Chapter 131.3 |
Candidate #4’s face now looked completely bewildered.
Like he had no idea why such an obvious question was even being asked.
“Uh. The one who has the highest chance of survival…?”
– …!
“I mean… my goal is always to save as many people as possible.”
Candidate #4 :
That’s how the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau is supposed to operate.
– ……
Ryu Jaekwan stared blankly through the glass.
‘This is a pass.’
‘A guaranteed pass.’
Candidate #4’s attitude might have been overly passive, but in reality, most highly competent Disaster Management Bureau agents tended to be… a little off in some way.
Trauma exchanged for conviction.
In that sense, he was a textbook example of a viable candidate.
‘So, a pass—’
And then, suddenly—
Candidate #4’s inner thoughts updated.
Candidate #4 :
…Not that I’d ever find myself in a situation where I’d have to make a choice like this in the first place.
– …!
Something about that wording—
That phrasing was far too deliberate.
‘A gap.’
Ryu Jaekwan and the assistant interviewers tensed up for a moment. Their eyes widened as they focused on the next line of text—
Candidate #4 :
Uh, well… I don’t really have anyone I’d call a friend, so…
Oh.
Candidate #4 :
Should I have just pointed out that this question doesn’t even apply to me? Saying it’s fine because I don’t have friends sounds kind of embarrassing though…
“……”
“……”
Candidate #4 :
No, I shouldn’t say anything. Let’s just… try to make some new colleagues here. Fighting!
A heavy silence settled over the interviewers.
“……”
Ryu Jaekwan could feel the assistant interviewers staring at him.
Their looks were practically screaming, If you keep dragging this out and don’t pass him now, you are officially the worst piece of shit alive!
– …Remove your oxygen mask and stand by.
Candidate #4 gave a small nod and took off the mask.
The instructions were the same as before, but everyone in the room—both the candidates and the interviewers—understood.
“…Thank you.”
Candidate #4 had passed.
– All four candidates who have completed the aptitude test, please move to the waiting area.
Beyond Candidate #3, who was being dragged out like a sack of potatoes, Candidate #4 adjusted his glasses in a slightly hunched posture before moving along.
Even though… he had just taken a subtle hit to his dignity without even realizing it.
Which, ironically, made him all the more memorable as a successful candidate.
‘Looking forward to seeing where that guy ends up.’
‘Yeah.’
The assistant interviewers exchanged glances, silently agreeing—
‘If we ever run into that timid-looking Candidate #4 again, we should keep an eye out for him.’
Not that they needed to.
Because that answer had been calculated to produce this exact effect!
* * *‘Phew.’
At the waiting room.
I sank into a chair with a deep sigh.
My knees were pressed together—making sure I didn’t look too relaxed.
‘I made it through…’
But seriously—why the hell was Agent Bronze there?!
‘I almost passed out the moment I heard that guy’s voice over the speakers.’
When I realized that one of the interviewers was Ryu Jaekwan, I thought I was completely screwed.
But surprisingly… it actually helped me refine my character.
It’s…
‘A reserved, introverted agent with an unspeakable, tragic backstory, but outstanding abilities.’
That was the character I had planned to play in the Disaster Management Bureau.
To fit the role, I had spent weeks deliberately messing up my appearance before showing up for the interview.
‘Being a bit withdrawn raises less suspicion than being overly smooth.’
After all, most Disaster Management Bureau agents had complicated pasts—I wouldn’t seem out of place at all.
Oh—was pretending to be shy mentally exhausting?
Not really.
I’m a naturally timid person, after all.
All I had to do was drop my social mask and let my anxious, cowardly thoughts spill out into the open.
‘Hahaha…’
……Honestly? This was still better than pretending to be an insane MZ employee at Daydream Inc.
…At least, that’s what I had to tell myself!
I wiped the sweat from my face beneath my glasses.
‘Anyway, it worked.’
I had basically secured my acceptance.
Even with Ryu Jaekwan as an interviewer.
That’s right.
The same agent who had once been spectacularly backstabbed by me… had just passed me.
Since I hadn’t been dragged away by agents mid-interview, it meant he had decided to let me through.
‘…But now I have to hit him in the back of the head yet again.’
Because, at the end of the day—I was a spy.
I internally apologized while breaking into a cold sweat. I-I’m really sorry, Agent… just one more time…
‘But… he’s still a little suspicious of me, right?’
He passed me, but was probably going to keep an eye on me.
Maybe even reporting everything to his superiors, detailing my past ties to Daydream Inc.?
That would be a problem.
Since I had already taken this path, I had to fully commit—there was no turning back.
‘I need to work harder to completely solidify his trust in me.’
I waited quietly.
Before long, my number was called again.
A confirmation of acceptance.
– Candidate #4 from Group ‘다 (Da)’.
– You have passed. Proceed to the designated location.
“…!”
I made it through.
That ‘location’ was probably where the interviewers would finally show themselves, hand me my agent ID, and assign me to a temporary division.
Which meant…
I was about to meet Ryu Jaekwan face to face.
‘I didn’t expect to run into my biggest threat on my first day as an undercover agent, but… this is actually a good thing.’
Might as well resolve this issue now.
“Yes! Yes…”
I intentionally answered too loudly, then quickly lowered my voice as if I was panicking. After that, I scrambled to my feet and cautiously made my way forward.
…As I walked, I repeated my strategy in my head—the plan I had crafted for this exact moment. Operation: Agent, I Faked My Death and Escaped That Insane Cult Company! ㅠㅠ
Thus began my life as a fraudulent government agent.
……For the record and just to make things absolutely clear… I swear, I never meant for it to get this serious…
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