Chapter 44
The second selection test required all students to take their exams in training grounds of nearly identical size. As Kim Guhyeon had said, most rankers spent their lives defined by the grade they received in this test—even if a third and final selection test awaited them in adulthood.
“Wow, this is the famous underground Combat Division training ground.”
“It definitely feels different.”
Our school was holding the test in the First Combat Training Ground of the Combat Division—the same place where Yu Hyunjae and I had our mock battles. The training ground, designed to mimic a city center, was meticulously detailed, complete with randomly placed cars. It was clear an enormous amount of effort had gone into its construction. I sat in the waiting area, listening to the teacher’s instructions while watching the training ground’s layout on the monitor.
“Chanhee, have you been here before?”
Hankyul, sitting next to me, asked as he stared at the monitor. I had not only been here before but had trained here repeatedly. If the other students found out, they’d probably protest over fairness issues. I forced an awkward smile and shook my head.
“No.”
“Well, even if your dad is a high-ranking official in the Combat Division, this is a bit much, don’t you think?”
Fortunately, the teacher intervened, drawing our attention away from the awkward situation.
“You’ll enter one by one as your name is called and fight.”
The selection test involved a one-on-one battle against a training monster. It wasn’t just about killing the monster—how you fought was scrutinized, making it far from easy to achieve a first-grade ranking.
“If something dangerous happens, you must request to stop immediately. Don’t push yourself.”
“Who would stop when it affects their score?”
Hankyul muttered just loudly enough for only me to hear. In reality, many students had gotten injured—or worse, died—while pushing themselves to achieve higher grades. Being a ranker was inherently a life-risking profession, so it was something to be expected. Still, the selection test had always been controversial for forcing underage students into dangerous evaluations.
“……What grade are you aiming for?”
Hankyul pressed his lips together and hummed.
“At least third grade? If I get lower than that, I’ll have to transfer to the general track.”
“Really?”
“You’re practically guaranteed first grade, right?”
Hankyul’s tone was tinged with genuine envy. I didn’t know how to respond, so I just turned away. My gaze naturally landed on Yu Hyunjae. Would he get first grade in this selection test? He should—now that he had awakened—but I couldn’t help feeling unnecessary worry. Hyunjae sensed my gaze and looked over at me. His faint smile made me look away instinctively. It was too embarrassingly sweet.
“Hey, I’ve got a question.”
“Huh?”
I jumped at Hankyul’s sudden question and turned to him. He was also looking at Hyunjae.
“Are you and Hyunjae close or not?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“No, it’s just… sometimes you two look like you’re dating, and other times you don’t.”
“Hankyul!”
The teacher at the training ground entrance called out Hankyul’s name. Oh, damn. Hankyul ruffled his hair and stood up. The monitor no longer showed the training ground but instead displayed the waiting order.
***
As expected, the selection test itself wasn’t much different from the mock training I’d done with Kim Guhyeon. The monster was even the same type, so I could effortlessly target its weak points. The process was suspiciously smooth, as if the world were moving according to some unseen directive—Yu Chanhee must naturally receive first grade.
“Just head to the exit.”
One of the guards stationed in the training ground directed me toward the exit. I nodded and stepped outside. The exit led directly to an elevator that took me outside. Since the tests were conducted in name order, the next one up was probably Yu Hyunjae.
In the lobby, a few students who hadn’t left yet were chatting. One of them spotted me and nudged the person next to them with their elbow.
“Yu Chanhee!”
A group of students rushed over and stopped in front of me.
“What?”
“Did you really get private lessons?”
One of them asked sharply. It was phrased as a question, but their tone and expression made it clear they already knew the answer. I tried to keep my face neutral as I replied.
“So what if I did? You all got lessons too.”
“Yeah, but you got yours here, right?”
“Who told you that?”
“My brother’s a public official in the Combat Division. He said he saw you.”
“I’ve been here before. My dad works here.”
“Oh yeah? Just been here? Nothing else?”
“What answer do you want?”
I looked at them defensively. I had expected backlash for the unfair private lessons, but I hadn’t thought it would spread so quickly. I never thought it was okay or justified to use my father’s influence to get special training in the Combat Division. Of course, I knew people would talk, and the irony of Yu Chanhee—who despised his father—using his power for personal gain wasn’t lost on me. But I had decided to do it anyway. It was the only way to unravel the mysteries of this life.
“At least I thought you’d earn first grade purely on skill, like everyone else.”
Someone’s remark made me bite my lip before I could stop myself.
“Do you think I’m some kind of hero?”
“What?”
“If it bothers you, you should’ve gotten private lessons too.”
“Hey. Is that something you should be saying?”
“Why? You’ve heard plenty about me, haven’t you?”
They stared at me without saying anything. I could guess what the rumors were—mostly negative, even without hearing them directly.
“So don’t talk to me anymore.”
“Chanhee.”
A familiar voice called out from behind me. Yu Hyunjae strode over. He must have finished his test quickly, considering he was up next.
“What’s going on?”
Hyunjae sensed the tension and cautiously asked me what was happening.
“Did you get private lessons too?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you get lessons here too? Like Chanhee?”
Hyunjae blinked a few times before answering nonchalantly.
“No.”
“See? The rumors must be true. You two aren’t close.”
Hyunjae let out a laugh—whether it was genuine or forced, I couldn’t tell—and looked at the guy standing across from us.
“You’re way too nosy about other people’s family matters.”
“What?”
“What’s the difference between you judging people based on rumors and them doing the same?”
At Hyunjae’s words, the stunned students eventually turned and left the lobby. I awkwardly scratched my cheek and spoke to Hyunjae in a casual tone.
“Weren’t you actually bullied?”
“Should I say ‘Yeah, we’re not close’?”
“Hey.”
I called Hyunjae again. His calm eyes looked down at me.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Hyunjae tilted his head, genuinely confused.
“For… everything that happened in the past.”
“The past?”
“Yeah. Bullying you and stuff…”
“Honestly, I don’t remember much.”
Did he really not remember, or was it just that he couldn’t recall the emotions? I stared at him, puzzled.
“It definitely happened, though.”
Hyunjae looked at me with a troubled expression.
“It’s like I’ve forgotten how I felt back then.”
“……”
“Isn’t that weird?”
I blankly gazed at Hyunjae before finally snapping out of it and shaking my head. A strange intuition lingered in my mind. Could human memories and emotions really be so easily eroded and altered? I still remembered Yu Hyunjae from just a few months ago—coldly staring at me as he opened the door. Now, that person was gone, replaced by this gentle version standing in front of me. It was as if someone had wiped his memories clean.
The thought sent a chill down my spine. What if, like me under the system’s influence, Hyunjae was also being manipulated by something? What if his sudden positive feelings toward me weren’t genuine but forced? If that were the case, could those feelings truly be called his own? And did I even have the right to accept them without question in this uncertain reality? How long could we endure in a world where nothing could be trusted as truly our own?
Right on cue, my phone vibrated in my pocket. The caller was, as always, Han Jaemin. I slowly opened the messenger app and checked his messages.
[Han Jaemin: Chanhee]
[Han Jaemin: You and Hyunjae have gotten a lot closer lately, huh?]
