I'm Really Not A Nen Exorcist (HxH Fanfic)

Moses would prepare three number plates.

And among these twenty-four examinees, only half would pass the third test.

In other words-

Each number plate in Moses's hand represented four passing slots.

"I can't just let the previous scores go to waste."

Moses muttered, taking out his notebook, which recorded each examinee's score.

Originally, the plan was to determine the twelve successful examinees for the third test based on these scores. But now...

It would be adjusted to advantage points instead.

Examinees with higher scores would be given an initial advantage in the third phase.

Simply put, they would start from a better position.

Examinees are scored based on their performance and ability, and these points would grant them a head start.

That makes sense.

Thinking along these lines, Moses opened his notebook, picked up a pen, and began drafting a more refined leaderboard. After dinner, he would post it, along with the rules for tomorrow's test.

However, before Moses could start writing, Beans opened the door, and Menchi, Buhara, and Satotz walked into the room.

Hearing their approach, Moses looked up.

"Menchi, perfect timing. I have a favor to ask."

Seeing Menchi, Moses flashed a smile.

He planned to ask Menchi to prepare some [Glowing Cuisine] that could eliminate fatigue for the examinees to ensure they'd be in top form.

That would make things much more interesting.

"Master, just say the word."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Menchi's face.

Beans, who walked out of the room, couldn't help but slow down his pace and listen attentively.

Satotz stood silently to the side, while Buhara's gaze shifted between Moses and Menchi.

'Moses is Menchi's master, so doesn't that mean...'

Buhara suddenly realized that both Moses and Menchi are Single-Star Pro Hunters.

In other words, having mentored a Single-Star Pro Hunter, Moses was eligible to apply to the Association for a Double-Star ranking.

This realization shook Buhara to the core.

Both were young...

But the other party was on the verge of becoming a Double-Star Pro Hunter.

What Buhara didn't know was that Moses had already earned his Double-Star ranking. However, with the Hunter Association currently focused on the Hunter Exam, the announcement had been delayed.

Satotz had known for a long time that Menchi was Moses's apprentice, and he also knew that Moses should have been promoted to a Double-Star Pro Hunter two years ago.

So he wasn't as shocked as Buhara.

Moses gestured for the group to sit down, then turned to Menchi and said, "Please help me prepare a table of good food for those examinees, the kind that can relieve their fatigue."

"No problem."

Menchi agreed very straightforwardly.

If it wasn't her master's request, she wouldn't have prepared dinner for this group, even if the Review Committee had asked.

'A meal that relieves fatigue… Is that Menchi's ability?'

Satotz's face remained expressionless, but he was thinking to himself in his heart.

Buhara knew that the food prepared by Menchi could relieve other people's fatigue and even nourish the mind, so he wasn't surprised by this.

Outside the room.

When Beans heard Moses's arrangement, he couldn't help but smile with relief.

He felt that since Moses had considered the examinees before the third phase began, it meant that Moses would definitely take this test seriously.

'How reassuring.'

Beans thought to himself, then slowly walked away.

This dedicated secretary had no idea Moses was more interested in the challenge of making the examinees perform at their best for entertainment. If he did know, who knows what he'd think.

…

7:30 in the evening.

Following the Review Committee's notification, the examinees gathered in the dining hall.

At that moment, the long dining table was laden with a variety of mouth-watering dishes, filling the air with tantalizing aromas.

The examinees looked at the delicious food on the table with mixed expressions.

Before arriving, they'd already been informed that the delicious feast had been prepared by the two Gourmet Hunter examiners, but they hadn't expected such a lavish spread.

"Wow!"

Gon, who had just left Whale Island, had never seen such a scene before. His eyes lit up as he looked at the various delicacies on the table.

Leorio was even less reserved, and was drooling uncontrollably.

Killua, with his hands in his pockets, suspected that these sumptuous meals are prepared by that 'violent girl'.

And based on his understanding of that violent girl, he knew very well that she wouldn't have gone to such lengths for them.

'It must be arranged by Moses.'

Hanzo, who nearly died of embarrassment earlier, approached the table, pulled out a thin silver needle from his sleeve, and carefully tested one of the dishes.

A examinee nearby noticed Hanzo's actions and asked in surprise, "No. 294, what are you doing?"

"Poison test."

Hanzo replied without even turning his head.

The examinee was stunned for a moment.

Hanzo withdrew the silver needle, satisfied that there were no unusual reactions. He then quickly moved closer to the examinee, whispering, "I went to the kitchen earlier to steal... to find something to eat, but guess what I discovered in the kitchen?"

"What did you discover?"

The examinee's gaze toward Hanzo became increasingly curious.

With a suddenly serious expression, Hanzo replied: "This table of dishes was prepared by that female examiner named Menchi."

"Oh… and?"

"Don't you think that female examiner is rather ill-tempered? Do you think someone like that would willingly prepare such a lavish dinner for us? Especially when there are already chefs on this airship..."

Lowering his voice, Hanzo offered a theory, finishing with a grave warning: "Better safe than sorry. If you get food poisoning, it'll be a hassle."

"…"

The examinee listening to him went silent, his eyes showing deep thought. He's clearly drawn into Hanzo's mental rabbit hole.

"Got extra needle?"

After a few seconds, the examinee's expression grew serious, thinking that what Hanzo said made sense.

Hanzo nodded to the examinee, then took out another silver needle and placed it solemnly in the examinee's hand.

Nearby, a cool, sunglasses-wearing woman caught a glimpse of Hanzo and the examinee's actions, then quickly distanced herself as if they had some contagious disease.

Meanwhile, in the passageway leading to the kitchen, veins bulged on Menchi's forehead.

Not only did she see Hanzo's actions, she also heard his conspiracy-laden theory.

'Poisoning the food?!'

'Are you kidding? I'm a Gourmet Hunter!!!'

Menchi suddenly looked towards the kitchen area, her gaze landing on the knives on the rack.

"Menchi, calm down...!"

Buhara noticed Menchi's intention and quickly pressed Menchi's shoulders with both hands.

Menchi gnashed his teeth and said, "Let go! I'm going to slice that bald donkey into pieces!"

"Ah, that might not be a great idea!"

Buhara mumbled hesitantly: "Maybe… wait until after the test?"

"No, I can't wait that long!"

Menchi's gaze turned again to Hanzo in the dining hall, her eyes glinting with a predatory look.

At the dining table…

Hanzo, who was still testing for poison, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"Huh?"

He looked at the bowl of rainbow-colored soup before him, and his eyes suddenly became sharp.

"There's something wrong with this dish!"

Being an overly cautious ninja from the East, Hanzo instinctively interpreted this vague chill as a sign of danger, entirely unaware that the real danger lurked back in the kitchen.

After a while, the examinees all took their seats and began sampling the dinner carefully prepared by Menchi and Buhara.

After just a few bites, surprise flashed across their faces.

The unexpected deliciousness amazed their taste buds and perceptions, and shortly after, they felt a notable reduction in fatigue.

'So this is the skill of a Gourmet Hunter…!'

Many of the examinees at the table had previously looked down on Gourmet Hunters.

In their minds, anything related to 'gourmet' was nothing more than mere cooking.

If it weren't for Menchi's unexpected leniency in the second phase, allowing them to progress to the third phase, they wouldn't have shown any respect at all.

But now, after tasting this dish with its astonishing effects, they began to view the Gourmet Hunter profession in a new light.

The atmosphere at the dining table grew lively.

Seeing the examinees conquered by her delicious cooking, Menchi's mood also became much better.

Though it didn't lessen her desire to cut Hanzo down even slightly.