And it's hard to dance with a devil
on your back, so shake him off.ᐟ
(Name) is full of contradictions. She is dreamy, but decisive. Eccentric, but charming. Ambitious, but secretive. Confident, but conflicted. Gentle, but strong-willed. However, may...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
‿̩͙‿ ༺ ♡ ༻ ‿̩͙‿
"H-hold on a second!" Candidate #255 yells out. "Did you say cooking? We're here to try out for the Hunter Exam!"
Menchi rose from her seat. "You heard that correctly. Your challenge for the second phase is to make a dish that will satisfy us."
"Why a cooking test?"
"That's because the two of us are Gourmet Chefs!"
At the moment, Menchi's words are taken lightly. Some of the candidates chortled in contempt, finding the examiner's words highly amusing in a nonsensical way. This is the Hunter Exam we're talking about, surely they have to face worse things than a foolish cooking competition? And by Gourmet Hunters?
[Name] couldn't help but look around her, queasy at the fact that her fellow contestants would make fun of something as decisive as a contest about cuisine. So many things could go wrong here, and if they were making fun of it first-hand before knowing what they were even going to cook, then few candidates would pass this phase.
"So, Ms. Gourmet Hunter," Number #255 begins in a mocking tone, "What kind of dish do you want us to make?"
Just by looking at her facial features, [Name] can tell that Menchi is annoyed. The female examiner calls her coworker's name once, and the hefty figure of Buhara rises to his feet to menacingly stand at his full height.
"The main ingredient will be pork."
"Pork? You mean from a regular pig?"
"Any type of pig you find here in Visca Reserve Forest will do. You can use the tools and appliances here to prepare a dish using the pig. If we are both happy with the food, you will pass the test."
"But it's not just about the taste." Menchi butts in. "Do not underestimate the complexities of cooking. You hear me? The test will only conclude when we are full."
"Yeah, yeah." The candidate from before dismissively waved his hand. "Let's just get on with it."
"Well then, the Second Phase of the exam..." Buhara slaps his humongous potbelly as if he were slapping a gong. "...starts now!"
[Name] watched as everyone around her suddenly took off towards the green forest, her four companions leaving her behind along the way as she fought against the stampede of people encasing her, digging the round end of her broom's handle to the ground as a way to remain rooted to the grass beneath her like a sunflower.
A few seconds pass until everything stills once again, obeying gravity under its mandatory power. Even the sound of footsteps was starting to diminish as the wind stopped blowing and the leaves stopped fluttering. She could only hear her feeble heart pumping throughout those icy seconds.
