Ten days had passed since the Position Test, and today marked the end of the Final Joint Test.
Inside a spacious hall, all the Position Instructors sat behind a long, formal table. Hansung Yu and Leoro-ro were there too. On a cushy five-seater couch off to the side, Indrah lounged lazily, watching the events unfold on a big screen.
'Team A lost just like in the canon… minor deviations, since there's no Fisherman in the mix. But Team B… how the hell did everything still play out exactly like the anime? Even with several key characters missing from this part of the arc?' His eyes narrowed.
'It's like this whole Tower is written to go one way or another, no matter how much you twist it… all those butterfly effect theories can eat shit.' The more he interfered, the more things just… snapped back into place. Like some cosmic rubber band.
'Maybe I'm overthinking it.'
He stood and walked over to the Director's table, where Hansung Yu sipped his coffee like the chaos on screen was a morning drama.
"Thanks for lending me this." Indrah pulled out the black book and dropped it on the table with a soft thud.
Hansung raised a brow. "Oh… you finished it already?"
"Well, It's normal. Considering you're one of them."
Indrah didn't respond to what he meant. He just turned and left, ignoring the curious glances from the instructors. Leoro-ro had already dipped with Endorsi and Anaak to get Baam treated after his injury.
…
Next morning
Indrah strolled through the same bland-ass hallway after breakfast. Laure walked beside him, yawning every few steps.
"Quite the stunt you pulled yesterday…"
"Not much worse than what you've been doing all this time."
"Haha, true—"
BZZT
"Mic test. Regulars."
The announcement echoed through the air like thunder. Leoro-ro's voice came in right after.
"Good morning. I know yesterday's test was exhausting, but don't just lie around. Meals are free now that the tests are over, so eat up. Anyway, main announcement time…"
"All Regulars must report to the First Hall by 6 P.M. The list of Regulars advancing to the Final Exam will be announced."
The entire place went dead quiet for a second. Then, chaos.
"Do you think I'll be selected?"
"You? I'd rather jump from this ship."
"SHUT UP. Move—move! It's that guy! He's coming this way!"
Indrah twitched when he heard the commotion.
'Damn you, Shibisu. Just wait till I find you…'
He ignored the whispers and headed back to his room.
In the last ten days, he'd kept himself occupied training or throwing bored Genjutsu on other Regulars to stir up chaos for entertainment. That probably contributed to the nickname catching on—every time someone confronted him, things never ended well for them.
When he reached his room, Baam was standing at the door.
"What are you doing here, Baam? Shouldn't you be recovering?" Indrah raised an eyebrow. 'Wait, don't tell me he's here to ask for help with that chick's busted leg. I might actually break it for real this time…'
"Mr. Indr—"
"It's Indrah! Drop the damn honorific already," he snapped, mildly annoyed. For the next few minutes, he scolded Baam like an annoyed older brother tired of his sibling's manners.
Baam just stood there, smiling awkwardly, sweat forming on his forehead.
Eventually, Indrah stopped lecturing and let Baam explain.
Baam asked him to join the team he was forming… then went on a long-ass rant about being Rachel's legs and how he had to help her blah blah blah…
Lines of pain etched themselves into Indrah's brain as Baam went full Shonen Protagonist mode.
'Man, you're really like that… huh? No wonder you're the main character.'
"Okay, okay, fine. I'll join," Indrah cut him off. He couldn't take another second of Rachel-worship.
'Not like you'll stick with this team you're pouring your heart into anyway. And Baam… it's not that I don't want to help. Just… not now. I learned the hard way—being weak is a sin.'
He watched Baam leave, cheerful and optimistic. That wouldn't last. A few days from now, the bubble would burst… like waking up from a dream you didn't know was a nightmare.
'Poor guy. Hope you don't go full Edge Lord after this. Though honestly, I haven't read Season 2 so… no idea.'
…
Later that day
The auditorium was packed. Regulars filled the curved benches and tables, buzzing with nervous energy. Indrah sat up front, stretched out, legs crossed, snacking lazily.
CREAK
The door swung open. Leoro-ro and Hansung Yu walked in. Silence fell.
"Good afternoon, Regulars," Leoro-ro announced. "We'll now reveal the Regulars who passed the Final Position Test."
FLASH
A screen lit up with names and positions:
{ FISHERMAN } – Indrah | Endorsi | Anaak
{ SPEAR BEARER } – Rak | Akryung | Paracule | Alexay
{ WAVE CONTROLLER } – Baam | Laure
{ SCOUT } – Hatz | Shibisu
{ LIGHT BEARER } – Khun A.A
"Oooh, this Great God Paracule knew he would ascend above these mortals!"
"Thank the lord, I passed!"
"Wait, what?! I didn't pass?!"
Joy and despair filled the room in equal parts. Some cheered. Others slumped over in soul-crushing silence.
One idiot started yelling at Hansung.
"Come here," Hansung said coldly.
CRACKLE
A wave of Shinsu pressure silenced the room faster than a gunshot. Nobody dared open their mouths now… except one.
"I also disagree with the results, Director," Khun said calmly, rising from his seat.
"You passed with high scores," Hansung smirked. "Surely you're not here to ask me to fail you."
"I want Michelle Light to move on to the next round."
"And why do you care about her?"
"It's important… to my friend."
…
"Hahahahaha… oh, my apologies," Hansung wiped an eye. "But she's too injured to participate. By the rules, she can't move forward."
"Under normal circumstances, yes. But I'll go meet the Floor's Administrator myself. I'll take his test."
The room fell into stunned silence. Rankers. Regulars. Everyone froze.
Khun kept talking, trying to push through, but Hansung cut him off with a truth bomb:
"You'd need to be an Irregular to take the Administrator's test."
"…What?"
"Sorry. Your plan won't work. Return to your seat."
Khun clenched his fists. He searched for another way… but came up empty.
Until—
"WAIT!" Baam shot up.
Indrah crunched his popcorn. 'There he goes…'
"I'll take the test!"
"Baam," Hansung turned toward him, "I just told you—"
"I'm… I'm an Irregular!!"
BOOM
Silence detonated in the room. Every gaze locked on Baam.
'What?!'
Even his closest friends looked like their souls left their bodies.
Hansung didn't even pause. "Follow me. Right now."
The two walked toward the exit. Just as they reached the door, Hansung suddenly froze. His whole body tensed. Sweat beaded down his face. Something—someone—made him stop.
Slowly, mechanically, Hansung turned around.
His eyes met Indrah's.
Indrah froze too, halfway to tossing more popcorn into his mouth.
Hansung spoke, with a pale expression:
"The Administrator has summoned… both Irregulars. For the Test."
'…Well, shit.'
There went his peaceful days.