Episode 12
A thousand students crowded into the main auditorium.
"hello. My name is Go Tae-wook, and I am from the personnel department of the Korea Players Association. nice to meet you."
Go Tae-wook, wearing a suit, smiled brightly and greeted.
The children, who had not heard any announcement from his greeting, murmured.
"First of all, I think many students were scared by the last gate break incident. "As an employee of the association, I apologize once again."
Go Tae-wook bowed deeply and then raised his face.
Taehyun watched with joy.
'Deputy Director Go, it's been a while.'
Ko Tae-wook, Deputy Director of Human Resources at the Korea Players Association.
He was one of the few people who introduced a job to Taehyun, who did not give up on his dream of becoming a player despite being a non-awakened person.
'After today, Deputy Director Ko will also know about me.'
Even as Taehyun smiled happily at him, he expressed his condolences and regret for the victims.
and.
"There are a lot of faces that look curious about why I'm here."
Many children nodded.
As soon as the school closure order was lifted, a player's association employee came by without notice.
They are busy exploring the Abyss and cooperating with the demons.
It wasn't difficult to intuit that there was a different reason for the movement that had never occurred before.
"I came here for a safety lecture. "It is to meet the next players who will be responsible for the future of New Korea."
With those words, Go Tae-wook quietly used the skill.
* * *
'What is a safety lecture?'
Tae-hyun did not believe Go Tae-wook's words at face value.
The safety lecture is fake.
The real purpose was to be the 'next player responsible for the future' as mentioned later.
'Ayoung Lim and Jeongjae Lee will be scouted at Konkuk High School.'
Immediately after the gate break.
The Players' Association and Nightwalker secured numerous talents by dispatching employees with 'measurement' skills.
This was to give them the right to take the player exam early.
Because the selection was done with great care.
A large number of people who were awakened to a high level or awakened to advanced skills were selected, creating a large number of players.
Player.
It is not only a certificate that shows you meet the minimum conditions to explore the Abyss.
Evidence of being at the top of the pyramid hierarchy in modern society.
A ladder to upward mobility.
certificate.
In other words, various benefits were provided upon obtaining a player license.
Therefore, it was a common social atmosphere for many awakened people to take the association exam.
'At that time, I thought that was the only way to get rid of dragons in the stream.'
Taehyun from his previous life was trying his best to somehow become a player.
When I remembered the miserable situation, I smiled bitterly.
'But there's no need to rush this time.'
In addition to receiving various benefits, players were also required to perform military service in the name of the country in times of emergency.
I didn't even think about such things before.
The current Taehyun had a few things to do before entering the Abyss.
'I'm sure I won't be detected, right?'
Taehyun, who conquered two more dungeons, was currently ranked C.
Will Presik be able to block Go Tae-wook's skill, which even S-rank players can't avoid?
The reason Taehyun came to this auditorium was to confirm that point.
just as expected.
[Skill use has been detected. Caught in the observer's eye (A). It resists with mysterious power. Resistance was successful.]
A message appeared before my eyes.
Sigh.
Taehyun, who was sure that Go Tae-wook could not read his status window, smiled in satisfaction.
It's a C-grade skill that blocks the skills of A-grade players.
Even to Taehyun's imagination, it was an incredible amount of power.
* * *
'There are indeed a lot of talented people.'
Go Tae-wook, who used the skill 'Observer's Eyes', looked around at the students with a satisfied expression.
No, it was exactly the number floating above their heads.
The numbers visible only to one's eyes represented the students' current abilities in numerical terms.
'150, 220, 254, that kid's abilities are already close to 300.'
Abilities are physical stats and skills.
And it is a number that represents the combination of awakening grade and skill grade.
It wasn't something to blindly trust, but it was a rough indicator.
All students attending Konkuk High School had significant abilities.
at that time.
His eyes stopped on one woman.
'1,250! 'He's already at the level of a C-grade player?'
It was an incredible number for a teenager.
As he concentrated his magic in admiration, her status window briefly appeared before his eyes.
Name: Lim A-young
Age: 19
Grade: S
[skill]
Ice Age (S)
Physical Strengthening (B)
Weapon Enhancement (B)
Total ability score: 1,250
'This child was Lim Ah-young. She's an incredible talent.'
Go Tae-wook let out an inward exclamation.
Lim Ayoung.
She was one of the reasons Go Tae-wook came here.
In addition to having awakened S-rank skills, he possesses multiple skills. It's also a B-grade skill that isn't even the main skill.
With this level of potential, if he received professional training and gained experience, it would not be surprising if he ranked in the top 10 in the player rankings.
'Then that child... .'
His gaze turned to a man who was showing similar figures to Lim Ah-young.
Name: Lee Jeong-jae
Age: 19
Grade: S
[skill]
Heart of Flame (S)
Lord's Heart (C)
Total ability score: 1,050
'also. 'This one is no less of a monster.'
Fire-type skills boasted the most destructive power among attribute skills as long as a few requirements were met.
In particular, 'Heart of the Monarch' is a buff-type skill that does not work on monsters, but greatly increases the combat power of those who follow it.
Depending on what kind of party he forms in the future, he could become a military-level entity.
'I can't believe such talented people are gathered in one school. I understand why the association president wants you to pay attention.'
There seemed to be more than 50 children who would not be surprised if they were immediately qualified for this player test.
If you compare the figures on whether or not one student will show up at a school, it would be fair to call it a prestigious school for players to pursue.
especially.
'Ayoung Lim and Jeongjae Lee. If these kids are trained well, they could become a national force.'
Awareness is the basic quality to become a player.
Just because you were awakened to a high level did not mean you could immediately use tremendous power.
Even if you awakened at a high level, there were cases where the skill level was low, and even if you awakened at a low level, there were cases where the skill level was high.
If it's the former, it's fortunate, but if it's the latter, there are many cases where you can't use the skill for the rest of your life due to a lack of magical power.
Moreover, the active players are survival masters who have experienced all kinds of hardships in the Abyss.
The difference in class was clear to the teenage kids using their skills in the greenhouse.
However, there are exceptions to everything.
Lim A-young and Lee Jeong-jae both had high self-ratings and skill ratings.
Go Tae-wook thought that even in his current state, he could deal with most C-grade players.
"excuse me. Deputy Director Go Tae-wook?"
After finishing the safety lecture, it was time for Go Tae-wook to talk about players in earnest.
At that time, a man raised his hand and attracted the attention of those around him.
One of the people to whom he had to hand out an invitation to the player test was Jeongjae Lee.
"Do you have any questions?"
"Player qualification test. "Aren't these lectures only necessary for awakened people?"
"That's true, but… ?"
When Ko Tae-wook made an incomprehensible expression, Lee Jeong-jae smiled irritably.
He said, looking at a man.
"I feel like there's a student here who doesn't need to take this lecture."
Taehyun was where his gaze was directed.
"Taehyun Kim. "If you stay here, what will become of the other children?"
It was only then that Ko Tae-wook recognized Tae-hyeon after hearing Lee Jeong-jae's words.
On the outside, it looks ordinary.
but.
Soon his eyes narrowed.
'Can't you see the abilities?'
The total number of abilities that should be shown is not visible.
The other children were still visible, so the skill wasn't canceled.
Go Tae-wook concentrated his magic on Tae-hyeon.
And a message window pops up.
[Information cannot be confirmed.]
'what? What is this... .'
Go Tae-wook activated the skill once again.
[Information cannot be confirmed.]
Ko Tae-wook's expression was perplexed at this impossible event.
The students also began to be as excited as Go Tae-wook.
"Now that I think about it, Kim Tae-hyun is still an unawakened person, right?"
"There is nothing wrong with what Lee Jeong-jae said."
"hey. "Isn't that too discriminatory between friends?"
"What are friends? "That guy is a pure fighter."
"Hey, be careful what you say. "Didn't you see what happened to Gu Beom-mo and Jo Tae-sik?"
"no way. "Those are all rumors, right?"
"The rumor is that Bae Hyuk-soo and Kim Tae-hyun... ."
Go Tae-wook understood the situation from the murmur.
'Aren't they all awakened?'
Now that I think about it, I think one of the teachers said there was a child like that.
It didn't fit the purpose for which he came here, so he just forgot about it.
Meanwhile.
Lee Jeong-jae walked towards Tae-hyeon and shouted again.
It was enough to make the main auditorium resound.
"There is no reason for the non-awakened guy to be here. Taehyun Kim. Or did you have an 'awakening' in the meantime?"
A clear provocation aimed at shaming.
It was what I expected.
A smile appeared on Taehyun's face.
"Ah, that's true too."
That moment.
Beep beep.
Go Tae-wook's mouth opened slightly.
Although it was only for a moment.
It was because of the number that popped up above Taehyun's head.
'5… 5,000… ?'
That's from a teenager.
And that can never come from a non-awakened person.
No, it was a shame that should not have been revealed.
* * *
[Skill use has been detected. Caught in the observer's eye (A). It resists with mysterious power. Resistance was successful.]
I ignored the message that appeared before my eyes and turned around.
In his previous life, he was kicked out due to Lee Jeong-jae's remarks, but this time it was of his own will.
Because there is nothing to see here anymore.
after that.
Lee Jung-jae's ridicule, which was expected, continued.
"If losers like you want to make a living, they should at least study hard. Do you know anything? "I wonder if I will use you as an employee."
Although the remark crossed the line.
No one in the auditorium could say anything to Lee Jeong-jae.
Whether you are a teacher or a student, there is nothing good about being picked on by this guy.
Truly omnipotent power.
He could have screamed out of shame, but Taehyun, the person involved, only listened with one ear.
'There's no need to hang out now.'
There are quite a few undiscovered dungeons remaining not only in Seoul but throughout New Korea.
Among them, there was an S-class dungeon teeming with high-class monsters.
'Your skills may be needed then.'
The corners of Taehyun's mouth rose as he made eye contact with Lee Jeongjae.
"Thank you for the advice."
"what?"
Taehyun smiled at the future riches and left the main auditorium.
Among the noisy children and teachers.
It was Go Tae-wook who was watching that scene blankly.