The S-Rank Character Is My Alt

Chapter 14: Welcome to the Sacred Battlefield (3)

“Shit… finally, it is over… ah…”

[The Lord of Chaos bursts fireworks, declaring, “Our Nari worked so~ so hard!”]

It was over. The interview was finally over. Lude dropped forward onto the desk. After a few seconds, he pulled himself together and with trembling arms, placed Ihyun’s laptop into the eco-bag.

“This… this is job preparation… it is way harder than clearing a gate…”

[The Lord of Chaos reminds you once again, that is only because you are rank one.]

“Hey! Can you shut it? Do you want to sit through an interview yourself? I’m seriously dying over here!”

Annoyed by the Lord of Chaos’s indirect message, Lude swung his fist at the empty air.

He had not expected to be this nervous. The tension was enough to make even the rank one Hunter bow his head. It was on another level from gate clearing. Was this what every job seeker had to live with? His entire body shook.

Lude sighed, inwardly offering respect to Korea’s 870,000 job seekers, and activated a skill.

[Trickster basic skill :: Perception Interference activated! Your presence fades.]

He casted the skill just in case someone might recognize him. Lude leaves the building. His legs trembled as he stepped out of the study room and slumped down in the emergency stairwell.

“I am starving…”

He had been too nervous to eat a bite all morning. Lude pulled a tuna-mayo triangle kimbap out of his eco-bag and tore open the wrapper with a rip.

It was already two days past the disposal date. The rice grains were dry and shriveled, falling apart onto the floor.

“Convenience store food is hopeless. Just a few days past the date and the rice crumbles like this…”

Lude sighed deeply, regretting the day he had given expired food to Ihyun. He brushed the fallen grains off his pants with his hand.

There was someone he needed to call before heading home. His fingers shook as he pressed his phone. After a short ring, a click sounded and Ihyun answered.

[Hello? Lude? Did the interview go well?]

“I am sorry.”

[What?]

“I think I completely bombed it.”

Silence filled the stairwell. Heh, hehe… Then Lude gave a hollow chuckle and knocked his head against the wall. Thinking back on it, his answers had been absurd.

[W-Was it really that bad? You did not freeze up, did you?]

“No, it’s not that. But at the reason for the application question, I said something weird… Honestly, if I were the recruiter, I would not hire me…”

‘To say I applied because I wanted to believe in Hunter Kang Ihyun’s words… That sounds like I joined out of blind admiration…’

It was a mess. A scene no one had ever seen before might now unfold: the rank one Hunter failing the interview of one of the Four Great Guilds.

If that rank one had been someone else, Nari would have enjoyed the spectacle like a fire across the river…

[W-What did you say?]

“I-I-I can’t tell you that!”

Lude, who had been knocking his head against the wall, sat bolt upright. He could never tell Ihyun, who had been the subject of his answer. On the other end of the line, Ihyun let out a surprised gasp.

[Wait… Did you actually say it was just for the money?]

“No! Are you crazy?! Of course I didn’t! I-I just… gave a bit of an embarrassing answer…”

[Then did you use the line about protecting Korea?]

“N-No, it was not that either. It was something else. I spoke without thinking, all jumbled, so…”

Lude sprang to his feet, then quickly sat back down as his legs wobbled. His face flushed red as he recalled his answers. From the phone came the sound of Ihyun chuckling.  

[It will be fine. A sincere answer may even be judged better.]

“But what if I fail here. Then… I would feel sorry for you and…”

Lude fiddled with his fingers, looking down. Ihyun’s voice came warmly through the receiver, undisturbed by his worry.

[I really don’t mind. I am just glad I could help. Even if it doesn’t work out, I will take responsibility until the end, like I said! Three of the Four Great Guilds are still left… You might even get a free pass into the White Night.]

“Hey! A-Are you an idiot? Do you think I went through this interview because I wanted to join any guild?”

Lude shouted in the stairwell. Ihyun was silent.

“…Hey? Hello? Can you hear me?”

Wondering why, Lude realized what he had just said. He clamped his hand over his mouth.

‘Did I… say too much?’

Ihyun’s casual words had provoked him, and he had slipped. What Lude said might come across as a burden to Ihyun. Then, a soft voice answered.

[Then should I move too?]

“Uh… what?”

The voice was suppressed, almost restrained. Lude blinked in confusion. Ihyun spoke again.

[If you fail, should I go… wherever you go? Would that be alright?]

It was a careful request, almost a plea. This time, Lude said nothing.

‘What is… this guy talking about?’

His mind went blank. They had not even known each other that long, yet in that short time Ihyun had said so many unexpected things.

‘Why? Does he want something from me? Why go this far?’ Questions filled Lude’s head. He still had no idea what Ihyun’s real intention was.

It had been ten years since anyone had shown him such care and kindness. He did not know how to react. Blushing to his ears, Lude struggled to think of what to say.

[Hehehe~ The Lord of Chaos teases you mercilessly.]

In the tense silence, the black indirect message popped up before Lude’s eyes. Startled, he shouted without thinking.

“S-Shut up!”

[Ah, hgh, I-I am sorry! I went too far, didn't I!]

“No, no! S-Sorry, I was not talking to you! I was yelling at the message that was teasing me! Really, I am sorry…”

In a flash, Lude had cursed at the wrong person. Flustered, he apologized desperately.

[Oh, I see. That scared me for a moment…]

“S-Sorry… truly. It was not meant for you at all.”

Relieved, Lude let out a heavy sigh. It was the right time to change the subject, so he brought up a new topic.

“S-So… if I pass, when will they let me know?”

[Umm~ for me it took quite a while, but that was a public recruitment. Since this is a recommendation, yours should be quick. You are rank one after all. If they liked your interview, the rest will move fast.]

“I hope they tell me soon.”

The shorter the waiting period was, the better it was. Lude dusted off his clothes and stood. Talking on the phone had eased some of his tension.

[Anyway, don’t worry too much. Honestly. With your specs, you will be accepted anywhere unless you truly blew it, you know?]

“…Okay.”

[And we worked really hard, did we not? You even memorized answers in your dreams. You will definitely pass!]

“Thanks. If I do, it’s… thanks to you.”

[Aww what are you saying? No way. It was your effort. Well, I’ll end the call now since I need to get going now, my partner is calling me.]

“Okay, s-see you later. T-Talking to you… helped calm me down a little.”

[Don’t mention it. That makes me very happy though. Ahem. Then I will hang up now. Let me know if you pass!]

With Ihyun’s cheerful farewell, Lude ended the call and exhaled a long sigh.

“Don’t tease me like that. I almost messed up badly.”

[The Lord of Chaos pouts, saying, “I only wanted to ease your nerves.”]

“I bet you enjoyed it. I will never fall for your pranks again.”

Lude sighed again. Alone in the stairwell, he opened a rift. It was almost time for his last shift at the convenience store.

* * *

“Nari, you had an interview today, right? How did it go?”

“Ah, yes… I-I’m not sure if I did well.”

At the counter, Nari twisted her hair with her fingers, embarrassed. The manager looked at her with pride.

“It’s alright. You are kinder than anyone, aren’t you? People will see all~ of it. Your kindness shines from your eyes.”

‘They get terrified if they look into Lude’s eyes too long, so I had to do an AI interview…’

The manager and Kang Ihyun shared a trait. Both saw Nari in the best possible light. Feeling oddly like she was deceiving them, Nari smiled awkwardly.

“So, when do you hear back?”

“They said it might take a while. And… even if I pass, there is still a third round.”

“You will do great! Don’t worry. I pray for you every day. I’m seriously so so proud of you, Nari.”

The manager patted her back lightly. Just then, her phone chimed. Nari naturally glanced down.

Was it a message from Ihyun? She had forgotten to turn off notifications. Keeping a phone on during work was unprofessional, so she meant to turn off the screen. But her eyes widened.

It was an email she should not have received at this hour.

「[Sanctuary] Notification of Recommended Employment Interview Results and Mock Subjugation Trial

Hello. This is the recruitment officer of the Sanctuary Guild.

Thank you for applying through the recommended employment track of the Sanctuary Guild. Congratulations on passing the interview stage.

The next step will be a mock battle. Details will be provided in a separate email.

If you do not receive it by X month and XX date, please contact the number below.

Thank you.」

Nari’s phone slipped from her hands with a clatter. The manager turned toward her and quickly read the situation.

“Y-You passed?!”

“U-Um… uh y-yes…”

She had passed only six hours after the interview. Online, everyone said announcements usually took two or three days. Why had hers come so fast?

‘I-Is this a dream?! Did I wish for it so much that I dreamed about it?!’

She pinched her cheek. It hurt. It definitely was not a dream. The manager hugged the stunned Nari.

“Nari~!!! This is wonderful!! I knew this would happen. I had a lucky dream last night!”

“M-Manager, is this like a massive Truman Show? I-If so, please tell me now…”

“What nonsense are you saying! This is real, Nari. You passed the interview!”

The commotion drew the attention of a customer slurping instant noodles. He pulled out his earphones and gazed at them. The manager announced proudly.

“Sir! This girl just passed her company interview today. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Ah, congratulations. Getting hired these days is not easy… That is great news.”

‘S-So it really is real…’

Only then did Nari accept it as reality. Her face was still blank, and she had no idea how to respond.

[Nari, it is a joyful moment. You just have to be happy, says the Lord of Chaos.]

‘How?’

Puzzled, Nari picked up her phone again. She did not really know how to celebrate her own achievement.

However, she knew who would be happy in her place. Her fingers trembled as she typed. There was only one person she wanted to send it to.

[I passed. Thank you.]