Gustav woke to the chirp of sparrows and the acrid smell of coal smoke drifting from the city's inner districts. The mat beneath him was rough against his skin, but he'd slept better than he had in his old life—there was a clarity in survival that erased the anxiety of unpaid bills and unfulfilled reviews. He sat up, stretching his arms, and glanced at the pouch of berries and herbs he'd collected the day before. Breakfast first, he thought, then deeper into the forest.
He built a small fire in a stone-lined pit outside his shelter, roasting berries until they softened into a sweet paste and toasting wild grain cakes he'd traded for with the silver moss. As he ate, he mapped out his day: he wanted to venture beyond the familiar edge of the forest, where more rare ingredients might grow, and test his hunting skills against larger prey. He'd spotted tracks of a shadow fox the day before—small, swift, and known for its tender, gamey meat—but also for its cunning. From Toriko, he remembered that shadow foxes were drawn to sweet root bulbs, a bulbous plant that grew in damp hollows, its flesh sweet and fragrant.
Packing a small knife, a cloth pouch, and a piece of flint, Gustav set off into the forest. The trees grew taller here, their canopies blocking out most of the sunlight, casting the undergrowth in dappled shadow. He moved quietly, his eyes scanning the ground for tracks and his nose twitching at the scents of damp earth, pine, and something else—faint, metallic, and tinged with sweetness. Moonpetal mushroom, he realized, his heart racing. From HxH lore, he knew these mushrooms were infused with weak aura, making them prized by healers and chefs alike for their restorative properties.
He followed the scent to a hollow beneath a large oak tree, where a cluster of pale, silver-spotted mushrooms grew. As he reached for one, he felt a faint tingle in his chest—a warmth that spread from his core to his fingertips. Aura, he thought, his breath catching. It was faint, barely perceptible, but it was there—proof that his connection to this world's energy was already awakening. He plucked the mushrooms carefully, wrapping them in cloth to preserve their aura, and tucked them into his pouch.
Just as he turned to leave, a low growl echoed through the trees. A shadow fox emerged from the undergrowth—sleek, black-furred, its eyes glowing amber in the dim light. It bared its teeth, its gaze fixed on the pouch at Gustav's side, likely smelling the sweet root bulbs he'd collected as bait. Gustav stayed calm, recalling Toriko's advice about dealing with wild beasts: never show fear, and use their instincts against them.
He pulled out a sweet root bulb, peeling it to reveal its pale, juicy flesh, and tossed it a few feet away. The fox hesitated, then darted toward the bulb, snapping it up. As it ate, Gustav crept backward, his eyes never leaving the creature. Just as he was about to slip away, a voice called out from behind the trees: "Nice trick, kid. Most people would've run—and ended up as fox food."
Gustav turned to see an old man leaning against a tree—weathered skin, gray hair tied back in a ponytail, and a scar across his left eyebrow. He carried a wicker basket filled with herbs and mushrooms, and a hunting knife strapped to his hip. "Bren," the man said, extending a hand. "Former Gourmet Hunter. Retired here when my knees gave out."
"Gustav," Gustav replied, shaking his hand. "Just starting out."
Bren nodded, glancing at the moonpetal mushrooms in Gustav's pouch. "You've got a good nose. Those are hard to find—and you felt the aura, didn't you?"
Gustav nodded. "Faint. Like a warm tingle."
"Good. Aura and food go hand in hand in this world," Bren said, walking over to the shadow fox, which had finished the root bulb and was watching them cautiously. "Some ingredients absorb aura from the earth; others emit it. A Gourmet Hunter's job is to find them—and protect them from those who'd hoard them."
Over the next few hours, Bren taught Gustav to identify more rare ingredients: starfall grass, which tasted like honey and stardust; acid berry, which could be neutralized with ash to make a tangy sauce; and bonewood bark, which added a smoky depth to stews. He also warned Gustav about the dangers of the city's criminal elements—gourmet syndicates that stole rare ingredients and sold them on the black market. "Yorknew's a goldmine for food hunters," Bren said, "but it's also a trap. You've got to be smart, not just strong."
As they walked back toward the outskirts, Bren pulled a tattered leather-bound book from his basket. "This is my old field guide—filled with notes on ingredients, hunting techniques, and even basic aura sensing. Take it. It'll help you more than you know."
Gustav thanked him, clutching the book to his chest. It was worn at the edges, its pages filled with hand-drawn illustrations and scribbled notes—an invaluable treasure. When they reached the edge of the forest, Bren paused. "You're planning to take the Hunter Exam, aren't you?"
"At 15," Gustav said. "Three years from now."
"Good. Train hard—strength, speed, and observation. And remember: a Gourmet Hunter's greatest weapon isn't their knife—it's their knowledge." Bren smiled, then turned and walked back into the forest.
Gustav returned to his shelter as the sun began to set, his pouch full of ingredients and his mind full of new knowledge. He sat down, opening Bren's field guide, and began to read. The pages detailed how to sense aura more strongly, how to preserve rare ingredients, and how to use food to survive in harsh environments. He also started a training log, writing down his goals for each day: run ten miles, practice knife skills, identify five new ingredients, and focus on feeling his aura.
He pulled out the moonpetal mushroom, holding it in his hand. The faint aura tingle was stronger now, and he could feel its restorative energy. He decided to make a soup with it, along with the starfall grass and shadow fox meat he'd hunted earlier. As he cooked, the aroma filled the air—rich, sweet, and infused with a faint, glowing light. He took a sip, and warmth spread through his body, his muscles relaxing and his mind clearing.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered, looking at the field guide on his lap. "In three years, I'll be ready for the Hunter Exam. In ten, I'll be ready for the Dark Continent. And along the way, I'll create flavors that no one has ever tasted before."
He finished his soup, cleaned his utensils, and curled up on his mat, the field guide tucked under his pillow. The forest outside was quiet now, and the city's lights glowed in the distance. He closed his eyes, feeling the aura within him grow just a little stronger, and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of wild ingredients and uncharted lands.