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Hey, have you heard?
Heard what?
Theres an exciting nursing opportunity.
Why are you giving that strange look? Its not unusual.
Oh, I was just curious.
Hmm hmm! Well, heres the scoop: the Crown Prince is organizing a competition to select professional nurses.
Nurses?
Yes, nurses.
A competition for nurses? Thats interesting. But why are you telling this?
I have you in mind.
?
Yes, Ive noticed youve been searching for employnt for the past five years.
Why would my landlord concern themselves with my job situation? Isnt that overstepping boundaries? Have I ever been late with the rent even once?
Not once, but twice.
I apologize.
Well, anyway, about the nursing competition. I thought you might want to give it a shot.
?
Yes, you.
You want to beco a nurse?
Yes, the pay is quite substantial.
How much are we talking about?
Its enough to cover your rent for two years.
Im in! Ill seize this opportunity!
The young mans eyes widened.
The landlord chuckled.
Youve made a wise decision. Now head to the public hall in Prontera Square.
The public hall?
Yes, theyre currently holding an art exhibition there, and the main artwork provides detailed recruitnt guidelines.
Oh, thank you, sir! If I manage to secure a job, Ill buy you a new outfit!
Hehehe, just go already.
It was a lovely spring morning on Magenta Boulevard. The news quickly spread throughout the city, drawing those who heard it to Prontera Square.
An exhibition was taking place in the public hall, showcasing the works of a talented up-and-coming artist, Dinraier Young Master, who was making a na for himself in the art world.
At first glance, the exhibition appeared ordinary, with nothing particularly remarkable. However, one painting hanging at the center of the public hall caught everyones attention. It was a piece titled The Healing Crown Prince and Nurses, serving as the centerpiece of the exhibition.
Is that the Crown Prince?
Nah, it cant be. Hes not that handso in real life.
Right? And his legs are definitely not that long.
The exhibition layout was cleverly designed.
Every visitor had to pass by The Healing Crown Prince and Nurses at least once. Consequently, everyone who attended the exhibition halted in front of that artwork.
But what are those phrases written on the painting? What do they an?
Peoples eyes widened as they took in the bold and provocative typography inscribed above and below the painting, firmly capturing their attention.
You can be an angel in white too
The Crown Prince ensures full compensation!
They swallowed hard.
The salary offered by the Crown Prince himself was enough to make anyones mouth water.
Isnt that on par with a decent jobs pay? And theyre willing to give it just for nursing patients?
Everyones thoughts aligned.
Its worth a shot. Its practically free money. Plus, with the Crown Prince as the employer, there wont be any salary issues.
Honey, Ive made up my mind.
Yes?
It turns out my childhood dream might have been to beco a nurse.
Really?
The hearts of the spectators were filled with uncertainty and hesitation. They collectively experienced cognitive distortion and manipulated their own mories, altering the career aspirations they had cherished since childhood.
Adding to their wavering sentints, the clever arrangent of the exhibition hall dealt a final blow to their uncertain hearts. A strategically placed booth labeled Show the Nursing was set up near one of the halls exits.
[Nurse Selection Test Application]
A sign on the table.
A never-ending line ford in front of it, with people even attempting to cut in. Fueled by the inflated expectation that nursing might not be too challenging and the allure of a generous and stable salary, they believed it was worth a try. So hoped that this opportunity would improve their fortunes.
More than half of the exhibitions visitors eagerly queued up to register their nas for the nurse selection test. It was the outco that everyone, including Raciel, had anticipated.
Hehe, hehehe.
Hehehe, hahahaha.
Hehehehe, haha.
Your Highness.
Ah, what is it?
Why are you so delighted?
Why shouldnt I be?
Raciel smiled widely and gestured toward the towering stack of docunts on the table.
Just look at how many candidates we have for the nurse selection test.
He said to Demian.
There must be talented individuals among them. With this influx of nursing staff, our clinic will operate smoothly. More patients will receive treatnt efficiently and recover from their illnesses.
In return, he would gain an extended lifespan, living for a thousand years with the additional ti.
Why shouldnt I be delighted?
I understand
Demian admired Raciel wholeheartedly.
The Crown Prince he served was no ordinary person. He sincerely strived to treat patients without seeking any compensation. Hiring more nurses was a noble endeavor aid at healing and bringing happiness to more patients.
What an exceptional individual.
Slightly misunderstanding the situation, Demian nodded in agreent. Ignoring the misunderstanding, Raciels smile grew even more proud. The days passed with their mismatched smiles. The five-day exhibition ca to an end.
And on the sixth day.
The Show The Nursing professional nurse selection competition, sponsored and organized by the Crown Prince himself, took place at the Star Palace. Surprisingly, the thod employed was quite simple.
Now, attention! Gather numbers 1 through 50!
In the square outside the Star Palace gates, hundreds of applicants congregated. Among them, those assigned numbers 1 to 50 ca together. A guardsman addressed them.
We will now comnce the first task of the nurse selection exam. The first task is Charge, to the Interview Hall.
The applicants tilted their heads in confusion. What was this nonsense? However, the guardsmans subsequent explanation offered no rcy.
Starting here, you will follow a designated course through the garden and proceed to the main building of the Star Palace, where the interview hall is located. However, the course is approximately 3 kiloters long, and only the first 10 people to swiftly reach the main building will be eligible to take the interview test.
What?
Excuse ?
Wait, what about the other 40?
The startled applicants inquired. The guardsman cut them off sharply.
The remaining individuals who dont make it into the top 10 will be eliminated.
This was absurd. They had co for a nursing examination, so why were they being subjected to a physical test? Confusion engulfed everyone. But then, the starting signal abruptly sounded.
Begin!
!
And so, it all began from that mont.
50 individuals sprinted frantically, without discrimination based on gender or age. Shortly after, the top 10 winners erged.
gasp! pant! pant!
cough! cough!
wheeze
The 10 winners, sowhat ceremoniously, stumbled into the interview room. There, Raciel and Gardin greeted them. Gardin addressed the applicants.
You have all worked hard to reach this stage. Now, we will proceed with the next task.
The candidates were not given a mont to catch their breath. Gardin pointed towards the 10 tables arranged in the spacious room.
On each table, you will find six different types of dicinal herbs.
Indeed, as he had stated. Gardin continued his explanation.
One of these six herbs has been improperly stored and has deteriorated. Your second task is to identify the spoiled herb using your sight, sll, and touch.
Uh, okay, understood
Still panting, the candidates took their positions at the tables, their faces flushed and perspiring, straining to identify the spoiled herb.
In the midst of their efforts, sothing unexpected occurred.
pant! pant! gasp! groan
Perhaps due to pushing himself too hard during the race, a burly applicant began to waver, relying on the table for support. Suddenly, with no one to catch him, he collapsed and fell to the ground.
Crash!
The table toppled over, scattering the herbs in every direction. The other nine candidates flinched at the sudden commotion. All eyes turned to the fallen man, but the concern only lasted for a brief mont. The candidates exchanged glances.
Is he okay?
Whats happening? Why isnt anyone helping him?
Shouldnt the guards or soone from the palace assist him?
Where is the organizing committee?
Anxiety filled their darting eyes. Uncertainty raced through their hearts. Yet, the candidates soon realized that, apart from themselves, nobody seed to care about the collapsed man.
Silence fell. An unspoken consensus ford among them. After all, this was a competition. The fallen man was unfortunate, but it was a part of the competition.
From that mont onwards, the nine candidates stopped paying attention to the fallen man. They redirected their focus to the herbs before them. Raciel smirked at the sight, exchanging a knowing glance with Gardin.
That will suffice. Lets conclude here.
Pardon?
The candidates flinched at Gardins words. They hadnt even identified the spoiled herb yet. Confusion clouded their eyes, but Raciel paid them no heed. He had seen everything he needed to.
Gardin made an official announcent.
We have observed your efforts in identifying the herbs. That will be all. We will inform you of the results at a later ti. You have all worked hard.
With bewildered expressions, the nine candidates left the interview room. So held onto a glimr of hope, believing they might have passed.
Once all the applicants had exited the room, the man who had previously fainted rose up, seemingly unscathed. It was Demian.
Phew, fortunately, they all fell for it.
Indeed. I was slightly concerned because you seed excessively dramatic during your collapse.
Did I?
Yes, it felt sowhat awkward.
?
You should work on your acting skills. If youre going to do it, do it properly.
?
Anyway, thanks to everyone falling for it, the evaluation has been made clear.
So, what happens to the nine individuals who just participated?
They all failed.
Raciel stated matter-of-factly.
They passed the basic physical test. Taking care of patients requires much more physical strength than one might imagine. It becos even more challenging when you have to attend to multiple individuals rather than just one or two. However, the issue arose during the second task.
No one paid attention to .
Yeah, at first, they were cautious, but soon they stopped caring. There was soone who had collapsed right next to them. But they shouldnt act that way. You can acquire the knowledge to distinguish dicinal herbs and other skills through education
So, youre saying their existing character is more important.
Yes, exactly.
Placing others before oneself, an altruistic and dedicated mindset. Raciel believed that was perhaps the greatest virtue of a nurse.
People tend to reveal their true nature when pushed to their limits. Just like now. They were physically exhausted, struggling to breathe. In that situation, they felt the psychological pressure and competitiveness to pass the nurse selection exam.
So, their true nature was exposed.
Exactly. They dismissed the collapsed person, not as soone to care for, but as a competitor. Thats not right. Its not fitting for soone who aspires to beco a nurse.
In reality, the true task in the interview room was a test of character and qualities. The dicinal herbs placed on each table? They were all in perfect condition. There was no herb that had been stored improperly and deteriorated. It was, in fact, a hidden cara test to assess the applicants character.
And at the sa ti, all the special guard mbers have been taking turns in mixing with the physical test applicants. How did it feel to run 3 kiloters?
It was easy.
Im sure it was. By now, Sergio is probably among the next 50 applicants running.
Most likely, that was the case.
In the next group, another special guard gladiator would be among them, and in the following group, the next gladiator in line would participate. They would be among the first ten to arrive. And they would test the character of the remaining nine by feigning a collapse, just as Demian had done.
Keep up the good work. And dont forget to change your disguise.
Understood.
Demian departed. A mischievous smile appeared on Raciels face.
Now, lets see everyones true character!
The test continued thereafter. However, the results were disappointing.
What is this?
After the interviews concluded, Raciel, who remained in the interview room, felt incredulous. Not a single applicant had paid attention to the collapsed special guard.
He had expected at least a few to express concern. He wondered if this was the level of empathy in this era. Truly, unbelievably, shockingly, not a single person had cared for the collapsed individual!
Sigh, is this real?
Raciel let out a deep sigh.
I suppose the test mattered more to them than the collapsed person. But regardless, this is a sowhat bitter outco.
A bitter laughter escaped him. He even began to ponder if the pessimistic viewpoint held so truth.
So, what should I do? Should I select a few reasonable applicants from the participants?
However, he quickly shook his head. No, that wouldnt be right. It would be far better to train the palace maidens and attendants who were currently fulfilling the role of nurses.
We wouldnt have organized this selection competition if we were going to choose diocre candidates.
That was not the purpose of the selection event. Raciels desire was to find genuinely exceptional candidates.
But what can I do? Almost everyone in the city who might be interested in nursing probably attended today.
Was there not a single outstanding applicant? Was there no truly reliable candidate to whom he could entrust the patients? The problem gnawed at him. His head throbbed. He felt the need to take a walk and breathe in so fresh air.
Should I take a walk?
He strolled through the garden with Demian. Perhaps due to his sense of regret,his feet naturally led him towards the outer gate of the palace, the very place where the Show The Nursing applicants had gathered. As he reached the gate, a sowhat peculiar scene unfolded before him.
Please let in. Huh? I want to participate in the test too. I submitted my application, so why cant I enter?
Ive already told you multiple tis. Only humans are eligible.
But Im also!
Hey, do you think you can raise your voice here? Do you need to be forcibly removed to co to your senses?
There was commotion outside the gate for so reason.
Whats happening?
Judging by the voices, it involved a young woman and a man. The woman was protesting while the man reprimanded her. From the conversation, it seed
The woman is an applicant, and the man seems to be a gate guard.
Despite having submitted her application, she was denied entry. She couldnt participate in the test because she wasnt human.
Whats going on? Did soone get turned away at the entrance without knowing?
Considering how valuable every candidate was, how could they dare to do that? Feeling a deep and profound irritation, Raciel quickened his pace. Finally, as he reached the gate, he witnessed the applicant who had been turned away for not being human.
Huh?
Raciels eyes widened at the sight of the applicant.
(To be Continued)
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