ch41-ch60 · 050-ch50

Chapter 50: Hunter Exam 2

'The first test is over. We will now announce the tabulation results and those who passed the primary exam. Please check the electronic bulletin board for results —'

When the announcement that the first test was over came, the tension enveloping the venue seemed to relax.

"How was it?"

'With the three of them, probably no good.'

"Yeah, I figured..."

So Lumiel noticed too... The fine-tuning is still tough.

Still, in terms of the test objective — neutralizing the target — I should have passed.

I should have, right?

Numbers lined up on the electronic bulletin board.

If your number was there, you passed — meaning you qualified.

"Oh, my number's there."

If the blank spaces between numbers are the failures, it looks like about 80% passed.

"The hell is this!!"

A roar rang through the exam venue.

A large male examinee was confronting an examiner.

"This judgment is bullshit! I took down three, didn't I!? Why am I failing!"

"Your defeat of three is confirmed. However, before that, you sustained fatal wounds ten times. It seems you weren't aware."

"That's just attacks that happened to hit fatal spots by chance, right!? My 'sleeper hold' is unbeatable in one-on-one!"

"What we took issue with is not the quality of your skill, but your personality trait of 'not being able to see your surroundings until the enemy is eliminated.'"

The entire venue was watching with bated breath.

The examiner refuted with perfect calm.

"Being a Hunter is a dangerous job. But the most important thing is 'your life.'"

The examiner raised his voice as if speaking not just to him, but to everyone who failed.

"Not fearing death is one kind of talent. But as long as the World Clock exists, the people will remain under threat. A dead Hunter can't save anyone anymore."

At the examiner's words, the man was at a loss. But unable to accept it, he raised his voice further.

"In the field, getting hurt is part of the job! If I can wipe out the monsters, that should be enough! I can do that!"

The examiner turned a cold gaze toward the man.

"World Clock subjugation requires organizational tactics and a thorough survival strategy. Someone who loses their life to a single 'by chance' is nothing but dead weight in the field and a risk that could wipe out an entire team. Regrettably, we cannot entrust any lives to you at present. Please leave."

The examiner's words sounded like a warning to everyone in the venue.

The man's fists trembled, his expression suggesting he might lash out at any moment, but in the end he left with a click of his tongue.

Wouldn't it be scarier if someone like that was let loose without a license? I can't help thinking that, but if they gave him a license, he'd probably use it like a free pass. I hope they keep the screening strict.

Total examinees: 215.

Those who earned passing status: 186.

Looking at the faces of the successful candidates, more of them looked tense from the weight of 'responsibility' the examiner had shoved at them than looked happy.

The afterglow of the results announcement faded like an ebbing tide. After the unsuccessful candidates left, the venue felt wider and colder than before.

"HEEEEEY everyone! Ponta here, from NicoNico Hunter Channel!! Man, I barely made it through the first test, so until the second test —"

Ugh, this guy passed too?

Ponta was dressed the same as when he'd confronted me, greeting a small broadcasting drone.

Wait, is it okay to stream inside the exam venue? Well, they said the exam content changes every time, so maybe it is... He seems way more dangerous than that last guy, but I guess it's fine...?

'Koh, give me your phone.'

"No way, you're just going to go harass his stream."

'...'

I can see right through you, you know.

White cat Lumiel fell silent after that, turning into an ornament that just glared resentfully at Ponta.

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, I noticed a figure standing still right in front of the electronic bulletin board showing the passing numbers.

Their shoulders trembling slightly, they kept looking back and forth between their exam ticket and the board.

At that familiar back, I called out without thinking.

"Mizuki-san? What are you doing here?"

"Hyaa, ah... M-Maeda-san...!?"

Mizuki-san spun around, jumping in surprise.

Her face was completely pale, like she was about to cry.

"What am I doing here... I'm here for the exam. Um, what about you, Maeda-san...? And Lumiel-chan is with you?"

"Well, I've got... haha, various circumstances."

Mizuki-san looked around for Lumiel in her white cat form.

Wait, does this mean she'll find out I'm an underground Hunter?

"More importantly, I had no idea you wanted to be a Hunter, Mizuki-san."

"Well, I'm just an... amateur who's always admired it. But I wanted to know even a little about the place my brother was, so I applied without telling Narashima-san."

She pointed at her number on the board and gave a weak laugh. "Keep it a secret, okay?"

Her number was definitely displayed on the board.

"I guess I passed. What do I do, this isn't a mistake, is it?"

"There's no way it's a mistake. Congratulations on passing the first test!"

"Th-thank you. But..."

After confirming that no other examinees were nearby, she leaned in and lowered her voice even more.

"Um, I really didn't do anything at all! When the goblin appeared, I was so scared my mind went completely blank. I was just telling it 'stay away,' and then the test was over..."

She passed without even realizing it, huh.

Either some kind of miracle happened, or —

"Um, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but what's your skill, Mizuki-san?"

"My skill is 'White Flame' — it's a healing-type, completely useless for attacking..."

Mizuki-san answered without any wariness.

I've heard that healing-type skills are rare and valuable. Potions can supposedly be acquired with some luck when a World Clock opens, but the supply is limited, and ordinary people can hardly get them at all.

"(Maybe they planned to pass her based on rarity? The Hunter Exam probably passes almost everyone except guys who yell at examiners, or weaklings like me, I guess.)"

With a healing skill, she'd have workplaces lining up to recruit her.

"How did you deal with the three goblins?"

"I made white flames like a wall around myself to keep the goblins away, and just sat there trembling until time ran out. I didn't defeat a single one, but I passed..."

I see, she kept the goblins away. That's a valid tactic in its own way.

That examiner's words about "not dying being the most important" — she unconsciously, and perfectly, executed exactly that.

"Mizuki, talented."

"Whoa!"

"Eep!"

Lumiel suddenly appeared with only her face turned back to human, said just that, and reverted to cat form. This mode is creepy... The fact that the Vice President didn't flinch at this makes him impressive.

'Sorry to keep you waiting. We will now begin the second test. Please follow the examiners' guidance to the venue.'

◇◆◆◇◆

We were gathered in a training ground even larger than the previous one.

"It's, um, huge..."

Mizuki-san beside me was speechless.

"The Association building wasn't big enough to house a space this size. So it must be some kind of technology..."

I theorized while listening to the examiner's words.

"The second test is a combined simulation exercise of group combat and disaster relief. A Hunter's job isn't just to defeat enemies. You'll be tested on rational judgment and the ability to protect what must be protected."

The examiner tapped a control panel, and the virtual scenery shifted in real-time. What appeared was a cityscape in ruins, and holograms of citizens calling for help.

The examiner spread out a map and began explaining.

"I'll explain the scenario. A 'World Clock' suddenly appears in an urban area. Along with it, a goblin army emerges. Many civilians who haven't evacuated are left behind. Your mission is two-fold."

1. Safe evacuation and rescue of civilians.

2. Dealing with the goblin army.

"Successful first-test candidates will be divided into teams of three, a total of 62 groups, and transported into the venue. Kill count, rescue count, etc., will also be considered for scoring. Also, note that intentional attacks on other examinees will result in disqualification, while accidental attacks will result in point deductions."

Man, they're throwing something tough at us right out of the gate.

A team with people I don't even know, huh.

"How you coordinate with teammates you've met for the first time in an irregular situation, and how you prioritize — that's what we'll be evaluating as 'Hunter aptitude' above individual combat strength."

Eventually, most Hunters join guilds. They form teams and challenge the World Clock — this is basically practice for that.

"Wh-what do I do..."

"Mizuki-san, I think it might be best for you to avoid fighting goblins as much as possible and focus on healing rescued citizens."

"I'll do that... Ahh, I wish I could be on Maeda-san's team, it'd be reassuring..."

Hmm, that's about a 1.1% chance.

There's no way something like that would —

"It happens, huh."

"Yes! This is reassuring!"

Miraculously, Mizuki-san and I ended up on the same team.

I almost feel like some strange force is at work, but it's easier to coordinate with someone I know.

Looking around, I could see people already introducing themselves and others raising their voices to take the lead.

"You will be given ten minutes for team strategy meetings. After that, teams will be deployed into the exercise area in sequence — that is all."

The 186 examinees began to move, carrying expectations and anxiety.

The problem is the last member of our three-man cell, though...

"Heeeeey everyone! It's Ponta from NicoNico Hunter Channel! The second test is a team battle, so I'm excited. I hope I don't get someone who drags me down too much..."

Yeah, we might be screwed.

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Volume 1 is out now, thanks to all of you! Thank you so much.

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