Second Test #1

 

The first test is over.

At this point, there are a total of thirty-six adventurers who have obtained the feather and are eligible to take the second test.

Compared to the beginning, it has decreased to less than a tenth.

‘At least I saved five of them.’

I smiled happily, stroking my now fat wallet.

I don’t know about other adventurers, but I was extremely satisfied with this test.

I collected a lot of magic stones and materials while doing field boss raids, and most importantly, I also obtained the corpse of a giant worm that I will use as a secret weapon.

And that’s not all? I also earned a decent amount of pocket money selling feathers.

I couldn’t be more satisfied.

“Ugh⋯.”

On the other hand, Test Tube Maria looked uneasy.

He’s been putting his hands on his hips and glaring at our party for a while now.

‘What can I do about it?’

As for this test, no matter what you do, as long as you pass it, that’s all that matters.

I simply used my abilities effectively to solve the test. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.

My only concern was that Maria might get upset and start nitpicking, but it seemed like there was no need to worry.

‘It’s not like he’s been getting something from me for just one or two days.’

It’s not that I fed Maria every day because she was pretty.

Although she will vehemently deny it, Maria is ultimately an accomplice to me.

Even if there are some parts that are a bit against the rules, Maria will have no choice but to acquiesce.

It is because he knows it well that he feels so uncomfortable right now.

“You made such boasts… Maria, that’s quite an interesting result, isn’t it?”

Test Tube Jack held back a laugh and slyly teased Maria.

“Are you okay? Are you sure there’s no problem? I’m going to fail the second test anyway.”

Maria tried to pretend like nothing happened and forced a smile.

However, anyone who looks at him can clearly see that he is very upset inside.

“Well, good. Congratulations on passing your first test, adventurers!”

Jack shouted in his usual booming voice.

“⋯Isn’t it necessary to speak so loudly now? With fewer people around, I guess I won’t have to raise my voice, but everyone will be able to hear.”

Jack stroked his mustache as if embarrassed, then looked around the room.

“Thank you all for your hard work. However, the tests aren’t over yet. I’d love to accept all thirty-six adventurers into the guild, but there’s still one final test to be done.”

The adventurers weren’t too surprised.

It seems like everyone already expected that the test wouldn’t end this easily.

“six.”

Jack spread the fingers of both hands.

“I’ll leave six in the end. Maybe even fewer. The selection process is simple. Maria!”

“I didn’t like it from the beginning, but why am I always the one being left to do odd jobs like an assistant?”

Maria grumbled and took out a small cardboard box.

Inside were several star-shaped badges.

“I’ll give each of you one of these badges. Collect six badges. How do you do it? I don’t need to explain it, right?”

A few adventurers sighed.

Any adventurer who comes this far and asks about the content of the next test is not qualified to pass.

‘It’s survival.’

After bird hunting, is human hunting the next step?

Badges don’t rise from the ground or fall from the sky.

You just have to take it with your own strength.

“The deadline is tomorrow morning, when the sun rises again. As you’ll see, this test doesn’t take that long. Based on my experience observing it multiple times, most tests are completed within three hours of starting.”

Jack snapped his fingers toward the hills of the wilderness.

Then, pillars of flames burst out, centered around my current location.

It’s a circular survival arena, a little smaller than the mountain behind the village, with the pillars of fire on the outskirts as the boundary.

“It goes without saying, but you must not leave the testing area with your badge. And if possible, avoid killing other adventurers. We’ll understand if it’s absolutely necessary, but if you act out now, we’ll have no choice but to take appropriate action.”

“Please, just one of those bastards come out. Huh? I’m in a really bad mood right now. Just catch one and I’ll beat you up so bad you’ll regret ever being born.”

Maria gritted her teeth and raised her fist at the adventurers.

Although her personality is annoying, Maria’s skills are genuine.

As an adventurer from Garden, it would be difficult to defeat Maria.

The adventurers stood in a line and received badges.

“You’ve finally passed the first test. But that’s it for you, Banpun.”

Maria grinned as she handed me a badge.

“You look anxious?”

“what?”

“Are you starting to get a little nervous, Maria?”

Maria smiled as if she found it funny.

But the corners of his mouth are twitching thinly.

“Me, why me?”

“Or else.”

“No way? You’re going to fall anyway.”

I chuckled without answering.

“It’s survival⋯.”

Wagner frowned as he placed the badge on his armor.

“Why, Wagner? Aren’t you confident?”

“That’s not true, but I have a feeling it won’t be easy.”

Wagner looked around.

“These adventurers passed the first test, so I guess that means they’re all skilled. And now I have to defeat five more of them—”

“Wagner, we still have an absolute advantage in this test.”

“Why?”

“Well, all four of our party made it up there. No matter how much the other adventurers fly and crawl, if we fight four against one—”

It’s a simple story.

In a game where you have to survive until the end, others play solo, but we play in squads.

There’s no business in a dungeon. In the end, it was our party that gained the upper hand as time went on.

“Hey! What are you whispering about!”

Maria shouted at us.

“Then let’s meet later. When we start, let’s gather at the big rock hill as soon as possible.”

I tapped Wagner on the shoulder and headed to my starting position.

Unfortunately, we can’t start from the beginning with our party.

The starting points are all random. They’re scattered throughout the testing area, making it difficult to predict who’s where.

Therefore, for us, the key point of the test is to reunite as soon as possible.

‘I’m not worried about Wagner and Mitchell. But Flora…’

Objectively, Flora’s fighting power is the lowest among us.

Not only in terms of fighting power, but also in appearance, it appears weak.

A rabbit that fell into the savannah grasslands where lions, leopards, and hyenas roam.

Surely, among these, there must be more than one or two who have already marked Flora as their prey.

‘I guess I have to hurry.’

I rubbed my fingertips together and waited anxiously for the starting signal.

Thirty-six participants.

Of these, how many will remain after tomorrow?

***

“Estelle? Was there such an adventurer?”

The captain of the guard spoke in a tone that showed little interest.

Swish, swish.

The captain of the guard didn’t even glance at Eden and just wiped his sword with an oiled cloth.

As if that’s all he cares about now.

Even though the opponent is the Inquisitor Eden.

“I don’t know. There are a lot of adventurers coming and going from Garden. Well, maybe an adventurer named Estelle came, but I don’t remember every little thing like that. Isn’t that right, Adjutant?”

“you’re right.”

The adjutant standing next to him skillfully kept time.

“But what happened to that adventurer named Estelle that made her do that?”

“It’s a top secret mission, so I can’t go into detail. Let’s just say he’s a heinous criminal.”

“A heinous criminal?”

The captain’s pupils briefly wavered. The adjutant frowned, his expression blatantly disbelieving.

“We haven’t heard anything at all.”

“That’s inevitable. Few people know of his danger. It’s unlikely the story even reached Garden.”

Eden stood up from her seat.

Eden bowed her head with dignity, not even touching the teacup on the table.

“Thank you for your cooperation. Then, I’ll take care of the rest.”

“⋯Thank you for your hard work.”

As Eden left, the adjutant approached the door and put his ear to it.

Step, step.

After confirming that Eden had indeed gone, the adjutant sighed deeply.

“Captain, what on earth is going on?”

The captain of the guard clutched his head.

“I don’t know. Estelle is a criminal? That can’t be possible.”

“I simply can’t believe it. Estelle wouldn’t do something like that. You know that, Captain.”

“You are right.”

The captain of the guard just lied.

He deceived Eden, his fellow warrior. If this sin were discovered, it would not be easily forgiven.

‘But I don’t regret it.’

The captain of the guard promised to protect Estelle.

Maybe that girl really is a criminal.

Everyone has many faces, and the captain of the guard has never seen all of Estelle’s sides.

But still, Estelle was his benefactor.

‘Please be safe, Estelle.’

Since there was nothing he could do right away, the captain could only pray earnestly.

Eden, who had left the guard barracks, turned her head and glanced at the captain’s office.

“I’m a little suspicious.”

Eden smiled meaningfully.

“If we had the time, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take our time and investigate, but now isn’t the time for that.”

Eden was gathering information smoothly on her own without the assistance of the guards.

It was certain that Estelle had stopped by the Garden. The evidence of seeing her was overwhelming.

However, it was not known whether he was still staying at Garden.

“Hmm. Mr. Rich, where are you now?”

Eden sat on a bench in Garden Square and watched the crowds passing by.

As if Estelle had happened to appear among them.

The pure white robes of Eden, on which not a single speck of dust had settled, attracted people’s attention.

Although there were curious glances from those around her, Eden didn’t care.

“It’s the Adventurer’s Guild.”

A poster posted on the plaza bulletin board caught my eye.

They gather skilled adventurers and test them in the Garden Wilderness for two weeks.

Judging by the date, it seemed like the exam wasn’t over yet.

Suddenly, I remembered the old days I missed.

At that time, Michael, who was not yet a famous warrior, came to Eden and scouted her, and Anna and Akasha also joined.

Take the guild’s selection test, explore dungeons, and achieve heroic feats.

Between the fragments of memories flowing by, a clue to the pursuit suddenly flashed through my mind.

“⋯Test. Yeah. Maybe I’m taking a test in the wilderness.”

Eden suddenly sat up.

Although it was still just one possibility, his premonitions were somehow strongly appealing to him that this guess was true.

“I guess I’ll have to go and check it out myself.”

Eden licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.

Estelle would soon find out.

No matter where she went in this world, she could never escape Eden.

If there was an obstacle blocking Eden’s path, he was determined to remove it, even if it meant resorting to somewhat drastic measures.