HBWnovel Chapter 11 - Retest x Lorraine Becomes Prey
Chapter 11 - Retest x Lorraine Becomes Prey
Chapter 11: Retest x Lorraine Becomes Prey
The Hunter Association’s airship came to a halt near a canyon on an unnamed mountain peak.
This canyon, approximately 40-50 meters wide, split the mountain straight down the middle as if it had been cleaved in half by a massive blade.
“This is the place!” Menchi said with a smile as she walked to the edge of the canyon. “This will be the site of the new test, and the challenge this time is... soft-boiled eggs!”
“Soft-boiled eggs?”
The candidates exchanged puzzled glances, their eyes darting between the canyon and Menchi.
What could soft-boiled eggs possibly have to do with this canyon?
Meanwhile, Menchi began removing her shoes and socks. “This canyon is home to a creature called the grape spider. The challenge is to retrieve its eggs and make a soft-boiled egg.”
Canyon?
Grape spiders?
The candidates stared at Menchi, then at the canyon, and many of their faces turned pale.
“Don’t worry. There’s a deep river at the bottom of the canyon. As long as you’re careful, you won’t die from the fall. But the current is fast, so if you slip, you might end up washed out to the ocean dozens of kilometers away,” Menchi added nonchalantly.
“You’re telling us to go down there? That’s insane! Someone could die—” Candidate #255, Taku, who had seemingly recovered his energy, shouted in protest.
“Die?” Menchi gave him a peculiar look. “If you’re not prepared to face death at any moment, why are you trying to become a Hunter?”
Without waiting for a response, Menchi leapt into the canyon.
The sight left many candidates stunned.
In less than two minutes, Menchi climbed back up the cliff, holding a grape spider egg in her hand.
“This is what you need to retrieve. Go down, get one, and make a soft-boiled egg!” she said with a smile.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! Who would just jump like—”
Before Taku could finish his sentence, dozens of candidates, faces alight with excitement, dove into the canyon one after another.
The remaining candidates were left speechless as they watched in disbelief.
“Oh ho ho! Wrong again.”
Netero stroked his small beard, his smile growing even more mischievous. “He’s not from the Dark Continent either. That much I can guarantee.”
“Then, Chairman, who is he?” Beans was more confused than ever.
The Hunter Association’s resources could uncover the identity of anyone in the world, apart from residents of Meteor City or the Dark Continent. Was there truly someone beyond their reach?
“Oh ho ho, the answer is: I don’t know either,” Netero said with a grin.
“Chairman, then...” Beans began, only to falter at the sight of Netero’s smile.
“Chairman, could it be that you...” Beans finally understood why Netero looked so delighted.
It was the expression of a Hunter who had found a new prey to chase.
Beans fell silent.
Despite all the years that had passed, there was no doubt—his chairman was, first and foremost, a Hunter.
Meanwhile...
Unaware of Netero and Beans’ conversation, Lorraine sat in the airship’s outer corridor, gazing at the scenery outside.
Thanks to Netero’s assurances, Lorraine no longer worried about his lack of official registration for the Hunter Exam.
Even after obtaining his Hunter License, he wouldn’t have to worry about his lack of an official identity in this world.
Yet, he couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed.
He hadn’t gotten to enjoy the chaos he’d hoped for.
Though Netero had promised him a reward, it came with an implicit threat.
As someone who hadn’t officially registered, Lorraine knew Netero could easily disqualify him at any moment.
Despite his regrets, Lorraine accepted the favorable deal.
He sighed.
There wouldn’t be any more moments where he could gleefully watch candidates get eliminated en masse. Or rather, with his current strength, he couldn’t manage to eliminate all the candidates in one go.