Hunting spider-vulture eggs was an extremely dangerous task.
The canyon was steep, and at the bottom surged a violent river.
If someone fell in, they would be swept thousands of meters downstream, possibly never returning.
If they couldn't swim, drowning wasn't unlikely.
To prove it was feasible, Menchi removed her shoes and socks and jumped down first.
As she free-fell, she adjusted her posture and grabbed onto a strand of spider-vulture silk.
The silk was incredibly tough and easily absorbed the impact.
Menchi climbed down, picked up an egg, then climbed back up the cliff.
That alone scared off quite a few examinees.
But even more, unafraid of the danger, accepted the challenge and jumped down one after another.
The first to move were the protagonists.
Emiya used Nen to support himself, descending gently through the air.
After grabbing an egg, he flew back up.
Fast.
By the time he returned, Gon and the others were still climbing.
Menchi was visibly startled.
"You can fly? How did you do that?"
Emiya smiled.
"Want to know?"
Menchi nodded immediately.
Emiya raised a finger to his lips. "It's a secret."
Menchi froze, then realized she had been played.
"You're really a jerk," she said.
Netero's attention shifted.
He stared at Emiya, surprise flashing in his eyes.
He could tell Emiya wasn't a Nen user.
Yet he could fly.
That was abnormal.
And besides him, there was the martial artist with pure fighting spirit-
Netero's gaze moved to Isshō.
This blindfolded middle-aged man also wasn't a Nen user.
But his life force was monstrous.
Netero had never met a human with vitality like that.
Not even himself.
More frightening was the sense of lethal danger.
If they fought, Netero wasn't confident he would win.
That realization stirred his long-dormant fighting spirit.
He had stood at the peak for too long.
He had met many outstanding talents.
None had ever made him feel this kind of danger.
But this man did.
Netero wanted to find a secluded place and fight him properly.
Even if it meant risking his life.
A martial artist would rather die in battle than in bed.
But not now.
He still had to oversee the Hunter Exam.
He could wait.
After the exam, there would be time.
Isshō sensed Netero's intent.
He gave a slight nod.
Then he jumped off the canyon edge to hunt spider-vulture eggs.
Before long, the second phase ended.
Originally, forty-two examinees passed.
With Emiya's group, it should have been forty-eight.
But the final count was fifty.
Two more than before.
Probably a minor ripple from Emiya's presence.
It wasn't important.
Afterward, everyone boarded the Hunter Association's airship to head to the next location.
Netero gave a brief self-introduction.
The secretary, Beanish, informed everyone they would arrive at the next exam site at 8:00 a.m. the following morning.
Until then, they were free.
Dismissed.
Hayato Fūrinji raised his head and met Netero's gaze.
Netero laughed heartily, walked over, and asked, "If you're not tired, how about a match?"
"Of course," Hayato Fūrinji replied.
Sakaki Shio and Shigure Kōzaka approached.
"Oh? You two old men are fighting?" Sakaki said. "Mind if we watch?"
Shigure bowed slightly. "I'd like to observe as well."
Netero chuckled.
"If you're just watching, I don't mind. Depends on my friend here."
Hayato Fūrinji shook his head.
"I have no objections."
Isshō overheard and walked over.
"Gentlemen, may I watch as well?"
No one objected.
Emiya had no interest.
Even a top-tier battle between old men didn't appeal to him.
If it were between beautiful women, maybe.
"You guys go ahead. I'll look around."
Robin stepped beside him, smiling. "Perfect. I'm not interested either. I'll join you."
They left together.
The airship was enormous.
Restaurants, corridors, observation decks, entertainment rooms, rest areas.
Even so, there weren't enough rest spaces for fifty examinees.
Most sat or lay on the floor of the main hall.
Many leaned against the walls and fell asleep.
The day had included a hundred-kilometer underground run, the Numere Wetlands, cooking, and a cliff dive.
Exhaustion hit hard.
Once they relaxed, they were out cold.
A few still had energy.
Most slept to prepare for the next exam.
Emiya and Robin wandered the ship and reached the restaurant.
There, they ran into Satotz, Menchi, and Buhara.
The three examiners were also eating.
Menchi clicked her tongue when she saw Emiya, still annoyed about earlier.
Emiya laughed lightly.
"Don't hold a grudge. You failed my sushi, I tricked you. We're even."
Menchi crossed her arms and snorted. "I've got nothing to say to you."
"How about I treat you?" Emiya said. "Something you've never eaten."
Menchi looked him over.
His hands were empty, but his expression was confident.
"What is it?" she asked.
As a Gourmet Hunter, curiosity was unavoidable.
"This."
Emiya extended his hand.
A smoked lizard hamburger steak appeared.
"A hamburger? Where did that come from?"
Menchi circled him, unable to find anything.
It was like it appeared from nowhere.
Buhara and Satotz exchanged glances.
They were just as confused.
"Don't bother," Emiya said. "I made it."
"You made it?" Menchi reacted instantly. "Specialization-type Nen?"
She hesitated.
Specialists created things with effects.
Food that wasn't really food.
"It's not Nen," Emiya said calmly. "Just a small trick. Real food. Are you scared?"
He understood her caution.
If a stranger handed him food, he'd refuse too.
"Who's scared?" Menchi snapped and grabbed it.
She checked carefully.
It was real.
They were on Netero's airship.
If Emiya dared do something funny, he wouldn't survive.
She took a bite.
"It's... delicious."
Menchi had eaten countless hamburgers.
Nothing like this.
The flavor and texture were incredible.
"What meat is this?"
"Guess."
"It tastes like lizard, but lizard isn't this chewy."
Emiya was impressed.
A real Gourmet Hunter.
"It is lizard meat," he said. "Just not from any world you know."
Buhara swallowed, drooling openly.
"Can I try too?"
Emiya nodded and created several more.
One for Buhara.
One for Satotz.
One for Robin.
"Thank you," Robin said, eating neatly.
Menchi finished hers and immediately reached out.
"Another one."
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