2:Passing The Test

[Calculating the results.]

[Host didn't give in to temptation.]

[Host has passed the test.]

[Congratulations, host.]

[Binding to host's consciousness.]

[Scanning host's condition....]

[Multiple bone fractures and concussion in the head detected.]

[It is found that the host is currency unconscious and bound to be paralyzed for the rest of their life.]

[Speeding up recovery.]

[Treating the host's body….]

[Enforcing accelerated metabolism… healing the host's injuries.]

[Waking host's consciousness....]

[Beep...Beep...Beep...]

Evan felt as if his consciousness was being forcefully pulled in.

And when he opened his eyes, he was greeted by an eternal, endless expanse of darkness.

"What is going on? Am I dead? Is this hell or heaven?"

[Host, you are still alive, for now.]

A blue screen flashed before Evan's eyes, displaying a series of notifications, startling him.

"Wait! Aren't you that damned system that caused me to fall?"

[Host, stop accusing me. I saved your life. The previous quest was a trial to test the host's willpower to resist temptation.]

[Host fell because of his excessive bad luck.]

Evan suspiciously stared at the screen for a brief moment.

"Out of all people, why was it me whom you graced with your divine presence?" Evan asked sarcastically.

[It's because of the good deeds and karma of your past life. The Worldly Laws are awarded with this grace but for this, you need to pass the trial which you did by refusing the previous quest.]

Evan frowned, wondering what good deed he had done.

'Worldly Laws...Karma...Doesn't that mean God exists too?'

[God is an abstract for the World Laws that govern all sentient beings. Different beings perceive it in various ways, but in the end, it is all the same.]

"So tell me, what are you going to do?"

[The system's function is to assist the host in reaching the pinnacle.]

[Once you wake up, you will be able to see your stats and skills, which will help you identify your weaknesses and work on them.]

Despite being skeptical about all this bullshit, Evan thought that it won't hurt to give it a try.

And being someone who had already rejected a quest and almost faced death, he figured that he could just reject the task if he found it too troublesome and was seeking death.

'Haa...just as I thought, while I am still trying to get out of all this old shit, another shit has already wrapped in my neck.'

Resigning himself to fate, Evan asked "So now what?"

[Host has been awarded a package gift. Please open the package and then check your status screen.]

"A gift! Of course, I will open it."

DING!

[Received Extreme Comprehension Skills.]

[Received 10kg of Spirit Vitalizing Tea]

[Received the skill: Insight.]

[An additional reward of 1000 $ is given as a tip.]

[A peek at the host background.]

"Wow!"

Evan's eyes lit up at the sight of the rewards, but noticing the word TIP almost made him want to curse.

1000 $ might not seem like much, but it meant a lot to him.

His nation used the rupee and 1 dollar amounted to 80 rupees. 

After working part-time day and night, he had saved 160,000 Rupees which amounted to 2,000 dollars.

It wasn't a gracious amount, but it's better than nothing.

Curbing his excitement, Evan clicked on Extreme Comprehension.

[Extreme Comprehension: Enhances the host's ability to comprehend, understand and memorize.]

[Note: For Extreme Compression to be effective, the system will reboot the host's consciousness.]

"System, what does it mean?" Evan couldn't help but ask.

[Host, it is like self-hypnosis. The human brain is capable of performing numerous miracles. Whenever you sleep, just by recording your goals and objectives and then listening to them when asleep, you will subconsciously pick up habits and change yourself. To make the process as natural as possible with a prolonged benefit, the system will reboot your subconscious by feeding certain words, unlocking your complete potential.]

"Hmmm!''

Evan was aware of this since he had heard of such a phenomenon many times and even used it himself.

Every night, before falling asleep, he mutters to himself that he is strong enough to face any challenge thrown at him but only god knows if it has actually worked.

Evan then moved on to the next item.

[Spirit Vitalizing Tea: Revitalizes and fills one with vitality, cures diseases and smoothens skin.]

"Great!"

Satisfied, Evan clicked on the next one.

[Do you want to peek into the host's life now?]

[Yes] [No]

"I don't know what it is, but why do I have a feeling that this thing might change my life."

After pondering for a moment, he clicked 'YES'.

Swoosh!

The darkness distorted and a movie started playing along with subtitles.

[20 years ago...]

[After birth, taking advantage of a huge commotion, the host was exchanged with another boy.]

[The one who did this took the host and left in an orphanage.]

[The culprit behind this is none other than the one who adopted you.]

"What?"

Evan, who always felt that nothing could shock him, suddenly felt as if his world was turned upside down.

The shock from the revelation was strong enough to make him collapse if he were in the real world.

"Why...No, first tell me who my real parents are?"

He was more curious about his real parents than those cheap stakes.

[Sorry host, this is something you have to find out on your own. But I can give you a hint: your family is one of the wealthiest in the world. The people who took you initially wanted to kill you, but their plans changed at the last moment.]

Evan gritted his teeth upon hearing this.

He felt frustrated rather than happy.

Wealthy parents mean that they have a noble status and to such people, he was nothing but a bottom-dweller villager, someone who disgusted them.

If his parents had been ordinary, even if it was difficult to find them, once found, they would have loved him with all their hearts.

But now….

"I should just bury it in my heart instead of harboring faint hopes."

[Don't be a sad host. I am there to accompany you on this long and lonely journey.]

"Fuck your system."

"Are you sure you're not cursing me to remain lonely all my life?"

[Host, given your bullshit luck, I'm just relaying the best plausible scenario for now.]

Hearing this, Evan almost spat blood.