Survival in the Ruins: I can make everything evolve infinitely

Chapter 7: Roast Whole Pig x The Mischief Maker Arrives

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Within Biscayne Forest Park, herds of massive pink creatures charged forward in a frenzy. Hot on their heels were panicked Hunter candidates, crying and screaming as they fled for their lives.

The Great Snout Wild Boars!

These were the only pigs that inhabited Biscayne Park, and they were also known as the most ferocious pigs in the world. Each stood three meters long and two meters tall, their enormous size granting them formidable strength.

Their famed snouts weren’t just for show either; they were as tough as stone.

Add to that their frenzied demeanor and their tendency to hunt in herds, much like the fearless animal packs of the savannah, and they became a force of nature, charging without hesitation.

Many candidates were caught by the charging boars, sent flying into the air, and trampled mercilessly underfoot.

“Tsk, tsk…”

Lorraine, perched safely atop a tree, shook his head as he watched the scene.

He turned to look elsewhere.

While the Great Snout Wild Boars preferred to hunt in packs, there were always a few who had eaten their fill and were leisurely wandering the forest.

“There’s one!”

Lorraine’s eyes locked onto a solitary boar strolling nearby, far from the others.

Without hesitation, he sprang into action.

In a blink, he was directly above the boar. The creature’s eyes widened in shock as it noticed him, but it was too late to react.

Lorraine’s fist came crashing down onto its forehead the next instant.

The forehead—the Great Snout Wild Boar’s greatest weakness.

Its stone-hard snout had evolved precisely to protect this vulnerable spot.

Though Lorraine found this evolutionary trait a bit nonsensical, the facts didn’t lie.

Hoisting the now-collapsed boar onto his shoulders, Lorraine quickly made his way back to the second test venue.

At the venue, Menchi and Buhara both seemed slightly surprised to see Lorraine return so soon.

Given the time elapsed, it was clear he’d wasted no time reaching the boars’ habitat and coming back.

“The candidates this year are pretty impressive,” Buhara murmured, his tone admiring.

“Hmph, not so fast!” Menchi huffed softly. Her earlier annoyance at the candidates’ mocking behavior hadn’t entirely faded, though she was starting to calm down.

As Gourmet Hunters, this wasn’t the first time they’d been misunderstood or laughed at.

Ignoring the examiners’ reactions, Lorraine focused on the boar in front of him.

He knew that according to the “script,” simply roasting the entire boar would be enough to satisfy Buhara and pass the test.

But the idea of skewering and roasting the whole animal made Lorraine hesitate.

“I might as well prepare it properly since there’s still time…” Lorraine sighed and picked up a butcher knife from the counter.

Though he’d never roasted a whole pig before—heck, he’d never even eaten one—he figured the basics had to include draining the blood and removing the entrails.

As he worked, Lorraine marveled at the newfound precision of his upgraded body.

Despite never having done anything like this before, the faint feedback from his cuts allowed him to instinctively adjust the blade’s angle.

His technique might not have been perfect, but each cut was efficient, conserving energy.

Within five minutes, he had the boar’s innards cleaned out with ease.

As for draining the blood… well, Lorraine did his best, scoring the flesh multiple times and rinsing it thoroughly with water.

Next came the seasoning.

Looking over the assortment of spices on the counter, Lorraine decided to trust his instincts.

Salt, soy sauce, chili, scallions, ginger, garlic—he added a bit of everything that seemed appropriate. Most importantly, he didn’t forget the cumin.

Barbecue without cumin was like the West without Jerusalem.

“Clearly an amateur cook,” Menchi remarked from the stage, watching Lorraine’s fumbling preparation. She sighed softly, disappointed.

Buhara, on the other hand, looked wistfully at the discarded entrails. To him, those were still good meat!

Another five minutes passed before Lorraine finally lit the fire and began roasting the pig.

Though he’d lost some time prepping the boar, his earlier speed ensured he was still ahead of most candidates.

The few who had returned earlier than him didn’t affect his standing.

However…

Menchi’s mood soured as she observed the scene.

The stark contrast between candidates was hard to ignore.

Initially, she’d written off Lorraine as a hapless novice. But compared to the others, who had thrown their boars onto the fire without any preparation whatsoever, Lorraine’s efforts made him seem like a budding chef.

Menchi’s eyes sparkled with reluctant admiration.

Time ticked by.

Lorraine calmly tended to the fire, turning the spit occasionally and brushing on a layer of special sauce each time.

Even as other candidates rushed to present their half-cooked pigs and receive passing marks, Lorraine remained unhurried.

Though patient, Lorraine was keeping track of the numbers. With 36 candidates already qualified, there was still plenty of room for him to pass.

“It should be ready now.”

Satisfied with the roast, Lorraine plated the pig and carried it to Menchi and Buhara.

“At last, a dish that’s worth tasting!” Menchi sighed as she picked up a knife and fork to take her first bite.

Meanwhile, Buhara, ignoring the dish’s scorching temperature, grabbed the entire roast and devoured it in three massive bites.

“Delicious! You pass!” Buhara declared without hesitation.

“It’s… passable,” Menchi muttered, her tone proud and tsundere.

“Thank you, examiners!” Lorraine replied, bowing slightly as he returned to his station with the now-empty plate.

To be honest, Menchi’s opinion on the first dish didn’t matter. As long as Buhara was satisfied, passing this stage was guaranteed.

Still, Lorraine was strategic.

Making a good impression on Menchi now could make the next dish easier to prepare.

Although he could follow the script and still pass the test…

Lorraine was curious.

In the story, Killua had wiped out every candidate in next year’s Hunter Exam, earning his license after just one phase.

So, Lorraine wondered—if there were only one qualified candidate this time, would Chairman Netero still intervene?

Hehe.

The mischief maker in Lorraine was officially online!