NenMaster
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Chapter 69
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 20:02:21 +0000 UTCThus, under Botobai Gigante's supervision, the participants in this Hunter Exam faced what could only be described as hell difficulty.
It was like comparing standardized tests: one examiner might create something as easy as a beginner’s level test with a low pass score, while Botobai Gigante's version was akin to an advanced exam notorious for its brutal difficulty, with a high pass threshold and limited spots for success.
The contrast was stark, and the candidates learned firsthand what true despair meant.
At the start, after Morin’s withdrawal, seventy-six participants remained.
But after enduring Botobai Gigante’s grueling challenges, only sixteen managed to pass the third round.
And then came the fourth round, with Biscuit as the chief examiner.
“Where did that brat Morin go?!”
Biscuit rubbed her eyes in disbelief. After double-checking and finding no trace of Morin among the candidates, a feeling of unease crept into her.
“Don’t tell me that kid just quit and ran off midway?!”
It never occurred to her that Morin might have been eliminated.
From the start, that kid had even caused trouble for the examiners. And with the abilities he demonstrated, the Hunter Exam’s challenges were unlikely to faze him.
So... what exactly was that brat up to?!
“Fine. I’ll finish handling these kids first, and then I’ll track him down,” Biscuit muttered.
She turned her attention back to the sixteen candidates before her—those who had somehow survived the previous stages. Yet, despite their weary appearances, some of them looked far too relaxed, even eyeing her with a strange glint.
With a sweet, gentle smile, Biscuit declared, “Alright, let’s begin the fourth round of testing...”
But inside, her thoughts were far more ominous: I’m going to make sure I train you lot thoroughly!
By the end, none of the participants who passed the third round managed to clear Biscuit’s test.
When Hunter Association Chairman Netero received the results and called a meeting with all the examiners aboard an airship, the mood was… complicated.
“While it’s true the Association has had instances where no participants passed the Hunter Exam, this... well...”
Dressed in a blue-and-white martial arts uniform, wearing tall wooden geta sandals, Netero stroked his hooked mustache and examined the four examiners he had personally chosen for this year.
“What’s new to me is seeing examiners with expressions like yours.”
He chuckled softly, stroking his beard. “Especially since all of you are the highly skilled Hunters I handpicked for this job.”
His gaze lingered momentarily on Biscuit, who sat with her cheeks puffed out in frustration.
Well, maybe not her.
It turned out Biscuit might’ve gone a bit overboard during the fourth round, thoroughly breaking down the candidates to the point of despair.
Note to self: remind Beans not to assign Biscuit as an examiner in the future, Netero thought fleetingly.
Shifting his attention to the other three examiners, he couldn’t help but notice the low-pressure aura they exuded.
Kuruk was still recovering, her complexion finally showing some color. Botobai Gigante’s face seemed even paler than usual, as if he had applied more makeup to cover something.
And then there was Kanzai—
Netero’s eyes lingered a bit longer on him. “You alright, Kanzai? Do you need me to call a doctor?”
At Netero’s words, the other examiners glanced over at Kanzai with strange expressions.
And for good reason. Of everyone present, Kanzai looked the most miserable.
“I’m fine,” Kanzai replied weakly, sporting two prominent black eyes and swollen cheeks.
“You didn’t… get beaten up by that troublesome candidate, did you?” Kuruk asked, poking Kanzai’s bruised face and prompting a sharp intake of breath.
“No, I hit myself,” Kanzai admitted.
As if to explain, he placed a pair of boxing gloves onto the table—the ones Morin had given him, specially designed for “self-training.”
“If anyone here wants to feel what I’m going through, you’re welcome to try these out.”
I’ll pass, thought Kuruk, quickly averting her gaze. She had already learned her lesson the hard way from one of Morin’s tools. Her injuries still weren’t fully healed, and she wasn’t about to make things worse.
Botobai Gigante, on the other hand, stared at the gloves thoughtfully.
“So, the troublesome candidate everyone’s talking about… that’s Morin, right?” Netero said, picking up a file and flipping through its contents.
“Apparently, he registered on the last day and even arrived with you, Biscuit?”
Netero glanced briefly at Biscuit, whose puffed cheeks grew even more pronounced.
“That’s right,” Biscuit admitted. “The kid is currently training under me.”
This wasn’t something she intended to hide. Sooner or later, Morin’s association with her would become public knowledge once he became a Hunter.
“I just don’t understand why he left the exam midway.”
Biscuit turned her gaze to Botobai Gigante. “What happened?”
Given Botobai Gigante’s stellar reputation, Biscuit didn’t suspect foul play.
Still, if it had been anyone else, she might’ve suspected the examiner of intentionally targeting Morin, driving him to quit the test out of frustration.
“Well, that kid… he doesn’t seem like the type to give up easily,” Biscuit muttered. “But no matter how many times I try to call, he doesn’t pick up...”
As if to prove her point, she tried dialing his number again.
“Beep… click!”
“Hello?” Morin’s voice came through the phone, catching Biscuit off guard.
“You brat! Where have you been? Why haven’t you answered my calls?!”
“Sorry, my phone died. I just noticed,” Morin replied, though his tone betrayed no hint of guilt.
“And where exactly are you? Why’d you quit the exam without saying a word?!”
“Hmm…” Morin hesitated briefly before answering, “It’s mainly because I feel like, at my current level, I’m not yet qualified to be an exceptional Hunter.”
“Meaning?” Biscuit demanded.
“It means,” Morin said decisively, “I don’t think I’m ready to be a proper Hunter. I’ve decided to step back, train more, and come back when I’m fully prepared.”
Lies.
Obvious lies.
The thought crossed Biscuit’s mind, as well as those of Kuruk and Kanzai, who were also listening in.
“You brat…”
A large, angry cross vein appeared on Biscuit’s forehead.
“Stop being so willful, you little punk!”
“I’m being serious,” Morin said, his tone suddenly sincere. “I want to focus on refining my Nen techniques during this time.”
“And I can’t keep depending on you, Biscuit. You’ve already taught me more than enough.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Biscuit asked, sensing something off in his tone.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to leave me and go off on your own, are you?!”
“Don’t put it that way—it makes me sound heartless.”
Morin chuckled softly. “But yes, I have my own path to follow and my own principles to uphold.”
“Principles?”
Hearing that word, Biscuit noticed a subtle shift in Botobai Gigante’s expression, his demeanor growing more serious.
Curiosity sparked within her, though she ultimately let out a sigh of resignation.
“Fine. I knew this day would come eventually, but I didn’t think it’d be so soon.”
She muttered quietly to herself, “I didn’t even get to train him properly yet...”
“I can hear you, Biscuit,” Morin said over the phone.
“So what if you can?!” Biscuit snapped back.
“For the record, I had a bottle of Fountain of Youth Water prepared as a gift for you. But now, I guess you don’t want it anymore.”
“I do!” Biscuit said instantly. “And for the record, I was just saying how lucky I am to have such a great student!”
Morin: “…That sounded more like an insult.”
“When are you giving me that Fountain of Youth Water?” Biscuit asked, impatient.
“Right now.”
“Now?!”
