Chapter 8

The softness of the bed had given me a rare, peaceful sleep. When I woke, I joined Alexei, fresh from his dawn training, and headed for the cafeteria.

You know those days.

The kind where nothing goes right, and your luck feels cursed.

This was one of those days—my second since returning to Earth.

“…Why is the menu squid hot pot?”¹

『Fear not.』

“I’ve told you, Mala-nim, I’m not complaining. But can’t I have a small wish granted? Fifteen years eating one single dish, and the first meal I get back on Earth is basically the same thing…”

『Fear?』

So you’re saying you don’t want to eat it? With Mala-nim scolding me like that, I couldn’t bring myself to set the spoon down.

Instead, I just blamed myself for not using the Tentacle of Suggestion on the Bureau’s nutritionist last night instead of Alexei.

Scooping up the clear broth with a limp piece of octopus, that familiar briny smell stung my nose. My hand trembled as I lifted it toward my mouth.

Then, suddenly, a loud shout rang out from outside the cafeteria.

“The results are out! The first aptitude test rankings!”

“Oh, finally!?”

At once, every recruit dropped their trays and leapt up.

I wasn’t about to be left behind—I tossed my spoon down and grabbed Alexei’s wrist just as he was sipping his soup.

“Let’s go, Alexei!”

“Hayan?”

“Now’s not the time to be eating. We have to check our results!”

Not an excuse, no matter what it looked like.

I just wanted to witness the moment my brother-in-arms’ dream of joining the Special Unit came true.

—Crack, crunch!

I ignored Mala-nim’s protests behind me and sprinted at full speed.

Past the cafeteria and down the hall, the auditorium loomed, a massive electronic board lighting the way.

The crowd was thick, but perched on Alexei’s broad shoulders, I had a perfect view of the rankings.

Each division was listed with recruits’ names underneath, arranged by score.

“Who’s first in Division 2?”

“No Yeon-hwa… an Awakened from Wings of the Blue Sky.”

“Damn, just ten ranks higher and I’d be in the Firepower Support Unit.”

“Why are so many of the top slots blank?”

“Obvious. They’re the latecomers. If they put names there, everyone would know those guys weren’t around on day one.”

So Yoo Se-byeol was Deputy Commander of the Frontline Breakthrough Unit.

Alexei’s name was listed near the top of Division 3.

It also appeared in Divisions 1 and 6. Apparently, the results showed rankings for every division you tested for.

Choosing from whichever unit you placed high enough in—it was like taking a college entrance exam.

“But why does it say ‘First Round’? Haven’t they finished grading?”

“There’s still someone who hasn’t taken it. Final results will be out before the weekend.”

“Tch, why drag it out? They should just get it over with.”

“Maybe they’re preparing carefully. Or aiming for a division with less competition.”

[All recruits who have not yet taken their aptitude tests must quickly proceed to each division’s examination.]

So I couldn’t just sit around.

I didn’t even know what each division’s test involved yet, but I had to dive in, even blind.

If I delayed, Yoo Se-byeol might give her Oath to someone else.

But the question was—where should I go first?

—I need to plan this strategically.

—Just go in order? What if I fail at a critical point?

—Finish my squid hot pot first? No! Absolutely not!

—…Mala-nim wouldn’t know this, but in the old days, people here believed it was bad luck to eat slippery food before an important exam.²

From a distance, Park Mu-cheol observed Hayan muttering as if holding a conversation with someone invisible.

Just as Ha Yeri suggested, they had put him on the Special Unit candidate list—but whether he could really pass was another matter.

He had joined midway, meaning his written tests, interviews, and other scores were all zero.

Unless he scored unusually high on the aptitude test, he had no chance.

There was only one exception: if a Commander or Deputy Commander offered him an Oath.

Then, regardless of results, he would automatically enter that division.

‘Commander Ha Yeri seems intent on bringing this Sae Hayan into our unit, even if it means using an Oath…’

But Mu-cheol didn’t like it.

An Oath wasn’t just words—it was binding.

Once spoken, the promise had to be honored, no matter when in the future it came due.

As her deputy, he didn’t want her risking herself over a mere Lower Level Awakened. If necessary, he planned to stop her.

—Alright. I’ve decided.

Just then, Hayan finally made his move.

Still perched on the shoulder of his roommate, Alexei Mikhail Gorgochov.

‘He built that much rapport with the Butcher of Bishkek in just one night? What kind of magic did he use?’

The reason high-ranking Alexei wasn’t a top recruitment priority was his uncontrollable nature.

In a Gate, you needed comrades you could trust to guard your back.

If someone could truly control him, Alexei could become the Special Unit’s strongest vanguard.

At first Hayan seemed like just a random Awakened who’d stumbled into a Gate, but the more Mu-cheol watched, the harder he was to pin down.

‘Is this why the Commander is so fixated on him? And wait… is he seriously heading to Division 4 first? Out of all the branches?’

The direction Alexei carried him was toward the booming explosions of Division 4’s exam site.

The Firepower Support Unit—the division of elite mages.

And here came a supposed Black Tower survivor, boldly stepping in.

“Thanks, Alexei. I don’t know my way around yet.”

“No problem, brother.”

After turning it over in my head, the place I chose to head first was the Firepower Support Unit.

It was full of Awakened whose abilities involved magic, or mages from the Magic Tower.

I wasn’t as rigidly trained in higher-tier White Magic or theory as those from the Tower—but when it came to magic itself, I had confidence.

Because it was a realm I’d reached through effort many times greater than others.

By controlling the flow of mana through hundreds of tentacles, brushing death every single day.

By mastering formulas and hand seals with my tentacles until I created my own magic: Extreme Magic.

In time, I grew strong enough that even Archdukes struggled against my spells. Stronger than most high-level mages.

Stepping into the aptitude test site, I found quite a crowd of Awakened waiting.

I’d thought most had already taken the first round… but there were still this many left?

Curious, I took a closer look and understood why the line was so long.

“Move. It’s our turn now.”

“You guys already had your shot this morning.”

“Anyone who can’t even last three minutes is just getting in the way. Step aside!”

In the center of the sealed chamber stood a massive pillar.

It was a product of magitech, known as a Magical Siege Turret, glowing blue with mana stones.

Depending on the opponent’s attack, it automatically unleashed counter-magic—thousands of possible combinations.

Lasting five minutes meant passing. The longer you held out, the higher your score.

But even aside from points, just fighting the turret was considered valuable training.

That’s why even mages who had already taken the test crowded here, treating it like their personal practice ground.

So much for getting this over with quickly. I had no choice but to wait.

At least the long line gave me time to analyze the turret.

Its spells seemed capped at around Fourth Rank. But rank wasn’t everything in magic.

Speed, combinations, and most of all—its ability to counter whatever you threw at it.

Even Middle Level mages slipped up and got knocked out instantly.

“The record’s fifteen minutes. Think I can last longer than that?”

『Fear not.』

Finally, after the long wait, I reached the entrance. A green light blinked and a prompt appeared to enter my name.

But just as I was about to step in, a group of Awakened blocked my path.

They wore identical robes, glaring at me as they spoke.

“Which Tower are you from? Never seen you here, and you’re not even wearing a robe.”

“Do you need Tower affiliation to take the test?”

“No, but the exams are over.”

“I haven’t gone yet.”

“This place is our training ground now. That turret belongs to the Red Tower.”

I glanced where one pointed. Sure enough, the base bore the Red Tower’s crest.

Not built by the Bureau—just loaned for the test.

Now that I looked, most of the people here seemed to be Red Tower mages.

“You get it now? So scram. Don’t mess with our training.”

“Or get back in line at the end.”

“And when will your training be done?”

“Who knows? Maybe next week?”

Great.

If I caused a fuss here, I might not have time to take the other tests.

Just as I was cursing my bad luck again, a quiet voice spoke up from behind.

“Why not let him have a turn?”

I turned—and saw her.

A woman with fiery curls cascading down to her waist.

“L-Lady Cheon So-baek!”

“It’s not like the turret wears out. Anyone can challenge it.”

“But we agreed on an order—”

“Hm? And?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Sigh. This is why I keep saying I don’t take fellow Tower mages. Maybe I should just throw out this whole batch.”

“N-no! We were wrong!”

Her hair and eyes burned crimson, the telltale traits of an Awakened.

She looked younger than anyone else present, yet with just a few words she had Red Tower mages tripping over themselves.

As Cheon So-baek stepped forward, the crowd parted like a receding tide.

She tapped my shin with her shoe, smiling as she gestured toward the chamber.

“Well? Go on in.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Was she just naturally mischievous?

I hadn’t even done anything wrong, but I already felt small under her gaze.

I hurried inside and closed the door.

Lifting my eyes, I saw the steel fortress of a turret, radiating mana like it was alive.

—Vrrrrrrm!

As I began drawing in mana, the turret responded, whirring to life.