Chapter 342: Before the Hunter Exam

Ser Edwin Tulor Godefroy was an orphan. No one exactly knew where he came from, but he was an orphan.

He joined the Royal Knight corpse right after he passed the Hunter Exam in the capital. Did Raids, hunt magical beasts, turned over quests his rank shouldn't have taken. The King's father took a liking to him. He completed Limbo and ranked up to Diamond. Yet, he never stopped getting stronger. New King reigned still, he wanted more. And last year, he took a job Royal Knights and Diamond Rank Hunters wasn't supposed to do. But he convinced the King to do this specific job.

He went to an Island for a Selection process for Griffith Academy, with a grin painted all over his face.

"I'm going to find my self," Ser Edwin had said according to Hunter Brogan. "We weren't the closest of friends, but we never hated each other," Brogan said.

Ned sat across Hunter Brogan divided by a table with a set of ale lined over it. Wooden keg on their right. And a room with no windows to let at least fresh air. Ned sat crossing his arms.

"But what took me the most..." Hunter Brogan said and paused as he bore Ned with his blank eyes and face. "Was that, Silverthorn never took an apprentice. Mind you, kid. There were at least a hundred Diamond Rank Hunters in the continent, most of us took apprentice to pass on our skills. But for him? He couldn't be bothered by that. That is why I'm surprised that a kid has his token."

Ned remained quiet. He couldn't forget how Edwin struck Master Will with his sword that went deep on his shoulder.

"You need to tell me something in here, kid," Brogan said, resting an arm that took almost half of the table. "How did you got this? Were you his student?"

"No." Ned's eyes boring the latter. For a moment, Ned saw anger diluting the Hunter's eyes. Yet, he remained calm. "He gave it to me after a deal."

Hunter Brogan raised an eyebrow. This was the first time that Ned saw him changes gear.

"If you don't mind, kid?" Brogan pulled a wooden pipe under his armor. Lit the pipe before Ned could respond and waited. Waited for Ned.

Ned sighed and started. "The deal," he said, "Is I'm going to become a Hunter. And kill him."

For a moment, Diamond Rank Hunter Brogan stared at Ned with a half-open mouth while he let the greyish cloud circled around his shoulder. "Wach your tongue, kid," he said, taking another sip of the smoke. "No one talks like that to a Diamond Rank hunter—no. No one talks like that to a Royal Knight. Actually, there was. Two who spoke ill the same as you did lose their tongue. Eventually gutted. You're only alive because you have Silverthorn's token."

Ned leaned closer to the Hunter, who for now, learned that he was a Royal Knight as well with the kingdom's emblem etched over his armor. "I said." Ned began to utter words he long kept. "I will kill him."

This was a moment for him to let out the anger swelling inside him. Thump-thump was the sound of his heart. If things go south, he would use Overclock to leave through the door behind him. The only question Ned wanted an answer to was, how fast was he? If Hunter Brogan was as fast as Ser Edwin, then he might not stand chance in the long run. Another question was if the door is locked? Then his movements would be delayed by seconds. But seconds was all Hunter Brogan needed to take Ned. And another second Ned can't spare.

Ned focused and readied to summon the broken Butterfly. His right hand extended to the token the hunter was holding and infused his mana to it, giving it another glow.

Brogan sighed and said, "And the Silverthorn gave you his token so that you can become a Hunter and kill him?"

Ned let the silence linger in the air. He had said enough, it would be a waste to repeat himself.

"I wanted to hold on to this," Brogan said after the light on the token dimmed off. "But I am not in the position to do it. You came for the Exam, and you will have it. Now..." He paused to let the words sunk to Ned. Ned on the other took ease. "If ever you get to become a Hunter. I will take this token and send this to the Capital. I wasn't asking... I will look for you if you try to hide from me. And boy, let me tell you this—that gryphon ain't for a show."

"No need to," Ned said and yank the token off the Hunter. "I will find you myself."

It was at this time that Ned's chest thumped so hard he could barely hold the rush of thrill running his veins. No. Coming from the golden Core that remained silent for a long time as though saying 'Challenge accepted.'

Ned grinned, unknown to him. It was too acute, Brogan didn't have time to notice as he yanks himself off the chair.

"Now," he said walking to the door behind Ned. "We focus on the Exam. I can't tell you much about it since I'm only stationed to ensure the safety of the participants, and the island. But as you may have noticed, kid. There were different rooms?

"Hunter Nara already explained to me that you came from the south wing of the castle. And you disabled an Illusion Array in mere 4 seconds. I thought it was just luck, but there must be a reason why Silverthorn handed you his token. The south wing part is the place you weren't supposed to be. For a candidate to be recommended by a Diamond Rank hunter, you have a different treatment. The room you were in before."

Hunter Brogan paused and open the door where they came from. The two then proceed to a narrow passage and going back to the room where Ned was anticipating the roasted meat for free.

Ned walked and followed the Hunter. He was indeed a kid with his body being towered by a giant like Brogan. Their shadow danced against the torches attached to the wall.

"The room you were in is where Silver to Diamond rank recommend candidates were grouped together. The kingdom needed to ensure that most of you have to pass the exam. War with the Empire currently is a slow one, and it taxes our soldier. Then there's the Northern Kingdom trying to reclaim territories. But that doesn't mean the Association and the Kingdom will accept just anyone. They, also you, needed to be tested. So, if you didn't get to pass the exam then it means you're not worth both the token and the title of a Hunter. Wait—" He passed and spun his broad shoulder to Ned. "How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"What!"

The door behind the Hunter bulged open and a pair of men in blue uniform dashed toward Hunter Brogan. "Master Brogan. Is everything all right?"

It took a full minute for Brogan to answer the pair of hunters who were left hanging.

"Everything is fine," Hunter Brogan said, almost choked on his saliva. "You may leave."

After the two left Silver Rank hunter left, Brogan continued. "You might be the youngest candidate. If you ever passed, you will be the youngest hunter the Sudden Plate will produce... Oh-ho! Master Hunter Leerak would be please."

The turn of the Hunter's gear was too sudden to Ned but he remained quiet. It doesn't matter to him if he was the youngest. What he wanted was for the exam to start so that he could proceed to find a way to remove the Mark off of him.

But before that, Ned thought after the door opened. He was once welcomed, or unwelcomed by the glares.

Ned narrowed his eyes. Not to the glaring candidates but the roasted meat by now half of it was eaten.

After the Hunter Brogan left, none bothered to talk to Ned as he went to approach the remaining meat.

Still, a good amount of stares he was feeling behind his back.

After eating, Ned now got the chance to examine the candidates around him. There were 16 all in all, not including the 12 hunters in blue uniform standing on each side. And in front of them was a curtain that encompasses half of the wall. Below this curtain was a slightly elevated platform.

Moments later, the door near the far end of the room opened and came along a lady in another blue uniform but was grandeur than the room itself. She wore her hair in a pony. She got earrings that gleamed under the light of the torches. The moment she walked in, all eyes were on her even the men in a blue uniform.

She stopped in the center of the elevated platform and was followed along by a handful of other men and women in a blue uniform.

"Candidates," she announced, full lips flushing red. "8 hours from now. Sudden Plate Hunter Exam will start!" Necklace flashing diamond under the light.