Edrin naturally took the lead.
He was more familiar with the place—or at least with the way one had to move through it. Aldebran had already described the port of Mitene to him with only a few clues, yet they were precise enough for certain landmarks to impose themselves almost instinctively. As soon as they entered the fishermen's district, Edrin stopped for a brief second, scanned the surroundings, then spoke in a deep, firm voice that left no room for doubt.
"Move faster. Every second that passes is vital for little Komugui."
The group immediately quickened their pace.
No one complained. No one asked questions. Everyone seemed driven by the same urgency, as if each of them wanted— in their own way— to take part, or at least be present for the sake of the young girl whose gentle smile was still fresh in their memories.
Meruem watched the scene in silence.
He did not understand.
These people… they had only known Komugui for a short time. A few days at most. And yet they were ready to hurry, to worry, to act as if her fate truly concerned them. This spontaneous solidarity unsettled him more than he would have liked to admit.
He slowed down slightly.
That was when the realization struck him.
He was the only one who was different.
Everyone around him was human. Bound together by codes, emotions, an instinctive sense of solidarity that still escaped him. He was not human. Not truly. He did not belong to this world in the same way. By nature, he was something else.
A weak, almost stifled sigh escaped Komugui's lips.
Meruem was pulled back to reality at once.
His gaze immediately returned to her, and all other thoughts vanished.
Edrin moved closer, now walking beside him.
"Meruem… don't worry, my friend. She will recover."
Meruem did not answer, but he listened.
"The old man told me about your… little altercation," Edrin continued cautiously. "You don't need to worry about me. About us. You are still the one who saved us from those bandits, even though we were complete strangers. Trust me. We will do everything we can to save Komugui."
The word friend echoed strangely in Meruem's mind.
The entrance to the market opened before them.
The air was thick, heavy with the sharp, salty smell of freshly caught fish. Stalls stretched as far as the eye could see, overflowing with still-twitching catches. The shouts of fishermen, animated negotiations, coarse laughter, and overlapping voices created an almost overwhelming noise.
"The old seer should be in a hut near the fish sellers," Edrin said.
They approached a group of merchants.
"Excuse me," Edrin asked, "could you tell us where we might find the old seer who is said to live in this area?"
The sellers exchanged amused glances.
"You mean old Mitou?" one of them replied cheerfully.
"Yes, exactly. We have someone who needs to be treated using her skills."
Behind him, Meruem's impatience was becoming palpable.
He said nothing, but his presence alone began to weigh on the air.
His voice eventually rose, sharper and louder than he intended.
"Please. This is urgent. That little girl you see has already suffered long enough."
The laughter stopped.
After a brief exchange among themselves, one of the sellers pointed behind them.
"No need to look any further."
A voice—old, yet surprisingly clear—had spoken from behind.
"Are you perhaps looking for me?"
They turned around.
An elderly woman was approaching, carrying a fish absurdly large for someone of her age. Her back was slightly hunched, but her eyes… sharp, piercing, almost unsettlingly lucid.
"Oh… Mitou, you're back!" one of the sellers exclaimed.
"Yes. I've finished choosing the best fish this scammer Belrin has to offer."
Laughter erupted.
"These gentlemen were asking for you. They have someone who's ill."
Mitou's gaze swept over the group. Then it stopped on Komugui. Then on Meruem.
She remained silent for a moment.
Edrin stepped forward.
"We were sent by Aldebran—"
"That's enough," Mitou interrupted before he could finish. "Follow me."
Without waiting, she took the lead.
A few meters away, her silhouette disappeared into a hut identical to dozens of others.
Inside, the atmosphere changed instantly.
The light was dim, almost suffocating. The place felt old, heavy with an unsettling presence. Ancient artifacts worn by time, multicolored beads, sealed jars, and containers filled with unfamiliar plants filled the space. At the back stood a simple bed, surrounded by symbols carved into wood and stone.
Meruem observed everything without a word.
He was tense. Scattered. Overwhelmed, perhaps.
But his concern for Komugui eclipsed everything else.
He gently laid her on the bed.
She let out two, then three faint sighs. Her consciousness already seemed distant.
Mitou approached.
Her movements were slow, precise, almost ritualistic. She clasped her hands together and swept them over Komugui's body, from head to toe, without ever touching her. As she did, her Nen began to resonate with that of the young girl.
A clear, pure light—almost blinding—slowly took shape.
Meruem could see it distinctly.
Then Mitou activated her ability.
"Death Judge…"
The Nen thickened.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Death Judge is an ancient Nen ability unique to the seer Mitou.
It allows its user to assess the deep vital state of a patient—not the body alone, but the balance between life, Nen, and the very essence of existence. Through Death Judge, Mitou can determine whether an individual stands at the edge of death, whether their condition is reversible, and above all…
whether fate still allows room for intervention.
This judgment does not announce death.
It measures its possibility.
When the light finally faded, Mitou slowly opened her eyes.
"…The move is playable," she murmured.
A tension Meruem had not even realized he was carrying loosened slightly in his chest.
But nothing was settled yet.
Because now, another question arose.
If Komugui could be saved…
What price would have to be paid for it?