Chapter 242: Auren’s Challenge

Seeing that Netero wants to talk about the Exam, Auren focuses, not intending to be humiliated or just seen as a naive kid.“In any case, this year’s exam will have six phases. You’re left with the first exam. Since the exam is starting soon, I’d recommend starting to work out the specifics soon,” Netero informs him.

“Hehe, I could help you, little brat,” Biscuit says, looking smug, as she raises her face.

“I get the first one?” Auren wonders, ignoring Biscuit. “I already thought of something, so I don’t need any help. Though I’d still be grateful for feedback if I’m off the mark.”

“Really?” Biscuit wonders, crossing her arms. “Do you want the candidates to act as pickpockets and compete on who can rob the most cute girls?”

“It would be refreshing to see a few cute girls since I haven’t seen any for quite a while,” Auren says, smirking back at Biscuit.

“I gotta say...” Morel mutters behind Netero. “You invited someone crazy... not backing down in front of Biscuit....”

“Hoho,” Netero laughs. “It looks like hanging out with me has not only sharpened his skills, but also his tongue.”

“His skills?” Knov wonders, raising an eyebrow, yet keeping his stoic expression.

“I taught him a little, though he has already achieved what I wanted him to... truly a monster. There is not much anyone can teach this kid anymore,” Netero explains, cleaning his ear with his pinky, before blowing the wax away.

Disgusting...

“I wasn’t quite sure since Battle Olympia is not an accurate way to measure someone’s strength...” Knov says, “but it seems like he is genuinely strong, if even you are impressed, Chairman.”

Meanwhile, Morel just rubs the back of his head, still not saying anything, quietly observing the situation.

“So what do you want to do with our cute candidates, my cutie?” Cutie asks Auren, winking at him playfully.

“How about a marathon through the Gordeau desert... during the cool night? Lasting way into the next day, of course.” Auren suggests. “Since we have some time left, I also want to prepare some weighted vests that can be adjusted properly. I’d prefer it if we could fill them with something like weights or maybe sand... even better if that sand could be dyed, just to make sure they don’t cheat.”

“Weights are unfair!” Biscuit immediately says. “Not everyone is a brute like you.”

“I am a brute?” Auren wonders, deciding not to argue back this time to proceed with his explanation.

Clearly, you are the brute....

“In any case, I am talking about adjustable weights... I was aiming to weigh each candidate individually and then have them carry their own weight. That’s pretty tough, but still doable and also guarantees fairness. Then I want to aim for a Marathon... but it will have a little twist.”

“What kind of twist?” Netero asks. “It sounds a little boring to me without it, so it better be good.”

“The Marathon has no goal. I just want to have one examiner running ahead and one following behind. Obviously, I’m one of them. The candidates must run between the two examiners, who will speed up and slow down at random intervals without warning. If they fall behind or through their own stupidity, pass the frontrunner, they’ll immediately get disqualified. There will be stages where the candidates need to sprint at full speed. Sometimes they need to move slowly... almost walk... and then run without preparation. They won’t be able to find any rhythm like that at all.“

“As I mentioned, the twist is that the Marathon has no goal, at least not in terms of distance. I need to find a highway through the Gordeau desert and then map out a suitable course that circles through a challenging route. Part flat desert, part cliff, part highway. It will end exactly 10 minutes after at least two-thirds of the candidates have dropped out. Of course, I won’t tell them that. If we have an unexpectedly large number of candidates participating, I can raise that percentage as required and adjust it on the fly,” Auren explains.

“You’re quite smart, Auren. I rather like it,” Morel says, giving him a thumbs up.

“Acceptable,” Knov adds.

“Not cute enough, but I guess that way I’ll be even cuter. I agree as well!” Cutie comments, winking at Auren.

“...” Biscuit crosses her arms. “Fine.” She mutters quietly.

“It looks like you have everyone’s approval,” Netero says, nodding. “It’s a little simple, but not every exam needs to be complicated, especially not the first one.”

“It’s rather twisted, exactly like the Hunter exam always was,” Morel says, laughing. “It challenges their mind as well as their bodies.”

“It isn’t too difficult... even those who aren’t that strong still have a chance. They just need to be fitter than two-thirds of all examinees. That’s not something too difficult for someone who wants to pass, right?” Auren asks, shrugging.

“Hmmm...” Netero hums. “I planned on guiding and quizzing you for the day, but I can’t find any obvious fault with your exam. Fine... I’ll have the men prepare everything. It’s a fine choice and tests different aspects a Hunter requires. Decision-making, mental strength, physical strength. It also guarantees enough people actually move on, while a large part gets filtered out.”

While Biscuit pouts, she doesn’t argue, seemingly not completely against Auren’s choice of exam.

“How about your exams?” Auren asks.

“Hmph,” Biscuit grunts. “No telling!”

“...” She then, along with Cutie, who blows Auren a kiss, leaves the room.

This creepy woman will haunt my nightmares.... I’d rather dream about Pariston than her.

“How about we go for a drink?” Morel suggests to Knov.

“Sure,” Knov replies.

“You coming as well? Chairman? Little monster?” Morel asks, looking toward Auren and Netero.

“Hoho, I guess I can’t be too mean to my students,” Netero says, nodding.

“Might as well... I need a break from that mental torture from the last weeks,” Auren replies, stretching his arms.

“Too young! You are way too young,” Netero yells. “Well, you can drink a glass of juice with us, I guess.”

“How about I piss in your glass, old man?” Auren asks, grinning.

Netero laughs again and smiles at Auren. “You can give it a try, but it might be your juice that ends up tasting weird.”

“I feel slightly uncomfortable with this atmosphere,” Knov points out, adjusting his glasses, while Morel looks visibly confused.

After spending a few days and nights with Netero and the others, the four Single-Star Hunters, Biscuit the Double-Star Hunter, and finally Netero complete the preparations for their respective exams. Of course, a lot of assistants, clerks, and Hunter Association employees take charge of logistics. In fact, nearly a hundred people are working hard to ensure the exam goes as planned.

In addition to that, the hundreds and thousands of unofficial examiners, enacting pre-screenings, are also in contact with the Employees. These people are friends or acquaintances of the Association or various hunters. Every one of them receives a small stipend in return.

The various websites run by the Association have also been organised and updated, and a bit of information has been released through the official channels, hinting at the first exam’s location. Through various riddles and tasks requiring physical presence, the candidates, either on their own, through navigators, or through extremely unlikely means, such as luck, are able to reach the exam site. The gathering spot is on a specific hill in the Gordeau Desert, relatively hard to find, but still reasonably easy to reach.

Of course, Auren immediately informs Neffi and tells her everything, not even hesitating for a second.

To Auren’s surprise, quite a few additional Hunters show up as the exam draws closer.

While talking with Knov and Morel, he is surprised when a few familiar Hunters approach them.

“Hey... that’s Auren!” One of them, Knuckle, yells, pointing at him. “Are you joining us in helping out with the exam? I guess we all need to do it at some point, hehe, especially if our own masters are the examiners.”

“Not quite,” Auren says, shrugging slightly. “I recently got a promotion... I’m the examiner for the first phase.”

“What?!” Knuckle yells, stomping on the ground. “This... but you are so young!”

“It’s not surprising,” Shoot says quietly from behind, making Knuckle stop, as if deep in thought. “You should know why....”

“Indeed...” Knuckle says, until a gloomy atmosphere appears from behind him.

A black-haired woman, with extremely unruly, frankly ugly hair, approaches. She wears a simple, roughed-up dress, and her arms are covered in white bandages.

While she glares at Knuckle and Shoot, her expression immediately softens as she spots Knov.

“Master...” she says, now looking shy.

“You don’t plan on having her participate... are you insane?” Knuckle yells, while the others, even Shoot, look clearly worried.

I kinda agree... she doesn’t seem mentally stable. If she is an exmainer... wouldn’t surprise me if something bad happens.

Finally, on January 7th, the sun is still up, Auren stands on the specified hill in the Gordeau desert, crates filled with weighted vests standing next to him, along with 10 Hunters, including Knuckle, Shoot, and Palm, all wearing black suits.