Chapter 98.
While the GRA Agency’s new employee tests were in full swing, another confrontation was unfolding elsewhere.
Bzzzt—
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong! Another new week begins—]
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Before I knew it, the moment I arrived at work on Monday, I raised my voice at Noise for the first time.
[Oh my… Employee Park Yeon-jeong seems to be in quite a low mood today. Almost like—]
[Looking at me on the weekend.]
…Was that self-deprecating humor?
The voice crackling through the speaker was as playful as ever.
Bzzzt—
[Ah! It must be about her!]
!!
[She must be taking the GRA entrance exam right about now. You must be worried. But you granted her wish, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
I granted Soi’s wish?
[So, relax. Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
Don’t lie.
I never agreed to any of this.
The gift given to Soi was purely Noise’s own doing.
Even though I knew I should keep my emotions in check… even though I knew……
“What in the world… were you thinking?”
For the first time, I spoke to Noise in a tone sharper than ever before.
I couldn’t hold back.
Noise, the one I was talking to, must have noticed.
Bzzzt—
The voice that came through the speaker next was—
No different from usual.
If anything, it was too calm.
[There’s no need to be so wary. She’ll do just fine, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[After all, she’s doing this because she wants to be praised by you. :)]
Bzzzzzt—
A heavy burst of static crackled through the speaker, followed by a deep voice.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong, let me say this again—I did not force her. I simply gave her what she wanted at that moment.]
[She accepted it of her own will.]
[She merely reached out and took the opportunity presented to her.]
After hearing Noise’s shameless justification—that Soi had just taken an opportunity.
I finally spoke the words lingering in my mouth.
This wasn’t the answer I wanted from him.
Not at all.
“What exactly are you planning to use Soi for?”
I pressed again.
What scheme was he plotting? What was his reason for sending Soi to the GRA?
As I continued my interrogation, Noise’s response was—
Bzzzt—
A distorted noise filled the air.
A stiff, hardened tone completely unlike his usual demeanor echoed through the speaker.
Slowly, deliberately, his voice came through.
[It’s for everyone’s sake.]
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[For you… and for me.]
BZZZZT—
Noise’s blatant static screeched painfully in my ears. I covered them but strained to listen.
Amidst the tearing noise, fragments of his voice reached me—
[Everyone… has… their role… Employee Park…]
Bzzzt—
With one last burst of static, the speaker’s sound returned to normal.
[So all we have to do is fulfill our roles.]
[But if you’re so worried, don’t be. I’ve already prepared everything.]
Prepared?
As soon as Noise mentioned having prepared something, an awkward tension filled the air.
Had I been too loud on a Monday morning?
…….
…This was awkward.
Bzzzt—
But judging by the lingering static, Noise wasn’t done speaking.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong… If you ever meet ‘Eve’ again, I hope you’ll get along with her.]
“…I’ll try.”
[I’ll treat her with the utmost courtesy as well.]
[Let’s help each other out, shall we?]
…….
Right now, all I could think about was whether Soi was doing okay in her exam.
‘What if they already found out she’s a ghost story?!’
[You don’t need to worry about her being discovered. The body I crafted is of the highest quality. Unless it’s severely damaged, no one will notice.]
…….
Sometimes—
No, lately —I’ve been seriously wondering if Noise can read my mind.
‘…Are you listening right now?’
****
Back at the GRA applicant testing site.
The second test, physical endurance, was underway for the 22 applicants.
“I’m done.”
“………”
Choi Kang-in checked the number of the applicants who had finished in record time.
He double-checked.
#22.
“This girl again?”
No, more importantly these were results no ordinary human could achieve.
The only person he knew capable of such absurd feats was—
Lee Joo-i, the high schooler who had taken the test years ago and was now his superior.
But now, another applicant with the same physical prowess has appeared.
And of all days, on his watch.
Honestly—
He couldn’t believe his eyes.
But if he refused to believe even after witnessing that monstrous performance.
That would be strange.
Since the written exam, Applicant #22’s overwhelming dominance had already shaken the other applicants.
Some had lost motivation entirely.
‘I guess I’m just average.’
‘Maybe I should just go home.’
‘I should’ve prepared for civil service exams instead.’
Of course, there were also those fascinated by #22’s performance.
“Hey! Did you see that?! That high school girl’s got ‘future elite’ written all over her!”
Applicant #1, Ryu Jin-ho, boomed loudly across the room.
Following his voice—
A much more dejected voice chimed in.
“…But I’ve never seen her before… And with that ‘high schooler’ title… I guess I’m just not cut out for this… Geon-woo.”
Unlike Ryu Jin-ho, Applicant #7, Nam Yi-ryeong, had already lost motivation after witnessing #22’s dominance.
Whoosh—!
But in contrast, an inexplicable fire burned in Ryu Jin-ho’s eyes.
“Don’t worry! If you team up with me, passing will be a breeze—you might even make the Department head in no time!”
“Do you think supervisor is the name of the neighbor’s dog?!”
While those two bantered casually during the test—
Huff… Huff…
A middle school girl was already on the verge of collapse, crawling forward with all her might.
“I… I can’t… do this… anymore…”
Applicant #16, Kim Hye-seon, who had applied alongside Han-Sol, was struggling.
She hadn’t finished the written exam’s 120 questions.
If she scored poorly here too, her chances of passing were slim.
Perhaps that was why she was pushing herself to the limit.
Han-Sol, watching from afar, hurried over.
“Hye-seon, if it’s too much, you can stop. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“…N-no. I can… do it…”
Despite Han-Sol’s attempts to dissuade her, Hye-seon kept going.
Han-Sol watched with concern, fearing she might hurt herself.
Meanwhile—
“Aren’t you going, sis?”
“Huh?”
“You’re kinda blocking the way.”
“O-oh, right… Sorry.”
Unlike Hye-seon, her grademate—
Applicant #11, Yang Min-ji, was excelling in the physical test.
Min-ji had also performed poorly in the written exam, but.
“Min-ji was always good at sports.”
Unlike Han-Sol, these two had been thrown into this bizarre world far too young.
Honestly, Sol had worried. At first, they struggled.
But now—
They seemed to be adapting in their own way.
“…….”
Watching them silently push forward, Han-Sol reaffirmed her resolve.
“Just wait a little longer… Yeon-jeong.”
The second test ended with everyone carrying their own thoughts, ideals, and goals.
“Second test—concluded!”
Only one test remained.
Choi Kang-in gripped the microphone and continued.
“As previously announced, the third and final test is an ‘aptitude assessment.’ You will form teams of three and strategize against an E-grade ghost story.”
He then began announcing the teams.
Among the many groups, one stood out—
———-
– #1 Ryu Jin-ho
– #10 Han-Sol
– #16 Kim Hye-seon
———-
“Sis!”
“Hye-seon, thank goodness we’re in the same team!”
Hye-seon was visibly relieved to be paired with Han-Sol.
Sol, too, was glad to be with the person she was most worried about.
The next team was—
———-
– #7 Nam Yi-ryeong
– #11 Yang Min-ji
– #21 Kim Do-gyun
———-
“…However.”
Choi Kang-in then announced that #21, Kim Do-gyun, had withdrawn.
His gaze shifted to #22.
“Applicant #22 has already met our passing criteria.”
The shocking statement that #22 had already secured her position was followed by—
“If #22 is willing, we’d like her to join the final team in place of #21.”
“…….”
Upon hearing this, #22—Soi—smiled faintly.
Without hesitation, she answered.
Her usual bright smile still in place, she looked at her would-be teammates and said.
“No. If I’ve already passed, I’ll be taking my leave now. Good work, everyone.”
Applicant #22.
Politely declined.
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