Chapter 29: 2nd Phase

"I'm Menchi, the 2nd phase examiner."

"And I'm Buhara, the other examiner."

A sound of tummy rumbling echoes around us. The mint one talks.

"You must be hungry."

"I'm starving…"

"There you have it. Phase 2 will involve…Cooking!"

Everyone seems shocked. Why? Isn't this necessary if you're going to be surviving out in the wilderness with very little to eat? An application shouts.

"Wait, cooking?! We're here to take the hunter exam!"

"That's quite right. Your challenge for the 2nd phase is to produce a dish that will satisfy our palates."

"Why do we have to cook?!"

"That's because we are Gourmet Hunters."

The applicant laughs, he must think it's a joke. Everyone else joins in too. The mint one doesn't seem all too happy about being insulted.

"So, Gourmet hunter, what are we supposed to make?"

"Buhara."

"The required ingredient is pork. You're free to use any species of Biska Forest pigs. You must use the cooking facilities here to prepare the pork."

I look at them, a cut board plate. Pepper and salt. Knifes of different lengths. A cloth. A sink. A bowl of vegetables. Tongs. And a griller to heat the pig while it spins.

"And you'll only pass if we both find it delicious."

"And we evaluate more than just the taste. Don't underestimate the intricacies of cooking. Got it? When we've both eaten our fill, the exam will end."

"We got it. We got it. Let's just start."

"Then the exams 2nd phase…"

He slams his belly.

"Begins now!"

Everyone runs off back into the forest. We start looking around, hoping to see a pig.

Leorio: "Catch a pig and cook it. This is way easier than the 1st phase."

Kurapika: "I hope it will be that simple…"

Gon runs ahead of us. He must have smelled the pigs. We slide down the hillside, slamming into Gon.

Killua: "What was that about, Gon?!"

Gon: "Found them."

Leorio: "Pigs!"

We all look at them. They are huge, and munching on bones.

Leorio: "Uh…They chewing on bones."

Kurapika: "Don't tell me… They're carnivores?!"

The pig charges at us.

Esther: "Ah, guys? Run!"

We run as fast as we can. That pig is just charging at us, leading the rest of the horde to charge as well. I see applicants ahead of us.

Esther: "Look out!"

They all start running off. Some are being hit by their huge noses.

Leorio: "These pigs are crazy!"

Gon stops, he pulls out his fishing rob and slams it onto the pig. He's hit back. The pig sustained no damage. As it charges at Gon, Gon slips passed a tree. Where the pig slams itself onto the trunk. While it turns, apples fall onto its forehead. Gon has an idea.