Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

The applicants flooded out of the courtyard and rushed into the forest, each hoping to be the first to find the pigs required for the exam.

Haruto naturally left with them.

Once outside, however, he headed directly in a particular direction.

Only one species of pig lived in Visca Forest—the Great Stamp.

Since Haruto had already known what the exam would involve, he had quietly surveyed the surrounding area soon after reaching the courtyard.

Although he had not spotted any Great Stamps then, he had found several enormous hoofprints and animal bones that had been stripped completely clean.

They were unmistakable signs that a herd had passed through the area.

Following those traces, Haruto reached a broad clearing in the forest and found a large group of Great Stamps leisurely gnawing on animal bones.

They had pink skin, round bodies, and comically oversized noses. From a distance, they almost looked adorably harmless.

Haruto knew better.

Beneath that deceptively cute appearance lurked terrifying aggression.

Known as the most ferocious pigs in the world, Great Stamps were carnivorous beasts. Their hides were thick, their strength immense, and their tempers vicious.

Their enormous noses could even smash solid boulders apart.

An ordinary person who encountered one would have their bones shattered before becoming its next meal.

Most of the applicants were exceptional by normal standards, but aside from a select few, almost none of them could capture a Great Stamp through brute force.

That was assuming they did not know its weakness, of course.

Once that weakness was identified, bringing one down was not particularly difficult.

...

As Haruto approached, the Great Stamps stopped chewing and raised their heads warily.

Their small, round eyes fixed on him.

A vicious light immediately flared within them.

They had clearly mistaken Haruto for a meal that had delivered itself directly to their doorstep.

"Oink—!"

With a chorus of savage squeals, the herd charged at him on their deceptively short legs.

Haruto made no attempt to confront them head-on. He turned and darted into the dense forest beside the clearing.

The Great Stamps had no intention of letting their prey escape.

They thundered after him without hesitation, their massive bodies smashing through low bushes with a succession of sharp cracks.

Once they entered the thicker woods, however, the large trees became natural obstacles.

The Great Stamp at the front of the herd was moving too quickly to stop and slammed nose-first into a thick trunk.

The tremendous impact sent the entire tree shaking, scattering leaves from its branches.

The pig itself appeared completely unharmed. It merely shook its head before roaring and resuming the chase.

That brief obstruction had still served its purpose.

The once-organized herd had scattered, leaving wide gaps between the animals.

Haruto saw his opportunity.

He stopped abruptly and turned around.

Three Great Stamps had broken through the trees and were charging toward him in a triangular formation.

Just before the enormous nose of the leading pig struck him, a sharp gleam flashed through Haruto’s eyes.

He drove both legs against the ground and launched himself more than three meters into the air, cleanly avoiding the charge.

As he descended, his right leg whipped outward and struck the pig precisely on the forehead, just behind its enormous nose.

That was the Great Stamp’s only weak point.

Thud!

The Great Stamp collapsed without even managing a squeal. Its huge body struck the earth, twitched several times, and went still.

Haruto used the force of the kick to propel himself upward again.

Twisting in midair, he lunged toward the second pig and landed another precise kick against its forehead.

Then came the third.

Within seconds, all three ferocious Great Stamps lay motionless on the ground.

Haruto immediately stored them inside Gourmet Restaurant.

The herd had made far too much noise. Other applicants would be drawn here before long.

He needed to capture as many Great Stamps as possible before they arrived.

Haruto turned toward the rest of the charging herd, a smile curling across his lips.

What followed was an entirely one-sided hunt.

By the time he had brought down more than a dozen Great Stamps and stored them one after another inside Gourmet Restaurant, shouts from other applicants could already be heard nearby.

They had apparently discovered the herd and were delighted by their luck.

Their excitement did not last.

The Great Stamps promptly sent them flying.

Screams began echoing throughout the forest one after another, attracting even more applicants to the area.

Haruto looked at the growing crowd and sighed helplessly.

After a moment’s thought, he turned and left.

He did not return directly to the courtyard, however.

Great Stamps were far from the only creatures in Visca Forest. The area was also rich in other wildlife and fruit trees.

Since he was already here, Haruto had no intention of leaving with nothing but a few pigs.

...

Haruto casually plucked an unfamiliar apple from a nearby tree, wiped the skin clean, and took a bite.

A crisp crunch sounded as abundant juice burst across his tongue.

It was sweet without being cloying, carrying a refreshing fragrance that lingered pleasantly in his mouth.

Both its sweetness and depth of flavor were noticeably richer than those of an ordinary apple.

Haruto’s eyes brightened in delight.

He had not paid much attention to the fruit trees earlier, assuming they held nothing more than common ingredients.

Clearly, he needed to gather far more of them.

An opportunity like this might not come again.

Rolling up his sleeves, Haruto got to work.

Before long, large quantities of various fruits had been harvested and stored inside Gourmet Restaurant.

After stripping what felt like the hundredth fruit tree bare, Haruto finally looked around and realized that all the other applicants had already left.

That told him it was time to return.

If he delayed any longer, the Second Phase might end without him.

Haruto cast a reluctant glance at the many trees still laden with fruit.

Then he retrieved one Great Stamp from Gourmet Restaurant and headed back toward the courtyard.

By the time he returned with the pig, the entire compound was alive with frantic activity.

Dozens of grills stood in rows with flames roaring beneath them.

The air was thick with the mingled scents of roasted meat and badly charred flesh.

Applicants crowded around their respective stations, clumsily turning Great Stamps over the fires.

The pigs sizzled beneath the flames, while dripping fat hissed against the coals.

That sound mixed with the applicants’ shouting until the courtyard became loud enough to make Haruto’s ears ache.

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