Chapter 243: Auren’s Exam—Chased by a Demon

Yawning loudly, Auren stands on the top of the hill, casually chatting with the Hunters behind him.“So how was Battle Olympia? I have to admit that was quite impressive,” a younger male Hunter asks, curiously looking at Auren.

“Get your Floor Master position if you are interested,” Auren says. “It’s quite easy to acquire. With your Nen skills, you’ll be done in a few weeks, and if you’ve proven yourself, you won’t even get challenged by anyone. The cockroaches will always aim for the weakest Floor Masters, and those are usually the ones who use tricks to get ahead. Display true skill and you’ll be feared. A student of mine is planning on doing the same, just make sure to avoid her or I’ll get angry. Don’t think that I’ll relinquish my position in two years, though.”

“You won’t?” the same Hunter asks. “I might as well not bother then, since I don’t plan on getting cut apart by your crazy blade. Even now, I kind of feel sick when I stare at that thing on your waist... that Cleifer guy was quite strong, I couldn’t have beaten him. I am not interested in being a Floor Master either. I don’t want the fame without any sort of benefit.”

“Student?” Palm asks, shyly, hiding herself behind Knuckle. “You already have students...?”

I didn’t notice, but... why has she been avoiding me the last couple of days? It’s a little awkward.

“Yes, I do... in fact...” Auren begins to say, but stops as he senses someone approaching.

Walking up the small hill is a small group of prospective Hunters, each wearing heavy equipment and carrying various weapons, like swords, machetes, knives, and even guns.

“It’s awkward... I should have devised a task where I would only need to step in once the time for gathering is up. Everyone has until midnight to arrive, so we still have quite a few hours of annoying waiting ahead of us. Anyway, I guess it’s time to get to work.”

Another young man sighs. “I guess I’ll take the first shift, handing out badges and asking for names... you guys move already, you need to hand out the vests and measure the candidates’ weight.”

Reluctantly, the Hunter walks toward the Hunter applicants, followed by most of the other Hunters, as well as Auren, who sits down on a stone in the middle of the hill.

As if a switch has been flipped, more and more examinees begin to arrive and gather, curiously observing the scene.

Much like Auren remembers from his own exam, the examinees couldn’t be more diverse and different. However, most of them are indeed male and look physically strong, while a large number of them also carry some sort of weapons, along with backpacks or bags. Apart from that, they seem to come from different cultures, ethnicities, and no single age group is overrepresented.

Using Zetsu, Auren continues to sit on the large rock in the middle of the hill, casually observing the scene while nobody notices him.

However, soon a young woman approaches him.

“Hi there, examiner,” he hears her say in an upbeat voice.

Auren glances at the number 244 attached to her pitch-black clothes—more precisely, her combat gear.

“Examinee 244,” Auren says, smiling slightly. “Please ready yourself, the exam will start fairly soon.”

At least she was smart enough to survey the scene and not arrive as one of the very first candidates... that would have been too obvious.

“Hehe, I will,” he hears Neffi say, as she sits on another rock close by, also using Zetsu.

“Oh, if it isn’t my old friend Auren,” he hears another voice call out, this time a male voice.

Looking toward the speaker, Auren recognizes the man as Shalnark.

“Decided to get the license after all?” Auren asks him.

“It could be useful for future jobs,” Shalnark says, smiling widely. “Also, intelligence gathering is my thing, you know. Didn’t expect you to be an examiner, though.”

Auren shrugs. “You picked a bad year, I suppose.”

“Because of you?” Shalnark asks, his interest piqued.

“No... I’m the least of the examinees' problems. So you shouldn’t worry about the first exam,” Auren declares with a grin. “But honestly, if you can’t pass this exam, the others will be completely hopeless. I can’t promise you anything... this year is quite special as you’ll soon learn.”

“That sounds rather depressing. I hope I didn’t come here just to waste my time. I guess I have to give it my all then,” Shalnark says before turning away.

“Shalnark,” Auren calls out, raising his voice slightly. “A little... request.”

“Yes?” Shalnark asks, turning back, slightly surprised.

“You see that girl over there... you probably remember her,” Auren says, glancing over at Neffi, who’s eating a few snacks while looking around curiously. “I don’t need you to do anything, but do not... target her,” Auren adds in a low, chilling voice.

“Of course not, wouldn’t even dream of it,” Shalnark says, raising his hands lightly in jest.

... I just couldn’t help myself. Neffi would probably be fine... still. I feel a little better now.

Finally, more and more candidates arrive. Auren is slightly astounded by the sheer amount, now numbering at least 500.

Didn’t Netero say the navigators were instructed to be very selective? Maybe because we spread some clues and announced Yorknew as the location. It isn’t impossible to find this place... if you have enough manpower or luck, you can find it.

Finally, at exactly midnight, one of the Hunters approaches Auren. “Exactly 789 candidates. We are done; everyone else will be blocked from approaching.”

“Fine,” Auren says, standing up as the other Hunters gather around him.

He hears countless people whispering, most of them having noticed the movements of the surrounding Hunters and now staring toward the group. Still, a chaotic murmur spreads through the crowd.

Then Auren unleashes his full Aura, not holding back, causing the rock he’s standing on to partially shatter beneath his feet.

Immediately, everyone turns toward Auren, and the people closest to him begin to tremble in fear.

With just a little bit of Aura released, an eerie calm spreads across the area, the Gordeau Desert suddenly as quiet as usual, as if nobody else was there.

Every single participant, excluding Neffi and Shalnark, who remain entirely unaffected, stares at Auren in shock.

Auren then eases up slightly and focuses some Aura into his throat and mouth before speaking with a firm, commanding voice.

“This year’s 285th Hunter Exam starts now. 789 candidates have qualified,” Auren announces.

“I won’t bore you or waste my time talking to you, as most of you will be gone after this stage. It doesn’t matter who I am; you should only focus on one thing: passing my exam. Anyone willing to become a Hunter needs a basic level of strength and endurance. If you don’t even have that, you simply do not qualify and are not wanted,” Auren continues calmly, yet still holding the attention of every single candidate.

“I won’t take any questions or repeat my instructions, so don’t bother trying and listen carefully,” Auren informs them.

“You’ve been given a number plate along with a weighted vest. Wear the vest now and don’t damage it. Anyone caught without it will be disqualified immediately or, later, which will render all your effort in vain. We have many eyes here, so I wouldn’t recommend trying your luck. The rules are simple. You just need to follow me... with one small caveat. One of my assistants, wearing a white cape, will follow behind me. Do not fall behind her, or you’ll be disqualified. Violence or physically attacking anyone else is, of course, forbidden. Many of you are eager, but save that bloodlust for later, alright? Aside from that, two more Hunters with white capes will run to my right and left, respectively. Don’t run past them, or me, for that matter. No more rules, nothing else. Just follow me.”

“That’s all?”

“So easy! Why would people fail? If someone can’t even do that, he doesn’t deserve to be here.”

“The vests are heavy, though... how long can you run with that thing? Maybe a couple of hours?”

“This exam is great! Simple and easy to understand.”

However, Auren suddenly notices a large man approaching him, looking angry, his face filled with hatred.

“This isn’t fair... I’m a damn sumo wrestler, of course, I weigh more than the others! Look at this fucking thing. My vest isn’t a vest, it’s a damn cape!” the man yells, raising his vest, which has been modified by the examiners so he can wear it like a cape.

On closer inspection, multiple vests have been strapped together, making the vest appear a little comedic.

“You should be grateful we modified the vest to fit your size. What else do you want? If you want to be a Hunter, even that little disadvantage shouldn’t be an issue,” Auren responds, not particularly concerned about the man.

Exams will always favor some people. This exam is still fair, I honestly believe that.

“You little bastard! Are you even a Hunter?! I don’t give a crap what you say, how about I just beat you up and pass right now?” the examinee yells, approaching Auren and throwing his vest toward him.

Can’t let it be destroyed or the colored sand....

Auren catches it easily, places it down in front of him and responds, his voice now completely serious.

“10 seconds... that’s all I’m giving you. Make it count.”

“10 seconds? Good, I only need three to deal with you, kid,” the man yells. But the moment he reaches Auren, Auren disappears and reappears behind him, causing the man to crash face-first into the ground.

“That three-second brag cost you...” Auren mutters. “Game over.”

“What the?!”

“I didn’t even see a thing.”

“Did he just teleport?

“Wait... I know this guy! This is Devil Sword Auren... the winner of Battle Olympia!!!”

“Battle Olympia?! The strongest martial artist in the world?!”

“Anyone else with complaints?” Auren asks, looking at the crowd, which immediately turns deathly silent.

“Then follow me. I suggest you pay close attention to the three people beside and behind me.”

Auren, leading the pack, jogs forward, the candidates quickly and excitedly running after him.

Knov and Shoot follow, taking his right and left flanks respectively, leaving a fairly wide area for the examinees to move within.

Finally, a reluctant, extremely depressed Palm follows behind, marking the end of the allowed space for the candidates.

As if chased by a demon, the examinees keep glancing back, looking horrified at the gloomy, almost demonic-looking Palm chasing after them.

It doesn’t take long, in fact, just thirty minutes, before the first candidates begin to look visibly uncomfortable, some of them sweating heavily.

At the front, a few of the examinees run directly behind Auren, smiling brightly, acting as if they’ve already passed.

“Any tips on how to become a swordmaster like yourself, examiner Auren?” one cheeky man asks.

“If you have time to ask questions, I should probably pick up the pace,” Auren replies lightly, not minding the banter too much.

Deciding to be slightly naughty, Auren suddenly accelerates, going from a steady jog to a full sprint.

With a slight delay, the others follow, and even Palm speeds up, far more than Auren, causing the space between them to shrink rapidly and forcing more and more candidates to run as fast as they can just to stay within the allowed zone.

“A demon!”

“HELP ME!”

The candidates yell.

Palm... don’t fuck this up! This is my first exam, if you ruin it....