"A Hunter?"
Yuzuki blinked, leaning back slightly in his chair. "I mean… I'm not sure. The cow guy explained it a bit, but I still don't fully get what it actually is."
Bisky rested her elbow on the table, fingers interlaced, eyes calm but attentive. "Alright," she said. "Then I'll explain to you properly."
She spoke without flourish, as if stating something obvious.
"A Hunter is a licensed elite professional, someone officially recognized as being among humanity's most capable and versatile individuals."
Yuzuki listened quietly.
"They aren't defined by a single job or role," Bisky continued. "The license grants almost unrestricted freedom and authority. A Hunter can hunt rare beasts, uncover lost ruins, track dangerous criminals, explore uncharted lands, research forbidden knowledge… or even pursue purely personal goals."
She smiled faintly. "What unites all Hunters is exceptional competence and the ability to survive without relying on anyone else."
Yuzuki's eyebrows rose. "Wow… that license sounds insanely useful." He let out a low whistle. "It basically lets you do whatever you want."
"Basically, yes," Bisky replied calmly. "Aside from going to the Dark Continent that is." She waved a hand dismissively. "But that's a story for another day."
"I see…" Yuzuki nodded slowly. "But I can't imagine becoming a Hunter is as easy as just saying 'I want to be one.' If it were, everyone would have a license by now."
Bisky's lips curled upward. "You're sharper than you look."
She leaned back in her chair. "Most people don't even know Hunters exist in the first place. It is a tight lipped profession. But you're right. Becoming one requires passing the Hunter Exam."
Her tone hardened slightly.
"It's a brutally difficult and unpredictable trial. It tests not just physical strength, but intelligence, adaptability, moral judgment, endurance and the ability to survive against overwhelming odds. Only a tiny fraction of applicants succeed."
She met his eyes.
"And many die trying."
Yuzuki rested his palm against his chin, thoughtful. "Figures. Something that powerful wouldn't come cheap." His gaze sharpened. "Betting your life for a card like that doesn't seem strange at all."
Bisky studied him for a moment, then smiled.
"So?" she asked. "What do you think, Yuzuki? Do you want to become a Hunter?"
She continued before he could answer.
"Once licensed, a Hunter gains access to classified information, restricted zones, advanced technology, and immense wealth. But there's a catch. There's no protection or supervision."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Hunters are expected to police themselves. If one fails… no one comes to save them."
She paused, then added casually, "Also, most Hunters eventually learn Nen. The mysterious life-energy system that allows individuals to develop abilities reflecting their personality, mindset, and philosophy. Nen is what truly separates Hunters from ordinary people."
Her smile turned knowing. "But I suppose you already know that."
"Yes," Yuzuki replied simply. "I know all about Nen."
Before the conversation could continue, a shadow fell across the table.
"Excuse me," a warm voice said.
A waitress stood beside them, smiling politely. "Sir and madam, are you ready to order?"
Bisky shifted in her seat and returned the smile. "Yes, we are."
The waitress opened her notepad. "Wonderful. What can I get for you?"
Bisky tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully, then turned toward Yuzuki.
"Yuzuki," she said sweetly. "You order for me."
Yuzuki nearly jumped out of his seat. "Huh!?" He stared at her. "Order for you? How am I supposed to do that when I haven't even opened the menu once!?"
He gestured at her accusingly. "You read it the moment we sat down. If anything, you should be ordering for me!"
"Boo," Bisky said flatly. "That's not very gentlemanly of you, Yuzuki."
Yuzuki's eye twitched. "Fine," he said with a sigh. "But I'll have you know, I'm really not good at ordering. I usually just get something simple."
Bisky's lips curved upward. "That's okay," she said cheerfully. "Surprise me."
Yuzuki turned toward the waiter, cleared his throat, and said, "We'll have two plates of beef burgers and chips. And some water."
The waiter nodded, writing quickly. "Alright. Would you like your chips regular, medium, or large?"
"Medium will be fine," Yuzuki replied.
She jotted that down and smiled. "Okay. Will that be all?"
"Yes, thank you," Yuzuki said.
"Alright. It'll take about fifteen minutes," the waiter said before turning and walking away.
As she left, her heart pounded in her chest.
Those eyes… she thought. What are those beautiful eyes…
Yuzuki turned back to Bisky only to freeze.
She was staring at him with clear, unmistakable disappointment.
"What?" Yuzuki asked. "I warned you. I told you I couldn't order."
Bisky crossed her arms. "You're about to have dinner with a beautiful lady," she said, unimpressed, "and you order a burger and chips."
She sighed. "I guess you are a kid, after all." Then she looked at him again. "By the way, how old are you?"
"Sixteen," Yuzuki replied calmly.
Bisky's eye twitched. "Look," she said irritably, "if you're going to lie, at least make it believable."
But I'm not lying, Yuzuki thought grimly. I really am sixteen.
But instead of arguing, he shrugged, opting to entertain Bisky's curiosity. "To be honest… I don't really know how old I am."
That part, at least, was true.
When Yuzuki had reincarnated into this body, he'd woken up with no memories. No name, no past, no sense of time. He didn't know his actual age, but judging by how his body felt, he guessed he was somewhere between ten and twelve.
"I see," Bisky said slowly. "So you're an orphan."
"Yeah," Yuzuki replied. "Pretty much."
Silence fell between them.
The clatter of dishes, distant chatter, and the hum of the restaurant filled the gap but neither of them spoke.
Finally, Bisky broke it.
"By the way, Yuzuki," she said casually, "who taught you Nen?"
"Nen?" Yuzuki blinked. "Oh. Nobody."
Bisky tilted her head, genuinely confused. "Huh? Their name is Nobody?"
"Huh?" Yuzuki frowned. "What are you talking about, Bisky? I mean no one. No one taught me Nen."
She stared at him.
"I taught it to myself."
Bisky abruptly stood up and slammed her hands on the table.
"Impossible!"
The shout echoed through the restaurant, drawing every eye in the room toward them.
Bisky froze.
She slowly looked around, coughed lightly, then sank back into her seat as if nothing had happened.
In a much calmer voice, she said, "Are you lying to me again?"
Her eyes sharpened. "I know we don't know each other very well yet, but at least show some level of trust."
"Based on what?" Yuzuki replied. Then he sighed. "Besides… I'm really not lying this time."
He continued evenly, "I learned Nen by myself. I saw Shizue using it. After learning what it was, I opened my own aura nodes, learned the basic Nen techniques, and developed my Hatsu—all on my own. No help."
Inside, Bisky broke into a cold sweat.
A natural Nen monster…
I knew he was a gem from the start, she thought. But this is insane.
Self-taught… and with this level of precision and delicacy?
She looked at Yuzuki again.
He uses Nen like a seasoned veteran.
Her lips tightened.
Is this kid even human?