First Round
Inside the dreamland world, I felt a heavy weight pressed against my chest, almost like a huge mountain crushing my entire body.
My breathing became difficult, and I felt as if I was about to pass out from lack of oxygen.
No, this isn’t a dream. I’m really about to suffocate to death.
My closed eyelids instantly flipped open.
Looking down below my neck, I sighted Janice's two legs lying comfortably over my chest.
No wonder I felt as if I was going to die from lack of oxygen.
Groaning, I pushed the two heavy burdens sideways and sat upright on the bed.
‘What happened to me last night? Did I sleep off while waiting for Janice to fall asleep? Dammit, I couldn't sneak into the emotionless palace at the end.’
The early morning bell reverberated through the entire courtyard. Soon, the instructor's loud voice followed.
“Wake up, girls! It's time to wash up.” The instructor moves around from door to door, waking up the slumbering ladies.
“Ugh, can I sleep a little bit more?” Hearing the loud call, Janice lifted the pillow beside her and pressed it above her head.
Unfortunately for her, she still had to get up under the instructor's command.
By the time everyone was done dressing, the sky outside had already turned bright. We then had a sumptuous breakfast in the dining hall before heading to the gathering hall.
Everyone stood straight in a horizontal line, facing the female instructor who was standing on the high platform.
She then began. “The first stage in choosing the destined bride of the legendary lord will be based on your appearance. As the future queen of the seven realms, you must be naturally endowed as a woman.”
Her eyes kept moving around as she spoke. “That is, there should be fat where the fat should be and lean where the muscle should be. You mustn't be too fat or too skinny. As a result, this stage would be focused on eliminating those who don't fit in that category.”
The female instructor then started to point out. “You, you, you. Out. And you too, out.” She pointed at several people in a second.
My heart began to race as I witnessed this unfold.
Seeing the instructor's gaze landing on me, my whole body was instantly filled with perspiration. I felt breathless at that moment.
Thankfully, it was only for a slight moment before she moved her gaze away to the other ladies.
'Phew.' That was a narrow escape. I flicked away the drops of sweat that had formed a cluster on my forehead.
“That was close.” Janice also patted her chest and breathed out a sigh of relief, seeing that she had also passed the first trial. “I thought she was going to eliminate me.” Her finger trembled as she thought of the cold look of the instructor.
The elimination process took about an hour since the number of participants brought back from the mortal realm was numerous.
“Those of you that I pointed out today are the ones that fail to pass through the next round. Outside, a designated carriage has been arranged for each one of you, with several guards seeing to your protection on your journey back home.” The instructor spoke.
“Since the immortal lords are very benevolent, they've decided to reward each one of you with a bottle of cleansing pills. As for what effect the pill has, you'll find out once you swallow one. That's all I've to say to you.” The instructor finished with her speech.
“What? Are we going home? That's unfair. We walked a long way before we could reach here. Don't tell me all that stress is for nothing.”
“We've only been here for a day. Is this how the immortal realm treats its guests? This is so demeaning of them.”
“That's right. She eliminated me for being too fat. I'm not even that fat. I can't believe the so-called body-shaming also existed in the immortal realm.”
“She said I looked too skinny, and there wasn't flesh where there was supposed to be flesh. You tell me, isn't this flesh? What do you mean by there's no flesh on me? Why don't you just call me a skeleton instead.”
“Damm. Even that ugly thief, Zanillia, passed through the next round. I don't believe that there isn't a conspiracy going on behind closed doors. We demand an explanation.”
“That's right. We demand an explanation for why she wasn't eliminated!”
The ladies clamor.
Hearing my name being dragged into their conversation, my face twisted into a frown.
'These people. They're indeed a devil in human skin.'
Seeing that they were eliminated, they want to drag me down into the abyss with them, not under my watch.
But before I could open my mouth to counter them, a roar suddenly shook the whole ground.
“Enough!” Instructor Mu was truly angered this time.
“Where do you think this place is? Do you think it's the lowly mortal realm you people came from?
The immortal lords are very benevolent to grant each one of you a bottle of cleansing pills, yet you dare to malign them.
Do you people even know how precious a cleansing pill is? Yet, you're here clamoring for an injustice. What freaking injustice?
If you aren't satisfied with my result, you can head over to the second lord and lodge your complaint to him. By then, I've got no idea whether you can salvage your life from the claw of death by then.”
Hearing her last sentence, those whose voices had been louder instantly kept mum. Perhaps they soon realize that here in the immortal realm, they were powerless mortals whose lives could be taken in an instant.
These pampered ladies, who had been enjoying all sorts of care their entire lives, suddenly felt afraid at that moment.
Seeing their frightened expression, I sneered in my heart.
'Tut, tut. Look at them. They're just like a drenched cat.'
Seeing that the situation had been properly contained, instructor Mu turned her gaze to those who passed the first stage. “The twenty of you, follow me to the main hall.”
“Twenty!” Janice sucked in a cold air when she heard the number mentioned. “From a thousand to twenty. I don't think we will survive the next round if we're being eliminated like this.”
“Mhmm.” I nodded, agreeing with her. I sincerely hope that the lady luck I had on me today will stick with me till the end of the trial.
The twenty of us began to move, following after the instructor who had stepped down from the platform.