Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 - The White Sword Hunter ( Part 5)

The atmosphere within Examination Hall Three changed.

The casual conversations disappeared.

Not even the laughing applicants had anything to say any longer.

Only one part remained.

The physical combat examination.

Master Examiner Roland Graves entered the arena’s center.

"The last part of the exam," he announced loudly, "is not about testing which of you is the most physically strong."

There was a pause.

"It is about finding who deserves to become a hunter."

The posture of several applicants straightened.

Roland continued.

"A hunter protects."

"A hunter adapts."

"A hunter survives."

"But pure power is enough to bury many foolish people."

Jennie nodded in silent agreement.

In her past world, she had seen many warriors defeated simply because they underestimated the enemies.

A rumble sounded below the arena.

The floor split apart.

An enormous iron gate rose from the earth.

Behind it...

Dark tunnel stretched into the ground.

The cold air blew into the hall.

Some applicants instinctively tightened their grip on weapons. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Roland smirked.

"This is the Hunter Association’s artificial hunting grounds."

Jennie’s red eyes lit up in interest.

"So, they managed to create it here..."

Excalibur commented softly.

"Quite an impressive feat in this era."

Roland described the rules.

"The practical examination happens in the hunting grounds."

"You will be divided into teams of five."

"There will be one task."

"To defeat the assigned monsters."

"To protect your teammates."

"To get back safe."

"Not a single applicant is expected to fight alone."

Jennie silently repeated the words in her mind.

Protect your teammates.

This...

Is the real test.

The teams were announced.

"Group Twenty-One."

One after another, names were pronounced.

And finally—

"Raven."

Jennie stepped up to the podium.

Four other applicants joined her.

There was a cheerful spear user named Tobin.

There was a shy mage called Mirae.

There was a muscular axe user named Bran.

There was also a young arrogant swordsman, Victor Hale.

Victor looked up and down at Jennie.

"...Great."

"We’ve got a child."

Jennie smiled politely.

"I am fifteen."

"So?"

"And I look twelve."

Bran scratched his head awkwardly.

"Just try to cooperate with us."

Victor scoffed.

"I’ll lead this team."

Jennie thought to herself.

"He’ll be the first to need help.

The iron gate opened.

The five applicants entered the underground hunting grounds.

The tunnel was lit by the glow of mana crystals in the walls.

Artificial as it was...

It perfectly resembled natural cave.

The air felt moist.

The water dripped from the ceiling.

Every sound echoed.

Mirae nervously gripped her staff.

"I don’t like caves..."

Jennie smiled encouragingly.

"We’ll be alright."

A low growl echoed from ahead.

Three pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared in the dark.

Tobin lowered his spear.

"Iron Wolves."

Bran tightened his grip on the axe.

"D-ranked monsters." freewebnoveℓ.com

Victor smirked.

"I’ll deal with them."

Without hesitation...

He ran forward.

Jennie sighed.

Don’t act recklessly.

Victor slashed confidently.

The first wolf dodged the attack.

The second wolf circled around him.

The third wolf leaped from above.

"Look out!"

Jennie shouted.

Too late.

Victor barely raised his sword, but still was thrown onto the cave’s floor.

The weapon fell on the cave floor.

The wolves surrounded him.

Fear shone in his eyes.

Before anyone else could react...

A silver shadow flew.

Jennie.

One smooth movement.

One precise strike.

The blade of her training sword hit the first wolf’s jaw, throwing it away without killing it.

She turned smoothly.

The second wolf went past her, as she deflected its movement in the direction of cave’s wall.

The third wolf lunged.

Jennie sidestepped the beast.

In effortless manner, she struck the pressure point under its neck.

The creature collapsed unconscious.

Silence.

It all happened in less than five seconds.

Victor stared.

"...What?"

Jennie calmly handed him his dropped sword.

"You should keep this."

He took it wordlessly.

His face was brightly red.

Bran laughed aloud.

"Hahaha!"

"You said you’ll take care of us!"

Tobin grinned.

"Looks like you needed help yourself."

Victor opened his mouth.

Then closed it silently.

He couldn’t argue.

They walked further in the cave.

Now...

Victor walked side by side with the group.

Jennie smiled to herself.

The lesson learned without embarrassment.

Good.

Very soon, they came to large underground chamber.

Several formations of crystals were shining beautifully on the cave’s walls.

In the middle...

Large stone chest stood on an ancient platform.

Tobin’s eyes widened.

"A treasure chest?"

Bran smiled.

"Looks like our luck."

Victor stepped forward.

"We have to open it."

Jennie silently raised her hand.

"Wait."

Everyone froze.

"Why?" Bran asked.

Jennie looked around carefully.

The chamber felt...

Too quiet.

The crystals untouched.

No footprints.

No monster carcasses.

She frowned.

"This is a trap."

Victor crossed his arms.

"How do you know?"

Jennie pointed at the dust near the platform.

"Look closer."

Everyone leaned forward.

The footprints ended several meters away.

None led to the chest.

Mirae gasped.

"...You are right."

Jennie nodded.

"When something seems to easy..."

"It usually is."

At the same moment...

The floor shook violently.

BOOM!

The stone platform exploded.

A huge creature emerged from the ground.

Its body resembled armored lizard covered in dark stone scales.

Red eyes glowed with hostility.

Roland’s voice echoed magically in the cave.

"Final target."

"Stone Basilisk."

"Work as a team."

"Subdue it."

The applicants scattered quickly.

Victor gulped nervously.

"...This creature is much larger than the wolves."

Jennie smiled silently.

"Then we have to work as a team."

For the first time since the start of the examination...

Everyone instinctively looked at her.

Without even noticing...

The quiet girl named Raven had become the leader of the group unconsciously.

In the cave’s ceiling, the examiners observed the applicants through magical projection crystals.

Cedric stroked his beard with approving smile.

"She didn’t claim the leadership."

Roland nodded.

"They gave it to her."

Mira’s eyes kept looking at Jennie.

"Natural leadership..."

"...Calm under pressure..."

"...Perfect judgment..."

She smiled.

"I believe that we’ve found something very special."

Meanwhile, Jennie sighed to herself.

I wanted to pass quietly...

Why did it have to happen again?

The Stone Basilisk roared.

The final battle of the Hunter Examination began.