episode_0318

*** ***

On the day of the finals.

In the unarmed area, people gathered like a cloud.

“Number 1 is the real review index of Sichuan Province!”

“What are you saying! Number 502 is the real deal! This final round will clearly differentiate the high and low ranks!”

Has a fandom already formed? I don’t think the contestants have shown anything that will draw people in yet, but it looks like certain contestants already have people rooting for them.

“Number 7! Cheer up!”

I thought I heard a familiar voice, so I turned around and saw Hyuk Kirin jumping up and down and chanting number 7.

…hmm.

For some reason, a few days ago, he suggested to his group about watching the competition together, and it seems he wanted to cheer for number 7 together.

I’m glad that Hyuk Kirin seems to be enjoying the late index selection contest in his own way.

When I looked at the number 7 that Hyuk Kirin was chanting, I could see why Hyuk Kirin was cheering for number 7.

Number 7 was a cross-dressing female contestant.

Although there were a small number of female participants, there were some who advanced to the finals. But why bother dressing as a man…?

Well, all the participants in the first preliminary round applied to become Sichuan Rongins… Currently, among the Sichuan Rongins, the only female one is Black Cat, who is almost inactive, so if you really want to become a new Sichuan Rongin, it’s only right to disguise yourself as a man. summer solstice.

Did the 7th successful candidate sincerely want to become a Sichuan ronin?

Well, you’ll know when the results come out.

Now I stand on the podium with familiar shouts.

“Nice to meet you. Everyone from Dongdo, Sacheon Province. And the 1,000 finalists.”

“As previously announced, the first round of competition in the finals involves going around the sects in Sichuan Province, passing the tests presented by the sects, and collecting certificates. The clans where the test is being held will have a signboard with a black lip or a banner with the phrase [Sacheon Nangin Cup Late Score Selection Contest] posted so that everyone can see it, so let’s not engage in acts of intrusion into a strict clan.”

Hahahahaha!

The audience came and burst into laughter.

“Also, to prevent accidents, light balling and running while moving are prohibited. If you are a warrior belonging to a sect, taking the exam in your own sect is also prohibited. As so many sects are cooperating with this Sacheon Nangin Cup Review Index Selection Contest, there will be many options for applicants, so you don’t have to worry.”

There was no fuss because it was a common sense measure.

“In case there are participants who forge or lose their certificates due to Nopasim, please do not worry as we will cooperate with each sect to cross-verify where and what certificates the participants obtained. However, participants who lose their certificates may face embarrassment, so please take care of them as much as possible.”

This time too, light laughter erupted from the audience.

hmm. I really like this friendly atmosphere.

“Then, we will now provide detailed information on the progress of the finals.”

I took out the certificate from my pocket.

A wooden plaque the size of a fist.

For mass production, it was a mass-produced product that was cut into a rectangular frame and roughly inserted one character at a time, but is there any need to worry about the quality of the competing tools?

I started working with the money I saved from magic performances in Lhasa, but when the work doubled in size, my budget was tight, so I didn’t save money, but I just thought I didn’t need to worry about all the tools.

…This week, we will receive financial support from Sichuan province’s sects and support from Sichuan province’s wealthy people, so it should be okay!

What mattered was not the quality of the certificate.

“Red Juno Chopanambo. You must collect tokens of a total of 8 colors, including the 7 colors plus black.”

“Those who pass the test for each faction will receive a plaque. There is no need to take the same test multiple times as you will only get cards of the same color even if you take the same test twice.”

“Finally, we will announce the exam time. The exam period is one week.”

There was a commotion, but I ignored it and continued my explanation.

“The faction that can take the test will change every day, and we will gather here every morning to start. The test will be held every day from 4 o’clock to 4 o’clock, and those who have collected all eight cards are asked to submit them before departure the next morning.”

“Oh my god…! I can’t believe I’m taking a test for a week!”

“It looks like the test is incredibly difficult! Is it difficult to pass one in a day?”

Well, you’ll know it when you see it for yourself.

As I watched the test takers while listening to the murmur of the crowd, most of them could not hide their embarrassment. They said each faction would have to take a test, so they must have been prepared for a long battle, but they probably didn’t expect that it would be a week-long competition.

Rather than being motivated, the participants looked like they were stuck against a wall.

The audience may be very excited about the finals, but for the participants, the content of the finals will be very boring.

I knew that would happen, so I prepared a motivational booster in advance.

Paralock!

As I raised my hand, the tent behind me fell.

“Oh…!”

“Wow!”

The long tent fell down and everyone exclaimed in exclamation at the objects that appeared.

Black lips.

This was because 100 black lips with the numbers 1 to 100 written on them, arranged in a stylish semicircle, were revealed.

I leisurely walked over and picked up the black lip with 1 written on it.

“This is not black lip.”

Tieeing!

When I snapped my fingers, there was a resonance sound unique to iron.

“It is a treasure made by pounding iron to resemble bamboo flesh, plaiting it with iron thread, and having numbers written on it by melting gold. It can be said to be a treasure… created with great effort by our artisans.”

I didn’t lie.

These are the items that Dang So-yeol took pictures of quickly while smoking a cigarette with great effort.

“It is a glorious item that only 100 reviewers can obtain.”

Is there anything better than the final product to inspire test takers? Even if I didn’t specifically look at the eyes leaking through the bamboo ribs, I could feel that the motivation that had been suppressed by the huge final exam had returned.

“The main line that determines the owner of this item. Let’s start now. From 1 to 100. Please leave!”

Wow!!

A hundred test takers moved along with shouts.

The finals have begun.

*** ***

The hundred test takers each dispersed to find a nearby sect.

Many spectators were waiting at Sangjeolmun Gate, which was closest to the test site and had a well-known name. When approximately ten candidates, led by the first candidate, entered the Sangjeolmun Gate, the audience who had been waiting in advance greeted them with cheers.

“To the late exponents of Sichuan Province who took the Sangjeolmun examination! Nice to meet you!”

The military person who seemed to be the representative opened his mouth.

“Our Sangjeolmun is a sect that was founded by the founder of Sangsojeon, Chugakteu, and has been continuing its existence in Sichuan Province for 42 years. It is a sect that mainly trains in the art of boxing.”

“Oh, was Sangjeolmun a 42-year-old sect?”

“Somehow, I like the peaceful atmosphere of the clan.”

Mu-in, who consciously promoted his sect, smiled inwardly at the positive response.

“Chachahap!”

Pabababak!!

The martial artist’s sword struck the air with ferocious force. Those who burst out in exclamation at the sudden martial arts demonstration. Sangjeolmun’s warrior, who made a light move, followed the advice of Rongin Gaekjan, who said, ‘This final round is a golden opportunity to promote the clan, but too much promotion will only backfire,’ and quit accordingly.

“I showed you a part of Yeonhwantoesintrust, which can be said to be the season of mourning. In order to digest the season of Sangjeolmun, you need a sense of balance and strong leg strength to maintain a stable center of gravity even on one leg! That’s why we at Sangjeolmun have prepared a test that can check both!”

The candidates swallowed their saliva and looked at the mouth of the Sangjeolmun warrior. What is the test that must be taken at Sangjeolmun?

“The test of Sangjeolmun is a cockfight!”

The test that Sangjeolmun prepared for was cockfighting.

*** ***

The first round of the finals has ended.

Sichuan residents gathered in bars and vacant lots and talked about the exams they had each taken.

“The test that Song Sang-moon prepared for was arm wrestling!”

“English: I prepared for the test of pushing a rock.”

“Isangpa is a test to avoid a flying ball without taking your feet off.”

These were mainly tests that had simple rules but were not easy.

“It may sound easy, but in reality, not many people passed the exam!”

“ According to Mr. Jang, who followed candidate number 1 today, candidate number 1 has already collected 4 cards!”

“Huh, the top rankings will be over tomorrow.”

“It’s a shame. It’s a shame.”

The second day of preliminaries has begun.

There was a small twist: the faction that could take the test changed. The sect that hung the banner yesterday had its banner removed, and the sect that did not hang the banner had its banner hung up.

The participants, who had somehow gathered information the previous day, were left with a blank slate again and had no choice but to visit each sect.

The third day of qualifying began.

The movements of test takers also changed.

Unlike the first day, when I took any test without any intention, I visited each sect to check the exam, and if I thought it was worth taking, I took my time and took the challenge. The opportunities for challenge were endless, but my physical strength was limited.

“Just step on the stepping stones and fill the water jar within the time!”

Candidate No. 7, who passed the exam held at Dodongpa’s pond, wiped his sweat and breathed a sigh of relief.

Clap clap clap!!

Candidate number 7, who completed the test, waved to the crowd of supporters who were following and cheering for him.

‘That Soger has been following me around and cheering me on for three days. ‘I’m grateful.’

It gave me strength to see him jumping up and down with a bright smile, showing off his cute, small body.

Candidate No. 7 smiled internally at Hyuk Kirin’s cheering and accepted the seventh hand.

“Do not tell the audience or other test takers the color of the card.”

I nodded seven times to the request I had already heard seven times. If you had to tell him which faction gave you what color tile, you would only be at a loss.

‘It’s blue again.’

Candidate number 7 sighed lightly.

I got seven cards, but luck wasn’t on my side, so I only collected four colors.

‘The situation is the same anyway.’

Number 7 remembered the rumors 1, 2, 3, and 501, 502, and 503 and calmed down his nervousness. I heard that the leaders of each preliminary round had more than 10 cards in their hands, but no one has submitted a card yet.

‘Let’s do what we can.’

Number 7, who consoled himself and found composure. Is it thanks to that? Number 7, who passed two additional exams and collected 9 certificates, thought that this would be enough to get into a high rank.

Those 7 thoughts were immediately shattered as the fourth day began.

“Number 74! I will submit my card!”

“Number 558! I will submit it too!”

“632 times! Done!”

The Brain Swordman nodded and declared.

“The first candidate to collect 8 cards is number 558. Second place is number 74 and third place is number 632. Congratulations on passing the final competition.”

Those who no one expected took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

The crowd gathered to watch the game on the 4th day was shaken by the truly shocking twist.

“No, number 502 collected as many as thirteen cards? Even though I collected 13, I still don’t have all 8 colors?”

The item given to those who passed the finals was a thick belt. The participants, who each received a belt with decorations made of gold, silver and bronze, raised both hands in joy.

The shock of finding a completely unexpected successful candidate and the unveiling of a new certificate cleared the chaotic air and the match on the 4th day began.

“Then let’s begin today’s competition.”

I thought about number 7 as I started in first place again today. The priority given to being one of the best was a truly powerful advantage. The best group could take the test almost immediately after arriving at the sect.

You can get one, or even more, opportunity than others.

‘I may be given an even greater advantage in the second round…!’

There are still four colors left to collect. The anxiety of not being able to make it to the top 50 or 100, let alone the 7th place, if this trend continued, was choking me.

‘I don’t have enough stamina today, but I have to take every opportunity I can!’

Number 7 passed 6 tests in one day. However, out of the eight tokens, only one new token was obtained: the black one.

On the 5th day, the exam began.

On the 5th day of the exam, 40 additional successful candidates were announced.

Among the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 501, 502, and 503rd places, which were considered strong candidates for the championship and attracted large crowds, no one passed.

Number 7 realized that his rank had already fallen below 40th, so he gritted his teeth and stood at the starting line. Based on the information obtained over four days, the optimal movement route was planned overnight, taking into account the location of each sect and test time.

Number 7 passed a whopping 8 tests on the 5th day, but only gained one new color.

On the 6th day, the exam began.

About 110 additional successful applicants occurred, bringing the total number of successful applicants to over 150.

The crowd began to grow suspicious. And the participants also began to voice their dissatisfaction, albeit in weak murmurs.

“No, participant number 502 has collected 41 cards so far, but was unable to collect all 8 colors…?”

“Participant number 501 also collected enough thirty!”

“No matter how important luck is, this is too much!”

“The top contenders in the preliminaries are all struggling, so is this a fair test?”

Number 7 also mentally agreed with the complaints of the crowd and participants. As many as 23 tokens were collected. However, there were only 6 colors collected.

Isn’t there something wrong with the fact that you can pass the test quickly or only choose the tests you are confident in and pass the test with maximum efficiency, but you still can’t collect all the colors?

However, even though Noegeomnangin heard the crowd’s complaints, he did not respond.

“Day 6 competition begins.”

Number 7 felt a little bit harsh at Noegeomnangin’s attitude of not saying anything, but he soon calmed down and moved on.

Because there were so many factions to challenge today.

I passed seven tests seven times that day, but I did not acquire any new colors.

Day 7. The day of the final competition dawned.

With a large number of successful applicants from the top ranks, the suspicions about fairness from the previous day were somewhat washed away, but another type of suspicion about fairness was raised.

The sluggishness of numbers 1 to 10 and 501 to 510, which can still be considered the leaders, was the same, but many successful applicants were produced in numbers 11 to 100 and 511 to 600… The total number of successful applicants decreased to about 70 compared to yesterday.

“What on earth is this test?”

“Can it really be said that this is a competition to determine the late-stage index of Sichuan Province!”

It was time for the crowd to gradually raise their voices like a swarm of angry bees.

“This test is fair!”

Someone shouted loudly. The angry crowd looked that way. I was the 33rd person to pass the test today.

“I also had a lot of complaints about this test yesterday…but now I think this test is fair! Isn’t that right?”

Some of the successful applicants agreed.

When the successful candidates said that, the crowd’s momentum faltered. Those who passed on the 6th day were, in fact, people who it would not be surprising if they harbored resentment toward the exam structure. Because there were many people who ranked high in the preliminaries.

Not everyone agreed with what number 33 said, but quite a few people agreed with what number 33 said… so the crowd could not help but fall into confusion.