Chapter 25: Assessment Rankings
Whenever a newcomer is formally recruited, they are ranked based on their performance during the combat assessment. This has been a tradition of Tokyo Public Safety since its inception.
There are five ranks in total: D, C, B, A, and S.
Rank D means a direct failure of the assessment. Rank C is considered passing, and the scale goes up to S as the strongest. Once a rank is determined, different induction plans are implemented for the recruits.
Most newcomers start at Rank C. Initially, they are paired with experienced seniors in a "one senior, one junior" or "one senior, two juniors" format. During this period, they mostly handle routine patrols and avoid high-difficulty missions. This is essentially an "internship period." Unless they resign or are killed in action during this phase, they generally become full-fledged members. Rank C recruits usually train under a senior for at least six months to a year before starting official independent work.
Rank B recruits follow a similar path, but their "internship" is shortened to three months.
Rank A recruits have an internship of only one month. Furthermore, the higher the initial rank, the higher the starting salary, which is later adjusted based on performance.
As for Rank S newcomers...
Since the founding of Tokyo Public Safety, only one person has ever been ranked S upon entry: Kishibe. At the time, Public Safety directly appointed Kishibe as the Vice Captain of Special Division 1. He was told that if he continued to perform at an S-level, he would be promoted to Captain. Kishibe, naturally, lived up to expectations and quickly became the strongest devil hunter in all of Japan.
These were the details Otonashi Chiya gathered from the interviewer.
"I'll have someone take you on a tour of Tokyo Public Safety in a moment," the interviewer said, wanting to ensure the two didn't just sit around waiting.
"Wait, I have a question," Hayakawa Aki suddenly spoke up.
"Go ahead," the interviewer replied.
"After we pass the assessment, will Public Safety arrange for us to sign contracts with devils?" Aki was quite concerned about this; he felt his current strength was nowhere near enough.
"Yes. You will likely be sent to Kyoto. Most of the devils under our custody are kept there." The interviewer then offered a suggestion: "Since both of you are quite handsome, you should first consider inquiring with the Fox Devil. As you likely know, devil contracts depend heavily on the devil's mood. The Fox Devil is obsessed with looks; those with high 'visual appeal' can obtain stronger powers for a much lower price."
In the original story, although the Kyoto Public Safety Bureau didn't have much screen time, the physical bodies of both the Fox Devil and the Future Devil were actually kept in Kyoto.
"...Alright, I'll consider it," Aki responded.
"I'll consider it too," Chiya said—though he was truly only considering it. With his Double Kamui, he had no intention of signing a contract with an ordinary devil like the Fox Devil. It wouldn't help him much, and paying a price in skin or hair felt, quite frankly, meaningless.
"Let me think who is free to show you around today..." Just as the interviewer was thinking, someone pushed the door open.
Himeno's voice rang out simultaneously: "I'll be the one to show them around."
"Himeno? You seem quite free today. I'll leave it to you then," the interviewer said.
"Why is it you again?" Aki muttered, his brow furrowing as he looked at Himeno.
Seeing Himeno, Aki had a faint sense of foreboding.
"So unwelcome, am I?"
Himeno walked over and casually draped her arm over Aki's shoulder.
"..." Aki's brow furrowed slightly.
"Come on, I'll take you on a tour of your future workplace. That initial sense of novelty is quite precious, you know," Himeno said with a laugh.
Over the next while, Himeno took Chiya nii-chan and Aki through every area open to visitors, steering clear of the restricted zones. As they were strolling down a corridor on one of the upper floors of the Public Safety building, Himeno suddenly took on a mysterious tone.
"By the way, just a heads-up: it's not a guarantee that you two will be able to partner up."
"What do you mean?" Aki asked, puzzled.
"You'll find out when the time comes," Himeno replied with a playful smile, intentionally keeping them in suspense.
Chiya remained completely unphased. He actually hoped Aki would be paired with Himeno; it made sense for a veteran to guide a newcomer. During the rookie phase, a mentor was essential unless one achieved an S-rank. Once that period was over, he felt Aki wouldn't need to partner with him anyway—he'd have Himeno-senpai. With her personality and tactics, she'd be able to handle a guy like Aki perfectly.
Chiya could guess what Himeno was hinting at: if there was a large gap between his and Aki's rankings, it would be difficult for them to be assigned to the same team. As for his own rank, he was aiming for an A-rank. Since he didn't know the exact metrics for an S-rank, he didn't bother overthinking it.
They spent the morning touring Tokyo Public Safety, and by the time they finished, it was already noon. Since Public Safety provides housing but not meals, and there was no cafeteria inside, they went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
"As a senior who cares for her juniors, I'll give you some inside info on this afternoon's assessment," Himeno whispered as they finished their meal. "Simply put, it's a real combat test against a devil, but if you want a high rating, there are a lot of details you need to pay attention to."
"I'm all ears," Chiya said, curious about the specific criteria. Aki also listened intently. He didn't have absolute confidence that he'd pass easily, so he figured any extra intel would be a help.
"Many newcomers only get a C-rank because their physical combat skills are too average. Strip away their devil powers and they're no different from an ordinary person—that's a common flaw among devil hunters," Himeno explained in detail.
"Also, it's not just about the strength of your devil power; they also look at the price you pay to use it. That factors in. Strong power adds points, but a price that's too high will deduct them."
"And remember, try to control your facial expressions. Staying calm and collected while fighting a devil is a major plus, so even if you're nervous on the inside, don't let it show on your face."
"I've listed most of the ranking criteria, but finally, let's talk about the passing grade. As long as you kill the devil, regardless of your performance, you get a C-rank at minimum—which means you pass. So if you don't care about the rank, you can fight however you want."
Himeno laid out the general details of the assessment. It wasn't classified information; ultimately, it all came down to raw ability. Those who could pass would pass, and for those who couldn't, no amount of info would change that.
"Rest for another hour, and it'll be about time for your exam."
With that, Himeno stood up. "Boss, check please!"