With Morel's task over, the Association airship slowly flies back to Yorknew, giving the tired examinees enough time to rest after the ordeal they've just endured.
Most of them don't waste a single moment and focus entirely on eating and sleeping. First, Auren's marathon, followed by Morel's survival challenge, after going through both, the vast majority of the examinees look completely exhausted.
Auren himself spends some time with Neffi and Shalnark, as his relationship with them is not a secret among the other examiners, and his role as an examiner is over.
"Again, you cheated, you little demon girl," Shalnark says, smiling. "An interesting Hatsu indeed. I can already guess it by now... you are quite similar to me."
"How?!" Neffi retorts. "I couldn't be more different from you. You appear like a kind and nice man, but I know the truth about you. I, on the other hand, don't hide myself behind a facade."
"Don't we all do that? I'm not quite sure you yourself know that sometimes a facade is just as much the truth as whatever lies beneath. When talking about similarities, I was referring to your Nen category. As a fellow Manipulator, I think we have much in common, don't you think so, Auren?" Shalnark asks with a smile, shocking Neffi, who can't even find the words to respond.
"I... how?! No, I am not!" She replies awkwardly, Shalnark only smiling.
Auren sighs before replying slowly.
"Look... after seeing you fly with that wingsuit and your clothes coming to life, it doesn't take much guesswork to figure out your Nen category, Neffi," Auren points out, depressing Neffi even more. "Not that it particularly matters."
"I guess... it's true," she says. "I guess this survival mission has tired me out more than I'd like to admit. I think I exposed myself."
"Not that it even matters," Auren clarifies. "Your kind of Hatsu is incredibly stable, well-rounded, and doesn't really rely on surprise attacks. Even if people know, it doesn't change much. Similar to my own. What's more interesting is that he just revealed his own Nen category, which you seem to have completely glossed over."
"Right," Neffi says, gulping down a soda she bought from a vending machine on the ship. "I guess it doesn't matter. I think I'll get some rest soon. Do you think the next exams will be easier?"
"It won't get better... with those four remaining examiners..." Auren says, shrugging. "I can't really say more. However, I've got a feeling they won't take much time or effort. So maybe we'll be done in just a few more days. Anyway, do your best."
The airship soon arrives back in Yorknew, causing the examinees to openly express their surprise, as the destination of their next exam is a shopping mall, one focused on modern and trendy clothing stores, with hundreds of different shops inside, most of them geared toward younger women.
Many people murmur among themselves as the location is not at all what they expected.
It turns out the next exam is conducted by Cutie, who has rented the entire mall just for the exam.
Auren can't help but stay nearby and listen from a short distance away as Cutie begins her lengthy introduction. He quickly zones out, only tuning back in once it sounds like she is finally getting to the actual task.
"I am not only cute, but I also hunt everything cute! Whatever kind of cute I want for myself and for others, I get it... and so will you! My goal is that everyone can be cute!" she declares proudly, while a majority of the examinees openly show their disdain and look down on her, something that doesn't seem to bother her at all.
However, after going on for a while and the examinee's face growing more and more hostile, she soon ends her speech, looking slightly frustrated by the lack of enthusiasm. "Hmph, but despite wanting nothing but cuteness... I am here as a Hunter, so I'll give you a fair exam! Come in!"
Suddenly, exactly 82 teenage girls walk in, causing the crowd of Hunters to sigh in frustration.
"You'll each be tasked with preparing a perfect outfit for one of these lovely cuties, so they can become even cuter! Clothes, makeup, accessories, shoes—everything! You will each receive 200,000 Jenny and must buy a complete outfit according to their wishes. You'll have thirty minutes to question them, and then exactly three hours to assemble their outfits. In the end, your client will decide if you pass."
"What?!"
"You are a disgrace to Hunters."
"A lunatic like that will decide if I'm suitable to become a Hunter?!"
"I am a Hunter, not a damn fashion designer."
"This must be a joke?! I can agree with both of the first exams, but this is just beyond stupid!"
"Stupid!"
"I protest!"
The scene becomes crazy, slightly intimidating the girls, who look almost scared.
"Calm down, cuties," Cutie says, looking concerned.
"The next one who complains will be disqualified!" She warns, raising a finger. "You are not cute at all!"
I can't help but agree with the crowd... I knew something stupid like this was coming. However, technically, this is what a Hunter does. Accepting a hunt and following the instructions and wishes of clients is nothing unusual. A Hunter needs to be attentive, versatile, and able to accomplish tasks. Technically, this isn't worthless, but in reality, I understand these candidates. Most of them want to pursue their own goals or become Blacklist or Temp Hunters. I doubt anyone wants to become another Cute Hunter or whatever she calls it. A task like this feels insulting.
Despite that... the actual difficulty of this task is rather low. They are ruining their own chances by letting the silliness get to them. Just get through it and shut up. I believe this is a task almost anyone can accomplish.
"I fucking rip the clothes off girls and don't put them on!" a violent, tall man yells, his body full of scars. "Also, these girls are ugly as fuck, almost as much as you. How about I rip apart you and your pathetic dress, you melon-headed idiot?! You are anything but cute. You not only fail as a Hunter, but you also fail at life! The one thing you are hunting for will forever be impossible for you to achieve. You make me sick," a violent candidate yells, stepping forward and drawing a machete from his back.
"How about I pass by defeating you instead?!" he adds, smirking at Cutie, while the girls behind her scream in panic.
"How... vile," Cutie says, disappearing in a flash and reappearing right on top of his head, standing on it.
"What?!" the man blurts out, looking around in confusion, before trying to lift his head.
A second later, Cutie gathers Aura into her leg and shoes and stomps down. The man collapses instantly, a sickening sound echoing out as her heel drives straight through his skull, deeply penetrating it.
She... penetrated his skull?
"She actually killed him?" Auren mutters from the side, while Knuckle, Shoot, and Palm stand next to him, watching the scene as well.
"Oi oi oi..." Knuckle says. "Is she serious? That was too much."
Palm and Shoot, however, remain completely serious.
"Of course she is serious, and of course she killed him," Morel says, appearing from behind. "That man violated her core beliefs. Not only did he insult her and her way of life, but he also insulted and frightened the girls... for that alone, she decided to kill him from the very start."
"One of you is lucky! I'll personally pick an outfit for you," Cutie continues as if nothing happened, ignoring the corpse in front of her. She casually takes a black-and-silver decorated handkerchief and places it over the man's head, covering the wound and hiding the blood, while the girls cheer in excitement.
"So strong!"
"Haha, that's what he deserves."
"I want to be as cute and strong as Cutie!"
Still, a few of the more attentive girls sceptically glance at the collapsed body, which now just looks like someone who lost consciousness.
The exam quickly progresses, with candidates randomly being paired with one of the girls.
In the end, the desperate candidates talk to the giggling girls, carefully taking notes about what each one wants, their sizes, preferred styles, favorite colors, likes, and dislikes.
This is perfect for Neffi; she is lucky, I guess. Shalnark, based on his looks and personality, should also have no trouble charming his way through this.
Time passes quickly, and the former island survivors turn into frantic shoppers, rushing through the mall and grabbing clothes.
Meanwhile, Cutie, after briefly putting together an outfit for the remaining girl, walks over to Auren, Knuckle, Shoot, and Palm, the three of them taking a break during this exam, as most of the monitoring is done through cameras.
"So, how do you like my cute exam, Auren?" Cutie asks, smiling at him.
I hate it. What a worthless exam.
"Not the worst one I've seen," Auren replies, lying without revealing his true thoughts. "Probably..." he quietly adds.
"...how uncute! Can't you be a little nicer!" Cutie says, feigning outrage, before walking away with the girl to buy more clothes.
"Hehe," Auren hears a female voice snicker behind him.
"What is it, gemstone junkie?" Auren asks bluntly.
"You are quite skilled at hiding your true thoughts," Biscuit notes. "While these three rookies here openly showed their dislike of the exam, you remained calm and unreadable. But to someone like me, it couldn't be clearer. You secretly love this exam, don't you?"
Is that her idea of a joke?
"You do?" Knuckle asks, looking at Auren in surprise.
"Obviously not," Auren replies bluntly, before walking off to buy some food from one of the concession stands that are still open.
Biscuit follows him. "Hey, give me that necklace you're wearing, and I'll teach you a little. I'm the best Nen Teacher there is. You like power and Nen, don't you? The chairman told me. How about it?"
After what Netero put me through, I seriously don't want another drill by a sadistic teacher. I also believe learning from too many people will only confuse me. Also... I know her core training philosophy; in fact, it was the start of my own training. Learning from her now would just be weird.
Should I be a little more grateful?
Fine...
"Not interested in the training, but how about I lend it to you until the exam ends, and you never bother me again?" Auren asks, catching her off guard.
"Really?" Biscuit asks. "What if I run away with it?"
"I'll hunt you down," Auren replies, his eyes turning cold.
Biscuit immediately pouts. "You are a scary boy. Seriously, you should ease up a little.... Fine, give it to me. I can at least appreciate it for a short while."
Handing her the necklace, she takes it gleefully and holds it up against the mall lights.
"Faerie's Tear...! It's so beautiful!" she says, her eyes reflecting the green gemstone.
However, after just a few seconds, her expression changes. "No way?!" She suddenly yells.
Wearing the necklace, she sits down on a nearby bench and begins to meditate, while Auren casually eats his food.
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A/N: Always thankful for Power Stones, Comments, and Reviews. Thank you for reading!
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