AN: I decided to postpone editing further chapters beyond the first three, I may do more in the future. However, I decided to just do the first few chapters as many prospective readers decide to pick up or drop a fic with only the first couple of chapters as reference. With that said updates will go back to normal and I will start including transitions between author notes and chapters as requested.
----- End of Author Note -----
'Man this new body is pretty sweet' I thought to myself as I slowly gained distance from the latter half of the contestants, i.e all the mob characters who would get decimated in the swindler's swamp if they could even make it there in time.
'One thing to note though, compared to my past life I am much more physically fit. Except that's not a real tall order due to me being an indoors person whose hobbies were all mostly done indoors.' Getting out of my thoughts, I looked around my surroundings and could only sigh in boredom. After all, I tried to conserve energy as I had no idea how strong I am currently but that left me near the back of the leaned-down cut of contestants and there was no one to talk to or really nothing to do besides run in this monotonous tunnel.
'Hhm it seems ill have to take back that earlier thought, it looks like Leorio is falling behind alongside Gon. Guess I'll say hi or something?' Nearing the two I saw Leorio's state as he was decelerating
"Yo! You good?" I ask in consideration of his state, I mean he's practically sweating buckets after roughly three hours of running after all.
*Pant* *Pant* "Hah!? Like hell! Nothing is going to stop me from being a Hunter! God Damnit!" he shouted as he began to sprint back into the main crowd with an exaggerated gait that was probably the main reason he was so tired out.
"...ah…Was I just ignored?" talking to myself out loud, a rather poor habit from my past life causing a handful of issues for my past self.
"Sorry about him, he can come off a bit rude…" apologizing on Leorio's behalf was Kurapika who introduced himself to me after I was overheard by the group of three that consisted of Kurapika, Gon, and the white-haired assassin that gets his nen ability ripped off in every fanfic that has an mc with lightning powers, Killua.
From there a short conversation began between me and Kurapika, making small talk as we continued to move forward in the dimly lit tunnel. In the background, I heard Gon and Killua's excited chattering after Gon uses his fishing rod to fetch Leorio's suitcase he dropped earlier.
'Huh, that's a pretty neat trick.' After that interaction, our group of five after we rejoined Leorio shortly rounded the corner of the tunnel and were met with a large winding staircase upwards. Having reached the stairs our examiner gave notice that he was going to quicken his pace.
'What was his name sats- something? Oh well, But isn't the staircase the area where the main cast speaks about their character motivations? What the hell am I supposed to say? Be entertainment? Become the Pirate King or Hokage?' *sigh* shaking my head at the thought I further accelerated before hitting the winding staircase.
"Hey! Leorio, Kurpika, and Magenta-san! I and Killua are going up ahead, Want to come with us?" Asked Gon as he slowed down a bit, moving from the front of our group to the rear where we were located.
"Nah, go on ahead I'll stay with Leorio though I can not speak for Magenta-san" Kurapika curtly replies as Leorio is currently in no condition to answer, panting like a dog with his shirt tied around his waist trying his damned best to get up the stairs. Looking over at me Kurapika gives me a questioning look from across the stairs as Leorio is between us.
"...You know you can remove the -san's and stuff I'm not really into formalities a real pain you know? Anyways, you two can go on ahead I suppose…" I lazily respond as the two boys give their goodbyes as they race to the front of the pack. Soon after they left Kurapika begins to ask about Leorio's motivations, though before he started they both tried to convince me why their motivations for becoming a hunter were superior. It was truly comical hearing them go back and forth at each other trying to poke holes in each other's arguments or aspirations. Which eventually led them to ask me why I was here…
" My reasons for being here? Maybe dumb luck? I didn't intend to originally even come here in the first place. But moving forward I guess I would want to see new sights, meet new people, nothing grand I suppose. However, I decided to pivot and move in a new direction in life when I got here you know? I wasted a good portion of my life lazing around and not doing anything too memorable. That's why I'm going to try living life to the fullest from now on. It's nothing tragic or all that exciting compared to you guys but that's essentially why I am taking this test" I declared in a serious tone in contrast to my previous boring demeanor seemingly surprising both Leorio and Kurapika.
'I mean it's sorta true, I didn't spend my previous life all that well looking back on it. I mean death came so abruptly, and I refuse to die again living a useless life.' Meanwhile, silence engulfed the area around us as all three of our faces sharpened with determination to reach the top of the staircase. Continuing to pass fallen contestants who were sprawled out across the stairs, we finally saw the warm light of the sun which was quite vivid compared to the dull artificial lamps that previously illuminated the tunnel. After a mad dash to the top, we were greeted with a thick haze of fog, and shortly after our arrival the loud thud as the door back to the tunnel closed.
'So this is the Swindler's Swamp huh?'