Chapter 10 – Ergon

Indeed, there were things in the world that could not be done with just a mindset alone. Fear was real, and it was not something to be overcome with self-hypnosis.

So Se-min raised his sword.

Tai Chi Wisdom wavered within his body.

The aura Se-min possessed blazed brightly, expanding itself. Like a ball rolling on a snowfield growing in size, it transformed into a larger mass.

Although his body trembled and his mind did not function normally, Se-min did not care.

He channeled the power of Tai Chi Wisdom into his weapon.

He would never make the same mistake again.

Rather than doing that…

Se-min raised his weapon.

Bang Yu-bi was walking toward Se-min, scattering the magic beast’s murderous intent in all directions like the eye of a storm.

And Se-min accelerated the rotation of the Tai Chi Wisdom swirling in his dantian.

The aura became an unstoppable spinning top and clashed against the inner walls of his dantian. Although Se-min felt nauseous, he did not stop.

He would raise it until it could not be stopped,

and hurl it at the enemy.

Se-min took another step forward.

His body was still frozen and did not move.

Se-min wiggled his fingers. Then, his wrist moved, and his shoulders relaxed slightly.

And then, another step.

Gradually, his body grew accustomed to the fear.

He could not overcome it.

Therefore, he would at least make friends with it.

Bang Yu-bi dug in toward Se-min with the subtle principle of the Subduing Demon Sword.

Se-min’s reaction was slow.

He saw Bang Yu-bi’s sword flying toward him, but his body, frozen in fear, could not react. A triumphant smile rose on her face.

However, Bang Yu-bi probably did not know.

That above her vision, Se-min’s weapon was also falling slowly and heavily.

The swirling Tai Chi Wisdom traveled along the energy pathways from the dantian and coalesced upon Se-min’s weapon.

He disregarded Bang Yu-bi’s attack flying toward him.

Bang Yu-bi’s innocent smile and Se-min’s stiff face crossed.

It was at that moment.

[The individual match has ended.]

[Stopping combat.]

Se-min and Bang Yu-bi’s bodies flinched as if shocked by electricity. At the same time, their attacks stopped as well.

Pushed by inertia, the two collided and rolled on the floor like mannequins.

The protective gear controlled their bodies.

[Thank you for your hard work.]

[The first part of the second Raider qualification exam, the individual match, is now over.]

[Injured individuals, please receive treatment according to the guidance.]

[The individual match has ended.]

***

The team match was an exam where candidates formed teams to face virtual enemies.

In this case, various situations were given to test tactical understanding and adaptability.

The key was for everyone to equip virtual reality devices that allowed them to share the situation, and to respond appropriately to various magic beasts within it.

Since actual combat did not take place here, they had to move according to the characteristics of the magic beasts within the formation, rather than relying on individual skill.

Since Se-min had maintained a top-tier rank in subjects that did not involve aura from the beginning, he did not feel any difficulty.

Judging by his results so far, Se-min’s passing was practically guaranteed.

He had eliminated many with excellent results in the individual match, and although there was a crisis at the end, he ultimately survived until the time limit. In the team match, he performed his role without making mistakes.

If he performed well in the in-depth evaluation, he would finish with top-tier grades.

In the auditorium, the candidates all waited for the final test with stiff faces.

After a long silence, the broadcast continued.

[The final in-depth evaluation will now proceed.]

It was literally an in-depth evaluation.

Because its type always changed, some said it was just a formality, while some officials said it actually held the greatest weight; it was the highlight of the Raider qualification exam that confused everyone.

[Everyone, please follow the guidance and enter the exam hall.]

An employee of the Raider Bureau led them.

They entered the venue.

Everyone’s face turned bewildered.

[Each seat has a number tag attached. Please sit in your assigned seat.]

It was a large exam hall.

Literally an exam hall.

A place to take an exam.

[The second part of the Raider qualification exam, the in-depth evaluation, is an essay.]

Everyone groaned.

An essay.

An essay for Raiders.

What kind of nonsense was this?

Low curses and sighs burst out from here and there.

“I can’t write.”

“Why is a Raider writing an essay?”

“It’s been years since I read a book.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Se-min was also flustered.

He was also a high school dropout.

Of course, he hadn’t studied before that either.

He was someone who had never written a long text before. Even spelling was hazy. Although he had studied for the Raider written exam, that was more about acquiring organized information rather than reading sentences.

[The exam papers will now be distributed. Please do not move until the exam begins. You may be disqualified.]

An exam paper was given to each person.

It was a large blank sheet.

The exam hall was in an uproar. No one opened their mouth, but their confused feelings seeped through the sound of their sighs.

Soon, the large screen in the front turned on.

Subtitles appeared.

Second Raider Qualification Exam, Final In-Depth Evaluation. Essay Type.

Answer the following question with your thoughts.

Maximum 5,000 characters.

Time limit: One hour.

The essay topic is as follows.

The screen paused. Everyone swallowed hard, waiting for the prompt.

Soon, the topic was displayed.

Describe in detail the reason why you want to become a Raider, and the mission of a Raider that you believe in.

Once again, groans spread throughout the exam hall.

Se-min was no different.

He closed his eyes.

***

‘When I was young, I was caught in a gate, and a Raider mister saved my life. Since then, I came to admire the profession of a Raider who saves people and protects the safety of the citizens…’

It was too cliché.

‘Although I am now a rookie just entering the industry, I have cherished the dream of becoming a Raider for a long time. Watching videos of the late legend of the Raider world, Han Su-in, every single day, I wanted to become South Korea’s second unique-mark Raider to follow in his footsteps…’

Those who read it knew it was a lie.

‘To be honest, it is because of the social reputation, financial stability, and various benefits that the profession of a Raider provides. Of course, this is not all. A Raider is a job where you have to risk your life, and therefore, without a sense of mission to save lives…’

It exposed oneself as just a run-of-the-mill guy.

Countless model answers passed through his head.

The sound of pencils scratching against paper filled the exam hall.

With his eyes closed, Se-min thought about the question.

The thoughts that continuously arose linked to the question before him.

For him, the only path was that of a Raider. Even though his aura did not increase, the reason he was able to train like crazy for three long years was due to that obsession.

Then, since when did he become obsessed?

There was something inside him.

What was it?

Was it the sense of resistance that reared its head in his chest when he saw Ahn Seong-jun bullying the weak during his school days?

‘I have an aura aptitude. I’m going to become a Raider. Right, buddy? You know our positions won’t change even out in society, right?’

That was it. The moment he saw that scene, it seemed to Se-min that something in the world was out of joint.

It was an indescribable feeling.

Aura was not meant to be used that way.

Though it was a small aura of 103, a thread-like mass of power, even then, it was telling Se-min something.

So he blocked Ahn Seong-jun.

‘Cut it out, Ahn Seong-jun.’

Then, Ahn Seong-jun’s eyes turned toward Se-min. His face looked as if he had been waiting for this.

‘Perfect. I felt like I needed to clean you up too, you orphan bastard.’

Orphan bastard.

Yes, he was an orphan.

It would have been better if he had been an orphan since a time he couldn’t remember, but he remembered the last moments with his biological mother.

The rain pattered down, wetting his feet. The warmth of the hand grip that was somehow trembling remained in his memory. The wet voice saying she would return if he just waited a little while was the last.

The children in the orphanage looked unhappy. There were older and stronger children, and the other kids had to watch their step. It was a place where the misfortune of losing parents and the logic of unequal power weighed heavily on their shoulders.

By the time he came to accept the fact that his biological mother was not coming back, he was adopted.

His new parents had never told Se-min that they loved him. They were people who regarded life as a single penance. They were deeply Buddhist, and they regarded taking in Se-min and raising him until adulthood as a form of spiritual merit.

Even if they did not speak of love, they always fulfilled the role of gentle and patient parents for Se-min.

‘We all have our karma.’

That quiet voice.

The day his aura aptitude was recognized, he felt as though he had found that karma.

After declaring to his parents that he would become a Raider and bowing to express his gratitude for their relationship so far, he entered the training facility.

He trained without stopping for even a single moment. However, his aura did not increase. He ran while crying, carrying the anxiety that it might remain like this for the rest of his life.

In the process, his courage and self-confidence were worn away.

Yet, what was it that made him hold out until the end?

Even when he had become a wreck and was cooped up at home, it did not disappear.

‘A Raider… is the best job, after all…’

What made a boy fight monsters on his own, and allowed him to smile and speak even as his arm was torn off and bleeding?

“There isn’t much time left. Hurry up and write.”

Se-min remembered the day his adoptive parents called him to sit down and talk.

Under the dim light, the two asked him in faint voices.

‘Se-min. What kind of person do you want to become when you grow up?’

He couldn’t understand the reason they suddenly said such a thing.

‘Everyone has something they must do. Perhaps meeting you was the purpose we were given in this lifetime.’

Ah, he understood.

At that moment, Se-min understood in his heart. The day before, he had accidentally seen an opened envelope in the main room. Inside, there was a reply saying that his biological mother had lost her life in a gate to a magic beast a long time ago.

Se-min had no particular thoughts. The ones who raised him were the adoptive parents before his eyes.

The memories of his childhood exerted no influence on him.

‘Your parents loved you very much.’

Because they suddenly said such a thing, Se-min asked back. His adoptive parents were never ones to say empty words just to please him.

‘How do you know that?’

‘Otherwise, there is no way they would have given you such a grand name.’

Se-min had never thought about his own name.

He looked at his adoptive parents. A smile hung on both of their lips.

It looked like the smile of a Buddha.

‘Using “Se” for world and “Min” for people, Se-min. Lee Se-min.’

‘It is the name of a great emperor honored by history.’

Suddenly, Se-min snapped out of it.

Before he knew it, a man was standing in front of him.

“Writing time is over.”

Had an hour already passed?

A blank white sheet lay in front of Se-min.

He had not been able to write anything.

To find the answer to the question, he had looked back on his past, and although he felt as if he somehow knew it now, the time had already passed.

“Normally it’s not allowed, but I’ll give you a chance at my discretion.”

The man placed the pencil, which was lying solitary on the desk, into Se-min’s hand.

Sympathy was in his eyes.

“Write anything at the end. I’ll give you ten seconds.”

Se-min raised his head.

Everyone in the exam hall was looking at him.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on him, urging an answer.

Se-min dropped his head again.

A blank white sheet, and a single question given to him.

Describe in detail the reason why you want to become a Raider, and the mission of a Raider that you believe in.

Monsters invading humanity.

The only power that could oppose them, aura.

How should it be used?

What was the reason such power was given to Raiders?

Why did he want to become a Raider, and what was the karma he had to fulfill through it?

Se-min gripped the pencil.

The wet voice of his biological mother who had ended up letting go of his hand, the smile of his adoptive parents. The news of his biological mother’s death delivered in a few lines of text, and the face of Ahn Seong-jun smirking at him.

His own cowardly portrait of being frozen in fear before the magic beast and unable to do anything, and the courage of a boy who stood up bravely.

Those words of Dokgo Cheonma.

Everything flickered behind his eyelids.

Se-min pressed the pencil firmly against the blank sheet.

Je.

‘It is the name of a great emperor honored by history.’

Se-min continued writing.

Se.

Soon, Se-min smiled.

He continued writing without hesitation.

Je. Se. An. Min.

And he put down the pencil.

Jeseanmin.

That was his answer.