Arena Chapter 24:
Chapter 24 Evaluation (Part 2)
The remaining time flowed flatly . We passed the time smoothly without any threat to our lives .
The biggest danger we did get was just some rain . We had to take our rain drenched bodies back to the cave by the ravine we were at before . Thankfully, the hundreds of red apes that were in the nearby area had all gone and left .
Now that Park Go-chan was gone, it was peaceful .
Hye-su and Joon-ho decided to go brother-sister relationship and the three of us became close . The closed up Kang Chun-seong was his usual self .
Anyhow, after that day, Lee Hye-su became different . She tried her hardest at everything .
As soon as I caught a rabbit, she learned from me on how to butcher it . She didn’t blink an eye and cut the ankles and flipped off the hide .
Not only that, but she did all the cooking and even brought a bunch of berries that she found while she was out gathering kindle .
As the uneventful free time grew, Kang Chun-seong started practicing his martial arts . Joon-ho began exercising and Hye-su continually searched the forest for things to eat like fruit .
I had time to organize and understand the skills that Sylph and I learned from this exam .
First, long distance communication .
Using Sylph to deliver speech is possible within a distance of 900 meters . It can be made to only be heard by one person as well .
Second, sound removal .
It is a skill to move around discretely by getting rid of noise . Using this, I was able to infiltrate the gang of red apes and kill their leader .
Third, smell removal .
It’s a way to eradicate my odor from passing through the air . Using the sound removal and the smell removal together, I was able to successfully catch a rabbit with my bare hands, the effect is that good .
Fourth, oxygen concentration .
It’s a way to concentrate the oxygen to make it easier to light a fire, but I am also thinking that I could concentrate it to create explosives in a fight . For example, I concentrate the oxygen then throw a torch out .
Fifth, wind knife .
It is a good, viable way to attack while in close range . I passed many dangers with this . It causes a lot of damage so it uses a lot of strength, so I can only really use it when I really need it .
‘I’m only alive thanks to Sylph . ’
Sylph’s incredible usefulness!
I consider myself so lucky that I chose the spirit summon as my main skill .
Things like aura control are very useful for martial artists like Kang Chun-seong but it wouldn’t be much help to a layperson like me .
And we passed by the remaining time like this and then in front of the cave, the exam door appeared .
“Wow . It’s finally over . ”
Joon-ho had a moved expression on his face .
“The first thing I’m going to do when I get back is take a bath” said Hye-su .
Then again, we didn’t really have a way to properly wash while we’ve been here .
Couldn’t change our underwear or socks so we’re sure to feel a bit grimy .
“Let’s go . ”
I lead the pack and open the exam door and go through .
***
Boo boo boooo
“Wow! Congratulations!”
Here we go again .
The bbundegi **** is blowing on his horn and disorientingly flitting about here and there .
And it isn’t only me, but everybody else is looking at the obnoxious childish baby angel with unkind gazes .
It’s only natural to be filled with rage after suffering like a dog then returning to see this **** show .
“You all are looking at me with such loving eyes . Did you miss me that much?”
The baby angel has a way of pouring gasoline on the fire of rage .
“You bastard . Stop that and hurry up and evaluate us . ”
At my words, the baby angel shrugs his shoulders .
“But the evaluation is already done? Check your boards . ”
“Board retrieval”
Class: 5
Karma: +900
Mission: Survive the time limit (complete)
Time limit: –
5 class, 900 karma . Is this a good grade? I wonder what other people got?
“It is indeed a good grade . ”
The baby angel abruptly shoves his face up to mine .
At that, I get startled and take a step back and grind my teeth .
“Would you not just read my thoughts and abruptly interrupt me?”
At that, the baby angel chews (ignores) my words and turns the conversation around .
“Examinee Kim Hyun-ho again sets the record . In the 2nd exam, of all examinees ever, you have received the greatest score . ”
“The best grade ever? Me?”
“Yes . There has never been an examinee that has received 900 karma until now”
“900 karma . ”
“Oh wow . ”
Everyone exclaims and looks at me
The baby angel looks away and continues to speak .
“You’ve earned as much karma as the other examinees combined . My eyes didn’t deceive me . I told you that you are a person that is capable of it . ”
“…”
“Look at your contributions in the exam . You infiltrated in the dead of night, killed the red ape Rode, and you got rid of the uncooperative person who kept being a negative distraction to the team . ”
Negative distraction . That is the description for Park Go-chan .
“Every moment, every second, your decision making and actions were very definitive and calculated . What average human would be able to do as examinee Kim Hyun-ho did? Now do you realize that you aren’t just an average person, but a very special human indeed?”
“…”
I have nothing to reply back with . The inside of my head is complicated . I was sure of the fact that I had to kill Park Go-chan . The fact that he tried to **** Lee Hye-su was a good opportunity for it . A good opportunity to cross the threshold of murder…
Perhaps I am like the baby angel said and I’m not like the average person . Even though I have thought myself a plain, weak, and slightly pitiful person .
“Now now, shall we evaluate the others? Examinee Kang Chun-seong, examinee Lee Joon-ho, and examinee Lee Hye-su earned 400, 300, 200 karma respectively . ”
3 people’s score really is my grade . But Kang Chun-seong’s grade is lower than I thought it would be . I wonder why .
“How much of your strength did you use, how much did you contribute to clearing the mission? The grade evaluates these 2 things . In these respects, examinee Kang Chun-seong . ”
The baby angle flapped his wings and approached Kang Chun-seong .
“You were wondering this because your grade was lower than you thought it would be . ”
“Indeed . ”
“Your role was a big help in getting your group past danger . But on the other hand, you were a distraction in clearing the mission . ”
“Distraction?”
Kang Chun-seong’s brow furrows .
“How did you leave Park Go-chan’s actions alone? Was it not a problem that could’ve been solved by a single word from you?”
“…”
“Of course, not doing everything you possibly could have done isn’t automatic grounds for deduction but examinee Kang Chun-seong was definitely a distraction for your group relationship . ”
It was at Kang Chun-seong’s questioning face that the baby angel continued his explanation .
“You suppressed examinee Park Go-chan but after that, with your disinterested behavior, you allowed the disorganized group ranking to continue and let Park Go-chan be a conflicting factor . ”
“What do you mean?”
“If you weren’t present, the ranking would have been decided early on . Examinee Kim Hyun-ho would have used his gun and his spirit to threaten Park Go-chan’s life so that he would no longer continue to be a bother . And then perhaps the situation where he had to be killed wouldn’t have arisen . ”
“…”
“Well then . Anything else you curious about? If not, I’ll send you all home . ”
“Hold on!”
It was Hye-su that raised her hand and spoke up .
“What is it? You’re such a bother . ”
“Um…a bother…”
Hye-su’s face showed a hurt expression .
“I’ll be quick about it . You’re wondering why you got 200 karma when there was nothing you did . That’s because one of the ways of evaluation is by seeing how much of your given abilities was used . Examinee Lee Hye-su had not even a rat’s **** worth of capability but all else considered, you worked really hard . You good?”
“Oh…”
Then even counting the -50, she will have 150 karma left . Thank goodness . Working hard definitely pays off .
Her good fortune as like my own good fortune and I was happy .
“Ok . Then go on home . ”
The baby angel was like a delinquent part time employee shooing us out of a store as he created the exam door .
As everyone starts to head out, I quickly shout
“Hold on! Hold on!”
The three people halt and look back at me .
“Before you go, give me your contact information . Actually, I’ll just give you my cell phone number so please memorize it and contact me . During our rest period, we should meet up and consult about our next exam . ”
“Oh right . ”
“I hadn’t thought of that . ”
Joon-ho and Hye-su agree .
“Aww I thought you had all forgotten and I was laughing inside . What a pity . ”
That **** .
I look at the baby angel and grind my teeth .
After the three people memorized my number, we returned to the world of reality .
***
“Son…”
I opened my eyes and an ajumma that looks like she would be really good a frying chicken looks at me desperately .
“What mom?”
“Its 11 am and you’re still sleeping?”
“…originally, smart people have to sleep a lot . ”
“What about Napoleon?”
“That guy? He had the height of a loser . I’m an Einstein type . I need to sleep 10 hours a day . ”
“Son . I know I said I’d let you rest for this month, but you really reek of unemployment . Just try living a little harder, ok?”
“Ok mom . Speaking of which, so I can be rising star of the fried chicken business, I’ve been exercising every day . ”
“Alright . You always had a way with words . I’m going to drop by the bank and then go to the store . ”
“Ok . Come back safely . ”
Mom left the house and then it was empty . I go to the kitchen and go to the fridge and there is water and all kinds of food and ramen stacked in the pantry . There are eggs and plenty of kimchi and beer in the kimchi fridge .
“I’ve really come back . ”
To think it is so easy to get food and something to drink . ”
I am moved and have never thought of this before .
“Oh mom . Thank you for feeding and raising me . Turns out eating and living is extremely difficult . ”
I pop an egg in my ramen and even put some rice in it and finish in a pinch .
I eat my fill and even drink a can of beer when my phone vibrates . I check it and I’ve gotten a text message .
(TN: Brackets ‘[ ]’ indicate text messages . )
[Is this Hyun-ho oppa? This is Hye-su ^^]
Hye-su has immediately contacted me . How could even the smiling face be so adorable .
[You’re up? I just had rice in my ramen and I’m being moved by a can of beer lol]
[Haha sounds yummy! Bi-bim-bap for me! With tons of red pepper paste]
(TN: Bi-bim-bap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul(sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste), soy sauce, or doenjang, a fermented soybean paste . A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions . The hot dish is stirred together thoroughly just before eating . )
[Eat it deliciously ^^ Oh, and don’t use your karma, just leave it for now . We can all consult later and make a plan]
[Okay ^^ If you get Jun-ho’s number please let me know]
[Ok]
I save Hye-su’s contact number . After saving it into contacts as ‘Hye-su <3’ I save her as speed dial 1 . Who cares? No one is going to look at my phone .
I finish my meal and open my ancient laptop and get online .
There are things I must do to prepare for the next exam .
‘Oh, I almost forgot . How long is the rest period?’
I retrieve my board .
-Name: Kim Hyun-ho
-Class: 5
-Karma: +900
-Mission: Rest until the next exam .
-Time limit: 15 days
-You may receive a karma prize . To receive the karma prize, after retrieving the board, say ‘karma prize’ .
Half a lunar cycle .
The rest period has gotten longer since last time .
At the thought of there still being plenty of time left, my heart feels stronger .
‘I have to use this time wisely . I’ll just finish this and go hike . ’
I have decided to hike and do pushups every day .
Even at the second exam, the exercise I did for the ten days prior was a lot of help . Thanks to the hikes, I was able to adjust to the mountain terrain, and I was able to withstand the difficulty my body endured .
I’m online and I begin to write on all kinds of community sites .