Chapter 33 – Prelude to the Hunter Exam
Osren hadn't even gotten the chance to properly study Hanzo yet when something else suddenly caught his eye—and completely ruined his mood.
A boy with short silver hair and cool, forest-green eyes stood across the hall. His expression was calm, clean, and sharp. There was no mistaking him.
Killua.
Osren had seen him briefly back at the steakhouse, but the counter had blocked his view at the time. Now, standing in the open, he got a full look at him—
and immediately wished he hadn't.
Because—by every cruel law of proportion—the kid was taller than Gon.
And not just by a smidge.
Killua had at least half a head on Gon. And since Osren was already a bit shorter than Gon, standing the three of them side by side looked like a walking Wi-Fi signal bar:
📶 Low, Medium, High.
The mental image alone made Osren want to cry.
"Who was it that said Gon and Killua were supposed to be the same height?" he muttered internally, scowling. "And what's with that spiky hair of Gon's? I thought it added some illusion of height—guess not enough!"
Reality hit harder than a Gido spinning top.
Killua stood there effortlessly cool, a living reminder that the universe truly had no mercy. Osren started questioning his life choices.
Do I need to talk to Feitan later? Maybe team up with him in Greed Island and get some of that elder's height potion?
At least then, he wouldn't have to suffer moments like this—when even his reference point became an insult. He had wanted to compare himself to Killua, but now it only reminded him that he was the shortest of the three.
This can't be good for my mental health, he thought, clutching his pride like a wounded animal.
Across the room, Killua also noticed them—a small group of three boys roughly his own age. He had just started to take a closer look when—
Of course.
Wherever Hisoka was, peace could never last more than five seconds.
Silence shattered as a loud, high-pitched shriek echoed through the hall.
"Aaaahhh—!"
Before the sound even faded, a playing card sliced through the air with a sharp shhhk! and embedded itself in the wall—mere centimeters from a man's wide, screaming face.
"Help! Help me!" the man wailed, clutching the wall like it was his last lifeline.
A low, familiar chuckle followed.
"Careful now," came a silky voice, smooth and unsettling. "When you bump into someone… remember to apologize."
The voice alone was enough to make Osren's skin crawl.
He didn't need to look to know who it belonged to.
Hisoka.
The magician's tone was playful, polite even—but beneath it lingered something far more dangerous.
He strolled forward, plucking the card from the wall with deliberate grace, and smiled faintly as if he were doing the man a favor.
Osren's entire body tensed involuntarily.
"Unbelievable…" he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing. "Only Hisoka could make a simple apology sound like a death threat."
Even without seeing him up close, just hearing that voice set off every instinct Osren had.
This guy really is a walking red flag.
The man who had the misfortune of standing too close to Hisoka wasn't exactly blessed by the encounter.
In fact, the poor soul looked like he had just seen the gates of hell open before him.
Even after Hisoka strolled away, calm and composed as ever, the man remained frozen in place—clutching the wall like a lifeline, trembling so violently it was a miracle he was still upright.
He wasn't dazed. He was broken.
Another participant down. Hisoka had just saved the examiners the trouble of eliminating one more candidate.
---
"Dangerous individual confirmed for this year's exam," Tonpa said in a hushed, serious tone, playing his role as the kindly mentor to perfection. "Number 44, the magician Hisoka. He should've passed last year, but he beat the examiner half to death because he didn't like him. Lost his qualification for that. Also hospitalized twenty other participants in the process. You kids better stay far away from him."
Leorio's face went pale. "And they let him take the exam again?!"
"The examiners change every year," Tonpa explained patiently. "And the content of the exam depends entirely on them. If an examiner says you pass, you pass. Even if you're a devil in disguise."
His expression was grave, his voice heavy with concern. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was genuinely worried for their safety.
Osren almost applauded. This guy could win an award for acting.
"Thank you, Mr. Tonpa," Osren said sincerely—but there was a glint of irony in his tone. "It's good to know what we're dealing with."
The other three followed his lead, bowing slightly in gratitude. To Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio—who knew next to nothing about the exam—Tonpa's information was genuinely helpful.
Tonpa, seeing their earnest faces, nearly sighed in relief. Kids really are easy to fool, he thought, smiling to himself. Outwardly, though, he kept that same gentle grin, waving for them to stay focused. "Now then, the exam's about to start. Get ready."
"Thanks," Osren said, smiling back politely. You just keep playing your part, old man.
Inwardly, he smirked.
Because next—it's my turn to perform.
---
Just then—
Ding-ling-ling!
A sharp, metallic ringing echoed through the air. The sound wasn't mechanical—it was alive.
Osren and the others looked up.
Soaring through the air was a strange, bird-like creature with an absurdly long tongue, its body twisted in bizarre shapes as it flapped its wings. And hanging from its neck was a small, humanoid figure with no mouth and a faintly glowing bell.
The sound came from the creature's throat as it hovered in the air.
"Registration is now officially closed," the man atop it announced.
The creature stopped ringing the moment he released it.
The man descended gracefully, landing lightly on his feet without so much as bending his knees.
"Satotz," Osren murmured. "The first examiner."
His entrance was… impossible to ignore. He drifted down as if gravity itself was a suggestion—no wings, no tricks, just raw mastery.
Even compared to martial arts masters back home, this was next-level.
That has to be aura control, Osren thought. He still didn't fully understand Nen, but he could feel it.
A weight.
A pressure.
A power just barely hidden beneath the surface.
He exhaled slowly. Guess I'll have to get serious about learning it after this. The Heaven's Arena seems like the best bet.
"The Hunter Exam begins—now."
Satotz's calm, steady voice cut through the murmurs like a blade.
Instantly, the massive crowd fell silent. Hundreds of examinees held their breath, their nerves tightening like coiled springs.
Of course, not everyone was paying attention.
Hisoka lounged against the wall, idly tossing a card between his fingers.
Nearby, Gittarackur—the man with the nails in his face—stood motionless, arms crossed, as if the start of the exam meant nothing to him.
To people like them, the Hunter Exam was nothing more than entertainment.
Osren scanned the room quietly, taking everything in. His gaze lingered for a moment on the heavily disguised Illumi—under his alias, Gittarackur.
His entire face was swollen, covered in nails, with his rooster-like hair sticking out in all directions.
It was impossible to connect this grotesque figure to one of the most elegant and deadly assassins in the world.
God, this guy's dedication to his craft is terrifying.
Osren quickly looked away. Assassins like Illumi had sharp instincts for being watched. He wasn't about to test just how sharp.
"Osren! The Hunter Exam's finally starting!" Gon's voice was full of excitement, his whole body buzzing with energy.
"Yeah," Osren said softly, eyes bright. "Finally."
Even Kurapika, normally so composed, was tense—his lake-green eyes fixed firmly on Satotz.
Leorio tugged at his tie, trying to calm his breathing.
"This is it," he muttered.
"Relax," Osren said, his tone calm and steady. "We've got this."
Something about his confidence settled them instantly.
Meanwhile, Tonpa lingered a few steps away, watching.
He didn't approach.
A true predator knew when to wait.
And as the elevator chamber sealed behind them and the crowd began to move, his lips curled into a faint smile.
The Rookie Crusher was ready to begin his hunt.