I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 15

“Well then, this can be called deliberate ledger manipulation. The horses brought by guests who weren’t in the ledger weren’t recorded either, and more horse feed was provided than what was written in the ledger. It seems the person who manipulated the ledger didn’t have time to coordinate with the person in charge of the stable.”

Seo Rin looked at Hye Gwang and continued with her final words.

“Corruption due to ledger manipulation—wasn’t the purpose of this exam to find this?”

At Seo Rin’s words, Hye Gwang burst into refreshing laughter.

“Hahaha, how refreshing! Correct! You got it absolutely right! Hahahaha!”

The examiners and examinees looked at Seo Rin with admiring faces.

* * *

After all the exams were finished, the examiners gathered together.

“For the top position in this selection, well, isn’t it already decided?”

In the clerk selection, not only were successful candidates chosen, but the top scorer was also selected to receive an award.

Most of the examiners’ opinions were in agreement, but there were some examiners who couldn’t accept this.

“Honestly, this exam wasn’t conducted fairly!”

Among them, the one who raised his voice the loudest was Assistant Head Cook Dok Su.

At this, Hye Gwang asked with a puzzled face.

“In what aspect do you think so?”

“Well, that is. Ah! I think there were problems from the first practical exam.”

“By the first exam, do you mean the cooking test?”

“Yes! Rumors have already spread among the examinees. Isn’t it strange? Why did the head cook give exam information only to that particular examinee?!”

Hearing this, Head Cook Go Jang Nam became indignant and raised his voice in excitement.

“What, did I deliberately not teach the other examinees?! Why are you blaming the wrong place for the fault of those who didn’t even think to ask me!”

Instead of responding to Dok Su’s nonsensical words, Hye Gwang looked at him with pitying eyes.

“Then, what about the second exam! How do we know if Oh Seo Rin didn’t eavesdrop on the exam content from outside Jigaek-cheong!”

“So you’re saying she eavesdropped on the exam content from outside and responded accordingly?”

Starting with Eun Cheon’s cold retort, Gwak Il Beon, who was the supervisor of the second exam, as well as the other examiners, all scoffed at the Assistant Head Cook’s ridiculous logic.

“Come on, how vast is the inside of Jigaek-cheong that she could eavesdrop on it?”

“You’re talking complete nonsense!”

“No, well, that’s…”

The Assistant Head Cook, who flinched momentarily at the poor reaction, swallowed his saliva and stubbornly persisted to the end.

“Anyway, since she knew the exam content in advance like that, didn’t she have enough time to prepare!”

“Are you saying that examinee Oh Seo Rin eavesdropped on what examinee Shin Yi was doing and prepared in advance?”

“Well, I’m not necessarily speaking with that examinee in mind, but, well, it’s not wrong to say so.”

Eun Cheon looked at Dok Su and spoke.

“On the other hand, your niece was at a disadvantage because she went first.”

“That, that’s right.”

Dok Su swallowed his saliva.

Lee Eun Cheon. Who was he?

He was someone who received the Emperor’s deep trust through his outstanding intellect and perfect work handling, flawless eloquence and exceptional appearance, and excellent martial arts despite being a civil official.

Moreover, his father was Grand Marshal Lee Gong Su. In addition to holding the highest official position of Grand Marshal, he was a leader who commanded powerful influence within the Royal Court, and his influence was comparable to Lee Ja Seong, who stood at the pinnacle of contemporary power.

Dok Su felt himself naturally becoming intimidated.

“Your niece’s exam number was 15. That means she should have had the highest score among all the examinees who came up to the interview room before her. According to what you say, you would have watched the entire interview process of examinees 11 through 14.”

Lee Eun Cheon said while examining the evaluation sheet with the interview results.

“However, among the five people, her interview score was the worst. But she was barely able to pass because several irresponsible examiners including yourself gave incomprehensible scores.”

While speaking, Eun Cheon shot a sharp glance at Jun Gyeong.

“Ahem.”

Jun Gyeong cleared his throat awkwardly, perhaps feeling guilty.

“Th-that was because my niece, no, that examinee was nervous and—”

“Anticipating that there would be people like you who would find fault with the exam process, we had them draw wooden plaques to determine the test order. For the final exam, we had them enter one by one. So what were the results?”

Wang An Hyeok, who was standing next to Lee Eun Cheon, smiled gently and handed over the evaluation sheet with the results of the inn management exam.

Lee Eun Cheon took it and spread out the evaluation sheet for the examiners to see.

“Examinee Oh Seo Rin received the highest score. This was the same for the other exams as well. In contrast, your niece? Do I need to recite their evaluation scores here?”

“…N-no.”

Dok Su, who knew better than anyone how his niece had performed on the exam, couldn’t argue against Lee Eun Cheon’s words and mumbled before retreating to a corner.

Jun Gyeong, who had been watching this scene, chuckled and patted Eun Cheon’s shoulder.

“That sharp eloquence of yours is always so cutting.”

“If there had been an occasion to score the examiners as well, I probably would have given you the second-lowest score after the Assistant Head Cook.”

Eun Cheon looked sharply at Jeong Jun Gyeong, who had greatly contributed to preventing Dok Su’s niece from failing by freely distributing scores as he pleased.

“No, no~ Anyway, didn’t that interesting friend achieve first place as you wanted? Soften that glare a bit, hmm?”

“It’s not as I wanted. It’s a result that examinee Oh Seo Rin achieved herself.”

“Yes, yes, of course you would say that.”

* * *

Only after a considerable amount of time had passed did an official return to Hyangmicheong where the examinees were waiting, carrying a scroll with the list of successful candidates.

While the official unrolled the scroll, the examinees gathered below the platform couldn’t hide their anxiety.

Some kept swallowing nervously, hoping their names would be called, others fidgeted with their hands or clenched and unclenched their fists, and there were those who clasped their hands together and prayed earnestly.

Seo Rin, Gap-i, and Da Sim held each other’s hands tightly and focused their gazes on the official’s mouth.

Finally, the official announced the final successful candidates.

As everyone expected, Oh Seo Rin naturally passed! Gap-i and Da Sim also safely made it onto the list of successful candidates.

And Shin Yi’s gang was included among the successful candidates through the desperate efforts(?) of some examiners including the Assistant Head Cook, drawing glares from many examinees.

“Kyaaah!”

Regardless, Seo Rin, Gap-i, and Da Sim hugged each other tightly and let out screams of joy.

“The successful candidate who achieved the highest score in this inn manager selection exam is number 11, Oh Seo Rin!”

When Seo Rin’s first place was announced, applause and cheers erupted from among the examiners.

“A reward will be given to the top successful candidate. Oh Seo Rin, please come up to the platform.”

When her name was called, Seo Rin’s mind went blank. Beside her, Gap-i and Da Sim rejoiced as if it were their own achievement and pushed her back, telling her to hurry up and go up.

Seo Rin couldn’t move from her spot for a while, then awkwardly began to walk.

‘I, I really passed?’

Seo Rin felt tears welling up in her eyes without realizing it.

‘Not just passed, but first, first place…!’

Seo Rin could hardly believe it and was so tense that she stiffened like a robot, her left foot and left hand moving forward at the same time. Seeing this, Jeong Jun Gyeong burst into laughter again.

“Haha! Why is she acting like a rusty hinge! She’s so different from when she was taking the exam!!”

Lee Eun Cheon glared at Jeong Jun Gyeong for causing a commotion, but even he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Oh Seo Rin creaking her way up the platform, completely tense.

Jeong Jun Gyeong couldn’t hold back and quickly ran over to Seo Rin’s side.

“Come on, you have to give us your thoughts on placing first!”

Pushed by Jeong Jun Gyeong’s back all the way to the front of the platform, Oh Seo Rin gripped the ends of her sleeves as if she would tear them and trembled all over.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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