You... Just Hid Your Power, Didn't You?

Under the instructors' guidance, those who passed the written exam moved to the practical exam site. The second practical exam changed every year, so no one knew what it would be, but everyone here knew the first one. It was the test they called proof of qualification—a straightforward check to see if you had the bare minimum to attend this school.

"Those aiming to be combat-type hunters, gather to the left. Non-combat types, to the right."

Combat types went without saying. Non-combat included blacksmiths, alchemists, healers who had no intention of fighting directly, and the like. Of course, some non-combat folks still joined parties and fought using their traits or skills, so they headed left too. Like the guy right next to me.

Han Shin-woo. A genius craftsman who'd awakened an S-rank trait in metallurgy. He talked a lot of nonsense and came off like a total airhead, but he was already a respected name in the industry.

"My ears are itching... Someone badmouthing me?"

Sensitive as ever. He always knows exactly when someone's dissing him.

Plus, that S-rank trait amplified his stats when handling his own gear, added special effects, boosted weapon mastery—making him no slouch in combat.

"Hey. You gonna stand there or what?"

Shin-woo could've gone right and passed for sure, but he chose the hard road.

"You know there's barely any fighting over there. That ain't hunting."

"Did you just... diss non-combat hunters?"

I couldn't believe my best friend was a supporter hater.

"Come on, don't play dumb. You know what I mean."

That's why I was messing with him. We'd already applied as combat types anyway, so switching now was impossible. We all lined up on the left without a single dropout. Soon, the instructor planted three flags up front: one labeled Melee, one Ranged, one Utility.

"Line up again according to what you put on your application."

Straightforward. Melee attackers to melee, ranged to ranged, healers and buffers to utility. Simple.

"Hey, hey—that's the ranged line. Over here."

Shin-woo grabbed my arm as I stood in ranged. But he'd overlooked one thing.

"I'm ranged, though?"

"What...?"

Not just him—everyone was shocked.

"I applied for ranged."

Mukroe Byeokryeok Singong's lightning didn't dissipate quickly like other internal energies once it left my body, so it packed plenty of punch at range. I didn't want to stand out, so I'd cosplay as a standard ranged hunter and pass without issue.

"You're insane... What if you fail?"

"It's fine. This'll get me at least B-rank performance."

B-rank was top-tier for last year's exam. Sure, this year had a ton of talent, ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but B was safe.

"B-rank's upper crust for hunters, and you say it like it's nothing... Do you, man."

"Then I'll do ranged too."

Liera, who'd applied melee assuming I did, tried to follow. She handled sword and magic at pro levels, so she'd crush ranged too.

"Nope. Gotta stick to what you applied for."

She shot me a betrayed look.

I never said I was melee. That's on you for assuming.

Moments later, the instructor spoke again.

"Move by category! Follow the instructors."

"Catch you later."

I waved to Estelle in utility and the other four in melee, then followed the ranged instructor. He stopped at a machine, and we all halted. He explained.

"This training tool was made with help from Illusion, the S-rank illusion hunter. Some of you may have used one before."

Seung-ah's family had one. It summoned illusions with real physical force. Crazy expensive.

"We'll summon 30 goblins and 3 orcs. Clear them with minimal damage taken to end the test."

Upper C-rank ranged hunters could handle it easy. But they'd scrutinize your process.

"Front of the line starts."

The first guy looked screwed.

That's why you don't stand at the front.

Middle was best. The test began. Goblins and orcs projected by the machine charged the examinee.

"Chiiik... Chiiik..."

"Grrok."

The footsteps and lifelike cries felt real. The first guy did okay but took solid hits from one orc. He cleared it, but points docked for sure.

Turns passed. Soon, mine.

Got a good read on the level.

I'd watched the others, calibrating: enough to impress without drawing eyes, just "promising ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talent."

I had my answer.

"Begin."

Goblins and orcs rushed. I laid Mukroe Byeokryeok Singong lightning around the floor first—to slow their approach.

I could've one-shot them ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all, but that'd defeat the ranged pretense.

Lightning needles flew at the snared foes, neutralizing them one by one. Orc charges needed more, so I hurled handmade lightning spears into their legs.

They groaned and pushed on, but mobility slashed. I methodically finished the disabled goblins and orcs. Test over.

Perfect—showed just enough to pique interest.

Clean, precise moves. Efficient, no waste. They'd peg me as future A-rank name-maker. Impressive, but outliers existed.

Like her.

Boom!

The blonde after me thrust her arm up, palm out. Every goblin and orc flew together, clumped. She clenched her fist—bodies exploded.

Grotesque, but illusions—blood, guts, chunks vanished instantly.

"That's Elis, right...?"

"Yeah. 10 Great Families heir. She's on another level."

Ah!

I remembered. Awakener kids often awakened too, so noble houses built dynasties. The 10 Great Families led them. Germany's Strauss family had buzzed about a telekinesis prodigy.