BXBX NOVEL Chapter 19: First Exam — Hunt! (5)
Chapter 19: First Exam — Hunt! (5)
Chapter 19: First Exam — Hunt! (5)
"Don't we have to reach the destination point to finish the first exam?"
Aimee only smiled at this innocent question, "Stealing the corpse is one of the easiest ways to pass the exam. Think about the second way as I prepare to eviscerate some of this bear's insides."
Having said enough, Aimee turned her attention to the pouch strapped to her hip. She took out a small but seemingly exquisite knife, then knelt before the dead monster, pressing her fingers on its tough hide.
After finding the softest parts of the black bear, Aimee began drawing cuts over his flesh, slowly digging into the monster's inside. She wasn't particularly good at it, but it was clear that there were theories behind her every movement.
Which meant she only lacked the experience to become a proficient huntress.
On the other hand, Hunter narrowed his eyes on her work and soaked in her budding experience while thinking of her question.
'We have to hunt monsters and bring them to the destination… since we're a team, we can just bring one corpse and be done with it…' Hunter dissected the first exam's information, just like Aimee was eviscerating the monster. 'Wait, there was no mention of hunting. The first exam is called 'Hunt', but it doesn't particularly mention hunting monsters. We can hunt only participants, too. Can we reach the finish line by dragging this corpse with us?'
"Finish line…"
"Yes… I'm more than sure that there are teams waiting for people like us at the finish line. You saw that there weren't only villagers participating in the exam, didn't you? A lot of alliances must have been made before the exam started. They probably have gathered enough corpses by now… but isn't it a perfect chance to kill the entire competition?"
"It is… the monsters deal with the weak hunters while the rest is left in the hands of the stronger."
"That's it."
Understanding that the first exam was far from over, Hunter pondered about their next actions. He rebuked himself for being so naive, too, as he really thought that he was just moments from finishing the first hurdle.
So far, he had met pretty easy opponents, but wasn't that also quite a bait? It was just only a first exam, and those stronger than others had easily used simpler and better advantages.
The real opponents were either on a second or third exam!
Moreover, Hunter also came to an understanding that… he didn't really know people of the hunter world well. Yes, he lived two lives and was a sidekick to the hunter team, but he hailed from a poor village to being with.
Primitive rules and hunter's codex was everywhere in the world… but strong existences often bent the rules and schemed differently.
'Just like I saw through the boss' actions before… I must now imagine potential threats and schemes and see a few steps ahead. Since I hit the nail on the head with the boss' scheme after seeing her and her team, I have what it takes to read the entire scene. Yes, I must learn how to read hunters… hunters that hunt monsters and demons!'
Because Aimee had interacted with various people of a royal and common world, she had an edge in this particular field.
"I'll leave a command to you for the remainder of this exam. What's your plan, and how can I help?" Hunter knelt abreast of the golden-haired companion, with his blue eyes as clear as skies.
There was no hint of his previous leadership brimming in his eyes and voice.
He was ready to follow Aimee's command and bear the consequences should they fail the first exam.
He was ready to learn!
He was ready to become stronger!
"…we will hide in the corpse."
Momentarily lost in those clear blue eyes, Aimee belatedly replied to Hunter's resolution. She then got into details of what was on her mind.
"This black bear is big enough to store two of us. We'll wait for hunters to find the cracking domain and have them snatch the corpse. Then, they'll fight whoever bars their way and either pass us to the next hunter team or haul us to the finish line. We have to count on the next hunter teams to be stupid to not check the corpse deep enough."
"Sounds good. How can I help?"
"These bones are too rigid and stick to the flesh too much. Break them and throw them to the pile of bones on the other side."
"Kay."
Just like that, Hunter and Aimee began working closely and silently, with the golden-haired woman passing commands from time to time to guide Hunter's first evisceration.
In silence and immense focus, with time pressing their shoulders, Hunter and Aimee developed a taciturn understanding and teamwork, their gears working like one machine.
-
[You have received a new item.]
[Skill Book.]
[Hunter's Camouflage(F)]
[Sponsor: Sanna from White Feather Guild.]
Two mini pearly orbs appeared in the darkness like pair of goddesses' eyes, descending upon two hard-working aspiring hunters. The orbs dropped flat on the ground, then Aimee picked hers with her bloody hands.
While reading the new information, Aimee's lips unconsciously curved into a smile.
"We have to thank Mrs. Sanna. This skill will immensely help us hide in the corpse. It's the lowest-grade skill, but it hijacks the surroundings' smell, in our case, the monster's smell, and helps us hide from others. I should be able to learn it in ten minutes, so give me time. I think I'll be competent enough to apply it on us two," Aimee explained the skill she received.
As for Hunter, he received the same skill, meaning that the new sponsor wanted their plan to succeed.
Inwardly, he was glad that Aimee was confident to use it for them two, as he wouldn't be able to learn it so fast with his complicated background.
Could he even learn skills without mana?
'I can… I just must learn how to use blood instead of mana! I must overwrite skills on my own!'
Even though Hunter had a high determination and positivism to achieve his goals, he still couldn't help but glance at Aimee reading the skill book with jealousy.
After reading the content, as long as her understanding of it was above 75%, Aimee would be able to learn the skill and use it for her purposes.
In no more than ten minutes, the book dissipated into blue particles.
Aimee revealed her beautiful hazel eyes and chuckled, "If I want, I am abler to even hide the black bear's bloody stench and have him become one with the forest."
"Seriously?"
Was she that good?!
Why was she a laughingstock in the royal society?!
'Just how demanding is her family?'
Hunter didn't have time to ponder over this question.
Which was because Aimee told him to enter the corpse… and as she would get in second… Hunter would have a whole view of her crawling inside.
And then both of them would have to be glued together until the finish line.
Didn't it mean that… Aimee would press her body on him?
'She wears a short skirt… whoever thought of this exam is a genius!'