Chapter 100 – Newcomer Interview

After the first round of document screening for the Galaxy Guild ended and interviews began, the area in front of the guild house bustled with countless people.

Even after excluding those who had already chosen a Constellation during the document screening and those with poor personality test results, the number of applicants who passed the screening still exceeded several thousand.

With only five spots to be selected from this pool, the competition ratio far surpassed 100:1.

Amidst this.

“Yes! I knew I’d be number one. Luck is on my side.”

At the front of the interview waiting line, a long-haired man in his early twenties, his face covered in piercings and tattoos, grinned and shouted.

His appearance would likely be frowned upon at a typical company, but for an Awakened, it was a different story.

The tattoos were spell tattoos imbued with special effects, and each piercing was a rare equipment piece containing a Skill.

“Finally, I get to see Lee Hanseong.”

A Four-Star Awakener born with a Two-Star Vessel. Kim Yul.

He was an ardent fan of Lee Hanseong.

He often made unconventional choices because he liked unique things. Even when it was revealed that Lee Hanseong was a 1-Star Contractor, Kim Yul believed he would succeed.

And when Lee Hanseong received the Heavenly Demon Medallion and most predicted his death, Kim Yul believed in his survival.

Having judged that the Galaxy Guild would grow someday, he frequently visited the guild’s online site. Thanks to that, he was able to apply as the first person when the recruitment notice was first posted.

‘I’m the one who even turned down the call of the Epicenter Throne to come here.’

Since most of his Feats were comprised of first-time achievements that no one else had attempted.

Kim Yul had numerous opportunities to choose the Epicenter Throne each time he Awakened.

But to join the same guild as Lee Hanseong, he refrained from choosing a Constellation until the end.

And now, he had come to the Galaxy Guild.

“Please come in.”

When the interview time arrived, the door opened, and applicants were guided into the reception room in groups of three.

Guiding them were Baek Hyeonwoo, who had joined the guild during the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial, and Lycan, transformed into human form.

Inside the reception room, Lee Hanseong and the three founding members were seated opposite a central table, waiting.

‘Ooooh!’

Upon seeing Lee Hanseong in person, Kim Yul internally screamed.

As if reading his inner thoughts, Lee Hanseong’s eyes twitched slightly.

Jin Yuseong began with a standard interview question.

“Mr. Kim Yul? What is your reason for wanting to join our guild?”

“Joining a guild of the Twelve Constellations seems a bit ordinary, and it’s been my dream to be in the same guild as Mr. Lee Hanseong.”

“Okay. Thank you for your answer.”

“……?”

After just one statement, the interview was over.

The same was true for the other two applicants who entered with Kim Yul.

Only the questioners changed to Park Seongcheol and Yu Sehee, but the interview ended after one question, just the same.

“Did we… fail?”

“Maybe they never intended to accept lower-rank Awakeners in the first place?”

The other two applicants, who came out with bewildered expressions after the abruptly ended interview, grumbled, sensing their rejection.

At first, Kim Yul had similar thoughts, but then he suddenly recalled Lee Hanseong’s Eye of Insight that he had seen on the Dark Web and smiled.

‘Hmm. So that’s how it is.’

The questions were merely a formality; the real deal was Lee Hanseong’s eyes.

According to the analysis on the Dark Web, his Discernment Skill was estimated to be at Legendary Grade.

Just a brief glance would be enough to see through someone’s temperament and true intentions.

‘Lee Hanseong saw my true feelings… This is such an honor!’

Kim Yul had no doubt he would pass.

With his pure heart, there was no reason for him to fail.

However, what he didn’t anticipate was that Lee Hanseong, seeing Kim Yul’s immense fanaticism, felt burdened and decided to put his acceptance on hold.

* * *

Even after the first interviewees left, the interviews continued swiftly.

Perhaps due to the condition of being an Awakener who hadn’t chosen a Constellation.

Most interviewees were lower-rank Awakeners.

But exceptions exist everywhere.

“What? I thought only lower-rank Awakeners were coming?”

“There are Mid-Rank Awakeners who still haven’t chosen a Constellation?”

Around the end of the first interview day.

Two Mid-Rank Awakeners knocked on the door of the Galaxy Guild.

Both were Three-Star Awakeners with Four-Star Vessels, similar to the Fixer Kang Min, having contracted with a Seven-Star Spirit upon reaching Three-Star.

Thud.

One was Do Junwoo, the younger brother of Do Junyeong, the Association Head’s secretary.

The Contractor of the Seven-Star Spirit ‘Gu Yazi,’ revered as the God of Artisans in the Central Plains.

Thump.

And the other was An Gyeongseok, who applied for a transfer from the Seven Star Guild.

He was the Contractor of the Seven-Star Spirit ‘Albert Einstein,’ known as the greatest theoretical physicist in Earth’s history.

Along with the Fixer Kang Min, these two, who were grouped as the promising new Mid-Rank Awakener trio, had come to the Galaxy Guild.

Zap!

“You, who contracted with an Artisan Spirit, didn’t join the Iron Guild. What brings a weirdo like you here?”

“And you, didn’t you join the Seven Star Guild?”

The two recognized each other and engaged in a tense exchange.

“I joined a guild, but I haven’t chosen a Constellation yet. Transferring to another guild shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Oh, is that so? I doubt they’ll accept someone who flits around like a bat here.”

Before their exchange could escalate further, Baek Hyeonwoo intervened.

“You two are the last ones. Please come inside.”

“Yes, Mr. Hyeonwoo.”

“Alright.”

And so the interview began.

“Mr. Do Junwoo. Your reason for choosing our guild…?”

“I think here, I can become the Swordsman Do Junwoo, not the Artisan Do Junwoo.”

Lee Hanseong nodded, reading the sincerity in Do Junwoo’s answer.

The reason he didn’t join the Iron Guild was also because he didn’t consider himself an Artisan.

With such a mindset, Mirinae would likely accept him well.

‘And I also owe him a small debt of gratitude.’

In the pre-Regression future, it was he who discovered the utility of Void Skill Equipment.

Somehow, it felt like I had taken his opportunity, so I felt indebted.

“Mr. Do Junwoo. You’re accepted.”

That was probably why.

Do Junwoo was selected as the first successful candidate.

Next, An Gyeongseok’s Q&A followed.

“Mr. An Gyeongseok. What is your reason for wanting to transfer from the Seven Star Guild to our guild?”

Since it was a transfer between guilds, not joining the Galaxy Guild as an independent like other interviewees, the question was slightly different.

“Guild Master Baek Junyeong requested it. He asked me to come here and protect his nephew, that is, Mr. Baek Hyeonwoo.”

“So, it’s just a transfer in name, but you’re still following Guild Master Baek Junyeong’s orders, right?”

In response to An Gyeongseok’s confession that he came under the Seven Star Guild’s orders, a second question was asked for the first time.

“Of course, while I’m at the Galaxy Guild, I will follow your orders.”

“Even if they conflict with Guild Master Baek Junyeong’s intentions?”

“As long as it’s not ethically problematic, yes. Even without the Guild Master’s order, I was interested in the Galaxy Guild and Guild Master Lee Hanseong, which is why I accepted the transfer directive.”

Lee Hanseong also seemed to feel the need to observe further, asking a few more questions to buy time.

Only after reading sufficient information with his Insightful Eye did An Gyeongseok’s interview end.

“That’s all for the interview. You may go now.”

“Yes.”

After the last two interviewees of the day left and only Galaxy Guild members remained, Jin Yuseong asked.

“What should we do about Mr. An Gyeongseok?”

“I’d like to accept him.”

“Why? Isn’t it obvious? He’s a spy sent to uncover our secrets.”

“I don’t think he sees it that way? Everything he said seemed sincere.”

Although his communication style was awkward, no other intentions were apparent. Not hiding that he came under Guild Master Baek Junyeong’s order was also to show good faith.

“What if he leaks information about the Lord of the Throne to the Seven Star Guild?”

“If Mr. An Gyeongseok learns about Mirinae, he would have already become her Devotee by then. At that point, he wouldn’t do anything harmful to his own Constellation.”

“Then why didn’t you accept him right away and put him on hold?”

“There’s one concern.”

When An Gyeongseok mentioned Baek Junyeong’s name, someone’s gaze was captured by the Insightful Eye.

It was undoubtedly Baek Junyeong’s.

Even if An Gyeongseok had no intention of betrayal, if Baek Junyeong was using him as an eye, information about Mirinae could unintentionally leak out.

—You don’t need to worry about that. If he becomes this one’s Devotee, blocking surveillance won’t be difficult.

As if reading Lee Hanseong’s concern, Mirinae assured him, leaving no further obstacles.

“Then, let’s accept Mr. An Gyeongseok.”

“I’ll send the acceptance message right away.”

Thus, the second successful candidate was decided.

* * *

From the second to the fourth day, no particularly noteworthy interviewees appeared.

Most were opportunists filled with thoughts of gaining strength through Lee Hanseong’s influence and then transferring to one of the Twelve Guilds or their Satellite Guilds.

Among them was also the party that had conquered the Crossroads of the Scales in the pre-Regression timeline.

However, since there was no sense of indebtedness like with Do Junwoo, they were not accepted separately. Although seizing the dungeon first took away their chance to obtain Legendary Equipment, conversely, they didn’t lose any comrades.

Anyway, after continuously seeing such two-faced individuals, Kim Yul from the first interview seemed all the more exceptional.

“We put him on hold initially, but given the level of interviewees, we should just accept Mr. Kim Yul.”

“Got it.”

Thus, as the fourth day’s interviews ended, Kim Yul’s acceptance, which had been on hold, was confirmed.

And on the fifth day.

The fourth successful candidate emerged.

“Mr. Shin Gyumin?”

“Yes. The reason I chose the Galaxy Guild is that you are my uncle’s benefactor, and I also heard Mr. Lee Hanseong is a Tamer. I’m a Tamer too. The person guiding outside, that’s a Werewolf, right?”

Shin Gyumin, a Two-Star Awakener with a Three-Star Vessel.

On his shoulder sat a hawk imbued with thunder.

A Three-Star Beast, the ‘Thunder Hawk.’

He recognized Lycan, and the mention of being a benefactor piqued interest, leading to an additional question.

“Your uncle…?”

“Yes, he’s a soldier in charge of the Third Awakened Training Center… I heard that during the last Sudden Rift Incident, if it weren’t for you all, things would have gone very badly. It’s late, but thank you.”

The fact that he was related to the incident where Lee Hanseong and the promising candidates first stepped forward and performed meritoriously earned him bonus points.

Well, even so, if his gratitude wasn’t sincere, he wouldn’t have been accepted, but Shin Gyumin’s heart reflected in the Insightful Eye was indeed genuine.

Lee Hanseong and his comrades felt a sense of satisfaction at his heartfelt thanks, soft smiles appearing on their lips.

“Mr. Shin Gyumin. You’re accepted.”

Thanks to this, subsequent interviewees faced interviews in a less rigid atmosphere, but it was only the atmosphere.

No one who was originally going to fail ended up passing.

* * *

The sixth day also passed without any successful candidates, and the final interview day dawned.

As it was the last day, the waiting line gathered in front of the guild house was only about half the size of other days.

“Hey, isn’t that person a promising candidate from this Session?”

“Ah, right! It’s Seo Minah, who Awakened during the Qualification Exam. I heard she got a Love Call from a Black Guild, but she came here instead.”

Seo Minah.

Still 1-Star, but a promising candidate with a Five-Star Vessel.

‘Hoo— It’s okay, just keep going like this.’

Suppressing her trembling heart, she moved her steps as calmly as possible.

She controlled her breathing and mind to prevent any resentment towards Lee Hanseong from surfacing.

Once her mind was somewhat stabilized, her turn came.

And the moment she entered the reception room and saw Lee Hanseong.

Hum.

Despite her earlier mental preparation, from within her, her second Five-Star Spirit resonated.

Resentment and killing intent towards Lee Hanseong surged abruptly.

“Ms. Seo Minah? Is something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Just nervous…”

Seo Minah, who blurted out an excuse, tried hard to suppress the Spirit residing within her.

‘Oppa, please stay still!’

But the Spirit’s resonance showed no sign of stopping.

Naturally, it caught Lee Hanseong’s attention.

‘The documents said she only contracted with one Spirit, but she has two contracted Five-Star Spirits?’

Unlike the norm of securing twelve or more Empty Stars before a second Spirit Contract, Seo Minah seemed to have made a second Spirit Contract as soon as she became 1-Star.

Lee Hanseong narrowed his eyes and peered through Seo Minah’s Spirits.

One was the Five-Star Spirit ‘Seohwang,’ a famous general under Cao Cao from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, belonging to the Darkness Constellation.

The other was a Five-Star Woodcutter Spirit, ‘Seo Minho.’

‘A Woodcutter…’

But the aura and abilities felt from Seo Minho seemed somewhat familiar.

‘I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before…’

Then, one person suddenly came to mind.

During the early stages of the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial, a lower-rank Awakener who died in the Black Shadow Spider Lord’s Bewildering Formation was exactly like that.

A Contractor of Woodcutter Spirits who used the nickname ‘Chobu.’

When an Awakener from Earth dies, they usually become a Spirit under a Constellation.

So, it wasn’t impossible to contract with him after he became a Spirit posthumously.

Moreover, if they were close blood relatives, the similarity would increase the likelihood of a contract.

‘Seo Minho and Seo Minah. Were they family?’

Knowing that, her purpose for wanting to join the Galaxy Guild didn’t seem pure.

If Shin Gyumin, accepted earlier, was a connection bound by gratitude.

Seo Minah was a connection bound by resentment.

“Ms. Seo Minah? What is your reason for choosing our guild?”

“I judged that I could grow the fastest here.”

While Jin Yuseong asked the question, Lee Hanseong focused on seeing through Seo Minah’s true intentions.

A bit of vengeance, about half self-blame and sorrow, and emotions sprinkled with resentment like seasoning were churning within her.

A complex state of mind where she knew Seo Minho’s death was due to his choices but couldn’t help blaming Lee Hanseong.

Reading that heart, Lee Hanseong decided how to handle Seo Minah.

‘They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’

“Ms. Seo Minah. You’re accepted. Report to the guild house tomorrow.”

Judging that even if Seo Minah betrayed the guild, they could handle it sufficiently, he selected the final successful candidate.

And while the Galaxy Guild was selecting new members.

The schedule for all sections of the Heavenly Palace Tournament preliminaries had also ended.

“Yuseong and Seongcheol, you’re all prepared for the main tournament, right?”

“Of course.”

The main tournament of the Heavenly Palace Tournament was tomorrow.