Chapter 13 – Miraculous Results
Osren's bizarre "treatment" left everyone at the scene completely dumbfounded.
First, Kurapika was once again in total confusion, and even Leorio had a bunch of question marks plastered across his forehead.
Leorio, as we know, lost his dear friend Pietro to illness because they couldn't afford the surgery. That tragedy set him on the path to becoming a doctor—not just for money, but so he could one day treat patients like Pietro for free. So despite his lecherous and sleazy appearance, Leorio is actually one of the kindest souls in Hunter x Hunter.
What's more, Leorio isn't lacking in talent. Though he had no mentors, he taught himself both combat skills and emergency medicine—and still achieved decent results. And let's not forget: this is the same man who once punched Ging so hard he went flying.
Back to the story.
Matthew let out a painful wail after being struck.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
His palm was swollen red from the hit, and he glared furiously.
"Striking the right palm for a sprain in the left foot—it's a method I learned from a doctor," Osren said seriously. "It really works. Matthew, just humor me and try walking a few steps. I bet you're cured."
Hitting the right hand for a twisted left foot? What nonsense. Matthew was fuming and wanted to laugh at the absurdity. He thought, If I actually stand up now, I must've lost my mind.
Determined to keep faking the injury, he remained on the ground. But…
His body had other plans.
Before he even realized it, he had already stood up—and walked two steps, completely normally.
Just two steps were enough to reveal: his leg was fine.
"See, Mr. Matthew? Isn't your leg all better now?" Osren said with a warm, sincere smile. "This way, you won't miss the Hunter Exam."
Matthew: "???"
"That's amazing!" Gon clapped joyfully—happy for both Matthew's recovery and Osren's mysterious skills.
"You can heal a sprain like that?"
Leorio, who had some medical knowledge, was utterly shaken. Osren's method had just shattered his understanding of medicine.
Even Kurapika furrowed his brow—rare for someone usually so composed. He had initially seen through Matthew's act and assumed Osren hit him just to expose the lie. On that point, he agreed.
But now, a problem arose: if Matthew really was faking, he shouldn't have walked—especially after getting slapped. He'd have every reason to keep pretending.
The reverse made even less sense. If the injury was real, how could hitting the opposite hand fix it? Even without medical training, Kurapika could tell this defied all logic.
"Let's keep moving," someone said.
The group continued down the path. Gon led the group, while Matthew, sulking at the back, was filled with resentment. Not only had his trick failed, but now he was the center of attention—for all the wrong reasons.
As they walked, Matthew, distracted and stewing in anger, veered off the trail and into some tall grass… without even realizing it, he wandered straight into white rhino territory.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
A massive white rhino emerged slowly from the thicket. From Osren's vantage point, it was at least twice the size of a normal Earth rhino. Its legs were like stone pillars. Even though its horn wasn't particularly sharp, with a body the size of a small truck, sharpness didn't really matter.
Leorio and Kurapika instantly snapped into combat readiness.
Unfortunately, Matthew was closest to the beast. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he pulled out a pair of batons from behind his back—but his hands were trembling, and his body instinctively backed away.
In the original storyline, this scene happened because Gon had gone into the forest to gather herbs for Matthew, and Matthew, wandering around looking for Gon, accidentally disturbed the rhino.
Osren had thought his "miraculous cure" would prevent that sequence. But somehow, the same situation still occurred.
"So this guy needs to add drama to everything, or he's just not satisfied?" Osren muttered.
As soon as he finished speaking—
Rustle!
From the tall grass to the left, another strange noise emerged.
"Mooooo..."
A loud, heavy snort suddenly echoed through the air. It sounded like a bull—but shriller and more piercing, with a tone several octaves higher. Just listening to it made one's ears ring.
A majestic white rhino emerged from the bushes, swaying its massive horn with pride. Its entire body was snow-white, and it strutted out with an air of entitlement, tail flicking leisurely as it let out its peculiar calls. At the center of its forehead was a large, circular mark. As it stepped forward, it nuzzled affectionately against the first rhino.
Another one followed.
A pair—male and female.
But the female was even larger than the male. More importantly, she looked far more aggressive. Her eyes locked onto Osren's group with a predatory glare, nostrils flaring as she pawed the ground with her front legs—ready to charge at any moment.
No calculations were necessary here: getting hit by the male rhino's bulk would leave you crippled; getting hit by the female meant instant death.
"Help, help!" Matthew was still holding a stick, trying to act tough when there was just one rhino. But now that both had their eyes fixed on him like prey, he couldn't keep up the act anymore. He looked like he was about to cry.
Leorio and Kurapika tensed up but held their positions.
"Don't attack just yet," Gon said calmly. "We're the ones who intruded on their territory. That's why they're upset."
With both rhinos staring him down, Gon slowly stepped forward and raised his hands, signaling that he meant no harm.
Only Gon would dare do something like that. Kurapika opened his mouth to stop him, but Leorio held him back—he'd seen Gon communicate with foxbears before.
Meanwhile, Osren was deep in thought—on something else entirely.
"What do rhinos even like to eat again?"
"They're omnivores, I think," Leorio replied, recalling bits from nature documentaries.
Smack!
Osren clapped his hands together. "I still have some Longan fruit with me—let's try that."
Decision made.
"Gon, pass me three Longan fruits," Osren called out.
These fruits were among the most prized specialties from Whale Island. One might not be enough to show sincerity, but three? That should do it.
"Okay!" Gon responded without looking back.
In a flash, he pulled out four plump, glistening fruits—purple with a faint white sheen, Longans—from his pack and tossed them to Osren. As they sailed through the air, a sweet aroma wafted around them.
"What's that smell? That's amazing," Leorio couldn't help but turn to look.
"Whale Island's specialty. Osren asked for them," Gon replied.
Osren caught the fruits and walked straight up to the rhinos. Gon stayed close, ready to keep the animals calm.
The rhinos didn't move, only staring at Osren. They seemed unmoved—though the way their massive eyes were glued to the fruit in his hands said otherwise.
"Mr. and Mrs. Rhino, these are for you," Osren said politely, placing the fruits on a clean patch of grass before taking a step back.
The female glanced at Osren, then slowly lumbered forward and swallowed a fruit in one bite, chewing it with satisfaction.
Osren could've sworn he saw joy and contentment on that massive rhino face. Clearly, he'd been around Gon too long.
Only after the female had her fill did the male rhino saunter over, calmly enjoying his own two fruits.