Chapter 16: First Exam — Hunt! (2)
Hunter and Aimee were swallowed by the blinding green light, just like the other participants.
When everyone disappeared, the arena's floor turned into a wide hologram reflecting various monster nests and mini domains. At the same time, the holograms latched to a few random participants to showcase them to the crowd.
Some newbies were confused and concussed by the sudden teleportation, while some seemed used to it — the latter instantly got to work, beginning to invade the vast nature expanse before them.
Atop the arena, where ten guild leaders and the headmistress were perched in their comfortable seats, those prominent figures tapped their respective holograms, locking a few of them on the names they were aware of.
After all, their descendants, families, friends, or even people they found during their hunting adventurers were participating in this yearly exam. Naturally, with their prestige and status, there was no need to test those people.
However, it was better to check them in this perilous exam on which all could die…
It wasn't just a matter of innate skills… the exam tested more than one's strength.
"I heard Charlotte's little sister is participating in this year's exam… this must be why you made a speech, Celestia. I got surprised even while knowing that! Haha!" Violetta extended her voice and laughter to the black-haired boss who always either slept or filled her guild's papers on this exam.
The boss threw a side glance at the violet-haired headmistress, "About time I get interested in a new blood."
"At last, Celestia! Who is the second one you keep your eyes on? Mind telling me?" Violetta curved her lips into a friendly smile, leaning closer to her friend's chair.
Flicking her second hologram casually, Celestia revealed a silver-haired man with blue eyes, followed by a golden-haired noble woman.
"Oh, he's so cute! Whose attention did he get?"
"Mine."
"Yours?"
Now, it was the headmistress' turn to get bewildered beyond possible means.
A new hologram appeared before her soon enough, reflecting the same man.
Celestia's smile curved slightly as though she was waiting for that moment…
-
Not affected by the teleportation, Hunter and Aimee appeared in the guardian spirit's domain.
As Hunter had seemingly died before and had his soul cresting the silver mountain, he was more than savvy enough with this concept.
Aimee, as a royal descendant, had a domain at her home.
It'd be embarrassing for them if they got light-headed from the teleportation.
"Well, Aimee, how about we just scan the forest first?" Hunter teased the new idea born in his mind.
Seemingly not in a rush to hunt, Aimee smiled at him and replied without any passive aggressive tone, "Be direct with me and speak what's on your mind."
"For someone who has yet to tell me her innate skill, you sure expect a lot of honesty from me. I'm a part of an honest team, so I'll be indeed blunt with you. Look, there's a swarm of hunters in this forest, right? There's absolutely no need for us to track the tracks of monsters and learn about their habits. In the first place, we have only three hours to hunt on top of having to bring the corpse to the mountain's feet," Hunter slyly said with a smile on his face. "We can just follow others and snatch their corpse off them. Simple, right?"
"Sounds like something a powerless villager would do," Aimee genuinely replied, "I agree with the first part of your plan. We can just follow humans. But I won't snatch a corpse. I'll defeat the monster on my own."
"No, you won't," Hunter instantly replied in a sharp tone, "I'm the leader of this party. I'll do what I think is the best for us. Also, just because you are noble doesn't mean you must kill a monster on your own. What if the monster is wounded by others already? Will you give up on it and search for more? I won't allow that. You're either a royalty or a hunter. Think of it as you follow me."
Turning around to search for obvious signs of humans' steps, Hunter went ahead, only to get stopped by Aimee.
"Wait."
"What?"
"You said there's no royal hunter, didn't you?"
"Did I? It might have sounded like that… I agree with that, though."
"You're mistaken… hunting was a royal's privilege in the far past! Only royalties could hunt: their dead preys were their trophies, treasures, and honor! They controlled all dangerous lands and wildlife and were the kings of their turf. Everyone else could only look at their victory trophies on parades with respect, admiration, and jealousy! We, royalties, were hunters before unions were formed… before Lucifer cursed our world! Here's what hunting is to me! I don't want to flaunt myself in beautiful dresses, put up gorgeous portraits in my room, and spar with other royal families with fake amenities! I want to be drowned in blood, return sweaty from hunts, and show the entire royal world monsters and demons that I killed! Get them going to hunt!"
Hunter stared at her with wide eyes.
'What a speech! She has real goals… like… to make an entire royal world start hunting again? I'm on board with that! It will give me more opportunities to hunt alongside queens and princesses… but isn't she damn lying, too?'
Hunter cleared his throat and smiled, "Don't spit bullshit, Aimee."
"What?!" Aimee's throat became wedged with curses and shock.
"Did you forget your royal carriage and tea already?! That tea was too good! And even made us stronger! It's royal stuff, isn't it?! And that carriage of yours! If I didn't get a chance to sit on you and fondle your breast for a few seconds, I would have never sat on anything softer than those comfortable seats! Sit on the ground and compare! You have been royalty ever since you were born, and you can't give up on that!"
"What does that have anything to do with my wish?! I said I want to fight and hunt like a royal hunter!"
"But you know shit about being a hunter! For instance, if your entire team sacrificed themselves to give you a chance to hunt and kill the monster, would you return home with your chin high and get the royal world going, telling them to hunt?!"
Aimee… didn't have any reply to this question.
Hunter dealt the finisher blow, then, "Adaptation! One of my main roles in the village's hunter team was to look out for any potential changes in the monster and environment to adapt and make things easier for us. The world of hunters is not as predictable and fabulous as you think it is. Sometimes, you will only have your true self, not the hunter or royal self! So shut up and follow me! You're now a newbie hunter! My teammate! Your royal self can wait! And in the future, I'll help you with your wish, as I want princesses and queens on my team, too."
"…"
With no reply or reaction, Aimee followed Hunter in his wake.
Hunter inwardly thought of his progress in those three days, 'Meeting the boss, Miss Charlotte, and Miss Layla… and then breaking off my relationship with Anna… must have turned me into a real man. I didn't feel nervous at all while speaking to Aimee! I didn't even blush while telling her about her breast! Hunter… soon, you won't be a cute man in their eyes! You will be him.'
A few seconds later, Hunter halted as something flashed in his eyes.
A small white orb appeared out of nowhere before him.
A mini hologram coalesced above it.
[You have received an item from a sponsor.]
[Black Leather Gloves(B)]
[Sponsor: Leona L. Vergesewhn.]
"Look, the person you admire has sent me an item!"
"…congratulations. You need them as you are as naked as a poor villager."
As the mini white orb landed on Hunter's palm, it unfolded into a pair of new, black gloves.
"You know, I wanted to allude to the word 'naked' and you, but I think I said enough already," Hunter grinned as he eyed his gloves while talking to Aimee.
Behind him, Aimee looked deeply at him, then sighed, "At least you have some conscience."
"Naturally. A man must have a lot of conscience if he wants a lot of women! Because every woman is exceptional and unique in her own way, a man must be broadminded! I am all in for a lot of experiences and opportunities!" Hunter then put the gloves on his hands and shouted, "Thank you, Miss. Leona! I'll pay you back in the future!"
'Hehe, the gloves are like an invitation ticket to another guild leader! I can always use them as an excuse to meet her, and have a good evening! Even if nothing might come out of it, it still should be an enjoyable and new experience!'
Hunter laughed before turning to Aimee, "Now, let's find humans and steal their prey."
Aimee nodded and then rebuked the young man, "Check what the black gloves do… the description should be written in the hologram."
"Right."