E-Rank Promotion Exam
Cheori, gripped in my hand, blinked at me as if confused itself.
"You were definitely far away from me."
"Kkung."
"So why'd you follow me out?"
"Kkyung?"
Why ask me?
That seemed to be the meaning behind the little cry Cheori let out.
This is dizzying.
Why the hell did it really follow me?
I scratched the back of my head vigorously and let out a small sigh.
"No helping it, then."
I'd wanted to leave it in the tower, but going back in now meant I wouldn't be coming out for a while.
Guess we'd be bunking together at home for the time being.
I addressed the creature, who was diligently scanning its surroundings as if trying to get its bearings.
"This is home. My home."
"……Kkung?"
"Stay here for a bit. Just until I head back into the tower."
I set Cheori down on the floor.
It looked around here and there before suddenly heading somewhere.
The direction it went...
"Hey."
"Kkung?"
"Don't eat that, you little shit."
It was heading straight for where my phone lay.
Do you know how much this cost? No eating it.
Cheori was stuffing the phone into its mouth, way too big for its size.
I snatched the slobber-covered phone away.
"Kkuung...."
It eyed the phone wistfully, but no way was I giving it this.
I wiped off the drool with my clothes and turned the phone on.
"No messages or calls."
I'd half-expected something, but...
Nothing. No calls, no texts...
"......"
Rub rub.
I rubbed my eyes with my right hand and gaped.
"Huh?"
Why hasn't it changed?
This can't be right.
Otherwise...
"Why's so much time passed?"
My eyes trembled faintly as I checked the date on the phone.
January 21st.
I'd entered the tower on the 16th, for sure.
I'd only been in there a day at most, so why had this much time flown by?
But whatever, that didn't matter.
The real problem was...
"January 21st..."
Wednesday.
I checked the time and bolted to the bathroom.
No time to waste.
January 21st.
Wednesday.
Today, at the Awakening Association in Gangnam...
"Can't be late for on-site registration...!"
It was the day of the E-rank promotion exam.
Huff, huff.
I leaped off the bus, gasping for breath.
Lucky I came out at dawn... otherwise...
If it'd been past noon, I'd have been screwed.
I groaned my way through the bustling Gangnam streets, packed with hunters here for the promotion exam.
"Kkuk..."
A tiny cry from my pocket.
I glanced down to see Cheori poking its head out.
"I told you to stay put."
"Kkuk!"
"......Do whatever."
I'd planned to leave it at home.
But it kept following me when I tried to go.
No time to waste, so I'd brought it along—and now I was more worried than expected.
Bringing a live monster out of a gate's a serious crime, right...?
It just looks like a black snake, so maybe no one'll notice?
Besides, the Evergreen Tower isn't your average gate.
I swallowed hard and pushed open the door to the Awakening Association.
"You fucker! Who said you could touch my sword!?"
"Get lost! Unless you wanna die by my hand during the exam!"
"Hope I pass this time..."
Chaotic noise everywhere.
The place was crammed with all sorts.
Yeah, this feels like where people live.
I nodded at the familiar vibe thick with hostility and pushed through the crowd.
"Uh, I heard there's an E-rank promotion exam today."
"Yes. It's scheduled in about an hour and a half."
"Can I register on the day?"
"Of course. Just register an hour before. May I see your Awakener ID?"
I pulled out my Awakener ID from my pocket and handed it over.
The attendant tapped something, then returned it with a square slip of paper.
"Please confirm this."
"This is..."
"A waiver stating you'll take responsibility for any death or injury during the exam."
Promotion exams are dangerous.
Makes sense.
They're testing your level inside a gate—can't do it safely, or it's meaningless.
That's why there are occasional deaths.
This is just part of that.
"Any incidents from anomalies inside the gate are fully compensated by the Hunter Association, so no worries there."
"Nah, not worried."
You can't even take the exam without agreeing.
I checked the box lightly and handed the paper back.
"You're registered. Here's your exam number and signaler. Attach the signaler to your wrist now, and keep the exam number handy. Announcement in 30 minutes—follow that."
"Thanks."
I took the ID, exam number, and signaler, then trudged to a quiet corner.
"So this is the signaler."
A device that alerts proctors if you're in danger during the exam.
I fiddled with the watch-like thing, strapped it to my left wrist, and checked the exam number.
"Number 738..."
Over 700 people taking the exam in Gangnam today?
More than expected.
The Association has branches nationwide, each running exams separately—so 738 is just for Gangnam.
"More people means more failures..."
From my knowledge, only about 30% of F-rank hunters make E-rank.
The unwritten rule: more candidates, more dropouts.
"Not worried, though."
It's just an E-rank promotion exam.
Probably killing monsters in an E-rank gate, nothing more.
That should be a breeze.
I plopped into an empty seat in the corner, stretching my legs out.
"Kkung."
"Hungry? Hang on a bit. I'll buy food after the exam."
"Kkung kkung."
Eats a ton.
Didn't it just eat a few hours ago in the tower?
Waiting there, drowsiness hit me suddenly.
"Yawwwn..."
I yawned hugely and glanced at the clock.
Only 10 minutes passed.
Tired right after leaving the tower...?
In the tower, I never slept or got hungry, no matter what.
But out here, fatigue slammed me like a ghost, and now hunger too.
Fine in the tower, huh.
Dunno the reason, but it's inconvenient.
Wish I could've slept at night in there.
Another big yawn, then I closed my eyes quietly.
Gonna nap till it starts.
Yawwwn...
I yawned hugely, blinking my crusty eyes and looking around.
Everyone tense, standing here and there.
I pulled a paper from my pocket and checked.
738...
This room's for the 700s, so right place.
Almost late.
Woke up with 5 minutes to go.
Sprinted here full tilt.
No proctor yet, so made it.
I sighed in relief and scanned around.
Loud bunch.
Hunters already glaring daggers, sizing each other up.
Competitors—natural.
Not getting involved in that stare-down.
Stepped back to watch.
"......"
That was the plan.
But why...
Do I keep feeling eyes on me?
I rolled my eyes sideways discreetly.
Crowd of people.
A woman hiding behind them, staring holes through me.
When's the proctor coming?
This is awkward.
Say something first, might drag me into trouble.
No thanks—I'll pretend not to notice and close my eyes.
If she wants something, she'll come over.
Gangnam Awakening Association.
Not far from the 700s exam room.
A woman with a special Hunter ID proving Association affiliation around her neck chatted with a man.
"Got it?"
"......You know how many times you've said that?"
"Uh... dunno?"
"Over twenty. I have ears—I've got it."
"But they called you in on your day off 'cause it's that important from upstairs."
Haa...
The man with navy hair sighed long at the white-haired woman's nagging.
He polished his glasses with a handkerchief, muttering.
"More than that, this Black Dragon probably isn't even F-rank."
"True. But from what I know, no one short of top A-rank could've taken down an Orc Lord that cleanly. You saw it."
"......Yeah. Even I couldn't."
Top A-rank's a stretch.
Orc Lords top B-rank defense-wise.
If its offense matched, it'd be A-rank.
And someone one-shot it.
"Even I, an Association S-rank, don't know who it is. Top A-ranks all have aliases—easy to spot."
"Could be a Villain?"
"Maybe. But an S-rank like me doesn't know, so if it's a Villain hiding that deep, wouldn't they off the witnesses?"
Witnesses live.
That slashes Villain odds to near zero.
Means it's probably a real hunter.
"Guilds everywhere are hunting for Black Dragon. If he joins one..."
"......I know."
"So do your best, our 'Comet' Hunter Jeong Chan-woo."
Jeong Chan-woo sighed nonstop at the giggling woman's words.
Wonder how long she'd grilled him.
He glanced at his watch, swallowed another sigh, and said,
"Then, 'Magic King' Senior Seong Yu-mi—what about the exam starting 10 minutes late?"
"......Has it?"
"Dispel the spell already. We're late."
Seong Yu-mi pouted and snapped her fingers, releasing the magic.
Regaining control, he shot forward.
To the 700s exam room.
He cleared his throat entering.
"Sorry for being la—"
"Waaah!"
"Why are you like this?"
"S-sorry, waaah!"
"Stop crying and let go? Wait, no photos! I didn't do anything!"
"Waaaah!"
"Put the camera down!"
"......"
This is why he wanted to be on time.
Jeong Chan-woo squeezed his eyes shut amid the chaos.