Chapter 33 …
Trial of the Storm (2)
Some people say this:
What’s the point of having a written test in the Hunter Exam?
With monsters appearing in the world and hunters already busy fighting them, isn’t such a meaningless procedure just blocking the path of truly capable talents?
In fact, quite a few countries around the world issued hunter licenses without any written exam.
This was an era where a powerful hunter equaled national power.
Of course, there were arguments to lower the entry barrier so that even one more high-ranking hunter could emerge.
The debate was so heated that it often dominated politics regardless of party lines.
But all of that was settled by the Association President, who appeared before the National Assembly as an expert witness.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are not here to recruit soldiers.”
“Then why do we even hold the Hunter Exam?”
“To recruit hunters, of course. And hunters don’t shoot arrows with strength alone. They use the wisdom inside here—”
He pointed at his own head, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce the camera lens.
Shinwoo never forgot that gaze—like a dragon glaring down—and neither did he forget the Association President’s words:
Hunting required strength, wisdom, and knowledge combined.
And now, the first trial to become a hunter had just ended.
“Phew…”
As his OMR sheet left his hand, Shinwoo leaned back in his chair with a long sigh.
Only fifty minutes.
If this test could decide the rest of his life, wasn’t that time far too short?
Still, he thought he managed decently.
‘When I realized I’d misaligned my answers on the sheet, my heart nearly stopped…’
Time pressure aside, he had almost instinctively used Calm Mind and Cold Reasoning magic—which would have instantly disqualified him for cheating.
‘That really would’ve been game over.’
As Shinwoo stood up, he noticed Italy (the candidate, not the country) sneaking glances at him. He smirked.
She flinched, then tapped at her temple—telepathy.
‘Guess that would come in handy.’
When he accepted the signal, her voice came rushing in.
I-I wasn’t lying earlier, I swear! But if the examiners saw us passing notes here, it’d cause trouble for both of us, you understand?!
He nodded.
Hehe, good. Things turned out messy, but I’m a woman of my word. And since I like looking after juniors, I’ll get us connected with Hana soon enough.
She rattled off her plan like a machine gun before vanishing from his mind.
‘Well, at least the fiery Italian spirit came through loud and clear.’
Whether that was good or bad, Shinwoo wasn’t sure.
“Ugh, but at least it’s over.”
The proctors began grading the OMR sheets, giving the examinees a break.
The results would be announced later in the evening, with time for appeals if necessary.
No wonder the test site doubled as lodging.
Having cleared one hurdle, Shinwoo decided to relax by checking on his Magic Tower.
Even just watching it gave him strength, like a healing movie.
‘And while I was busy with the exam, the mages were busy too…’
And sure enough—
[Eureka! Mage A has made a breakthrough while researching “Cursed Trap.”]
[Acquired “Black Arrow Lv.1.”]
[Acquired “Magic Trap Lv.1.”]
[Mage A has begun researching “Flight.”]
From Cursed Trap, Mage A discovered two new spells: the offensive curse Black Arrow and the utility spell Magic Trap.
It felt like hitting both jackpot and dud at the same time.
‘Black Arrow… eh, not sure about that one.’
The spell strengthened the caster’s blood and fired it like an arrow. Shinwoo had no desire to use something that literally injured him just to attack.
‘Nope, pain is not my thing.’
So his evaluation of Black Arrow was lukewarm.
But Magic Trap was another story.
It was exactly what he had been hoping for: the ability to inscribe traps with magic.
‘If I combine it with Enchant, the effects could be devastating.’
Enchant imbued objects with magic, and Magic Trap inscribed spells into trap formations. A perfect synergy.
The only drawback: enchantment required mana stones, which made it expensive and still stuck at the research stage.
‘But results will come eventually.’
Having rewarded Mage A with a break at the meditation chamber, Shinwoo set him to researching Flight next.
This was for the future.
Even pro hunters like Oh Hana, who already had a flight spell, still sought out gear like Cheongpung (a wind-based support artifact). That was how critical mobility was.
But since Shinwoo already owed Uncle Cheoljin for the Black Horn, he couldn’t exactly ask for something like Cheongpung on top of it.
And buying one outright? His spine would snap under the cost.
So—research was the only option.
‘Please, A, pull through again.’
As he twirled a marker above his finger (with telekinesis, his hand only pretending to do the work), he chuckled.
Why?
‘Because it looks cool.’
That was reason enough.
Meanwhile, what about Mage B?
[Mage B has returned from “Black Plains (E+).”]
[Mage B has returned from “Black Plains (E+).”]
[Mage B has returned from “Black Plains (E+).”]
‘Exploring, of course.’
Over and over again.
It felt a little like forced labor, but it had to be done.
‘We need materials stockpiled if we’re going to upgrade the labs.’
Plus, he was sniffing around the Gate for more clues about the Orc Lord.
Now B was back, standing guard at the Tower in case anything happened.
‘If orcs attacked again while I was stuck in the exam hall, that’d be a disaster.’
Sure, A alone could handle enemies, but Shinwoo still hated being unable to intervene immediately.
That’s why the Tower’s strongest fighter, B, was on standby.
Not that anything happened.
The Tower was peaceful.
Even Saengsaeng, the plush bear, was just tossing grass from the Plains into the Hellfire Fields and playing with fire.
‘Wait a sec… why is a stuffed toy playing with fire?’
Maybe it was just curiosity. He even looked a little bigger than before… or maybe that was just Shinwoo’s imagination.
‘A growing teddy bear, huh? What’s next, laser beams from the eyes?’
Saengsaeng the Destroyer. The thought alone made Shinwoo grin.
But then he shook his head. Enough distractions—three exams still remained.
‘Coffee run, then.’
The test site, a repurposed closed-down hotel, had two convenience stores inside.
He’d grab something sweet.
But just as Shinwoo rose from his seat, the classroom door banged open and a guy shouted:
“Hey, what did you put for number 10?”
“Five.”
“You idiot! Five’s the answer three times in a row, you should’ve picked something else!”
“Only people who don’t study care about patterns like that.”
“N-no, that’s not—!”
‘Number 10 was 1, actually.’
Shinwoo silently offered condolences.
Still, it was true—some people took the Hunter Exam together as friends.
The classroom soon buzzed with chatter, like high school days all over again.
‘Guess that makes me the kid walking alone to the convenience store since I don’t have friends to compare answers with.’
He decided to call Jiho along the way. Surely he was around here somewhere.
But—
The customer you are trying to reach is unavailable…
“…Not answering?”
Did Jiho already find someone else to check answers with?
Well, he was a class rep type, so maybe.
Still, Shinwoo pictured him crouched in a corner crying after bombing the exam—because he’d actually seen that happen in high school.
‘Our class president used to cry in the flowerbeds all the time.’
So Shinwoo decided to go find him.
* * *
Nope. Couldn’t find him.
‘Damn, this place is huge. And packed with people.’
Instead of Jiho, he ran into someone else.
“Hyung Shinwoo, did you get home safe that day?”
“Oh, Suho! You got home with your dad okay?”
“Of course! No matter how much we drink, Dad and I always make it home.”
Kim Suho.
Son of Kim Taegyun—the famous ‘Iron Wall’ Hunter. Shinwoo had met him at the training center, a bear of a younger brother figure.
He seemed genuinely glad to see Shinwoo again, eyes full of warmth.
“Did you do well on the exam, hyung?”
“Eh, I managed. What about you?”
“Heh, I just aimed for the bare minimum. Haven’t checked my answers yet though.”
“Same here.”
“Then let’s do it together! I’ll grab the answer sheet.”
“Uh…?”
Before Shinwoo could object, Suho dashed off to his classroom and returned with someone else’s test paper.
Probably borrowed from someone confident. Hard to say no to that kind of enthusiasm.
‘Well, as long as we get to Seoul, who cares which road we take.’
So they sat on a bench, the breeze on their faces, and checked answers.
It felt oddly refreshing—he hadn’t even done this back in school.
But because Suho was the son of that Kim Taegyun, whispers started immediately.
“Hey, isn’t that Kim Suho?”
“Holy crap, look at the size of him.”
“His arms are thicker than our thighs.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m no skinny mage like you.”
“Dead man walking, I swear…”
A lot of passersby recognized him. With a build like that, of course he drew attention.
Unfortunately, that attention spilled over to Shinwoo.
“Who’s the guy next to him?”
“Dunno, but he’s amazing at magic. Just looking at him, you can tell his form’s different.”
“If you don’t know him, how do you know that?”
“I saw him cast once—examiner asked him to show a spell. His speed was insane, on another level.”
“Pfft, shows what you know. Casting that fast means it’s all flash, no substance.”
Was that backbiting?
Technically it was diagonal to him, so maybe sidebiting? Whatever it was, they thought he couldn’t hear—but he could, loud and clear.
“Should I go shut them up?” Suho offered.
“Nah. In one ear, out the other. Results come out tonight or tomorrow anyway.”
“…Hah! You’re right. No need to argue, I’ll just prove it with skill.”
“Just… don’t say it out loud next time.”
He cringed at his own words the moment he heard them spoken. Never again.
“Anyway, I’d better track down Jiho. What the hell is he doing, not answering?”
“Maybe he’s at the training rooms?”
“Training rooms?”
“You didn’t know? If you registered early, they rent them out. Not as good as Yongin Training Center, but still.”
“…Had no idea.”
Apparently, there’d even been an announcement on the way here. He must’ve tuned it out while checking his Tower.
‘My ears are basically open windows…’
Sure enough, a message soon came from Jiho—he was in a training room, focused on practice.
So Shinwoo told him to keep at it, and dropped the idea of doing answer checks together.
“Guess those rooms are full now?”
“Yeah, pretty sure they’re all taken.”
“Tch, figures.”
Practicing inside would’ve been ideal, but with the rooms full, he’d have to find another place outdoors.
Just then Suho spoke up.
“Then… want to share my training room? I could use a sparring partner anyway, since I’m a tanker.”
“Suho… are you actually a bear with wings?”
“Wha—am I never escaping this bear thing?”
“Sorry, but look in the mirror.”
“…Oh.”
Some truths had to be spoken, no matter how generous the offer.
Suho drooped, but Shinwoo smiled inwardly.
After all, Suho was the son of Kim Taegyun, trained as a hunter since childhood.
Which meant—
‘This is a chance to watch how a future prospect trains up close.’
Shinwoo’s eyes sparkled with interest.
