Therapists Thoughts on the Hunter Exam. (And its contestants.)

Why are you like this?!

I stayed leaned against the tree for a long while, watching as others tried and failed to make it through the opening of the cavern before their time ran out. One poor man being just a few seconds too slow to make it through before the door slammed shut in-front of him.

...It was honestly kind of depressing to watch. I couldn't help but feel bad as I turn and look around. Noting the noticeably smaller crowd in-front of me.

I look around as everyone takes a second to collect themselves, still valiantly ignoring Hisoka's eyes on my back as I take in the lush, albeit foggy forest surrounding us. It was pretty, but it had something to hide. Vegetation like this always came with its own special brand of lethal wildlife.

I stand from my spot under the tree and join the crowd as Statoz starts talking to us again.

"This is swindlers swamp, a place that is known for its deadly deceptions. Everything here wants to eat you and will do anything to make sure it does. Now then, please follow me closely so you won't be deceived." He stated.

I fucking called it, knew there was something up here! Foggy forests are shady as fuck. Pun not intended.

"Don't listen to him, I'm the real examiner!" Another voice said from around the corner, a rather normal looking man appearing with a dead purple monkey in hand. A monkey that looked like Statoz but weirder and with more hair, and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

Mr. Statoz doesn't have a mouth though, and looked completely calm as the man kept making a fuss.

"That's a man faced ape! One of the many creatures in the swamp that want nothing more than to eat your flesh!" He yelled. There no fucking way... right? No. No way...

First of all, a real examiner would react similarly to how statoz was right now. He knew the truth, and he wasn't frightened. A real examiner would have also never fallen for a trap like that to begin with.

Not only that, but man faced apes got that name due to their ability to change their appearance. Wouldn't it be just as likely that the monkey took on the appearance of statoz to stimulate doubt among the contestants?

I keep thinking to myself, torn between this turn of events when, what I think is a playing card, whizzes past me, dangerously close to cutting my cheek. several more following it in quick succession, embedding deep into the 'mans' face and chest, while, who I could only assume was the real examiner caught them from out of the air with a practiced ease.

I turn in surprise then, annoyance igniting in my chest as I see the stupid fucking clown man standing a ways behind me with an overly self assured smile on his face. "I see, I see. That settles it then. You are the real one." He states with a small giggle as he shuffles his cards.

"The examiners are hunters. Each hand-picked by the Exam Committee to do this job without pay. Anyone who holds the title we're vying for ourselves could have deflected that attack. And quite easily, I might add." He explains nonchalantly.

And it unfortunately made sense. I didn't like it, like at all, but I couldn't deny the logic.

"I shall take that as a compliment. Thank you. Still, should you choose to attack me again, for any reason, I will have no choice but to report you for attacking an examiner, and have you disqualified immediately." Statoz replied coolly.

I turn my head back to Hisoka, only to be surprised when the elastic holding my hair back snaps and my hair falls down into my face. What the hell...? I ignore the commotion behind me to send a glare to clown, who was currently staring me down with that frustrating self-assured smile. It takes everything in me to not flip the bastard off as I quickly re-tie my hair with a fresh band and start following the examiner through the wetlands.