48 - Chapter 46: Graduation Exam
I opened my eyes to a splitting headache. A wave of nausea hit me immediately after.
"Ugh..."
If I made even the slightest movement, I felt like I'd throw up. I lay perfectly still for a moment, doing my best to settle my stomach.
'Wait, where the hell am I?'
I couldn't tell exactly where, but it definitely wasn't my place.
'Doesn't feel like a motel, either.'
Since I'd been drinking with a Hunter named Seo Jae-eun last night until I completely blacked out, the fleeting thought crossed my mind that she might have dragged me to a motel and raped me while I was unconscious.
'But there's no way a motel bed would be this luxurious.'
I quickly dismissed that thought, however.
'More importantly, this room looks strangely familiar...'
Once that realization set in, my hungover brain began to sift through its memories.
My eyes darted around the room, gathering clues to help me piece things together.
"Ah."
That's when I noticed the pattern on the blanket covering me.
It was identical to the one in Natalia's bedroom.
'Wait, does that mean I'm in Natalia's room?'
What on earth happened last night?
Blacking out at a barbecue joint with Seo Jae-eun, only to wake up in Natalia's bed...
Whatever went down, it definitely wasn't a normal night.
What, did Seo Jae-eun get me wasted just to fuck my passed-out body, and Natalia happened to witness it and rescue me?
No way.
If that were the case, she would've just dumped me at my place. Why go through the trouble of tucking me into her own bed?
I had no idea what kind of emergency would prevent her from taking me home, forcing her to bring me here instead.
'Should I get up?'
Lying still and letting my mind wander seemed to help; the nausea subsided to a manageable level.
I carefully sat up and swung my legs out of bed. My head spun for a second, but the dizziness quickly passed.
Standing up, I stretched my stiff legs, opened the door, and stepped out into the living room.
Natalia wasn't there, but as I looked around, I sensed someone in the kitchen.
'Is she eating breakfast...?'
I didn't really have an appetite, but curiosity got the better of me.
"Ah... fuck..."
The first thing I saw was Natalia, sitting at the dining table with her head buried in her hands.
"What's wrong...?"
Sensing my presence, Natalia looked up. When our eyes met, she gave me a bitter smile.
"Did something happen?"
"I tried to make some bean sprout soup, but I don't know if the sprouts were spoiled or what. It just has this awful fishy smell."
"Ah."
I nodded understandingly and peered into the pot sitting on the stove. Sure enough, a pungent, fishy odor filled the kitchen.
"It's not because they're spoiled. It's because you kept opening and closing the lid while it was boiling."
With that, I dumped the ruined soup, washed the pot, and started a fresh batch with the remaining bean sprouts.
"I thought I could just throw everything in and boil it until it tasted good..."
Natalia muttered deflatedly as she watched me cook.
"Haha."
I let out a soft chuckle. Soon, the savory aroma of fresh bean sprout soup began to drift through the kitchen.
Just breathing in the steam seemed to soothe my stomach, and as the nausea faded, my appetite finally kicked in.
I grabbed two bowls and ladled the hot soup into them.
"Let's eat."
"...Sure."
With every spoonful of the hot, clear broth, my stomach felt more and more settled.
Sitting across from me, Natalia took a sip and let out a relaxed sigh.
"This is really good."
*
After that incident, my internship continued without any major hiccups.
As the peaceful days flew by, my internship neared its end before I knew it.
And with it, the graduation exam was fast approaching.
'Time really flies.'
The graduation exam was essentially a job placement event.
Because of that, it was directly tied to our internships.
'Let's see...'
According to the announcement, this year's exam required us to 'complete a mission in cooperation with our supervising Pro Hunter.'
It was clear the academy wanted us to transition smoothly from interns to official members of our respective Hunters' agencies through this exam.
While I was reading through the details, my phone buzzed. Natalia's name flashed on the screen.
"What's up?"
[Isn't it about time for your exam?]
"Didn't they send you an official notice?"
[That's why I'm asking you.]
"Yeah, the exam window opens today and lasts for a month."
[Really? Then let's not drag our feet. We might as well get it over with today. What's the assignment?]
"Nothing too crazy. We just have to clear a dimensional gate that matches the Mana Rank of our supervising Pro Hunter."
[Then I guess I'll have to find an S-rank gate.]
S-rank was the tier right below the highest rank.
The difference between the two wasn't the strength of the monsters, but the sheer scale of the gate's interior.
If a small group of S-rank Hunters could clear it, it was classified as S-rank. If they had to deploy a massive raid team to avoid being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, it was deemed the highest rank.
When I first learned about this in school, I thought it would never have anything to do with me. I guess you really can't predict where life will take you.
"Let me know once you've got it sorted out."
[Will do. Talk to you soon.]
I hung up and waited for her call.
A few hours later, my phone rang. I picked up and headed straight to the meeting spot she gave me.
"You're here? Let's move."
When I arrived, Natalia immediately led the way to the S-rank gate she'd secured.
"We got lucky. A newly opened S-rank gate hadn't been claimed yet."
No wonder she'd been able to set this up so fast.
While I stood there awkwardly near the gate—where thick mana rippled like a dark lake—Natalia took over the raid rights from the Management Department official.
"Let's go in."
"Okay."
As we stepped through the portal, Natalia offered some advice.
"First of all, don't try to be a hero."
"I know."
"And stay right behind me."
"I know that, too."
Exchanging the usual clichés, we crossed the threshold into the gate.
"Hmm..."
Once inside, Natalia immediately scanned our surroundings. Fortunately, there were no immediate threats in sight.
"Good. Let's move."
With the coast clear, Natalia set off, and I fell in right behind her.
This particular gate took the rare form of a castle, meaning we didn't have to worry about getting lost. We just had to follow the main corridor.
'I remember learning that castle-type gates tend to have fewer monsters.'
It sounded like an easy run—straightforward paths, low enemy density—but...
"Whoa!"
Nothing in this world comes without a catch.
Natalia, who was walking just ahead of me, suddenly vanished. The stone floor had given way beneath her, sending her plunging downward.
"Whoa! Are you okay?"
I peered down into the pit trap. The bottom was lined with a dense forest of razor-sharp steel spikes.
It was a brutal trap designed to turn any low-rank Awakener into a human skewer.
"Ah... fucking hell."
Of course, as an S-rank Hunter, Natalia didn't have a scratch on her. Instead, the steel spikes had been completely flattened under her weight.
Dusting herself off amidst the mangled metal, she easily scaled the wall back to the corridor.
"Let's keep going."
As we pressed on, Natalia continued to trigger every minor trap in our path. Flames erupted from the walls, boulders crashed from the ceiling, and Imps lunged from the shadows in ambush.
Yet, not a single trap or ambush could leave so much as a scratch on her.
'Wow. S-ranks really are built different, starting with their basic physical durability.'
I clicked my tongue in silent awe.
After she got drenched in a shower of poison from the final trap she triggered, we finally arrived at an imposing, grand set of double doors.
Natalia, who hadn't slowed down for a single trap, finally stopped. She wiped the poison from her skin and glanced back at me.
"Do you want to wait out here?"
"If it's too dangerous, I will."
Natalia smirked. It was a confident, slightly arrogant look.
"Dangerous? With me here?"
"Then I might as well go in with you. It is my graduation exam, after all. I should at least be there to witness it."
"Suit yourself."
With a shrug, Natalia pushed the doors open.
The heavy doors swung open without a single creak, revealing a massive throne room.
Seated on the throne was a female monster, leaning back lazily. At first glance, she looked completely human.
"Hmm?"