---

Before I could even open my mouth to decide, the broadcast began to play.

<The people standing here are currently the top performers at the Gangseo Management Agency.>

The broadcast continued in a dry tone, introducing the individuals.

<They are reliable individuals, so please go with whomever you wish.>

Park Ye Eun, who was listening to the broadcast with me, tilted her head and whispered to me.

“But how do we choose? Do we?”

“I guess so?”

<Choosing a partner is done with mutual respect for each other's opinions.>

<The side selecting the mentor can make a proposal first, and the other party can either accept or decline.>

<Of course, the mentor side can also make a proposal first, in which case the process is reversed.>

I see.

To be honest, there’s hardly any need to think about it.

Hypnosis? Just roll with it and you win.

Telekinesis? Just roll with it and you win.

Immortality… well, you can’t win by rolling, but I can’t even imagine Yu Da On beating Ahn Sang Hyun if he were to roll.

In other words, my decision is—

“Let’s team up.”

Before I could even speak, Jang Chae Yeon walked over with firm steps and looked at me.

“I’m good at this kind of thing.”

“Uh, Chae Yeon.”

Does she have no pride?

“I’m good too!”

And then Yu Da On came down, waving her hand.

“Don’t cut in line.”

“Was there no rule against cutting in line?”

The two started bickering, and…

“…”

Song Ah Rin was looking at me with a complicated expression from atop the podium.

“I’m sorry.”

“Uh.”

“Yes…?”

I passed by the two of them and climbed up the podium.

Song Ah Rin’s eyes widened.

“Uh, okay. I mean, I have some talent too, so—”

I walked past Song Ah Rin.

She took a deep breath like someone who was gasping for air, and Park Ye Eun, who had been walking closely beside me, turned around and said,

“Ugh…”

Mumbling something under her breath, she whispered,

“Oppa, absolutely don’t look back.”

“Why?”

“Don’t you realize something is aiming for the back of your head right now?”

“Oh. Is it because I’m not teaming up?”

“Yes.”

“Hey, these people aren’t the type to not find a team just because I’m not there. We’re all elites in our own right.”

They’ve all survived quite a few challenges. It would be unwise to underestimate the Human Resources Team.

“Should we just say something?”

What’s up with her?

Surprisingly, no one approached Ahn Sang Hyun.

I can’t tell if it’s reverence or if there’s something I don’t know…

“No, Kim Jae Heon!”

He looked at me and smiled brightly.

“What’s going on? Are you planning to team up with me…?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow! This truly is an honor! The top-notch Human Resources Team and I teaming up? This is just fantastic!”

He laughed, then looked over my shoulder.

“…Whoa.”

His smiling face suddenly stiffened.

“Kim Jae Heon.”

“Yes?”

“Do not look back.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hahaha! Let’s go!”

And with that, he began walking back with a smile.

What on earth is behind me…?

“Ow!”

As I tried to look back, Park Ye Eun hurriedly pinched my side.

“Don’t look back.”

“I got it.”

Our team was the first to choose a mentor.

<Mentors who have been chosen please proceed to the door in front of you.>

The door opened, and Ahn Sang Hyun stepped out.

What lay before us was a dark corridor.

“What should we do?” Ahn Sang Hyun looked at me.

I pondered while making eye contact with him.

Overwhelming power.

The most lacking element in the Human Resources Team.

Thanks to that, we’ve always had to come up with convoluted strategies just to survive.

Sometimes, trying out a different method wouldn’t hurt.

“Please roll.”

“Uh?”

“Please destroy everything in front of you.”

A spark of excitement lit up in his eyes.

“Is that really… enough?”

“Yes. It is.”

“But there might be property damage.”

“Not my concern.”

The Management Agency will pay for it.

“The Branch Chief is going to be mad, you know.”

“Not my concern.”

If he was dissatisfied, he shouldn’t have put this guy as a mentor.

“What about the others? They won’t be able to take the exam properly.”

“Isn’t that good?”

If everyone passes, isn’t that a happy ending?

“Are you really… serious?”

His eyes shine with a manic light as he looks at me.

I’ve sensed it since the last time I saw him, but this guy is a little strange.

Does he enjoy breaking things?

“Please do it.”

He grinned widely.

“Understood!”

He curled his body into a ball.

The man turned into a single sphere.

“Haha… Hahaha…!”

The moment he kicked off the ground, flames erupted from the floor, and he shot forward like a bullet.

-BAM!

“AHHH!”

Park Ye Eun, who was next to me, screamed.

“Haha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

Something dark shot out in front, but the moment it touched him, it shattered.

Obstacles popped up, but they smashed to pieces.

Walls buckled.

Flames ignited on the floor.

As he passed, the path behind him was left in ruins.

“…Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Is it really okay to conduct the exam like this? Is this really the intention of the examiners?”

“No matter how you go, it just has to lead to Seoul.”

While it was devastated, a completely clear path lay before us.

*

“You stay.”

“But Branch Chief, this is Kim Jae Heon’s—”

“I said stay.”

The first ones to step out welcomed a few people looking forlorn and the Branch Chief, who was head-down and staring at his smartphone.

“But Kim Jae Heon asked me to…”

“Are you going to die just because Kim Jae Heon told you to?”

“No.”

Ahn Sang Hyun, who was literally being wrecked.

He looked at me.

A desperate gaze asking for help.

“Branch Chief, this is something I asked…”

“Shut up.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t think I could help anymore.

While I watched him being wrecked, I waited for the other people to arrive.

Eventually, others began to show up in their spots.

Yu Da On, Jang Chae Yeon, and Song Ah Rin.

However, the mood of those three was so grim that the others behind them silently hung their heads and followed.

“Wow, did they really have to ruin the atmosphere like that?”

“You really should be quiet, Oppa.”

Park Ye Eun slapped my arm.

*

And so the exam came to an end.

There were several reasons, but the biggest one was that Ahn Sang Hyun had completely wrecked the exam venue, and the second was the strong opinion of the Branch Chief.

He didn’t want to do it anymore or something like that.

I don’t know about others, but to be honest, it felt more like healing for me.

It might sound crazy, but to be honest, amidst so many anomalies and containment objects, an exam like this?

It was so easy it felt like nothing at all.

Anyway.

“Congratulations on your regular position.”

“Thank you!”

The next day, I nodded and greeted Park Ye Eun, whom I met while going to work, and she smiled as she returned the greeting.

“But I will try to avoid taking you to field work as much as possible.”

“Really?”

“When you get a bit older.”

I looked at Park Ye Eun, who pouted her lips.

“I’ll consider it.”

“…Understood.”

Even so, bringing a minor along to fieldwork isn’t right.

I could take her along if it was urgent, though.

As I moved into the office with Park Ye Eun, who was chattering away beside me…

“…”

“…”

“…”

The three people were staring at me intently.

“What’s the matter?”

“…”

After looking at me for a moment, Jang Chae Yeon turned her gaze away.

“I guess if you say so, it must be true.”

Yu Da On also wore a sullen expression.

“Right. I should do better.”

Song Ah Rin…

“…”

Had the same forlorn look too.

“…”

“Say something, Oppa.”

Park Ye Eun smiled at me.

It was a mischievous smile.

“Your sisters are disappointed in you, right? Yes?”

“Will you please be quiet?”

I turned to look at the others, leaving Park Ye Eun, who was still smiling.

“Everyone.”

The others turned their gazes towards me.

What should I say here?

-Tap, tap,

Park Ye Eun patted my back and whispered.

“Let’s go eat something delicious separately next time.”

“…Separately?”

“Definitely separately.”

“…”

“Hurry up.”

Park Ye Eun smiled widely and patted my back.

Alright, let’s take a gamble and try it out just once.

“Everyone, next time I will buy you something delicious, so let’s eat separately.”

Will this suffice for forgiveness—

“Okay.”

“I’ll be fine if it’s something Jae Heon wants to eat!”

“Uh, um… I wasn’t particularly angry. I just had other thoughts, that’s all.”

Jang Chae Yeon replied without hesitation, Yu Da On was smiling brightly, and Song Ah Rin was mumbling while twirling her hair.

“Is this really happening?”

“If something big comes up in the future, make sure to call me. What do you think, Oppa?”

“You’ve passed.”

“Yay!”

Park Ye Eun waved her hands with a smile, and suddenly—

BANG!

The door burst open, and the Team Leader stepped in.

“I received mail on the way today. There’s a letter for Da On… What’s going on?”

The Team Leader blinked and looked at me.

“I don’t know.”

“Really? From what I can tell, you seem to be the problem.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Every time something happens, I’m the one they point fingers at.

“Well, Da On.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Yu Da On shook her head and approached the Team Leader.

“A letter has come for you.”

“Letter? I don’t think I’m expecting anything?”

Yu Da On muttered as she ripped the letter open.

“…”

Her expression froze.

Jang Chae Yeon, standing next to her, peeked at the letter she was holding.

“…Come here.”

She looked at me.

Unlike Jang Chae Yeon, her expression was filled with concern.

“What’s going on?”

I moved next to Yu Da On and read the letter.

The attached paper caught my eye.

<Sender: Gangbuk Special Hospital.>

“Team Leader.”

“Uh, uh.”

As if sensing the atmosphere, the Team Leader blinked.

“Don’t leave Da On’s side. Absolutely.”

“Alright, I got it.”

“Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah.”

Jang Chae Yeon moved closer to me.

“Stay here with me.”

“You can trust me.”

Next.

“A-Rin.”

“…”

Song Ah Rin looked at me.

“Please go call the Branch Chief.”

“…Okay, I’ll do it.”

Song Ah Rin departed.

“Park Ye Eun.”

“Yes, yes?”

Lost in a daze while looking at the paper, Park Ye Eun turned to look at me.

“Come along.”

“Where… where to?”

“To gather our things.”

And finally.

“Da On.”

Yu Da On raised her head and looked at me.

Fear was etched across her face.

“It’s alright.”

I spoke to Yu Da On in a firm voice.

“We’re here, right?”

-The paper fluttered…

The torn letter waved in the wind.