Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 50: Chapter 50 - The White Sword Hunter ( Part 4)

Examination Hall Three was not something Jennie had anticipated.

Instead of a normal room...

It was a giant indoor arena created out of highly-polished granite and layered with many levels of protective magic spells.

High pillars reached out towards the high ceiling.

There were glowing runes along the walls that absorbed any mana that would be released as a result of the fight.

Many rows of seats overlooked the arena where veteran hunters watched every new generation of applicants.

In the air there was an aroma of steel, leather, and dedication.

Everyone there had come for the same reason.

To become a hunter.

Jennie silently entered the hall.

Almost a hundred applicants had gathered already.

Some were adjusting their swords.

Some were meditating to relax themselves.

Some were laughing loudly to hide their fear.

Jennie stayed in the rear of the hall.

It was easier to blend with others this way.

Unfortunately...

Not everyone there wanted to stay anonymous.

A tall young man with broad shoulders looked at her and laughed.

"Hey."

Jennie raised her head.

"...Yes?"

"Did you lose?"

Jennie blinked.

"No, I haven’t."

"It’s the Hunter Exam."

"I know."

He looked at her from top to bottom.

Her simple traveling outfit.

Her young face.

Her delicate figure.

He scratched his head.

"...Are you watching the exam?"

Jennie politely smiled.

"No."

"I’m taking part in it."

Several applicants heard it.

One of them raised an eyebrow.

"For real?"

Another applicant chuckled.

"For such a pretty lady, you look like a librarian, not like a hunter."

Jennie didn’t mind.

She just smiled.

"I do enjoy books."

They all laughed.

One of them gently patted her shoulder.

"Don’t worry."

"If you fail, you’ll have to come again next year."

Jennie sincerely nodded.

"Thank you."

From the observation platform above...

An old examiner was watching the scene.

His name was Cedric Valen.

He was a veteran A-Rank Hunter with more than forty years of experience.

Along with him there was another examiner named Mira Solis, a calm woman known for her extraordinary mana perception skills.

Cedric stroked his beard.

"Interesting."

Mira followed his gaze.

"The girl with the white hair?"

"Yes."

"She seems to be very calm."

Mira closed her eyes for a second.

"I cannot feel her mana properly."

Cedric frowned.

"Hidden?"

"Or...extraordinarily controlled."

Suddenly...

A loud bell sounded throughout the hall.

CLANG!

Immediately...

All conversations stopped.

A middle-aged man dressed in a black coat stepped on the arena floor.

His voice naturally reached everyone in the hall.

"Welcome."

"I am Master Examiner Roland Graves, B-Rank Hunter and supervisor of today’s qualification examination."

He looked around the hall.

"Today..."

"One hundred and twelve applicants entered this hall."

"By sunset..."

"Not all of you will remain."

The mood became very serious.

Roland continued.

"The Hunter Association doesn’t want reckless heroes."

"We need professionals."

"Your power is meaningless if you put civilians in danger."

"Your talent is meaningless if you have no discipline."

"Think about it."

Jennie silently nodded.

These words...

She agreed with them.

The examiner raised his hand.

"The exam consists of four stages."

On the background of him a magical screen appeared.

Stage One

Physical Assessment.

Stage Two

Weapon Proficiency.

Stage Three

Mana Control.

Stage Four

Practical Combat.

"In order to pass you should show your consistency."

"One impressive demonstration won’t get you anywhere."

The first stage started.

The applicants ran around the giant arena.

They climbed the stone walls.

Balanced themselves on narrow beams.

Lifted up heavy enchanted weights.

Almost everyone finished tired.

Jennie went slowly on purpose.

She could have run there in a few seconds.

But...

She walked at the pace of a well-trained teenager.

Finishing the race comfortably in the middle of the group.

Cedric nodded.

"Very good endurance."

Mira silently observed.

"...She could have done it faster."

Cedric glanced aside.

"You noticed that?"

She simply nodded.

The second stage came.

Weapon demonstrations.

Applicants were able to choose whatever weapon they needed.

Greatswords.

Spears.

Axes.

Daggers.

Bows.

Magic staves.

Jennie went to the weapon rack.

She didn’t pay attention to magnificent enchanted swords.

Instead...

She took the simplest steel training sword.

One applicant laughed.

"Even her sword is ordinary."

Jennie liked it like that.

Her turn came.

A line of wooden enchanted targets appeared in the arena.

The task was simple.

Strike accurately.

Demonstrate control.

Nothing extraordinary.

Jennie took a deep breath.

Ordinary, she reminded herself.

Be ordinary.

She stepped closer to the targets.

First strike.

Second strike.

Third.

Every hit was delivered perfectly in the middle of the target.

Neither too hard nor too gentle.

Absolutely perfect.

The targets split in two.

Silent.

Cedric blinked.

"...This..."

Mira finished the sentence.

"Perfect basics."

Roland checked the cuts on the targets.

"No wasted movement."

"No excessive strength."

"...Interesting."

Jennie silently returned the sword.

Mission completed.

She tried to be ordinary.

At least...

She believed so.

Examiners disagreed.

Cedric leaned forward.

"Did you see?"

Roland nodded slowly.

"Every strike uses the minimum necessary force."

Mira quietly smiled.

"This level of control is not ordinary."

"The applicants usually rely on their strength."

"But she uses her precision."

Cedric crossed his arms.

"...Someone trained her well."

The third stage was coming.

Mana Control.

Crystal spheres floated above the arena.

Applicants had to channel mana into them.

Too much mana...

The crystal sphere exploded.

Too little mana...

Nothing happened.

Jennie frowned slightly.

Mana.

Her biggest advantage. freёweɓnovel.com

And also...

Her biggest threat.

She carefully put her hand on the crystal sphere.

Inside her body...

Mana Core given to her by Goddess Miasa gently pulsated.

"No."

She whispered internally.

"Not you."

Instead...

She channeled a tiny thread of ordinary mana.

Slowly.

Carefully.

The crystal sphere glowed softly blue.

Steady.

Well-balanced.

Perfect.

Examiners looked at each other.

Roland muttered,

"...Again."

Cedric smiled.

"She didn’t make even a single mistake."

The nearby applicants began to whisper among themselves.

"Who is that girl?"

"I don’t know her."

"She’s not trying to show herself."

"She’s just..."

"...very good."

Jennie silently left the crystal sphere.

She smiled for herself.

Excellent.

Still ordinary.

High above...

Mira covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"She really thinks she blends into the crowd."

Cedric chuckled.

"I almost pity her."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn’t realize..."

"...that she is currently one of the highest scoring applicants in today’s exam."

Jennie, on the other hand, patiently awaited the fourth stage of the exam.

Totally unaware...

That her understanding of "ordinary" was already far above the abilities of most of the hunters.