Column (Ch20- Irregular treatment)

Written by - Silver Crown

Ch - 20 Irregular treatment

The two instructors are giving out scrolls into the hands of elite disciples who arrived orderly in front of them. It looked like some sort of graduation ceremony. By the way, how did those scrolls pop out of their hands? I think they put them inside their sleeves but there are over a hundred disciples still waiting in line.

'Is that legendary universe-size pocket under the sleeve?' I thought.

When I was thinking about how two instructors conjured the scrolls, my eyes caught the first two elite disciples arriving in front of us. They are stopped some distance away from the first role. Both of them are males and they don't have any weird characteristics like four arms, strange eyes, or tails. They stood a little distance away from the first role and opened the scrolls in their hand. One scroll released white rays of light whereas the other released black. Each ray landed on a random labor disciple. The chosen labor disciples have black or white symbols above their heads. They followed elite disciples who had the same symbol and left the field.

What a very convenient method! No need to know the names and no need to call out. Less time-consuming and super efficient.

The remaining elite disciples came in a pair and repeated the same scenario. Each takes six or seven labor disciples under their wings. The disciples around me were chosen one after another.

Another one...And another one...

Within a short time, there are no elite disciples left and almost every labor disciple has already left the field. However, there is only one person still standing on the field.

'Don't you know? I'm still standing better than I ever did. Looking like a Doom survivor. Feeling like an unwanted sh*t.' (ps: Doom is the first-person shooter game's name from 1993, Original meme song 'I'm still standing by Elton John').

I don't know if it was some kind of bullying or discrimination. Well, since they know my secret, they probably mark me as a special case. Maybe they will dispatch a personal mentor to teach and monitor me.

'Guess I have to ask the instructor about it.'

When I was about to leave, another batch of elite disciples came into the field. Followed by them were thousands of bald people. I assumed they were new labor disciples.

I lined up together with them. The same elder comes up on the stage and gave nearly the same speech as before. They used the same drill using Scrolls that bust out white and black rays for choosing. The only difference from the first group is strange characteristics like tails or scales on the body of both elites and labor disciples of this batch. Of course, I was still left alone after all of this finished.

I sighed and sat on the grass field I'm currently standing. The grasses are soft yet strong. They didn't snap or uproot easily by my hand. The third batch comes. They looked at me with weird expressions. When the elder shows up, I stood up and listened to the same speech for the third time. I felt like I wouldn't be chosen at this time too.

Since I was bored, I looked at people around me to endure elder speech. Then, I saw a scene that made my eyes got widened. I saw a familiar face of a man from my previous world. Isn't that the most educated and talented man on my previous planet? In his career, he's been a doctor, a news anchor, a pizza delivery man, an engineer, a businessman, a policeman, etc. He is basically the jack of all trades. The one and only 'Johnny S*n'.

Does it mean he got transmigrated too? Has his job changed again and become a cultivator? It seems like that person got chilled by my intense scrutinizing gaze. Don't worry I don't mean any harm. Just don't show up together with my cousin sister or woman around me then we are fine. I shivered just imagining the possible scenario.

Maybe it was just a similar look but I don't take chances. I already transmigrated why others can't be? Who could say why your heart cries? When your love lies? Only time. (Original meme song, Only Time by Enya)

While I was in a Mexican stand with my supposed 'Johnny', a boy standing beside me patted my shoulder.

"Brother, you are chosen." He said while pointing to the symbol floating above my head.

"Eh?"

I was surprised and looked above my head. Then, I saw a black yin symbol floating above me. When I walked out of the line and peered into my group, I found out our mentor is a tall young lady. She has a prominent jawline and a slender neck. Her fox-like eyes are slim, yet the glints in her eyes make the gaze a lot sharper. Long story short, her look is a little pretty but a lot more strict and scary. I also looked out for our member's features and members count.

'One, two,.., four, seven', I counted it out in my mind.

Out of seven people, only I and another boy are normal human males. Others are young girls with unique physical characteristics.

I didn't have the time to observe every individual of our members. Our elite disciple led the group out of the assembly field as soon as we gathered before her. Because of our high difference, we looked like a mother duck leading her children. I was only a slightly bigger duckling. After following her for a bit, she led us into the hall arranged with many long tables and benches.

"This place is called the cafeteria. From today onwards, you guys will be having meals at this place."

She picked up a tray while talking.

"You all can finally say goodbye to the bitter pills you had consumed throughout the voyage till now. Choose what you want to have."

She then pointed to the counter.

"There are four different sets of meals. Put your meal coupon on the desired set."

"Don't worry. You can get refills if you want more but I don't suggest you get bloated. Eating more than you can digest is more troublesome than slight hunger." She said while looking at our faces.

"If you don't have a ticket, you can buy one there with merit points or spirit stones." She pointed her index finger toward another counter.

"I must warn you first. The exchange rate here is costly. Meal coupons can be easily obtained by doing daily assigned work in the mission hall."

"If any of you don't have a coupon, raise your hand," She said. Seeing none of us raise our hands she continued,

"If you don't know the type of food or find unfamiliar dishes, ask the head politely. Now, take your tray and queue at my back."

"I'll show you the way." She waited for us to line up and then she headed to the food counter.

We followed behind her and saw how she did it. She went to the first counter and asked what kind of dish they cooked. After listening for a while, she gave her thanks and left for another counter. She stopped at the third counter. Then, she put her tray on the counter and gave the staff a ticket. The kitchen staff put her tray into the cleaner while giving her a new tray filled with food. She carried her tray and came to us.

"This is how you do it. Maintain your order. Pick your food and come to that table, get it?" She pointed to a certain long table. We nodded our heads.

"There will be punishment if you make a commotion,"

She went to the table after saying those words. She sat at the head of the tables while we occupied her left and right seats. I sat at the end of the right seat. Face to face with another boy and a girl with animal ears and tails beside me. When everyone sat on their seats and put our trays full of food on the table, she picked up her chopsticks.

"Clean your hands with those towels in front of you. It is your first day so I will not explain the rigid table manners."

"By Chopstick, by tongue or by hand. Eat with the method you prefer."

For the first time in my life, I saw how others can eat differently. As soon as the elite disciple gave her permission, the doggo beside me wiped her hands with lightning speed and started devouring her food. I almost dropped my jaw on the floor after seeing how she ate. She grabbed the tray and chomped down the food by lowering her head. After ripping apart the food, she pulled up her greasy face and chewed. Her ears picked up and looked around with a vigilant look. Like anyone who wanted to eat her food must cross over her dead body. After she swallowed what was in her mouth, she plunged her head down again.

Apart from the elite disciple sister, other people are not fairing well either. The most elegant one is stabbing her food with chopsticks and eating them like skewers. I just shook away my culture shock and ate my food without minding them anymore.