The next morning was loud.
Very loud.
Hunters were shouting, metal clanged, and someone was already arguing about breakfast.
"Who ate my meat stew?!"
"Maybe the monsters!"
"I will fight you!"
I slowly stepped outside the small cabin they gave me.
"Why is everyone yelling this early…"
Kael suddenly appeared behind me.
"Morning, rookie."
I jumped.
"Don't sneak up on people!"
"Relax. If you can't sense me, you'll die fast out there."
Comforting.
Very comforting.
She tossed something at me.
I barely caught it.
A small dagger.
"For emergencies," she said.
"Thank you!"
"Don't stab yourself."
"I won't!"
She stared at me for a moment.
"…Probably."
We walked toward a large open field near the camp walls.
About ten hunters were already standing there watching.
Brann stood in the center.
Rylan leaned against a wooden post nearby, silent as usual.
Kael pointed at the field.
"Your test."
I gulped.
A cage stood nearby.
Inside it… something moved.
"Please don't be another giant bug…"
Brann raised his hand.
"Release it."
The cage opened.
A small wolf-like monster walked out.
Grey fur. Sharp teeth. Yellow eyes.
[ Monster Detected
Iron Fang Wolf
Rank: D ]
Oh.
That's smaller than the spider.
Maybe I won't die today.
Kael grinned.
"Defeat it."
The wolf growled.
My system screen appeared.
[ Combat Mode Activated ]
"Okay… okay…"
I raised my hand.
"Spark Shot!"
A small ball of light hit the wolf.
It shook its head.
"…That did nothing."
The wolf charged.
"AHHH!"
I jumped sideways and accidentally used another skill.
"Wind Push!"
A strong gust blasted the wolf backward.
It rolled across the ground.
The hunters blinked.
Kael raised a brow.
"Not bad."
The wolf got up again, angrier now.
It jumped toward me.
My brain panicked.
"System! Help!"
[ Suggestion: Combine Skills ]
"…Combine?"
The wolf lunged.
I threw my hands forward.
"Spark Push!"
A burst of wind and light exploded together.
BOOM.
The wolf flew backward and crashed into the dirt.
Silence.
Then—
[ Level Up!
Hora – Level 3 ]
The hunters stared.
Kael slowly started laughing.
"She just invented a new skill."
Brann nodded in approval.
"Creative."
Rylan watched quietly.
For a second… I thought I saw a tiny smile.
Tiny.
Very tiny.
Kael slapped my back.
"Congratulations, rookie."
"So I passed?"
Brann spoke.
"You passed."
Relief flooded through my body.
Then he added calmly:
"Your first hunt starts tomorrow."
"…What?"
Kael grinned again.
"Welcome to the guild."
Somewhere inside my head, the system screen appeared again.
[ Quest Completed: Prove Your Worth
Reward: Skill Unlocked – Mana Thread ]
And just as I was celebrating—
My bracelet glowed again.
Brighter than ever before.
Only this time…
The system message was different.
[ Hidden Condition Detected ]
My stomach dropped.
"Uh oh…"