I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 45. Promotion Exam (2)
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The shrill alarm jolted me awake in the sprawling mansion, and upon seeing the notification about the Hunter exam, I yawned and hurriedly began my preparations.
About ten days had passed since the Dungeon Blackhole incident, during which I had refined my mythic-grade stats now elevated to F-rank and spent time on personal maintenance.
Naturally, I had also received sufficient compensation from the Miracle Guild.
I retrieved a single black wing from my inventory. It remained sealed, still in its [Normal-F] grade item state.
‘I’ll need to visit the Black Market again.’
Just as I had unsealed the first holy wing, unsealing the demonic wing would require items related to demonic power.
Holy power and demonic power—two opposing extremes of magical attributes, each possessing rare-grade status.
Some might question how a supreme-tier constellation could possess merely rare-grade demonic power, but the true form emerges when these two wings unite.
‘When the two stats and the power of Pride combine, a new stat will be born.’
It would undoubtedly be a mythic-grade stat. I’m uncertain of its exact nature, but the invader from before regression who possessed three wings displayed an overwhelmingly gray magical aura—that must be the result.
I returned the wing to my inventory and left the house. Upon arriving at the promotion exam venue by taxi, the place was predictably swarming with people.
Since this was the promotion exam day for the lowest-ranking [F- to F+] grade Hunters, there were noticeably fewer people than during the previous license exam.
Yet the crowd was undeniably substantial regardless.
As I finally pushed through the throng and entered the Association building, the crowd parted before three vehicles as if Moses himself had split the Red Sea.
Upon seeing the same vehicles I had witnessed once before, I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
“When did you apply?”
As if this situation were perfectly natural, the bodyguards opened the center car door, and Seo Mi-na emerged from within.
Our Seo Hwa Group Princess glided through the crowd with an arrogant and dignified air, entered the lobby, and upon spotting me watching her, her eyes sparkled as she approached.
“You came?”
“What? When did you apply? You didn’t even tell me on purpose.”
To my question, Seo Mi-na shrugged her shoulders as if she had accomplished something remarkable.
I couldn’t bring myself to say this wasn’t praise, so I simply nodded and turned to head inside.
Fortunately, thanks to the Dungeon Blackhole incident, my curse power had been significantly depleted, so I anticipated no major issues this time. Conversely, my fortune wouldn’t be able to exert itself either.
‘I’ve always had poor luck anyway, so what could possibly happen?’
Unless something impossibly absurd occurred—like another Dungeon Blackhole manifesting inside the Association itself—there should be no problems.
With that thought, I calmly proceeded toward the exam hall.
“Yes. Examinee number 444. Shin Ju-ha confirmed.”
Number 444—I had been assigned such an inauspicious number?
Suppressing the unease, I reminded myself that my curse power couldn’t exert itself and took my seat.
The promotion exam is straightforward.
First, the preliminary test measures basic stats, and passing a certain threshold means passing.
Next, the secondary test involves sparring against an Association Examiner, and receiving their acknowledgment means passing.
Finally, the tertiary test requires clearing an Association-managed dungeon with a randomly assigned five-person team to pass.
Remarkably simple. Aside from the fact that this exam is designed for Hunters using the [F] grade designation and allows up to three-tier promotion due to the massive variable of promising prospects, it differs in no way from other promotion exams.
Naturally, as the top-ranked applicant, I took the three-tier promotion exam, advancing directly from [F-] grade to [E-] grade.
‘Most promising prospects request three-tier promotion outright.’
Having joined various guilds and received substantial support, rapid growth was inevitable.
I manifested the Sun’s Eye and observed Seo Mi-na. Her status window came into view.
『Status Window
Name: Seo Mi-na
Titles: Avatar of the Thunder Spirit Tree (Mythic-S+), World Destroyer (Legend-SSS)
LV 18 (77%)
Stats
Soul Force (Ancient) F-(95/100)
Swift Movement (Unique) F(33/100)
Growth (Unique) F(17/100)
Thunder Spirit (Mythic) F(45/100)
Remaining Points: 0
Unique Ability
[Thunder Spirit Tree (Seedling-Mythic) LV 1]
Skills
[Lightning Step (Unique) LV 4][Thunder Fall Spear Technique (Ancient) LV 2]…』
I couldn’t help but marvel. So this is what happens when you throw enough money at the problem.
‘This is insane.’
Despite lacking the absurd abilities and future knowledge that I possessed, her stats and skills were on an entirely different level. It suddenly struck me just how much of a precious jewel of the Seohwa Group she truly was.
How many more elixirs and skill books were being prepared for her?
Well, not that I envied her. I had access to far more elixirs and weapons than she did.
‘Probably, the 3rd Floor of the Golden Tower is where you can learn skills.’
After items and equipment, skills would be the natural progression, wouldn’t they?
I wasn’t sure exactly how they’d distribute them. It could be like the 1st Floor where you pick what you want and use it directly, or like the 2nd Floor where they materialize through a medium like Man-byeon.
The only certainty was that I’d need to open the 3rd Floor to find out.
‘I received plenty of bonus points from clearing Dungeon Blackhole, so my ownership percentage has risen quite a bit.’
Still not even 15% yet, but it would climb gradually. While I waited with that thought, the Examiners entered and led the F-rank Hunters down to the underground.
A vast measurement hall greeted us first. As if it were routine, the Examiners divided the candidates and began taking measurements.
It didn’t take long. I performed adequately throughout the measurements, carefully controlling my display.
‘Perfect.’
My results showed exactly the level of stats you’d expect from a promising prospect. Seo Mi-na looked at my results sheet and then at me with suspicious eyes, but the measurements were already complete.
‘Everything going smoothly and quietly is the best!’
I smiled contentedly and moved on to the next test venue, and the sparring match also went without difficulty, earning a passing score.
This time, I put in a bit more effort and defeated the Examiner. A promising prospect should at least be able to beat an E-rank Examiner who had given up on growth, so I fought while carefully controlling my strength.
‘At this level, couldn’t I beat even a D-rank Hunter?’
It was possible because the Giant’s Heart was doing its job perfectly. The fact that raising the Limitless stat also raised the Sun stat—was there any skill more broken than that?
Time passed like that. After finishing the second test and even the meal break, we finally stood before the third test—the final gate and what was called the real examination.
“Now I’ll announce the team members for each test! Those who meet the conditions written on the signs in front, gather quickly!”
F-rank promotion group. F+-rank promotion group. E-rank promotion group.
Divided into three groups, Hunters matching each condition lined up, and Seo Mi-na and I took our appropriate positions as well.
A total of 14 people were participating in this E-rank promotion test. Of them, 8 were those taking the one-step promotion test from F+-rank, 3 were those taking the two-step test from F-rank, and the last 3 were those taking the three-step promotion test from F-rank.
‘Unfamiliar faces.’
Among my cohort, there was Seo Ha-na at Rank 2, one hunter at Rank 1, and three others at Rank 1. That meant the rest were from the previous cohorts.
The licensing exam for the next cohort after mine hadn’t been held yet, after all.
Once the promotion exam ended, it would probably be held soon. The Hunter Association typically scheduled things that way.
By that logic, it had already been nearly a month since I became a Hunter.
While I was quietly savoring my satisfaction, the Examiner began calling out team assignments.
“…Lee Ji-ah, Kim Woo-rim, Ma Dong-won, Shin Ju-ha, and one instructor. That’s Team 3. I’m assuming none of you are stupid enough to have missed that, so we’re entering immediately. The dungeon you’ll be entering is a General-B-rank dungeon.”
When I heard the dungeon’s grade and rank, my first thought was absurdly that we could clear it easily at this level.
‘I’ve lost my mind.’
Having cleared a Unique-D+ dungeon once, I seemed to have gotten a bit too cocky.
But I could say this with certainty: if I hadn’t been fortunate and had encountered a different monster instead of the Giant Ant, I would have died without even being able to resist properly.
If the Giant Ant hadn’t been a monster that dumped everything into raw strength with low agility, no mana, and clear weaknesses, and if I hadn’t obtained the Flowing Fire Sword…I probably would have been the one to die.
A Unique-D+ dungeon requires a raid party with at least one hunter of B-rank or higher.
It’s remarkable that someone like me cleared it. Without Equivalent Exchange and mythic-grade stats, I wouldn’t have dared to even hunt a Giant Ant scout.
It was a blessing in disguise. If it had been a different Unique-grade monster, I would have already crossed the river of the afterlife.
‘Dungeons demand caution, and then more caution on top of that.’
That was when Seo Mi-na, who had approached my side at some point, whined for quite a while with a face full of regret that we hadn’t ended up on the same team, before finally returning when the Examiner asked the team members to gather.
I also joined my team members.
They were all individuals with distinct personalities. And since they were all Hunters from different cohorts than mine, I had no prior acquaintance with any of them.
“Hello! I’m Lee Ji-ah, and I’m participating in this promotion exam! I’m a Supporter who can provide buffs and debuffs! Thank you!”
The one who first set the tone was Lee Ji-ah, the sole female Hunter. She was a rare buffer, and a promising candidate aiming for Rank 3 promotion like me.
At a glance, she seemed to have received her license from the cohort before mine.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Woo-rim, and my main weapon is a spear.”
Next was a blonde man with tattoos covering both arms and piercings all over his body, looking like a delinquent. He introduced himself briefly while showing off the spear strapped to his back.
Naturally, his manner of speech was crude.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ma Dong-won! My main weapon is a shield called the Tower Shield! I’ll take on the tank role. With me, you won’t have to worry about taking damage—I guarantee it! Though I’m lacking, I can even do some secondary damage dealing. Looking forward to working with you.”
Next was a man whose sheer size rivaled Gun-dan’s. He introduced himself cheerfully while thumping his chest, and he looked trustworthy.
Next came the participating Examiner.
“I’m Seok Woon. I’m an archer. Nice to meet you. Please, let’s not cause any accidents.”
He looked extremely tired, like an office worker worn down by work.
When it came to my turn last, everyone looked at me.
“I’m Shin Ju-ha. My main weapon is pretty much any weapon. You can think of me as a dealer. I look forward to working with you.”
My third and final exam had begun. I had no idea that the exam itself would be a trap designed to kill me.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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