Just as Hori left the cafeteria to begin her tour around SHO's main branch. Her enthusiasm was immediately killed by a Hataki who happened to pass by.
"Contestant! What are you doing outside the dorm?" The adult Hataki scolded. Apparently, Sabbath Exams participants were not allowed to wander around.
Hori's excitement deflated and she apologized hastily "Ah, I'm sorry sir!"
The Hataki frowned, "This way." He said, leading her back to the female dorm.
As they walked, Hori's gaze wandered, taking in the surroundings. She spotted Haruki and her face lit up with a smile.
"Haruki!" She called out, happy to see her BFF. He enthusiastically waved back.
"That's my friend." she nudged at the Hataki who couldn't care less. Hori skipped towards him, leaving the Hataki behind.
"How was the second trial?" Hori asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"It was crazy tough! My partner got eliminated though, when we saw our remaining time I left him behind and just started breaking the walls."
"I know right? I'm so happy we both managed to pass." She sighed with relief. As they chatted, Hori noticed another familiar face approaching. Hobie, the mute black American boy she was partnered with.
She smiled warmly, "Contestant Hobie!" She called out to the foreigner.
Hobie quickly skipped after hearing his name, he bowed his head, his expression still unreadable.
"Yo." Haruki waved casually, to which Hobie bowed to him as well.
Haruki bent to whisper to Hori, asking if he couldn't talk. She silently nodded. "Oh.... I'm Maru Haruki. Nice to meet you!" He stretched his arm towards Hobie.
Hesitant at first but he shook his hand.
Hori smiled at the two, joy exuding as she was making more and more friends.
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The next day, all remaining participants were found standing before Sir Scott as usual. Ready for the 3rd Trial out of the seven.
"Good morning people! How was your night?" Sir Scott asked with an unusually playful tone. The crowd replied with some excitement, since trial 2 didn't involve death they were feeling quite confident.
"Okay let's cut to the chase! A total of 346 participants were to begin trial 2. However 66 used the Bribery System before it even begun, later during the trial 34 used the Bribery System to skip the trial. Meaning a total of 246 participants actually participated.
"Out of that, 110 people were disqualified for either getting stained with paint or failing to finish the maze in time."
Hori gulped at the Bishops words.
Participants were dropping like flies, at this rate only about 50 would actually become full fledged Priests!
Sir Scott continued.
"With 110 disqualified out of the total 346 participants before, we have exactly 236 participants for Trial 3!" Sir Scott boldly spoke not making a single mistake in his calculations.
The crowd applauded, impressed by his mental math.
Sir Scott smiled behind his black sunshades.
"Alright! I wish you all good luck!" The Bishop grinned then immediately turned serious.
"With this, let the Third Trial.... begin!"
Ting~!
The participants vanished once more.
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Hori opened her eyes to a surprisingly normal environment. "Alright! I didn't pass out!" She patted her head, proud for maintaining consciousness after teleportation.
"Now what do we have here?" She glanced to her left, a black wall. What about her right? Still a black wall...her head tilted up, the sky not visible, blocked by another black wall.
However the road ahead seemed to stretch about 11 meters.
Hori frowned, another seemingly easy trial.
She observed some more and noticed a boring door in front, as well as a mini black shack edged to the wall 4 steps away.
Her face etched with Confusion as she tried understanding her dilemma.
"Psst! Narrator?" She whispered to her left, hoping for the informative voice.
"Narrator?" A male voice replied, echoing from the direction she called. He paused before speaking any further "Ehm, Hori is that you?!" The voice half-yelled.
"Hmm? I know that voice! Haruki?" Hori called out. Haruki was infact at the other side of the black wall, he confirmed that it was him and was surprised Hori stood so close.
She giggled at such a coincidence. Out of the 236 participants for this trial, by fate Haruki was at her left.
"Hori?" Another voice called out. This time female and slightly tired.
"Ah, I know that voice as well! Mrs Takane!" Hori pointed to her left with enthusiasm, as if solving a case. Another coincidence!
Haruki chirped in. "Wait, that pregnant lady is still here?!" He yelled.
Other participants as well started talking causing a noisy atmosphere.
Hori immediately paid attention. The announcer proceeded.
As soon as the Bishop spoke, multiple human holograms manifested amongst every opponent! 10 in front and 10 behind.
"Ahh!" Hori staggered back, she turned and saw they stood behind her as well.
Obviously shocked by the sudden appearance of nearly transparent blue men.
"What is this?" She passed her hands through the closest hologram in front. Hori could not feel its body.
'Such form of technology exists?'
She was skeptic but then astonished, only getting used to animated media last week, now face to face with actual holograms, not like Hori knew they were called that.
"This is pretty cool!" Haruki said from his own divided lane.
All other participants were impressed, just like spy movies SHO actually had holograms!
Hori furrowed her brows from the Bishops harsh tone today.
'Did he fight with auntie Kaori?'
She wondered.
He paused then continued.
Hori nodded as she took in the rules. Getting better at understanding information.
'Such a straight forward trial! Just be patient and wait your turn.' She pounded her fists with this trials simplicity.
"You got that Hori? Just gotta imagine it like waiting in line to buy tickets or something!" Haruki explained further, Hori appreciated his efforts but she already understood.
She looked at the holograms in front and behind her, then at the small black shack. She thought 'Since there's a bathroom, this would take quite some time.'
The key to success in this trial seemed to be not only Patience but Discipline, Endurance and Time Management. Hori would need to wait for her turn, potentially use the bathroom, and avoid jeopardizing her position in line.
With 10 holograms in front and an unknown duration for the trial, Hori's ability to remain calm and focused would be tested. She glanced at the door in front of her, wondering when she'd be able to exit, her concentration was suddenly broken by a a panicked tone.
"Oh no...!" Mrs Takane winced in pain as her hands trembled towards her pregnant belly.
"Are you serious right now?!" She panicked, trying not to slip on the wet surface. Her water broke.
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About 1 minute into the trial, Mrs Takane felt a sudden pain in her abdomen. "Oh no...!" She panicked as her hands trembled to her swollen belly.
"This can't be happening! My EDD isn't until next month...!" Before she knew it, Mrs Takane threw up what ever food consumed. Her bum fell to the floor as she cried in pain. Her adrenaline rose with a mix of fear and anticipation.
Hori heard some grunting from her right. She immediately called out to her friend. "Mrs Takane?! Are you alright?" No reply, only more grunting, this time louder.
The participants in their individual rooms surrounding Mrs Takane's Lane began to panic as well.
Obviously Mr Shiba the announcer noticed from the camera in the room.
"Oh.... shit." He sighed as if expecting this. Slowly nodding left to right with disappointment. He thought to himself.
'I can't blame her tho, the prize money for clearing all trials is really tempting. There wasn't any rule prohibiting participants... criminals, citizens, even pregnant ladies. As long as they signed the participation slip, their allowed to take part!' the Bishop face palmed hard. He tapped a small blue button just beside the large red one used for announcing.
"Requesting immediate medical assistance for door...."
He quickly counted every lane and identified Mrs Takane's.
"Medical assistance for door 102, a participant has gone into labor."
The receiving end was shocked but Mr Shiba cut the call.
He cleaned his circular glasses and reluctantly pressed the announcer button.
Hori gasped, Mrs Takane was in fact in trouble.
Mrs Takane clawed at the ground, her face fermenting to a sour expression, not listening to what the announcer spoke of.
Meadow frowned at what the announcer just said. 'Delivery? Wait, Is someone in labor?!' her face turned to understanding as she remembered Mrs Takane, the pregnant woman Hori introduced her to.
Her worry immediately dispelled. It was her fault for joining the Sabbath Exams, Meadow had no business with her.
Commotion slowly grew in the trial grounds. Mrs Takane couldn't carry out the announcer's orders to open the door. She could barely stop herself from screaming in pain.
Mr Shiba slammed the table hard, the noise echoed through the empty lavish room. Unlike the other trials, the Bishop was the only one present to observe the third.
Before Mr Shiba finished, a loud Thud! Cut him off. It came from Mrs Takane's lane, a knife shaped hand poked out of the black wall to her left. Mrs Takane squinted her eyes, "Ehm, H—Hori?"
As she called out, the arm rapidly tore through the wall, forming a small door. Hori's voice resonated through the wall.
"Mrs Takane, please step back!"
Mrs Takane complied and dragged her bleeding body to the wall, opposite where Hori just tore through.
Mr Shiba's eyes widened, contestant Inori was showing more and more super human feats.
Hori's hands slowly grabbed the cut out wall and forcefully uprooted it from the floor!
She tossed it to the side in her own lane and quickly rushed through the pass she created.
"Mrs Takane?" Hori called out. She immediately held her mouth as she saw the state she was in.
"Mrs Takane are you alright?!"
Hori squatted as she approached.
Mrs Takane was crying in pain, this being her first delivery felt extremely painful.
Mr Shiba ordered.
"Understood!" Hori was about going until Mrs Takane held her hand. "Ehm, Announcer-san? If... if Hori opens the door. Do... do I get eliminated?!" Mrs Takane asked with worry in her watery eyes.
Mr Shiba scolded Mrs Takane.
Hori looked at her with pity, forfeiting this trial would mean Mrs Takane lost hundreds and thousands of yen for the multiple use of the Bribery System.
Hori placed her palm on hers and smiled with reassurance.
Mrs Takane slowly let go, she had no choice. Hori immediately flash stepped to the door and opened it cautiously.
2 Nurses and a doctor, all wearing nose masks and gloves, rushed In with supplies.
The doctor ordered one nurses to calm Mrs Takane down, the other to dip a towel inside water. "You!" He pointed at Hori.
"Y—Yes?" She instinctively saluted.
The doctor handed Hori a pair of gloves and a nose mask as well.
"Go support her head, make sure she's comfortable!" He turned Hori to a nurse and gave her orders.
"Uhm, okay!" Hori hurriedly did so. She laid Mrs Takane's head on her lap. She noticed her hands trembling and immediately brought out hers. Mrs Takane squeezed Hori hard as the doctor told her to push.
Hori didn't understand what was happening. Since Narrator wasn't replying, she asked the nurse in front of her. "Erhm, is Mrs Takane sick?" Hori tapped the nurse with her free left hand.
The nurse didn't reply, so Hori asked again.
"What are you, stupid?! She's having a baby!" The nurse snapped at Hori who was distracting her.
Hori's eyes widened.
"Baby?!" She quickly glanced at Mrs Takane. "Mrs Takane, congratulations!" Hori said holding her hands, her face slowly grew into confusion.
"Wait, is this how babies are born?!" Hori said with panic and disgust seeing all the fluids associated with child birth. Only God knows how she thought babies were born before.
The medical practitioners told Hori to keep quiet, she was distracting them.
In the middle of pushing, Mrs Takane suddenly started lamenting.
"It's all that bastards fault!" She cursed at her deceased husband.
"You gamble your life away! Borrow to keep on going! Now I'm stuck in this mess!"
Her grip tightened on Hori.
"Now I've lost ¥200,000!" Her voice cracking as she wept. "If only I never had this-
Hori immediately covered her mouth with her free left palm, preventing her from cursing her unborn child.
"Mrs Takane, children are gifts from God. You shouldn't lament over your baby!" Hori angrily said bending down. Mrs Takane's eyes all puffy and red from crying.
"Ma'am please continue pushing!" The doctor instructed.
Hori uncovered her mouth and held Mrs Takane's hand. "You can do this!" She encouraged, not knowing what 'Push' actually meant.
Mrs Takane sniffed, seized her crying and gave it her all.
-----------------------
The heart warming sound of a crying newborn filled the trial grounds. The nurses wrapped the child with a large clean towel. Gently handing the infant to its mother.
Hori still looked surprised, a child just came out from her legs. Worried, because it was covered in blood.
Mrs Takane glanced at Hori with a smile. "It's a girl." Hori smiled as well, happy they were both alright.
More medical assistants came through the open door in Mrs Takane's Lane. Carrying a large bed like stretcher. A nurse held the new born for the time being, while 2 men gently carried Mrs Takane to the stretcher. Hori watched in silence, this was the first time she saw something like this.
Her father never taught her about matters of the body, so multiple questions ran through Hori's head.
Before they left, Mrs Takane held Hori's hand, she had removed the gloves given to her.
"Thank you so much." Mrs Takane said whilst crying. If not for her friend 6 years younger than her, she would most likely not have had this child alive.
Hori held her hand as well, telling her everything will be alright, as for her debt, Hori promised to help in someway.
The doctors thanked Hori as well for providing emotional support to the patience, she bowed in response and they finally left.
Mr Shiba pressed the announcer button with a relieved smile.
Narrator - Unbeknownst to Hori, she still needed to get back in line.
"Ah, good morning Narrator, Where have been all this time?"
Hori asked Narrator who seemed to be ignoring her.
"Wait a minute, you're right! I have to get back in line!" Hori scurried to her lane and joined the queue of holographic men.
Narrator - With the sudden problem finally cleared. Hori will now face trial 3.