Chapter 8

00008 Kim Su-hyun, Starting the Rite of Passage.

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The preparation room. It had been a long time since I last saw this space. The preparation room was so similar to an Earth room that an uninformed person would think it was a cozy personal room.

Suddenly, I felt that angels really cared about unnecessary details. When I first came here, I had tried to open the front door and step out because the environment was so similar to Earth. Of course, the door didn't open, and I remember floundering in despair. I suddenly wondered if the angels had deliberately planned this.

『Time remaining until the start of the Rite of Passage: 03 minutes 27 seconds』

"3 minutes and 27 seconds. I need to hurry."

I approached the large box sitting in the center of the room. When I opened it and sat in a corner, I found various items needed for the Rite of Passage. There was no trace of nostalgia; my immediate concern was to quickly put on some clothes. Even if Seraph were fine with it, I couldn't risk being teleported for the Rite of Passage in a state that was almost naked; I would be labeled a pervert from the start.

At a glance, I could see that the performance of the tight-fitting spandex was the best. However, I didn't have the courage to put it on. After trying on a few things, I chose simple clothes. The items I picked were all ordinary: underwear, socks, shoes, a top, and pants. I just didn't want to look shabby, so I chose darker colors.

To be honest, in my current state, I could pass the Rite of Passage in less than a day even if I went in naked. In fact, if I wanted to, I could easily destroy everything. However, I have no intention of causing a commotion from the start. One of the main reasons I survived in the Hollow Plain for ten years without dying was that I always kept 30% of my abilities hidden. I made a thorough effort not to reveal myself unless my life was in immediate danger.

‘What weapon should I choose…’

I had a bit of a dilemma when choosing a weapon. Even though I could easily defeat the boss monster of the Rite of Passage with my bare hands, it would be convenient to have at least one. However, I had a specific plan for this Rite of Passage. Just in case, I chose a long sword and a detachable crossbow, and then filled my quiver with crossbow bolts before closing the box.

Finally, as I held the bolts and looked up, I saw the remaining time converge to zero.

『The preparation room time has ended. I will now summon user Kim Su-hyun to the Rite of Passage.』

"Okay. Was I the last one?"

『Yes. Anyway, I wish you good luck, user Kim Su-hyun. I will now proceed with the teleportation.』

That was when it happened.

Whoosh!

The moment I felt the summoning spell unfold in the air, I felt a tug around my navel. The summoning had begun.

*

『The teleportation is complete. The Rite of Passage is a test to determine whether you have the qualifications to enter the Hollow Plain. You pass if you survive for 7 days or reach the central warp gate within 7 days. I wish all users good luck.』

The teleportation was complete. I took a deep breath of the refreshing air and looked around. At that moment, I felt the atmosphere around me subtly change. The grass, trees, and soil indicated that I was in the center of a forest clearing. The air was fresh and the breeze was cool, but an unpleasant, sticky feeling permeated the surroundings.

‘I should check who else has been summoned here first.’

I consider the Rite of Passage to be extremely important. The Hollow Plain is a place where you absolutely cannot survive alone. Even if you just use it, you need companions to work with.

The Rite of Passage is the first space where modern people, who have only experienced the mundane, encounter the extraordinary. And it comes with the condition of ‘survival.’ One of the core aspects of the Rite of Passage is that modern people, who know nothing, must work together to meet the conditions. (I was a special case in the second round, so let's set that aside for now.) For this reason, companions who survive the Rite of Passage together often form strong bonds even after entering the Hollow Plain. I intended to find potential companions during this Rite of Passage.

‘Of course, I can't just accept anyone as a companion.’

The place where I was summoned is a starting point that signals the beginning of the Rite of Passage. Another term for it is the starting point. Now, 10 years later, I can talk about it without feeling anything, but the first Rite of Passage I entered, knowing nothing, was a nightmare. It was so bad that I developed trauma even after entering the Hollow Plain.

I calmed my mind and began to observe my surroundings. As expected, I wasn't the only one who had been teleported. People with anxious faces were scattered around the clearing, and some were whispering about me.

"Bro… Did you see that person get teleported just now?"

"Sora, be quiet."

"What do we do… It looks like we're not the only ones here…."

"Just wait. That person seems to be in the same situation as us."

From their conversation, they seemed to be siblings. I moved towards where the people were gathered. The atmosphere in the clearing was quietly tense. If we were suddenly thrown into the Rite of Passage and told to survive on our own, chaos would ensue, but everyone here had been briefed by the angels to some extent. I had been too.

‘This is the starting point. Since I've returned to the past, I must have met these users during the first round… What happened after that…’

Counting the people in the clearing, there were eight in total. Could these eight people work together to survive the Rite of Passage over the next 7 days? I can confidently say, "No."

A conflict arose in my mind. This place is not the Hollow Plain but a space that I will never return to once I pass through. With my current power, saving everyone here would be a piece of cake. But honestly, I didn't want to and had no intention of doing so.

Showing off my abilities and saving everyone in front of these people was something I absolutely had to avoid. Originally, the most impactful way to gain a reputation or become known is through word of mouth. The Hollow Plain users, who are already keen on maintaining their privileges, would cause all sorts of trouble if they heard that someone had used magic or displayed overwhelming power to defeat monsters before even passing the Rite of Passage. I might even be mysteriously killed by ‘vagrants’ on the spot.

And I am not a saint. While I have done good deeds in the Hollow Plain, I have also done bad things without hesitation when necessary. Robbery, plunder, rape, even murder. In the world of the Hollow Plain, such things are accepted as normal, so no one can really blame me.

In any case, the most important thing here is to choose carefully. If I meet someone worth making a companion, I will have to act as a guardian (of sorts) for at least a year until they can stand on their own.

My first plan after entering the Hollow Plain was to gather companions. The Rite of Passage is a very suitable space for this plan. I set three criteria for selecting companions: 1) abilities and potential, 2) disposition, and 3) connection. In short, if they meet my standards, I will save them; if not, I won't care if they live or die.

‘Should I use the Third Eye now?’

In the clearing, everyone except the siblings was keeping their distance. I chose a suitable spot and sat down, deciding to calmly observe the people. If I was lucky, I might see a familiar face.

The first user I noticed was a woman in a bank uniform. She looked ordinary overall, but her round eyes were trembling, and her lips were quivering, indicating that she hadn't yet accepted the reality. I could understand her feelings, but I decided to activate the Third Eye to check her status. I would only select the necessary information for now…

< User Information (Player Status) >

1. Name: Lee Bo-rim (0 years)

2. Gender: Female (27)

3. Height · Weight: 164.7cm · 58.3kg

4. Alignment: Neutral · Chaos

[Strength 5] [Endurance 8] [Agility 11] [Health 7] [Magic 9] [Luck 11]

(No remaining ability points.)

‘Wow.’

I laughed bitterly and immediately closed her user information window. Initial abilities are influenced by physical attributes, but more importantly, they are multiplied by the user's potential. In other words, being female doesn't necessarily mean lower physical abilities than males.

However, Lee Bo-rim's potential is extremely low. Saving such a user and bringing her into the Hollow Plain would be useless by my standards.

As a side note, after entering the Hollow Plain and starting training, abilities improve rapidly in the early stages. I can't improve my abilities through training because my current body has reached its limit, but normal users don't have such limitations. Even considering this, users who will achieve a certain level in the future can be identified. But this person… what is she even…

I clicked my tongue and turned my gaze to the next person. The next targets were the siblings sitting close together. The male looked young but had a frowning expression, indicating a sharp personality. He seemed younger than me and had a cocky attitude, suggesting he was a successful type. A long sword and a shield were on the ground near them, which was a good choice.

The female was clinging to the male, a sight that would make single people feel uncomfortable… Oh, they were siblings. She had her head bowed, so I couldn't see her face clearly, but she looked much more well-behaved than her brother.

< User Information (Player Status) >

1. Name: Ahn Hyun (0 years)

2. Gender: Male (22)

3. Height · Weight: 178.8cm · 73.2kg

4. Alignment: True · Neutral

[Strength 48] [Endurance 47] [Agility 52] [Health 51] [Magic 35] [Luck 56]

(No remaining ability points.)

< User Information (Player Status) >

1. Name: Ahn Sol (0 years)

2. Gender: Female (19)

3. Height · Weight: 160.1cm · 45.2kg

4. Alignment: Lawful · Good

[Strength 8] [Endurance 17] [Agility 15] [Health 21] [Magic 75] [Luck 100]

(No remaining ability points.)

‘What the hell, what is this? Starting with 75 magic? 100 luck?’

Abnormal abilities. I almost gasped but managed to prevent a disaster by tightly closing my lips.

Strictly speaking, Ahn Hyun was a talent. Assuming he doesn't encounter any special situations, he can easily pass the Rite of Passage and has the potential to survive in the Hollow Plain. His starting abilities were even higher than mine, which was a bit frustrating.

In any case, Ahn Hyun's abilities were decent, and I could think, "That's possible."

What truly surprised me was Ahn Sol's abilities. They were absurd. Strength, endurance, agility, and health were not worth mentioning, but starting with 75 magic points and 100 luck points was beyond the norms of the Hollow Plain. I calmly recalled my memories.

‘I don't remember Ahn Hyun… Ahn Sol… Wait, Ahn Sol? Sol?’

The moment I thought of the name Sol, a secret class I saw during the class selection came to mind.

In the first round of the Hollow Plain, there was a secret class called the Radiant Priest. It was known as the ultimate priest class. A user named Sol obtained this class and was later recruited by the Odin Clan, which gathered the best users.

Ahn Sol and Sol. The names are the same, and her abilities alone suggest a high possibility. Since they are siblings, it's likely that both should be saved. Compared to the bank employee Lee Bo-rim, they had abilities that made them worthy companions.

The impact of the first two was so strong that I decided to check the others in a counterclockwise direction. The next two people caught by the Third Eye were two men.

The man on the left was an older man with a good build but a short stature. His slightly curved nose and rough skin gave him a sly appearance. He seemed to be trying to assess the situation by looking around in various directions.

The man on the right was a student in a school uniform. He had a small mole under his eye and a pale complexion, making him look very young. He seemed well-behaved, but he was trembling and hugging his knees with his arms, looking a bit out of place.

‘I don't remember them… Should I check their user information?’

< User Information (Player Status) >

1. Name: Park Dong-geol (0 years)

2. Gender: Male (39)

3. Height · Weight: 173.4cm · 73.2kg

4. Alignment: Devil · Chaos

[Strength 31] [Endurance 26] [Agility 39] [Health 29] [Magic 29] [Luck 7]

(No remaining ability points.)

< User Information (Player Status) >

1. Name: Lee Shin-woo (0 years)

2. Gender: Male (18)

3. Height · Weight: 170.7cm · 58.4kg

4. Alignment: Lawful · Good

[Strength 25] [Endurance 23] [Agility 21] [Health 27] [Magic 35] [Luck 57]

(No remaining ability points.)

Compared to Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol, Park Dong-geol and Lee Shin-woo's abilities were not bad, but they were not particularly good either.

Park Dong-geol's basic abilities were sufficient to survive the Rite of Passage. However, his alignment was a concern. The combination of Evil and Chaos is rare, suggesting that he was likely a criminal in the modern world and has a high chance of becoming a ‘vagrant’ in the Hollow Plain.

On the other hand, Lee Shin-woo's abilities were slightly insufficient to pass the Rite of Passage, but his magic was decent. His luck, considering he just started, showed high potential. The combination of Lawful and Good is also rare, indicating that he is likely a naturally good person.

Everyone except me and Park Dong-geol was focused on themselves or the person next to them. Park Dong-geol's eyes were filled with unpleasant desire. His greedy gaze was mostly fixed on the women. I had seen this kind of look thousands of times and had once had such a look myself. I could roughly guess the nature of his desire. And based on my guess, if he was a criminal, I could imagine what kind of crime he might have committed.

Seeing him licking his lips while looking at Ahn Sol, who was next to Ahn Hyun, confirmed my suspicions. While I don't particularly want to criticize him now, I can't help but find him pitiful.

I clicked my tongue and was about to activate the Third Eye on the remaining two women when—

"Damn it."

Park Dong-geol's gruff voice echoed strongly in the clearing.

============================ Author's Note ============================

1. Adjusted the abilities of Park Dong-geol and Lee Shin-woo.

2. Corrected typos and refined the context.