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[ (Side Story) If I did that, would I have been kicked out? ]
WHA Central Control Room.
The place was so busy that it was reminiscent of a battlefield.
“48 hours have passed since the exam started. To date, 3,287 candidates have abandoned the exam.”
Baek Chang-soo seemed a little surprised to see Baek Young-hee’s report with a tired face.
“Did only about 20% get eliminated in two days? “There’s more left than expected.”
“Most of the applicants are talented people who made it this far by overcoming competition rates of more than 10,000 to 1 at each level.”
The two people’s eyes simultaneously turned to the large monitor located in the center of the control room.
-Wheeeee!
More than tens of thousands of drone cameras were widely installed throughout the island, observing test takers on the island.
The candidates reflected on the screen were hunting to survive on the island, fighting with other candidates to steal points, and finding and clearing missions hidden throughout the island.
Ambush and surprise attack.
Cooperation and betrayal.
Bravado and deception.
The island was already like a huge jungle.
The strong hunt the weak, and the weak join forces to fight against the strong or seek out those weaker than themselves in order to survive.
All of their actions are observed, analyzed, and transmitted to the central control center.
Hundreds of divided screens covering the entire wall of the central control room were changing all the time.
“Here’s a report! “A large-scale battle broke out between test takers at Branch B of Sector 11!”
“A semi-catastrophe special mission occurred in Area 23. The probability of clearing based on the abilities of the test takers is 34.9%….”
“Emergency patient occurs in Area 36! “We need a priest to come!”
More than hundreds of people worked tirelessly to minimize casualties.
They frequently checked the applicants’ appearance on the camera as well as their location information and vital signs.
Baek Chang-soo put magic into his voice and spoke so that everyone could hear.
“Injuries are inevitable, but no one should die unexpectedly during the test period!”
“yes!”
“I am not saying this out of courtesy. “Many eyes are watching this place.”
The possibility that an accident could occur due to a mistake by the organizers during the entrance exam or that a terrorist attack with a specific purpose could occur could not be ruled out.
‘No matter how thoroughly you prepare, there are bound to be some sloppy parts as it is your first time. There are forces here trying to keep us in check…’ Although
there were no forces in the dimensional hub big enough to outright make the WH Group an enemy, there were plenty of people plotting things behind the scenes.
Therefore, Baek Chang-soo was emphasizing to everyone not to let go of tension even for a moment.
“The safety of our students here is 100% our responsibility. Please keep that in mind!”
“yes! All right!”
The employees were working in shifts, but Baek Chang-soo stayed at his job for over 48 hours without sleeping even a wink.
It took a lot of mental energy because I had to listen to reports, think, and make judgments all the time, rather than just standing there.
Even if you are a great superhuman, it is not an easy task.
However, Baek Chang-soo calmly endured the enormous stress with the mental strength of an iron man.
Baek Young-hee, who was watching from the side, asked worriedly.
“CEO. How about taking a short break? “I think the test takers have also adapted to the new environment.”
Because it was an official position, she called me CEO, but her eyes were full of concern for her father.
“Don’t worry. “I’m still very energetic.”
Baek Chang-soo grinned as if this was nothing.
In fact, he didn’t even know he was tired.
‘It’s exciting to watch children who will become future heroes.’
There is one thing that humanity painfully realized during the last Demon World War.
Strong power is needed to maintain order in the dimensional hub.
The reason and goal of WHA’s establishment was to develop heroes who would become a force in the future.
The media was talking about WHA being a paving stone for WH Group to dominate the dimension hub, but Baek Chang-soo was not interested in such nonsense.
His eyes only lit up as he looked at the twinkling morning stars beyond the screen.
“Hoo! “I can’t believe we’re already at that level…”
There were test takers who showed more outstanding performance than expected, and conversely, there were also test takers who were more disappointed than expected.
“yes! That’s how it is there!”
When I found a pearl in an unexpected place, I clenched my fist without realizing it.
The universe is wide and there are many outstanding talents.
There were many times when even superhumans, who were said to be the strongest on earth, were impressed.
As I was just watching, my body began to itch…
“I can’t do this. “I need to check the skills of some people myself…!”
chin.
At that moment, Baek Young-hee, who placed her hand on Baek Chang-soo’s shoulder, whispered behind him in a voice like the Grim Reaper.
“There’s no way around it.”
“Hey Younghee. Just once….”
“If it doesn’t work out, you know it won’t work!”
No matter how much time passed, Baek Chang-su’s fighting nature and the reality of being held captive by his daughter did not change.
In the end, Baek Chang-soo gave up on going to the site and sighed in regret.
“Younghee, in your eyes, who is the most impressive among the test takers?”
“Generally speaking, they stand out in the order of their test scores.”
Younghee Baek pointed to a few of the numerous monitors.
Most of them showed top-performing students wearing red, orange, and yellow smart bands.
“Those two in particular are at the level of disturbing the ecosystem.”
Youngshin Jang and Shin Kurodama.
The two boys shown on the monitor were conquering the island without any hesitation, quickly clearing away the monsters and test takers who were blocking their path.
They both had something in common: they were diligently searching the island as if they were looking for something or someone.
Baek Chang-soo nodded as if it was worth it.
“Those two are special. “They are also children who have a deep relationship with the vice president.”
There was nothing more to teach the two boys, who had distinct personalities, about combat.
The only way left is to hone your abilities and grow.
“But the purpose of establishing WHA was not simply to create strong superhumans.”
“okay. “Life at WHA will be of great help to both of us.”
Additionally, the overwhelming strength of the two boys will serve as a positive stimulus to other test takers.
“Besides these two, there are several other persons of interest. I also see test takers hiding their strength… and….”
Baek Young-hee lowered her voice and took out a palm-sized tablet from her arms.
[Abyoot-!]
In the screen, a dumpling-headed girl wearing a yellow one-piece training suit was riding a large wolf, swinging her nunchucks and hitting random monsters.
-Babababak!
-Babababak!
Every time the nunchucks were swung, the monsters caught in the trajectory flew away like fallen leaves.
“Lily seems to be adjusting well too.”
“…Why are you wearing Bruce Lee clothes? “What is that head again?”
“I guess it’s an image change. “I guess I’ll only use martial arts instead of fireworks.”
Currently, only a few people in the WHA knew Lily’s identity.
The ‘Master of Flame’, who made the greatest contribution in the Demon World War along with his landlord, was known to have died, and the remaining records were deleted or distorted by every means possible.
Here, Daein and Lily used the ability to cause ‘cognitive errors’, making it impossible for them to recognize anyone other than those they had given permission to.
Just as a small believer who idolizes a great man cannot recognize him even though he sees him every day.
‘But you can’t erase all people’s memories.’
If the flame was used too obviously, someone might suspect Lily’s identity.
So it looks like he used his head in his own way.
“Well, for that kid, it would be enough even if he didn’t use flames. “I learned martial arts from my teacher.”
Strictly speaking, Lily received martial arts from Cheon Mu-geuk before Baek Chang-su, so she became his sister-in-law.
[Achoot~!]
…Sister’s residence.
“Luckily, I don’t think you need to worry too much about Lily. “The force is controlled appropriately so it doesn’t jump out.”
“I think that look itself really stands out.”
“But you know he’s a lot calmer than I expected, right? “That’s the range of defense.”
“…That’s true.”
Lily, who they were most worried about, managed to pass the test normally, so the two were able to take a breather and look at the entire island again.
56 hours have passed since the start of the test.
As the entrance exam entered its third day, the candidates showed themselves completely adapting to the island in their own way.
Most test takers formed groups and established their own areas.
“Those kids are worth keeping an eye on, too.”
Several candidates who showed strong leadership and charisma succeeded in forming groups of tens to hundreds of people beyond the party.
Children with the qualities of a monarch.
They lorded it over others and swept up points.
Baek Chang-soo scratched his chin while looking at that scene.
“That’s not the wrong way, but…”
He wanted to see test takers respond in different ways in more diverse environments.
“I think we need to make a change at this point.”
Baek Young-hee asked as if she had been waiting.
“What are you going to do?”
WH Group made numerous preparations for today.
There were numerous unopened locations and unactivated missions on the island.
Wouldn’t it be a shame if you prepared so much but didn’t use it properly?
Baek Chang-soo said with a grin.
“Let’s do it with…. This time, instructors were also brought in.”
At that moment, several employees looked at their CEO with expressions of boredom.
The real entrance exam begins now.
And their work intensity would become even more intense.
***
[Notification from the central control room. All test takers are requested to gather at the location indicated on the smart band.]
“Huh?”
At the sudden announcement, Lily stopped using the nunchuk and looked at the smart band.
“Kyaaaaa!”
The troll, thinking this was an opening, screamed and attacked from behind.
Of course, there was no way.
-Baaaaaa!
The troll, bloodied by one blow, broke the tree and flew dozens of meters away, but Lily wasn’t even looking in that direction.
[I inform you once again. All test takers are requested to gather at the location indicated on the smart band within one hour.]
[If you do not participate in this mission, your test score may be greatly disadvantaged.]
“Lily. “Have you checked your smart band?”
“yes. Here you go!”
“I think we can go to one of the blinking dots on the map. “Where do you think we should go?”
Now, if anything happens, So Shinhan asks Lily’s opinion first.
It had to be that way.
This girl, whom I had been with for three days, was strong beyond common sense, had tremendous combat experience, and never hesitated when important decisions had to be made.
This time too, Lily chose one of the seven dots displayed on the smart band without hesitation.
“In cases like this, the closest place is better.”
“why?”
“The farther away you are, the longer it will take!”
…Sometimes I feel like I make decisions without thinking too much.
‘Well, it’ll work out somehow.’
Soshinhan nodded with a half-liberated expression.
“okay. “Then let’s go to the nearest place.”
As soon as Soshinhan got down on all fours, his body transformed into a large wolf.
As if it was natural, Lily jumped up and jumped on the wolf’s back.
“Hey!”
It felt like it was a special vehicle, but Soshinhan tried to shake off those thoughts and started running.
After a while.
At the place where the two arrived, quite a few test takers had already gathered.
An entrance leading to a cave shaped like a devil with his mouth open.
As soon as I arrived in front of it, a new message appeared.
[You must be in a party of at least 4 people to enter.]
I wondered why people were gathered at the entrance instead of going in, and it seemed like everyone was looking for party members.
Soshinhan, who saw this, clenched his fist.
‘Finally I have something to do!’
“Lily. “Wait here for a moment.”
Determined to show these brats who only know how to fight, So Shin-han confidently approached the test takers who were separated by two or one by one.
“Are you looking for a party? As it happens, there are only two of us…”
However, before he could demonstrate the sales skills he had honed in society, the test takers’ expressions hardened after checking the color of his bracelet.
“I’m sorry, but we have someone waiting for us.”
“All seats are full.”
“You have no conscience? “You don’t want to party unless you’re in the right grade.”
“Something like that is trying to stick to me. If you don’t want to get hit, get out!”
“…….”
The first smart bands Soshinhan and Lily received were white in color.
In other words, they were evaluated as the weakest among the test takers.
No one wanted to enter that cave with the weak, knowing what danger it might pose.
Because of this, they were completely ignored and ignored.
“It’s too much, really… I didn’t even listen to what was said…”
Lily comforted Soshinhan, who came back with his ears drooping.
“are you okay. are you okay. Don’t cry, mister. Pop!”
The girl stepped forward, bending her neck left and right as if this was not the first time something like this had happened.
“I learned it from my uncle.”
It was unusual to see him warming up and twirling his arms.
The corners of the girl’s mouth rose fiercely.
“In cases like this, if you hit the strongest guy here a few times, everything will be resolved.”
Hey you boss! What on earth did you teach that kid!
“I can tolerate other things, but I can’t tolerate ignoring the puppy in our restaurant!”
You are the one ignoring me the most!
Soshinhan hurriedly ran towards Lily and grabbed her by the leg of her pants.
“Lily! “You can’t misbehave here!”
“Let go! “Give it to all of you!”
The test takers looked at the skit with a sneer.
Without even imagining what would happen to them after a while.
And at that time,
“If I did that, the CEO would have kicked me out?”
A familiar voice.
Lily, who was walking with Sosinhan dragging her leg and swinging her arms, stopped and looked back.
“!!”
At that moment, the girl’s pupils grew angry and she immediately shouted with a big smile.
“Wendy!”
A girl with bright sapphire colored hair was walking towards me, giggling.
[(Side story) If I did that, I would have been kicked out? ]End
ⓒ Ganjjajang
