Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 17

"I'm gonna die…"

Even Gatekeepers are human! I need a break too!

How the hell did over twenty students pile up in just an hour?

Finishing the last examination, I trudged into the faculty lounge.

Wouldn’t it be awkward if someone else was already here? I had that thought for a moment, but luckily, it was empty.

Shiver—

I hadn’t noticed it during the examinations, but my body was completely drained.

Even just sitting down, my hands trembled from exhaustion.

That was not a good sign.

And this was only against Bronze-ranked students.

If stronger ones started showing up, I was screwed.

‘Elders were one thing since even the others couldn't handle them… but this is different.’

I wasn’t blind. I wasn’t deaf.

I knew what was being said about me.

Officially, I had only been an Examiner at the Academy for two days.

But in just those two days, my name was already circulating among the students.

The problem?

Most of it wasn’t in a good way.

They were saying a real Silver-ranked Examiner had arrived.

Unlike the ones before who just handed out promotions, this one was strict.

Some even whispered that I had an inferiority complex—

That I was gatekeeping promotions against Bronze students out of spite.

‘This kind of reputation is not good for me.’

Most Bronzes weren’t actually skilled enough yet.

Even Park Junwoo and those thug friends of his were nothing special.

They only seemed impressive because I had let my guard down for a moment.

So it wasn’t unreasonable that people thought I was just picking on the weak.

If only word had spread about how I stood against an Elder.

Then at least I wouldn’t be getting comments like:

"That pathetic low-tier superhuman is just cosplaying as a strong character by bullying Bronzes."

Yeah. That would’ve been nice.

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This whole situation was frustrating.

I had my reasons for doing this, but no one cared.

If they only knew what was really going on, maybe they’d understand.

Not that I could quit.

Because of Kim Suhyeon? Because of Lee Hyunwoo?

Sure, they were part of the reason.

If I guided them properly, they could become powerful allies.

But now, I had another reason.

- Activating The Third Eye.

◎ Baek Seojin

Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details:

- No one can pass without the Gatekeeper’s permission.

- Trait enhanced upon meeting required conditions.

- New Sub-Traits unlocked.

◎ Sub-Trait: Sole Examiner

◎ Details:

- Anyone who fails a promotion under you will continue to be recognized as your examinee.

◎ Sub-Trait: No Pain, No Gain

◎ Details:

- Every failed promotion attempt accumulates a stack.

- When the subject finally succeeds, their abilities will be enhanced in proportion to the accumulated stacks.

- Cooldown period before next enhancement.

- Cooldown can be reduced by conducting Silver-rank examinations at the Academy.

When I finished my last examination, this update had appeared.

So there was a cooldown before I could advance further.

And the only way to reduce that time?

Keep examining Silver candidates at the Academy.

My core trait itself was Silver Gatekeeper.

If I didn’t act according to that role, the cooldown likely wouldn’t decrease.

It was just a theory, but I had a strong feeling I was right.

Which meant I couldn’t quit this assignment.

I needed to keep examining, lower the cooldown, and trigger my next enhancement.

And along the way—

I could change Kim Suhyeon’s "A genius consumed by inferiority." trait.

Erase the 1% chance of her becoming the Crimson Witch.

Make sure Lee Hyunwoo grows even stronger.

"But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m exhausted…"

On my next day off, I needed to do more than just laze around.

Maybe work out.

They always said to build up stamina while you’re young.

And now, I was starting to understand why.

My body already felt like it was falling apart.

Knock knock—

"Excuse me! Is Examiner Baek Seojin inside?"

What now?

Can’t a man rest?

Gatekeepers are people too!

Even government workers have legally mandated break times!

"Yeah, I’m here. Come in."

Forcing my sore body upright, I rolled my shoulders.

Was it security? A staff member?

Or maybe Ma Hakjun was looking for me again?

I was still considering the possibilities when the door cracked open.

"Excuse me."

A female student peeked in hesitantly.

"Ah, hello, Examiner Baek Seojin. Sorry to disturb you while you’re resting."

"It’s fine, really. I was just about to head out anyway. But—who are you?"

"Ah! I’m here from the Student Council."

Ah.

The infamous Student Council.

You couldn’t have an Academy setting without them.

As expected, this Academy’s Student Council was made up of elites.

Most members were Gold-ranked, and some division heads had even reached Platinum.

By external standards, that meant they were at least B-rank Awakeners.

And their backgrounds? Just as impressive.

Grandsons of corporate chairmen. Daughters of top-ranking clan masters.

If Kim Suhyeon had been more skilled, she probably would have joined them too.

That was the level of prestige they held in the Academy.

There were a few annoying members, of course, but from what I remembered, the President kept them in check.

‘Wait… Didn’t the President and Treasurer end up joining Lee Hyunwoo’s party later?’

I couldn’t quite remember.

I had left the novel unfinished, after all.

"Examiner Baek Seojin?"

"Ah, sorry. What were you saying? You’re from the Student Council?"

"Yes. The Vice President would like to meet with you. Would you be available?"

Vice President?

Not the President? Not the Treasurer?

‘…I don’t remember. Who was the Vice President again?’

Unlike the other two, I had zero recollection of this guy.

Nothing.

Not a single memory.

Then it hit me.

‘Oh. It’s definitely a guy.’

Because if it had been a female character, I would have remembered.

TN: It reminds me of an Overwatch clip where a guy who doesn’t play Overwatch knows all the female characters but not a single male character—not even Genji, one of the most popular ones.

"He wants to meet me? Any idea why?"

"I’m not sure. I was just asked to bring you if you agreed."

"…Hold on a second."

I stopped her. Something about her wording bothered me.

Bring me?

That was just a polite way of saying I was supposed to go to them.

They wanted to meet me, yet I was the one expected to go to them?

"No, that won’t work. Tell the Vice President to come here."

"…Pardon?"

"I’m not an Academy student. I’m a dispatched government official. I have a designated role, official duties. Right now, I’m on my break, but I’m still on duty. Why should I leave my station?"

The Student Council had power. They were treated as elites.

That kind of prestige could lead some members to develop… an attitude.

And this Vice President?

Yeah.

I had a bad feeling about him already.

"Tell them if they want to talk, they can come here."

"A-ah… understood. Let me make a call."

The student looked flustered as she hurried out.

Not her fault, really.

But if I didn’t handle this like this, that Vice President wouldn’t understand his place.

A few moments later, she returned.

"The Vice President said he’ll come here instead."

"Great. Let’s step outside. This lounge isn’t exactly ideal for a meeting."

I had a bad feeling about this.

This meeting?

Yeah… it wasn’t going to be pleasant.

Meanwhile…

"Yeah, got it. Tell him I’ll go myself."

With a smooth voice, Jung Yuhyeon ended the call.

Then—

"Hah. Fucking hell."

His face twisted in irritation as he shoved his phone into his pocket.

"That Silver-ranked Examiner bastard."

The newly assigned Examiner.

Some nobody from god-knows-where.

And yet, he was already a major pain in the ass.

From the moment he arrived, he had crushed every single student he examined.

Today, he even set a new record.

One match after another, he rejected every Silver promotion.

Not a single student passed.

‘Who the hell does he think he is? Some fake tough guy pretending to be strong?’

At best, he was a C-rank Awakener.

A little better than those pathetic Bronzes, sure.

But still insignificant.

Yet, here he was, acting like some big shot.

‘And now students are whining that Silver promotions suddenly got harder.’

Some people just needed to know their place.

Bronzes and Silvers were the bottom feeders of the Superhumans world.

Filthy nobodies who should be grateful for whatever scraps were thrown their way.

That was their role.

To obey. To accept their status.

Not to act like they mattered.

And this lowly bastard?

This nobody who didn’t even get into the Academy?

Now he was out here beating up Bronzes like some kind of authority?

Jung Yuhyeon wasn’t going to let that slide.

‘Checked his background. Just an orphan nobody.’

He had already done his research.

After all, being the grandson of an honorary chairman from a respectable mid-tier corporation had its perks.

And he was making full use of those connections.

‘Guess it’s time to put him in his place.’

He wasn’t just some random student.

He was the Vice President of the most powerful organization in the Academy—the Student Council.

He was almost at Platinum rank.

And unlike that orphaned street rat, his bloodline was superior.

He had every advantage.

And now, he was going to use them.

To crush this arrogant Examiner.

To bury him.

"Bronzes. Silvers. Disgusting, bottom-tier trash."

Unaware that the information he had gathered—

The reports he had relied on—

Had been carefully manipulated by someone far beyond his reach.