Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss reporting from the Trial Gate.
Gin is very interested in Miki.
***
Gon and his group arrived at Kukuru Mountain, the Zoldyck family estate, via a sightseeing bus tour. After completing the trial gate tutorial with the thugs, just like in the original story, they asked the gatekeeper Zebro to connect them with the Zoldyck family's butler.
"Hello! Is Killua there? Please tell him that his friends Gon and the others have come to visit."
"Go away."
Gon called Killua three times, only to be hung up on each time. After that, he informed the butler that they would be staying for a while.
The butler offered no particular response, and Gon's group was finally allowed to enter the gatekeepers' employee housing.
Gon, having fully recovered from his injuries, opened the fourth trial gate. Meanwhile, Gin—who had released his compression, was teasing Miki, causing quite a commotion. However, Kurapika and Leorio said nothing, simply walking slowly into the gatekeeper's forest house with dead eyes.
The house was designed for the gatekeepers' training, so everything was as heavy as barbells. Yet despite some strain, the two handled doors weighing over 100 kilograms and slippers weighing over 10 kilograms with surprising ease.
"That's impressive. As friends of Killua-sama, you've been well-trained. Opening the trial gate should only be a matter of time."
"Even if we can open it, we'll need to stay here for a month until our visas expire. This kind of facility is rare."
After hearing from Zebro about any chores they could help with during their stay, they decided that Hisoka would pay for anything else in cash, then went to bed.
As Leorio and Kurapika headed to their beds, they noticed that Zebro was trembling slightly, but they didn't think much of it and returned to their rooms.
Before Zebro fell asleep, he thought he heard a short scream coming from Gon's room, but he dismissed it and closed his eyes.
Two weeks had passed since Gon and the others arrived at the Zoldyck family mansion. Leorio and Kurapika had successfully opened the second trial gate.
As a result, they graduated from Gon's "muscle dialogue" and were told they could now train normally. The two embraced and quietly shed tears of joy.
Their simultaneous Nen training was also progressing smoothly. Although Leorio struggled somewhat, both managed to master the four major techniques. Finally, they moved on to investigating their Nen affinities.
"Simply put, Nen is divided into six categories, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. It's an important factor in determining your abilities, but once established, it can't be changed, so pray you get the category you want."
Excited at the prospect of finally creating their desired abilities, Leorio and Kurapika began.
After briefly explaining the six categories and the Water Divination test, they started with Leorio's assessment.
"Hey, the color changed slightly! That means I'm an Emitter. Honestly, I wanted to be a Conjurer so I could create various medical tools, but I guess this will work too!"
As Leorio said, the water in the glass turned a faint yellow. He felt a hint of disappointment that it wasn't the category he'd hoped for, but his natural optimism quickly shifted his mindset.
Following Leorio, Kurapika also performed the Water Divination test. A small amount of something resembling dust appeared in the glass.
"So I'm a Conjurer. Considering my desire for revenge, I would have preferred Enhancement, but if I can't change it, I'll have to fight with this hand."
Kurapika also wasn't the type he had hoped for, but since Gon had repeatedly told him about the freedom of Nen, he didn't dwell on it too much.
"Now that your categories have been determined, focus your training on enhancing the changes in the Water Divination. Kurapika, you should also start thinking about what you want to conjure."
As the two pondered their affinities and future paths, Gon hesitated before telling Kurapika about the Trick Tower incident.
"You know, Kurapika, you manifested the Scarlet Eyes during the Trick Tower, right? Actually, your aura was surging at that time. Maybe your affinity changes when you enter the Scarlet Eyes state."
At those words, Kurapika and Leorio looked surprised, and Hisoka, remembering that moment, smiled slightly.
"Really, Gon?! Then wait here for a moment. In this forest, we should be able to find a spider quickly."
"Stop♥ This is more exciting, right?♠"
As Kurapika rushed off to find a spider that could trigger the Scarlet Eyes, Hisoka suddenly removed his upper clothing, exposing his back.
"What?! Hisoka! That tattoo?!"
The spider with twelve legs drawn across Hisoka's back, bearing the number 4 signifying Phantom Troupe No. 4—vanished without a trace in the next instant.
"There's a trick to it, you know♥ Come on, do the Water Divination now while you can♣"
Kurapika's expression was indescribable, but upon seeing the spider tattoo, he entered the Scarlet Eyes state and performed the Water Divination.
"Whoa?! What the hell is this?!"
"Hm, this is interesting♥"
The result was dramatic: red water overflowed from the glass, leaves shook without wind, and dust appeared. When Gon licked the water on his fingertip, he tasted a faint spiciness, confirming that all reactions except for the Specialist category had manifested.
"So when I have the Scarlet Eyes, I become a Specialist and can master all categories at 100%. With this, I can definitely make those spiders pay!"
"...Kurapika, creating abilities based on that state is fine, but combat abilities are prohibited. Especially those limited to targeting the Phantom Troupe are absolutely off-limits."
Kurapika, who had been smiling crookedly at the Water Divination results, had his smile shattered by Gon's warning. His expression turned complex with anger and sadness.
"Why, Gon?! You know my lifelong wish and are supposed to support me, aren't you?! With this power, I can definitely defeat the Spider!"
Kurapika grabbed Gon's chest with a pained expression, but his strength seemed to leave him, and he collapsed to his knees, looking up as if clinging to him.
"Are you telling me to give up my revenge? Answer me, Gon!"
Gon just stared back at Kurapika, who was crying and screaming as if spitting blood.
"I've lived my entire life for revenge!!"
"...That's how it is. I don't want to give in either, but when I think about Kurapika's feelings, I just can't help but feel down."
"Ah, well, I guess that's how Kurapika feels. But you're still so impatient when it comes to the Phantom Troupe."
Killua remained suspended in the torture chamber, holding the receiver with the butler Gotoh, communicating with Gon.
This exchange had been happening every day since Gon and the others arrived at the Zoldyck family estate, and Killua had mastered Nen just as well as Kurapika and Leorio in the Four Major Principles.
"I'm getting tired of hanging around with my brother, so I think I'll join you guys soon. That way, sparring will be fresh and exciting, and it'll take Kurapika's mind off things."
"Everyone's waiting for Killua to come. Let's start training together as soon as possible!"
While Killua continued his lighthearted conversation, Gotoh smiled quietly, careful not to let him see.
At first, this communication arrangement had a bad reputation, but perhaps because they could see Killua becoming brighter day by day, there was no end to the number of staff who wanted to facilitate it.
"Killua-sama, Milluki-sama will be back in a minute, so it's about time to end today's session."
"What, already? I guess I'll just hang with my brother today."
"See you tomorrow, everyone. Call early."
"Okay. But is Kurapika going to be alright tomorrow? He's out somewhere, right?"
"Don't worry! Leorio should be with him, so they'll be back soon."
As Killua worried about Kurapika again, he could see Gon smiling on the other end of the phone.
The view from Kukuru Mountain, over 3,700 meters above sea level, was unobstructed, allowing one to see far and wide.
Kurapika sat quietly on the trial gate, gazing at the setting sun on the horizon. His heart was filled with shame for losing his composure during training and guilt toward Gon.
After exhaling a sigh he couldn't count how many times he'd released, Leorio—who had been desperately climbing the Trial Gate for some time—finally emerged.
"What the hell are you doing up there? You should've thought about me having to come look for you!"
Leorio, breathing heavily, had Gin perched on his head. Kurapika, exasperated, called out, "You could've climbed up easier if you'd put him down."
"I didn't ask you to come looking for me. Come here, Gin—you're swaying."
"You're such a stubborn one. Hmm, this is quite a view."
Kurapika stroked Gin, who had climbed onto his knees, and Leorio joined him to gaze at the landscape dyed crimson.
A moment of silence passed, but it was Kurapika who unexpectedly broke it.
"I understand that spider-specialized abilities have significant drawbacks, such as being unable to respond effectively in critical situations."
Speaking calmly, Kurapika had noticed Gon's concerns despite his usual composure. Now that he had cooled down, he could objectively see how narrow-minded he had been.
"I know that you're guiding me to increase my chances of revenge, and that Leorio and Killua are helping me because they want to."
Without looking at Gin, whom he was stroking, or Leorio sitting beside him, nor at the scenery, Kurapika could see the days he had spent with the Kurta tribe, who were now dead.
"I can't stop it. The final moments of the Kurta tribe, the eyes of those who died, the hatred toward the spider—it all screams inside me."
Kurapika's true brown eyes were illuminated by the setting sun, and Leorio saw tears welling up that threatened to turn them scarlet.
"...I told you during the exam, but I'm just an ordinary person who's lived an unremarkable life, unlike you and Killua."
As silence fell once more, Leorio spoke quietly.
"But even though I was just an ordinary person, here I am, in this unbelievable place."
Recalling everything that had happened, Leorio couldn't help but smile—a mix of wonder and bitterness.
Kurapika, unable to discern what he meant, turned his face toward him, only to meet Leorio's serious gaze.
"A month ago, I couldn't even imagine this. What the hell is opening an 8-ton door or carrying hundreds of kilograms? The only reason I've made it this far is because of Gon and you guys."
Saying that, he turned his body toward Kurapika and declared with unwavering confidence.
"We've come this far in a month. With another six months, we could go anywhere! The Phantom Troupe is nothing. With the four of us, plus Gin and Hisoka, there's nothing we can't do!"
It was a baseless claim, but for Leorio, it was an undeniable fact.
"I understand you're anxious and worried. So if you're going to be alone with these feelings, pour them all out to us. No one here will think you're being unreasonable."
He tapped Kurapika's shoulder, who had unconsciously looked away, and conveyed what Gon and Killua were probably thinking.
"We're complete strangers to you, but we'll be there for you as much as you need us. Even if you find a real family someday, we'll always be family to you."
"...I have no real family and no place to return to. Where else could I find a family besides you guys?"
Blushing from the setting sun's glow, Kurapika implied that he didn't want anyone else.
However, Leorio didn't notice and suddenly wore a lecherous expression, as if his previous seriousness had been a lie.
"What the hell are you talking about? You said your goal was to revive the Kurta tribe, right? So you're actually aiming for a harem, aren't you?!"
Ignoring Kurapika, who couldn't respond to the sudden change, Leorio continued to get more and more worked up.
"You're so popular, aren't you? I'm so jealous. I wish I could be with a blonde, busty girl too."
"..."
"Hey, when you're building your harem, make sure to save some for me. It'll be a good reward for helping you defeat the Phantom Troupe, right?"
"I'm not thinking about that! I can't think about anything beyond revenge right now!"
"No, you need to think about it."
"Leorio! Enough with the nonsense!"
When he finally turned back to scold Leorio, the latter had already returned to a serious expression, as if the earlier nonsense had never happened.
"As a future medical professional, let me tell you this: there's no medicine that can save a patient who's given up on life. To truly heal, the desire to live must be strong enough to overcome death itself."
"So you're telling me to create a harem? That's quite a leap, isn't it?"
"Just focus on the future, whatever it takes. If all you see is revenge and you're willing to die in the process, you'll never succeed. Revenge is something you should be able to accomplish! You have to think of it as a stepping stone!"
Kurapika let out a deep sigh and tried to rephrase what Leorio was trying to say in his own words to show he understood.
As Leorio said, if they were to raise the banner of restoring their clan, they couldn't be satisfied with revenge alone.
"You're right. We still have half a year left. I'll take this time to think things through again, both about revenge and about rebuilding the clan—while continuing my training."
Leorio's face lit up at Kurapika's words. He stood up, confirmed that the sun had set, and extended his hand.
Kurapika took Leorio's hand, and for the first time since the massacre of his clan, his eyes were no longer fixed on the past but on the future.
***
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