Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 57

"Have you heard the news?"

Today again, Kang Hana who visited the examination hall greeted me with those words instead of a hello. Thinking this might be like a visiting newspaper, I asked, "What news?"

"Jung Yuhyeon. They say he dropped out."

"Dropped out?"

This was quite unexpected. I didn't think he would make such a self-destructive move.

The Ability Academy is a completely different place from an ordinary university. A place where you can drop out and re-enroll? As if that would happen. Once you're out, that's it. Whether it was voluntary or forced.

No matter how hard and painful it is, you have to endure. It'll be even harder later. If you can't even stand that and give up, it will be the same later too. With that reasoning, once a student leaves, they never return.

"What a foolish choice. So many students work hard just to get into the Academy."

At my words, Kang Hana nodded in agreement.

Even though he was demoted to Bronze, he could have worked harder and climbed back up. She muttered that she couldn't believe he couldn't endure that momentary embarrassment.

'Well, that's not quite it. Unlike others, I was never going to let him rise.'

Perhaps Jung Yuhyeon had figured out my intentions. Rather than staying in Bronze and collecting academic warnings until being expelled, He'd rather hand in the withdrawal form himself and leave.

That was perhaps the wiser thought, but it's still "cold quitting." Whether you leave on your own or get pushed out, giving up is the same. Didn't he have the determination to grit his teeth, grow, and get his Silver rank back?

'Though it's a shame. I was using him to blow off steam when stressed.'

For a moment, I worried that he might cause trouble outside. But soon I realized that was a needless concern.

If he got caught by Irina again, he really wouldn't survive.

"And the students' atmosphere seems to have changed."

"Changed how?"

Since my job is as an examiner, I can't leave this examination hall. Therefore, I've been gauging student reactions through Kim Suhyeon, Lee Hyunwoo, and Kang Hana.

But Kim Suhyeon is too busy talking about herself the moment she arrives. Lee Hyunwoo just charges in immediately, so he doesn't talk about other students.

"It's gradual, but they seem to be adapting. And some have realized their shortcomings. The number of students staying in the training halls has increased significantly compared to before."

"That's a relief. I was worried there might still be a lot of complaints."

"You personally erased those complaints, didn't you, Examiner?"

When I was silent for a moment as if asking what she meant, Kang Hana smiled and continued.

"You know perfectly well. Stopping the monsters during the sudden Gate event, and fighting when villains attacked. Those alone would have had a big impact on the students."

I just hope that impact went in a positive direction.

'I hope it's "I should become a better ability user like the Examiner!" rather than "I should become an ability user who can gain popularity like the Examiner!" That's my concern.

"I can see what you're thinking, Examiner."

Kang Hana continued with a slight smile.

"But I don't think that's bad either. While some people move out of a sense of duty like you, others move because they admire other ability users. As long as it becomes a motivation to work hard, isn't that enough?"

After thinking about that for a moment, I nodded. To be honest, I too have reasons beyond duty or a sense of mission.

Of course, I genuinely want to prevent students from dying senselessly later. Literally, young lives being "washed away" is not a pleasant sight. But that reason alone isn't why I speak and act as I do.

"Examiner Baek Seojin."

Turning my head slightly, I saw what looked like a security officer looking at me.

"The Headmaster is calling for you. We'll handle the examination duties briefly."

Ma Hakjun is calling for me again. What could it be this time? As I followed the security officer, I pondered but couldn't think of anything.

'It's not like I broke someone's ribs again this time.'

Come to think of it, that tattoo thug. What was his name...ah, right. Park Junwoo. I wonder what he's doing now. He hasn't been seen since that day. Did this bastard drop out too? Afraid something else might get broken?

"Headmaster."

"Come in."

As the security officer nodded, I opened the door and went inside.

Nothing had changed from last time. A remarkably ordinary place for someone who was once a hero. I think even a regular university president's office would look more impressive.

"I heard you called for me, Headmaster."

"Welcome. And I apologize for calling someone who was focusing on their work."

"It's fine. It was a quiet time after lunch anyway."

Ma Hakjun offered me a seat and then brewed a cup of coffee. A civil servant having coffee served by the headmaster? I might really be getting famous.

"I got a call from that friend of mine."

Ma Hakjun has several friends. But the one he's talking about is probably...

"You mean Chairman Kang Minseong?"

"Chairman my ass. What kind of goddamn chairman. He's just a pathetic old fool who can't live up to his age."

I almost said, "That's true," without thinking.

It's okay if I curse someone, but not when others do it. That's what real friendship is, isn't it?

"He does love his granddaughter intensely. He couldn't stop smiling when talking about her."

"That's why he's pathetic. Do you know how exhausting he's made things for me?"

For reference, Ma Hakjun is not the type to make idle talk. So those words meant he was genuinely annoyed and heated because of Kang Minseong.

"As you probably know by now, Suhyeon—that is, student Kim Suhyeon—has a sad past."

"I heard about that from Chairman Kang Minseong."

"He must really like you to have told you about that."

Kim Suhyeon lost her mother when she was young. Not in an accident, but in battle. She was reportedly an excellent ability user. And Kim Suhyeon awakened her ability taking after her grandfather and mother. But she couldn't achieve the same level of power as those two, which fueled her inferiority complex.

"It was a sad incident."

"A sad incident indeed. People are all like that. Everyone has a terribly unfortunate past."

After taking a sip of coffee, Ma Hakjun was silent for a moment before continuing.

"In my case too, I lost many friends in the early days of the Gate era. And later, I lost my son. Although much time has passed, I can still faintly recall it. The day my son passed."

I couldn't say anything in response to Ma Hakjun's words.

They say a child who loses parents is pitiful, but parents who lose a child are even more so. I've heard that the stress of a child dying is terrible even when one is old enough to die. Let alone if they died in their prime, that would be a nightmare you'd never want to recall.

"...I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's alright. It's been quite a while now, so it's blurry."

That's a lie. That's not the look of someone whose memories are blurry. He probably won't forget until he dies. The face of his child, smiling brightly.

Once while passing through the streets, I saw victims of a Gate incident. They died indiscriminately—men, women, old, young. Among them were many young students. Even now, I can't forget the screams of those children's parents.

Those screams were more horrible than a beast's howl.

Even though they were people I had no connection with, my heart was torn. Seeing that, I wished that friends in their prime wouldn't die anymore.

Perhaps what I told the students—that I didn't want them to die— Might have been influenced by the shock I received back then.

"What about you?"

"Pardon?"

"Are you alright? When you go through these things, you naturally start wondering if others are okay. If they might have even darker, deeper pasts than yours."

For a moment, I was a bit confused.

The memories remaining in this body are a mixture of "mine" and "the original Baek Seojin's." So I remember them, but the emotions that should naturally arise don't surface.

"I lost my parents when I was young too. And all my relatives, everyone."

Like right now, saying I lost all my parents and relatives and became an orphan. But as I say it, I don't feel any particular emotion, not even sadness.

"You wouldn't want to recall that."

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

"Fortunately, it was when I was young, so it's blurry. Rather, what came after was so hard that I forgot everything."

"I see. I understand. Yes. You too must have gone through very difficult times."

After taking another sip of coffee, Ma Hakjun apologized for bringing up such topics. The reason he called me wasn't this, and he said he'd spoiled the mood with a strange subject.

"Examiner Baek Seojin. The reason I called you again is that I have a favor to ask."

"If it's something I can do, I'll help with all my strength."

"That's reassuring to hear."

With those words, Ma Hakjun turned and grabbed something from the work table behind him.

"This is it. The favor I want to ask you."

What he handed me were documents listing several schedules. As I looked them over, I let out an "Uh" of surprise.

"...Headmaster. Surely, you're not asking me to..."

"That's exactly right. What I want to ask you is just that."

I checked the documents in my hand again, thinking I might have seen wrong.

[Gold ~ Platinum Rank Practical Training Plan – External Support Case]

[Team 5 Leading Professor: _ _ _ ]

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

Regardless of my shocked reaction, Ma Hakjun continued.

"I want you to take on the role of substitute professor for this practical training session for Gold and Platinum ranks, specifically for the external support case."

Hi readers, sorry for the late upload, website was down when I had the free time for upload.

And we are getting closer to our goal. We need 4

(goals: 64 votes) more votes on novelbuddy to reach the vote goals. 1 extra chapters will be unlocked if we reached the vote goals.

Happy reading!

If you enjoyed the novel, please leave a rating and review on novelbuddy. It not only supports the website but also helps new readers discover this novel.

If you want to read the advance chapters, please check our Patreon

page—subscribe now to read up to 12 chapters ahead!