As the name suggests, the Fixer Exam is a test designed to determine who is worthy of becoming a Fixer.

    Think about it—each year, only around 300 people manage to obtain Fixer qualifications.

    Yet, the number of aspiring Fixers who take the exam? A staggering hundreds of thousands!

    Naturally, the difficulty of the exam, designed to filter out such a massive number of candidates, was absolutely brutal.

    Physical endurance, reflexes, teamwork, social skills, luck...

    If any aspect was found lacking, you were immediately eliminated!

    The exam was so grueling that there were people who had been attempting it for over a decade.

    Of course, since it was a government-certified test, fatalities or severe injuries were rare.

    However, due to the extreme competition—whether by accident or on purpose—incidents did occur from time to time.

    Some candidates, who had entered the exam with a lighthearted “Why not give it a shot?” mindset, ended up with such traumatic experiences or lasting aftereffects that they permanently abandoned their dreams of becoming Fixers.

    Thus, another infamous nickname for the Fixer Exam was:

    “The Graveyard of Half-Baked Talent.”

    That was why Alice and David were so shocked by Raven’s sudden proposal.

    “W-Wait, you want us to take the Fixer Exam?! A-All of a sudden?!”

    “That’s right. You heard me correctly.”

    “I don’t know... A week seems way too short to prepare....”

    “What’s there to prepare? As long as your body’s in good condition, that’s all that matters. The Fixer Exam’s not a big deal.”

    However, despite their clear distress, Raven remained completely unfazed.

    Was this the confidence of someone who had already passed the exam?

    Honestly, seeing it up close like this, his attitude was kind of irritating.

    That said... I also thought they both had more than enough skill to pass the exam.

    Alice couldn’t use magic, but her physical abilities were exceptional, and her swordsmanship was on another level.

    David, being a beastfolk, had an incredibly sturdy body and could even use his own self-developed improvised magic.

    As long as they didn’t run into some old veteran like Raven at the test site and get eliminated unfairly...

    I’d say their chances of passing were over 90%. Of course, given the unpredictable nature of the exam, I couldn’t be entirely certain.

    “What are you guys so shocked about? You’re both way stronger than most third-rate Fixers. Do you really think you’ll fail a test that even those weaklings managed to pass?”

    “...!”

    He wasn’t wrong.

    These two had enough raw talent to take down most Fixers effortlessly.

    Agreeing with Raven, I nodded while crossing my arms—still held in his grasp.

    Then, for some unknown reason, he suddenly tossed me onto a plush sofa with one hand.

    I was used to floating through the air thanks to telekinesis, but I hadn’t expected to be thrown like that.

    Fortunately, before I landed, Alice caught me gently in her arms, so I was fine.

    Still... being tossed around like a sack of luggage stung my pride a little.

    Just you wait. Tonight, I’m squeezing toothpaste into your mouth while you sleep.

    “...But just being strong doesn’t guarantee we’ll pass, right? Other people have probably been preparing for months.”

    “Exactly. I’ve heard even champions of interracial martial arts tournaments have failed before. The exam covers a lot of different areas.”

    While I was secretly plotting my petty revenge, Alice—who was still holding me—and David—who was browsing the web on his laptop—continued to look skeptical.

    According to the media and rumors, the Fixer Exam was absolute chaos.

    Some candidates smuggled in poison, others formed secret alliances, and some even bribed examiners to create favorable conditions for themselves.

    People were willing to cheat without hesitation if it meant passing.

    And to make things worse, the Fixer Exam was only held twice a year—once in January and once in July.

    Which meant that, right now, countless skilled candidates were undoubtedly sharpening their blades for this very opportunity.

    Meanwhile, these two had been told just a week before the exam to suddenly go and take it.

    No time to train their bodies. No time to study. No time to find reliable teammates.

    Yeah... I could understand why they were nervous.

    Yet, despite their concerns, Raven’s determination was as unyielding as steel.

    Furrowing his brows slightly, he continued speaking, clearly unimpressed by their hesitation.

    “...Haah. Seriously, you two. What are you so scared of? Since when do you even care about stuff like this?”

    “Well... it’s just so sudden...”

    “But you want the qualifications, don’t you? Alice, you’re not going to be a secretary at the office forever. And David, if you get certified, you won’t have to worry about your status anymore.”

    Perhaps because Raven’s logic was irrefutable, the atmosphere in the office became as cold as ice water.

    Alice and David seemed at a loss for words.

    Because, when you thought about it... he was completely right.

    Alice had given up on becoming a police officer, which meant her future career path was becoming a Fixer.

    Which meant she would have to pass the Fixer Exam sooner or later.

    If she failed, she could at least gain valuable experience.

    If she passed, she would gain an official title as a Fixer.

    And David... was a wanted criminal—one of the masterminds behind the Nemesis Terror Incident.

    His identity had been erased, making him a ghost within NightHaven.

    Even if what he did was for Reine’s sake, it didn’t change the fact that he was a criminal.

    The police had given up chasing him, but officially, he was still a fugitive.

    However, obtaining a Fixer certification would serve as a form of identification—giving him a way to legally exist.

    So, if he wanted a future, taking the Fixer Exam was a logical and practical choice.

    “...Still...”

    “...You’re not wrong, but...”

    Despite the clear logic behind Raven’s reasoning, Alice and David still showed hesitant expressions.

    Taking the exam could only benefit them—there were no downsides that I could see. So why were they reacting like this?

    I glanced at Alice’s slightly somber face and realized what they were probably thinking.

    They were imagining a future where everyone in the office had gone their separate ways, each living their own life.

    Where there was a meeting, there would eventually be a parting—that was an unavoidable truth.

    But right now, they were happy with the way things were.

    Just the thought of this bond coming to an end someday must have left them feeling conflicted.

    Like wanting your favorite movie or drama to never end, huh?

    Still... What could they do? At some point, everyone has to graduate.

    I personally didn’t relate to that sentiment all that much.

    Change is inevitable, whether it happens sooner or later.

    When it came to relationships, I preferred to accept the changes rather than get hung up on trying to stop the unstoppable.

    Knowing that everything ends one day... makes the moments leading up to it feel even more precious.

    But... I didn’t really like how gloomy the atmosphere had become.

    With that in mind, I raised my arms as high as I could while still nestled in Alice’s embrace—making sure to stand out.

    It was a silent gesture, a way of calling for Raven’s attention.

    “...What? You got something to say?”

    “...!”

    “Hm? You wanna take the Fixer Exam too? Hmm... Nah, that’d be ridiculous. Compared to these guys with their reinforced bones, you’re way too fragile. You’d probably fail on the very first task and get sent home. Waste of an application fee.”

    “....”

    “What? Doesn’t matter how much you glare at me—it’s still a no.”

    I know. I know that.

    Without my telekinesis, my physical stats were no better than an average adult male.

    There was no way I could pass an exam designed for superhuman combatants. I was just asking out of curiosity.

    But still.

    Hearing Raven say it so bluntly—mocking me like that—made my temper flare.

    Failing on the first task? A waste of the application fee?

    Well, what if I pay for it myself?!

    I shot a glare at Raven, who was chuckling smugly, then carefully tugged on Alice’s sleeve and pointed at myself.

    Alice blinked, taking a moment to process my silent request.

    Then, as if finally understanding, her eyes widened in pure shock.

    She had never expected me to actually volunteer for the Fixer Exam.

    “H-Huh? Yuria? Wait... are you serious? You really want to take the Fixer Exam too?”

    “...!”

    “That’s... far too dangerous.”

    “Yeah, don’t do it. You’ll really get hurt. The Fixers in charge of the exam will keep it from getting too bad, but do you really wanna spend the whole time in a hospital bed while these guys pass and go celebrate with a feast? Hospital food sucks, you know.”

    “...!!”

    I’m doing it.

    Even if I fail, it’s my money—I can do whatever I want.

    I shook my head firmly, rejecting everyone’s attempts to stop me.

    Of course, I had no intention of using my telekinesis. I wasn’t aiming for final certification either.

    My goal?

    To perform well enough that Raven would have to take me seriously.

    And besides, getting the chance to personally experience the Fixer Exam—something I’d only read about in the original story—seemed like a valuable opportunity.

    But what if... by some miracle, I actually passed?

    That would perfectly solve my current identity problem.

    The Fixer Exam didn’t care who you were in the past.

    As long as you weren’t already a Fixer, anyone could take it. There were no restrictions.

    Wait... this might actually be genius.

    Becoming a Fixer would be the perfect solution.

    Just you wait. I’m going to squeeze every last bit of knowledge from the original story and completely overturn your expectations.

    With that determination burning inside me, I clenched my teeth and steeled myself.

    The Fixer Exam was just one week away.

    I had to make every second count.