Chapter 400: Episode 57

The accumulated past has already disintegrated. Six as an ituber no longer exists. I have no desire to continue. It is also necessary to build something else from scratch.

Instead of overcoming the past or moving forward, I feel this is merely the result of being unable to recognize a sense of loss. Like an ant with a broken nest struggling to repair it. I have never felt sad.

For better or worse. Thinking about how to live in the future is an unavoidable question. About a week has passed since the incident, and I have had time to organize my thoughts.

Now I am in a big city called Zaban City. This is to take the Hunter Exam. My immediate goal is to become a Professional Hunter.

Professional Hunters have a wide variety of jobs. The only thing that is decided is "hunting." The target is not limited to animals and plants; it can be anything, from catching criminals, academic research, and finding delicious food, to running errands for children.

By passing the Hunter Exam and obtaining a License, you can be recognized as a professional, and with this License, you can receive various backups for Hunter activities.

Specifically, they will be able to use information websites provided exclusively for Hunters, will be allowed to enter more than 80% of public Forbidden Areas, and will be able to use transportation and public facilities in many countries almost for free. Possessing a License grants privileged social status, and in many cases, even if one commits murder, he or she is exempt from responsibility.

This alone is a mess, and furthermore, anyone can take this test. Regardless of your age or work experience. There are no specific qualification requirements, so you just need to submit an application. I easily applied online on the same day. All I had to do was enter my name and transfer the 10,000 Jenny exam fee.

Sometimes I feel uneasy about whether this is really okay, but I am also grateful. I am currently an unknown person without a family register. Generally, even abandoned children are given a national number by the International People Data Organization, so there is no such thing as a completely stateless or unregistered person.

If you want to live a normal life in society, you need something to prove your identity, and a Hunter License is perfect as an ID even if you do not have a national number.

One of the reasons is that if you become a Professional Hunter, you can earn money. It is said that as long as you invest in an investment trust with the License as collateral, money will pour in like hot water. I don't need that much money, but that is not the problem. Since the electronic currency earned from the itu Bar is managed in an account under the name of Pomerni, it is unknown when it will be frozen.

Another important reason I want to become a Hunter is the ease of collecting information. If you have a License, you can use information websites provided exclusively for Hunters. There are clear limits to the information that ordinary people can find on the Internet. If you do not have a License or other qualifications, there are many websites that will blatantly refuse access.

If you become a Professional Hunter, the amount of information you can obtain will increase dramatically. Some even say the world is expanding. Not just information websites, but information obtained through interpersonal relationships will also be great. This makes me want to see "myself."

What species is the "ant" that is my body? Are there any ants of the same species that can think like me? What is its ecology like?

I want to know about "Six." This body is closely related to the mind. Professional Hunters are a group of experts just in case. When we collect information, we might learn something about Six's true identity.

The problem is the Hunter Exam to obtain that License. It is said that millions of people take the exam every year, but at most only a few pass, and there are many years where no one passes. Moreover, the content of the exam is extremely harsh, and it seems there is hardly a year without casualties.

However, there is a chance of winning in this regard. According to what I heard from Blade, the Hunter Exam is an indicator of whether you have the humanity to become a Professional Hunter, but more importantly, it often asks if you have the qualifications to become a Nen user.

Most active Professional Hunters are Nen users. This is a field that should not be easily exposed to the public eye, and if you do not have the quality to handle power correctly, you are not qualified to be a professional. This seems to be a test to determine the minimum line.

In other words, I have a great advantage because I can use Nen from the beginning. Blade said that there are many exams that test physical strength and combat power, so if you have a Nen Ability, you should be able to pass without much effort.

However, it cannot be said that there are no tests of knowledge and intelligence. The content of the exam is decided by the Examiner of the year, so you don't know what kind of content will pop up until you take it. Therefore, it is impossible to take any countermeasures. It seems you cannot pass unconditionally just because you have a Nen Ability. I cannot let my guard down.

I walked around the city while looking at my Smart Phone. This was my first time visiting this city, but if I checked my current location with my Smart Phone while walking, I wouldn't get lost.

Recently, this has become difficult to manage. Smart Phones are convenient. My Smart Phone, which underwent a mysterious update, has an infinitely large battery, does not need charging, and can transmit and receive anywhere where the radio wave environment is best. I cannot see the bottom of the available Memory space.

I am a little worried that this might become unusable. A photo ID is required to sign a new contract, even for a replacement. I don't think there is any harm in keeping the License.

Continuing forward, I felt the number of people around me gradually increasing. This is not just an illusion; it becomes more certain as you get closer to the destination. The people here must be examinees like me. It's just that millions of people are gathered together.

Actually, I checked every corner of the Hunter Association homepage, but there was no mention of where the Venue was. The only thing clearly specified was the meeting place and time on the day of the exam. From there, we are supposed to be transported to the Venue by several buses via piston transport.

There is an hour left until the shuttle bus departs, but the boarding point is already crowded. Most of them are adult men, and judging from their appearance, many of them seem to be confident in their physical strength. Since there are no other children like Six, I feel that he stands out partly because he has not performed "Zetsu."

Up until now, I have often acted with "Zetsu," but Blade pointed out that I should not abuse Zetsu unnecessarily. There are several reasons.

First, it can be said that the defensive power of the aura becomes zero in a state of Zetsu, so it can be said that there is no defense just in case. In addition, Zetsu means that even "Hard" cannot be used, requiring the ability to judge the situation instantly more than usual. While being able to hide one's presence is convenient, it can be said that there is a corresponding risk.

Ordinary people won't notice, but Nen users can see through it. You cannot keep your guard up against someone who is trying to approach you while hiding their presence. In addition, it is said that anti-Nen type ability users have tactics to strengthen their abilities through vows, deliberately entering a state of annihilation, which only increases the opponent's vigilance. In some cases, this alone can be seen as a hostile act.

"Hey, miss, this is the dedicated boarding point for the Hunter Exam Venue. If you want to take the regular line, that's the bus terminal over there."

When I stood at the end of the long line of examinees in front of the bus stop, a man standing in front of me noticed me and called out to me. This might have been a well-intentioned Suggestion, but it fits here. I told him that I was also one of the examinees.

"Huh? Stop it, stop it. Hunters aren't as sweet as you think. Just look at the people here; they all look like hungry beasts. There are rumors that they have actually killed a few people. It seems there are some nasty guys in there too... There's no place for a child to go in; hurry home before you get hurt."

I cannot deny that I am floating in this place. Check your appearance again.

I bought new clothes that I used to wear. Over the past week or so, I did some unreasonable Training just in case, and I was torn everywhere, and as expected, I did not appear in public well-dressed. Now I am wearing a black tracksuit I bought online. The top and bottom set was 2,000 Jenny. The Hunter Exam mainly tests practical skills, so wearing these easy-to-move clothes should be fine.

The long silver hair, which was considered the most conspicuous in appearance, was dyed black using hair dye. I originally wanted to cut it and change my hairstyle, but that would be counted as an injury or it would automatically repair itself, so it was dyed to the limit.

Moreover, the hair dye did not work well, possibly because the medicine did not penetrate the hair. I thought about using spray paint, but that might make my hair hard. In the end, I bought several types of commercially available hair dye and used the one that best suited my hair.

After that, I put on a hat so that my face could not be seen. It has a long brim, so if you look down, your face will be covered. So far, there is nothing unusual about it.

However, the thought of the penguin plush toy jumping out of the backpack mouth makes me feel that it is conspicuous. I bought a new plush toy and put my grown body inside to hide it.

The reason I chose a penguin is that the overall design is relatively thick and plump, so the main body looks easy to put in. However, it turned out to be larger than I thought, and the head of the penguin, which couldn't fit in the backpack and was strangled, stuck out.

I can't say it's unnatural, but it might have added to the childishness. All in all, my appearance is at least not suitable for this place. But, of course, I have no intention of withdrawing from the exam.

"Well, you are free to have your own dreams. By the way, I smell something very delicious... Do you have a bento? I'll buy it from you at a high price now, okay?"

Saying this, the man waved a 1,000-dollar bill. But I didn't bring any food. This might be due to the special smell emitted from Six's body.

I don't know it myself, but judging from the reactions of the people around me, Six is emitting some kind of body odor. People's perceptions of it vary; some accept it, and some don't like it.

It seems to be some kind of psychic effect, but the specific details are currently unknown. But it certainly makes it more obvious. Since he doesn't know, he cannot control it with his own will, and unless he uses Zetsu, the smell cannot be Eliminated.

When I told the man I didn't have a bento, he muttered, "You've done your best to be kind to me," and then turned to face the people in line. Just as I did so, the examinees lined up behind me one after another. With this, you are unlikely to leave this line in the middle.

"Seriously... I'm starting to want to go to the restroom..."

"With this number, you might not be able to get on the first bus."

"It seems that the group in the front row hasn't slept all night."

"Somehow, I heard that even if you get on this bus, you can't go to the exam site..."

"No, that's not it, it's the information on the Hunter Association official website."

This group of people before the opening. After all, there must be quite a few people who want to enter the Venue as soon as possible. I will face the exam with that kind of enthusiasm. I can't stand it anymore. I don't know what kind of test is waiting for me. Don't waste the waiting time; let's practice Training to control "Hatsu."

Meanwhile, a car stopped near the crowded station. A shiny black luxury car rushed into the crowded road without slowing down. People nearby fled in a hurry.

"Wow, we're here."

A man in a gorgeous suit got out of the car. Several other men in the car also got out. He didn't even try to hide his violent impression from his appearance and eyes. A group of people with the aura of a Sword-swallower were walking towards us.

"Huh, could it be... isn't that the young head of the Peppernas Group?"

"Yeah, no doubt. Among the new forces that have recently emerged in this area, there are many crazy rumors about them... Are they going to take the Hunter Exam this year too!?"

There is no qualification to take the Hunter Exam. Even violent criminals can take the exam. In fact, it is said that among those who have a Professional Hunter License, there are a certain number of repeat offenders.

Hunters are not all people who claim to be righteous. The quality of a Hunter is not based on good or evil. Of course, it is not completely chaotic, but he said he has never been removed from a jury because of a criminal record.

In that case, it is natural that the people who will look at them will be those who try to justify their crimes. They don't want to be Hunters. I just want that privilege. Among the many applicants, it might not be possible to say that many people are seriously thinking about becoming Hunters.

That said, I am not qualified to say anything to others. Someone saw him kill Locke during the Sky Island incident. It was inevitable in that situation, but the problem is how to kill him. It is very likely that many passengers can link my ability to those damaged red Crystals.

There is no guarantee he can continue to run away without something happening. Regarding the relationship between Sahelta and Six, there are also many things that are not known. Regardless, it can be said that the current me has no identity and almost no right to speak in the relevant organizations.

In this sense, it is truly fortunate to be able to participate in the Hunter Exam at this time after the incident. Professional Hunters have limited immunity from arrest and can refuse requests from investigative authorities. There is no such thing as being restrained without being asked.

In other words, my reason for wanting to become a Hunter is not much different from the Mafia who just arrived here. Once you have a License, even a criminal can walk in front of you. From the perspective of someone who truly wants to become a Hunter, I would say this is the same hole.

The Mafia and their followers are approaching our line, but they are not going to the end of the line. Instead, it is the front row. I have no good feelings about this.

Due to Six's small stature, it is difficult to see what is happening from this position. I prick up my ears and use Aura to enhance my senses.

"Hmm, can you give up this place?"

"No, no, no, we haven't slept all night since last night..."

Bang—a gunshot.

"Huh? Didn't you hear me? Let me say it again, can this place be given to me?"

There are no further questions. The men in the front row are leaving the line and lining up behind them. Obviously, the gunshot was a warning shot, and no one was hurt. The men whose seats were snatched have helpless, twisted expressions on their faces.

However, even so, the people here did not run away. In the tense atmosphere, only the Mafia sitting in the front row are talking privately. Many Examinees are silently waiting for the bus.

In an eerie silence disproportionate to the number of people, a bus slowly drives into the boarding area. Next to it is "Welcome Hunter Exam applicants!" painted in capital letters. When I check the time, it is about 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. The number of applicants may have moved the first Departure time forward.

"Good morning, everyone! This bus is the 'last bus' to the Hunter Exam Venue! Examinees, please be careful not to miss the exam!"

A male voice announces. I don't know if I misheard just now, but it felt like there was a very disturbing word, but...

"I repeat! This bus is the last bus to the Hunter Exam Venue! If you miss the bus, you will be considered disqualified and lose your eligibility to take the exam."

I didn't mishear. However, this is not a story you can honestly nod to. The shuttle bus ends here; if you don't get on, you are disqualified. No matter how I think about it, I know that everyone gathered in this place cannot pass.

Although it is said to be polite, the content passed down can only be described as unreasonable. I can't help but think this was deliberately planned. That is to say, this is a situation the Hunter Association has already considered. Unless you overcome this situation, you are not qualified to reach the exam venue.

I never thought the exam would start like this. And I am not the only one who understands this situation. Those who reached the same conclusion began to act together.

No one cares about the order of the line anymore. People are rushing toward the bus. I can't help but lose. There is a lot of reality here. After strengthening my physical abilities with Aura, I squeeze my body into the gaps in the crowd and move forward.

With Six's small body and disproportionate strength, we move forward, weaving through the gaps between the adults. I am the only one who can move to the front row, while the front row blocks each other and cannot move forward.

"Yes, we are overcrowded here."

But then I understood why the Examinees were stuck. If the bus were suddenly packed with people, it wouldn't be strange, but only a few people can be seen on the bus.

To be precise, five people. This is a black organization called perponasgang. It is obvious that they were the first to board the front row. But they blocked the bus entrance there. I try my best not to let anyone with a pistol get in.

"You can still ride! Clear the way!"

"Are you stupid? Is it necessary to go out of your way to welcome people who might compete with you? Well, why would you want to ride with a disgusting man like you? If you were a beauty, you could ride with me."

A beautiful woman—I'm not sure if Six belongs to this category, but she is touted on the internet as a silver-haired beauty. I think we can look forward to this opportunity.

"Customer, I'm in trouble! Don't do this!"

While I hesitate whether to leave, a man who looks like a bus conductor protests to the black organization. The answer is a gunshot. One of the black organization men fires without warning.

"Pah!?"

A male Guide is shot and falls out of the bus door. Regardless, it's too arrogant. I run to the Guide.

"Hey, why did you shoot me?"

"Ah? You said, 'Don't let anyone you don't need on board.'"

Fortunately, the Guide seems to be wearing a bulletproof vest under his suit. I must have imagined something like this. But even so, the impact seems to have carried through, and he is unable to move due to the pain, clutching his abdomen where he was hit by the Bullet.

"Oh!? Why aren't you dead, Kola!"

A bald man with a face full of piercings points a gun at me. When I see his eyes, I understand. This guy will pull the trigger without hesitation. I concentrate my Aura on my arm using 'Fixed' and block the Bullet aimed at the Guide. A deflected Bullet sinks into the ground.

"Hmm? Did you deflect it...?"

The black organization men fire one after another. The impact that can be withstood by gritting one's teeth makes the bones vibrate. Does this person really understand that every shot has enough power to easily kill a person? Do you have any thoughts on the act of meaninglessly trying to take another person's life?

"Ha? Ha? Why?"

The Bullets fall apart and land at my feet. The subordinates of the black organization are unhappy, as if they have discovered something unusual.

"Hey, what are you doing! Let's get off the bus!"

Another subordinate inside the bus then threatens the driver to close the entrance door. By the time I feel something is wrong, it is too late, and the door closes with a sound of leaking air. We cannot let it go just like this. I try to force myself onto the bus.

"... Please wait a moment..."

However, it obstructs it in an unexpected way. The Guide who should have helped me grabs my body tightly and pulls me back. This might be an action to avoid falling into danger, but it is unnecessary help. The bus starts while I am waiting.

"Damn it... how can you give up in a place like this! How much effort did you put in for this day...!"

"I'll run to the exam venue, follow me!"

The candidates who cannot give up start to Chase the bus. I will follow up soon. Keeping up with the speed of the bus is easy. From there, jump onto the roof or break the window to enter.

However, the Guide interrupts him again. The strength of the person who wants to stop me is enormous; I cannot believe he belongs to an injured person.

"No, so please wait a moment."

Noticing something strange, I observe the Guide. And notice the Flow of Aura on his body. This is not suitable for an ordinary person. This person is a Psychic.

"Congratulations."

After saying this, the man brushes the dirt off his suit as if nothing happened, stands up, and reveals a smiling expression.

The Guide and I ride the bus around the city. This bus is not a chartered bus, but a regular route also used by the general public. Besides us, there are other passengers.

Until a short while ago, I received an explanation from that man about the reason for causing the commotion. As I thought, this seems to be part of the exam. However, the reality is even more severe than I imagined.

First of all, all the exam venue information listed on the Hunter Association's official website is a lie, and those Examinees who were forced to dance along with the liars and gathered at the boarding gate were disqualified. Whether it was the black organization that got on the bus or the candidates who chased the bus, they all failed collectively.

"If they knew this fact, those black organizations would be furious, but you don't have to worry. The bus driver is also a member of the Association, so I think he is being beaten up now."

In other words, this is all a play. I hate being asked to dance like that, but thanks to this, I can say I am the only one who didn't fail the exam. Under normal circumstances, if I didn't check the information carefully, I would have been disqualified for arriving at the boarding station, but thanks to this Guide's help, I was able to pass.

The exam center is different every year, and the exact location is not notified to the candidates in advance. In other words, finding the exam venue is part of the exam. For this reason, what candidates should find first is a "Navigator." A Venue Guide. This Guide also seems to be one of the Navigators.

Navigators hide their identities and interact with candidates to see if the other party has the qualifications to enter the venue. The magic is that if you can match their eyes, you can be guided to the exam venue.

Of course, the candidates are not told that there is such a thing as a Navigator. If you cannot get there without any hints, you cannot even enter the Venue. If you are not a regular who has taken the exam many times, most of the applicants will be screened out at this stage.

"Therefore, it is said that only one in ten thousand can truly participate in the exam. In some years, the number of examinees exceeds ten million. That is what the committee says, although I do not agree with this way of thinking."

This navigator seemed to have many complaints about the Hunter Association's executive committee, and I kept complaining on the bus.

"No matter how much we need to cut down, don't you think there's a way? We should judge individual quality as much as possible. This is a great loss for both the applicants and the Hunter Association. Frankly speaking, I think this is an oversight by the Association."

Even so, he was a talkative person. However, I was able to be guided like this because he was someone who cared about the examinees. There was nothing to be done; I continued to listen to the story while appropriately refuting him.

"The next stop is in front of the Zaban Central Residential District, in front of the Zaban Central Residential District."

"Ah, are we getting off here?"

Finally, we finished talking and arrived at our destination. We got off the bus and moved to the front of an apartment building.

"Press the intercom for room 503 here and ask, 'Is this Mr. Michael's home?' After that, follow the instructions, and you will be able to reach the Venue."

I see, are these signs used to Hidden the route to the Venue? I don't seem to be able to find this on my own. I was lucky to meet a navigator. Thank you again.

"No, no, no, I was also helped in a dangerous place, just saying thank you is not enough."

Even without my help, they could handle this level of Shoot. However, would it be rude to say that here? The young navigator smiled as if he had seen through our intentions.

"Oh, that's right. I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Pariston Hill. If you fail the exam, please report to the Hunter Association in my name. I will show you around next year, but I am sure you will pass the exam this year. Good luck."

I also waved to Pariston, and this navigator waved with a smile to let me leave, then left the place.