Chapter 3

The Ultimate Choice (究(きゅう)極(きょく)()()()()()()()()の選(せん)択(たく)()()()()()()()(), Kyūkyoku no Sentaku) is the 3^rd chapter of the Hunter × Hunter manga, written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi.

Synopsis[]

It's stated that the only information provided to every Hunter applicant are the date and time of the Hunter Exam and a general location of the exam site, acting as yet another step to becoming a Hunter. At Dolle Harbor, the three applicants walk among a busy crowd, with Leorio saying that they now need to get a ride to Zaban City. Kurapika examines the crowd's people and guesses they are heading for the same location. Gon approaches the captain and thanks him for everything. After shaking Gon's hand and wishing him good luck, the captain points to a lone pine tree on a nearby hill and tells him it's a good place to start looking for the exam site. Once Gon happily thanks him and takes his leave, the captain tells Ging not to worry since his son has what it takes. Behind a nearby building, an unknown figure is seen eavesdropping on the conversation.

Standing in front of a large map, Leorio points out Zaban City and asks Gon why he wants to head toward the pine tree in the opposite direction. He suggests taking the express bus and says climbing the hill would be a waste of their time, with Kurapika asking Gon if he heard the captain correctly. Gon remains confident and plans to make his way there, with Leorio telling him not to trust others so much and again suggesting that they take the bus. As Gon continues walking toward the pine tree and waves goodbye, Kurapika begins to follow him and Leorio wonders why. Kurapika smiles slightly and says he's intrigued by what Gon may do. Leorio stubbornly makes his way to the bus stop and sits down to wait, eventually hearing two men discussing that the buses never reached Zaban City and that it was a trap exposing any rookies. Sitting motionless for a moment, Leorio jumps up and runs toward the pine tree, yelling after Gon and Kurapika.

On their way to the pine tree, the three eventually find themselves in a deserted alley, but Gon and Kurapika can sense that there are people around. Leorio is left confused and asks how they can tell, with Kurapika saying that he can hear them breathing and Gon saying that their clothes are rustling. After Leorio is still unable to hear anything, several people suddenly appear in front of them, including an old woman holding a cane. She speaks softly at first, but then yells out that it's time for a two-choice quiz, leaving the three applicants confused as her masked attendants clap in response. The woman explains that the town is the only safe way to reach the pine tree, revealing that the other trails are mazes filled with magical beasts. She then tells them that she will ask a question and give them five seconds to answer, adding that they will fail and be unable to take part in that year's Hunter Exam if they answer incorrectly.

After the woman adds that they must answer with either #1 or #2, Leorio realizes that they only get one question between the three of them, but Gon points out that they can work together to answer. The applicant, who was eavesdropping on Gon and the captain back at Dolle Harbor, suddenly appears, asking if he can take the test and revealing to Gon that he listened in on his conversation. Leorio realizes that they can see what the woman's questions are like if they let the other applicant go first. After thanking them out loud, the man calls them stupid internally and plans to set up traps on the path ahead. The woman then tells the applicant that criminals have taken his mother and true love captive, asking which of the two he would save. Kurapika is left confused since the question is purely subjective, wondering if they have to guess which answer she prefers.

The applicant chooses the first option, but tells himself that he only chose it because it's the answer the woman most likely prefers. She then asks for his reason, and he explains that while another true love can be found, a person's mother cannot be replaced. The woman talks with her attendants and tells the applicant that he may go, with the man smugly walking past them. Leorio becomes furious at the woman and her quiz, pointing out that the question has no right answer and declaring that he will find another route to the exam site. However, the woman reminds him that it's the only way and that he won't be able to enter the exam if he leaves. Kurapika suddenly realizes something, and as Leorio wonders if he plans to go along with the quiz, the woman stops them from speaking and tells herself that Kurapika has heard.

She then warns them that if they speak without answering the question, they all fail, asking whether they will take the quiz or not. Kurapika quickly chooses the first option, internally telling Leorio to think since it's a simple trick. He also guesses that Gon has realized it, pointing out that the quiz isn't about the questions, but what they hear and don't hear. The woman then tells them that their son and daughter have been kidnapped, asking which of the two they will get back. As she begins counting down from five, Leorio can't believe that she asked a question similar to the first, walking over to a stack of wooden poles. He grabs one and breaks off a piece to make it shorter, telling her that the seconds left are how much longer she has to live.

Once the woman reaches the end of the countdown, Leorio suddenly leaps toward her and swings the makeshift weapon. Still, Kurapika jumps in the way and uses his bokken to block the strike. Kurapika tries to calm him down, but Leorio continues to express his anger toward the woman and the entire Hunter Exam process. However, Kurapika suddenly reveals that they have passed the test, again telling Leorio to control his temper. He explains that the correct response is no response at all, pointing out that while the woman told them they could only say #1 or #2, she didn't tell them that they had to say anything. Leorio then angrily points out that the earlier applicant was allowed to pass. Still, Kurapika reminds him that she didn't say he was correct, revealing that he heard his scream and guessing that he had encountered a magical beast. After Kurapika surmises that the path he took isn't right, the woman confirms it and has her attendants reveal a hidden passage to the real path, a plain trail that will take them to the pine tree in two hours.

Leorio is left embarrassed and apologizes, but the woman tells him that he makes the job interesting and wishes the three applicants good luck. However, Gon finally speaks up and happily says he can't come up with an answer. Both Kurapika and Leorio chuckle, pointing out that they already passed, but Gon wonders what they will do if they have to make a similar choice one day. He adds that it won't be about right or wrong, but about what's in their heart when things are rough. With Kurapika and Leorio saying nothing in response, the woman says to herself that Gon has realized the point of the test and that they must be ready for such events in their lives. The three then wave goodbye and walk toward the pine tree through the door.

Characters in Order of Appearance[]

Translations around the World[]

Language		Name
Brazilian Portuguese		A Escolha Difícil

Navigation[]

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