Chapter 21: LAMPAS Hunter Exam (1)
Today was the third session of the 616th LAMPAS Hunter Exam—the combat assessment.
Current time: 11:30 a.m.
Although there were still thirty minutes until the exam began, the assembly area was already packed.
[Mediale Central Arena]
And that wasn’t just with examinees. Spectators filled the place to the brim.
The stands, which could accommodate hundreds, didn’t have a single empty seat.
“Wow! I’m so excited!”
“They say there are a lot of outstanding upperclassmen this year, right? I wonder what kind of matches we’ll see.”
“Maybe this will be the golden generation, with over ten hunters emerging for the first time in five years!”
The evaluation was not open to the general public.
That exclusivity—being allowed only for a specially selected few—made the authorized spectators’ hearts race with anticipation.
“Ah! I’m so nervous!”
They even felt a subtle sense of camaraderie among themselves.
Originally, the people of LAMPAS were naturally wary of strangers, owing to the shared enemy of mankind: the monstrous beasts.
Not until they were sure someone could be trusted...
But today was different. Today, they exchanged smiles without hesitation whenever their eyes met.
“Hahahaha!”
The LAMPAS Hunter Exam—for LAMPAS citizens, it was a festival.
A day when they could laugh freely without the constant anxiety of death looming near or receiving the obituary of someone they loved.
“Seeing it in person… it’s such an honor!”
“One day, I’m going to take the Hunter Exam too!”
“D-Do you think the Yellow Hunter might show up today?”
Hearts thumped in their chests, filled with excitement and anticipation as they watched the arena—the stage upon which the actors would soon appear.
“Ugh, when will it start...!”
They awaited the birth of those who would soon bring new hope to LAMPAS.
In stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the stands, the mood inside the arena was dire.
“……”
Dozens of people were gathered, yet it was as silent as the grave.
The examinees kept their distance from each other, exchanging occasional wary glances.
‘They're already on guard? This is going to be hard to adjust to.’
Gale, caught in the middle, felt like he was wearing ill-fitting clothes, frowning as he thought to himself.
‘I guess it’s because everyone already knows how the exam will go.’
The procedures for the LAMPAS Hunter Exam had remained unchanged for decades.
So everyone had a rough idea.
Combat assessment… was a tournament.
Only the top ten or so would pass.
That number was a guideline, of course—some years, only one candidate had passed.
‘No one knows what the result will be.’
Not until the exam was over.
Thinking that, a forgotten sensation began creeping up inside him.
Ugh, my stomach… This is not good.
As a mercenary, he'd never been the center of attention like this before.
Even someone as seasoned as Gale couldn’t help but feel nervous in such unfamiliar circumstances.
‘Pull yourself together!’
Smack!
Gale slapped his own cheek. He couldn’t afford to lose his nerve here.
He recalled the advice Elwin had given him the day before.
—Gale, remember. Whatever happens, don’t lose your composure at the exam site.
—The entire evaluation will be watched closely by countless eyes. That’s an equal condition for every examinee. And the organizers—the World Hunter Association—want to select “special” individuals.
—Those who can remain calm and demonstrate their skills in unfamiliar settings—that’s who they’re drawn to.
‘You’ve worked your ass off to get here, Gale. If you don’t give it your all, you’ll regret it. I can do this. I can… I can!’
Taking a deep breath, Gale repeated the mantra, a habit from his mercenary days.
And just like that, his jittery nerves settled.
‘Let’s get used to the environment a bit.’
He slowly scanned the arena where the exam would soon take place.
‘Geez, look at all those people...’
Seeing the packed stands made him feel a bit overwhelmed, so he quickly looked away.
‘Oh. That wall must’ve been installed to protect the spectators.’
The central space where the examinees stood was separated from the audience area by a transparent yet towering wall—letting the outside see in, but not interfering.
‘A type of magical barrier, huh. I’ve really seen it all now.’
Just then—
“Hey, hey! Look over there! That’s Duran the Dual Blade, and Melasa of the Witch Clan... even the genius mage Zeraphe is here!”
Someone muttered in a lowered voice while glancing around at the other examinees.
“Duran’s swordplay is said to be as swift and sharp as a storm, right? And Melasa uses strange, mysterious witchcraft!”
“And Zeraphe? Aside from being proficient in various kinds of magic, his ice spells are supposed to be phenomenal!”
They had probably only glimpsed each other during the second session’s interview, so this was likely the first time they were all seeing one another up close—hence the barely hidden curiosity.
“Hmph, hmph…”
Gale subtly quieted his presence and listened in on the whispering examinees.
Gathering intel on competitors was crucial.
“There’s also Natuia, the spear-wielding merfolk. You know what they say—every one of them is a spear master.”
“And Abito Yully. Youngest participant, but said to be a prodigy. Rumor has it he remembers everything he’s ever seen since birth!”
“Oh, my god! Timur the Crusher is here too! The guy who supposedly split a mountain in half with one strike!”
Among the names being murmured, there were a few Gale recognized.
“Ah, so she’s here too…”
The person they were discreetly eyeing was a woman with lavender hair tied high into a ponytail—Sercia Edelweiss.
“Top entrance and top graduate of Rusram Academy. Straight A’s every semester.”
“...That’s inhuman. Getting perfect scores at Rusram? Is that even possible?”
“But is her combat ability really that strong? I mean, she majored in magic theory, but she’s never shown off her actual skills, has she?”
“Exactly. Maybe her magic’s average? All she’s known for is her messy love life…”
The quiet giggles and mocking tone earned a snort from Gale.
‘Average, my ass. That woman isn’t weak…’
She was calculating—deliberately keeping her skills hidden so the competitors couldn’t gauge her.
“Heh.”
Their eyes briefly met, and she flashed him a seductive smile.
“Ugh.”
Feeling repulsed, Gale grimaced and turned away sharply.
It was like he’d witnessed something vile.
“That fake princess…”
The day he first met Sercia Edelweiss flashed through his mind—when he delivered Elwin’s message to her.
—That guy told me to tell you, “I’ll help you.”
—...He really said that? To me… truly?
—Geez, lady. You think I’m lying in a situation where my life’s on the line? You want me to end up with a bullet piercing my one and only head?
She had looked genuinely stunned, like someone who had heard the most unexpected words at the most unexpected time.
—Did he… say anything else?
—Ah, right. There was one more thing.
—W-What was it!?
—He said, “But prove yourself first.”
Gale hadn’t understood the meaning, but she seemed to, nodding in recognition.
—...Prove myself. I see. I understand what he meant.
She then lowered the gun aimed at him.
—I was out of line today. Sorry for the trouble. I hope I get the chance to make up for it someday.
—Don’t bother! I’d rather you just never show up again.
—Then I’ll see you next time, Mr. Gale.
Something tells me we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.
And with that, she disappeared like smoke.
‘A magician as an enemy is a pain to deal with. …More importantly, no one seems to take what I say seriously, huh?’
Gale sighed. He had a feeling this sort of thing would keep happening.
‘Anyway, I should memorize who’s who while I can.’
He stored the names and appearances of the mentioned examinees in his head.
If they were well-known even before the exam, it meant they were top Hunter candidates.
‘They’re all pretty damn strong.’
Just then, as Gale was analyzing the strongest competitors—
“...Huh? Wait a sec! That guy walking over there—isn’t that him?”
“Where? …Gasp! I-It is him!”
The chatty examinees suddenly forgot to lower their voices.
“Calix Tutatio Zahardt!”
Their voices rang like thunder through the deathly quiet space.
“What?!”
“W-Who showed up?!”
The other wary examinees turned quickly at the name, eyes wide with surprise, expectation—or fear.
Step. Step.
Footsteps echoed closer from the inner hallway.
Gale thought to himself,
‘A swordsman… no, a knight?’
There was something about those measured, precise footsteps—distinct to someone formally trained.
Someone gulped audibly.
All the examinees waited, not blinking, for the source of the steps to appear.
Soon, a man walked slowly out from the hallway.
“……”
A man with dark blue hair. His clothes were too worn and shabby for a nobleman, and yet…
There was an unmistakable elegance—proud and composed, bordering on arrogance—that hinted at noble blood.
‘He reminds me of Elwin somehow.’
Maybe he didn’t even realize it, but Elwin had that same untouchable aura at times.
‘Still, the kid would totally beat that guy in a fight, no question.’
Gale glanced at the new competitor, then looked away without much interest.
They were bound to clash eventually, but that was all it meant to him.
He didn’t care about royal swords or the name Zahardt.
‘Highborn types are the worst.’
But even that disinterest was impressive in itself.
“…Ho.”
Calix Zahardt was quietly releasing his mana to suppress the others.
While the rest of the examinees were frozen stiff from the pressure, Gale remained unfazed.
“Aaah, when is this gonna start? I’m getting bored of waiting.”
That nonchalance was thanks to his experience facing the overwhelming presence of Elwin Krieger.
Calix’s aura didn’t affect him much.
In fact, the power Elwin unintentionally leaked on bad days was far stronger.
“…That man seems interesting.”
Calix’s eyes briefly turned toward Gale with intrigue.
But it was so brief that Gale didn’t notice.
In a way, that was fortunate.
Sometimes, it was better not to know when misfortune was coming.
“…Huh?”
Gale’s indifferent expression suddenly twisted.
“W-What?!”
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
All the other examinees were frozen, staring at Calix Zahardt.
“I'm not seeing things, am I?”
Only Gale, looking just beyond Calix, had eyes wide and pupils shaking violently.
‘Why are YOU here?!’
He silently screamed in shock.
Behind Calix, stealthily creeping in, was a boy—
With elegant blond hair, a stylish mustache, and a youthful face…
Even somersaulting past him wouldn’t change the fact—it was Elwin!