Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Promotion Exam (1)
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The Labyrinth Guild's promotion exam venue was a masterpiece crafted through collaboration between esteemed committee members and Mage Tower affiliates.
Originally designed as a space to replicate the labyrinth's interior and run various simulations, it had undergone numerous changes and was now used as the testing ground for the Intermediate Adventurer exam.
The internal structure constantly shifted due to multiple variables, filled with automatons crafted by the Mage Tower and monsters sourced from outside the labyrinth city. Operating such equipment was exorbitantly expensive.
"Since it's your first attempt, half off—five gold coins~"
"......."
That meant even at half price, it cost a insane five gold coins. Naturally, few adventurers actually paid the full fee to take the exam.
Just as part of my beginner training fees had been covered by commissions, the Labyrinth Guild allowed exam fees to be waived by completing specific requests—unpopular ones, from what I recalled. Of course, with Vivian's proposed test looming, I didn't have time for that and would be paying out of pocket.
Before the exam, I collected my pre-inspected gear from the examiner.
A longsword forged from a troll's heart, newly acquired armor, a backpack enchanted with lightweight magic instead of spatial expansion, and inside it, emergency supplies, rations, and drinking water. Plus a few consumables.
I hadn't brought Vivian's magic tool, but a ring from the guild warehouse was on my finger. Likely allowed due to its once-per-24-hours limitation. Apparently, bringing one or two magic tools was standard anyway.
After a light stretch, I stood before the crimson portal. It looked remarkably like the ones inside the labyrinth. If I hadn't known better, I'd have thought this was the real labyrinth interior. Taking a deep breath, I stepped through.
My goal: a perfect clear.
"He went in?"
Vivian sensed the promotion exam's magic tool activate. She had participated in its creation, granting her certain access rights.
With a casual wave of her staff and an incantation, an image projected before her, showing Ian entering the exam venue.
"Well, just watching..."
Anyone from the guild who knew about promotion exams would freak out and try to stop her, but Vivian brushed off such rules. She needed to gauge her potential disciple's skills, after all.
Zooming in on the feed, she opened another screen to analyze the venue's real-time changes since Ian's entry.
All while waiting for the moment he used his skills.
'What was that? Felt a vibration the moment I entered.'
Is the structure rearranging right as I step in?
I'd drawn my sword and stayed vigilant the instant I entered, but no enemies appeared immediately. Still, I kept the blade out, slowly scanning my surroundings.
Here came the first challenge promotion examinees faced.
Examinees had spent their time in the labyrinth's floors 1 through 10—the cavern layers—yet the exam venue's first floor greeted them with a dense forest, far removed from any cave.
'This is really an artificial space?'
I was so immersed I nearly forgot this was a test. The chirps of tiny insects amid the grass. Enhanced hearing picked up the faint trickle of water. Gazing up revealed a massive light source mimicking the sun.
For a venue crafted by the Mage Tower and other bigwigs, it felt utterly real. Could you really die in here without issue?
They said if you died during the exam, you'd be ejected outside... but who knows. Not like I'd test it myself.
Shaking off the daze, I activated the now-habitual [Stealth] and crept forward, minimizing noise. I'd brought a compass just in case, but like in the labyrinth, it didn't work. Wasn't expecting much anyway.
Instead, I marked trees or tied grass as I advanced, noting directions. In this thick forest, with monster fights ahead, losing my way would spell disaster.
Cavern layers had limited paths, making navigation easy. Here, even choosing a direction was tough. I could end up looping the same area.
-Rustle.
"!!"
Grass shifted, and [Detection] reacted. I whipped around toward the sound, but saw only trees and foliage.
-Rustle. Rustle.
The noise was close. [Detection] kept signaling danger, yet no enemies appeared. What? A stealthy one?
Maintaining guard, I loosed an arrow that way. No hit feedback; the rustling persisted.
Not sure, but I'll back off the opposite—
-Rustle rustle rustle rustle rustle rustle rustle.
"!!!!"
Suddenly, sounds from all sides, [Detection] screaming wildly. Surrounded? How? Where are they? Why didn't I notice the approach?
-Whoosh!
"What the—gah!"
Despite watching everywhere, a wind-cutting sound from behind made me turn, but something fast slammed into me. Armor absorbed some, but I flew back—and caught sight of my attacker.
"...A tree branch?"
-Groooaaar...
Identifying it triggered roars from all around. Looking closer, what I'd thought were knots in the trees were moving.
These guys... Ents?
"Grrooo!"
"Tch!"
I rolled to dodge another swinging branch, but the ground I'd rolled on quaked. Something burst from the soil, smashing into me.
"Urk!"
A root. The Ent lifting it—Ents, plural—rose, branches reaching for me.
What kind of entry area is this?! Ents everywhere!
Realizing encirclement meant doom, I mercilessly triggered [Limit Break]. Feeling power surge, I kicked off the ground and leaped.
Ents stretched branches to grab me, but now that I knew what they were, their speed was dodgeable.
Raising my sword, I slashed blocking branches and [Detection]-guided toward the least enemy-packed direction, breaking through.
Ents desperately flung countless branches to block. Damn, can't sustain [Limit Break] too long...
"Damn, right from the start..."
Abandoning raw power breakthrough, I reached into my backpack's side pocket—prepped for quick access—and pulled a paper sheet. Attaching it to my sword and tearing, mana flowed from the scroll, sheathing the blade in flames.
"Already using an enchant scroll..."
Hoarding it blindly could cost more. Ents belatedly retracted branches upon sensing fire, but I ignored them, severing limbs with my blazing sword.
-Fwoosh.
"Groooaaar!"
Burning branches fell. Exploiting the gap, I shook off gripping roots and sprinted on.
What the hell kind of start is this!
"Hah... huff..."
Barely shaken the Ents, but [Limit Break]'s brief use brought backlash. White steam rose from my body as [Regeneration] healed me. Hunger swelled; I grabbed a ration.
[Sensory Block]
Before eating, I [Sensory Block]ed taste. Weight limits forced high-calorie preserved food—max calories, minimal care, inedible even at [Cooking Lv.4].
With taste blocked, I forced it down; hunger faded, body recovering notably. Sipped a potion cautiously, then surveyed.
Forest navigation was hard enough; frantic flight lost my trail.
"Groan..."
Heavy limbs rose. No time to rest. Had to scour the forest for the next-floor portal.
[Sensory Amplification]. Direction sense amplification.
Blocking pain too, I amplified 'direction sense.' Dizzying woods clarified into one path. Technically a vestibular sense... whatever, skills don't care.
"Kiki?"
"...What're you?"
Heading one way, a monkey-like monster blocked me. Sword ready, it sniffed and circled friskily. I'd held [Stealth]... spotted me?
-Slash!
First strike wins. [Detection] confirmed no allies; [Sensory Block]ed vision just in case, slashed its chest.
'Ugh... tough hide!'
Tougher than expected; failed one-shot. Damn, should've [Limit Break]ed briefly! Thought [Sensory Block] sufficed for one, saved it...
"Finish quick..."
"Kiik?"
Rushed to end it, but its pain-scream was faster.
"Kieeeek!"
"Tch! You—"
Finished the screamer hastily, but its cry echoed through the forest. And...
[Detection][Detection][Detection][Detection][Detection]
"...Shit..."
[Detection] went berserk at incoming malice from everywhere. I cursed lowly and bolted. Still floor 1, and the difficulty's bullshit!