Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Graduation Exam
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One of the examiners let out a massive yawn.
“Yawn. Ugh, already four o’clock. How many are left?”
“Not many now. Ten including that guy? Hang in there just a bit longer.”
“It’s not hard, just kinda boring. Feels like the trainees are getting worse every year. Oh? What’s with this one? Came out with some weird weapon.”
The examiners chuckled at the weapon in trainee Cha In-hyeok’s hands.
It was a meteor hammer—a long chain with a bladed weight dangling from the end.
“Does he even know how to use that thing?”
“Not sure. Meteor hammers are tough in real combat. Hope it doesn’t cause an accident.”
“Let’s watch for now. He must have a plan if he brought it. Looks like he’s got throwing weapons as backups too.”
“I’ve already docked points. Kids like that should be cut. Fine if he only hurts himself, but he might drag others down.”
The unfamiliar weapon threw the examiners’ judgments into disarray. They all had bitter memories of flashy-but-useless hunters from their own glory days.
Right on cue, the opposite door opened, and a monster lumbered into the exam arena.
Squelch—
It splattered thick mud across the floor. Humanoid in shape, but its body was entirely mud.
A 1.5-star monster: the mud golem.
“Ahh. He’s done for. Of all things, a mud golem—the tricky one.”
“Yeah. Mud golems are hard to kill without heavy or massive weapons.”
The golem’s core was buried deep inside its body. Destroy that, or it wouldn’t die.
Chop off arms, legs, even the head—it’d keep coming.
It was a slime variant that had eaten dirt to boost its defenses. High resistance to physical attacks, plus great regeneration.
“At least bring a hammer or something. Swinging that blade around all day won’t do squat.”
“Who knows? Maybe he nails the core in one stab.”
“Hah! No trainee’s that good.”
“Hmm. Guess he’s out. Should’ve ditched the meteor hammer...”
“What can you do? His choice. Gotta tough it out.”
* * *
“Ah, this won’t work...”
I frowned as my dart lodged in the mud golem’s body.
Not only did it not penetrate, the mud’s viscosity made retrieval a nightmare.
So I’d set the meteor hammer aside for now, probing with darts to gauge its reactions...
‘Tricky.’
Its body was too thick—the darts stopped midway, never reaching the core.
If I could use my full strength, I’d smash it in one go. But right now, I was limited to 1-star hunter level.
No Wind Breeze, no pulling weapons from inventory. Pure throwing skill and meteor hammer only.
‘Of all monsters, a mud golem.’
I sighed at the hooked sword on the meteor hammer’s end. What if it’d been iron balls or extra weights instead?
The impact would’ve reached the core.
‘Switch to the sling?’
Fortunately, mud golems were slow. Retreat, charge the slingshot, repeat—eventually it’d fall.
But would that impress enough to pass?
Throwing weapons had a bad rep. Bluntly put, it was awful.
Branch Chief Park Byung-soo had outright suggested switching to a bow. Team Leader Kim Shin-woo had scowled at my gear.
Even Brother Jin-hyuk said a normal weapon would’ve had Black Bears scooping me up ages ago.
The examiners probably shared that bias.
Dragging it out would trash my skills—and throwing weapons—in their eyes.
‘Can’t just run. Can’t take too long.’
Had to dominate. And dazzle them with throwing prowess.
‘I can do this.’
I trusted myself. I wasn’t some ninja cartoon protag riding bloodline alone.
Throwing? That was pure blood and sweat.
[Quick Draw, Instant Throw. Rapid Throw. Mobile Throw.]
My four throwing skills proved it.
‘Watashi ga...! I’ll show you!’
Like Wolverine, I gripped three darts per hand and charged the mud golem.
* * *
“What, he’s rushing in?”
“Basics are shot. Could’ve won keeping distance and throwing.”
“See? Told you. I can read skill from the weapon.”
Before the examiners finished, Cha In-hyeok’s hands blurred into motion.
Thud-thud-thud!
Darts sank deep into the muddy torso amid the clatter.
Not quite core-deep. But he didn’t falter, circling and hurling more.
A dozen darts lined up straight across the golem’s chest.
“F-Fast, at least.”
“Obvious—pumped agility. Still won’t kill a mud golem.”
Just as the examiner boasted, the meteor hammer took flight.
Whoosh—
It whipped in a wide circle, wrapping the golem’s body.
“No way!?”
Some examiners noticed—the chain coiled exactly where the darts were embedded.
They grasped his intent instantly.
“Hrah!”
Cha In-hyeok yanked the chain with all his might. It burrowed into the mud.
“Ah! The darts weakened the surface!”
The prior darts were perfect bait. No one batted an eye as the chain dug in.
Grind!
The harder he pulled, the deeper the darts sank, resistance crumbling. Until finally...
Splat!
A dart pierced the core. The golem’s body began to crumble.
Darts and meteor hammer alone had cracked the mud golem.
“Hmm. Better than expected. Overcoming power with skill.”
“Throwing’s solid. Smart too.”
“Good judgment. Knew meteor hammer alone wouldn’t cut it, so he combo’d with darts perfectly.”
“Plenty for a pass. Though... hunter life won’t be easy after.”
Pass granted. But it wasn’t over.
Guild scouts circling the arena split hard on him.
“Skill’s there, but that weapon? Nah.”
“I’d never team with that guy. Meteor hammer? Insane.”
“Anyone scouting him? I’ll forward my incident report ahead.”
The scouts snickered at Cha In-hyeok.
‘Idiots. Blatantly advertising they’ve got shit for eyes.’
Lee Chang-soo clicked his tongue. If they had any vision, they’d have seen the brilliance.
Planting darts at precise intervals while moving fast? Hard enough.
And the meteor hammer—mastered in what, just over two months?—wrapped right on target, like magic.
‘Started training two months ago? Already this polished. No ordinary guy.’
That’s why Branch Chief Park Byung-soo was desperate to recruit him.
Word was, every offer got shot down: “Can’t leave my current guild.”
Park kept upping the ante, burning with rivalry. But failed to sway him.
Last time, Park muttered in a dying voice, “Love’s power is mighty... Maybe I should try the dating scene?”
Advice like “Start with a hair transplant” led to a near-death spar.
‘Old man. Doesn’t age, huh.’
Park looked 40s but was pushing 60.
Talked dating, but poured everything into mentoring and guarding the region.
He knew loss better than most—fought hardest to protect others.
To him, disciples weren’t just students. Sons, grandsons.
Lee Chang-soo and the rest followed him like family.
‘So, old timer... You gotta survive that labyrinth.’
Less than two months till the labyrinth wave.
* * *
“Only two months left.”
Ban Seong-un’s words sank the executive meeting room into gloom.
Two months—or one, factoring movement inside. Prep had to wrap soon.
“Raid team status?”
“Gathered as many as possible. Still short.”
Han Se-young’s gesture summoned a screen: Labyrinth Raid Status.
1 5-star hunter, 2 4-stars, 15 3-stars. Black Bears’ full 3-star+ roster.
18 total. Laughable for a 4-floor dungeon.
“Even after aggressive scouting, this is it? And that Santa Maria guy flopped too.”
“Plenty prefer snake head over dragon tail.”
“Trouble. No time left... Need at least 30 3-stars for the labyrinth.”
Only fix: outside help.
“Um...”
Branch Chief Park Byung-soo raised a tentative hand.
“How about requesting central government support? Or the top five guilds...”
“Denied!”
Park flinched under Ban Seong-un’s icy glare. A 5-star’s killing intent buckled even 3-stars. Ban sighed, scanning the room.
“No better ideas?”
Park squeezed his eyes shut. He’d sensed Ban wouldn’t beg government or top guilds.
‘Safest option.’
But most embarrassing.
Do that, and Black Bears looked weak—couldn’t clear a 4-star alone.
Reputation tanks, falls behind top five.
‘Risking lives over guild rankings...’
Loot split was another issue.
4-star gate. Minotaur drops unknown.
Share with others? Top guilds? Ban wouldn’t stomach it.
Everyone knew Park was right. No one spoke up—too risky.
“Ahem.”
As Branch Chief Han Se-young geared to echo him, Hongcheon Branch Chief cut in.
“How about requesting cooperation from regional mid/small guilds?”
“Mid/small guilds?”
“Yes! Plenty of 3-stars among their leaders and execs. Gather just them, and we’re set.”
Ban perked up; Hongcheon gained steam. And scratched an itch.
“Plus, minimal loot to share. We’ll lead the assault anyway.”
“Hmm.”
“Worst case, give ’em floors 1 and 2 loot. Real prizes are 3 and 4.”
“Best idea yet. Hongcheon, you handle prep.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hongcheon shot up, beaming. Not usually this eager—recent demotion rumors lit a fire.
‘Sigh. This ain’t right.’
For the first time, Park regretted joining Black Bears.