Adventurer's Certificate (3)

Minimizing competitors is a distinctive feature of the Adventurer Examination, as the number of slots is very limited. Regardless of the number of applicants, only fifty slots are allocated for each session, with important figures from various countries and guilds personally involved in the examination process, allowing for the inclusion of new talents or recluses from the community

Victor had not yet fully grasped the reasons behind it when the team began to move, setting off towards Dawo Village to the east of the town, under the watchful eyes of the residents of Mivila.

Victor walked and pondered the content of the exam, not expecting a somewhat overweight man to suddenly squeeze in beside him

"This road only leads to Dawo Village, where are you going and for what purpose?" The visit to the examination venue two days before the exam inevitably raised suspicions in Eric.

In the adventure hall, silence reigned as most candidates were participating for the first time, all attentively listening to the pre-examination guidance, fearing that they might miss any important information

The Tongueless One

The focus of this examination is on three aspects: teamwork, survival skills, and interviews. The second stage, designated for survival skills, is set in the crystal mine near Dawo Village. This area is sparsely populated, with intricate and deep roadways, and is inhabited by underground creatures, making it the most suitable venue for testing survival skills

"That is your true test; only by traversing the lairs of these spider creatures and reaching the end of the road at Dawo Village can you be considered to have passed." Pointing at the road occupied by yellow-brown earth mounds, Eric's proclamation sparked complaints from the crowd behind him

The mercenary group established in his name is quite small, consisting of only five members. In addition to the mage Dalide, who is assigned to Group Two, there is also the rogue Polian, who is hiding among the crowd. Their goal is not to achieve victory, but to use the opportunity of the adventurer examination to showcase the strength of the mercenary group to the dignitaries and high-ranking officials of the guild, thereby securing a few good commissions. If luck is on their side, they might even catch the attention of some major city mercenary guilds.

"Boss, he is not cooperating," Saran whispered to Kaimel.

I have a question. A middle-aged man from the second group raised his hand to ask. After receiving a nod from Eric, he expressed his concerns on behalf of the others: "What kind of spider monster?"

This incident led to Eric being reprimanded by his immediate superior, the proctor of the first level, Buffy

Hey, is this your first time taking an exam? He appeared somewhat out of breath, but his chubby face was filled with smiles

Looking at his attire, he must be a mage, yet he dares to participate in the examination

From now on, the 19th Adventurer Examination officially begins. Let me first explain the rules; those who do not pay attention and make mistakes cannot blame me for enforcing the rules. " It was still Eric speaking, his shining bald head resembling an oversized magic crystal lamp, exuding a remarkable allure: "The examination is divided into five parts: physical fitness, knowledge, teamwork, survival skills, and an interview. Except for the interview, each of the other four sections will have an invigilator in charge. Whether you pass or fail is entirely determined by the examiners and the rules. The order of these four sections is not fixed; before the examination, the examiners will decide the order by drawing lots. Of course... this procedure has already been completed, and all you need to do is to be fully alert and prepare for the challenges. Remember, you are participating in the Adventurer Examination, not a social gathering!"

This journey is not particularly long, and the candidates' covert competition will begin after leaving Miweila Town. During the journey, they must also be wary of those around them, which is quite exhausting. Therefore, most people speculate that the first challenge is "Physical Fitness"

Boss

Cough... Eric cleared his throat and cast a meaningful glance at Victor beside him. The understanding lich raised his tongue and wrote two characters in the air

Spider monster

"With such poor abilities, participating in the exam seems to indicate that obtaining the Adventurer's Certificate is not difficult at all." A group of red-haired youths curled their lips, and their not-so-subtle complaints drew resentful and angry glares from those nearby

Anxiety is a major taboo for assassins. No matter how urgently she wishes to complete her mission, such a fatal mistake should not occur. Felicity and Emma have both failed; she must be more cautious than ever.

Did you see that just now ... ...

"Could this person be both deaf and mute?" speculated Evan, another mercenary performing a duet, suggesting that perhaps he simply did not hear.

I have participated three times and have quite a wealth of experience. The chubby man did not hide his ingratiating demeanor and even extended his short, thick fingers to gesture.

Some have collapsed due to poisoning, others have been incapacitated by drugs, and some have been coerced into withdrawing. Regardless of whether it is voluntary or involuntary, once one separates from the main group, it is considered a failure. Members of the shadow guild, who are quietly lurking nearby, will choose to either provide treatment based on the severity of the injuries or bury the fallen on the spot. Those who are physically unharmed will be taken directly back to the town of Miweila.

The so-called "small troubles" refer to the two best local assassins hired by Cohen Jaladi. They have yet to return, and Eric has already classified them as dead. Thinking of their skills, the president couldn't help but glance at Victor a few more times, feeling an overwhelming sense of frustration towards the profession of mage. A person who cannot even defeat an ordinary individual in hand-to-hand combat is capable of eliminating his own two best subordinates.

Eric looked at the mounds of earth in the center of the road, his brows furrowed to the point of almost becoming knotted—an unplanned change and a *visualization*.

This minor episode was soon forgotten, and although there were occasional conversations, the group as a whole tended towards silence

The journey has only just begun, yet there has already been a change in the number of participants

Kaimel had also privately inquired about the background of a young man named Victor, who was said to have come from an alchemical background and was admitted to the Crystal Dawn Academy with outstanding grades, one of the three most prestigious magic academies in the Southern Continent. Even as a mere novice mage, he was far superior to the magic apprentices in his own team. Furthermore, a mage of the advanced level should be pursuing the construction of their own mage tower or aspiring to become a higher-level archmage. ... To think he would come to take the Adventurer's Certificate exam is simply undermining the balance of the examination; one wonders what the examiners were thinking ... Moreover, a mage of the advanced level should be pursuing the construction of their own mage tower or aspiring to become a higher-level archmage. ... To think he would come to take the Adventurer's Certificate exam is simply undermining the balance of the examination; one wonders what the examiners were thinking ...

Just as I was thinking, the team came to a halt. From the front, sounds of astonishment and discussion could be heard, while those in the back, unable to see the situation clearly, could only wait for the examiner to announce the news

The murmurs behind him rose and fell, neither too loud nor too soft. Victor heard them but did not take them to heart. His silence also somewhat deflated the two mercenaries who had intentionally sought to undermine him in this manner

Puff

"Sarachi." The young man with blonde hair called out his companion's name without turning his head: "Do not get into unnecessary trouble"

"Shut up! Don't you see the mage emblem on his chest? He is an advanced mage who has obtained the qualification of a legitimate mage. A few spells from him could send you flying. Don't cause me any trouble." With a hard slap to Salan's back of the head, Kaimer truly wished he could kick this fool away

Walking at the rear of the line, Veena kept her eyes fixed on her target, yet found herself at a loss for an opportunity to act. This was because Victor always walked in the center of the group, neither too far ahead nor too far behind, surrounded closely by other candidates, making it difficult to launch a surprise attack without being noticed

hetushu.com.com

Finally, I would like to emphasize one point, which is the most important one, so please remember it well. Eric said in a calm voice: "During the examination, life and death are your own responsibility. If someone dies due to differences in ability, the Adventurers' Guild will not be held accountable, as you should have seen when signing the registration form. Furthermore, if any candidate is found to be maliciously killing others, they will be immediately disqualified from the examination. In severe cases, the examiner may take independent action. In other words, for those who think they are here to play at killing, this is your last chance to withdraw. To prevent such situations, all examiners not only possess the qualifications of high-level adventurers but are also strong in certain fields. Anyone who dares to act recklessly under their watch will face the harshest penalties. This is an examination for talent selection, not a killing party!"

Two days ago, news came from the Adventurers' Guild that a group of spider monsters had appeared on the road to Dawo Village. Although Dawo is a small village with fewer than one hundred residents and is very close to Miweila Town, it relies solely on itinerant merchants to maintain its connection with the outside world

Let him target those who appear weaker, yet this guy actually went straight for the one universally recognized as the most powerful among this cohort of candidates, which is simply the height of foolishness. Even at the adventurers' guild registration point, many had already set their sights on that young mage.

Without mounts and without carts, everyone must proceed on foot

The stout man's thick buttocks were struck by a dart no wider than a finger, toppling him over amidst a thunderous wail of despair

Victor glanced at him without making any comment

After the pre-examination announcement, Eric declared the official start of the first stage, with the objective of reaching Dawo Village, located 4 kilometers away, before nightfall

Upon hearing about the trip to Dawo Village, Victor immediately thought of the group of sword spiders along the way. Could they be props specially brought from the south for this exam? That doesn't seem right; if that were the case, why not block the road? Sword spiders have a strong territorial instinct and will prey on any creature that enters their webs, posing a significant threat to passing merchants and nearby villagers. Furthermore, while individual sword spiders may not be particularly strong, they win through sheer numbers. Based on the number of nests observed two days ago, using them as props for this exam seems excessively difficult for this group of candidates. Their qualifications are insufficient to confront the sword spiders.

Sword Spider

The candidates exchanged glances, understanding that the triennial examination was not an easy task, but they did not expect to encounter a spider monster at the very first hurdle

I have no interest in intelligence, nor do I need it. Writing these two sentences with a tongue-in-cheek manner, regardless of the other party's astonished expression, Victor sidestepped and unobtrusively dodged the hidden weapon flying from behind.

I heard that you were the first to discover the spider monster

Kaimel shot a fierce glare at his two subordinates, signaling them to shut up and stop embarrassing themselves.

If it refers to the Adventurers' Guild, then I believe it is.

Having taken on a task in town, Victor encountered a minor trouble upon arriving here, which was when he discovered the existence of the spider creature. He did not elaborate on the details of the task, nor did he mention the assassin, but Eric was well aware of it.

Glancing at the candidates behind him, Eric inadvertently caught sight of Victor. The young man, with his robe and rare black hair paired with green eyes, was an unmistakable presence in the crowd. He waved his hand, signaling Victor to come forward.

At noon, the sun was scorching, and the short distance of 4 kilometers felt much longer than usual. Eric led the way at the front of the group, while Buffy brought up the rear at the back.

Yes, yes, yes. The young man wore a provocative smile on his lips, indifferent to the gazes cast upon him.