"It's just you, Jager, and your great-grandfather...."
Life too has its own unbearable weight... "Some people's hearts can only hold a small family, others can hold a city, and some... can hold a nation, a world..."
"When these increasingly heavy responsibilities press upon your shoulders, do you still think 'Nen' is just something you can wield at will, doing whatever you please?"
Netero finished speaking softly, and fell silent... his hair and beard were completely white, half of his face bathed in soft lamplight, the other half merged into the darkness of the night,
He didn't call the Mamen Beans to follow, and since becoming Hunter Association President, he had never spoken at such length to anyone, not even to Ging....
Silently gazing at the darkness, as if reminiscing, amidst the pitch-black Kukuroo Mountain, he vaguely saw Jager's face.....
Finally he said: "These... are what Grandpa Jager asked me to tell you...."
"You've seen the Demon Eye too,"
"Before it completely lost consciousness, I dreamed of Jager. He asked me to ask you well, so I came...."
But...
He hadn't been born at that time!
Roy was startled, suddenly looked at Netero... his eyes swirling with waves, he saw Netero standing with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the night sky with a deep meaning: "Foreseeing the future isn't anything remarkable...."
Roy suddenly understood, recalling Neon, recalling Riberi Garcia and her/their Nenryoku, [Angel's Automatic Notes] and [Tarot Card Divination]...
For a moment, he fell into silence....
The hazy moonlight shone through the window mullions onto the two figures, old and young, different in their stoutness and frailness.....
In Roy's contemplation, he gradually grasped something,
He paced to the window, leaned against the mullions, and alongside Netero admired the moonlight, venturing, "So, Grandpa wants me to be cautious, to beware... of virtues unfit for position?"
Netero looked at him in surprise, his gaze growing more appreciative: "I really want to meet your teacher; 'virtues unfit for position' is well put."
This too was the first time he'd heard it, but... just from the literal meaning of those four words, nothing could be more fitting.....
The old man stroked his whitish beard, nodding: "[A big heart] isn't wishful thinking, nor can it be [delusional]. When you can't control your [conceptions], then... you will be controlled by your [conceptions], becoming a slave to Nen, also known as—[disaster]!"
[Disaster]! Roy squinted his eyes, suddenly remembering the notorious "Five Great Calamities of the World"——
Signifying "the exchange of joy and life" is the [Nurturing Beast·Pap],
Guarding the "mysterious ancient relics' enigmatic sphere," known as [Weapon], the [Gold and Silver Bar],
The [Demon], capable of "infectious killing intent," resembling [Two-Tailed Snake], the [Hell's Bell],
The [Gas Life Form] [Ai] coexisting with "the curse and blessing of desire,"
Disguised as "hope," but actually bringing "endless despair" is the [Undying Disease] [Zobae],
All such things send chills down one's spine!
Upon hearing this, Roy felt an epiphany... suddenly realizing the true meaning behind Grandpa Jager's words to him within the Demon Eye....
'So, he was relieved that I hadn't reflexively become controlled by [Nenryoku], turning into those creatures that have been devoured by [Nature]'s rational. They too are called... [Disasters]!'
The young man's expression fluctuated, in a moment understanding many things... Netero stood right beside him, tilting his head to look at him, after a while, he gazed deeply into the night, a self-deprecating smile forming: "It seems you've understood,"
"It's not that your grandfather or father didn't want to, but because they, compared to you, your Grandpa Jager, and the old man here, simply lacked the talent and were unfit for great responsibilities. Of course,"
"there's also... me......."
"Hmm... hng...." In the dimly lit small room that belonged to Maha on the first floor, the old man turned over, the thin blanket slipping entirely off him onto the floor,
The old man muttered something, seemingly in a mumble, or perhaps in a dream: "At least you possess self-awareness."
In the silence, Roy collected his thoughts, staring fixedly at Netero, suddenly understanding... the source of the melancholic aura emanating from this "strongest human"... it came from realizing he had reached his peak, confined by his "mental and spiritual limitations," unable to see the path forward, resulting in disillusionment and despair......
When people say he's the strongest human, it means... he's reached the top, with no further potential for growth or strength!
"So, you wish to die...." Roy didn't know what to feel in his heart, and after a moment, he spoke heavily,
Netero tilted his head, smiled at the youngster, and gave a hearty laugh: "Hohoho... sure enough, you saw through it, but ah..."
Sparks burst from Netero's aged eyes, his gaze burning with battle spirit said: "Even if I die, I'll go out in a blaze of glory!"
"Whatever I do, I must bring a bit of shock to this boring world....."
Roy saw the battle spirit naturally emanating from his head burn with a magnificent red, recalling the original story, where he planted a nuclear bomb in his heart, dragging down the Ant King Meruem to hell, and before dying, had an epic battle with it until day turned into night... He realized, he had already achieved that....
The young man, with a head of shining silver hair, its ends reflecting a glazed golden light, retracted his gaze, leaning forward at the windowsill, alongside the elder gazing at the high-hung moon with a leisurely tone: "Let me know in advance what I can do for you,"
Netero's aged eyes drooped, full of gentleness amidst the wisdom of age.
He pondered for some time, and after a long while, he said: "I don't really have any other hobbies; living to this age, for an ordinary person, I'd have been dead long ago. If I have to say, though..."
Netero squinted his eyes and smiled at Roy: "After I die, organize your Buddhist teachings, and burn a copy for me, so I can broaden my horizons and see the world."
"Ah~eh~" In the dimly lit small room, as Maha turned to sleep sideways, he suddenly let out a yawn, smacking his lips drowsily: "Burn a copy for me too....."
Roy's mouth twitched,
Glanced towards the dimly lit small room, then turned back, listening to Netero's hearty laugh as he stroked his beard.....
These... doddering old men... really knew how to trouble young people~ Knowing all too well, tomorrow he had to fight!
"No time!"
Roy scoffed coldly, stuffed his hands into his pockets, ignoring Netero further, and went out in search of food, heading toward the caretaker's villa... as for it,
[Buddhist teachings]...
Coincidentally... he had a move [True Thousand Hands] waiting to be unlocked....
With his back to Netero, Roy opened his panel, casually glancing at his [Wood Release]; after tomorrow, it would be time to visit Sarutobi Hiruzen, and carefully study the banned books within the [Sealing Book] for a bit, to supplement some experience points.....
The young man vanished in the blink of an eye from the castle; in another blink, he merged into the moonlight and flew off down the mountain.....
"Dong~" By then, it was deep into the night,
The wooden clock placed in the corner chimed out the hour....
In just a few more breaths, Roy strode out of the moonlight, manifesting himself in Wutong's bedroom.
"Thump... thump... thump...." heartbeats boomed like muffled thunder,
Sensing Roy's presence, Wutong lay peacefully in the blood cocoon, with heartbeats suddenly accelerating....
The noise was so loud, it disturbed Tsubone, who had just settled Yu Yin and Canaria to sleep....
The old butler whipped her two pink-haired pigtails, hurried to the door of Wutong's bedroom and saw that it was Roy. She placed her right hand on her chest, and hurriedly gave him a respectful bow, saying: "Master, dinner is ready."
Just as Tsubone was about to bring it over, she didn't expect Roy's light escape technique to take him there first....
The old butler bent forward, stealing a glance at Roy from the corner of her eye, and saw....
The young man's silver and gold hair swaying gracefully with the breeze,
As his lips moved, he stretched out a hand, gently patting the blood cocoon while saying: "Don't worry, as promised, tomorrow,"
"I'll give you a showcase first!"