Chapter 81 — Spider Eagle Eggs (Part 2)
"Why is that thing here again? Isn't this exactly like the trap from before?"
"Seriously… another Human-Faced Ape? Do they think we'd fall for the same trick twice?"
"Or maybe there's some new trick behind it…"
The Human-Faced Ape had originally been standing not far from Osren, but after sensing the turbulent emotions among the candidates, it immediately scampered away from the crowd.
It stopped roughly thirty meters away—
lingered just long enough to confirm the distance was safe—
then nimbly leapt onto a massive boulder and stared back at everyone.
To put it mildly, the Human-Faced Ape was like a thorn stuck in the side of the exam.
No one forgets the moment they were stabbed when they were feeling the most triumphant—
so naturally, the candidates watched it closely.
But not one of them made a move.
Whoever acted first would instantly become a target.
Why should they be the sacrificial bird?
That unspoken mindset was shared by nearly every candidate—alert, but refusing to act.
As for Gon, he could sense the creature held no malice.
So of course, he wouldn't attack it.
In many ways, Gon was both the simplest and most complicated kind of boy.
The candidates stayed still, the examiners even more so.
To Menchi or Satotz, a Human-Faced Ape posed zero threat.
As for Chairman Netero—
the ape had instinctively chosen the point farthest from him.
Animals have an impeccable sense for danger; they never ignore it.
Since neither candidates nor examiners reacted, and since the ape kept a self-imposed safe distance, the situation was effectively defused.
Even if it had set a trap, at that distance it couldn't possibly harm anyone.
Once the others saw there was no actual danger—and that Osren himself wasn't reacting—they naturally dropped it.
After all, he was the only one who passed the sushi exam.
A person the examiners had clearly acknowledged…
not someone to provoke without good reason.
Netero, ever observant, noticed something interesting:
the faint traces of Nen lingering on the ape's body clearly belonged to one of the candidates.
So, he too chose not to intervene.
"This year's candidates are pretty interesting,"
Netero chuckled, watching the unusually well-behaved creature.
Human-Faced Apes were con artists by nature, tricksters of the wild—
but tame? Cooperative?
That was new.
The entire cliffside fell into an odd, tense silence.
Even Leorio—who in the original timeline had jumped without hesitation—held his tongue.
Opportunities are seized, not given.
And if there was ever a moment to stand out, it was now.
Suddenly, Osren spoke:
"You. Come here."
Gon and the others blinked, momentarily confused.
…
Who exactly was Osren talking to?
Just as Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika were still confused—
they watched, stunned, as the Human-Faced Ape obediently trotted over to Osren and stopped right before him.
Like a loyal attendant awaiting orders.
---
"I'll go first. I'll check if it's safe down there.
Gon, you guys stay up here and wait for my signal."
Osren swung onto the ape's back.
And under the shocked gazes of both his friends and the surrounding candidates, he directed the creature.
With a few rapid, agile movements, the Human-Faced Ape carried him straight down the cliff wall.
This time, it wasn't just Gon and the others—
every single candidate shifted their attention toward Osren.
Even Chairman Netero's eyes lit up.
---
"He… brought his own mount?"
"What kind of trick is that?! Human-Faced Apes are cunning beasts—you can't tame them! How did he manage this?"
"That kid is way too mysterious. That same ape tried to trick us into getting eaten earlier!"
The candidates were in uproar.
Who the hell summons a magical beast mid-exam—
and worse, that magical beast?
"Using every available resource to ensure your own safety—that's prudence.
Daring to jump into the unknown first—that's courage.
To balance both courage and caution… well done."
Netero chuckled with satisfaction.
---
"This boy…
He's a born Gourmet Hunter."
Menchi's eyes gleamed.
She still remembered the shock when Osren stated the Three Principles of Gourmet Hunters.
A perfect, untapped prodigy—
A rough gem that, with polishing, would shine blindingly bright.
Osren had planned all this since the wetlands.
He knew his stamina was now passable compared to the average candidate—but reaction speed and body coordination were still lacking.
Knowing what to do doesn't mean your body can actually do it.
Leaping into a bottomless canyon to "train" wasn't confidence—
it would've been like lighting a lantern in a toilet:
you're clearly looking for suicide.
Since he couldn't rely on his own movement techniques yet,
a creature specialized in climbing—
the Human-Faced Ape—
became the perfect helper.
And when one practically delivered itself into his hands earlier, refusing the help would've been rude.
While the candidates were still frozen in disbelief, Osren and the ape were already halfway back up the cliff, moving like streaks of shadow.
Seeing this, Gon and the others finally snapped out of it.
It was safe.
With that confirmation, the floodgates opened—
everyone began preparing to descend.
"Alright, I'm going next!"
Leorio shouted with exaggerated confidence and—
without hesitation—
stepped off the cliff.
"Here I come!"
Gon flipped gracefully and dove after him.
Kurapika and Killua followed in elegant, effortless motions—
as if they were stepping out for afternoon tea rather than leaping into a deadly gorge.
Truly… the Hunter world was full of non-human monsters.
Right behind them came Hisoka, Gereta, and even Tonpa and the Amori Brothers—
no hesitation whatsoever.
These were the "abnormal-type" candidates.
Then came the "normal-type" ones…
such as Todo.
Todo, who had loudly declared that no sane person would ever jump—
Only to watch Osren be the first to do so…
and then watch dozens follow.
Each one like a slap across his face.
Literally.
Because Menchi also slapped him once during the chaos, leaving his entire cheek swollen.
"What about the rest of you?
Are you giving up?"
Menchi asked sweetly, smiling like a demon.
"Giving up is also a kind of courage, after all.
And the Hunter Exam isn't only held once,"
Netero added lazily, twisting the knife deeper.
"...Tch!"
Todo trembled with humiliation.
Give up?
Die first.
There was no way he'd lose to that brat.
"I'm going too!" he yelled, and with gritted teeth, hurled himself off the cliff.
Many candidates had prepared themselves mentally—
but once they actually jumped, panic took over.
A good number lost control mid-fall, slipped off the rock face, and plunged straight into the raging river below—
swept away instantly, unable even to scream for help.
Information could help you prepare—
but it couldn't make you skilled.