However, facing Menchi's proud answer—that they were Gourmet Hunters—many candidates couldn't help but erupt in laughter.
"Hahaha, what a bummer." "You actually said you were a gourmet hunter." "…"
In the opinion of most aspirants, a "Gourmet Hunter" was nothing more than a glorified chef! To them, if you became a Hunter, you were meant to be a high-stakes professional—a Bounty Hunter, a Treasure Hunter, or something similarly adventurous and dangerous. The idea that a Hunter would dedicate their life to cooking was genuinely hilarious and pathetic in their eyes.
Watching the many candidates laughing, Ryusei couldn't help but shake his head. Regardless of the specialty, a Hunter was not someone they, mere test-takers, should be openly mocking. Furthermore, Ryusei knew that the strength requirements for Gourmet Hunters were actually quite high among the various Hunter types. The ingredients they sought often existed in magical or secret realms. Without considerable strength, one wouldn't even be able to retrieve the ingredients, let alone cook them.
"So, Gourmet Hunter, what kind of dish do you want us to make?" Todo's tone was heavy with disdain, but he had resigned himself to playing their game. He just wanted to pass the second exam as quickly as possible.
"The designated ingredient is pig," Buhara said, looking at everyone calmly.
"Pig, do you mean the pig we usually talk about?" one candidate couldn't help but ask, confused by the simplicity of the requirement.
"Any pig that lives in these Milsy Wetlands," Buhara clarified. "Any kind will do. Use the cooking tools here to prepare these pigs. If both of us say it's delicious, you pass."
Buhara finished with a simple, easygoing smile. This made many of the candidates relax and smile too. To cook with pigs—all they needed was a basic skill set!
Ryusei looked at the overly optimistic candidates and felt a touch of pity in his heart. In the Milsy Wetlands, there was one, and only one, type of pig: the Great Stamp. It was not a creature they could just catch because they wanted to. Of course, Ryusei wasn't about to give these overconfident candidates a heads-up.
"It won't work if it's just about the taste," Menchi interjected, her smile gone, replaced by a stern look. "Don't underestimate the food, understand? The requirement is that the dish must completely satisfy both of us."
She looked at the candidates calmly. How dare they laugh at a Gourmet Hunter! She wouldn't be blamed for a particularly strict review.
After Menchi announced the start of the exam, Ryusei immediately took action. He knew the sole species of pig in the Milsy Wetlands was the Great Stamp, arguably the most ferocious pig known to the world. If an ordinary person encountered this beast, they would inevitably become its food. Even for many candidates who passed the first Hunter Exam, catching a Great Stamp would be no easy feat.
However, that was before knowing the Great Stamp's single major weakness.
Ryusei had observed the surroundings while waiting and had already discovered traces of their activity. Knowing their location, he quickly left the examination venue.
Ryusei's goal was clear. He soon found a large group of Great Stamps in an open clearing. With pink skin, round bodies, and huge noses, they looked surprisingly cute—almost like a pet, if they were much smaller.
As Ryusei approached, the Great Stamps, who were leisurely gnawing on bones, fixed their eyes on him. Instantly, surprise flashed in the pigs' eyes. They clearly regarded Ryusei as a meal delivered right to their doorstep.
Immediately, the herd of Great Stamps charged towards Ryusei, ready to use their massive noses to deliver a killing blow. Ryusei was certain that a direct hit would shatter most of his bones. A head-on confrontation was clearly not the option.
Ryusei bolted directly into the nearby woods. The Great Stamps naturally followed without hesitation.
Upon entering the woods, some of the pigs, unable to stop their tremendous momentum, crashed straight into the thick trees, causing them to shake violently. Yet, these Great Stamps simply shook their heads and continued to chase Ryusei as if nothing had happened. However, the obstruction of the trees effectively scattered their formation.
Ryusei knew it was time to act. The commotion caused by the Great Stamps was significant; other candidates were likely already heading this way. He didn't want to expose his storage space, so he needed to capture enough Great Stamps before the others arrived.
Ryusei suddenly stopped.
The three Great Stamps closest to him sped up threefold, closing the distance rapidly. Just as one of them was about to crash into Ryusei, he suddenly jumped more than two meters high, soaring over the pig's huge nose. As he passed over, he delivered a sharp kick to the Great Stamp's forehead, right behind its nose, and used the momentum to spring toward the next pursuing pig. A kick to its forehead. Then came the third Great Stamp, receiving the same treatment.
By the time Ryusei landed on the ground, the three Great Stamps had collapsed, lying motionless.
Seeing this, Ryusei hurriedly put the three massive pigs into his storage space. Then, he turned to face the rest of the herd charging behind him...
After Ryusei had efficiently caught more than a dozen Great Stamps in a row, many other candidates finally arrived. Upon seeing the Great Stamps running around wildly, these candidates immediately showed surprise, then rushed headlong towards the pigs.
However, these candidates did not know the creature's weakness. As a result, they were quickly battered by the charging Great Stamps, crying out in pain and surprise. The noise and chaos only attracted more candidates.
Seeing the growing crowd, Ryusei stopped his hunt. He picked up one Great Stamp, which he had specifically left aside for the purpose of completing the test, and began walking back towards the examination venue. As for whether the others could catch a Great Stamp, that was no longer his concern.
On the way back, Ryusei also picked some edible fruits and cut a length of bamboo.
Upon returning to the venue, Ryusei was the first candidate to come back with the designated ingredient, naturally attracting the attention of Menchi and Buhara.
Ryusei quickly bled the Great Stamp and removed its internal organs. He checked the cooking area and noted that there were no common seasonings available. This meant he would be restricted to roasting.
Ryusei decided against roasting the entire Great Stamp; the requirement was just a "pig," not necessarily a whole-roasted one. Instead, he opted for barbecue.
He selected a piece of pork belly weighing more than ten pounds from the abdomen and cut it into thin slices. He used the peeled bamboo sticks he had gathered to skewer the meat and began grilling it over the open flame.
He turned the skewers frequently, and soon, the delicious aroma of the roasting pork began to spread through the courtyard.
When he judged the meat was almost done, Ryusei mashed the fruits he had picked earlier and brushed the paste onto the skewers. The aroma of the barbecue was instantly mixed with a hint of sweet, fruity fragrance, promising a unique flavor.