Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 80

My wake-up time and work preparation were no different from before. But as soon as I put on my shoes and stepped outside, I realized that was my mistake.

"Mr. Baek Seojin."

As I stepped outside, there was a black sedan and suited figures standing around it. While I was thinking, "What's this suddenly," a suited man approached.

"We've been waiting."

"...Is this more national security nonsense?"

"What? Ah, no! That's not us."

Then what? Everyone can see you're exactly like that. As I narrowed my eyes and stared at him, the suited man quickly continued.

"We're just people who will accompany Mr. Baek Seojin on his way to work."

"Accompany?"

"Yes. More precisely, as bodyguards."

Bodyguards? What's this suddenly? As I tilted my head in confusion, the suited man explained.

I had been designated as an important person, so a security team was assigned. They had absolutely no intention of bothering me, only protecting me at the national level.

After moving to a designated safe location, this wouldn't happen anymore, he said.

"So in the end, I have to move from here."

"Unfortunately, that's true. The distance from here to the Academy where you work is too far. I heard you have to transfer public transportation several times."

"That's true."

"Additionally, there are too few ability users around here who could help you. From these perspectives, in case of an emergency, it could be very difficult to get support."

The explanation is that they're doing this for my safety. But that's definitely not the only purpose.

If everything in the world ran purely, how nice would that be. But as I see it, there's probably also a surveillance purpose.

Someone who can stand up to an Elder might actually be a plant from the villain side. Or he could be a traitor who turns the knife around like Hyeon Sujin or Kwak Hyuk.

"Let's go. If we leave now, you'll arrive more than 20 minutes earlier than your usual time."

Are you kidding me? The words itched inside my mouth.

What's so great about arriving 20 minutes early for work? Damn. Isn't it better to arrive exactly on time?

I felt a strong urge to say something.

'...No, let's hold back. These people also came to work early just to wait for me.'

One thing I've learned as a low-level civil servant: At least among the lower ranks, don't make life harder for each other.

We all know how difficult it is, so why should I go out of my way to say something unpleasant and give them a hard time?

"...Let's go."

So, I obediently got into the black sedan that the suited man indicated. Then the suited man got into the passenger seat and gave the signal to depart, and the vehicles started moving.

I slightly turned my head to look behind. A black van was following behind the car I was in. It seemed to be the vehicle where the group of suits I had seen earlier had boarded.

"How many of you are there?"

"Me and this friend, and with the team members coming behind, seven in total."

"...Isn't that too many people assigned?"

The suited man in the passenger seat is either A-rank or has reached that level of skill. And if they're team members, even if they're below that, their skills shouldn't be bad. Assigning seven such ability users seemed like a serious waste of manpower.

"Not at all."

Of course, the suited man objected as if to say, "What are you talking about?"

"I heard about Mr. Baek Seojin's exploits from colleagues who were there. You fought an Elder and inflicted serious injuries, they said. An examiner's struggle to protect students. It was truly impressive."

"That was just... me being a bit crazy. How could I have thought of confronting an Elder?"

"That's exactly what's important. Decent ability users, even myself, wonder if I could even speak properly if an Elder was in front of me, let alone confront them."

Afterward, the suited man went on to say things that made me blush in embarrassment.

He said I was a good stimulus to those who are too fixated on ranks and give up when faced with rank differences. He said I was a clear warning against the recently increasing attacks by villains.

"And just recently, there was even an article saying that many people are naming their newborn babies 'Seojin'..."

Shit, stop it. At this rate, aren't villains going to try to assassinate me? Like death by excessive embarrassment. Yeah, that must be it.

"Let's stop that story. It's a bit much."

"Ah. Is that so? You seem very embarrassed."

Who wouldn't be after hearing that? Becoming famous is good. Yes, it's good, but babies' names is a bit too far.

"I suppose it makes sense. Mr. Baek Seojin just acted because you thought it was something you had to do. But in people's eyes, it looks different."

Excuse me. Let's stop, please. I'm begging you! Stop!

Let's just go quietly. I'm about to jump out of this door.

It's true. I really arrived 20 minutes earlier than my usual work time. This was actually supposed to be over 30 minutes, but we were delayed buying coffee. The leaving time is the same, but the arrival time is earlier. What kind of hell is this?

Sighing, I was about to get out of the car when the suited man in the passenger seat held me back, saying "Wait."

"Your leaving time is always fixed, right?"

"Don't tell me you're coming then as well?"

"Of course. This must continue until you move to the designated safe location."

"Please make an exception for the leaving time. I should have some freedom after work, right?"

"But..."

"And if you escort me home, your leaving time will be much later too."

Suddenly, what kind of talk is this? This is really important.

The tragedy of someone else's leaving time being delayed because of me. If I condone that, I'll have no right to complain if my own leaving time is delayed.

A person who values their own leaving time should value others' leaving time too. This is an attitude everyone should carry in their hearts while navigating this harsh time of trying to leave work exactly on time.

"Ah... I, I really appreciate your consideration. But..."

"If the issue is with higher-ups, I'll speak to the Headmaster, Professor Han Jiyoon, and Chairman Kang Minseong to handle it. So please, just do this in the mornings."

My proposal must have been very appealing. The suited man made an "Hmm" sound and started looking around nervously.

I realized I couldn't just wait here.

There's never been such an uncomfortable arrival time. And now they want to do the same for leaving time? Maybe we'd get more comfortable over time, but I'm a bit shy. This kind of treatment isn't particularly welcome, so I want to avoid it somehow.

“I’ll make a strong request. No, a 'demand.' That should work."

It's a bit strange for a mere civil servant to make strong demands.

But I'm now aware that my presence has definitely changed from before. Therefore, the "demand" I'm emphasizing now will be received differently by them.

"...I'll at least contact the superiors."

The suited man must have recognized my sincerity and finally accepted.

'With this, I've prevented what would likely have been a very awkward ride home.'

I arrived more than 20 minutes earlier than my usual work time. Leave early, arrive late. The exact opposite of that situation.

I already feel tired.

While evaluations aren't tiring or boring, the very act of going to work is always painful.

But there was also a good aspect to it. That is, I could return to my position before more students gathered.

Even now, as I moved, I could feel the students' gazes on me with each step. They weren't sending negative looks. They were all kind-hearted gazes.

"Hey, isn't that the Examiner? I heard he lost consciousness."

"Your news is so outdated. The article saying he regained consciousness is already out, you idiot."

"Anyway, he's amazing. How long has it been, and he's already back at work?"

Yeah. Even I think I'm amazing. Or maybe just crazy?

"So how does this work? Can we still get promoted to Silver rank?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"That doesn't make sense. How can we face someone who survived a battle with an Elder?"

"Hasn't he already surpassed A-rank? What exactly is his rank anyway?"

Unfortunately, I'm still C-rank. I'll probably be reassessed soon.

"It's not about winning, it's an evaluation. Just demonstrate you're qualified for the Silver badge."

"That's why I'm saying it's not easy. What level would satisfy him!?"

Well, if you're as good as Lee Hyunwoo or Kim Suhyeon, you'd immediately impress me. And I don't expect that much from you guys, so there's nothing to worry about. I plan to pass you along appropriately.

'Sometimes, it's tiring when students misunderstand this.'

They think they have to defeat me to enter the evaluation.

When in fact, the evaluation conditions don't necessarily require victory. Just showing your best effort, showing that you've tried hard, is enough.

'The penalty will be the key, but I can't hold them indefinitely anyway.'

With these various thoughts and hearing these various comments, I headed to the rank evaluation hall but had to pause my thinking for a moment.

'Who is that?'

A male student sitting in the center of the evaluation hall. At first, I wondered who it was, but as I got closer, I could see it was Lee Hyunwoo. With nearly an hour until lectures began, I wondered what he was doing.

But the moment I saw a picket sign in his hand—

"...What the hell is this, damn it."

A mutter involuntarily escaped my lips.

I thought I might have seen wrong. So I blinked once or twice. But it still looked the same, so I even rubbed my eyes hard.

- Daily evaluation guaranteed! Absolute protection of rights!

TN: Bro does a solo protest to protect his daily evaluation rights.

"..."

Has this guy finally gone crazy? Is this what a protagonist is supposed to be like?