers her mouth and even inhales with a "Heek!" sound. I had no idea why Suhyeon was acting like this.

"Suhyeon. Suhyeon?" 

"...Ah, aah! Yes! Examiner! Did you call me?" 

"Are you okay? You seem a bit strange just now."

"Yes. I'm perfectly fine. Of course. Yes, of course, now that the Examiner can even read my mind..."

...Hey, Suhyeon. I don't think what you're thinking is right.

I just read the change in your expression when the topic of suspension came up earlier.

Irina kept saying that all the answers are written on my face. So I not only managed my own expressions but also began to pay more attention to others' faces. As a result, like Irina, it helped me understand what others were thinking. Especially in cases like Suhyeon now, where emotions are clearly visible on her face!

"...Anyway, to answer your question. In the civil service, promotions are extremely difficult. And since it's a public position, honor is also highly valued. When these two factors combine, if you do something that damages the honor of civil service, it basically makes promotion impossible."

The positions available to move up to are fixed. Meanwhile, those who want to climb are numerous. Always overflowing. In such a situation, even the smallest blemish can affect promotion.

"I see. I thought suspension was a very minor punishment."

"Everyone thinks that. But it's not. That's enough." 

"Yes. If the Examiner is satisfied..."

Suhyeon's next words come out very small and faint. When I say I didn't hear and ask her to repeat, she waves her hands saying it's nothing.

'Hmm.'

I thought I faintly heard "...don't need to" or something similar. What is it that she doesn't need to do, Suhyeon?

*

That civil servant who gave the Examiner a hard time received a disciplinary suspension. As soon as I heard that, I quickly looked up what suspension meant.

'Suspension... a disciplinary measure that prevents someone from performing their duties for a certain period...'

Is this really a punishment? Not completely removing them from duty, but just not allowing them to come for a certain period? It's just giving them a break. Basically telling them to take a vacation until things quiet down.

I felt anger rising. Someone who reportedly gave the Examiner a very hard time. Someone who openly embarrassed him and caused him disadvantages. And all they get is suspension? Just not being able to come for a certain period?

'This doesn't seem right. No matter how I think about it, this isn't right.'

If the Examiner hadn't said the following, I would have tried to ensure a more severe punishment through whatever means necessary.

"Everyone thinks that. But it's not. That's enough."

Despite such a light punishment, he is satisfied with it. Alright. Then I'll leave it at that too. I'll stop worrying about it. As much as I want to do something, since the Examiner is satisfied.

"I don't need to step in."

Ah, my voice was too loud.

And sure enough, the Examiner asked what I said. I immediately denied saying anything, but I felt really guilty.

Lying to the Examiner of all people. I shouldn't be doing this. But if I tell the truth, he'll just worry. I don't want that either. Let's just let this one pass. After all, I'm not going to do anything.

"Well then, Suhyeon. I'll go first. Enjoy the rest of your lecture."

The Examiner, smiling brightly and waving his hand. Every time I see him like this, my heart seems to melt. My head gets hot, and my lips twitch with the urge to smile.

I want to run to him right now and act spoiled. Ask him to smile more. Ask him to encourage me more. Ask him to stay closer.

'But... no. Not yet, I can't.'

Yes. Not yet. I'm still not qualified. To stand more proudly by his side, I need to work harder.

After parting with Examiner Baek Seojin, I moved on. There's no lecture right after lunch. And that's also true for "that man."

"You came?"

My "comrade" greets me casually, as if he knew I would come. Although he's still Bronze while I've risen to Silver.

I still consider him, Lee Hyunwoo, a comrade.

Other people initially had negative views about the Examiner. They may praise him now, but that's only because he's shown his skills multiple times. I could faintly see how they subtly rode on his fame.

But Lee Hyunwoo, who's swinging his sword up front. From the very beginning, he highly valued the Examiner. He realized how great he was. I remember how he never treated him carelessly and always politely requested evaluations.

Lee Hyunwoo, who immediately recognized the Examiner's greatness. Therefore, he is indeed my comrade.

"Are we having a match today too?" 

"Yes. And the rules are the same as before."

"Call."

He hands me a real sword filled with sharp energy, not the wooden training sword we usually use.

The rules for sparring between me and Hyunwoo: Always use real swords, not wooden ones. And while we don't aim to kill, we give our all in this duel.

Comparing my skills with Hyunwoo's, they're nearly equal. The difference is that I focus more on the sword itself. Whereas that man knew how to appropriately distribute his focus to other areas besides the sword.

I want to learn that. I want to make that part mine. No, I must.

'To fight better with Irina, that woman. And beyond that, to protect the Examiner from everything that is hostile towards him.'

Crazy blonde woman. It's been quite some time since I've dueled with her.

I've never won against her yet. No, forget winning—I haven't even made a proper attack.

Irina was fast, and I was slow. I was dull, and she was sharp. I was merely a weakling compared to her, an overwhelming force.

"Do you think you can protect Seojin oppa from me like this? Try haaarder, sweetie."

She's not giving advice. That woman is mocking me. The sneer all over her lips, the eyes full of contempt. And her body, not even tense, was telling me that.

'It's frustrating.'

Yes, frustrating. So frustrating. So frustrating that I could go crazy.

More than Irina looking down on me, more than her dismissing me like a child. Just imagining that woman by the Examiner's side makes flames rise within me. A great flame that will never extinguish, one that consumes me entirely.

But when I think of the Examiner, I can't become foolish. I acknowledged that flame, made it burn brighter, but didn't let it consume me. The angrier I got, the more my heart stirred, the colder my reason became.

I don't suppress my anger. But I don't surrender to it either. I decided to focus only on what I need to do, the path I need to take. For the Examiner. For him. For the future where I can stay by his side.

'Apart from Irina, he has other enemies.'

Elder Kwak Hyuk, who reportedly made the Examiner bloody. I heard he once tried to kidnap me too.

If it had been the old me, I might have trembled in fear.

To be honest, I'm still a little nervous even now.

But I have to overcome it. Overcome it and make him pay for his crimes. Just wait. I'll repay you exactly for what you did to the Examiner.