Kapitel 8: Examination

"Here I am... the Hunter Centre," Lee Seung whispered, his gaze lifting to the top of the skyscraper. He clenched his backpack tightly, steeling himself as he took a deep breath and moved forward.

The lobby buzzed with activity. Just like at the Awakening Company, Hunter managers were scattered around, talking in hushed tones with prospective applicants or inspecting the array of gear displayed behind glass cases. Lee Seung's heart thudded in his chest as he stepped inside, his nerves spiking with each passing second.

'I hope I get approached by one this time,' he thought, feeling an odd mix of anxiety and excitement twist in his stomach. As he entered the gleaming atrium, a sense of panic seized him. He was only sixteen, yet here he was, attempting something that could change—or end—his life in a heartbeat.

Becoming a Hunter?!

Kids his age were either holed up in tutoring centers or helping their parents run family businesses. Meanwhile, he was about to dive headfirst into a world where life and death played a constant game of tug-of-war. The magnitude of his decision settled on his shoulders like a heavy burden.

His eyes scanned the area, pausing at a counter tagged Vanguard Venture. It was only a few meters away, surrounded by various weapons gleaming under the lights—swords, snipers, shotguns, and more. Seung's gaze lingered on the guns, watching a young woman carefully testing one with a steady hand.

'In no time, I'll actually need one of those,' he thought, sighing quietly. The mere thought of holding such a deadly tool in his hand felt surreal. He sighed again and turned his attention to the signs hanging above each section. "Where is the examination room? Oh… there it is—the waiting spot," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

A large screen above him flickered with the words For Applying Hunters, and though no one else was seated in that section, he made his way over and sat down. The minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly until one of the examiners finally appeared, beckoning him forward with a curt nod.

"The examination will begin in a few minutes. Please wait inside," the examiner said, his tone void of any warmth.

Lee Seung hesitated for a split second, his feet rooted to the floor as his mind raced. 'What if I have to fight real monsters in there? Or they shoot lasers at me to test my resistivity?' He shook his head sharply, forcing those thoughts out of his mind. 'Oh hell, let's see how it turns out in the end.'

With a surge of determination, he gripped the door handle and pushed it open with more force than necessary. The door swung inward, and he stepped into a room filled with tense silence.

His breath hitched as his eyes took in the sight before him—a sea of faces, each one more intimidating than the last. Rough-looking men with scars marring their skin, women with eyes sharp as daggers, and a few calm figures who somehow appeared the most threatening of all. They all looked like seasoned veterans, nothing like the naive, wide-eyed kid he felt like.

"Come inside, please," a deep, gravelly voice urged, snapping him out of his daze. Lee Seung swallowed hard, forcing himself to move. His legs felt like lead as he walked past the rows of fierce competitors, trying—and failing—to mask the fear bubbling in his chest.

'So many people…' he thought, shivering slightly as if their stares were knives cutting through his resolve. He mentally kicked himself. 'Taking this exam should've been the last thing I thought of. What if I have to fight one of these monsters disguised as people? I...'

"Hey, Mister! Move it!" A man in a black suit barked, slamming his hand down on the table in front of him. The loud bang made Lee Seung jump, his heart racing even faster. The man's tone softened as he forced a smile, though the sharpness in his eyes remained. "Sit down, will you?"

* * *

"Good day, everyone. I am Yoo Soohyun, a B-rank Hunter, and I'll be your examiner for today," a stern voice cut through the air as a man stepped to the front of the room. His expression was as cold as his voice, and the sharp lines of his face made him look even more unapproachable.

Beside Lee Seung, a man muttered under his breath, "Why's he so stiff and scary? I bet crybabies like you would wet their pants just hearing him talk."

Lee Seung clenched his jaw, but he couldn't deny how accurate that description was. The tension in the room thickened as Yoo Soohyun's gaze swept over the crowd, his brows furrowing.

"All of you should listen carefully because I won't repeat myself," he began. "This examination is divided into two sections: a written section and a speed-thinking section. The written portion will test your fighting experience and decision-making in various scenarios. The speed-thinking test will evaluate your ability to react under pressure. Your overall performance determines your rank as a Hunter. And one last thing—" Yoo Soohyun's voice dropped to a low growl, "—I have zero tolerance for cheating. Break the rules, and you'll never get a chance to become a Hunter again."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as his words sank in.

"Now, the examination will begin."

* * *

At Star High School…

The chatter in the classroom died down as Miss Kim walked to the front, her notes neatly stacked in her arms. "I hope everyone learned a lot from the excursion. Did you?" she asked, her voice bright and cheerful.

"Yes, Miss Kim!" the students chorused back, their enthusiasm filling the room.

Miss Kim smiled warmly, but her expression faltered slightly as she noticed an empty seat at the back of the class. Her eyes lingered there for a moment before she asked, "How long has it been since Seung last came to school?"

Murmurs rippled through the room. 'Who knows?' 'Why would she ask us?' 'Who cares about him?' the students whispered among themselves.

Kang Jinhu, leaning back in his seat with a smirk, called out loudly, "Miss Kim, it seems no one here has anything to say. Maybe it's because Seung practically doesn't exist in our class."

Miss Kim's smile wavered as she ignored the remark and left the room, her thoughts troubled. 'It's unlike him to skip class this often…'

* * *

Back at the Hunter Centre, Lee Seung stared blankly at his question paper, his pen rolling idly between his fingers. His mind was a total blank, no answers forming despite the questions being right in front of him.

Ten minutes had already passed, yet his sheet was still empty.

His eyes drifted back to the first question:

In a dense forest, you encounter a wounded animal. Describe your approach to assessing the situation and deciding whether to intervene, considering factors like safety, ethics, and conservation.

The words swam on the page, jumbling together as anxiety clawed at his chest. Fighting experience? Survival strategies? He had none of that.

The second question wasn't any better:

You stumble upon a hidden cave rumored to house a rare and dangerous creature. How do you proceed in investigating the cave while ensuring your safety and minimizing harm to the creature and its habitat?

Lee Seung dropped his pen with a clatter, burying his face in his hands. 'I have zero experience in this. How am I supposed to answer these?'

When the fast-thinking section began, it didn't feel any different from the written portion—just a barrage of scenarios that left him more and more clueless. His confidence crumbled with every passing minute. 'This is ridiculous. I couldn't answer a single question.'

Finally, the examination ended, and they were all guided back to the waiting room. Lee Seung's hands fidgeted in his lap as he waited, the tension gnawing at him as he glanced around at the other participants. Most of them looked unfazed, while he felt like he was on the verge of collapsing.

Eventually, the examiners returned.

"When I call your name, please step forward," Yoo Soohyun announced, scanning the list in his hand.

...

"Lee Seung."

His name echoed in the room, and his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. He forced his trembling legs to carry him to the front, where a malachite bracelet was handed to him. The digital display flickered to life, revealing his rank:

F-rank Hunter.

Lee Seung stared at the glowing letters, his thoughts swirling. 'F-rank? Well… I can't say I'm surprised,' he mused, hiding a disappointed sigh. Stuffing the bracelet into his bag, he headed back to the lobby, knowing he couldn't dwell on it for long.

Just as he was about to leave the building, a tall man with golden hair styled neatly in a chestnut hue approached him, extending a business card. "Hello, I'm Choi Minho, a Hunter manager. I noticed you're new, and I'm looking to recruit for my guild. Are you interested?"

Lee Seung blinked in surprise, staring at the card before slowly accepting it. "Ye-yes, sir. I'm interested," he stammered, bowing slightly out of habit.

Choi Minho smiled warmly, exuding a relaxed confidence that immediately put Lee Seung at ease. "Great. When would you like to meet up to discuss the contract? How about tonight?"

"Tonight works for me," Lee Seung replied, still slightly dazed by how quickly things were moving.

"Perfect. I'll text you the venue shortly," Choi Minho said as he pulled out his phone. "Mind giving me your number?"

After exchanging contact information, Lee Seung bid him farewell and walked out of the building, his thoughts a jumbled mess. He decided to walk home, letting the cool evening breeze calm his nerves. This was just the beginning, he reminded himself. If he couldn't handle the weight of being a Hunter now, what would he do when faced with real monsters?

His steps grew steadier with each stride. 'Whether I like it or not, I've chosen this path. No more being a crybaby, no more getting bullied. I've become a... HUNTER.'