"Do you think Lu ou might still be waiting for us back at the house?"
Kurapika asked after thinking it through carefully.
"That's definitely possible,"
Gon said, exchanging a look with Leorio, who had come to the same conclusion.
"Then let's go find him!" Gon said urgently.
"Allow us to take you there,"
the Kiriko couple said, each grabbing one person before flying off toward the house.
"C-can you fly lower? Lower! I'm afraid of heights!"
Leorio started yelling desperately the moment they took off.
"Your courage?"
Kurapika reminded him dryly, recalling that Leorio's greatest strength during the lake crossing had supposedly been his bravery.
Leorio immediately shut up, silently comforting himself that they would arrive soon.
Puff—puff—puff.
The hot soup in a massive pot was already boiling, steam pounding against the lid with loud noises that sounded especially sharp in the quiet night.
Over the fire, roasted wild chickens crackled as oil dripped and sizzled.
The aroma was overwhelming. More than ten chickens were roasting at once—the smell could carry far into the distance.
Lu ou lay half-reclined leisurely on the soft grass, occasionally turning the chickens on the fire, looking completely unhurried.
When Gon and the others arrived, they froze at the sight of what looked like a full-blown outdoor feast.
They stared at the roasting chickens… then at the chickens tied up with vines nearby, clearly waiting to be slaughtered.
"What is this supposed to be?"
the Kiriko family's son asked.
Lu ou answered matter-of-factly,
"Taking the Hunter Exam. And grilling something to eat on the side."
This didn't look anything like a Hunter Exam.
The Kiriko family had no idea what to say. To put it in Earth terms—there were simply too many things to complain about, and no place to start.
"So much food! I'm starving!"
Gon threw himself next to Lu ou, eyeing the chickens on the fire.
"They'll be ready soon," Lu ou replied.
"Lu ou, why were you just waiting here the whole time?"
Leorio asked curiously.
As for how Lu ou passed the test—Leorio wasn't curious at all.
Passing was only natural. After all, even he had passed…
Wait. That logic felt wrong somehow.
Leorio frowned internally.
"I was waiting for you to come get me," Lu ou said as if it were obvious.
"I don't have wings."
"Lu ou did the right thing. That's faster," Gon said.
"Then let's eat first and head out. Kiriko family, you should join us too,"
Lu ou invited everyone to eat the meal he had carefully prepared.
"It smells amazing. Lu ou's cooking is really good,"
they said, no longer waiting for formal invitations. Everyone grabbed what they liked and started eating.
Even the Kiriko family, drawn by the smell, grew hungry. They didn't even bother transforming into human form—each grabbed a roasted chicken and started eating, completely forgetting their role as examiners.
"Lu ou, when we reach the test site, who do you think we'll meet? Will there be more tests like this?"
Gon asked curiously.
Leorio, meanwhile, devoted all his passion to eating.
Climbing that cliff had drained his stamina—he needed to refuel.
Still, out of the corner of his eye, he kept watching Lu ou.
The Kiriko family listened without looking up.
As magical beasts, their senses far surpassed those of humans.
From their tests, they could tell Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika were all elites.
If someone could earn the trust of all three, then his words were worth hearing.
"Those who can pass the guide test and reach the Hunter Exam site include people who already took the exam last year—whether they passed or failed. That alone means they're capable,"
Lu ou said calmly.
"I think we'll see people from all walks of life… maybe even professions we've never heard of."
He looked straight at Gon and said decisively:
"The tests will keep getting harder. But one thing's certain—we'll pass."
"It sounds more and more exciting. I can't wait,"
Gon said enthusiastically, energized just thinking about all the people they'd meet.
Leorio and Kurapika hadn't gotten a detailed answer, but hearing Lu ou say with confidence that they would pass made them feel unexpectedly reassured.
Before long, humans and magical beasts alike finished the feast, wiping everything out like a storm.
"Alright. Next, we'll escort you to Zaban City. Prepare to depart,"
the Kiriko husband announced.
"Got it. Let's move out,"
Lu ou said, getting up and directing Gon to pack the newly gathered rare ingredients into the large bundle Lu ou always carried.
Gon carefully wrapped each fruit and green plant before placing them into the bag.
This was something Lu ou had entrusted to him—he had to protect it properly.
"Leorio, you'll go with this uncle to Zaban City. We'll assign escorts by weight. Kurapika can go with this beautiful aunt. Gon and I can go with anyone,"
Lu ou said, accurately pointing to the male Kiriko as he spoke to Leorio.
"So you really can tell at a glance,"
the female Kiriko narrowed her fox-like eyes, staring at Lu ou as if he were a monster.
Even though Gon had said earlier that Lu ou could distinguish them, they hadn't believed it.
After all, only one person every ten years could do that—how could two appear in the same exam?
Especially since they hadn't spoken a single word since arriving.
Gon's explanation about voice pitch only worked if you actually heard them speak.
"So, kid—how do you know which of us is male and which is female?
Who's to say I'm not the male one?"
the female Kiriko asked, curiosity overwhelming her as she leaned her massive head close to Lu ou.
They hadn't met anyone who could distinguish them in ten years—and now suddenly two appeared at once.
Anyone would be curious.
As her head moved closer, Lu ou caught a strong musky scent and subtly leaned away.
"Smell,"
he said firmly.
Male and female foxes give off different scents.
Even Kiriko, as magical beasts, were still foxes at their core—some traits never changed.
"Smell?"
The female Kiriko sniffed herself from side to side, still unable to tell the difference.
But seeing Lu ou's unwavering expression, she could only give up.
"You can tell?"
Leorio whispered to Kurapika.
Kurapika shrugged.
"No. I'm good at analysis, but distinguishing the sex of magical beasts is beyond my syllabus. Clearly, my knowledge base isn't wide enough."
He resolved to read more books.
Anything Lu ou had read—Kurapika would read too.
Anything Lu ou hadn't read—Kurapika would find and read anyway.
From that day on, books in Kurapika's mind fell into only two categories:
Books Killua had read, and books Lu ou hadn't read yet.
"Lu ou, I don't mind being carried by the uncle,"
Leorio said with a crooked grin, gesturing at height as he spoke.
"But you should probably let that cute young lady carry you. After all, you're smaller than Gon."
The words landed like a blade straight to Lu ou's heart.
Leorio didn't even know which Kiriko was the daughter—but that didn't stop him from seizing the chance to stab Lu ou where it hurt most.
After all, among the four of them…
Lu ou was the shortest.
Have I gone soft, Lu ou thought,
or has Leorio gotten way too bold?