“Let’s begin the contest on the seventh day.”
Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, the seventh day’s contest commenced.
Contestant No. 7 had passed the first test… tightly gripping the wooden plaque. The spectators watching the test let out sighs of disappointment at Contestant No. 7’s trembling hands gripping the plaque.
“Ah, it seems the desired plaque hasn’t appeared again.”
“Looks like they had no luck…”
Contestant No. 7 exhaled a long sigh. Luck, luck.
This was the last test they could pass quickly. They had already assessed all the tests conducted by the sects over the past six days and determined that they could take those tests that were feasible considering physical strength and skills.
‘How many tests are even left that I could pass with a desperate last-minute effort?’
Maybe one or two badges at best.
The red and orange ones that had evaded for over thirty tries were unlikely to show up now.
“…It’s over.”
With a self-deprecating smile, Contestant No. 7 sank down to the ground. How could a person overcome luck that didn’t go in their favor? Just as Contestant No. 7 lowered their head, a piece of yakwa (sweet rice cake) appeared in front of their eyes, held in a small hand.
“Here, please take it.”
Contestant No. 7 looked at the person offering them the sweet. It was them. Contestant No. 7 remembered Hyeok Gi-rin well, who had followed and cheered for them over the past seven days.
“…Thank you, but… Ugh!?”
Contestant No. 7 was caught off guard by the piece of yakwa that was shoved into their mouth despite trying to express gratitude, and apologize for not being able to repay the support.
“Come on, have some more. Eating something sweet will definitely clear your head.”
“Mmm! Mmp?!”
Each time Contestant No. 7 tried to speak, more yakwa was stuffed into their mouth! Contestant No. 7 grabbed Hyeok Gi-rin’s arm to stop this madness, but…
‘What kind of strength…?!’
It was impossible to hold back Hyeok Gi-rin. Contestant No. 7 was forced to keep eating the yakwa until their cheeks were packed to bursting. Just as the sticky sweetness clung to their mouth, Hyeok Gi-rin asked.
“Do you feel a bit stronger after eating something sweet?”
Contestant No. 7 wanted to protest, but with their mouth full of sticky yakwa, only incoherent sounds came out.
“It’s the last day, and there are still opportunities left. If you give it your all until the end, you might achieve the results you wish for.”
Contestant No. 7 swallowed their negative thoughts. They couldn’t bear to say anything discouraging to Hyeok Gi-rin, who had supported them so fervently.
“There’s still time left. It would be a pity to let it slip by while sitting here. You might regret sitting down at this moment someday.”
‘Regret…’
“So you should push yourself enough to not leave any regrets.”
Contestant No. 7 could only murmur and bow their head in response to Hyeok Gi-rin’s smiling face. It was a bit embarrassing to see Hyeok Gi-rin cheer for them without giving up, despite having seen them sitting down.
‘…Alright, let’s take on the challenge.’
Contestant No. 7 stood up and unfolded the test map they had made over the last seven days. Most of the tests required physical strength and power that they struggled to overcome…
“…Wait a second.”
Unintentionally, Contestant No. 7 mumbled to themselves.
Light weight? Insufficient power? The red and orange badges they couldn’t collect till now?
Contestant No. 7 stared at the map, seemingly entranced.
‘The most badges I’ve collected are the blue ones.’
They checked the tests that granted them the blue badges. Catching the blue ball amidst the red ones. Jumping over obstacles within the time limit. Breaking tiles before they hit the ground.
All of them required quick speed.
‘And the next most obtained were the green badges…!’
All required a sense of balance.
In a flash, Contestant No. 7 recalled Contestant No. 33 from this morning, who had declared this competition fair.
Contestant No. 7 began to walk as if possessed. Their target was Yeong Yeong-mun. The sect that prepared the test that Contestant No. 7 felt they absolutely shouldn’t participate in due to their disadvantages in both weight and strength.
“Will you challenge?”
“Yes.”
Standing in front of the rock prepared by Yeong Yeong-mun, Contestant No. 7 felt breathless. They pushed against the rock with their hand, but it didn’t budge at all.
“Ahhhhhh!”
“Yeaaaah!”
Competitors with a body built for commerce were shouting as they struggled to push the rock. Contestant No. 7 felt momentarily overwhelmed by the sweaty scene but then gritted their teeth and pressed their shoulder against the rock.
Grrr…
With all their strength, they pushed against the rock, but it slid away easily, making Contestant No. 7’s determination waver momentarily.
“Keep it up!”
Hearing Hyeok Gi-rin’s encouraging voice, who had started cheering again as usual, Contestant No. 7 bit their teeth and lowered their posture even further, channeling strength into their lower body.
“Ahhhhhh!!”
The rock began to move little by little. Contestant No. 7 recognized their lack of strength but continued to strive and shout.
‘If my speculation is correct… I can get a yellow or red badge here!’
Contestant No. 7 thought, breathing heavily.
The Brain Knife Outcast had said that passing the test would grant badges. However, they hadn’t mentioned the criteria for issuing badges.
‘But why was I so certain that the criteria for giving badges was random?’
Rumors.
They had heard that the color of the badge is determined by luck. Contestant No. 1 passed fifteen tests, yet still didn’t collect all the badges.
Could anyone who mentioned such rumors ever list all the fifteen tests that Contestant No. 1 had taken?
Why couldn’t they collect all the badges even after passing fifteen tests? The reason couldn’t be uncovered in the rumor, so people only thought it was due to “bad luck.”
And they believed that rumor without question.
Why was that?
Contestant No. 7 already knew the answer.
‘Because it sounded cooler, because it was the easier road to take.’
If the same colors appeared in challenges of a similar nature, wouldn’t they give badges of different colors depending on the types of challenges? It was a perfectly reasonable doubt.
Yet, Contestant No. 7 unconsciously rejected that possibility, believing the color of the badge was all about “luck” and focused solely on passing the tests that were favorable to them at a rapid pace.
Because they were under the roar of numerous crowds.
They tasted fame for the first time in their life and wanted to maintain it.
Instead of showing their trembling legs, struggling on the ground, it was much better to gracefully dodge the airborne balls with a flip.
In front of the crowds gathered around the sect and those cheering them on, Contestant No. 7 didn’t want to reveal a pitiful failure. Even if they failed, they wanted to show a graceful failure.
They were desperately turning their eyes away from the fact inferred from a single word, “challenge.”
‘…I avoided the challenge.’
From Contestant No. 1 to Contestant No. 10, from Contestant No. 501 to Contestant No. 510. Now it was clear why those recognized as the top candidates failed to gather all eight badges despite passing multiple tests.
They too must have avoided tests that could showcase their weaknesses and were likely to embarrass them in front of the audience.
‘I’ve become blind due to meager fame.’
It wasn’t as if Contestant No. 7 had become one of the top hundred candidates certified by Sacheon City; they had only gotten decent results in the preliminaries.
“Ha, ha…”
Contestant No. 7 wiped the rain of sweat from their brow and turned to look back. Even if they weren’t the ones who had followed them, there were still many spectators cheering for the current Contestant No. 7.
“You’re working so hard with that small body!”
“Make sure to pass!”
What is true fame, and what is the post-attribution? Such thoughts floated in Contestant No. 7’s mind but were quickly discarded.
It was because they saw Hyeok Gi-rin waving their hands.
‘The true way to repay their support is not by simply showing them a good performance.’
“Ahhhhhh!!”
But succeeding through sheer will.
Contestant No. 7 poured all their remaining strength into the challenge. Finally, the rock reached the finish line.
“Contestant No. 7. Passed.”
Contestant No. 7 moved their trembling legs and accepted the badge given by Yeong Yeong-mun.
‘Red…!’
Finally obtained it!
“Ha ha…”
Just for a brief moment of joy, Contestant No. 7 looked up at the sky. The sky was already tinted with red energy. Was there half an hour of exam time left?
It was a desperate situation.
Considering their drained stamina and the remaining time, they could at best undertake one challenge from another sect.
‘Since the red badge was related to strength… the orange one must involve direct competition where you physically collide with others…’
Could they really win against the examiners in their current condition?
Another piece of yakwa suddenly appeared before them.
Contestant No. 7 silently accepted the yakwa and popped it into their mouth. It was time to replenish their energy, even if just a little.
“I won’t give up.”
As Contestant No. 7 murmured that, Hyeok Gi-rin just smiled quietly. Contestant No. 7, feeling determined, moved forward.
Contestant No. 7’s goal was to challenge the battle at Sangjeolmun.
It was truly the beginning of a fight for acceptance.
* *
After the seventh day’s exam concluded.
Morning came.
“Hmm.”
I stepped up to the podium and scanned the number of remaining participants. By the end of the sixth day, there had been a total of 257 passers. This meant there should be a total of 743 individuals gathered here.
But only about 600 people were visible.
Tsk, how persistent.
The reasoning for those who weren’t here was obvious. They probably thought, “Why attend the post-event when I’m already eliminated?”
Well, the choice is up to the individual.
…No, saying that makes it sound like I’m mocking the consumers. Why is that?
“Everyone who wishes to submit their badges, please step forward.”
The participants began to move.
About 200. According to the count from last evening, it was precisely 214.
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
“Wow, so many passers?”
“That’s surprising!”
The people continued to murmur as the excitement grew. It was because Contestant No. 502 had been eliminated.
“Goodness, the parade of candidates is dwindling…!”
“At least the other candidates passed!”
Did the seventh-day passers realize the trick of this test?
Even if they didn’t, it didn’t matter.
Whether they struggled mentally or physically, as long as they brought back the badges, it was fine.
Some must have rushed through exams out of anxiety, losing their rationality, while others may have simply relied on numbers.
After completing the exams they deemed favorable, they would inevitably have to face the tests they considered unfavorable.
Perhaps contestants had picked up hints from the comments of the sixth-day passers.
“The 258th passer is Contestant No. 911! The 259th passer is Contestant No. 83! The 260th…”
The long series of names continued.
Contestants No. 1, 2, and 501 wore dissatisfied expressions, seemingly failing to grasp the intent of the test, while Contestants No. 3 and 503 appeared to be imitating enlightenment with misunderstood insights.
Nonetheless, what does it matter?
They’ve all gathered eight badges, so they passed.
“The 461st is Contestant No. 7!”
Oh, Contestant No. 7 passed? Given the time they finished, they must have pushed hard to the edge of success.
I could easily envision Hyeok Gi-rin, who was likely bouncing around in the crowd.
“This exam evaluated many aspects of the participants.”
I lightly shared the thoughts on the design intent behind this contest. Reactions were indeed varied; some gasped in admiration, while others expressed frustration over their own lack of insight.
The uproar of the crowd didn’t die down easily, but I had no intention of waiting for it to settle.
This would be a topic of conversation for a month or two; a little waiting wouldn’t calm the ruckus.
So, I promptly began to discuss the second elimination round of the finals.
“The next contest will start one week from now. And… once again, half of the participants will be eliminated. The content of the contest, in which half of the participants will be eliminated, is…”
The previously noisy crowd settled down, eager to hear.
The content of the second round of finals is…
“Array Formation.”
Group assignment.
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