A huge thank you to “asurasamasura” for gifting an Ice Cola.
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“Looks like we’re in the right place…” Yuan muttered looking at the building.
“Indeed, I have traversed this area with Lily on numerous occasions, yet I have never once ventured into the building.”
Emma is a seasoned visitor to this area, drawn by the allure of the time-honored medicine store situated just ahead of the Hunters Association.
This fabled emporium is renowned for its top-tier medicinal potions that are in high demand among the hunter community. What’s more, the store’s affordability has earned it an enviable reputation, making it a preferred destination for even the most modest of budgets.
It is this combination of quality and affordability that has cemented the store’s enduring popularity.
‘It is not surprising that Emma possesses extensive knowledge about this area, as she has been procuring medicine for my mother from this locale for several years now. It has come to my attention that the original Yuan was merely jesting, which has left me feeling indignant and incensed… The very thought of his behavior has aroused a strong sense of anger within me!’ Yuan thought to himself.
Yuan turned to Emma and spoke in a measured tone, “Shall we proceed inside?”
Emma nodded her agreement, and the two stepped into the ancient building, its architecture evoking the ambiance of a bygone era.
As Yuan and Emma made their way toward the receptionist’s desk, they couldn’t help but feel a little out of place in the bustling atmosphere of the Hunter’s Association.
The aroma of ale and wine filled the air, and hunters chatted amongst themselves over their drinks.
“Looks like the hunters here know how to have a good time,” commented Yuan with a chuckle, nodding towards the inbuilt tavern.
Emma smiled in agreement, scanning the room and taking in the sights and sounds of the association.
As Yuan and Emma made their way to the reception desk, they couldn’t help but notice the hunters’ glances. Emma’s grace and beauty seemed to captivate the attention of many hunters in the room.
The hunters couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves about Emma’s breathtaking beauty.
“Have you ever seen someone as stunning as her?” muttered one hunter to his companion. 𝐞𝐨𝘃𝐞𝐥.
“She’s like a goddess among mortals.” A hunter exclaimed.
Another hunter chimed in, “And did you see the way she moves? So elegant and graceful.”
“Observe the young man next to her, is he not remarkably attractive? It comes as no surprise that she is with him.”
“It would not be unexpected if these two individuals were in fact concealing their true identities and hailed from a notable aristocratic lineage,”
“Undoubtedly, it would be prudent to maintain a safe distance from that couple, considering recent events. As rumor has it, the son of Viscount Lewis was brutally beaten up by an unknown assailant just two days ago,”
“Even so, I must confess that I have never beheld a beauty of this magnitude before,”
The hunters continued to whisper in awe of Emma’s beauty, with some expressing their jealousy towards Yuan for having such a stunning companion.
But Emma and Yuan paid no heed to the chatter, focused on their purpose at the Hunter’s Association.
As Yuan and Emma approached the reception desk, a young woman with striking brown hair and eyes greeted them with a warm smile.
The woman’s eyes widened at the sight of Yuan’s handsome face, causing her to blush uncontrollably.
The receptionist was taken aback by Yuan’s striking handsomeness and found herself blushing as she gazed upon him. ‘My, what a sight! I have never seen someone so handsome before. I am quite surprised,’ she thought to herself.
Looking at their good looks, she couldn’t help but think to herself, ‘With their striking features and refined demeanor, they must come from a highly respected and distinguished family.’
“Hello, welcome to the Hunter’s Association,” she stammered, struggling to keep her composure. “My name is Mireya, how may I help you?”
Yuan couldn’t help but notice Mireya’s blush, but he didn’t say anything.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mireya,” Yuan said with a smile. “We’re here to register as hunters.”
Emma also greeted Mireya with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Mireya. I’m Emma, and this is my boyfriend, Yuan.”
Mireya regained her composure and handed them each a form. “Great, just fill out these forms and return them to me, and I’ll get you all set up.”
As they began filling out the forms, Mireya couldn’t help but steal glances at Yuan, who remained oblivious to her admiration.
After filling out the forms, Yuan and Emma handed them back to Mireya, who inspected them carefully. “Excellent, everything looks to be in order,” she said with a smile.
“Before we proceed with the tests, I must inform you that there are two tests that must be completed,” Mireya continued. “The first test is the mana capacity test, which is optional. However, most noble families choose not to take it as it can reveal personal information.”
It is a common practice among the nobility to withhold their information from the general populace.
This is a prudent strategy, as most noble families are engaged in an unceasing struggle to augment their power and renown, and keeping such information under wraps serves to afford them a strategic advantage over their rivals.
Yuan and Emma exchanged a look before nodding in agreement.
“The second test is the physical test, which is mandatory for all hunters,” Mireya continued. “This test will determine your rank and suitability for certain tasks.”
“Allow me to provide you with a brief overview of the hunter ranks,” Mireya said, assuming a serious tone. “Hunters are divided into several ranks, beginning from the lowest, which is ‘F’ rank, followed by ‘E,’ ‘D,’ ‘C,’ ‘B,’ ‘A,’ and the highest rank, which is ‘S’ rank. The rank determines the level of difficulty of the missions assigned to the hunters, with ‘F’ rank being the easiest and ‘S’ rank being the most challenging. As you climb up the ranks, the rewards become more lucrative, and the prestige and reputation of the hunter increase. However, the risks also increase, and the missions become more perilous. Thus, you must take the physical test to determine your rank.”
Yuan pondered the matter and came to the conclusion that undertaking the first test would be futile, given that they were cultivators who did not utilize mana.
He subsequently expressed to Mireya, “We would prefer to forego the first test and proceed directly to the subsequent one.”
“Indeed, we concur that proceeding to the next test would be more suitable.”Emma concurred with Yuan’s suggestion.
Mireya, understanding their decision, beamed with a smile. “Excellent! I had a feeling that you would opt for the more challenging route,” she said, her eyes alight with admiration. “Please, follow me. I will escort you to the testing grounds.”
Rising from her chair, she gestured for Yuan and Emma to follow her lead. “The next test is waiting for you in the association’s courtyard. Let us proceed there with all due haste.”
Without further ado, Mireya led the way, her confident strides setting a brisk pace for Yuan and Emma to follow as they made their way toward the testing area.
As they arrived at the testing area, Yuan and Emma were greeted by the sight of a table bearing an array of melee weapons.
“I didn’t anticipate you guys to have weapons for the hunters that take the test,” Yuan spoke as he gazed at the weapons.
Mireya, following their gaze, explained further. “Indeed, not all hunters possess the ability to wield magic, which is why we provide various melee weapons for them to use during the examination.”
She continued, “This test is designed to evaluate your combat skills in close quarters combat, so you will have to rely on your strength and agility.”
Yuan and Emma scanned the testing ground, taking in the sight of numerous large boulders, each bearing a variety of marks.
“What are those boulders for?” Emma inquired, curious about their significance.
Mireya smiled, gesturing towards the rocks. “Those boulders serve as the targets for the test. You will be required to destroy them within a specified time frame, using only your strength and your chosen weapon. The more boulders you destroy, the higher your score will be.”
Mireya stood before Yuan and Emma, her eyes fixed on the two young hunters. She cleared her throat before speaking in a formal tone.
“Before we begin, I must explain the rules of the test. In this test, you will be given 5 minutes to destroy the 5 boulders in the test area. If you manage to put some damage to all 5 boulders within 5 minutes, you will pass. However, you cannot use your own weapon in the test. You need to use the one provided by the hunter association.”
Yuan comprehends the rationale behind the prohibition of using his sword in the test. The varying quality of weapons among test-takers and the unfair advantage of higher-ranked ones justifies the standardized weapon use.
“Now then, who wants to take the test first?” Mireya asked with a grin spreading across her face with excitement.
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