Chapter 4: Test Halfway x Where Did This Tsundere Come From
Luo Lin teased Leorio for a bit, but then stopped bothering him.
Although Leorio had pushed past his limits, his stamina clearly wasn't enough to allow him to chat while running.
Another hour passed.
The first part of the Hunter Exam had now been going on for six hours, and all the candidates had been running in the underground tunnel for six hours as well.
As for the distance, Luo Lin's experience points had just reached eight.
The total distance was now over 80 kilometers—about the length of two full marathons.
It had to be said, because of nen, the human limits in the Hunter world were far higher than in Luo Lin's previous life.
Even people who hadn't learned nen possessed a slight amount of life energy that nourished their bodies.
Ordinary people might not notice it, but anyone with a little potential and a strong will could easily surpass normal human physical capabilities by training.
And there was no doubt that all the candidates in the Hunter Exam belonged to this category.
After running over 80 kilometers, only one chubby candidate had been eliminated so far, breaking down mentally after being outsmarted.
Everyone else had persisted.
However…
"The first elimination point is here."
Luo Lin looked ahead and saw that the flat tunnel suddenly transitioned into a steep staircase.
After the grueling 80-kilometer, no-break run, the second stage of the first half of the exam—the stair climb—was about to begin.
From what he recalled about the restaurant elevator earlier, this tunnel had to be at least 100 floors underground.
And however much higher the exit was than the entrance, the stairs would need to match that.
Luo Lin could already hear several candidates who lacked confidence groaning.
Of course, despite their complaints, no one gave up at the entrance to the stairs.
Luo Lin, unfazed, jogged up the stairs.
His upgraded physical condition was nothing short of absurd.
At this level of stamina expenditure, Luo Lin felt like he could keep running all day.
As he sidestepped a candidate who had collapsed to rest on the stairs, Luo Lin noticed a long knife lying next to another candidate further ahead.
He paused for a moment, then casually picked it up as he passed.
Sigh!
They were all so tired.
He figured he could be kind and help relieve this person of some of their burden.
Maybe without the extra weight, they'd be able to finish the climb!
Luo Lin almost felt moved by his own kindness.
Compared to the first half's 80-kilometer run, the second half's stair climb eliminated more candidates but took less time.
In just a little over ten minutes, Luo Lin saw the light at the tunnel's exit.
"We're here!"
Luo Lin burst out of the tunnel and into a wide clearing, where the examiner and several early-arriving candidates had already gathered.
Off in the distance, the area was shrouded in thick fog, making it hard to see clearly.
Perhaps Satotsu had timed it perfectly, as just when the door at the top of the stairs closed behind them, the impenetrable fog in front of them began to dissipate.
What appeared before the candidates was a vast, seemingly endless forest.
From a distance, even the rolling mountains were green, and many of the candidates were momentarily stunned.
Their first thought was, Are we really going to have to cross this forest next?
"We're about to enter the Visca Wetlands, also known as the Swindler's Nest…"
Satotsu's voice rang out, confirming the candidates' uneasy suspicions.
Although none of them wanted this to be true, their wishes clearly had no effect on Satotsu's plans.
They heard Satotsu continue, "The strange beasts that inhabit these wetlands are cunning and will use any means necessary to deceive their prey before devouring them.
If you fall for their tricks, it will cost you your life.
So, please stay close behind me."
"The examiner's warning is strange.
He's telling us we'll be tricked, but what kind of idiot would fall for something like that?"
Leorio, now shirtless, scoffed from the side.
"Don't get tricked—"
"I just said we wouldn't fall for it!"
A sudden shout startled Leorio, and he instinctively turned to respond.
The other candidates were also curious and looked toward the source of the shout.
From the side of the tunnel exit, a battered young man staggered out, dragging a strange creature with a monkey's body and a human-like face.
"He's a fake examiner!"
The battered youth shouted as he twisted the creature's face toward the group.
A murmur spread through the crowd of candidates.
The creature's face bore an eerie resemblance to Satotsu's—at least an 80% match.
"What's going on?"
"That monkey looks exactly like the examiner!"
The battered youth then began explaining in a dramatic tone.
"These are Human-Faced Apes, a species of strange beast that lives in the Visca Wetlands.
They love human flesh, but their limbs are too weak to catch prey on their own.
So they disguise themselves as humans to lure people into the wetlands, where they collaborate with other creatures to capture their prey!"
"Is that true?"
"No way!"
Once again, the candidates buzzed with confusion.
Some even started looking suspiciously at Satotsu.
Among them…
"Of course! That bastard…"
Leorio wore an I knew it expression as he glared at Satotsu, clearly ready to attack at any moment.
As the candidates grew more restless, a faint smirk flashed across the battered youth's face.
But then…
Swish, swish, swish—
Three playing cards suddenly flew from the distance, two stabbing into the youth's chest and one piercing his forehead, killing him instantly.
At the same time…
Satotsu casually caught three identical cards that had been aimed at his head and chest.
"That's the Mozambique Drill!"
Luo Lin observed the scene with interest.
Though he wasn't a military buff, as an avid reader, he vaguely recalled coming across the term.
Two shots to the chest and one to the head—a close-quarters shooting technique designed to neutralize a target quickly and effectively, sometimes permanently.
However…
It seemed Luo Lin's upgraded body deserved another compliment!
He had just been able to clearly see the moment Hisoka had made his move.
Luo Lin even felt that if the cards had been aimed at him, he might have been able to dodge them.
Of course, catching them like Satotsu had?
Luo Lin wasn't sure about that.
"The correct answer has been revealed!"
Hisoka chuckled as he twirled a card in his hand.
It was clear that the cards aimed at both the fake examiner and Satotsu had been Hisoka's doing.
"The examiners for the Hunter Exam are all professional Hunters appointed by the Review Committee.
As our goal, it would be impossible for someone of their level to fall for something like this."
Hisoka smiled mischievously.
"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment."
Satotsu tossed the cards aside and, expressionless, said,
"From now on, if anyone attacks me for any reason, I will immediately disqualify them. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Hisoka chuckled without a care.
At that moment, several vultures descended from the sky and began feasting on the dead youth's body.
Many of the candidates froze at the sight.
"That's the fate of those who fail.
It's simply the law of the jungle."
Satotsu said indifferently.
"I assume his plan was to create chaos and pick off a few candidates as prey."
"Many of you were probably already fooled.
Incidents like this happen constantly in this forest, so please be extremely cautious."
With Satotsu's words, many candidates nervously laughed at themselves.
Including one in particular…
"As if!
We knew someone was going to try and trick us—there's no way anyone would be dumb enough to fall for it!"
Luo Lin stood next to Leorio with a righteous expression.
Leorio's face flushed red, and he shouted, "Unbelievable!"
Luo Lin: "…"
What the heck? Where did this tsundere come from?