Chapter 10: Test (1)

Despite their differing views on Teacher, they were friends for fifteen years.

Ion had given heartfelt advice, but Saeon only stared into his eyes in silence.

A pause hung between them.

Finally, Saeon muttered bitterly:

“You haven’t changed at all.”

Ion felt the same bitterness.

Saeon still clung to misguided beliefs.

Why couldn’t he see?

Denying reality and struggling only dragged him deeper into the mire…

“No matter what you say, we’re going to let the world know we’re alive. Looks like we’ll clash often from now on. Sorry about that.”

His tone betrayed no trace of apology.

If that was the case, Ion had only one thing to do.

He stood slowly, scanning the surroundings. Saeon, with an “oops,” quickly stood and backed away.

“Gonna punish me right away for being a problem? Thinking, ‘Break an arm and a leg, and he’ll behave’? Our Onon’s ruthless. Big brother’s scared to death.”

Ion summoned his flaming sword without a word. Saeon, who’d seen it countless times, smirked.

“Still that magic, huh? Think you can take me without skills?”

The orphans all knew about Ion’s magic. They knew it was mana-based.

What they didn’t know was that it consumed vitality too.

“One question.”

“For Onon, I’d answer ten.”

“Did you foresee this incident and come today? To clean up your image as a savior?”

Saeon, who’d acted like he’d answer anything, gave a cryptic smile.

“How could we foresee it? You don’t actually believe we have foresight skills, do you?”

“Then how’d you know it’d be today? The novel didn’t specify a date.”

“Didn’t foresee it… we made it happen. We planned the first monster escape for today. Worked hard on it, but I didn’t expect you to be here. The world doesn’t always go as planned.”

Another question formed in Ion’s mind.

If this was all planned, why today?

Out of all the Fridays, why did the monsters have to escape today?

The answer wasn’t hard to find.

“Big brother, are you a Hunter? Yul wants to go in too!”

Yul, the kid on the field trip.

The youngest monster ecologist who’d discover awakening conditions in ten years.

His name was…

“So, did you save Hwang Yul properly?”

Saeon’s face hardened coldly.

Mentioning Hwang Yul was clearly the right call.

After a brief moment, Saeon donned his serpentine smile again.

“Our Onon’s so sharp. Seeing you like this, I wonder why our baby got so perceptive—it breaks my heart.”

“…”

“Yeah, it went as planned. Became his savior. His cheeks were chubbier than expected. Cute kid.”

Ion couldn’t fathom why Saeon wanted to be Hwang Yul’s savior. Yul only appeared near the novel’s end, with little impact on the main plot.

Whatever the reason, Saeon had orchestrated a major story event and planned to keep doing so. He needed clear punishment.

Whoosh. The flaming sword blazed. Saeon flinched and stepped back. Ion, gripping the sword with both hands, charged. He had no intention of killing a friend who’d survived alongside him. Just disabling an arm or leg for a while.

Whoosh!

Ion stopped short of Saeon. Seeing him standing there, hands in pockets, smirking without reacting, Ion lowered his arms.

“What’s your game?”

“You think I’d meet our Onon without a plan, knowing your temper?”

“…”

“Shed. My skill. I’m telling only you, so remember it well.”

Saeon’s body glowed purple and dissolved instantly.

The snake-like man vanished, leaving only a gray husk before Ion.

“…”

Ion nudged the husk with his foot. Crackle… It scattered into the air, though no breeze blew.

“A fake clone.”

Learning Saeon’s hidden skill was a gain.

As expected from someone obsessed with snakes—his awakened abilities matched him perfectly.

“Next time, I won’t let you off.”

Of course, Saeon would come prepared then too.

Ion dismissed his flaming sword and turned away.

Days passed.

Ion roamed rural areas, tackling obscure dungeons. But he didn’t find a single material item he needed.

As time slipped by without results, the Hunter Association announced the bidding system.

Not only was the timing different from the novel, but there was another change: teams could apply.

The conditions were simple: teams needed melee and ranged combat, defense and healing, and buffs or debuffs support roles. Other details didn’t matter. Even mixed-guild teams were fine.

Many guilds, including D-NATE, formed teams with 90% guild members and 10% mercenaries.

Horizon was forming a team too, centered on Jin Seongha, selecting members to synergize with his skills. Hunters were buzzing with excitement.

But they weren’t holding open applications.

Based on their data, Horizon sent test invitations to a select few.

Ion received one.

[010-0000-0000: Here’s the test link. I can’t make it that day, so show the message to our guild member. Thanks for helping^^]

Daon thought Ion was helping, but Ion believed Horizon had to take the Moniti Dungeon. Even if begged not to, he’d help.

And…

‘The Moniti Dungeon was so rich in resources it birthed the term “material dungeon.” The items I need might be there…’

So Ion came to Ganghwa Island for the team selection test.

A tent was set up in front of an oval gate shimmering like a heat haze.

People discussing something on tablets spotted Ion and approached, wearing Horizon’s blue horizontal-line emblem.

“Ion, Corps Leader of Ion Mercenary Corps?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

Ion showed the test link from Daon.

“B-rank weapon summoning skill, melee combat role, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Confirmed. I’m Team Leader Lee Jina, test supervisor. Go prepare. One person’s still missing, so we’ll enter once they arrive.”

“Got it.”

So that’s Team Leader Lee Jina. She appeared in the novel, but without a physical description. Short hair, strong presence.

‘If I’m entering a dungeon with Lee Jina… I need to be careful with my abilities.’

Lee Jina was meticulous. Any slip, and she might realize he was more than B-rank—or even non-awakened.

Ion entered the tent.

“…”

“…”

The noisy tent fell silent. Five mercenaries glanced at him, sizing up their competition.

Ion observed them too. A muscular bald middle-aged man, a young man with short hair and a gentle face—ages varied.

They’d pick three. Ion was a shoo-in, so including the missing person, two of the six would join him.

Only one chair was empty. Ion placed his bag with a Sansevieria plant on it and stood beside it.

A mercenary spoke up.

“Putting a bag where people sit? Must be something precious in there.”

“…”

“Lots of people think awakening means big money, buy luxury goods, then end up in debt. You one of them?”

“Hey, why pick a fight? You’ve been snapping at everyone who walks in.”

The bald middle-aged man scolded the short-haired youth and approached Ion.

“I’m Bae Younghoe, Vice Leader of Peanut Mercenary Corps. You?”

“Ion, Ion Mercenary Corps. Nice to meet you.”

Ion smiled and bowed slightly.

“You’re the leader?”

“Yes.”

“Huh.”

Normally, this led to age questions, but Bae Younghoe’s cheek twitched as he held back. Instead, he asked:

“Nice to meet you, Corps Leader Ion. You’re support too, right?”

“…Support?”

“Yeah. Everyone here’s support. Looks like Horizon’s picking support staff today.”

Ion thought, This is a hassle. He’d trusted Daon too much.

“I’m melee combat.”

“Hm?”

“Melee?”

“Close-range?”

“Not support?”

The others perked up.

“Finally, a combat type.”

“Man, we’re supporting a kid like this?”

Without a combat Hunter, their impressive support skills were useless, and Horizon couldn’t test them.

So Daon had placed Ion here to test them.

“Then… you’ve already passed the test?”

“No, I’m not confirmed either.”

“So we’re in the same boat. Let’s do well.”

Bae Younghoe smiled warmly and offered a handshake. Ion took the thick hand briefly and let go.

“The last guy’s not here yet. Another support?”

“Probably ranged. Jin Seongha can do both melee and ranged, so they’re likely picking supports that work for both.”

The prickly youth answered.

“Whoever it is, I wish they’d hurry. Waiting by a gate’s making me antsy.”

Ion quietly pulled out his phone.

[Me: So I’m supposed to assist with their test?]

[010-0000-0000: Please do^^ We’re in this together.]

[Me: Can I fail them all?]

[010-0000-0000: You’re so bad at jokes. Don’t worry. Met Team Leader Lee? As you know, she’s sharp and will handle the supervisor role well.]

That was the problem. Lee Jina was so sharp Ion had to disguise his magic as skills.

[010-0000-0000: Met that character yet? What’s he like?]

[Me: That character?]

[010-0000-0000: Not here yet? He was always late in the novel too.]

[010-0000-0000: You’ll know him when you see him.]

Ion tilted his head. Footsteps approached, and someone flung open the tent flap.

“Phew, almost missed the test. Hey, everyone!”

A young man with vibrant blonde hair appeared. Piercings in both ears, a charismatic vibe. The moment Ion saw his bold smile, he knew.

Hong Insu.

A major early villain in Hunter and Hero.