Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"Haa…"

I let out a long sigh as I stepped out of the building.

The third test was finally over.

As expected, I passed.

Or… was that really something I should take for granted?

"How the hell was that even close?"

I turned around, dumbfounded.

The first test had been a sparring match against an examiner.

The second test was a written exam on demonic beasts.

And the third test was an interview—meant to assess my character.

Yet, as I was leaving, the examiner’s words had stuck with me.

"Your first two tests were overwhelmingly impressive, so you passed… but the third was a bit risky. I advise you to be more careful."

That was what he had said.

I was honestly speechless.

"What the hell did I even do?"

Failing the character test? The third test was famous for being practically impossible to fail.

And yet, he said I had barely made it?

‘I barely even said anything.’

When asked how I would respond if a superior gave an unreasonable order—

I had answered, "If it doesn’t make sense, I won’t follow it."

When asked what I would do if I witnessed my superior committing corruption—

I had simply replied, "If he's a moron, I’ll beat him to death."

And when asked how I would react if a comrade was in danger while facing a demonic beast—

I had asked, "Is that person even useful?"

That last one had really ruined the examiners’ expressions.

"…And? So what?"

I still didn’t see the problem.

Even though I somehow managed to pass, their reactions still bothered me.

Would they have failed me if things had gone a little differently?

‘Nah, that’s ridiculous.’

They probably just didn’t like my answers, but I doubted it was enough to cause real trouble.

Anyway—

"Let’s see now…"@@novelbin@@