Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Promotion Exam (4)
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Labyrinth's 4th floor. Watching Ian somehow push through terrain that even she judged impossible, Vivian raised her internal evaluation of him by one level.
She couldn't check his skills through the screen with her [Magic Eye], but the way he endured those attacks made it seem like he'd gained some new resistance skill since their last meeting. He was holding up better than expected.
Feeling a spark of joy at the thought of watching a bit longer, she began picking out a gift for Ian in advance—just in case he actually passed the exam in one go. A promise was a promise, after all.
She'd planned to give him the gift regardless of whether he passed. But seeing how he was doing now, it almost seemed like he might really pull it off first try.
"He doesn't even have a guild yet."
She'd told Ian to pass within the time limit in one shot, but honestly, this test wasn't designed to be cleared outright.
Unaffiliated adventurers were supposed to fail the promotion exam. Those who fell short and hit their limits operating solo would end up knocking on guild doors.
Guilds would drill them on monster traits likely to appear in the exam, lend gear suited for it, provide consumables, and elevate their affiliated adventurers to intermediate rank.
A prime example: the trap zone Ian had barely scraped through would've been a breeze with just a scroll enchanted with Floating.
They slapped on a time limit and called it a "test" to deny access to that info, all to gauge Ian's true ability in extreme conditions...
'He's exceeding expectations.'
She'd figured he'd fail around ten times before joining a guild or begging her for help...
As she evaluated Ian, Vivian eyed the 5th floor's layout and monsters that spawned once he crossed the portal.
'Oh my, this is...'
Spotting one particular monster on the 5th floor, she couldn't help but clap without thinking.
If she'd picked a monster for the 5th floor herself, this would've been her top choice! Sure, Ian would suffer facing it, but she felt no particular worry for him in that spot.
She just thought it'd be fun to watch.
How am I even alive? Well, I know they teleport you out before death in the exam arena.
I yank out the arrows embedded all over my body one by one. Chunks of flesh tear off with them, but leaving them in blocks regeneration, so gotta pull 'em quick.
I dig shattered potion vials from my tattered pack. Shake out the dregs inside, wrap bandages around my feet in place of my shredded boots, and haul myself up.
Finally, the 5th floor. The promotion exam's finale. Find the proof of rank here and head out—done.
Word is, the proof's usually guarded by a tough monster. Compared to the 4th floor traps, though, facing a monster might actually be a mercy.
Body not fully healed, but good enough to move. I trigger [Scent Detection].
[Scent Detection]
Monster presences ping from spots all over the floor.
Huh... Not as many as I thought. Terrain's a forest? Went full circle back to woods.
Usually guarded by a monster, so follow the presences and I'll find it quick. Plus snag some food for [Regeneration].
Hope it's edible.
"Grro?"
"...Not you."
Heading the way [Scent Detection] points, I spot a massive, familiar hulk.
Usually on 10th floor; last anomaly had one on 9th.
"Grroooaaar!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Troll. Gatekeeper of the 10th, wall of tears for beginners.
Fitting foe for intermediate promotion.
Good thing, actually. Last time, we partied it with poison. Barely won.
"Come at me, tubby."
"Grroooaaar!"
Trolls are tricky thanks to regeneration.
On 9th floor, our party used poison to stall it. Coated Urk meat, waited for debilitation, then hunted.
Other hassle: raw power. Crushes explorers warriors can't even block.
Flip side? Just mind those two things.
-Slash.
"Graaaargh!"
"Ha, was such a pain last time..."
The black knife grazes the troll's thigh. Wound blackens, rots. Regeneration crawls there; mobility gone, it flails and swings a fist at me.
'[Limit Break]'
[Limit Break]
I could dodge. Backflip easy. Instead, [Limit Break].
Leveled up last floor—stronger surge than before. Channel mana into right fist. Like blocking arrows on skin, amp internals too.
-Boom!
"Graa?"
"Ngh... Manageable!"
Fists collide
Shoulder's screaming, but I block the troll's fist. It panics at tiny me tanking, tries to retreat...
-Slash! Shrick!
"Gra! Graaa!"
Press enhanced body, shred with curse-knife. Can't regen right; flails and drops dead.
Whew, last time was hell for this... Gear and skills make worlds of difference.
Anyway, good. Troll meat's calories galore for [Regeneration]. Hoped it had the proof—no dice.
Eh, whatever.
"Itadakimasu!"
Anyone watching would freak. [Limit Break] backlash triggers [Regeneration]; ravenous, I just rip into raw troll.
Who's the monster now? Whatever—no audience!
"............"
"Urp."
Burp softly. Troll meat's recovery gold; with [Regeneration], most wounds knit.
Reminds me of that manga—eat, cells evolve, heal up. Body's damn near fixed.
Downed the troll that wrecked us before so easy... Ah, should've tested [Sensory Block]. Too hungry to check, chowed first.
Anyway, beating it surges confidence. All that grinding wasn't for nothing—feels real.
After, track [Scent Detection] hits; rest was smooth sailing.
Maybe smoothest since undead zone.
"Grrrng!"
Leopard-ish beast charges. Fast approach; at 10m, I cast.
'[Sensory Block]!'
[Sensory Block]
Vision and smell sealed
"Yelp!"
Cuts sight and smell; it veers wildly, slams tree. Close in, slash throat—done.
Yes! Kinda thrilled. Recent foes all nasty; easy [Sensory Block] win feels fresh.
Hm? That...
"The proof?"
Follow [Scent Detection]; green figure with Labyrinth Guild emblem necklace. Issue: monster wearing it.
"Goblin?"
"Kerk?"
I mutter puzzled; it spots me on voice. Supposed to be tough guardian—not goblin...
Don't slack. Could be max-level or Heavenly Demon goblin...
"Kerk!"
Wary, it draws bone staff.
What, just goblin shaman? Saw on 8th. Curses tricky, but beginner-doable. In promotion exam...?
Draw sword anyway, dash in. Can't let it chant.
'[Sensory Block]!'
[Sensory Block]
Vision sealed
Familiar now; close enough, staff aims—blind it.
Mana drains; success tingles.
Just a goblin? Skill landed clean; should be easy...
"Kerk!"
"...............Huh?"
Chant finishes as skill hits. Curse erupts from staff. [Curse Resistance] resists, but exam-grade power overwhelms Lv.2—fails.
"Ah?"
"Kerk?"
Can't see.
Trees, grass, goblin, my sword. Nothing.
Blink reflexively. Feel the blink, but pitch black.
This is...
"Curse of Vision Loss."
Watching Ian face the special 5th-floor monster, Vivian murmured low.
Learning of his [Sensory Block], one thought hit: resembles a curse she knew.
This goblin shaman's curse: 'Curse of Sensory Loss'. Seals specific senses; rarity earned it guard duty for the proof.
Potent enough to pierce curse resistance.
"Show me something new?"
Intriguing skill, but outdo this green freak's curse to keep me hooked.
Panic's brief. Feels like self-inflicted [Sensory Block] on sight. Difference: can't undo.
"Kerk! Kerk!"
Fuck, didn't notice on self, but enemy doing it pisses me off. Temporary seal or block? [Curse Resistance] triggered...
"Kerk! Kerk!"
Lucky: it's [Sensory Block]ed too. Can't see me; no rush attack. Hit with [Heavenly Touch] to dispel...
"Kerk!"
"Ngh?"
Brainstorming cut short—curse slams again. [Curse Resistance] fires, fails; stacks in.
"....!...!"
Goblin cries gone. Faint wind too.
Hearing this time? Stacks?
Move. Stay put, it blasts more—knows spot.
Pre-leap view: roll aside for attacks, grass texture rises me.
[Cooking]-boosted smell lingers. Track stinky goblin. Kill, curses lift.
Grip sword. Cold metal calms. Smell... this way?
Smell... smell...
............No smell.