Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 116

Finally, the day of the A-rank Hunter promotion exam arrived.

As usual, the parking lot at the Hunter’s Bureau was lined with luxury cars. However, today, it was noticeably fuller, and eye-catching sports cars worth billions of won weren’t hard to spot.

The Hunters here today were aiming for an A-rank and nothing below that, not even the B-rank.

Every Hunter carried a bag similar to a suitcase, with only minor variations in color or design. However, the insides undoubtedly held suits and weapons worth tens of billions of won.

A throng of reporters waiting at the entrance continuously clicked their shutters, capturing scenes of B-rank Hunters exiting their cars, wheeling their equipment, and entering the Bureau building.

Fans gathered around, running up to the Hunters with papers and pens, asking for their autographs.

Do-Jun and Han Baek-Myung were tasked with guiding B-rank Hunters in front of the revolving doors at the Bureau.

“Hunters here for the exam today; please follow the marked line down to the second basement floor.” They repeated this message frequently.

Much like celebrities, it was rare to see B-rank Hunters. Perhaps that was why Han Baek-Myung wore a wide smile as he helped with the directions.

“Is it this way?” asked a woman in a snug performance shirt as she took off her sunglasses.

Seeing her striking figure and beautiful face, Han Baek-Myung blushed and made an exaggeratedly enthusiastic gesture compared to how he guided the other Hunters.

“You are Hunter Yoo Ha-Na, right? Yes, please go that way!” he said, flailing his arms.

“Thank you.” Yoo Ha-Na smiled and headed down to the testing area.

Han Baek-Myung turned to Do-Jun, grinning ear to ear, and said, “D-do-Jun, did you see that? I just talked to Yoo Ha-Na!”

“Ah, yes...” Do-Jun responded briefly and continued guiding the Hunters.

He was utterly disinterested. He didn’t know who Yoo Ha-Na was, nor did he care to find out.

Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance.

This excitement was certainly different from what they experienced with the B-rank Hunters, and the crowd was going wild with all the screaming and shouting.

“Wow! It’s Kang Min-Hyuk!”

“Han Min-Ji is with him, too!”

“Kwak Young-Ho and Lee Jin-Goo are here too!”

“I-is this for real?”

They were giants among giants, the elite Hunters of South Korea, those who had entered the realm of the superhuman: the S-rank Hunters.

“They must be here as supervisors today!”

“I wish I could shake hands with them...”

“Ahhh! Over here, please, Min-Hyuk!”

Seeing the S-rank Hunters getting closer and closer, Han Baek-Myung gasped. He straightened up with his chin held high, his whole posture tense.

Interestingly, the S-rank Hunters were just as taken aback. They stopped right in front of Do-Jun, who stood by the revolving doors. Min-Hyuk opened his mouth as if to speak, then quickly attempted to bow.

However, Do-Jun interrupted him. “Please follow the marked line down to the second basement floor,” Do-Jun said with a smile.

If an S-rank Hunter greeted a mere intern so respectfully in front of reporters and fans, things would only become more complicated. Do-Jun was pre-emptively avoiding such a situation.

The S-rank Hunters glanced at Do-Jun, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.

“T-thank you... for... your help,” Min-Hyuk stammered, fumbling his words. He awkwardly waved his arm as he walked through the revolving door and followed the marked line.

The remaining S-rank Hunters also made a conscious effort to avoid looking at Do-Jun as they went inside.

Han Baek-Myung looked at Do-Jun in awe.

“Wow! Do-Jun, you just got thanked by Hunter Kang Min-Hyuk! You could totally brag about this!”

“Yeah, I guess it’s my lucky day,” Do-Jun replied stiffly as if reading off a script.

Han Baek-Myung turned to face the front again, replaying the scene in his head. Strangely, it seemed like the S-rank Hunters were intimidated by Do-Jun.

Must’ve been my imagination, he thought.

***

On the second basement floor, examinees gathered in the waiting room, their eyes fixed on the exam arena visible through a glass wall. It was a dense forest setting divided into four sectors: A, B, C, and D. Monsters roamed through the thick jungle, stomping loudly.

Each Hunter had a supply crate in front of them.

While the Hunters took in the surroundings, a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties spoke into a microphone.

“Hello, my name is Lee Do-Jun, and I’ll be assisting you with today’s exam. Before we begin, there are a couple of things we must go over. Inside the box in front of you, you’ll find a suit and weapons, along with auxiliary artifacts prepared specifically for this test. Please put on your suits now.”

“Huh? We can’t wear our personal suits?” One Hunter clicked his tongue in frustration.

It was common knowledge that the A-rank promotion exam conditions changed every year, but this was the first time they weren’t allowed to use personal suits or weapons.

Do-Jun continued, “As always, the number of monsters you defeat will be the largest part of your evaluation. However, please remember that other criteria will also be evaluated. Supervisors are stationed in each sector, ready to intervene in case of any cheating or emergencies.”

The thirty or so B-rank Hunters in attendance listened to Do-Jun’s instructions, then donned their suits and checked the contents of their supply crates.

Each crate contained a blade, a mana gun, three mana smoke sticks for mana replenishment, an emergency kit, and miscellaneous artifacts.

“The duration of the exam is forty-eight hours, and if you choose to forfeit, you will be disqualified. Should you decide to forfeit, simply fire the distress flare included in your supply crate, and a supervisor will respond promptly. Once you’re ready, please enter the door to your assigned sector. That concludes the instructions.”

Murmurs filled the room.

The items in the crates were minimal at best.

Hunters grumbled, displeased with the standard artifacts.

“They expect us to take this exam with just this stuff?”

“Fuck this shit. I’m not going to let them treat me like some F-rank amateur.”

One Hunter marched up to Do-Jun, glaring at him with murderous intent. To him, Do-Jun was just another intern, easily disregarded.

“If I die wearing this cheap suit, will the Bureau take responsibility?” the angry Hunter sneered.

“Huh...? Why would we take responsibility?” Do-Jun replied, puzzled.

The Hunter seized Do-Jun by the collar, crumpling his dress shirt. Do-Jun frowned at the sight of his wrinkled shirt.

“Are you serious?! A cheap suit like this won’t even withstand an orc attack!” the Hunter continued.

“So what?”

“What...?” The Hunter’s face twisted in shock at Do-Jun’s dismissive response.

It was the same intern from earlier, the one who had been helping at the revolving door, but what was he doing here? For an intern to dismiss a B-rank Hunter so casually, did he have a death wish?

The Hunter was furious, but he held himself back. Causing a scene here wouldn’t do any good. Clicking his tongue, he released Do-Jun’s collar and walked back to the supply crate to change into the provided suit.

Then, Do-Jun spoke. “You actually don’t need to put that on.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” the Hunter replied, annoyed.

“Examinee number seventeen, Heo Young-Chang. You are disqualified.”

Heo Young-Chang laughed in disbelief before his expression darkened. He leaned in, bumping his forehead against Do-Jun’s, and growled, “Who the hell do you think you are, you son of a bitch?”

In a swift motion, Do-Jun twisted Heo Young-Chang’s right arm behind his back, immobilizing him and causing him to cry out in pain.

The other Hunters, watching from the sidelines, gasped in shock.

With a smile, Do-Jun said, “I am the chief supervisor.”

***

Another Hunter walked in through the exam arena doors. It was a young woman in her early twenties with long, flowing hair and light makeup.

“Sorry I’m late... huh?” Ye-Ji said but stopped as she stared blankly at the astonishing scene in the waiting room.

One Hunter lay on the floor, groaning, while the others stood around, wide-eyed, watching him. The atmosphere in the room felt tense and subdued.

“Mr. Administrator...?”

Do-Jun gave Ye-Ji a quick glance, sighed, and gestured toward an empty seat. It was a silent command to quickly take her seat.

“S-sorry.”

She couldn’t understand why Do-Jun was here, but with so many people around, she hesitated to approach him.

Ye-Ji’s gaze lingered on the Hunter sprawled on the floor. The Hunter’s right arm dangled as if dislocated, and he let out a low groan of pain.

“You have ten minutes until the start of the exam. If you haven’t done so already, please put on your suits, gather your supplies, and proceed to your designated sectors.”

At Do-Jun’s words, the Hunters quickly got moving.

***

Five hours into the exam, the Hunters were each engaged in their own methods of hunting. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

The monsters that appeared included trolls and ogres, A and B-rank threats, as well as imps, goblins, and a few low-grade spirits.

Yoo Ha-Na infused mana into her issued blade, weaving together the bark of a tree known as Ragnarion, a conifer that only appeared within Fissures, to reinforce her suit. Ragnarion bark was tough and highly durable, often used as raw material for leather armor. As the issued suit wouldn’t withstand an ogre’s attacks, she needed extra protection.

The requirement to pass the test was to survive for forty-eight hours.

No matter how many monsters one hunted, if they were eliminated before then, it wouldn’t count. Finding food was also essential, and the Munyu-Munyu mushrooms were a good option—though not tasty, they were high in calories and very filling.

About fifty meters away, the distinctive rumble of an ogre echoed.

Yoo Ha-Na was not prepared for battle yet and hid behind a tree, holding her breath to stay as quiet as possible.

Just then, someone emerged from the bushes, coming face-to-face with the ogre.

Yoo Ha-Na peeked out carefully to see who it was. The chief supervisor?

As far as she remembered, Chief Supervisor Lee Do-Jun was just an intern who had been helping with directions at the entrance of the Bureau. However, at one point, he had introduced himself as the chief supervisor assisting with the test.

When he had subdued Heo Young-Chang in an instant, she couldn’t believe her eyes. He must be at least B-rank, maybe even as strong as an A-rank Hunter.

He was a man shrouded in mystery.

An intern... as the chief supervisor...? What’s going on? she wondered.

The position of chief supervisor was something she had never heard of before.

The ogre roared and charged toward Do-Jun. Even though he had taken down Heo Young-Chang with ease, an ogre—a monster of A-rank—posed a real threat even to A-rank Hunters.

Yoo Ha-Na readied her blade, infusing mana into it. I have to help.

She was about to spring into action against the ogre when, looking mildly annoyed, Do-Jun swatted his arm as if brushing away a fly. With a thunderous crash, the ogre was sent flying far into the distance.

Do-Jun resumed walking as if nothing had happened.

What... was that?! Yoo Ha-Na thought with wide eyes.

Monster. No, calling him a monster didn’t even cover it.

Come to think of it, the fact that we have a chief supervisor made no sense in the first place...

Each zone was assigned a supervisor, and all four supervisors were S-rank Hunters. Considering that, the chief supervisor who oversaw all sectors would need to be stronger than them.

But he’s not a Hunter.

If a Hunter with that kind of strength existed, the world would know about him—or at least, she would know.

Then... what is he?