Chapter 19 (1/2)

”Will you please keep it down over there?” (Han)

The Guide issued a stern warning as soon as things became a bit noisy. Hyun Sahng-Min didn't say anything else and suppressed his laughter.

”First of all, let us commence with evaluating your level of cognition.” (Han)

As soon as those words were spoken out, a message popped up in front of everyone's vision.

[5. Level of Cognition]

Actions/Emotions/Disposition

”This is how it should look to you. From the left, Actions, Emotions, and Disposition. Well then, should we start a.s.sessing your 'Actions' first?” (Han)

Suddenly, the left-most column began spinning up and down, just like how it was with a slot machine. Countless words flashed by.

”The first section reflects how you appear to others through your actions and speeches.” (Han)

As Han's explanation continued, the speed of the dizzying spin gradually slowed down. Words such as 'Righteous', 'Fussy', 'Temperamental', 'Disgust'…. 'Moderate', 'Right in the middle', and even 'Hypocrite' flashed by Seol's column, before it stopped on the word 'Moderate'.

”Hul.”

s.h.i.+n Sahng-Ah responded to her evaluation as if it was the most absurd thing in the whole world.

”This can't be right! Is this really correct?!” (s.h.i.+n Sahng-Ah)

”I a.s.sure you, things will only get tougher for you if you are getting shocked already.” (Han)

Han chuckled to himself and clapped his hands. Then, the middle column began spinning this time.

”The middle column, 'Emotions', reflects your thought process, or what you've ended up feeling, when facing certain events or phenomena. Out of the three, you could say it has the most…. variety.” (Han)

For Seol, his middle column came to a stop with the word 'Curiosity' showing up. Seol nodded his head in agreement. Then, he saw Hyun Sahng-Min giggle to himself and couldn't help but get curious - what did he get as his a.s.sessment result?

”And finally…. The last column, 'Disposition'. This one has been raising a lot of controversy for a long time now.” (Han)

Seol didn't even have the time to check using 'General Observation' before the third and the final column began spinning.

”The 'Disposition' column indicates your inclination according to your overall personality. There have been numerous cases where this part simply repeats what's been shown on [Temperament] of your Status.” (Han)

Seol's heartbeat sped up. He was judged to be 'weak willed' and 'short tempered' before. Since he couldn't really dispute those, he had no choice but to unhappily accept them until now.

”However, there have been quite a few cases, where the 'Disposition' and [Temperament] didn't match.” (Han)

Han's voice became rather serious there.

”How could such a thing be possible? After many debates and research later…. We focused on the fact that [Temperament] was listed under [Personality], while 'Disposition' was listed under the [Level of Cognition]. And so, we arrived at a temporary conclusion.” (Han)

Words such as 'Altruistic', 'Selfish', 'Rational', 'Lethargic', 'Evil', 'Detestable' flashed by in front of Seol's eyes…. Until the spinning speed gradually slowed down.

”If your Temperament is a personality trait formed by interacting with the world at large, then….” (Han)

Seol's column heavily seesawed in between the words 'Moderate', 'Hot headed' and 'Narrow minded'.

”….Then, your Disposition should indicate your true nature; in other words, the foundation that forms the core of who you are. That's what we decided on.” (Han)

However, the column suddenly spun again wildly and landed on 'Chaos', instead.

”If you find that your Disposition and Temperament don't really match, or you find it disagreeable and that you're unhappy with the a.s.sessment, allow me to offer you this advice.” (Han)

Han's voice became as light as air once more.

”If you wish to change your Disposition, then you'd do well to try changing your Temperament first. You see, I personally hold the view that a good Temperament would naturally lead your Disposition towards the nicer path.” (Han)

If you wish to change - those words rang inside Seol's heart.

”On the flip side, your Disposition looks good, but your Temperament happens to be not? I can confidently say this - your Disposition too will slowly deteriorate and end up corrupted, eventually matching your Temperament.” (Han)

The implication was simple - he was saying that one should try to change one's Temperament before it negatively influenced one's Disposition.

And so, the evaluation came to an end. Seol carefully surmised his own evaluation results.

Moderate (Actions and thoughts are sensible; hard-working)/Curiosity/Chaotic (Many things are jumbled up and is impossible to unravel)

[Your Status Window is being updated.]

'Chaotic….' (Seol)

Although his head was tilting to a side ever so slightly, he could more or less understand why he ended up with that a.s.sessment.

No matter what, the contradiction coming from the disposition he used to have up until his early twenties, the disposition he revealed after falling into gambling addiction and losing his ability, and finally, the disposition he suddenly gained after experiencing that dream, was as chaotic as one could imagine.

”Of course, that's not an easy thing to accomplish. The 'Disposition' has the lowest chance of changing, after all. Meaning, a person doesn't easily change.” (Han)

Han winked a little here. It happened, then.

Thud, thud.

Accompanied by loud thuds indicating that someone was coming up, the sixth floor door was violently flung open. A clearly-incensed woman and a young man hesitantly following behind her entered the rooftop. They were the trio from before. However, one of them was missing now. The girl who pleaded with Seol to save her Oppa was not among them.

”We've brought along the pa.s.sage fee.”

The woman's voice was icy as she threw down the object in her hand. It was a wooden handle of a mop, one that could be found commonly in any janitor's closet. However, from where a mop head should've been, only blood managed to drip down to the floor.

It was around here that Seol thought he could hear a sorrowful wail of a female coming from down below. The young man hurriedly closed shut the door behind him, though.

A strange but conspicuous light flashed by Han's monocle.

”What's the matter? Are we not allowed up here?”

”No. I shall acknowledge it.” (Han)

Han simply smiled even when the woman spat out coldly. In the end, the two belated arrivals also had to go through the a.s.sessment of their own Level of Cognition.

As soon as that was completed, Han ordered everyone to line up in a row in front of the warp gate. The first one on the line was the last woman to arrive. She was glaring at Hyun Sahng-Min with venomous eyes. Even deep grudge could be spied in them as well.

”Aigoo~, I'm sooo scared.” (Hyun Sahng-Min)

Of course, Hyun Sahng-Min didn't even bat an eyelid.

The woman then cast the coins off in a disgusted manner. However, Han showed off an incredible display of dexterity and caught every single one of them. And while maintaining a nonchalant smile, he pulled out a piece of doc.u.ment to read.

”Now, let's see here…. Actually, the calculations for Miss Oh Min-Young were simple. You shall receive 35 Survival Points.” (Han)

”….Survival Points?” (Oh Min-Young)

”You haven't done anything during the first mission, so out of the possible 100, you get 0. No need to mention the second mission either - 0 out of the possible 150. In the third mission, you couldn't even find enough coins for your pa.s.sage, so also 0. However…. Just now, you have been judged to have struggled bitterly for your own survival, so 35 points were added to your tally. That is all.” (Han)

”Where are we supposed to use these points, then?” (Oh Min-Young)

”You'll find out once you get there.” (Han)

The woman, Oh Min-Young, glared at Han for a long, long time. She then wordlessly stepped through the warp gate and disappeared from the view. The next person was the young man who had followed Oh Min-Young up to the roof.

”You have 0 point.” (Han)

Han's evaluation was short.

”You've done nothing. Literally, nothing. I can't even see one category where you might have earned a point or two.” (Han)

The young man was clearly embarra.s.sed as he stepped through the gate.

And so, the entry procedure carried on.

Yun Seo-Rah received 317 points. s.h.i.+n Sahng-Ah, 116. Hyun Sahng-Min, 302. Yi Sung-Jin, 114. As for Yi Surl-Ah, she could only receive 46 for the things she had done in the a.s.sembly hall. As people stepped through the gate and disappeared one by one, Seol's turn eventually arrived. Han began groaning out as soon as seeing Seol's face.

”Really now…. I thought I was going to die while trying to calculate your points. Although it wasn't as difficult during the first mission, the second and third missions were really, really problematic for me. Especially so, during the second mission, when things became really, completely nonsensical.” (Han)

”Not only were you not satisfied with breaking the all-time clear record, you then proceeded to destroy all of the traps as well as the mechanisms found there. Such an event is unprecedented.” (Han)

The tone of his voice was quite combative, but Han was beaming rather brilliantly.

”In any case, here's you points tally. During the first mission, 200 bonus points added after successfully chasing away the Gaeg-gwi from the a.s.sembly hall. Also, you made a correct move by going upstairs as soon as emptying out the convenience store. Since you were in possession of the diary, all you needed to do was to procure some food. So, 100 bonus points. Another 50 bonus points for rescuing Miss s.h.i.+n Sahng-Ah.” (Han)

That amounted to 350 points. Hearing this, Seol tilted his head.