Of late, everything had been unusually easy.
Not that Kevin was one to seek battle for glory or recognition, yet the calm made him uneasy. Whenever things went too smoothly, trouble was never far behind.
It didn't help that 127 other players were likely hunting him.
Though the number of potential enemies was known, their locations and abilities remained unknown, a complete mystery. In fact, the players could be anyone, familiar faces or total strangers. In such an unfavorable situation, there was only one thing he could do.
He needed to grow far more stronger than his current self.
That was the goal of Kevin Pierce.
While pondering this, he gathered the last of the chopped wood, stacking the pieces carefully onto a small cart and then pushed the cart through the lively streets of Fortcliff, each turn bringing him closer to Mr. Edward's workshop.
Upon reaching the modest workshop tucked in a quiet alley, he found Mr. Edward overseeing the unloading of supplies from another cart.
"Finally. I was beginning to think you'd taken a nap in the middle of your work."
"All done. That's the last of it."
Edward inspected the pile, nodding with approval.
"Not bad. You'll do. Here's your pay."
He then handed Kevin a handful of Valis, clearly more than his usual pay.
Noticing this, Kevin was a bit surprised.
"What's this... A bonus? Mr Edward, really, you shouldn't have."
"Hehe. What are you talking about? If anything, I should be paying you more. Do you know how much you have contributed to my business? Ever since you started taking on these jobs, my workload's been cut in half. Deliveries are faster, stock is always ready, and I've had fewer complaints from customers. That alone is worth more than a few extra coins."
Edward gestured toward the neatly stacked wood. "And look at that. Clean cuts, consistent sizes. Makes processing easier. Saves me time, saves me effort. Time is money, kid."
Kelvin scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond. Compliments like this were still… unfamiliar.
"I just did what anyone else could've done."
Edward snorted. "If that were true, I wouldn't be standing here praising you, would I?"
Kevin gave a small, awkward smile, ultimately deciding not to argue further. Instead, he said:
"Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"Don't mention it," Edward waved him off. "Just keep up the good work. Oh, and if you're free tomorrow, I might have another job for you. Bigger one this time."
"I'll think about it."
With that, he turned and stepped out of the workshop, the noise of the city gradually swallowing him once more. The streets felt livelier than usual, colorful banners already being strung across buildings in preparation for the Harvest Festival.
He paused for a brief moment, glancing at the pouch in his hand.
This should be enough… for now.
Then his gaze shifted forward, toward the towering structure in the distance.
Guild Association.
Things were bound to become more interesting.
† †
"Sorry for the hiccup. But there is something you have to do."
"What? Did something happen? Is the money lacking?"
"No, no. Nothing of the sort. It's just that, as you may recall, you haven't submitted any of your major documents, so there was a delay because of that. Of course, it's not a major issue, but you still need to be qualified to become a Hunter. Think of it as a form of verification."
"So basically, I need to pass that verification test before I can become a Hunter."
"Precisely. Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience."
"I understand."
That was all Kevin could say.
What had he been expecting? Deep down, he already knew something like this would happen, yet he still chose to hope otherwise. A pointless bit of optimism.
Two months ago, he had entered the Fortcliff Guild Association and filled out the necessary forms to register as a Hunter. However, the essential documents required to complete the process were something he simply did not possess.
It couldn't be helped.
He wasn't a resident of the New World but a recent Transmigrator.
He wasn't a resident of the New World, but a recent Transmigrator. Thus, to the Guild, he was little more than a blank slate. He had even paid a fine of 150 Valis (equivalent to the US Dollar).
The female receptionist offered him an apologetic smile, sliding a thin document across the counter.
"In cases like yours, the Guild conducts a simplified verification trial. Pass this, and you'll be officially recognized as a Hunter."
Kelvin picked up the paper, scanning its contents. His eyes lingered on a few key lines before narrowing slightly.
"A practical test…"
"Yes. We'll be evaluating your combat ability, mana control, and decision-making under pressure. Nothing too excessive, but enough to ensure you won't become a liability."
A liability, huh.
That made sense. The Guild wasn't a charity. They weren't going to hand out licenses to just anyone, especially not someone with no history.
Still…
This was exactly what he needed.
Kevin let out a quiet breath, folding the paper neatly. Then he raised another question:
"When does it start?"
The receptionist's smile returned, a bit more formal this time.
"Tomorrow morning. Report to the training grounds behind the Guild building. Make sure you're prepared."
"Tomorrow? Isn't it possible to do it today?"
"Today? Well… it's not impossible, but the examiners are usually occupied with scheduled applicants. However… there may still be an opening if one of them is available."
"I'll take it."
"You seem quite eager."
"I just don't see a reason to wait."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
Waiting meant uncertainty. Waiting meant wasted time.
And in a death game where over a hundred unknown players existed somewhere out there, time was the one resource he couldn't afford to squander.
"I understand. Please wait here for a moment. I'll check if an examiner is available."
Kevin stepped aside as she moved into a back room, the soft click of the door echoing faintly behind her.
Silence followed.
A few Hunters lingered in the hall, some chatting, others preparing their gear. But Kevin paid it little attention. His mind was already focused ahead.
This is the first time I'll be participating in any kind of test. Honestly, I don't know how to feel. On one hand, I feel anxious. On the other, I'm... excited I think.
Sera wasn't that good of a training partner since she was particularly lazy. So faced with this situation, Kevin thought he had found the perfect opportunity to show off his skills.
Maybe I can really go all out.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips
After a short wait, the door opened again.
"You're in luck," the receptionist announced. "One of the examiners is available and willing to oversee your test today. Please, fllow me."
Without another word, she turned and began walking toward the back of the building with Kevin following behind.