5 PM on the second day of the Fixer Exam.

    The loud alarm on my wrist announced the end of the third task, the Color War.

    At the very last moment, exactly 121 candidates met the passing criteria.

    Considering that the exam began with precisely 525 participants,

    The passing rate was 23%. Not even half of the theoretical maximum passing rate.

    Well, to be fair, many candidates had quit, unable to endure the harsh environment of Reverse Mountain.

    When a candidate forfeited, their mark became unusable, causing a shortage of marks.

    This led to internal conflicts, which caused groups to break apart.

    In the end, the law of survival of the fittest became the most important principle.

    Those who lacked the strength to protect themselves were inevitably eliminated.

    One way or another, becoming a Fixer was no easy feat.

    It''s no wonder they are regarded worldwide as icons of trust and security.

    ‘If those who were eliminated see me pass just by breathing... They’ll be furious.’

    Of course, I had already secured a blue team mark long ago, so passing was a given.

    Thanks to Vespera, I didn’t have to worry about wild animals approaching.

    It was almost as if I had passed the third task by merely blinking my eyes.

    Whatever the process was, I had still managed to clear the ‘Wall of Wailing,’ the infamous third task.

    I could already imagine Raven’s surprised face when he heard the news.

    But despite the future I envisioned, I couldn’t feel genuinely happy at that moment.

    A sense of discomfort was weighing heavily on my chest.

    “Phew, finally over. I thought I’d die of boredom. Hehe, if I didn’t have my cute little darling next to me, I might’ve quit halfway through. Shall we go, then?”

    “....”

    Vespera, who had casually packed up the things scattered in our hideout, turned to me.

    Her expression subtly demanded agreement, so I smiled lightly and nodded.

    Even with the mask on, she could undoubtedly see right through it.

    If I so much as frowned, who knows what the consequences might be?

    I felt like I was balancing precariously on a tightrope.

    ‘This is bad. Her quitting would’ve been ideal for me....’

    The root of my unease was none other than Vespera’s continued presence as a candidate.

    Yesterday, when she met Tempest alone, I genuinely thought she would quit the exam.

    Yet here she was, still a participant and right by my side.

    I understood the situation wasn''t ideal for her to withdraw, but still...

    This situation, where she remained, was deeply troubling.

    Especially since the conversation I overheard between her and Tempest only added to my confusion.

    ‘Judging by their conversation, Vespera has a definite purpose in the fourth task. Then... even though I hate to admit it, I have a pretty good guess.’

    If the Fixer Exam proceeds without any changes,

    There are only three steps left: an interview, the fourth task, and the final task.

    The interview is a simple process to ensure there are no serious issues with the candidates.

    So, essentially, there were only two significant tasks remaining.

    ‘The fourth task involves capturing at least one fairy, a species categorized as a special management entity among otherworldly creatures.’

    The fourth task mainly tested luck.

    Fairies were picky creatures that only showed themselves to those with matching wavelengths.

    Securing a fairy without any help required not only luck but also a certain qualification.

    In any case, it was a fitting challenge for the Fixer Exam.

    A Fixer needed not only skill but also luck as part of their qualifications.

    Moreover, fairies wielded a unique form of magic, different from traditional systems.

    To protect and manage this species, the Association had created a special artificial institution, the Sky Garden.

    The Sky Garden was even more restricted than Reverse Mountain,

    Meaning the Association must have gone to great lengths to host the Fixer Exam there.

    But the real problem was this:

    There was a particular item hidden in the Sky Garden that not even the Association knew about.

    It was a seed of the World Tree, an ominous artifact.

    Once planted, this monstrous tree would root deep into the planet, absorbing all its energy.

    ‘A pure-hearted fairy had secretly hidden it... a truly dangerous object. A nuclear bomb blowing up a city would be hundreds of times safer.’

    Hmm? You ask why I didn’t think of such a dangerous thing earlier?

    Well, I couldn’t have known. This wasn’t supposed to show up until at least a year later.

    It only appeared after the Otherworldly Liberation Army had been completely crushed!

    It wasn’t something a person like me could handle by meddling with it carelessly.

    But if Vespera already knew about it and infiltrated the exam in disguise to get it...

    Then her hidden participation made a lot of sense.

    The World Tree’s seed was certainly worth it,

    Especially since the Association likely had no clue it was even there.

    ‘If her goal really is the World Tree’s seed... I must stop her. Even if it means destroying the seed myself!’

    I had no idea how she could have found out about it, but...

    If it was true, I had to prevent Vespera from obtaining the World Tree’s seed at all costs.

    If the seed fell into the wrong hands, the world’s destruction would be nearly guaranteed.

    Forget the Invaders; the entire Earth could be at risk.

    I had to either secure the seed first and destroy it or render it useless if Vespera got her hands on it!

    As I walked with Vespera to the designated gathering place for successful candidates, I silently steeled myself and reignited my resolve.

    "Yes... So, your name is Yuria, huh."

    "...!"

    And then, a few hours later.

    I found myself sitting just an arm''s reach away from the Dragon Mayor, Tempest, in a private meeting.

    ...How did I end up in this situation?

    ***

    There are places on Earth where humans cannot live.

    These are often called wastelands, including deserts and polar regions.

    However, there are also areas that became wastelands due to toxic substances or radioactive contamination.

    At the center of the war between humans and otherworldly beings, there were such restricted zones.

    One of these places was known as the Mana Wasteland.

    It was a region where mana contamination occurred because of excessively powerful clashes between magic.

    Humans without mana would lose consciousness within minutes.

    Even most otherworldly beings would quickly become unwell in this extreme environment.

    However, amidst this desolation stood a fortress that seemed carved out of a mountain.

    Kaldarak.

    Named after a tyrant from another world, this castle served as the headquarters of the Otherworldly Liberation Army.

    It was also a highly sophisticated war fortress built with advanced design.

    Its sheer size allowed it to house tens of thousands of otherworldly beings.

    The towering spires that pierced the sky symbolized the pride of the Liberation Army.

    "Raise your heads."

    At the very top of Kaldarak, in a grand hall reserved only for the chosen,

    A deep and solemn male voice echoed from the highest throne.

    The man sitting on the throne had his face wrapped in bandages, with stark white hair.

    His facial features were obscured, but his physique was enormous—well over 2 meters tall.

    Even sitting down, he exuded a natural aura of a ruler, compelling those around him to kneel.

    His identity was none other than the Supreme Commander of the Otherworldly Liberation Army.

    A being at the pinnacle of otherworldly creatures, commanding hundreds of thousands of powerful soldiers.

    "Yes!"

    As soon as he finished speaking, those below the throne raised their heads and responded.

    They were the Seven Sins, the top executives who led each division of the Liberation Army.

    Each of them had the strength to turn an entire city into ashes in the blink of an eye.

    Yet, before their commander, they couldn’t even meet his gaze.

    A perfect hierarchy seemed to exist among them.

    "I won''t waste words. Even if it means death by a dragon, secure the World Tree. With it, our grand plan will take another step forward."

    "As you command."

    "Khahaha! Leave it to us!"

    The Supreme Commander did not speak much.

    He simply commanded them to bring what was needed.

    His loyal subordinates, the Seven Sins, accepted without question or hesitation.

    Their eyes shone with the fervor of zealots ready to offer their lives to a dragon.

    The war had already begun, without anyone realizing it.

    ***

    The Crowley Problem-Solvers Office.

    A building usually filled with a lively and warm atmosphere, but today, it was oddly quiet.

    The TV was turned off because it was too distracting, and a man lay lazily on the sofa, muttering to himself.

    "Tsk, still no contact... Does that mean they passed the third task? No way, that little kid...?"

    His voice held a hint of skepticism.

    Sure, she had sharp instincts and could handle any situation well.

    But given how she sometimes displayed an almost comical level of cluelessness,

    He couldn''t help but worry despite his best efforts.

    For nearly five-minute intervals, the man kept fidgeting with his device.

    Eventually, as if his patience had worn thin, he made a call.

    "Hey, it''s me. Jin Crowley. Long time no see. So... you''re a Fixer Exam staff member, right? Can I ask you a favor?"

    From an outsider’s perspective, his actions perfectly matched the image of a doting guardian.