Chapter 65: The Silent Duel of Records

– Unexpected Talent

The registration test for the Awakener Association.

Given the current climate, where even a single monster can’t be hunted recklessly by civilians,

Hae Eung Eung had been worried that the test might turn out to be rather bothersome and troublesome.

However, when the test actually began, it wasn’t as bothersome as expected.

[Punch Strength Test]

[Branch’s Highest Record – 82,850 Points]

[This Month’s Highest Record – 1,025 Points]

[Jo Ah Young 1st Attempt – 812 Points]

[Jo Ah Young 2nd Attempt – 876 Points]

[Jo Ah Young 3rd Attempt – 895 Points]

[Jo Ah Young Personal Best – 895 Points]

“Ugh~ What a shame. Can I try just one more time? I can hit it really well next time.”

“That’s not possible. According to the rules, each Awakener can only attempt each event up to three times.”

The punching machine, commonly found in arcades, was specially made for the Awakener test.

It was simple just hit it with your fist, and that was the test.

Jo Ah Young’s scores across the three attempts all landed in the 800-point range.

“Judge, is this a good score for me?”

“Most women without Awakening usually score between 400 to 500 points.”

” Awakened women typically score between 600 to 700 points. A score of 895 puts you in the top 10% of Awakened men.”

“Phew, thank goodness.”

“Just so you know, 90% of Awakeners fall into the lower two ranks, F and E. The top 10% are barely above the lower ranks.”

“It would’ve been great if you hadn’t said that last part.”

Jo Ah Young pouted her lips in frustration.

“Sis, please smash that evil machine!”

It wouldn’t be impossible for Hae Eung Eung to do so if she really wanted to.

But if she did, the gap between her and Jo Ah Young’s rankings would become too wide.

Hae Eung Eung controlled her strength and hit the punching machine.

Boom

[Hae Eung Eung 1st Attempt – 2,050 Points]

“New Monthly Record!”

“Ah! Sis, you broke the record!”

“…”

It was Hae Eung Eung’s first time ever hitting a punching machine, and she hadn’t expected her score to be this high.

“Even though I barely hit it, the score is surprisingly high. Would you like to try again?”

“Yeah, Sis! Next time, let’s beat the monthly record and go for the branch’s highest record!”

Of course, Hae Eung Eung had no intention of doing that. Instead, she intentionally pulled back more power than before to hit the machine again.

[Hae Eung Eung 2nd Attempt – 599 Points]

[Hae Eung Eung 3rd Attempt – 425 Points]

[Hae Eung Eung Personal Best – 2,050 Points]

The examiner couldn’t hide his discomfort.

“What are you doing?”

“Sis, what’s going on? Are you hurt?”

Hae Eung Eung made up an excuse.

[Temporary power enhancement ability.]

“Are you saying you have an enhancement-type Awakening ability?”

“Wow, no wonder you’re so strong. I didn’t know you had that kind of power.”

Hae Eung Eung didn’t lie but skillfully avoided outright lying, and the examiner was fooled.

“Such a pity. If your ability could be used freely anytime, your score would’ve been much higher. Don’t you think?”

[I’m satisfied as it is.]

After the punching machine, Hae Eung Eung obtained scores close to Jo Ah Young’s in various other tests.

As expected, both of them were judged to be D-rank Awakeners.

“By the way, we’ll have a brief VR test for a detailed ability check. Do either of you have any issues with virtual reality motion sickness?”

“I can even play Jumping Rabbit!”

“Why would you play such a crappy game…”

“What did you just say?”

“I’m sorry, I misspoke.”

[It’s fine. But what is Jumping Rabbit?]

“There’s this game! It’s awesome!”

The examiner, with much to say, opened his mouth, but when Jo Ah Young glared at him, he quickly closed it.

‘As long as we get similar results as before, just like we did with the punching machine, that’s all that matters.’

Hae Eung Eung didn’t think much of it.

“This upcoming virtual reality test will use a simulation called ‘Chasing the Silent Swordsman,’ a private game simulation.”

“!”
It wasn’t until her game nickname was mentioned that Hae Eung Eung’s attention was fully captured.

2.

Eom Gildong was enjoying his second prime.

A few days ago, the Association had come to him with a proposal,

asking if they could officially adopt the Silent Swordsman Catch-Up Simulation he had created as a test item for the Awakener Registration Exam.

“Of course, that’s a no-brainer!”

Eom Gildong immediately signed the contract, and as a result, his bank account became quite generous.

“Wow, even Awakeners are doing this. Isn’t this a huge hit, guys?”

• “Hyung, why do you look different?”
• “Marry me, hyung!”
• “You’re going to make so much money… jealous.”

<Eom Gildong’s Loan Repayment Amount has donated 10,000 won!>

“So, when are you going to pay back the loan, Mr. Customer?”

“Isn’t this crazy? I’ve never had a secured loan! Why are you asking me to pay and giving me money? What’s this kindness in debt collection?”

• “With this kind of collection, I’d be happy to get it every day. “

His contract was financially beneficial in many ways, giving him content for interaction with viewers.

There was only one drawback, though.

<Eom Gildong’s Sexual Desire has donated 10,000 won!>

“So, our names are going to be known to Awakeners too?”

That one downside was particularly harsh.

“Why the hell did you choose a nickname like that!!!”

• “Eom Gildong’s image is ruined now “
• “Eom Gildong’s maximum output is ‘Eom Gildong’s Sexual Desire.'”
• “It’s getting funnier as it spreads”

<Eom Gildong’s Loan Repayment Amount has donated 10,000 won!>

“Your rank is one place lower than Eom Gildong’s Sexual Desire. Congratulations on passing with an E rank.”

• “If you lose to something like that, you’d seriously lose all pride.”
• “But why is it an E rank? “
• “If you’re one rank lower than ‘Eom Gildong’s Sexual Desire,’ then it makes sense to pass.”
• “The nickname might suck, but the skills are real, that guy…”
• “Can we see the rankings of Awakeners by looking at this leaderboard?”
• “Oh.”
• “Possible.”
• “What’s possible?”
• “It’s standing.”
• “Why is it standing ?”
• “Aaaah! This crazy guy!!”

“Ah, this is annoying. Stop typing weird stuff. The ranking is not a combined ranking. It’s not good if the applicants’ personal information is exposed.”

• “Information protection is so important.”

“But they’re looking at our ranking.”

• “What?”
• “Why?”

“Our records aren’t important enough to protect…”

• “Ugh, this is frustrating.”
• “Does this mean jobless people are not even considered human?”
• “Are you saying that while living off your mom’s back and just playing Silent Swordsman Catch-Up, you won’t even be respected?”
• “A person who earns money to survive, doesn’t get married, doesn’t meet women, and has only one hobby gaming isn’t entitled to information protection?”
• “Stop it, you crazy guys, why are you all doing wide-area damage? “

“Please stop! If you joke twice, I’ll get beaten up to death. They’re trying to take the test, and we’re just setting records for the game.”

• (They seemed to agree with that, so they nodded. Emoji)
• (Nodding emoji)

“Why is it embarrassing now when we were all showing off the records before? You shouldn’t have made embarrassing nicknames in the first place.”

• “But honestly, I wouldn’t care if it was revealed.”
• “Me neither. What’s embarrassing about being Eom Gildong’s left arm?”
• “No, I can’t do that. ‘Eom Gildong the Grandma’s Denture Thief’ is a no-go.”
• “The nickname sucks “
• “I don’t care either. What’s embarrassing about being ‘Love Tracker Eom Gildong.’”

“Wait, now I see. You all made your nicknames with my name. I’m the one getting embarrassed here?”

Despite the server rankings of the Association being a matter of fact, Eom Gildong’s broadcast continued to be peaceful.

<Eom Gildong 27-year-old Organic Animal has donated 10,000 won!>

“Today I went to the Association, took the Silent Swordsman Catch-Up test, and found ‘Silent Swordsman’ on the ranking board. ”

“Is this really you? (Screenshot attached)”

Before the top test scores on the Awakener Registration Exam were leaked on the broadcast…

3.

[Awakener Registration Exam Dedicated Server Rankings]

[RANK 01. Silent Swordsman]

[Detailed Record]

[Time record: 49 seconds / Remaining monsters: 0 / Boat damaged]

[RANK 02. Dongtan Evil Name Promoter Eom Gildong]

[Detailed Record]

[Time record: 72 seconds / Remaining monsters: 21 / Boat completely destroyed]

[Signature: Died heroically while screaming amidst the sinking boat]

The gap between first and second place was unmistakably clear.

As she looked at the record, Hae Eung Eung was somewhat troubled.

‘Is this a fan game made by someone who watched my Ghost Mode? I don’t know why they’re trying to catch up to me, but I wish they’d stop.’

It was rather embarrassing for a game based on her name to appear in the exam.

‘But who is this?’

She had planned to take the exam three times, taking full advantage of the rule,

but the ranking she focused on was not the bizarrely named “Dongtan Evil Name Promoter Eom Gildong” but the dignified number 1, “Silent Swordsman.”

‘I haven’t set the number 1 record.’

Who could have set a record with her nickname?

Full of curiosity, Hae Eung Eung emerged from her capsule.

Just as she stepped out, Joo Ahyoung, who had exited from the opposite capsule, spoke with a tone that seemed somewhat proud.

“Unnie! I set a record.”

[What rank?]

“1st place!”

“!”

“Looks like your time as an Awakener trainee wasn’t wasted, right?”

Joo Ahyoung.

She was surprisingly good at the game.