Chapter 35: Number One 1
The test results were announced the next day. The university was then filled with mingled joy and sorrow.
“Ah… It fell again.”
“It’s okay. You could do better next month…”
The students had each other’s backs. They were the type of friends who would skip class or have fun at night and of course, they were the type who would console the others who failed the test.
The ratio of succeeding students was 50% and the number of succeeding applicants was unable to be seen. The numbers of those who failed were greater than those who did. Their surroundings were filled with a lot of disappointed faces with a few smiling faces wandering around.
And Jaehwang? Well, of course, he passed. He didn’t memorize everything but he did great on the test with the help from the spirit. He didn’t get help from the spirit on every subject, she just helped him with one subject and he did the remaining ones on his own. He didn’t know everything too well except for those who were considered as common knowledge. He was not smart so he crammed everything into his head for the past month and mastered it.
“Congratulations to those of you who have passed. Tomorrow is the physical fitness test and skill practice so be sure to rest up.”
The instructor came in and explained the upcoming schedule before leaving. Everyone then talked to each other and discussed how hard the test was.
However, Jaehwang did not spend his time there and instead, he went into his room to deal with the burden of his fight. The university’s cost was originally lowered down after the first month but when the director saw Jaehwang’s progress, he started to give him freebies. He didn’t care much so went to spend the night in a motel close to the Korean Hunter Secretariat of Daegu.
He didn’t move just to try and avoid people, he needed to find a place where he could sleep. He needs himself to be in the best condition to pass the physical test and skill practice. He won’t be able to get a good night’s rest since the people who didn’t pass were sure to party till dawn.
He woke up the next day at daybreak. Jaehwang did some light stretching and put on a custom-made vest that weighed up to two hundred kilograms. He ran until he was drenched with sweat, it was the kind of workout he was looking for.
He went back to the motel and dried himself off after running for ten kilometers. He then ate a big breakfast and changed into a newly washed training clothes after he took a shower. He felt refreshed and went back to the hunter secretariat branch office.
There were still people there that showed up before him even though he came early. They all wore training clothes that looked clean and new. A few of the guys had an ideal muscular build and they all stood at the path of the dawn wind, inviting the female students’ subtle glare.
Jaehwang went over to sit on the bench. He wore a plain white colored training outfit and no one noticed him until the class began.
“That…”
Someone walked over towards him and spoke. He looked back and saw a tall person looking down at him. She was wearing a worn out training suit just like Jaehwang and she looked to be in her early thirties.
“You don’t know me but, is it okay if I sit here?”
“Sure.”
Jaehwang approved of her request and she sat down next to him and started to talk.
“I had to wreck my brain out so I could pass that writing test, I’m really worried about what would happen in the physical fitness test and the skill practice.”
“Ah. Me too.”
He didn’t give her that much attention since he was bored but she continued to talk even though he only gave her his disinterested replies.
“Those who had a lot of money specialized their practice in the physical training center and they would also get healthier with the help of some professionals. Sigh… I just came here to learn basic martial arts, I do my workout in the local health center but I don’t know if those people could come along. You seem worried too.”
Maybe the clothes that Jaehwang wore made him look less fit than he actually was. He had no money to spare since the life of a hunter was already full of challenges and despite that, his limits were nonexistent.
“Yea.”
Jaehwang wasn’t someone who really cared about money so he wasn’t concerned about what people thought.
A guy with a muscular figure stood in front of the other students as they continued to talk to each other. He was wearing professional training clothes. He was the guy who’s in charge of the health center in the neighborhood and he mentioned that they were about to train through a systematic balance to get muscles.
“I’m so jealous.”
“He is really cool.”
Jaehwang said as he shook his head. He wasn’t wrong, he did look really cool.
But Jaehwang wasn’t really jealous of his muscles. Of course getting fit like that was not an easy task, it just that it wasn’t his goal. Their goals were so simple. The status window then appeared and he turned the switch to the lowest setting.
He reinforced the strength of his muscles in the status window. His pure strength, speed, and endurance were all still in training. Jaehwang’s build was just right for his style of fighting and with that, his body build does not concern him. The shirt he was wearing was a just a little loose since he was naturally skinny.
That was the reason why the person that sat beside him couldn’t tell that he was quite strong. Jaehwang exactly knew the extent of his abilities and that’s why he was confident that he was much stronger than others. His muscles were compact and dense despite his medium build. No one would be able to compete against him in an actual fight.
There was another thing that the spirit said about Jaehwang’s abilities. While being a Gagseog, he was also distributed and remade by his ancestors. All of the strength from his ancestors that had piled up for the past few hundred years were given to him by the spirit. With that strength, Jaehwang was incomparable with anything or anyone else.
Jaehwang was deep into his thoughts and the person next to him continued to talk before she eventually left the bench. An hour passed by and the other applicants arrived in their cars. There were about fifty of them that showed up.
-Jaehwang, who is that looking at you?
The spirit asked after she noticed that one of the applicants looked at him. He could feel that someone was clearly staring at him as well.
It was an attractive man about 180 centimeters tall. He was wearing an expensive training outfit and looked to be in his early twenties. There were other people there with great muscles but his body looked like a beautifully defined drawing. The girls over his side kept looking as they talked to each other.
-He doesn’t look evil, he just looks kind of annoyed. Maybe you did something to make him angry?
-Oh please…
What the spirit said was not just a joke, Jaehwang could already see that he was angry. He started at him but he then averted his gaze when Jaehwang looked over.
-Do you know that person?
-Sali Song…
-Who’s Sali Song?
***
“Darn…”
He was the current youngest in the Blue Sky clan. Every time he looked back at him he turned away. Jaehwang was trying to ignore it but he just couldn’t. He wasn’t sure about his intentions.
‘He’s a hybrid applicant just like me… He was also first on the writing test…’
The top score for the hunter license writing test wasn’t announced to others as the principal orders but a score of 280 won him the second place so he was curious about who took the first spot. He was known as the university’s number one and that’s how all this started.
His pride was hurt was for the first time. He knew that he was a top hunter in the clan and he was also there for a hybrid license so Jaehwang wanted to know more about him.
“You can never lose to someone like that.”
Sage was the most important thing for the hunter license exam. The day was set for the physical fitness test and skill practice so it was great to see that everyone was ready as they wore their training outfits. They all understood what was going to happen thus, no one wore any shabby clothing.
“He’s here today.”
The fact that he was also there for his hybrid license increased the tension in his surroundings. Today was something he waited and trained for, there was a chance that he would stand above everyone else and get his certificate but he couldn’t deny that the competition would be tough.
“The writing test may be finished but there’s always more left to do.”
Time had passed by and they finished the attendance check before they started the physical strength practice training. They all had received their numbers and Jaehwang was number 11.
“Gather around everyone .”
Jaehwang stuck the number on his chest and walked towards the crowd that gathered in front of the podium. The instructor stood in front of the podium and raised her voice. Her big stomach was outlined by her black training outfit. Everyone could find fault at her florid and indecent way of talking but they could all see that she was a hunter loyal to their country.
She was enthusiastic during her talk and the applicants before her just gave her back a blank stare. She then stepped down from the podium after her speech and issued the participants to start with a ten-kilometer run as the first part of the practice.
“Everyone in the physical strength system, please gather over here.”
The physical strength and magic system participants would have a different experience during the test. Jaehwang who was going for his hybrid license was not so bad at the physical system as a Gagseog.
“You will be carrying a weight of up to one hundred kilograms. Unless you’re putting on a different one, never take off your vest. If you do then you would be eliminated.”
Jaehwang listened to her instructions as he closely examined the issued vest. The one that he usually uses had the same shape and weight except what he got was quite old. He tied the buckle around himself and fastened it as tight as possible. However, it would still dangle on his body every time he tried to move.
He watched as others put on their vests but the size seemed to fit them just fine except for the ones that were handed to the guys. It looked like as if they intended this to happen for the first part of their test.
Number One 1, The End.