~Chapter 2~
“Examination complete.”
I stepped lightly out of the machine.
By all indications, this one had gone well.
“Rose Lutiense. Final grade: F.”
Yes. Perfect! I clenched my fist while glancing at the small monitor.
“Good work.”
“Phew.”
I wanted to applaud on the spot when I saw the result, but I held myself back. The celebration could wait.
Instead, I wiped the sweat forming on my forehead with the back of my hand.
I had no idea how exhausting it was inside the examination machine. Even with three years of flawlessly executing my plan, suppressing my ability took an incredible amount of energy.
Still, it was over without incident. That had to count for something, right?
As I slipped my shoes back on after the exam and turned off the machine, I spotted my teammate, Maethel, holding a towel. Her gaze was still glued to the screen.
I quietly approached her and tapped her shoulder.
“Maethel.”
“Oh, you’re here.”
“Yeah. That towel—yours, by any chance?”
“What nonsense? It’s mine.”
“Even if it isn’t, I’ll just borrow it. Thanks for the prep.”
“Huh?”
I grabbed the towel and diligently wiped the sweat from my damp bangs. The once-fluffy towel gradually grew damp.
Maethel watched me, alternately glancing at the towel, her brows knitting in mild irritation.
“You know, I’ve always wondered… how do you sweat so much? It’s just an exam.”
“Maybe… I was nervous?”
“Don’t lie. You don’t look it at all.”
“Busted.”
I let out a small, teasing laugh, seeing her lips tremble ever so slightly. She looked a little flustered—funny, really.
“Rose. So what are you really going to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“This was your last chance, and you got an F again. Three years in a row! I’m sure the headquarters will issue a notice of disqualification this time.”
“Even if I get disqualified, it doesn’t matter.”
That was the whole point.
“Rose!”
Her sharp voice carried a hint of reproach, as if scolding me. I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
Was that it? Did she not want me to leave because she’d be left alone?
“Hmm, Maethel… you don’t want me to go?”
“Stop imagining terrible things. I’m only saying this out of concern.”
“Oh, never mind.”
“…I guess it’s a little bittersweet. Just a tiny bit.”
Of course, the infuriating little brat. Even you can look human for a moment.
It was ironic that the teammate who had always been harsh and critical was now showing concern.
Three years of looking down on me for hitting bottom with F grades… had she secretly developed a grudging affection?
“Why did you do it?”
“…Do what?”
“The grade. Why did you do it?”
Her question was blunt. It seemed she knew something, which made my spine stiffen for a moment.
She glared at me through pursed lips.
“Why do you always get F? You’re supposed to be the healing-type talent of the metropolitan territory! Not even a D-grade in all this time. You should be ashamed!”
Her gaze dripped with contempt, as if she despised incompetence. A complex about being a commoner, perhaps.
If anyone else heard it, it would have sounded like a cruel insult—but I couldn’t help feeling relieved.
Of course. There was no way such a simple-minded girl could know the details of my plan.
The tension I felt instantly dissolved.
“Why? Life’s full of days where you might get F three years straight, and even lose your qualifications. That’s life. Strange question for you to ask.”
“Are you joking at a time like this?”
“I’m not joking.”
“What?”
“Why do you think it’s a joke?”
I calmly picked up the remote and turned off the monitor showing the results Maethel had been staring at.
The F beneath my photo disappeared in an instant, replaced by a blank black screen.
That letter F—entirely my doing.
At the same time, it was a grade that would vanish if forgotten.
I exhaled and spoke calmly.
“Pull yourself together, Maethel Magnolia. From my perspective, life as an ordinary person isn’t so bad. Living comfortably under the security team’s protection, no worry about injuries—this is happiness, and it’s wonderful.”
Maethel didn’t seem convinced. She shook her head in disapproval.
“I can’t understand. A life with no ability.”
“Fine. Don’t understand if you don’t want. If you want to cover your eyes and pretend, I won’t stop you.”
“Cover my eyes… what?”
“Something like that.”
I finished my words, removed the towel from my shoulder, and gently placed it in her hands.
That was my friendly little retaliation.
“Eek! How dare you! Dirty—”
“On purpose. A disqualification gift, a little prank I prepared.”
You were just too much of a pain, that’s all.
“Dis… a prank? What’s that?”
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
I shushed her, placing a finger to my lips. Her face flushed crimson.
She thought I was mocking her? Ding ding ding—correct.
“…You’re hopeless. I’ll hate you forever. Even as an ordinary person, I hope you go out and live well!”
“Thanks. That’s exactly what I planned anyway. Don’t worry. I might even feel touched enough to repay you.”
If she kept going, I might just give her a taste worse than this.
Maethel, utterly disgusted, stepped back. The towel I had given her was tossed onto the floor.
Still, in a fit of frustration, she stomped the white towel under her shoes, leaving clear marks.
That temper of hers… truly something else.
“Nothing more to say? I’m going.”
“Y-you…!”
“And move aside a bit. The corridor’s too narrow.”
I gently pushed Maethel into the corner of the hallway and walked past her.
Not long after, a booming voice echoed across the corridor.
“Hey, you must attend the King’s birthday banquet today! I’ll let the team know for the farewell party!”
“I don’t care. Handle it yourself.”
I waved casually and left the examination room without looking back.
The wide-open corridor was filled with a refreshing breeze streaming through the windows.
I stopped and closed my eyes for a moment.
The cool air touched my damp hair, gradually bringing it back to comfort.
Sweat on my forehead and neck quickly subsided.
My body, which had felt utterly drained just moments ago, regained its normal state in no time.
It felt as if I hadn’t even taken the physical exam.
‘It’s amazing, even after all this time.’
Before the exam, they administered an ability-inducing agent that temporarily enhanced physical skills.
When I was still learning control, I would exhaust myself trying to get an F, and inevitably wake up with a sore body the next day.
Now, those memories had blurred.
I checked my reflection against the wall as I walked slowly to my dorm.
Inside the silver-walled building, I appeared completely normal—no signs of exhaustion, no dark circles, no fatigue.
For some time now, I had maintained this appearance with relative ease.
“I’ve improved… a lot.”
Three years of suppressing my healing ability with all my strength, enduring the medicine’s side effects to score F, had finally brought me here.
Now, with no grade accurately measured, I couldn’t even guess how high my abilities truly went.
I had no idea of my limits.
Ordinary commoners, living without abilities.
Ability-users, forced to serve the kingdom their entire lives for peace and safety.
In a world governed by innate talent, the novel clearly defined who qualified as an ability-user.
Three years ago, I was an eager reader, obsessed with the rules of this world.
Even ability-users could be stripped of their qualifications if their exam results consistently ranked lowest.
That had been my big picture.
‘Always get F. Make it look like my ability is just a fluke.’
The naive days of wishing for a maid’s quick recovery were long gone.
I endured that dreaded physical exam for three years, gritting my teeth, ready to regret it endlessly.
In the end, I had finally achieved the disqualification from headquarters.
If I had to do it again, I might never have survived it.
“…I suddenly feel like crying.”
After the exam, I showered and stepped out, covering my mouth as I read the notice posted in the lobby.
[3rd Round Physical Exam Notice]
Candidate: Rose Lutiense (Female, 20)
Affiliation: Velos Territory Security Team
Contents: Cumulative grade from 1st, 2nd, 3rd rounds: F
Qualification as a healing ability-user: Disqualification confirmed
Scheduled disqualification: March 27th, 10:00 AM
For details, visit the Administration Office.
The notice I had dreamed of came faster than expected.
Even knowing what it said, I couldn’t help but admire it.
“March 27th… that’s tomorrow.”
Oh… I love it so much.
I pressed my hands to my chest, calming the pounding of my heart.
The simple, clean dismissal of an underperforming ability-user thrilled me.
‘Yes. Exactly what I wanted.’
I should return to my dorm and finalize my packed belongings. It was a precautionary measure, but why not do it neatly for everyone’s sake?
Satisfied, I spun on my heels—but something solid suddenly blocked my forehead.
“Ah…!”
“….”
I stumbled back from the unexpected impact.
Where there had been emptiness just a moment ago, someone now stood in my way.
I took in his appearance with my eyes.
“The golden badge of the metropolitan security team. Navy-blue uniform. Nameplate stitched in silver… ah, it’s you.”
I quickly replaced my scowl with a smile.
“Isid!”
Serious-eyed, studying the notice, it was none other than someone I knew.
Isid Fernando.
In this novel’s world, he was the sub-male lead, the one responsible for the story’s comic relief—or so it seemed.
