Episode 92. The road to the top (2)
Hunters were usually promoted based on the evaluation of their records. It didn’t reflect their years of experience or what abilities they had, only what they had achieved.
This was how the Association could grow so rapidly. This merit-based system was one of Kim Min-jae’s commendable policies.
“Jeong Si-woo’s record is impeccable. Comparable to other 1st class Hunters. Actually, his record is as good as the people sitting here right now.”
“But his hunter career is barely 2 years old now. This concerns me. Also, he has succeeded in everything and has never experienced failure. If he continues to hunt, he will fail one day. And since he has always succeeded, I’m afraid he might not be able to handle failure and collapse.”
“I agree. The operations he will be in charge of as a 1st degree Hunter are drastically different from those he undertook as a 2nd degree Hunter. The most important aspect of sitting in a high position is dealing with failure. It’s better not to make one mistake than to succeed greatly ten times. “
“Hmm… Well, what does everyone else think?”
The judges evaluated me, voicing different opinions. A typed document about a man named Jeong Si-woo was handed over.
Becoming a 1st class Hunter was not easy. Every time a 1st class Hunter makes a mistake, hundreds of people die. It was natural for them to deliberate since they were deciding whether or not to put me in a position that was central to protecting humanity.
“I don’t think that’s an issue we need to worry about.”
One of the judges raised his hand.
He was sitting on the judging panel as the representative of 1st class Hunters and 1st generation Heroes. It was Kim Young-hwan, the head of the Four Guardian Gods guild. His face had become more wrinkled than before, but he still gave off the energy of a beast. He spoke with a gentle face.
“Hm… hmm, why do you think so?”
The somewhat tense atmosphere subsided. Kim Young-hwan’s presence was that big. He looked around the now-silent hall and spoke calmly.
“Jeong Si-woo is not a person who has never failed. On the other hand, he has failed as much as the people sitting here. Despite failing, he persisted and improved.”
“What?”
“It’s not in his post-Hunter documents, but you can tell from his Academy records. No talent, his only specialty was analytical skills that were very advanced for a cadet. He was too weak to keep up with the training curriculum as a freshman, and his record was so poor that professors advised him to transfer to Analytics.”
The other judges thumbed through the additional documents. The sound of paper turning filled the hall. This was never really known to the press. To the world, Jeong Si-woo was an elite hunter who knew nothing about failure.
“He didn’t give up; he tried, and he succeeded after providentially going through a Second Awakening. So it was his effort that created the Hunter named Jeong Si-woo that we know of today. He is not someone to despair after failing. Even if he encounters any hardships as a 1st class Hunter, he will overcome them and become stronger.”
“…….”
“A strong disposition and outstanding ability is proven by his record. Just looking at these two facts, I can’t see any Hunter other than Jeong Si-woo being promoted to 1st class this year. Anyways, that’s my opinion.”
Kim Young-hwan said, nodding his chin slightly. The majority of the judges were old people who once had successful careers as Hunters. A few of them were still active in the field, but they could not overcome Kim Young-hwan’s charisma.
After all, he was one of the most respected Heroes and one of the ten most powerful Hunters. No one in the hall was bold enough to refute his strong opinion.
As you become older, you have more to protect. And rather than acting impulsively, people tend to stay in their current position and follow the trend.
“Hmmm… So everyone agrees that Hunter Jeong Si-woo is qualified enough to be a 1st class Hunter?”
One of the judges spoke, examining the general atmosphere. No one openly agreed, but no one openly disagreed either. That meant that everyone was in favor of the statement.
“Congratulations, candidate Jeong Si-woo.”
Kim Young-hwan spoke, smiling faintly.
“No, it’s 1st class Hunter Jeong Si-woo now. You will be seeing a lot of me from now on.”
Clap clap clap.
He started to clap slowly. And starting with his clap, the sound of applause filled the hall.
I bowed instead of expressing my gratitude with clichéd words of gratitude. A pen moved on top of the document. With a single signature, I climbed up a step further.
“Well, well.”
The judges gathered the documents they laid out on the table and prepared to get up. I gathered my things as well and was about to leave, but someone grabbed me by the shoulder.
“Mr. Jeong Si-woo.”
It was Kim Young-hwan.
“Can I see you for a moment?”
* * *
“Thank you for what you said during the evaluation. I didn’t expect you to know my Academy days so well.”
“Of course I knew. I’ve been trying to recruit you since your Academy days. Hahaha.”
Kim Young-hwan laughed as he took a sip of his coffee.
“That’s why I’m asking you one more time… You still don’t want to join our guild, do you?”
“Yes, I’m thinking of applying to create a guild. I’ve always wanted to be in charge instead of receiving jobs.”
“Haha… I expected as much. You’re still as impenetrable as an iron wall.”
Joining the Four Guardian Gods guild wasn’t such a bad idea. They weren’t corrupt and had a well-established system of listening to new Hunters.
But it’s not enough for me. In order to cope with the following disasters, I needed an organization that would swiftly act the way I wanted.
“Then let me ask you one more question: Do you happen to have a partner guild?”
“What?”
But Kim Young-hwan’s next words were unexpected.
“Well… I heard you had a good relationship with the Tower. I was wondering whether you were thinking of forming a coalition. The Association also started out as a sort of guild and has now become a coalition of numerous guilds. Since the Association is struggling right now, I thought that another coalition might help stabilize the situation.….”
“So…”
“Yes. Would you like to form a coalition with the Four Guardian Gods guild?”
Kim Young-hwan’s proposal was unprecedented. Forming a coalition with a guild that didn’t exist yet, when its structure and members were unknown! This was a proposal based solely on my existence.
This wasn’t a gamble that suited Kim Young-hwan, since he was old enough to retire any day.
His eyes sharply looked at me. Old but not swept away by the waves of time; this man stood at the forefront of the flow of time, leading the waves.
There was only one response.
“It would be an honor.”
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