Aunt Mito's Test

In the setting sun, the sea shimmered with flecks of gold.

Luo Ye and Gon each dragged one of the wild boar's legs, grunting as they made their way home.

The thing weighed a ton.

"Luo Ye, we're having roast meat tonight!"

Gon's eyes shone, and he didn't look tired at all.

"Sure. You cook, I'll eat."

Luo Ye yawned and answered offhandedly.

He discreetly rolled his shoulder.

The spot where the boar had rammed him didn't hurt at all. Instead, a warm current coursed through it.

He seemed to have gotten a little stronger.

Worth it.

"Oh, Luo Ye, why didn't you dodge back there? Didn't it hurt, letting it hit you like that?"

Gon asked curiously.

"Of course it hurt."

Luo Ye lied without batting an eye.

"I was just showing you what it means to shoulder responsibility like a man."

He patted his chest, his expression perfectly serious.

"Besides, you get us into trouble, and I bail us out. That was our deal."

Gon nodded without quite understanding and didn't ask any more questions.

The two dragged the boar home, where Aunt Mito was taking down the laundry in the yard.

When she saw them and the enormous Black-Maned Wild Boar, the clothes in Aunt Mito's hands fell to the ground with a thump.

She froze.

Then she hurried over, pulled Gon and Luo Ye close, and checked them from head to toe.

"Luo Ye! Gon!"

Aunt Mito held Gon and Luo Ye as she looked them up and down.

"You two went off making trouble in the woods again? Did you kill this boar? Are you hurt?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was stern.

"Aunt Mito, I'm fine."

Gon scratched his head, looking a little guilty.

"Luo Ye killed it. He's amazing!"

The corner of Luo Ye's mouth twitched.

You little brat. That was quick of you to sell me out.

"Aunt Mito, don't listen to his nonsense."

Luo Ye spoke up.

"Gon insisted on provoking this boar. I was just passing by and gave him a hand."

"Just doing my good deed for the day."

Aunt Mito glared at them. Knowing she wouldn't get a straight answer, she could only sigh.

"Go take a bath. You're covered in dirt."

"You want roast meat for dinner, right? I'll take care of it."

"If you ever pull a stunt like this again, you'll be in trouble!"

With that, she took out her tools and deftly began butchering the boar.

By dinnertime, a bonfire burned in the yard.

The boar meat had been cut into large chunks and set over the fire, sizzling with dripping fat.

Its aroma filled the entire yard.

Luo Ye and Gon each held a large piece of roast meat, eating until grease smeared their mouths.

Aunt Mito didn't eat. She simply sat beside them and watched, a smile at her lips, though her brow never relaxed.

Only the crackling fire and the sounds of chewing filled the yard.

As Luo Ye gnawed on his meat, he felt something was off about the atmosphere.

He kept eating while shooting Gon meaningful looks.

Unfortunately, Gon wasn't looking at him at all.

Gon suddenly put down his roast meat and looked at Aunt Mito with a serious expression.

"Aunt Mito."

Here it comes.

Luo Ye even forgot to keep eating the meat in his hands.

"I've decided. I'm going to take the Hunter Exam."

Gon's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

The smile instantly vanished from Aunt Mito's face.

She simply stared at Gon without a word, her gaze as cold as ice.

"No."

Only after a long while did she utter that single word.

"Why?"

Gon couldn't understand.

"My dad is a Hunter, and I want to be one too!"

"It's precisely because your father is a Hunter that I won't let you go!"

Aunt Mito's voice suddenly rose.

"Do you know that he abandoned us, abandoned you, just to become a Hunter?"

"He wasn't a proper father at all!"

The atmosphere in the yard instantly turned ice-cold.

Luo Ye silently edged to one side and took a bite of meat.

Tsk.

A family drama playing out live. Riveting.

Despite his inward snark, he still stepped forward and patted Gon's shoulder.

"Aunt Mito, please don't get so upset."

Luo Ye tried to soothe her.

"It's a good thing that Gon wants to see the world outside."

"Besides, I'll be with him, won't I? Don't worry. I'll bring him home safe and sound."

Aunt Mito looked at Luo Ye, the worry in her eyes deepening.

"And you're joining him in this nonsense."

"The outside world is dangerous. It's not as simple as you think."

Luo Ye sighed.

Gon, you little brat. You really know how to make trouble for me.

Thanks a lot. Seriously.

"Aunt Mito, I've already decided."

Gon stood up, his gaze stubborn.

"No matter what you say, I'm going."

Aunt Mito looked at him. Her lips moved, but no words came out.

The image of that equally stubborn man, who could abandon everything for his goal, seemed to overlap with him.

She stayed silent for a long time.

Long enough that the bonfire nearly went out.

"If you want to take the Hunter Exam, fine."

Aunt Mito suddenly spoke.

Gon and Luo Ye exchanged a look, both stunned.

"But you have to agree to one condition."

Her gaze swept over both of them before finally settling on Gon.

"You have to catch the 'King of the Swamp' in the swamp."

"If you can do that, I'll let you take the Hunter Exam."

"If you can't, you'll stay put on this island."