After Emma’s bold question, every candidate watches Tsezguerra in silence.
With a hint of amusement, Tsezguerra announces, “Since there are no more questions, you’re free to explore our private carnival! When the clock strikes 12:30, you can start playing any game you want. A last little hint for you… you’re welcome to line up early! Now, calmly collect your silver coins. If I see even a hint of struggle, I’ll disqualify the offenders immediately.”
It takes just three minutes for the coins to be distributed in an orderly fashion, and then the candidates, moving awkwardly, begin to drift toward the carnival area.
You received Silver Coin x10
Alex inspects one of the coins, unsurprised that it isn’t recognized by his system. Still, he receives a system notification shortly after.
[Main Quest Updated:
Mission: Pass the hunter exam
First Phase: 0/1 Second Phase: 0/1 Third Phase: 0/1 Fourth Phase: 0/1 Fifth Phase: 0/1
…]
Why does it stop at the fifth phase? Alex wonders, annoyed. Are there only five tasks this year? Usually, there are five or six… I guess the system doesn’t plan to spoil anything for us.
He and Shalnark exchange a look, and Alex says, “We’d better hurry and check out which games we have a good shot at. If we wait too long, we’ll end up stuck at the back of the line.”
But Shalnark only grins, holding a phone with tiny devil wings attached, and says slyly, “Go ahead, Alex. I’ll catch up later. It’s more my style to observe for a bit and then decide. We’ve got plenty of time, so I’d recommend you take yours too. I get the feeling these games won’t be as easy as they look.”
Alex doesn’t feel like playing it cool and has no desire to get close enough to Shalnark to risk getting an antenna stuck in him. Taking this as a chance to split up, he heads off to scout the games, though Shalnark’s words do give him pause. Shalnark’s probably right about not rushing in, but every minute counts. Scouting the games now, figuring out what’s available… that’s the smart play, he reasons. I can’t be relaxed when my life’s at stake—I’ll give it my all from the start!
He takes a final look at his stats, deciding that they’ll help him narrow down which games to attempt first.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 220/220, MP: 180/180
STR: 12 (+3), AGI: 12 (+3), PHY: 12 (+2), SNS: 12 (+2), CHA: 12 (+5), MNA: 12, INT: 12 SPR: 12 (+5), LUK: 12
Alex takes a careful look around the carnival. The atmosphere is tense, but strolling past the colorful stalls, listening to the cheerful music, and seeing all the candles, lights, and displays helps him relax a little. He even grabs a small bag of popcorn to steady his nerves. Snacks and drinks are set out freely for the examinees, no ordering required—just sitting on the counters, ready for anyone to take.
As he scans the games, he spots a variety of options: a toughened version of darts, with a throwing distance at least three times the usual, and the classic “Test Your Strength” game, where players strike a target with a heavy hammer to ring the bell at the top of a tower. Given his 14 points in STR, Alex takes a closer look. The games look rigged; even he can tell there are extra weights and modifications slapped onto the setup, making it obvious that only a fraction of each hammer’s impact will actually reach the lever, making the game significantly harder. This “Test Your Strength” game offers multiple difficulty levels, each one requiring more strength to hit the bell. But when Alex sees the rewards, he frowns. What? Only 15 coins for the highest difficulty? You only get 10 silver coins, and 15 isn’t even worth the risk. One failed attempt and you’re practically done for. The lower levels are even worse, awarding just 10 and 5 coins. Only good for a few extra coins if you don’t want to risk too much but are just short of 100, he thinks, recognizing the trap set for the candidates.
Moving on, he spots a shooting game where players have to hit balloons that slide into view and quickly disappear if not shot in time. The twist? The balloons are positioned at a whopping 50 meters (54 yards) away, and to his surprise, the players use an actual gun. The model is unfamiliar, but it reminds him of the Glock he used back in the Purge World. This game seems to require quick reflexes, sharp decision-making, and steady skill with a pistol. I think I’m good with all three of those, Alex thinks, seriously considering it.
He notes the potential rewards: 20 gold coins for hitting 20 out of 25 balloons, 10 coins for hitting 15, and even 5 coins if he manages at least 10 hits. This is surprisingly forgiving—just 15 out of 25, and I’m already averaging the coins I need to pass this phase? Almost sounds too good to be true, he muses. With Pistol Proficiency lvl 3, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 3, and his solid AGI of 15 and SNS of 14, this game seems like a great match for him.
Still, Alex decides to move on for now. There are 10 minutes left before the games officially start, and he wants to see if there are any other options that might suit him even better.
Alex sees a wide range of games relying purely on luck, like a giant spinning wheel divided into 100 sections. The top prize is a hefty 100 gold coins, but only one section out of the hundred wins 100 golden coins, the other prices far lower in value. Should I rely purely on LUK? he wonders. Even with good odds, one unlucky spin could cost me everything. I’d rather use my skills to assure success, like with the pistol game. I don’t need 500 golden coins—I’m aiming for just 100. If things go exceptionally well, maybe I’ll test my luck on these later.
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As he continues exploring, he notices other games, each unique and familiar. One game challenges players to balance the weights of various items without touching them, using only intuition and knowledge. Another familiar sight is the Can Knockdown game, where players throw balls to knock down a stack of tin cans. But something looks off—the balls seem suspiciously light, while the cans look heavier than usual. This one’s probably a scam, he concludes, thinking, Players likely need insane strength to win. Too risky for now. I’d rather watch a few others play before risking it myself.
Alex chuckles when he comes across the classic Hook a Duck game. It looks simple, based on luck and maybe sensitivity, likely demanding a high SNS stat. But on closer inspection, he realizes the sticks with magnets are at least five times longer than usual, and players must stand unusually far from the pool. The ducks are also bigger than expected, while the sticks are as thin as needles, adding an extra layer of difficulty. One wrong move and the duck falls, and you lose your shot. This game isn’t just luck-based; it demands skill too. Way too risky, he decides. The rewards reinforce his conclusion: the jackpot here is also 100 golden coins, but failing might net players only a single coin.
He continues to browse game after game, each setup familiar but twisted into extreme versions of themselves: basketball hoops set at half-court distances, an absurdly long ladder tied at only one point that would throw players off balance with the slightest misstep, and even a simple stand selling lottery tickets that require no skill at all!
Finally, the clock strikes 10:30, and Alex quickly heads to the shooting game where candidates aim at distant, fast-moving balloons using a real gun. He notices a small line forming, with around five people ahead of him. That’s perfect, he thinks, smiling. Enough time to watch others attempt it before my turn comes.
The stall attendant, clearly not a hunter but likely hired as a helper, calls out with enthusiasm, “Welcome, welcome! We’ve already got a few sharpshooters lining up! Please take a moment to read the sign so you understand the rules—there will be no complaints allowed once you’re in, so be sure you understand the game before committing!”
“Enough with the scare tactics! They called me the Pistol Master in the military,” boasts the man first in line, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Your little show doesn’t impress me. I’ll clear this game three times and earn 60 golden coins—easy!” The man, dressed in military garb, wears a wide, self-assured grin.
Alex watches him closely, noting his well-built physique, numerous scars lining his arms, and the two pistols he carries openly. This guy looks like he might actually live up to his own hype, Alex muses, sizing up the man’s confident demeanor.
Finally, the attendant responds, “Apologies for the delay, dear guests! Please go ahead and enjoy the game. You have one spare magazine, giving you a total of 40 shots for 25 targets. I hope you enjoy your time—play to your heart’s content!”
He then holds out his hand, and the soldier tosses a silver coin at him with a rude flick of his wrist. The attendant hands him the gun.
“Wow, this takes me back. I’ve used this old model hundreds of times. My targets were a bit different from these balloons, but this’ll be a nice change,” the ex-military guy says, brimming with confidence.
The attendant shouts, “Get ready in 3, 2, 1—START!”
In an instant, balloons start flying across the target area from one side to the other. Caught off guard by their speed, the soldier still manages to take a shot, barely grazing one of the balloons. But since the target is just a balloon, even a graze counts as a full hit.
As the game progresses, the difficulty ramps up. Multiple balloons appear simultaneously, moving from different directions, some even traveling vertically and horizontally across the area.
The soldier begins missing shots and soon panics, firing wildly until his pistol starts clicking, the magazine empty. Fumbling with the reload, he finally manages to slap the new magazine in place, but by then, most of the remaining balloons are already close to disappearing. His shots grow increasingly desperate and scattered.
Alex watches carefully, but not so much the soldier—he’s focused instead on the patterns and timing of the balloons as they emerge and cross the field. I need to memorize this pattern and compare it with what the next few candidates get, he calculates, ignoring the now-irate soldier who’s shouting in frustration.
“Congratulations, sir! You hit 11 targets. Here’s your prize of 5 golden coins!” The attendant hands the soldier his winnings—a loss in the game, but at least not a complete failure.
“THIS IS UNFAIR!” the man shouts, slamming his hand onto the wooden stand in frustration. “This damn pistol is so old, the magazine doesn’t fit properly. And how do you expect me to hit targets at this distance, especially when the balloons are all over the place? This game’s impossible!”
“Please calm down, sir,” the attendant replies coolly. “I’d hate to involve the examiners if things get out of hand. Besides, you can always try again—you didn’t outright fail, after all.”
The soldier cools off slightly, muttering, “Fine, I’ll calm down. But I’ll be back. You’ll see.” He steps away from the queue but lingers nearby, clearly intent on observing how the next candidates fare.
To Alex’s disappointment, two of the remaining four men in line decide to leave, clearly discouraged by the poor results of the previous shooter. They don’t seem confident in their own skills after seeing the seasoned soldier earn the lowest prize tier, not nearly enough to pass the exam.
The next two candidates ahead of Alex fare even worse, scoring only 5 and 7 hits out of 25 targets, earning nothing in golden coins.
“This game’s a bust! I heard there’s another game where we compete against other examinees, and the winner gets 15 coins. Let’s try that one instead! If enough of us focus on that, close to half of us could pass,” Alex hears one of them say as they leave, frustrated after watching multiple poor performances.
Finally, Alex is first in line, standing face-to-face with the attendant.
“What about you, contestant No. 777? Are you giving up too?” the attendant asks with a faint smirk.
Alex smiles, having made up his mind. He tosses a silver coin to the attendant, grabs the gun, and says with confidence, “You wish!”