After the castle doors opened, I saw a massive kitchen filled with ingredients... and two people standing out immediately: a giant fat dude and a chick with green hair.
Max (thought):This is cooking, right?
Max (thought, almost shouting):YEEEEAAAAAAH BOI!I almost said it out loud. I wanted to scream.
Without realizing it, I was grinning like a maniac. Gon and the others noticed and instinctively took a step back, clearly unsettled.
Killua: "What's wrong with him?"
Gon: "I don't know…"
Leorio and Kurapika: "Same here."
Then, a voice came from the green-haired girl inside.
Green-Haired Girl: "Will all applicants who passed the first phase please enter?"
We all stepped inside. I was practically vibrating with excitement.Cooking might not have been my main dream, but it was my passion. I even opened a restaurant in my past life. Honestly, it was the dream I saved for when I'd retire from all the dangerous stuff.The green-haired girl spoke again to introduce herself.
Menchi: "Welcome. I'm Menchi, the Second Phase examiner."
Then the giant dude introduced himself.
Buhara: "And I'm Buhara, the other examiner."
Suddenly, a loud rumbling noise echoed through the room. Everyone looked around, confused, until they realized—it was coming from Buhara's stomach.
Menchi: "You must be hungry."
Buhara: "I'm starving…"
Menchi: "There you have it. Phase two will involve…"
Max (thought, losing it):SAY IT. SAY IT. SAY IT. SAY IT—!!
Menchi: "Cooking."
Hanzo: "C-Cooking?!"
I couldn't hold it in anymore.
Max: "YEEEEAAAAAAAH!!!"
The participants immediately covered their ears from how loud I screamed. Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio flinched, stepping back like they didn't even know me.Still buzzing, I grabbed Leorio and started shaking him.
Max: "Told you, right?! Told you right?! Hahaha!"
Leorio (dizzy): "Okay, okay, you're right—please stop shaking me!"
I stopped and let go. Leorio just slumped down, looking dizzy as hell.Noticing the death stares from the other participants, I just gave a sheepish grin.
Max: "Sorry. Got a little excited."
The participants all turned away, clearly pissed, refocusing their attention on the examiners, demanding an explanation.The examiners gave me a weird look but quickly decided to ignore me.
Then one participant—Todo—spoke up.
Todo: "Wait! Cooking? We're here to take the Hunter Exam!"
Menchi: That's quite right. Your challenge for the second phase is to produce a dish that will satisfy our palate.
Todo: "Why do we have to cook?!"
Menchi: "That's because we are Gourmet Hunters."
Max (thought):Wait, there's Gourmet Hunters like in Toriko? Wow, maybe I'll aim to become one... nah, too much trouble.
Todo: "Huh? Pfft, man, what a letdown."
Random participant: "They're Gourmet Hunters."
The guy started laughing, and soon other participants joined in. Menchi looked pissed but just sighed.
Max (thought): This isn't something to laugh at. Imagine if the monsters here were like those in Toriko — their meat would be incredible. But I doubt it. There's no way these monsters are as strong as the ones in the Toriko world. Still, gotta respect her though.
After a while, the participants stopped laughing. Todo asked:
Todo: "So, Gourmet Hunters — what are we supposed to make?"
Menchi, still pissed, answered:
Menchi: "Buhara, you explain."
Buhara stepped forward, making the ground shake a little.
Buhara: "The required ingredient is pork."
Random person: "Pork? Like, pig meat?"
Buhara: "You're free to use meat from any species of Biska Forest pigs."
Max (thought):Knew it. We have to catch it ourselves. And no way it's just going to be normal pigs.
Buhara continued: "You must use the cooking facilities here to prepare the pork. And you only pass if we both find it delicious."
Menchi: "And we'll be evaluating more than just taste. Don't underestimate the art of cooking. Got it? Once we're full, the exam ends."
Max (thought):So basically, Menchi's a master chef judge. Alright, I can do this. I'm 100% confident.
Todo: "We get it, we get it! Let's just start already!"
Buhara slammed his belly like a drum to start the second phase.Everyone immediately sprinted toward the forest — Gon and the others too.But I stayed behind. Gon noticed and asked:
Gon: "Max, aren't you coming?"
Max: "You guys go ahead. I have a question to ask."
Gon: "Okay, just don't take too long!"
Gon ran off to catch up with Killua and Leorio. I walked up to the examiners. Menchi raised an eyebrow.
Menchi: "What's wrong? Is the exam not to your liking? Too easy?"
Max: "Kidding me? I love this exam. I know it's not gonna be easy either. I just need to ask something quick. Can I?"
Menchi: "Hurry up before time runs out. Why didn't you ask earlier?"
Max: "Didn't wanna piss off the other participants. They looked ready to fight if we delayed any longer."
I didn't ask any questions. Instead, I pulled out my own cooking gear and ingredients from my bag.Menchi and Buhara looked surprised — they clearly knew what I was about to ask just from seeing my equipment.Buhara answered with a smile,"You can use your own utensils and ingredients if you brought them. However, the main ingredient pork must still be caught from the Biska Forest."
Max: "(Phew) Fine by me! Thanks!"
I quickly packed up my gear again — no way I was leaving my tools lying around.I waved and dashed off.
Menchi smiled watching me run.
Menchi: "Buhara, that kid's got passion. I kinda like him. His tools — looks like he's been using them for years."
Buhara: "Yeah, and by the look of it, he can cook. Can't wait to try his food. He Looks strong too. Bet he can take down those pigs no problem."
Meanwhile, I finally caught up to the edge of the forest — and damn, it was chaos.Gon and the others were getting chased by massive pigs.
Max (thought):Called it. And those pigs… they've got bones in their teeth. Definitely carnivores.
I could easily defeat them, but instead, I stayed hidden in the bushes.
Max (thought):No need to reveal my strength just yet. Better to stay low — for now, anyway. That jester guy will be a problem later though.
I kept watching. Gon and the others tried attacking but failed miserably at first.Then Gon noticed the pigs' weakness and managed to knock one out. He shouted the info to everyone.
With that, the others started taking pigs down fast.I decided it was time. Picking up some rocks, I jumped high and sniped five pigs right in their weak spots. Gon noticed me and came running over.
Gon: "Max! You're here! What did you talk about with the examiner? …Ah, never mind, you don't have to tell me. But... why did you kill so many pigs? We only need one!"
Max smirked and looked at Gon: "Relax, Gon. I didn't kill them for fun. I'm gonna cook them — not for the examiners, but for myself. And maybe I'll share some with you too."
Gon nodded slowly, taking in Max's words.
Gon: "If that's your reason, okay... Thank you. Although... Poor pigs though."
Max: "Nature's brutal, Gon. Like Leorio said — it's the same for humans."
Gon agreed silently and picked up his pig.I casually lifted all five of mine. Some participants stared but quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.
Max (thought):Hiding my strength won't be easy... but eh, just lifting pigs isn't the full story.
We all started running back to the kitchen, dragging the giant pigs.When Menchi and Buhara saw us returning, Buhara looked thrilled at the sight of so much pork.Menchi commented:
Menchi: "Oh my, they caught a lot... especially that guy. He's bringing so many."
The others started roasting their pigs whole, but I butchered mine properly, picking only the best cuts.I even added some wine for flavor.
Leorio noticed and called out:
Leorio: "Hey, aren't you supposed to use the cooking facilities here?"
Before I could answer, Buhara did:
Buhara: "I never said you couldn't use your own tools or ingredients. He brought them himself it's fair game."
I just smirked and kept cooking.I finished before Todo and quickly presented my dish: a roast pork with a homemade wine sauce, paired with a drink.
Max (thought):It's more like Gotcha Potato roast pork... but this isn't Gotcha Potato. I just stole the idea for the wine sauce.
Menchi and Buhara looked amazed as they tried the food.
Buhara: "It's small... but damn, it's delicious! Best roast pork I've ever eaten."
Menchi: "Yup! And this wine sauce — it's incredible too. I've never tasted wine this good before. Where did you get it?"
Max: "I made it myself when I was young."
Menchi: "Do you aspire to become a Gourmet Hunter? With your talent, I think you could."
Max: "I don't know... I'll think about it."
Menchi: "Well, I hope you do. Anyway, it's time for the judgment."
Buhara: "Delicious!" He immediately stamped the check mark.
Max looked at Menchi, waiting for her verdict.
Menchi: "It's perfect. That's all I can say. The pork is cooked perfectly — even without relying on your own ingredients. You pass. Congratulations."
Max: "Thanks! By the way, is this the only cooking exam?"
Menchi: "Were you expecting more? Too bad, this is the only one."
Max: "Okay then."
After that, Max returned to his station, where Gon and his friends were waiting to congratulate him.
Without wasting any time, Max started cooking again — this time for himself. He whipped up a BBQ rib and a variety of other dishes.
Buhara immediately noticed and looked like he was dying to try some, but Menchi stopped him with a stern glare.Buhara looked heartbroken. Menchi also sneaked a few glances at the food, clearly tempted, but she stayed professional — they still had to finish judging the other examinees.
Meanwhile, all the other participants, including Gon and his friends, failed their dishes miserably. Determined, Gon and the others decided to catch the pig again and return. Thankfully, the giant dude looked so hungry that it seemed like it was allowed. They glanced over at Max with pleading eyes, hoping for his help.
Gon: "Max, can you teach us?"
Max was about to agree, but Menchi immediately stepped in.
Menchi: "No helping. You have to pass with your own skills."
Max (thought):Damn, it's just teaching for a little, why's it not allowed? Oh well... sorry, Gon.
Time passed, Max finished cooking for himself and shared the food with Gon and his friends. With the exam still ongoing, they took their time to eat, but only for a moment. They praised it as the best pork they had ever eaten. They wanted to eat more, but knowing they had to focus on the exam, they returned to their cooking. The other participants looked longingly at the food, but they chose to stay focused on their own dishes.
Then Max devoured his meal eagerly, even eating the bones, which seemed strange to the examiners. The bones were incredibly hard, and Menchi and Buhara watched with puzzled expressions.
Gon, seeing Max gnawing on the bones, chuckled and said, "Max... you look like the pig too." He shrugged it off, figuring Max just liked eating bones. Max deep-fried the bones, added some sauce, and ate them himself. Gon, curious, decided to try one. He tasted it and found it delicious, but the bone was still too hard. He quickly decided not to eat any more. And with that, all the pork Max had was gone — nothing left.
Meanwhile, the examiners could only watch, unable to have even a single bite.
Buhara looked like he was about to cry. Menchi looked even more pissed off.
Leorio, curious about all the equipment Max had pulled out earlier, couldn't help but ask:
Leorio: "How the hell do you fit all that into your bag?"
Max just smirked.
Max: "Magic."
Max (thought): I have no idea how it fits either... it's not my Nen ability, though. Anime logic i think?
Leorio shrugged and decided not to ask any further and continue to what his doing.
The bones had piled up, and Max, noticing this, asked the examiner if he could take them. The examiner, still a bit confused, simply nodded in agreement.
Menchi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why are you eating the bones? Even if you deep-fried them, they're still so hard."
Max shrugged nonchalantly, "I find them delicious. Plus, I've got a strong jaw that can crush bones easily, so don't worry about it."
Menchi paused for a moment, then shrugged, "Well, okay then. Suit yourself."
Max deep-fried all the bones and ate them like French fries while watching the exam. He said, "Good luck, everyone," before starting up his MP3 player. The other participants watched as Max devoured the pile of bones but quickly shrugged it off and focused on the exam. Menchi, watching him, thought to herself, He eats like Buhara. She continued her judging without a second thought.
Gon and Killua, having seen enough, decided not to question it any longer. Well, except for Leorio and Kurapika, who were both staring at Max in disbelief.
Leorio, with a hand on his stomach, muttered, "Is his stomach a black hole or something? Also, are his teeth made of iron? If not, how can he eat that bone like it's a potato chip??" Kurapika, equally stunned, simply shook his head, unable to find an answer.
But unfortunately, all of the participants, including Gon and his friends, still failed their dishes miserably.
Time passed, and soon the exam time was up. The results were about to be announced.