Unexpectedly Passing

"Watch your mouth, young man!"

"How dare you say it's bullshit in front of Ma'am Velez! She's the one who designed it!"

"You're courting death!"

'What the fuck is this? A book within a wuxia novel? These people really spoke like third-rate characters, haha. It's almost unbelievable.'

Case mused inwardly, shaking his head in response to the people who didn't have an ounce of support for a fellow Earthling.

Only Velez seemed to be unperturbed about all of this as she remained closely watching Case amidst the shifting tension.

Then, after raising her hand and bringing the room to a halt, Velez finally spoke. "That doesn't tell me shit. Again, what makes you conclude that this is also part of the test?"

'Ugh, I guess she's right,'

Case knew he was just going around in circles and not giving her concrete answers, but he indeed had an answer in mind.

Right now, he was still arranging the words in his mind. Soon enough, it would all come together, solidifying his claims.

He had to put all his skills from his past life right in this moment to make his words believable in their eyes.

Even if he's wrong, maybe with confidence, he might be able to turn things around.

In fact, his next move wasn't complicated, but it took guts, and that is to make them believe the evaluation was flawed from the start, and that he was there to exploit its weakness.

Case didn't wait for Velez for so long before he started explaining by saying the first important sentence.

"Look, ma'am, I don't know if it's intentional or not, but you made a goal with no set of clear instructions."

"…"

Upon seeing that Velez was attentively listening, Case continued, "Let's talk about the goal. Our main task is to go up here, right on this floor. You didn't actually say that we have to go through the obstacles directly. In fact, you almost made us believe that we have to pass them by leading us directly in front of the start.

"Well, I guess it's somehow right since it is the physical prowess test, but I believe nobody will ever pass it. I might be even impressed if anyone somehow managed to do so. With this thought in mind, instead of wasting time and breath, I began to think of a way."

Case took a moment of breath before adding, "Second is the bizarre instruction of 'I don't care what you do. Use the building as you like.' At first, I disregarded it since it might seem you just said that out of the blue, but it actually gave me a hint."

On the first part of the sentence, "I don't care what you do", Case thought it in a way that it seemed like they have their own free will, which means the freedom to do what they want.

Of course, his actions of lazing around at the start of the obstacles didn't stem from this since he hadn't concluded just yet.

He just did it because he wanted Velez to be interested in him, in any kind of way.

On the other hand, Case wouldn't be so confident if not for the fact of the second part of the bizarre instruction "Use the building as you like".

Case assumed that they already have the freedom to do what they want, but what use will those freedoms be?

It was for that reason that he decided to use the elevator, normally used by observers, granting access between levels to oversee the trials on each floor.

Velez didn't clearly speak out the rule that the elevator was out of bounds.

If she does, it was her fault for being carefree.

Case only used this loophole to his advantage and worked his way up to this point.

Case interpreted the task at hand, achieved his goal, and at the same time, suffered no losses on his side.

Now it was up to Velez on what verdict to give him. 

'Please, please. Let me pass this physical prowess test! I'll do well on the other test, and I might discover some hidden tasks like this one! For the love of god, let me be right!'

Case was wishing dearly on his mind while appearing calm on the outside.

Some time had passed, and everyone was tense in the final floor lobby.

Without a word, Velez started toward him, her pace deliberate.

Case's brows slowly drew together as he watched her every step.

'Wait, wait, wait. Why is she approaching me? Could she just decide and not walk towards me with those steps? The way she walked looks threatening... Should I give her a punch if she decides to get 'too' close?'

Case thought inwardly as he slowly stepped back.

"Stop moving."

Case completely came to a halt.

It didn't take long before Velez was completely standing in front of him, her eyes looking down.

"..."

There was a clear change in her presence.

At this point, she was no longer looking down at Case but the entirety of humanity as a whole, as if she judged it unworthy.

But then she smiled.

Her smile felt so dazzling that Case had to stop himself from being allured by her charms and charisma.

"Case, you passed,"

Case's eyes glittered upon hearing those words out from Velez as he pumped his fist in celebration.

"Okay, nice. Let's go to the second test right away. Believe me, I will not use tricks or find something hidden that you'll hide. I'll do the test fair and square."

Velez tilted her head.

"What are you saying?"

Case tiled his head as well.

'What the hell am I saying that you are saying 'what I'm saying?'

Velez then stretched her hand forward and tapped Case's shoulders, saying the same words right after.

"It seemed you were confused. You passed the entire test. This district's evaluation has come to an end, and you will be my representative. Congratulations."

Case was left stricken after that congratulatory message.

He was so shocked that he froze, his mouth hanging open in stunned silence.

The longer he waited without hearing someone say it was all a prank or a mispoken judgment, the more the tension built—until, at last, an aghast exclamation slipped from his mouth.

"Ehhhhhhhhhhhh…"

He found the situation absurd.