Chapter 15 : The Hunters Test 3
“WOAH!! THIS PLACE IS HUGE!!” Ryl shouted.
“Shhh! Calm down!” Aspen hissed.
In front of them stood a massive mansion, practically glowing like a fairytale castle.
Aspen approached a guard. “Excuse me, sir. We came for a delivery—it's important, and I need to get it signed by Mister Valen.”
The guard opened the gate and pointed the way in.
The inside was even more breathtaking—a beautiful garden with a fountain where swans glided around lazily. Flowers of every color decorated the space, and a sweet scent drifted through the air.
“Aspen…” Ryl whispered.
“What now?”
“How much money do you think we’d get if we sold this whole estate?”
The guard froze mid-step and shot Ryl a deadly glare.
Aspen immediately stomped his foot. “Ahaha—Ryl. What a terrible joke.”
The guard sighed and continued.
Inside, the floor shone like polished marble, reflecting the warm glow of the chandelier above.
“Please wait here. I’ll go inform him,” the guard said as he moved.
They nodded and waited.
Soon, a tall, lean man descended the stairs—every step elegant.
“Thank you for delivering this. That was fast,” he said, taking the boxes.
“It’s our responsibility, sir. Please sign here.” Aspen handed him the form.
While he signed it, Aspen’s eyes drifted to a family portrait hanging on the wall.
Once they got the signed form, they left the estate.
On the way back to the inn, Aspen walked quietly, clearly deep in thought.
“Aspen?” Ryl called.
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No response.
“HEY, ASPEN!!”
Aspen flinched. “Huh?! Did you call me?”
“Yes! What were you thinking so hard about?”
“Did you notice that painting in the mansion?”
“No. I was busy staring at the chandelier…”
Aspen sighed. “It was the Valen family portrait.”
“It’s their house. Obviously they’d hang theirs.”
“That’s not the point. Dior was just a kid in that painting… and he looked really happy. And there was a little boy with him.”
“Probably his brother. So what?”
Aspen hesitated. “…I heard he died.”
“What?!” he paused mid-step.
Aspen nodded. “Two men were talking about it at the guild yesterday. It happened about ten years ago.”
“That’s… really sad. Dior always looks gloomy. Maybe he misses him.”
“I think so too.”
“How did he die?”
“No idea. No one seems to know.”
They walked the rest of the way in silence.
That night, heavy rain poured down. Cold wind slipped through the window gaps, and the quiet whistle of the breeze filled the room.
The next day…
The ground was crowded with participants. The floor was still damp from the rain, holding the prints of countless boots. The sweet smell of wet soil lingered.
The instructor stepped out, and the noise died instantly.
“For the second round, you’ll be placed in random groups. The selection will be done through numbered tokens.”
Two helpers brought out a box full of tokens.
“Draw one, open it, and find others with the same number. That will be your group.”
Everyone stepped forward to take theirs.
Ryl peeked at Aspen’s token. “Ohhh! Twenty-seven!! Same as me! Aspen, we’re saved! I thought I’d be separated from you!”
He hugged Aspen dramatically.
“Yes, yes… I’m happy too,” Aspen said, clearly not matching Ryl’s level of excitement, but a faint smile played on his lips.
“So we still need three more members. I wonder who they’d be.”
Stare…
Aspen suddenly felt chilly.
“…Ryl, I feel like someone’s watching us…” he whispered.
“It’s your imagination!” Ryl waved him off.
“And I wish we get beautiful girls on our team!”
Aspen gave him a look.
“Don’t look at me like that! It makes me sound like a pervert!”
“You are.”
Before Ryl could complain, someone approached.
“Is your token number twenty-seven?” A voice as smooth as silk.
They turned.
It was… Dior.
“Yes!” Aspen brightened. “I’m glad we’re on the same team!”
“No need to be happy about it,” Dior replied flatly.
“Great… we got the coldest iceberg alive,” Ryl muttered.
“Ryl—!” Aspen gasped.
Dior stared at him.
Ryl smirked. “What? Feel bad?”
“No. Sounded like a compliment.”
Aspen compressed his chuckle, placing a hand on his mouth.
“THAT’S AN INSULT YOU MORON!!” Ryl roared.
“Fine. Whatever.”
“I SAID IT’S AN INSULT!!”
“Aren~!”
A bright, cheerful voice cut through.
Everyone turned.
Ellie fluttered toward them, literally flying with her tiny wings.
“Aren!! We’re in the same group! It must be our divine destiny!”
“Divine destiny doesn’t work on demons like you.” Ryl muttered.
Ellie glared daggers at him.
“Ryl, shut up!” Aspen scolded.
“I’m also glad we have a familiar face in our group.” he added with a gentle smile.
Ellie went straight into fantasy mode—again.
His words echoed in her mind as if a hundred bells chimed.
“Aren!! Don’t be fooled! She must’ve snatched a token that matches ours!”
“W-what are you talking about?! I-I definitely didn’t steal it from my friend!”
Ryl gave her a look. She turned away.
“It’s fine, Ryl. Don’t scare her.”
Ryl glanced at Ellie as she gave him a murderous glare.
Gulping hard, he mumbled to himself.
“…I’m the one who’s scared.”
Aspen looked around. “We’re still missing one member.”
“E-excuse me!”
A tiny voice squeaked.
“Is… is this group twenty-seven?”
A trembling girl stepped forward.
Ryl brightened up as he saw her and leaned toward her.
“Hey~ What's your name? You look cute and totally my type. Want to hang out with me? I saw a new restau—”
Bonk!
Aspen smacked his head.
“WHY ALWAYS THE HEAD?!”
“And why do you never behave?!”
“I was just introducing myself!!”
“By terrifying her?!” Aspen pointed. The girl was already hiding behind Ellie, trembling.
“S-sorry… I didn’t mean to…” Ryl mumbled.
Aspen sighed, then right as the instructor spoke again—
“Silence! The second round will be held in the Valley of Morrigon, where mid-rank beasts thrive. Your task is simple: survive, and kill at least one. Time limit: twelve hours.”
Everyone’s faces turned pale.
“We have to go to a valley…? That’s easy.” Ryl said.
“Are you sure?” Dior pointed at Ryl’s legs.
“You’re shaking.”
“I-It’s only b-because of you!! N-not because I’m scared!!”
“Mhm...” Dior nodded slowly.
“What?! Even your shadow shivers from you! You’re that cold!”
“It’s not funny.”
“And it's not a joke!!”
“Fine, stop it. There’s nothing to be scared of.” Aspen patted his head, smiling.
“I’M NOT SCARED!!”
Dior glanced at him.
For a moment… he genuinely saw a puppy.
He snorted and quickly turned away.
Aspen watched him and smiled to himself.
*****
