The Granddaughter of the Manhyang Escort Agency Hides Her Magic - Chapter 44

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

Chapter 44

The day of the Heir Selection Test had arrived.

The Heir Selection Test, which took place over about a week, drew enormous crowds again this year without fail.

Since the number of positions was limited and there were many applicants, the Heir Selection Test was conducted in three stages.

The first test was a reading and writing exam.

Even this simple test eliminated five out of ten people, but Shin Ah and Mugyeol naturally passed.

The second test was held on the second day. It was quite challenging – moving cargo piled in the courtyard from east to west.

Since the cargo varied greatly in size and type, it required both strength and skill, from packing methods to carrying the loads.

Moreover, the type of package to be moved was determined by drawing paper slips on site, so there was no way to prepare in advance.

“Shin Ah, don’t panic no matter what happens. If you think carefully, you’ll surely find the answer.”

So Cheondo, who had come to cheer on Shin Ah and Mugyeol, said.

“Don’t worry, brother! I learned all the knot-tying techniques from Danmi, and I also heard from Father about packages that appeared in past Heir Selection Tests. We’ll do well and come back!”

Shin Ah spoke spiritedly and entered the examination hall first.

Mugyeol also bowed in greeting. As he turned to leave, So Cheondo caught him.

“You need to pass too. Understand?”

Though he wasn’t pleased with Mugyeol still following Shin Ah around like a goldfish’s tail, So Cheondo cheered him on fairly.

Mugyeol nodded and went ahead. So Cheondo’s eyes widened as he stared at his retreating figure.

‘Has he reached a higher level than me?’

Mugyeol’s footwork technique had become masterful, and his internal energy was well-contained, not leaking even a trace of qi.

Though So Cheondo could only guess based on feeling, Mugyeol had already entered the first-rate level.

* * *

The test was conducted with groups of four people each.

Since Jaengjeasu mostly worked in teams, this was the escort agency’s arrangement to test sociability and character.

Fortunately, Mugyeol and Shin Ah were placed in the same group.

Their group included a man who had just passed his coming of age and a middle-aged man.

“You want me to be in a group with little kids? Isn’t this too disadvantageous from the start?”

The sturdy young man Yeongso complained.

“The groups were formed by drawing lots, so stop complaining and get back.”

“This is really too much! Not just one kid, but two! And the remaining one is a middle-aged man! Please change my group.”

Everyone looked at Yeongso with pity. Still, no one stepped forward to offer to change groups.

They all wanted to avoid both Shin Ah and Mugyeol.

It was understandable since they didn’t know the two children’s identities or abilities.

“We’ll handle our share just fine, so you take care of yourself, mister.”

When Shin Ah shot back sharply, Yeongso clicked his tongue.

“Little brat has no manners? You should be begging me to ask for a group change together right now. Since you won’t pass anyway, what if I just give up here? Then you can’t take the test either. So ask nicely for a group change while I’m being nice about it.”

The second test absolutely required groups of four.

Since sociability was also an evaluation criterion, if you couldn’t get along with temporarily assigned teammates, you’d be eliminated even if you moved the package.

“Fine. Let’s do as you say, mister. Please change our group.”

Even Shin Ah requested the examiner.

“Mugyeol, you think the same as me, right?”

“Yes, I can’t work with someone who disrespects the young miss either.”

Far from just being unable to work, judging by Mugyeol’s eyes, it wouldn’t be strange if he devoured the man right then.

“What about you?”

The examiner asked the middle-aged man.

Chilseon, who was in his fifties, desperately needed the Jaengjeasu position. His late-born daughter had fallen ill, and as a tenant farmer, he couldn’t afford the medicine costs.

He had already accumulated considerable debt trying to pay for medicine.

For Chilseon, becoming a Jaengjeasu was the last chance to save his family.

So he should have calculated gains and losses like Yeongso and acted shrewdly.

But looking at Shin Ah and Mugyeol, he couldn’t do that.

It reminded him of the daughter he’d left behind. Though his daughter was older than these two children, thinking that these children were also someone’s offspring made it hard to turn away.

“I’ll stay as is. Wouldn’t it be easier to just change one person?”

It was obvious that replacing just one person would be easier than tearing the group apart completely and forming new ones.

Chilseon looked down at Shin Ah and Mugyeol and smiled warmly.

“Listen, if we join forces, what can’t we accomplish? So let’s do well together, just us.”

Shin Ah observed Chilseon carefully.

‘He has good skills.’

If there were only selfish people, escort missions meant for the sea would end up going to the mountains.

That’s why escort missions absolutely needed someone who could soothe and unite team members, whether they were selfish or lacking.

Therefore, Chilseon’s attitude of respecting and encouraging people without prejudice was a skill in itself.

“Ha! Don’t regret it later, mister. You heard that? This man says he won’t leave. Please change my group quickly.”

Yeongso urged the examiner.

“I can only change it if there’s someone willing.”

The examiner was grumbling while looking around when he spotted something.

A girl, perhaps thirteen years old, was standing apart from the crowd. It was clearly a situation where she wasn’t getting along with her other teammates.

“Wait a moment.”

The examiner approached the girl, asked if she wanted to change groups, got her consent, and brought her over.

“Hello. I’m Juhwa, Jin Juhwa.”

Shin Ah was startled when she heard the girl’s name.

The name had seemed familiar, but when she added the surname, a specific person came to mind.

‘Gaedo Jin Juhwa?’

Just as dying people have moments of brilliance, Manhyang Express produced excellent escort warriors even while heading toward ruin.

Jin Juhwa was one of them.

Though her martial arts weren’t particularly outstanding, she would create paths where none existed through extraordinary wit and make escort missions successful.

Thus, she received a nickname rare for escort warriors – ‘Gaedo.’ It meant opening paths.

It was a rough nickname that didn’t match her pretty appearance, which made it particularly memorable.

In her previous life, when she was around twenty, Shin Ah had first conversed with escort warrior Jin Juhwa.

It was after hearing rumors that Jin Juhwa had informants planted throughout the martial world.

‘Come to think of it, why would an escort warrior have informants?’

She wasn’t even a hidden master of the martial world.

‘Anyway, she’s unique. But was she from the Jaengjeasu?’

Shin Ah knew little information about Jin Juhwa, but she knew one thing for certain.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to become friends with her.’

“Let’s do well together. I’m Shin Ah, this is Mugyeol. And here is.”

Shin Ah looked back at Chilseon, indicating he should introduce himself. Chilseon showed a good-natured smile and said.

“I’m Chilseon.”

“Please speak comfortably, sir. You look much older than me.”

“Since we’ll be working together as colleagues, it’s good to respect each other. Let’s gradually become more comfortable.”

“Alright. Then shall we go check what our package is?”

The examiner had long since lost interest in Shin Ah’s group.

“There are paper slips in that jar?”

Juhwa said.

“Yes, that’s right. We need to find the item written on the slip in the eastern warehouse and move it west.”

Shin Ah explained.

“Can you predict what it might be?”

Chilseon continued the conversation.

“In tests so far, the easiest item was dishes, and the hardest was filling a broken jar with water.”

Then Juhwa rattled off the special virtual packages from past exam problems.

‘Nothing’s wrong. Good information gathering. Same with memory.’

Even something as hard to believe as filling a broken jar with water, she spoke confidently about it, showing Juhwa had confidence in her information.

The three people chatting as they walked soon arrived in front of the jar containing the paper slips.

“Who will draw?”

Chilseon asked.

The three children’s gazes turned toward Chilseon.

Chilseon pointed at himself with his finger and blinked rapidly.

“You’re the oldest adult here. You draw, mister.”

Shin Ah said. Mugyeol, who always agreed with whatever Shin Ah said, nodded vigorously. Juhwa didn’t seem to have any major objections either.

“No complaints afterward.”

Chilseon gulped down his saliva.

Shin Ah grinned and nodded.

‘Whatever special thing comes up. Whatever it is, we just need to move it.’

Since being able to use magic, Shin Ah’s confidence had shot through the roof.

And there was nothing good about worrying in advance about things that hadn’t happened yet.

But was she too overconfident?

Chilseon’s face turned pale after he pulled out the paper slip from the jar and checked it.

“What is it, mister?”

“What does it say?”

Shin Ah and Juhwa asked in turn. Mugyeol also seemed curious as he even stood on his tiptoes to peek.

“I’m sorry.”

Chilseon’s shoulders drooped as he held out the paper slip.

“What is it?”

Shin Ah took the paper slip and read it.

“Move bees to a new beehive for delivery?”

Shin Ah’s voice cracked at the end. It was an unexpected problem.

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