Episode 10
This second round of the evaluation had come to an end.
Since the first round, which used the Black Seal, had already filtered out all the mediocre candidates, this second round passed in the blink of an eye. Only slightly more than a handful had been eliminated in this round.
Hyuk Ryeon-hwi and Bi-seol also completed this second evaluation without any issues.
Having drawn so much attention in the first round, many eyes were on them again, but the two presented themselves normally. Because of this, the attention that had once been focused on them quickly faded—a result Bi-seol had hoped for.
Thanks to the drastically reduced number of candidates, the evaluation was split into morning and afternoon sessions. The second round was swiftly completed in the morning, and those who passed would enter the third round in the afternoon.
The third round was slightly more difficult than the second, but for the most part, those who made it this far usually passed. In other words, of the ten people remaining now, about eight would formally enter the Welcome Academy.
Bu Ui-min alternated his gaze between the two in the spacious room and let out a short sigh.
“Thank goodness…”
He couldn’t help feeling relieved that the two had passed the second round. Two candidates from the elimination group had already caused countless assumptions and misunderstandings, so at least with both of them smoothly passing this round, such talk would die down considerably.
Of course, a few might continue to nitpick, but that was just background noise.
Bi-seol cautiously approached the fidgeting Bu Ui-min and spoke.
“Instructor Bu.”
“What!”
Startled by his own outburst, Bi-seol nervously let out a small breath.
“You must really dislike us.”
“Do I look like I would?”
“Really, we didn’t even fight.”
The elimination group was a secret known only to the academy instructors. Not knowing the struggles Bu Ui-min had endured with the first round, Bi-seol assumed he still held a grudge against them because of the incident with Hyuk Ryeon-hwi on the first day.
Of course, he hadn’t been fond of them from the start, but that alone didn’t explain why he would just sit there glaring at them.
Muttering to himself, Bu Ui-min explained:
“Ugh… I should have found proof and kicked them both out…”
He knew that a minor scuffle like that couldn’t get them eliminated; he was merely grumbling at the inconvenience of the situation.
Bu Ui-min then spoke curtly to Bi-seol.
“But why?”
“If the third round is in the afternoon, when will the induction ceremony be?”
“The dorm assignments and class splits are today; the induction ceremony is in two days.”
“I see…”
“But this isn’t the time to worry about that. Finish the third round first.”
“You want us to fail, don’t you?”
“Well… naturally…”
Bu Ui-min, who had shouted a moment ago, suddenly closed his mouth. He might have wanted them to fail, but at least one of them needed to pass for him to have a report to the higher-ups. So he softened his voice and added:
“…Not exactly like that.”
With nothing more to say, he glanced outside, then stood. With the sun high in the sky, it was almost time to gather.
“Stop wasting time. Get ready. The third round site is a bit far from here.”
After he left, Hyuk Ryeon-hwi, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, slowly got up and straightened his wrinkled clothes. Bi-seol hurriedly followed him outside.
“Let’s go,” said Bu Ui-min as they stepped out. The three of them moved quickly toward the site of the third evaluation.
The academy was bustling with people. Some recognized Hyuk Ryeon-hwi and glanced at him. Those who had been in the cafeteria yesterday wouldn’t easily forget him—he was the one who had subtly challenged Joo Ja-ak’s authority in the academy.
But most wore sneers. From their perspective, Hyuk Ryeon-hwi seemed like a clueless upstart.
Despite the looks, Hyuk Ryeon-hwi showed no change in expression, following Bu Ui-min without a hint of concern.
After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at a location with dozens of small separate buildings. Groups had already arrived and were waiting.
Although it wasn’t clear what exactly the evaluation entailed, candidates entered the buildings one by one and emerged shortly after. The evaluation was swift, thanks to the large number of small buildings.
Bi-seol whispered to Hyuk Ryeon-hwi while observing the buildings.
“I don’t get it. What kind of evaluation is this?”
“Ask the examiner, not me,” Bu Ui-min replied indifferently. He then placed them in the shorter of two long lines. They waited their turn.
Even before their turns came, the examiner’s voice could be heard explaining the evaluation.
“Enter and exit within a moment to pass.”
Bi-seol examined the small building. It was so small it would take barely any time to walk through. Why would such a tiny space be an evaluation?
The only plausible explanation: a formation test.
Escaping traps or memorization challenges. But the candidates emerged unscathed. There were no visible injuries, only occasional dazed expressions. Even if traps existed, they didn’t seem particularly difficult.
Bi-seol leaned toward Hyuk Ryeon-hwi and asked:
“Doesn’t this seem too small for a formation?”
Hyuk Ryeon-hwi glanced at her faintly smiling. Since the dinner last night, they hadn’t spoken; he had firmly set boundaries, and even during the second round, he had kept silent. Yet her cheerful nature persisted—natural, unyielding.
“…If it’s a formation, there’s no problem,” he finally said. A formation could easily be executed in a small space.
Their turns arrived, and Hyuk Ryeon-hwi went first. The examiner repeated the same instructions.
“Enter and exit within a moment to pass.”
Just as Hyuk Ryeon-hwi touched the door, Bi-seol said excitedly:
“See you outside! I’ll go next, hyung!”
Ignoring her, Hyuk Ryeon-hwi opened the door and entered.
The room was ordinary. No furniture, no unusual devices—only a small incense burner. His eyes lingered on it.
‘Not a formation…’
Then a familiar voice called. Hyuk Ryeon-hwi’s eyes trembled slightly. Before him appeared a man he knew well: the reason he had come to this martial world. His younger brother, Hyuk Ri-won.
“Hyung, it’s me. I’m here.”
Hyuk Ryeon-hwi stared silently at his smiling younger brother, as if all the past events had been a dream.
“You didn’t even want to see me?” Hyuk Ri-won teased, approaching.
As his hand gently touched Hyuk Ryeon-hwi’s face, wind swirled around him—drawing on the power of the wind spirit. For the first time, Hyuk Ryeon-hwi spoke.
“I missed you… but a dream is just a dream.”
The wind expelled the air, and Hyuk Ri-won’s apparition vanished. Hyuk Ryeon-hwi’s gaze returned to the incense burner—it had caused the illusion.
The smoke from the burner induced hallucinations, drawing on one’s deepest regrets or desires. This was called Eokrak Incense.
Those who smelled it relived past memories or regrets, which could torment weak-minded individuals.
Hyuk Ryeon-hwi had noticed the smoke immediately and had not been fooled. Still, he allowed himself a brief glance at his brother—just to see him once more.
Using the wind spirit’s power, he dispersed the smoke and stepped forward, opening the opposite door to the outside.
The bright sun shone on him.
“Pass!”
The voice echoed from the exit.
At the same time, Bi-seol entered the building and encountered an old man with a kind face, welcoming her warmly.
“Haha! Isn’t it good to see your master after a long time?”
“Oh? Master?”
“Yes. I felt sorry for making you struggle alone, so I came to help…”
But Bi-seol walked straight past him, knowing it was an illusion. The old man shouted, but she ignored him and stepped outside.
“Pass,” the voice called. Bi-seol smiled brightly, while Bu Ui-min showed a complex expression.
‘They made it through.’
Bi-seol looked around and asked,
“What about hyung?”
“Not yet.”
She seemed surprised that Hyuk Ryeon-hwi, who had entered before her, hadn’t emerged.
‘Strange. I thought he’d pass easily.’
Bu Ui-min muttered:
“Will he fail after all?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Bi-seol said confidently.
The door opened, and Hyuk Ryeon-hwi emerged. Bi-seol nodded knowingly.
“Pass!”
Hyuk Ryeon-hwi saw Bi-seol and Bu Ui-min and approached. Bu Ui-min, slightly embarrassed at being wrong, cleared his throat.
“Hmm… you would have failed if you were just a bit slower.”
“I know,” Hyuk Ryeon-hwi replied casually.
Bi-seol then asked, smiling:
“What did you see inside, hyung?”
“My brother.”
“You saw your brother? You must have been happy to see him.”
Hyuk Ryeon-hwi nodded.
“You managed to resist despite how much you care for him?”
“He doesn’t belong here.”
Bi-seol nodded, and Bu Ui-min curiously asked:
“And you, Bi-seol, who did you see?”
“My master. But I knew instantly he was fake.”
“How?”
Bi-seol had passed the third round very quickly. Seeing a fake master immediately piqued Bu Ui-min’s curiosity.
“The smell of alcohol wasn’t there,” she said.
“Alcohol?”
“Yes. My master is a heavy drinker, always carrying a bottle. But there was no smell—so I knew instantly.”
Bu Ui-min chuckled wryly, then looked at Hyuk Ryeon-hwi and Bi-seol.
Though he didn’t like them… he had to admit it: they had earned their place in the Welcome Academy.
He called their names.
“Hyuk Ryeon-hwi, Bi-seol.”
They turned to him, and he said slowly:
“Welcome to the Welcome Academy.”
