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The Management Agency has a system for hiring full-time employees.

It’s a system limited to those who entered as interns, but I’ve heard it’s quite challenging.

“Help me?”

“Yes.”

In a café, Park Ye Eun is looking at me while drinking juice.

“Oh, it’s sweet.”

“Aren’t all high school students into sweet things?”

“No way! Did you only eat sweet stuff when you were in high school?”

“Yeah.”

At that age, coffee was so bitter that I honestly couldn’t fathom how anyone could drink it.

Now, I can’t even imagine living without coffee.

“I’m not! Life is way too bitter…”

“More nonsense.”

I cut off Park Ye Eun’s words sharply.

Of course, I know she hasn’t had an easy life.

But it’s also true that, as an adult, she has an obligation to prevent self-deprecation.

“You still don’t know life. Don’t say such things. Life can really get bitter.”

“Do you know you sometimes sound just like an old man?”

“Didn’t you call me an old man when we first met?”

“Exactly. I almost called you old man again just now.”

Playfully saying this, Park Ye Eun props her chin up.

“Anyway, I want you to help me out a bit.”

“What can I do to help?”

Should I at least give her some peer evaluations?

I’ve heard that can be quite mentally exhausting.

“Not that.”

Park Ye Eun shakes her head.

“I need to take a test.”

“A test?”

“Yeah.”

What kind of test?

“Do I need to help you study or something?”

It has been quite a while since I touched my studies.

“Eh? No, it’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

Park Ye Eun vigorously shakes her hands.

“They say you have to take a test with a reliable person.”

“A reliable person?”

“Yeah.”

“And that’s me?”

“Honestly, there’s no one more reliable than you through process of elimination.”

What does that even mean?

“What kind of test is it?”

“They said to think of it like a practical exam. It’s about handling emergencies as a Management Agency employee—your improvisation skills and such.”

“If it’s just about handling simple situations, wouldn’t Chae Yeon be better than me?”

“She lacks improvisation.”

“A-Rin?”

“She’ll just get really annoyed with me.”

“Yu Da On?”

“She might be lacking in practicality even if she has improvisational skills?”

“So, you settled on me?”

“Yep!”

In response to my question, Park Ye Eun smiles with an innocent expression.

“First, let’s talk about what kind of test it is.”

If it sounds ridiculous, I’ll just have to refuse immediately.

“They said it won’t involve going to a dangerous place.”

“Of course not.”

Would they really throw a kid who’s not even an adult into a life-or-death situation as a test?

I’d have definitely said something to the Management Agency about that.

“They have a course set up within the Management Agency, and you need to pass it to become a full-time employee.”

“What’s the passing rate?”

“Thirty-eight percent, they say?”

That number feels vaguely difficult.

“What sort of test is it?”

“Let’s see.”

Park Ye Eun mutters as she pulls a stack of papers from her bag.

“Situational assessment and improvisation. And a secret item.”

“A secret item?”

“It really says that.”

Park Ye Eun hands me the paper.

The paper titled ‘<Exam for Advancement to Full-time Employee>‘ had the following:

‘<The Management Agency always welcomes those wishing to advance from intern to full-time employee.> <However, to become a full-time employee, various abilities must be proven.> <To prove these abilities, the Management Agency conducts tests regularly, and only those who pass may ascend to full-time status.> <There are four major criteria assessed in the exam:> <First, Knowledge. This is covered by a written exam focusing on quarantine procedures and responses.> <Second, Improvisation. To survive in the Management Agency, not only knowledge but also improvisation is necessary. Your and your partner’s improvisation skills will be evaluated.> <Third, Situational Assessment. You must be able to accurately judge situations and recall the correct procedures to be considered an employee of the Management Agency.> <Fourth, Secret Item. This is the most important criterion, a virtue that Management Agency employees must have, whether consciously or unconsciously. Without this virtue, one can never become a full-time employee of the Management Agency.>‘

“…What is the last item?”

“I don’t really know either.”

Park Ye Eun shakes her head.

“I thought maybe you’d know.”

“I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Oh, didn’t you take the full-time employee exam?”

“I didn’t.”

“…That’s strange, isn’t everyone supposed to take it?”

“Probably Yu Da On hasn’t either.”

“Really?”

Park Ye Eun’s eyes widen.

“That sister too?”

“I don’t know about the other two.”

Since they’re not people who joined at the same time as me.

“Hmm…”

Park Ye Eun frowns and murmurs.

“I at least understand what that means now.”

“When does it start?”

“Actually, it’s already started?”

“What?”

Park Ye Eun blinks at me in surprise.

“I’ve already passed the written part.”

“What! You should have told me earlier!”

“Everyone’s busy, and I didn’t want to take up your time with it.”

“What kind of consideration does a kid even have?”

“It’s just keen intuition.”

Once again, Park Ye Eun responds playfully.

“Anyway, I think I’ll need your help during the practical part.”

“When’s the date?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Since you’re so intuitive, can’t you tell me a bit earlier next time?”

“No! I had no idea I’d be doing it the day after I got the results!”

Park Ye Eun mutters, sounding somewhat aggrieved.

“I don’t mind going.”

“Not a problem, right?”

“I’m gonna make a call.”

I turn my gaze away from Park Ye Eun, who’s looking at me with a puzzled expression, and dial the phone.

“…Nothing’s wrong, right?”

Shortly after the phone rings, the Branch Chief picks up.

“Yes. I called because I felt something might happen.”

“Please tell me it’s not about getting caught up in another issue!”

The Branch Chief’s voice turns serious immediately.

“That’s not it. I’m participating as a partner in this full-time employee advancement exam.”

“Partner? Ah, you mean Park Ye Eun, who just joined the Human Resources team?”

“That’s right.”

“Does Kim Jae Heon have to be the one? I heard Team Leader Heo Chan is quite skilled too.”

“It’s not my fault if she wants me this much.”

A deep sigh escapes the Branch Chief through the smartphone.

“I’ll observe this time then.”

“Thank you.”

The Branch Chief urges me over the phone.

“Can’t you just skip it? Why must you add to my responsibilities?”

“If you don’t go, someone who does reality checks at Gangdong Branch will call you over there—”

“Upon reconsideration, I think it’s essential duty as a member of the Human Resources team to oversee the growth of interns. Please go and return quickly.”

“Thank you.”

“Seriously. If something happens, I won’t hold back this time.”

The Branch Chief warns me before ending the call.

With a click, the call disconnects.

“Who were you on the phone with?”

“Someone coming as an observer.”

“Huh?”

While Park Ye Eun tilts her head in confusion, I start dialing again.

*

…

The new Management Team member, Eom Dong Han, couldn’t believe his eyes.

The full-time employee exam wasn’t supposed to be that big of a deal during his time.

Of course, the chances of failing were high, but if you keep challenging yourself, eventually you’d pass, even if failing didn’t cancel out your internship.

But…

“That’s him, isn’t it?”

“After the Dream of the Butterfly, he’s been suppressing bizarre phenomena and objects…”

“Yeah, that guy from the Human Resources Team…”

A tired-looking man appeared in front of the conference room with a child who looked a bit too young to be an adult, dressed in a school uniform.

All eyes were on the two.

“Human Resources Team Kim Jae Heon…”

“The ace of the fieldwork who has even surpassed the Isolation Team’s results…”

Murmurs filled the air.

“But who’s that kid next to him?”

“Pretty.”

“Right?”

The girl standing next to him, sporting pink braids, had a confident expression in stark contrast to the tired-looking man.

“Is that person famous?”

And at that moment, the intern assigned to Eom Dong Han looked up at him.

“They say he’s the best recently.”

Eom Dong Han turns his gaze towards the man.

At first glance, he looks like any ordinary, exhausted office worker’s face, but…

“His eyes are different.”

Eom Dong Han noticed how he scanned the room swiftly as soon as he entered.

“His observational skills are off the charts.”

Then without a second thought, he confidently stepped forward.

“They said the Branch Chief will give this advancement speech.”

“Knowing the Branch Chief is coming and still taking the front stage…”

Regardless, the Branch Chief was a figure of fear to everyone.

Exactly who they were, rumors floated around that she was an ancient being over 300 years old, faster than a sports car, and as strong as a crane.

Everyone thought there was no benefit in getting involved with someone like that.

The newly emerging ace of the Human Resources Team, Kim Jae Heon, stood proudly at the front.

The Branch Chief walked out.

Always bearing the same dignity and confident smile.

She turned her gaze towards Kim Jae Heon.

In that moment, Eom Dong Han thought he saw ‘fear’ etched across her face.

But after blinking, she began speaking with a calm expression as if nothing had happened.

“Everyone.”

As the Branch Chief started to speak, silence fell over the hall.

“The most important thing is safety.”

And for exactly one hour, the Branch Chief passionately delivered her speech on safety.

*

After the speech concluded, the Branch Chief opened a paper and spoke.

“First exam. The improvisation test of surviving in the canal begins now.”

A canal?

Eom Dong Han’s mind briefly filled with questions,

– Whoosh!!!

A loud sound echoed, and water began to pour out.

“What…”

The hall started to fill with water.