After some time in the airship, we finally arrived. Honestly, there wasn't much we could do onboard except wait — we couldn't even explore because the destination wasn't that far. Oh well, I just listened to some music to pass the time.The airship landed, and we all disembarked. In front of us was a massive cliff. Menchi stepped forward and started explaining.
Menchi: "Now, everyone... Look down there."
We all peered over the edge — and saw a strange sight: a giant web strung across the ravine, with stacks of eggs hanging from it.The crowd started murmuring in confusion.
Max (thought):Don't tell me... spider eggs? Man, maybe I should rethink this. But no — she's a Gourmet Hunter. If she says it's good, it must be. Even if it's not, I've trained with poison — bad taste doesn't scare me.
Menchi: "That's a spider eagle's web."
Gon: "They build webs down there?"
A strong gust of wind blew up from the ravine, scaring a few participants. Some even backed away.
Menchi: "Look below the web."
We looked closer.Below the web were nests filled with eggs.
Menchi: "Those are spider eagle eggs."
Netero: "Spider eagles build their webs deep in ravines to protect their eggs from predators. That makes their eggs one of the rarest and hardest ingredients to obtain. They're also called 'dream eggs.'"
Todo: "W-Wait... you don't mean we have to..."
Menchi (cutting him off): "That's right!"
Todo: "WHAT?!"
Without hesitation, Menchi jumped off the cliff, grabbing onto the web.The participants gasped in shock, some too scared to even watch.Menchi hung there calmly, waiting.
Leorio: "Even if she gets the eggs, how's she supposed to climb back up?"
Max: "She must have her own way. She's done this before."
Leorio: "Yeah... you're right."
We watched as Menchi's hair stirred slightly — then she let go of the web, grabbed an egg... and fell.
Leorio: "Hey... she jumped! Is she trying to kill herself?!"
Kurapika: "No. Look carefully."
A heavy updraft suddenly blew up from the ravine, and Menchi floated back toward the surface, the egg cradled safely in her hands.
Gon and Killua were practically vibrating with excitement while the other participants just stared, mouths open.
Netero: "This ravine has updrafts strong enough to lift the spider eagle chicks when they hatch."
Max:Wait... then where's the spider eagle?
Menchi: "They're off hunting. They never expect anyone to dare steal from their web."
She landed smoothly and showed off the egg to everyone.
Menchi: "There. Now you just need to boil your egg after retrieving it. And don't worry — you only need to get one."
Todo: "Y-You're kidding, right? No sane person would jump down there..."
Ignoring him, participants started dropping their bags and preparing. I did the same — setting down my gear carefully and picking up a large sack.I planned to grab as many eggs as I could.
Menchi: "Wait! I haven't finished explaining everything yet!"
Menchi (thinking while watching Max):Not him too... I hope he's figured it out already.
We all clung to the web, waiting.
Random participant: "Catch you later!"
He let go and dropped — smiling at first... until the smile turned to horror as he realized there was no updraft. His scream faded into the distance.
Max: "Looks like he's gonna crack like the egg... Get it?"
Everyone was silent.
Max: "I'm joking."
Gon: "Not funny as always. Don't worry — I smell a river down there. He might survive."
Max: "You can smell a river? Nevermind... What's the chance he'll live?"
Gon: "Uhh... Half and half?"
Max: "Good enough."
Leorio: "When's the next wind?"
Max: "Just listen and feel for it."
Leorio: "I always feel wind down here! And hey — why are you even here? I thought you passed already?"
Max: "Those eggs look delicious i want them too. The Examiner said it's fine that's i want to do it again."
Before Leorio could respond, Gon interrupted.
Gon: "Wait! Let me focus!"
Everyone stared at him.I just hung there, relaxing.
Max (thought):Oh well, guess we're putting our lives in Gon's hands. I could just walk up the cliff wall if I wanted... but this does look fun. Also... does wind have a smell? Maybe it just hits his sensitive nose straight-on. Makes sense.
Meanwhile, Menchi and Netero watched from above, both looking impressed that some kids had already figured out the trick.
The web creaked ominously. It was struggling to support so many people.
Leorio: "Gah!? What!?"
Kurapika: "The web won't hold us all!"
Killua: "Gon, not yet?"
Some participants panicked and let go early, falling without an updraft to save them.
The web tore even more.
Leorio: "It's gonna snap!"
Gon: "Now!"
At Gon's signal, everyone let go at once.Each grabbed an egg — except me.I grabbed an entire stack of eggs and stuffed them into my sack.
Max (thought while falling):Thank god these eggs stick together.
The updraft came just in time, carrying us all back to the surface.Somehow, we all made it — eggs in hand.
After landing, All partipicant quickly boiled the eggs except me. I asked Menchi and Chairman Netero if there was a kitchen in the airship I could borrow. They agreed, and I rushed back onboard, excited to start cooking.
Meanwhile, while I was cooking, the other participants finished boiling their eggs. Menchi stood up and said,
Menchi: "This is an ordinary egg. And this... is a spider eagle egg. Now, taste them and compare."
Everyone started eating the boiled eggs. I joined in too but only ate one. Immediately, they all realized how much better the spider eagle egg was compared to a normal egg.
Hanzo: "This is damned good. Way better than any eggs you buy in a store..."
Leorio nodded like crazy while stuffing his face.
Kurapika: "I can see why they're called dream eggs."
Meanwhile, Todo and the participants who had either failed or chickened out just stood there, staring at us with longing looks. Then Gon walked up to Todo and offered him a piece.
Gon: "Hey, Todo-san. Would you like a bite?"
Menchi watched with a proud smile as Todo hesitated, then accepted and tried the egg.
Todo: "...It's delicious..."
Menchi: "Now you've experienced it... the joy of discovering just how good something can taste. That's the joy we risk our lives for."
Todo clenched his fists and bowed his head.Todo: "I was completely outclassed this year. I'll be back next year! Also... I'm sorry about before."
Menchi: "No worries. I was too harsh too—I acted like a little kid back then."
Just then, I burst out of the airship's kitchen, yelling at the top of my lungs:
Max: "EVERYONE!!"
Everyone stopped eating and stared at me.
Max: "I'm not usually the type to do this, but since I caught a ton of eggs, I cooked a bunch of dishes—sandwiches, soufflés, and more! Also, before we boarded the airship, I caught some pork too. How about we throw a quick party? Is that okay, Chairman?"
Netero chuckled and nodded.
Netero: "Well, the third exam will still take a while. As long as you all board the airship before nightfall, it's fine."
Some participants still looked suspicious, but Gon and the others came over and started trying the food without hesitation.
Max: "If any of you think it's poisoned, don't worry. If there is any poison in the food, I'll drop out of the exam and never come back—even next year! Come on, everyone! Both the ones who passed and the ones who failed! Let's eat! I even 'borrowed' some drinks from the kitchen!"
When Netero heard that I stole some drinks, he just laughed and waved it off.
Hearing that, more participants gathered around. They hesitantly took a bite... and immediately, their faces lit up. The food was delicious. Even the examiners and Chairman Netero came over to try it.
Tonpa, ever the troublemaker, was planning to either fake being poisoned or actually tamper with my food to cause a scene. Before he could make a move, I swiftly closed the distance between us, leaning in close to his ear. With killing intent focused solely on him—so subtle that no one else noticed—I whispered exactly what I'd do to him if he tried anything stupid. Tonpa froze instantly, his face turning pale. Whatever he had been planning, he abandoned it without a second thought. Whatever I said made Tonpa freeze in place. His face went pale, and he immediately abandoned whatever scheme he had in mind, not daring to cause any more trouble after that.
I didn't let go of him yet. Grabbing him by the collar, I demanded some information about the upcoming exam phases, making it clear that if he refused, he'd leave here with broken balls. Tonpa, terrified, quickly answered every question I threw at him without hesitation. After getting what I needed, I punched him hard in the stomach, making him vomit on the spot. Some of the participants saw it, but none of them cared—after all, it was Tonpa, the same guy who had tried to mess with them before. I told him he could still eat my food if he wanted, but if he tried anything stupid again, there'd be no second warning. The examiners saw the whole thing, but they didn't intervene. They knew full well that Tonpa had been up to something shady, and my actions were completely justified.
As I sat back down and started eating, Menchi approached me with a curious look.
Menchi: "Hey, what's your name again?"
Max: "Max."
Menchi: "Why cook for these people? You know you're all competitors, right?"
Max (shrugged): "Isn't it a chef's job to cook for people, regardless of who they are? Even if I'm not a real chef yet, I just think it's more fun to eat together—even if we'll end up fighting again later. Look at them... even the ones who failed. They're smiling, crying, and laughing while eating."
Menchi looked at the failed participants, seeing their genuine smiles and tears.
Menchi: "You're completely right... I like you. I hope you pass the whole exam."
Max: "Thanks for the encouragement, Ma'am."
Menchi: "Just call me Menchi."
Max: "Got it. Thanks, Menchi."
After that, we all partied together until nightfall. When it ended, we boarded the airship. The participants who had failed rode on a separate airship.