Chapter 67 – Dazzling Blade Technique
Many examinees murmured among themselves as they watched Osren speak to the fish:
"Does he think this is child's play?
Not only is he not doing anything—he's telling the fish to do it.
It's not a magical beast. Since when can fish understand human language?"
Some felt relief, thinking a strong competitor had just eliminated himself.
"Feeding the fish first?
Kids will always be kids.
Sharp eye for detail, yes—but still way too naive.
Give him another two years."
Some kept a straight face but laughed at him inwardly.
"What kind of stunt is this brat trying to pull now?"
Hanzo frowned.
His instincts told him something was going on, but he couldn't figure out what.
Menchi, on the other hand, had already been impressed by Osren's "clay-baked pork heart."
Although this looked unreliable, she didn't think he was putting on a show.
Perhaps he had some secret technique—who knew?
As for Gon's group?
They were long past being surprised by Osren.
He had called upon the Sea God before—what was a single fish in comparison?
Killua, though he hadn't witnessed Osren's more outrageous feats personally, had heard enough from Gon to be excited.
Now was his chance to see the legend with his own eyes.
Though most doubted Osren, his serious expression quieted even the skeptics.
Little by little, the muttering died away.
---
"Splash… splash…"
The gradually growing sound of water drew everyone's attention.
The fish—which had been lazily drifting moments ago—began to accelerate.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
And faster.
The leaf-made tank froth'd with churning water as the fish whipped around in tight, rapid circles.
"One lap… two laps… three laps…"
Osren's eyes sharpened.
This was the moment.
He seized a thin, dagger-like fillet blade and—
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Several rapid slashes flashed like silver arcs.
"Hah…"
Osren exhaled softly, satisfied.
The salmon was still swimming energetically—completely unharmed.
And on the cutting board lay five slices of fish, each the size of an adult palm, each only four millimeters thick—
the perfect thickness for nigiri sushi.
The vibrant red flesh mottled with pale streaks looked almost jewel-like.
---
Silence.
Then—
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed loudly.
That one sound snapped everyone out of their trance.
---
"H–how many laps did the fish swim just now?"
A short man in a hat rubbed his eyes.
Had he stared too long and imagined the whole thing?
"Wait… the fish is alive?"
A man in green stared at the untouched fish and then at the perfect slices, feeling a chill creep up his spine.
It looked completely uninjured.
---
"That knife work… is exceptional."
Menchi's eyes shone with genuine delight.
Skillfully slicing perfect fillets off a live, moving fish without harming it—
that was an art only top gourmet hunters could perform.
As for making the fish swim in circles?
She brushed that aside as coincidence.
Nothing says a fish can't decide to speed-swim—
it wasn't breaking any laws.
"Nothing special," Osren said modestly.
"I still have a lot to learn."
His journey as a future Gourmet Hunter had only just begun.
He welcomed the challenge.
"Then keep it up. I'm looking forward to your dish."
Menchi winked playfully, then turned to leave—she didn't want to get in the way.
But when she saw the massive crowd still standing there…
"Why are you all standing here?
GET BACK TO COOKING!"
Her shout echoed through the entire cooking hall.
Menchi's shout shook the ceiling—literally.
All the examinees instantly snapped back to their stations like startled animals.
No one wanted to be caught slacking by this temperamental gourmet hunter.
---
Gon leaned toward Osren, eyes sparkling.
"Osren, that was amazing! So… that's all we need for sushi?"
He pointed at the neatly sliced fish on the cutting board.
"Yep. These are your fresh fillets."
Osren nodded.
"One piece per person—just enough. Hurry, before anyone else gets ahead.
Menchi won't eat much."
"Leave it to me!"
Leorio grabbed a fillet and dashed back to his cooking station.
With Osren opening such a perfect path for them, not taking advantage would be idiotic.
Killua examined the fillet in his hand and nodded with a seriousness unfit for a 12-year-old.
"His cuts are precise.
A bit rough on the force distribution… but considering he never had formal training, it's insanely good."
Coming from a Zoldyck, that was high praise.
Killua selected a slice and returned to his spot.
Kurapika bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Osren."
Then he too went back to prepare his sushi.
"Osren, I'm starting!" Gon called, already fiddling enthusiastically with his ingredients.
Osren watched them scatter and murmured to himself:
"This should go smoothly… right?"
He thought he had explained enough to prevent any… live-fish-on-rice disasters.
But life often proved him wrong.
Still—there was no time to hover.
The clock was ticking.
The real battle wasn't the fish.
It was:
The sushi vinegar, and
The rice.
Both time-consuming and both essential.
The rice was freshly cooked—too freshly cooked.
He had to season it with vinegar (mixed in the exact proportions) and cool it properly before it could be used.
While he worked, the rest of the examinees returned one after another, dumping an entire fish market onto their cutting boards.
Saltwater fish, freshwater fish, monsters, minnow lookalikes—Menchi's eyes lit up like a child in a toy store.
"Fascinating… I can't wait to see what these kids make."
She licked her lips, excitement written all over her face.
Buhara, on the other hand, looked horrified.
"This is bad.
Very, very bad…"
Menchi snapped her gaze to him.
"…What was that?"
"Ah—n-nothing!"
He shook his head frantically.
He couldn't exactly tell her:
'Stop judging like a top chef or you'll massacre the pass rate!'
"If she goes full gourmet-hunter mode again, we're doomed…"
Buhara muttered under his breath, looking far more stressed than any examinee.
---
Back at Osren's table…
His friends were already pumped, cracking their knuckles, ready to create sushi like seasoned chefs.
He had taught them step by step.
Surely—surely—they would be fine.
Now it was a race against time.
A fight of speed and precision.
Leorio was so confident he practically radiated victory.
He worked at lightning speed, convinced he was about to produce a masterpiece.
Osren sighed inwardly.
"Oh boy…"