Self-Awareness

"If you've already registered for the Hunter Exam online, just give your name to the receptionist at the front desk, and someone will show you the way."

With the enthusiastic guidance of the man who called himself an information broker, Su Wu returned to the area where a large number of airships were parked. This time, he went through the front door openly and entered the reception hall.

He went straight to the front desk and gave the name he'd registered for the exam.

"Sil Devil. Could you check my flight?"

The receptionist tapped away at her keyboard. A moment later, she looked up with a perfectly practiced smile. "Please go this way."

She raised a hand and pointed.

It was clearly the same venue. People were coming and going everywhere else, but the way she'd indicated was blocked off by railings. Its doors were shut, and not a soul was around.

It felt as if the two areas had been completely separated.

That was it? Had he been overthinking things?

Su Wu pushed the door open and stepped inside. At once, several wary, watchful gazes landed on him, sizing him up.

They stared brazenly, but no one made the first move. The atmosphere was utterly silent.

"What? Anyone want to fight already?" Su Wu asked, the corner of his mouth curling into a provocative grin. He swept a contemptuous gaze over everyone present without the slightest courtesy.

The others all looked away, silent and indifferent. They kept their distance from one another, each staying on guard.

Everyone carried a weapon. They all looked like masters of cold weapons and unarmed combat.

They were quiet and vicious, each one like a dangerous fugitive... though one person there seemed completely out of place.

A golden-haired boy with a bowl cut hugged his backpack and huddled quietly in a corner, like a hostage who'd been dragged there.

Everyone else, including Su Wu, looked like nothing but kidnappers and hardened criminals.

Was that guy a candidate too? He looked so weak...

Not that the others seemed all that strong through the Six Eyes, but the golden-haired boy undoubtedly looked the weakest. His whole demeanor gave off a helpless, easy-to-bully sort of air.

Still, given the way things worked in the Hunter World, it was entirely possible for the underdog to turn the tables.

For all he knew, the boy might be putting on an act.

After all, they said that the quietest dogs bit the hardest.

Su Wu sat down on an empty sofa and surveyed the lounge.

Soft carpeting covered the floor. There were shiny leather sofas you could lie down on, a pure gold clock hung brazenly on the wall, and all sorts of antiques lined the shelves.

And... there was food, free for the taking.

Su Wu opened his backpack and checked what he had left. His appetite had grown, and he was going through food faster, so he'd already eaten everything Sid had prepared for him on the way.

Without a second thought, he started stuffing the snacks on the table into his backpack, picking out the high-sugar, high-calorie ones.

Especially the chocolate and candy.

If his backpack had been bigger, he might have packed up every snack in the lounge.

While he did all this, the others merely watched without comment.

After all, nobody had touched the snacks before Su Wu arrived.

Once he'd finished packing, he put his backpack back on, leaned against the sofa, and slowly ate what he hadn't been able to fit.

"Attention, candidates. The airship has arrived. Please board within ten minutes. Those who are late will be responsible for the consequences..."

"Attention, candidates..."

"Candidates..."

The loudspeaker in the corner of the lounge repeated the announcement three times. As soon as the first announcement ended, everyone rushed out of the lounge.

The announcement couldn't be heard outside, so it seemed to be meant specifically for the candidates.

Su Wu waited until all three announcements had ended before leaving the lounge.

Who knew whether the examiners might have hidden a trap in the announcement? Maybe everyone would hear the first one and rush out, only to miss some crucial information tucked into the last one. It was possible that those who ran off too quickly would miss it.

He soon caught up with the others and saw a massive red-and-white airship slowly descending from the sky.

It belonged to the Hunter Association.

The airship touched down and its doors began to open. Before they were fully open, a crowd surged forward.

Su Wu boarded too, finally getting to experience firsthand the extravagant surroundings he'd once seen through a screen.

There was a transparent glass corridor. Once the airship was in the sky, you could look down through the glass and see the scenery below.

There was an upscale restaurant with dedicated staff, a bar stocked with all kinds of liquor, and a training room and lounge.

It was even nicer than the private jet he'd once flown on, though the airship wasn't as fast as a plane.

"Clap, clap." Someone raised his hands and clapped.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw two figures who had been waiting aboard the airship.

The one clapping was a man about six feet tall, slightly thin, dressed in long sleeves and trousers, with fair skin.

"Welcome, everyone, to the 286th Hunter Exam. I'm this year's examiner. My name is Bindo." He introduced himself with an apparently mild manner, then pointed to the person beside him. "This is Rogov."

Rogov was only around five foot eight. His skin was pale, with a slight greenish tinge, and he wore green clothes. He looked like a plant that had taken human form.

He merely nodded to everyone and didn't seem much for talking.

"The airship will take six days to reach the Aijin Continent, so you'll all be spending those six days aboard. We have a restaurant, lounge, training room, entertainment room... everything you could need," Bindo explained gently.

"Of course, it's all free." He emphasized the point.

Perhaps someone had once asked whether they had to pay for food and entertainment aboard the airship.

"Remember to get along. If you really have to fight, do it in the training room."

"Everything aboard the airship is free, but you'll have to pay for any damage you cause." Bindo offered a smiling reminder.

It seemed someone had once gotten into a fight aboard the airship and caused damage, which was why he'd taken the time to warn them.

Su Wu yawned slowly, impatient to be done with the reminders.

"All right, you're dismissed." Bindo clapped his hands once more and announced it briskly. At the same time, he disappeared from sight.

Rogov nodded again and silently left like a shadow.

Once both examiners had left, everyone scattered.

Some headed to the lounge to sleep, some went to the restaurant to eat, some went to the training room for extra practice, and others went to enjoy themselves in the entertainment room...

Everyone went their own way, and Su Wu was no exception.

"I'll go see what there is to do in the entertainment room..." he muttered, setting off in that direction.

But the golden-haired boy with the bowl cut from the lounge suddenly spoke to him. "Um... how old are you? What's your name?"

"You look so young... I can't believe you're already so strong..." His voice was full of envy.

That was normal. He hadn't gotten a cheat, while Su Wu had.

With transmigration and a system, his buffs were stacked to the ceiling. It would've been strange if he weren't strong.

Su Wu thought to himself with perfect self-awareness.

[Edited the earlier chapters again. If the data seems off later, don't be surprised. I changed a few things.]

Su Wu: That's right. I know I'm a cheater.