Chapter 38 – The Generous Tonpa (Part 3)
"Thanks," Killua said after a brief pause. He hesitated for only a moment before accepting the handful of candy, slipping most of it into his pocket and unwrapping just one piece with practiced speed.
The moment the candy touched his tongue, his eyes widened—brilliant silver-blue irises sparkling like polished gems. Then he squinted slightly, a soft hum escaping his lips.
So it's true, Osren thought, amused. Killua really does love sweets.
In the original story, Gon and Killua had spent all the money they earned at Heaven's Arena on candy—and it still wasn't enough. They'd only switched to candy because Yorknew City didn't sell those round chocolates Killua liked.
He was only going to eat one piece, but once he started, it was over. Within minutes, he'd eaten everything Osren had given him.
He actually wanted more, but they'd only just met. Asking outright felt awkward, so Killua kept quiet, eyes flickering uncertainly toward Osren.
"No need to be polite," Osren said with an easy grin, immediately handing him another handful.
Killua blinked, surprised again by how effortlessly the boy read the room.
Instinct told him that Osren wasn't as simple or pure-hearted as Gon—but still, there was something disarming about him. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, calm and confident without the slightest hint of malice.
For the first time in a while, Killua thought, Maybe there are decent people outside the family after all.
Osren, meanwhile, was feeling rather pleased with himself. More candy meant more face points, and every favor counted.
"Mr. Tonpa," Osren said, turning toward the older man with polite sincerity. "You've been really kind to us so far. Thank you. These candies can help restore a bit of energy—please, have some."
Tonpa's grin widened, chest swelling with pride.
This mysterious kid, who even he couldn't quite figure out, was now looking at him with gratitude. He accepted the "gift" without hesitation and even treated himself to another Dawnsweet Fruit.
No wonder he could run this long without losing breath—thirty rounds of Hunter Exams had made him durable, if nothing else.
Osren watched him carefully, a subtle gleam in his eyes. "Not bad… he's got stamina, I'll give him that."
Just then, a sweet, airy scent drifted through the tunnel.
"Eh? What's that smell?" Gon asked suddenly, sniffing the air as they passed an intersection. "It smells really good… like something sweet!"
"There's definitely something," Osren murmured. Thanks to his enhanced senses—an aftereffect of his Nen training—he could faintly pick it up too. A soft, syrupy sweetness carried by the wind.
Still, Gon's nose was something else.
This kid's sense of smell puts tracking dogs to shame.
"I smell it too," Killua said, wrinkling his nose. The scent was faint for him, barely noticeable. "What is that?"
Kurapika's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced down the right-hand path. "Something unknown. We should be cautious."
Tonpa's expression flickered for just an instant—his smile tightening, eyes darkening—but then it was gone. He was back to his usual innocent, dopey grin.
If Osren hadn't been watching him closely, he would've missed it entirely.
In another world, Tonpa would've stolen every acting award from Tom Hanks.
"Looks like he's sticking to his old tricks," Osren muttered under his breath, a wry smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Well… this might get interesting."
"Why's everyone heading left anyway?" Leorio suddenly asked, looking around. "What if the right path's a shortcut to the finish line?"
Osren nearly tripped at that. Of course, only Leorio would think that.
"Leorio," he said patiently, "following the examiner is the exam."
"…Right, right." Leorio scratched his head, face flushed, and refocused on running. Sweat poured down his face, dripping off his chin with every stride. He was reaching his limit, but his stubborn pride kept him going.
Osren exhaled slowly, gaze flicking back toward Tonpa.
The man's steps hadn't faltered once, his pace steady and deliberate.
So, Osren thought, eyes narrowing, the snake's finally starting to move.
Osren kept popping candies into his mouth as he ran, replenishing his energy bit by bit. He hadn't fallen behind at all—if anything, it felt easier than when he'd chased down that trickster earlier.
The Face Fruit ability's "limit-breaking" effect was no joke. It wasn't just about charm or social power—it pushed his physical endurance further than he thought possible.
For the first time, he was starting to understand how to properly train with it.
Even if his ability could literally make people eat at his table… he still had to be alive long enough to set the table.
If he didn't build his own strength, then when he met someone like Chrollo, he'd have no chance. He needed enough power to at least survive a few moves against a monster like that.
---
An hour passed.
"Another fork in the tunnel?" Kurapika muttered, his calm starting to crack. "It's been over four hours. How much longer are we supposed to keep running?"
In the dark, airless tunnels, they could only move forward—no endpoint, no goal, just endless footsteps echoing through the stone.
For anyone with weaker willpower or stamina, this would've broken them long ago. Truly, the Hunter Exam lived up to its reputation.
"Don't worry," Osren said in his usual cool, clear tone. "When it's time to stop, we'll stop. The examiner isn't tired yet, so we shouldn't be either."
His voice was steady, light—and somehow it cut through the exhaustion like a breeze of fresh air.
Kurapika exhaled slowly, his lake-green eyes regaining their calm. Even Leorio, who'd been tugging irritably at his tie, found his hand falling away, his breath settling.
By now, the others had learned something simple but powerful—
if Osren said something, it was probably true.
His words had weight, a quiet confidence that made others believe before they even realized it.
Killua, running beside them, glanced over a few times, his curiosity piqued.
Who exactly was this guy?
He didn't look strong—just a small, unassuming kid who happened to hand out candy.
Yet somehow, everyone trusted him instinctively.
If Osren had known Killua was mentally labeling him as "the small guy," he might've drawn his sword on the spot.
Small guy? That was an attack on his dignity. Unforgivable.
---
Tonpa, meanwhile, was watching them from a few paces back, his expression darkening.
"So that's their dynamic…" he muttered under his breath. "They're naive, but they've got a leader holding them together. That one kid—he's trouble."
Right then, Gon sniffed the air again.
"Hey! That smell again!" he said excitedly. "It's just like before—sweet, kinda fruity!"
Tonpa put on his best confused face, his voice dripping with false innocence. "Oh? Really? I don't smell anything. What could it be?"
Osren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ignore it," he said calmly. "The examiner told us to follow him, and that's what we'll do. Everything else could be a trap."
Gon nodded immediately, eyes sparkling. "You're right, Osren! I'll just focus on the path ahead!"
Tonpa's forced smile twitched. The kid had just dismantled his plan before it even began.
---
Behind them, Leorio was starting to fall back.
His pace slowed with every stride, sweat pouring down his face like rain.
"Leorio, you okay?" Gon called, glancing back in concern.
Leorio didn't answer. His expression was unfocused, his eyes glassy as he ran purely on habit.
I can't believe this… he thought dizzily. We've been running for hours, and no one's quit yet. I really underestimated this exam.
No—he realized—he had underestimated the people.
These weren't ordinary contestants.
Even the weakest among them were monsters compared to civilians.
"I was too naive…" he muttered, almost to himself.
A faint voice echoed in his memory—Mr. Kiriko's from before:
'Out of ten thousand, only one even reaches this point.'
Leorio clenched his fists tighter, teeth gritting as he forced his legs to keep moving.
He might not have been the fastest, or the strongest—but he wasn't about to be the first to fall.