- Ghost Forest.
Gideon trembled. Terror coursed through his body as he saw the terrifying monster clearly visible before his eyes. Blood poured from his wounded body. Gideon no longer considered the pain he was now experiencing. His pupils quivered in horror. He imagined how terrible his body would be in before death.
The Grizzy bear in front of him crawled, its eyes staring hungrily at its terrified prey. Its roar was ferocious. The energy of its potential meal's fear felt exhilarating. Indeed, this bear was a magical beast that not only carnivorous but also fed on negative human emotions. The predator felt its power increase. It raised its arms, brandishing its claws majestically. The human in front of it was already screaming. It crawled backward, stumbling in fear.
"No! D-Don't come any closer!!!!!"
Sraaaaakkkkk!!
"GROOOOAAAAAAAAARRR!!!"
The bear's roar was ferocious. But it wasn't the kind that exuded pride. Instead, it was an indescribable pain that left the bear roaring and roaring.
For a split second, the leaves on the trees in the haunted forest rustled. Birds perched leisurely flew away. Silence fell for a moment as the bear's roaring gradually faded—right after it collapsed to the ground.
Gideon stared wide-eyed. His ragged breathing began to calm. He wasn't sweating, no. But he didn't feel calm either. Because the giant tree trunk piercing the chest of the bear in front of him filled him with even more horror.
'What kind of creature could throw a giant tree trunk straight through this predator...?!'
And how?!
Gideon's fingers trembled. He clutched at the ground. The cold mist around him prevented him from sweating despite his fear. Damn, Gideon thought. His bow had been destroyed in the fight against the grizzly bear. He no longer had any weapons to protect himself if someone, or something, intended to kill him now.
"Are you okay, Guide?"
'A child?'
Gideon began to lower his guard. First, the person, correct, the child called him Guide even though he hadn't revealed himself—
"Are you okay, uide?"
Second, she asked twice to confirm his condition.
"Ah..."
Through the breaking fog, Gideon could now faintly make out the silhouette of a small girl, becoming clearer. She was short, her eyes a golden brown like honey spilling under the sunlight. For a moment, Gideon was stunned. His reverie was broken when the cloaked girl spoke again, to express her opinion.
"You seem fine."
"Excuse me." Gideon immediately stood up. He brushed off his clothes, dusty from being underground for so long. "I'm Gideon Ashwood. One of the guides leading the prospective candidates to the Hunter exam."
"... Can I assume now that the Guide will take me there?"
Gideon blinked. The third time, this girl mentioned his task. It was clear he was the participant Gideon was supposed to guide. "Yes. I will guide you to the test site because you, automatically, albeit in a different way, have passed the test by demonstrating your abilities after killing the grizzy bear." And also saved my life. Those were the words Gideon held back. "Please follow me...?"
"Chloe," the girl, Chloe, replied.
"...Chloe-san. From here to the test site, it will take us eight hours on foot." Gideon continued.
"Okay."
***
"Will the first stage be held in this city?"
"To be precise, in the underground passage of this city that will lead the participants to the next location."
"I see,"
Humming, the figure beside Gideon watched the crowds passing by from behind the hood of his cloak. It had been 7 hours and 41 minutes since she and Gideon had walked out of the forest. They had only stopped once to rest. Actually, only Gideon, because he nearly became a grizzly bear's dinner. Luckily for him, Chloe didn't mind. Her ears could hear people's meaningless conversations. The atmosphere was peaceful and comfortable. Something Chloe was used to seeing when walking around town before.
"Here, Chloe-san."
"Restaurant?" So, there was only one entrance for the participants.
"Did you kill anyone before meeting me?" They were still standing in front of the door. Gideon hadn't entered, but for some reason, he had chosen to take the initiative to ask.
"I committed a necessary murder." Chloe nodded, smiling faintly. "It wasn't against the law, was it?"
Gideon was quite stunned by what the child had said. That meant he killed when he was in a desperate situation, or it was his duty. Gideon had already guessed. "Nothing, I'm just curious," Gideon replied. Then he slid the door open, his curiosity satisfied.
Chloe followed Gideon, the aroma of grilled meat and drinks filling his nostrils. The restaurant was simple and warm, with people coming and gathering to chat and eat, or to relax after work. It was the perfect place to serve as the entrance to the exam, since no one would suspect a small restaurant being the entrance to the first stage, of course.
"Welcome!" The chef greeted them.
"Is the back room open?" Gideon asked the chef in return.
"What would you like?"
"A steak combo that opens your eyes to the light. For one person."
"What would you like?" The chef glanced at the hooded figure beside the guide.
"Grilled over low heat, medium rare."
"Okay, please go to the back room."
'The password is terrible.'
They went to the back and entered a room, which looked like a typical dining room. "You said it was underground," Chloe tapped the floor. "Is this some kind of elevator?"
"Yes, Chloe-san."
"Classic, huh." The girl's sneakers clicked on the floor twice, and Gideon smiled awkwardly.
"Chloe-san," Gideon called, standing up to leave the door.
"Yes?"
He extended his hand. "Thank you so much for saving my life. You're very good at making it this far. I wish you luck."
Chloe stared at his hand for a moment before shaking it. "Unfortunately, I don't get along with Lady Luck."
Gideon chuckled. He had already gotten a little better at communicating after only eight hours together. Despite his words, he was confident that Chloe would pass. Maybe be one of them, or even the only one. "See you, Chloe-san." He released their hands.
"See you," Chloe watched as the man left and closed the door. Then she sat down in the only chair in the room. She rapped the table with her index finger. A moment later, the room shook. Only briefly. Above the door was an LED screen displaying numbers and letters. B1, B2, B3... B5, and soon, B88... B99, B100. Ting!
The sliding door opened. Chloe stepped out, feeling several pairs of eyes staring at her intently. The atmosphere was tense. The cloaked figure ignored the tension and walked as usual. He paused before someone, oris it a peanut?, approached her with several pins.
"Please take your number. Don't lose it," he said.
Chloe took the number the peanut had given her. 105. She wondered. Did that mean she was the 105th person to enter this tunnel, or had the peanut just randomly given it to her? 'I'd better hide it,' she thought. Before she could say thank you, the peanut was gone. "Too bad," Chloe shrugged.
She walked to the end, hopping slightly to sit on a large pipe half-embedded in the side of the tunnel wall.
'Now, I just have to wait.'
***
English isn't my first language, sorry if imake mistakes.