The exterior appeared like a round mirror hanging on the wall.
However, unlike an ordinary mirror, it did not reflect anything.
Its surface, coated in a deep sky-blue color, rippled in concentric circles as if a pebble had been dropped into water the moment I cautiously approached and placed my hand on it.
Even at a glance, it was clear that this was no ordinary object.
Completely absorbed in this extraordinary item I had never seen before, the first to speak was the Guild Master, who introduced himself as Rohain.
“You seem quite interested in this device. It’s a special apparatus made with magic engineering. It’s designed to absorb external impacts and measure their intensity, which is then visually displayed.
“Our guild’s battle rating begins here, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of various categories related to actual combat, to determine a final grade.”
“Based on the results, participants are assigned one of three ranks: Bronze, Silver, or Gold.”
“As you complete numerous quests and build a track record, you can advance to higher ranks in the order of Diamond, Adamantium, and Orichalcum.”
“Naturally, having a higher rank makes it easier to acquire a broader range of well-paying quests.”
“Excuse me, Master… That explanation is actually my job.”
“Ah, yes. My apologies. I was reminded of the old days and got carried away.”
Recounting his past as an ordinary staff member guiding tests like this, Rohain’s expression grew wistful as he reminisced.
Meanwhile, the receptionist standing beside him sighed softly.
From this, it was evident that Rohain shared a friendly, casual relationship with his staff.
‘If he had been overbearing or authoritarian, she would never have reacted that way in the first place.’
For some reason, I had the feeling that Mark, when he grew older, might turn out like this.
But since automata like him lack the concept of aging, I’ll never be able to confirm it.
***
Usually, a staff member in charge of this area supervises the test.
However, because it was late and those responsible had already left for the day, the Guild Master and the receptionist decided to oversee my test together.
After warming up a bit before starting the test in earnest, I stared at the mirror-like device in front of me with a hint of hesitation in my eyes.
“The first test is to punch the surface of that device as hard as you can. Don’t worry about hurting your hand! This special device is designed to completely absorb the impact. Think of it as punching soft jelly.”
The receptionist, who had approached me while I was warming up, pointed at the device and explained the first test.
I glanced at her expression but, as expected, found no trace of expectation.
Instead, her concern for my safety reflected her thoughts about this test—clearly, she didn’t have high hopes.
Of course, it was considerate of her, so I didn’t feel offended.
However, her constant dismissive attitude and treating me like a weakling were enough to stoke a quiet fire within me.
Initially, I planned to hold back and not stand out too much due to my circumstances.
But the frustration and indignation made it impossible to suppress anymore.
Deciding to show a sliver of my true strength, I approached the device with a resolute expression.
Then, without hesitation, I delivered a punch with “just a little sincerity.”
I never imagined what would happen next.
“Take this…!”
!!!
BOOOOOOM!!!
“!!! Kyaaaa!!”
“Oh… fascinating.”
The moment my fist struck the surface of the device, an enormous shockwave shook the entire testing area, accompanied by a deafening roar.
Simultaneously, the surface of the device shimmered with dazzling light, trembling violently as if it had collided with something massive.
Although the commotion subsided as if nothing had happened, the reactions of the two onlookers were filled with shock and astonishment.
“This is incredible… The result is MAX—it’s the highest possible reading! How is this even possible…?”
“I must admit, I’m genuinely surprised. The last person to reach the maximum result in this test at our branch was years ago… I never thought Karin would break that record.”
The receptionist doubted her own eyes, while the Guild Master, though calm on the surface, couldn’t hide his intrigued gaze.
But I couldn’t feel pleased about their reactions.
Why?
Because I never expected to set such a high record myself.
Although I did put some effort into my punch, it wasn’t my full strength, which only heightened my surprise.
Moreover, the overwhelming vibration that momentarily shook the entire guild branch could have caused a major uproar if not for the late hour, with almost no visitors around.
***
As the test continued, my remarkable performance remained consistent.
Every evaluation category was conquered with astonishing ease, earning perfect scores in every challenge.
While the Guild Master maintained his composure, the receptionist, who had nearly fainted from shock during the first test, seemed completely drained by the time we approached the final stage.
I felt a mix of satisfaction and guilt, wondering if I had gone too far.
It was too late to hold back now, as any restraint would be blatantly obvious.
Accepting the situation, I resolved to achieve perfect scores in all remaining categories.
The final stage awaited me: the “Practical Comprehensive Assessment.”
“For the last test, you’ll face a C-rank monster—a Stone Golem—in the training arena! Of course, it’s not an actual monster. It’s a magically crafted pseudo-lifeform that replicates the characteristics and combat style of a real one, so you’ll need to be careful…”
“Wait a moment, Karune. Can we pause the test for a moment? I have a proposal for Karin.”
“What? A proposal?”
“It won’t take long. Why don’t you take a moment to wash your face? Watching you makes me worry you might faint any second.”
Perhaps the Guild Master shared my thoughts.
He suggested Karune, the flustered receptionist, take a break and calmly approached me, his elderly demonic features exuding wisdom.
Facing him, I reflexively swallowed hard.
‘Was he going to ask about my past or dig into my true identity?’
‘Or maybe he would pose some completely unexpected, difficult-to-answer question.’
The mere thought of such a scenario made me tense as I waited for him to speak.
But what he said next was far removed from any of my concerns.
“…How about changing the monster for the practical assessment?”
“Exactly. Instead of the usual Stone Golem used in this evaluation, you would face a B-rank monster—the Basilisk.”
The Guild Master’s suggestion was to increase the difficulty by replacing the test monster with a more advanced one.
It was a relief that the proposal wasn’t something uncomfortable or intrusive.
Yet, I couldn’t help but tilt my head, unsure of his reasoning behind it.
As if he anticipated my reaction, the Guild Master began explaining calmly.
“After reviewing Karin’s performance so far, it’s clear that the evaluation with the Stone Golem would be nothing more than a trivial exercise for you. In my experience, the evaluation would likely end in a matter of seconds. So, instead of that, I believe it would be far more meaningful for you to face the Basilisk, a more aggressive and challenging opponent than the Golem.”
“Of course, there’s a proper reward for the additional difficulty. Under normal regulations, the highest grade attainable from an initial battle rating assessment is Gold. But if you accept my proposal, I’ll grant you the Diamond rank immediately.”
The Guild Master emphasized that the choice was entirely mine and waited patiently for my answer, giving me plenty of time to consider.
Naturally, this was an offer too enticing to refuse.
The Guild Master himself was willing to bypass the standard rules to reward me with a higher grade.
For someone like me, eager to secure higher-quality requests and quickly conclude this unsettling side gig, it was an opportunity I couldn’t ignore.
Moreover, it wasn’t even a real monster—it was simply part of the evaluation.
‘If a dangerous situation arose, they could intervene immediately, and if it seemed too overwhelming, I could always retake the test with the original Stone Golem.’
Having considered all this, I confirmed that retaking the test was indeed an option and accepted his proposal.
With the receptionist returning to her post, the test resumed in earnest.
Before heading into the next stage, I was given the opportunity to select a weapon.
I picked up a moderately sized longsword, feeling a twinge of regret that no scythe was available.
Sighing lightly, I entered the training arena.
***
The space was clean, wide, and flat—an empty area with an atmosphere of calm before the storm.
The cold air filled the training room, heightening the tense anticipation of the impending battle.
As if I had stepped into an entirely different world, the training arena felt distinct from the previous test area.
Taking a deep breath in the stillness, I fixed my gaze straight ahead, my expression firm.
Just then, a massive magic circle lit up at the far end of the arena, accompanied by a flash of blue light.
The magic circle, radiating brilliance that filled the entire room, gradually formed the shape of a creature and began to subside.
As the intense blue light faded and my vision quickly returned to normal, I opened my eyes wide at the sight before me.
Standing there was a giant monster I had never seen before.
Its long tongue flicked out, as if savoring the moment, while its predatory eyes fixated on me.