Nufufufu, now this is something else. Oooh, what nice muscles! Ahh, such a feast for the eyes~ This is the best way to kill time, after all. I really don't understand why Riina can't appreciate handsome men and good muscles.
prrrr… prrrr
Oh come on, what now? I was just getting into a good mood. Who could it be—oh my! A call from Aisha? That's rare! Actually, this might be the first time. I wonder what she wants?
Well, if it's Aisha, I suppose I can forgive her for interrupting my blissful moment.
"Hello, hello. This is Bisky. What's the matter, Aisha?"
"Ah, Bisky. Sorry if you're busy—do you have a moment?"
Still so polite. If it were that old geezer, he'd just blurt out his business without asking. Though in that case, I'd snap at him immediately.
"I'm fine. So, what do you need?"
"Well… actually, I'd like to hire you for a while."
Oh? Aisha wants to hire me? What could this possibly be about?
"That's rather sudden. 'Hire' can mean a lot of things, you know?"
"Yes. The truth is… I need your ability."
"Mine? …Oh! You want Cookie-chan's beauty treatment effect? My, my, you've really become a proper girl, haven't you! But unfortunately, Aisha, my ability is—"
"That's absolutely not it!"
"…How boring."
Tch! If that were the case, I'd have dressed her up from head to toe. Aisha has good base material—she really should put in the effort to polish herself up~ Even if she was a man in her previous life, she's a girl now. She ought to accept it already.
"Honestly… I'm currently training one disciple. I'd like to use your ability to assist with their training."
"Hah!? W-wait! Seriously!?"
"Y-Yes. Is it really that surprising?"
Of course it is! Have you forgotten who you are!?
You're the legendary martial artist, Ryushou Kazama! And you've taken a disciple—just one—and you're personally training them? Of course that's shocking!
"Are you teaching them your school?"
"No. I'm not teaching that school at all. I'm only serving as their teacher regarding… that."
Even that alone is a luxury. I don't know who this disciple is, but do they even realize how fortunate they are?
…If Riina found out, she'd probably go mad with jealousy. That girl has been waiting eagerly for Aisha's instruction. She's been desperate to raise a successor, hasn't she? It's painfully obvious she wants to train one quickly so she can free herself up and spend time with Aisha.
"Does your disciple know? That you're [that]?"
"…No, I haven't told them. And to go further, I haven't even told them about aura."
Ahh, I see. She hasn't told them about her previous life, and she's hiding her aura too. So that's it. In other words, she wants me to demonstrate Nen as well.
Whoever this person is, they're definitely a beginner when it comes to Nen. If Aisha exposed them to her natural aura, it would be a complete disaster.
Even if they could endure that, she probably feels resistance about being the one to teach it.
"In that case, it would be better if I handle the demonstration."
"As expected of you. You understand exactly what I'm trying to say. …That person is from the same Hunter Exam class as me, and, well… they're my friend… I do plan to tell them eventually, but right now…"
Oh my.
…She really has changed. She's truly a different person from Master Ryushou. Is her spirit being influenced by her body, perhaps? Wanting to hide her aura because she doesn't want a friend to dislike her… I never thought that teacher would become this much of a girl.
"Fine. In that case, I'll take the job. But I have my own schedule, so I'll be ending the contract in September."
At the Yorknew auction, that Mr. Battera will undoubtedly win Greed Island. And after that will surely come the player selection.
Ahh, that rare gemstone said to be the most beautiful in the world! It can only be obtained in Greed Island, they say! There's no way I can afford to miss the selection if I want to get my hands on it!
"Yes, that's perfectly fine. We also have business in September."
"Good, then that works. Now then, let's talk about the most important part of any contract—the compensation."
Even if it's someone I know well, someone I respect like my teacher, a contract is a contract. As a professional, I have to be firm about that.
…Especially since I need to make up for the money that idiot Wing is about to lose.
Ugh! Just thinking about it makes me furious! That fool! Next time I see him, I'm going to punch him at least once!
"The term of employment will be about four months. Assistance with instruction and use of your ability. Please calculate the fee including the fact that you'll be revealing your ability to another person."
You do understand, don't you? If Aisha didn't have the money, she wouldn't have proposed this contract in the first place. So I'll be collecting proper payment.
"Very well… Let's see. I'd normally say fifty million per month, but since we're acquainted, I'll make it twenty-five million. Four months until September—an even one hundred million. How does that sound?"
"Understood. That's acceptable. Then we have a deal. Shall we prepare a written contract?"
"That won't be necessary. I trust you, Aisha."
No matter how much her personality or even gender has changed, her core hasn't. She's not the kind of person who would deceive someone with petty lies.
"I'll head over tomorrow, then. Where are you?"
"Heaven's Arena. If you give my name at reception, they'll tell you the room number."
"Alrighty~ See you soon!"
And with that, I ended the call with Aisha.
Hehe, this is getting interesting. I didn't have anything to do anyway—this should be a nice way to pass the time. And if Aisha is teaching Nen, then this disciple might have considerable potential.
I hope they're an unpolished gem worth refining~ And if they're handsome, even better! If it's a girl, that'd be a bit disappointing though.
Still… it's such a hassle having to avoid saying "Nen" out loud and speaking in vague terms just in case of wiretapping. I doubt it would be a problem even if someone heard, but there's no need to hand information to ignorant fools.
Especially if anyone found out that Aisha is Ryushou—it would be more than just troublesome.
Well then! I'd better prepare for tomorrow. Let's see what I need to bring—
As I was organizing my things, my eyes landed on a camera.
Hmm… if I do this with it… I could sell that to Riina! If it goes well, I might even cancel out my bet.
Needless to say, I immediately stuffed the camera into my bag.
◆
Ugh! A chill—!
Right after finishing my call with Bisky, a shiver ran down my spine… Whenever I get this kind of chill, it's usually a sign that something unpleasant is about to happen. Bad premonitions have an annoying habit of being right…
I still haven't recovered the Black Book—and worse, if I think about the possibility that it's spreading even further… The only silver lining… or perhaps an even deeper despair, is the chance that that person might be the one who obtained the Black Book.
According to Kastro-san's testimony, the young man who was given the Black History was about 190 cm tall, with short black hair styled slightly upward, wearing a suit and black sunglasses. No matter how you look at it, that's Leorio. Thank you very much.
…If he weren't a Pro Hunter, it could have been someone else. But a Pro Hunter who doesn't know Nen—meaning someone who passed the exam this year—and who fits that description? There's no one but Leorio. I mean, if you knew that much, why didn't you ask his name?
If Leorio has it, and he's supposed to reunite with everyone in Yorknew in September, then maybe I can get the Black History back from him there. That would be a relief—but…
There's no doubt he's already read it! Having a friend read that is way worse than a complete stranger reading it!! Ugh, despair envelops me. And if Leorio ended up acquiring some kind of ability because of it… Gah, just imagining it makes me dizzy!
No good. Thinking about it now won't change anything—it'll just depress me. Better not to think about it at all. Since I can't leave this place for a while anyway, the only chance to meet Leorio is Yorknew. Until then, I should focus on Kurapika's training—and my own.
That said, Kurapika has already moved on to chain conjuration, so there's not much I can help with directly. Conjuration requires tremendous concentration. If I interrupt with advice, it'll probably backfire. I've already taught him the necessary training methods—now all I can do is lend a hand if he asks for help.
I've already made a contract with Bisky and called her over, but even if she comes now, she might not be able to help much with Kurapika's training yet. Once conjuration training starts, it's best to focus on that alone. At most, she could help with Ten and Ren. Still, there's no harm in calling her early. There's little time loss, and knowing Kurapika, he'll probably manage conjuration in less than a month.
The real issue is restrictions and vows. I've explained those in general, but I haven't instructed him on what kind to choose. That's something he should decide himself—being told by others isn't ideal. The effect will be stronger if he makes the decision with his own resolve.
In that sense, I don't really recommend recreating the Nen abilities written in the Black—ugh, let's just call it the Black Book. Still, if he only uses it as reference, or adapts it with his own resolve and restrictions, that might be different.
What kind of restrictions and vows is Kurapika planning?
…What worries me is the dark, resolute aura I felt when I explained vows and restrictions to him before. When I spoke to him, it dispersed immediately. But still…
I don't like meddling in other people's abilities—but given the circumstances, I should check with him once.
.
Kurapika seems to be in his room. He's probably immersed in conjuration training. Has he already decided on his vow? I hope it's not something too heavy.
"Kurapika, excuse me. How's your training—"
I open the door and step inside. And there I see—
"Hm. So this is how it feels to bite a chain… Next, I should check how it tastes… Hm? Aisha—what are you—"
Thud.
…Look, I know. I know that's part of conjuration training. I'm the one who taught him, after all.
But watching Kurapika slowly lick a chain while saying "I'll check the taste next" was… a bit—no, quite hard to endure. I'd like to believe I'm not at fault for reflexively closing the door.
"Aisha, what was that about? Didn't you have something you wanted to talk about?"
"Ah—no, sorry. Something was on my mind. …I'll come in."
I collect myself and enter again.
This time… it's fine. He's holding the chain, but not doing anything strange.
"Sorry for interrupting your training. How's your progress?"
"No need to worry. Progress… well, there's still a long way to go. Conjuration really is difficult."
"That's to be expected. Conjuration-type abilities probably take the longest to manifest. On the plus side, once they do, they're extremely convenient—you can summon and dismiss them freely."
You can conjure weapons with empty hands, hide them with In, and often imbue them with special abilities. A skilled Conjurer is a real headache to deal with.
"—But I didn't come here to lecture. …I came because there's something I want to confirm with you."
"…Something to confirm?"
Kurapika looks puzzled. He's probably wondering what there is left to ask at this point.
"Yes. …Have you already thought about your ability?"
"…Yes. As I work on conjuring the chains, I've given some thought to what abilities to give them."
As expected of Kurapika—sharp as ever. The real question is what abilities, and what kind of vows he's planning.
"…Normally, you don't tell others about your ability. You understand the risks of your Nen being known, right? I haven't even told you my own ability. …But knowing that, I still want to ask. What abilities do you intend to give the chains?"
Even between master and disciple, it's not unusual not to know each other's abilities. That's how great the risk is. Of course, there are exceptions—abilities like Hisoka's don't lose much even if known. Still, knowing versus not knowing makes a huge difference.
"…I plan to conjure five chains. One for each finger of my right hand. As for their shape—this drawing will explain it faster."
He shows me a sheet of drawing paper. Many more are scattered across the floor—he must've been sketching chains to strengthen the image. The drawing shows chains extending from rings on each finger of his right hand.
I see—he already has the finished form in mind. What remains is the content of the abilities—the vows.
"I'm thinking of giving each of the five a different ability, but I haven't decided on all of them yet. Some will only be usable when I activate Emperor Time."
"I see—Emperor Time. …So you've already decided on some abilities, then?"
Emperor Time, huh. What an absurdly powerful ability.
A Nen ability that activates only when his eyes turn scarlet and he becomes a Specialist. Tests show that while his Scarlet Eyes are active, he can draw out 100% proficiency in every Nen category.
Frankly, it borders on the impossible. Even if Kurapika is weak at Enhancement, Emperor Time lets him use Enhancement at full power. The more he trains, the more terrifying it becomes—enhanced physical strength, conjured chains imbued with abilities, manipulated, emitted, transformed…
That's just scary.
"…Alright. I'll tell you. Aisha, you can be stubborn in surprising ways."
While I was thinking about Emperor Time, Kurapika spoke—apparently misreading my silence.
"Stubborn" is rude, you know. I'm just worried about you. But fine—this works.
"…The ability I'm considering is forcing a captured target into Zetsu."
What—! Forcing someone into Zetsu!?
That's… undeniably powerful. A Nen user cut off from aura is like a fish stranded on land.
Well, they can still fight to some extent, so it's not a perfect analogy—but either way, their chances of winning drop to zero. However…
"To realize that, you'd need to impose an extremely high-risk rule. What about that?"
"…My goal is to retrieve my comrades' eyes and capture the Spiders. This ability will only be used on the Phantom Troupe."
"That… as a restriction, that's acceptable. But that alone is a bit weak. Even if you can force Zetsu, the chain's durability won't be that great. Against some opponents, it could be torn apart."
"Yes. That's just a prerequisite. I've already decided on the vow for breaking it."
From Kurapika, a wave of grim resolve spills out.
"…You're staking your life."
"! …Are you serious?"
I already know the answer. He's not the kind of person to joke or lie about something like this.
But part of me still wishes it were a lie.
"Of course."
…I knew it. Not a hint of hesitation. That aura—he's already resolved himself. But I can't accept that!
"Unable to use it on anyone but the Troupe, and if you do, you die. That would make the conjured chain terrifyingly powerful—devastating against the Phantom Troupe. But—!"
"I DON'T THINK I CAN WIN OTHERWISE!!"
Kurapika's shout cuts through my words. To see him this emotional…
"You saw Hisoka's power too, Aisha. He's far stronger than I am. Even if it's a pretense, he's part of the Troupe. That means the others are at least close to his level. There are twelve of them—staking my life is the minimum if I want to win!"
The words are wrung from him like blood. And… he's not entirely wrong.
Hisoka is likely among the stronger members of the Troupe. If he were weak, there'd be no need to seek out the leader. And the others can't be drastically weaker either.
After watching Hisoka versus Kastro, it's no wonder Kurapika feels desperate.
"…I'm sorry. I got carried away."
"No—it's understandable. And I can see why you'd think of that vow."
"Then—"
Relief flickers across Kurapika's face at my initial agreement.
But—
"—I still won't allow that rule."
"Why!?"
"As I said, it would be overwhelmingly effective against the Troupe. …But it's far too double-edged."
"That's…"
"If the Troupe ever learns the details of your ability, they can counter it easily. Even with careful planning, even if you face them one-on-one, Nen is unpredictable. And what if another enemy is present?"
"Even so… to beat them—"
"—I'll make you strong."
"!?"
"I'll make you strong enough to beat them without staking your life! Then there's no need to create an ability that risks your life. That's obvious, isn't it?"
Kurapika is left speechless. Right now, imagining himself beating Hisoka is impossible for him.
"You have the talent—and the Specialist ability Emperor Time. With those, it's not impossible."
"…Are you serious?"
He throws my own words back at me.
"Of course."
I'll make Kurapika strong. Strong enough to win even if there were twelve Hisokas.
I alone don't have enough time. Technique I can teach—but extending Ren's duration is hard even for me. But with Bisky's help…
No—more than that. We'll go to the Kazama Style headquarters and enlist Riina's help. He needs real combat experience against Nen users. Heaven's Arena alone won't be enough.
"…Can I really become strong enough to beat the Troupe without risking my life?"
"Of course. Every battle risks your life—that's a given. Beating the entire Troupe at once is unrealistic, but that's true even with a life-risking ability. If you plan carefully and avoid being outnumbered, you can win. You will win. That's how extraordinary your talent is."
I've watched Nen users grow for a long time, and very few match Kurapika, Gon, and Killua. If trained thoroughly, he could become one of the world's finest.
"But there are thirteen of them—or twelve if you exclude Hisoka. How do I isolate them and force one-on-one fights…?"
"You don't have to do everything alone. I'm here, aren't I? And not just me—you have reliable companions."
"That's—! Impossible… This is my revenge. I can't involve others—"
"They're not 'others.' We're comrades. Friends! What's wrong with helping a friend?"
"B-But—"
"Even if you try to stop us, it won't matter. I'll do it anyway. And Gon and the others would say the same."
Saying that with a smile leaves Kurapika at a loss for words. Dragging Gon and the others into this weighs on me too—but those two will grow fast. In two years, even if they don't reach Hisoka's level, they won't be far behind.
"…You're serious. …Alright, Aisha. I won't create an ability that risks my life. In return—make me as strong as possible."
"Yes! Of course!"
Thank goodness… I'm really glad he reconsidered.
Honestly, thinking up such a reckless ability—bad for my heart. What a troublesome disciple.
"Then first, let's finish conjuring the chains. That's something even I can't speed up—it depends on you."
"Understood. I'll rethink the abilities carefully and then return to conjuration."
"…No reckless vows, okay?"
"Haha, I know."
He seems sincere. Kurapika keeps his promises. Now all that's left is training.
"But there's one thing I want to confirm, Aisha."
"Huh? Confirm what?"
"…I want to know your true strength."
"…I see."
So it finally came to this. Kurapika has never once seen my Nen. No Ten, nothing. Of course he'd wonder.
Thanks to Angel's Veil, even when I train, all others can see is aura leaking out. There's no way he could judge my strength.
"You're clearly stronger than me. But I don't know if you're stronger than Hisoka. Strength alone doesn't make a good teacher—but it does help."
"…True. No matter how good your theory or teaching is, there are things you can't teach if you're not strong. …I always thought I'd explain someday. Perhaps that time is now."
I steel myself. After rejecting his resolve, it's only fair.
"Alright. I'll show you my strength. But not here."
"…Why not? You're just showing aura, right?"
"Aura quantity doesn't equal strength. Superior technique can overturn an aura disadvantage. And more importantly, there's a reason I can't release my aura here."
If I cancel Angel's Veil here, that pervert will definitely show up. He won't shrink from my aura—he'd come running, delighted.
Worse, countless Nen users would sense it. If I went all out, it could turn into absolute chaos.
"…I don't know what you're worried about, but I understand. Let's change locations."
"Is there a wide area nearby with no one around? Ideally, somewhere with no people within several dozen kilometers."
"There's a vast mountain range about 120 km east of here. No one goes there—but do you really need to be that careful?"
"Yes. You never know who might be watching."
◆
Together with Aisha, I ran eastward from Heaven's Arena.
I suggested renting a car, but she said it would count as training if we ran instead. On top of that, she added the condition that I must not neglect Gyo the entire time.
I can use Gyo now, but maintaining it continuously while running—especially over such a long distance—is honestly exhausting. Still, when I mentioned that to Aisha, she simply replied, "If it isn't hard, it isn't training."
…
After hearing Aisha out, I decided to abandon the idea of creating an ability that risked my life. She was right—if I became stronger than them, there would be no need for such a dangerous ability in the first place. I must have been panicking. After witnessing Hisoka's strength, I'd started thinking, Can I really defeat the Phantom Troupe?
But there was no need to win right away. I could first build up my fundamentals and surpass them later. During my training, I should focus on searching for my comrades' eyes without rushing.
I had been so consumed by revenge, chasing only what was right in front of me.
I really should thank Aisha.
Normally, that would have been the end of it—but there was something that had been bothering me for a long time.
Aisha's true strength.
I knew she was stronger than me. But was she stronger than Hisoka?
It wasn't that I would be dissatisfied with her as a teacher even if she were weaker than Hisoka, but ever since I awakened to Nen, I had never once seen Aisha's aura. That mystery only deepened my doubts.
I wanted to see just how strong she really was.
I assumed there had to be some reason why Aisha never showed me her aura, so I buried the question deep in my heart. But after today's discussion, that doubt had resurfaced.
I had planned to wait until Aisha explained it herself, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I blurted it out. I do feel bad about it—but I'll make it up to her in some other way.
For now, I should focus on Gyo… ah—my breathing is getting pretty rough.
"Haah… haah!"
"Kurapika, are you all right?"
"Yeah! Hah—hah—no problem!"
Damn it! I didn't expect we'd cross an entire mountain and come all the way to a deserted valley with absolutely no one around! The distance was about 150 kilometers, but running at a steady pace through mountainous terrain with constant elevation changes is brutal. If I hadn't been using Gyo, it probably wouldn't have been a problem, but…
For now, I should use Zetsu and recover as much stamina as I can.
"We should be fine here. There were no pursuers, and the nearest settlement is quite far away."
"Whew… You're thorough."
"We can't allow anyone to see this."
…Isn't this a bit too cautious? I can't imagine needing this much care just to show one's aura.
If she's planning to reveal some kind of ability, maybe it's one with a fatal weakness if others find out. If that's the case, her caution would make sense.
"First, I'll explain my ability. …Needless to say, this stays between us, all right?"
At those words, I swallowed instinctively. The only abilities I had directly witnessed were Hisoka's elastic, adhesive aura and Kastro's Evil King Flame Destruction Fist and its applications. Aisha had told me about many abilities as references for the future, but hearing about them was one thing—experiencing them firsthand was another.
So, what kind of ability does Aisha possess? I was excited… and a little afraid.
"My ability is called Angel's Veil. Its effect is to make my aura unrecognizable to others."
"…Huh?"
"Wait, what? You're saying that when it's active, I can't see your aura with my eyes or feel it on my skin?"
What kind of absurd ability is that? If you can't see aura, how are you supposed to defend against attacks?
"Yes, that's correct. I'm actually using Ten right now, you know? But because Angel's Veil is active, it only feels like harmless, leaking aura to you."
"Then all this time, it's not that you weren't using Ten…"
"Yes. Just as you think. I've been using Angel's Veil this whole time. While you were training, I was also extending my Ren duration and practicing Ryu."
…That's insane.
It has to be a Specialist ability—there's no other possibility. What kind of rules would you even need to create something like that?
"Now then, I'll deactivate Angel's Veil."
Huh? What is this… fear? Is Aisha scared? Why would she be afraid—!?
Th-this is—!? What an aura! It's nearly as ominous as the aura Hisoka showed during his fight with Kastro! I actually stepped back without realizing it!
They say aura reflects one's emotions and inner self, but how could Aisha give off something like this?
"This is my aura. …Surprised?"
"…Honestly, yes. This is… what does it mean?"
Even now, I could see fear and anxiety on Aisha's face. And yet her aura was the complete opposite—almost as if it were radiating terror itself. If emotions manifest in aura, then this made no sense.
Or… could it be that Aisha was actually as insane as Hisoka?
…No, that seems unlikely.
"…I can't explain the details, but my aura is always this abnormal and ominous. Even just using Ten makes ordinary people afraid, so I usually have to stay in Zetsu or use Angel's Veil."
"So that means… this aura doesn't carry your will?"
"Exactly."
I see… If that's the case, then wouldn't it become even more terrifying if negative emotions were added? If she infused it with killing intent, she might defeat enemies just by existing.
"…I'm sorry for keeping this from you."
"Don't worry about it. Everyone has things they don't want to talk about."
"But…"
The fear Aisha showed earlier was probably because she was afraid I would reject her—that once I knew her aura, I would fear her and leave.
She may have experienced that before. People close to her leaving the moment they learned the truth.
"I was surprised, sure—but that's all. There's nothing to worry about."
So I'll accept it. If something like this scares me, then capturing the Phantom Troupe is nothing but a fantasy! More than anything, I can't betray a companion.
With that resolve, I stepped closer to Aisha—farther forward than the step I'd taken back earlier.
"Kurapika…"
"Well then, there's no need to hide your aura from me anymore. Training should go more smoothly now, don't you think?"
In fact, there are plenty of exercises that can't be done if her aura is hidden—reading aura quantity, seeing through In, discerning aura concentrated through Gyo, and more.
"…Thank you."
"No, I should be the one thanking you."
She showed me her secret ability and aura because she trusted me. Trust must be repaid with trust—that's only natural.
"Hehe. Then, I'll show you a part of my true strength."
"Hm? Ah, right—that was the main point."
Honestly, the impact of Angel's Veil and her aura had made me forget.
But how exactly would she demonstrate her strength? Would she shatter a massive boulder like before? Back then, I hadn't awakened to Nen, so I had no idea how much aura was involved. I was curious.
"You should stand a bit farther back. It's dangerous."
I stepped back as instructed. Was she going to destroy something? There weren't any convenient rocks nearby—maybe the ground? Or the cliff face?
As I turned over these thoughts, I arrived at one particular question.
Considering Angel's Veil, Aisha must be a Specialist. Unlike other types, Specialist abilities can only be created by those who naturally excel in that category.
Even after becoming a Specialist, I can still return to my original affinity—Conjuration… or rather, it's more accurate to say I can temporarily become a Specialist. Normally, once someone changes into a Specialist, they remain one for life.
From what Aisha told me—that my case is rare—it's likely she can't return to her original category either.
Which means… since Aisha is a Specialist, Enhancement—strengthening the body—should be her weakest category.
When I reached that conclusion, I recalled her shattering the massive boulder back then.
…Isn't that a blatant contradiction? Could such a feat really be done using one's weakest category? Or is Aisha like me, able to draw out 100% efficiency from all categories?
But judging from how shocked she was when she learned about my ability, that didn't seem likely.
As if dismissing my doubts entirely, the answer came from Aisha herself.
"Here I go. …'Ren.'"
Just one word.
The instant she whispered it, aura overflowed from Aisha.
Before I knew it, I was on my hands and knees. My mouth hung half-open like an idiot—anyone watching would've seen a truly pathetic sight.
Far greater than Kastro's—no, clearly surpassing even Hisoka's aura quantity! And to think a woman younger than me was emitting it…
Ah, now I get it. With that much aura, even a Specialist could easily smash one or two massive boulders.
"…Hello? Kurapika, can you hear me?"
"—!? Ah, yeah. Sorry… I think I blanked out for a moment…"
She had been speaking to me, but the spectacle had completely stolen my senses.
"…How did you get that much aura… at your age…"
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you that yet. …Could you wait a little longer? Someday—someday, I promise I'll tell you."
Whatever she's hiding must be deeply important to her. She said she'd tell me someday. Until then, waiting is only polite.
"All right, Aisha."
"I'm sorry. …So, what should we do? If you want, I can show you a bit more of my strength."
"No, there's no clearer demonstration than that. It's more than enough."
Aura quantity doesn't automatically equal strength—but after seeing something like that, it's a different story. No matter what I did, I couldn't harm Aisha in my current state. No matter how much technique an ant masters, it can't defeat a lion. Challenging Aisha now would be exactly that.
And that's not even considering that her technique is superior too.
"…If you say so."
—Is it really okay not to show my full power?—
I heard a mutter carried by the wind, but I'll assume it was just my imagination. No—please let it be my imagination.
"Then it seems you're satisfied, Kurapika. You believe now that I'm qualified to be your teacher?"
"Oh, right—that was the pretext, wasn't it?"
I'd never actually been dissatisfied with her as a teacher. That was mostly just an excuse to learn about her strength.
"Of course. I'll be counting on you to be strict with me."
"Yes. I'll train you thoroughly. I've even called in a special instructor, so look forward to it."
"A special instructor? Who is it?"
"Someone you don't know. In any case, we're done here—let's head back to Heaven's Arena. You need to focus on conjuring your chains."
With that, Aisha let her aura leak freely again. The ominous feeling was gone—she must have activated Angel's Veil. It really is a convenient ability.
Now then… we'll probably be running back while using Gyo again. I'm more exhausted than before, both physically and in terms of aura. I'll need to stay sharp so I don't collapse on the way.
◆
Eight days after accepting Aisha's request, we finally arrived at Heavens Arena. Honestly, couldn't airships move a little faster? Traveling through the sky isn't bad, but it takes way too long.
Well then, for now I'll head over to Aisha's place—huh…?
"So then, on which floor and in which room is the fool called Kastro staying?"
"Y-Yes! U-Um, K-Kastro is on the 223rd floor—"
"Would you mind speaking more clearly? You're wasting time. I am in a hurry."
"Eek!? M-My apologies!!"
"U-Um, Riina-sama? Th-The receptionist seems a little frightened, so…"
"Frightened? I'm merely asking a question. Where is the industrial waste named Kastro, a 200th-floor fighter of Heavens Arena? If you cannot even answer something so simple, are you truly fulfilling your duties as a receptionist?"
"W-We're sorry!!"
…What are you doing, Riina? Why are you and Shion here? Don't tell me she knows Aisha is at Heavens Arena? But it sounds like she came looking for someone named Kastro. And she seems to be harboring some serious hostility toward him.
And wow… her aura is leaking everywhere. No wonder the receptionist can't speak properly.
Even the tough-looking fighters who came to compete are backing away. The space around the reception desk is practically floating in isolation.
Sigh. Riina really needs a brake pedal.
"So, once more I ask—"
"—Okay, okay, stooop."
"!? Bisky? Why are you here?"
"That's my line. Anyway, we're leaving. Now."
"W-Wait! What are you doing!? I'm not finished yet! Hey! L-Let go!"
"We're so sorry! Riina-sama didn't mean to cause trouble!"
"N-No! It's my fault for being worse than garbage and failing at my job!"
Ahh… and just like that, one woman's personality has been warped.
This rampaging old lady needs a good scolding!
.
"So. …What exactly are you doing?"
For now, we went into a restaurant inside the tower so we could talk calmly.
If she drinks something and cools down, maybe Riina will realize what she just did.
"Bisky, I do not have the luxury of idling about."
"Idling? That girl at reception was seriously crying, you know? I don't know what happened, but that was immature."
"…You're right. I owe her an apology. I will do so later. However, I truly have a reason to be in a hurry."
"? What happened?"
Riina is normally calm and composed, never losing her cool—whether in private or in battle.
There's only one exception: when Master Ryushou is involved. The moment even a trace of Master Ryushou enters the picture, her COOL logs out and KOOL logs in.
So this must be related to Master Ryushou—in other words, Aisha? Though I doubt she knows Aisha is here.
"I'll explain, Bisky-sama. …We've located the Black Book."
"!? What did you say!? Is that true?"
The Black Book, which had been missing all this time, was found!?
…Well, that explains Riina's outburst. She thinks the Black Book being stolen was her own failure. She probably believes she has no face to show her beloved mentor if she doesn't recover it.
Even though it wasn't really her fault.
"Yes. Apparently, a 200th-floor fighter named Trashgarbage is in possession of it. He publicly stated he owns the Black Book in front of a large audience."
"T-Trashgarbage?"
"Riina-sama, it's Kastro. Kastro."
"Ah yes, that as well. Essentially the same thing."
They are absolutely not the same.
She's really losing it.
Kastro's a 200th-floor fighter, so he can use Nen—but even so, he's probably in over his head. I hope he's not here. If he is… well, may he rest in peace.
"Anyway, I get why Riina's here—but what about you, Shion? Just tagging along?"
"Ah, n-no, I…"
"She insisted on coming when she heard I was going to Heavens Arena. I believe I understand why."
…? What does that mean?
So Shion didn't come to accompany Riina—she came because she wanted to come to Heavens Arena?
Meaning there's someone here she wants to see…?
"…Is Wing here?"
"H-How did you know!?"
You're way too easy to read.
What does she see in that timid, dense, sloppy man?
But I see… Wing's here.
Because of him, I ended up taking a huge loss before. I was thinking I'd give him a couple good punches next time I saw him anyway.
Perfect. Time to tighten him up again.
"Speaking of Wing… he finally realized Shion is a woman, right?"
"Y-Yes… I can't believe he thought I was a man…"
No, no. Wing's dense, sure—but you share some blame. You change your speech around him, refuse to wear women's clothes because you're embarrassed to show skin, and as for your chest… ugh. I can't even think about it.
"Were you thinking something rude just now?"
"Your imagination. Anyway, did you forgive Wing? He misunderstood your gender for over ten years."
"Of course I did! It's Wing! That kind of misunderstanding is understandable!"
"As his teacher, I feel like crying."
What a devoted girl… wasted on Wing. If only she didn't have that condition.
"So? Now that Wing sees you as a woman, any progress?"
"Yes! We're getting married!"
"…I'm sorry, what?"
What? It's like the entire process was skipped and we jumped straight to marriage.
W-Wait. Is this some new Nen ability!?
Stay calm! A refined beauty does not panic!
"S-So? How did that happen?"
"Um… W-Wing said he'd take responsibility! Kyaa! So embarrassing! Oh—just remembering makes my nose—2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17—"
There it is. That condition again.
Apparently she learned the prime-number trick from Master Ryushou. Why does counting primes calm her down? I'll never understand.
But more importantly—
"Responsibility… Don't tell me!?"
"…That seems to be the case. Even Shion has surpassed you now, Bisky."
"S-Shut up! There just aren't any good men around me!"
Unbelievable! Shion crossing that line with Wing…
And now I'm the only one here without a partner. Even Riina had a husband—may he rest in peace—and has children and grandchildren.
Ugh! Isn't there a rich, strong, kind, broad-minded, handsome man somewhere who'd do everything I say?
No opportunities at all…
"Anyway, setting aside the Black Book—are you really okay leaving successor training unattended?"
"For now, Shion is a successor candidate. It's not finalized, as I haven't evaluated the promising ones at the branches yet."
"Seriously? Shion? She's talented and hardworking, sure—but isn't she too young? Wouldn't people complain?"
"I understand your concern. But strength and age are unrelated. If one is strong in both mind and body, youth is irrelevant. …To prove that, I had Shion fight one hundred disciples consecutively."
"You're a demon, Riina. I'm surprised she didn't break."
"I'm fine! I nearly collapsed many times, but whenever I imagined Wing, strength welled up inside me!"
"Are you picking a fight with Nen logic itself?"
No matter how emotion affects Nen, there's a limit!
"…It was strange," Riina muttered. "Her aura nearly depleted several times, yet each time it recovered somewhat… Shion, you didn't create some strange Nen ability, did you?"
"N-No, of course not! I would never secretly create a Nen ability without telling Riina-sama!"
"You're way too suspicious."
She definitely made something.
"In any case, how did you even become a successor candidate? Didn't you avoid becoming assistant master because you hated that sort of thing?"
"…Riina-sama made me fight a hundred disciples without explaining anything… She said if I won, she'd allow me to marry Wing… So I fought and won… and then everyone acknowledged me as a successor candidate…"
"So she boxed you in. Typical Riina. Ruthless as ever."
"How rude. I allowed my beloved disciple over ten years of freedom for love. If anything, I deserve to be called a goddess of compassion."
If you're a goddess of compassion, then Chairman Netero is a Buddha.
"So what about you, Bisky? Why are you here?"
"Well~ Heavens Arena is a sacred place for men who've trained their bodies, right? I was bored, so I thought maybe I'd find a hidden gem of a good man~"
If I mention Aisha, Riina will absolutely latch on. Better dodge the topic. If she comes near Aisha, I can already see jealousy interfering with training.
"Hm… That does sound like you."
"What's that supposed to mean!? Unlike you, my spring hasn't arrived yet!"
She's suspicious. Better act angry to sell it.
"Well, good luck. If you weren't so picky, you'd have married once or twice by now."
"Shut up! The moment they see my other form, they run!"
Why does my body reflect my training so directly!? I should've studied Kazama-ryu instead of Shingen-ryu! Then I'd be tall and elegant!
"…Someday, you'll meet someone who says they like you as you are."
"I don't want generic encouragement. I want a conveniently perfect handsome man."
"Anyway, let's wrap this up. We must visit the trash."
"Riina-sama, Kastro."
"No meaningful difference."
"There's a huge difference. And he didn't steal the Black Book, right? He just bought it off the black market?"
"Let's go, Shion."
She's not listening at all.
Sigh… I guess I have to go with them. Shion won't be able to stop her.
"So this is the room where the creepy nerd lives."
"That name's drifted pretty far from the original."
"It's Kastro, Riina-sama~"
We reconfirmed his room at reception—after making Riina properly apologize.
"Names are irrelevant. Let us proceed."
"At least knock. You came to negotiate, right?"
"…Very well. If he yields it willingly, that is preferable."
Was she planning to take it by force!?
"Ah… I'm glad Bisky-sama is here…"
"You've got it rough, huh?"
"…Riina-sama is wonderful—unless Ryushou-sama is involved…"
Right, Shion doesn't know about Aisha yet.
"Excuse me, is there someone here named Black Book—"
"Kastro."
"—Kastro?"
You want it so badly you're calling him Black Book!?
"Yes, I am Kastro. What do you want?"
"May we come in?"
"…I'll say this first—I won't hand over the Black Book. Lately, many people have come asking—"
—SMASH!—
The door died permanently with a grotesque sound.
The moment Kastro refused, Riina exploded. She refined her aura instantly and tore the door apart.
"Y-You! What are you doing!?"
"…Would you kindly explain in detail?"
"Riina, calm down!"
"I am calm. I merely wish to talk. Very politely."
"That's not calm at all!"
"G-Good luck, Bisky-sama~"
Hey! Shion's already retreating toward the elevator!
She left this to me! I'll remember this!
"Don't underestimate a 200th-floor fighter!"
Don't add 'you people'! There's only one of her!
"You have only one choice. Return the Black Book willingly. You may enjoy the rest of your life, and we will compensate you appropriately. But if you refuse—"
Riina's aura surged.
Ah… if she hits him with that aura, this Kastro guy's—
"Hmph! What an aura! But I will not go down without a fight!"
…Oh?
That's a good aura.
He's pressured, but not broken. His fighting spirit hasn't wavered.
His face… acceptable. Body well-trained. As a fighter here, he probably has decent money.
…Is this—
A chance?
◆
"Please stop, Riina-sama! That's rude to Kastro! And besides—he's injured, isn't he? Please don't do anything violent!"
"—!? Ah—what are you suddenly doing… I see. So that's how it is."
All of a sudden, Bisky stepped in front of Kastro, speaking in a syrupy, cat-like voice as if to shield him. It was so abrupt I thought she'd finally lost it… but no—apparently she decided to play the nice girl in front of Kastro.
…Well, if I calm down and observe him properly, this man named Kastro does have slightly droopy eyes but handsome features, and his aura is well-trained. He also has the guts to stand up to me directly… I suppose Bisky judged that he has high potential.
Good grief. Even so, changing her personality this drastically is bound to backfire eventually—she'll slip up and everything will fall apart.
Still, thanks to her bizarre behavior, I managed to cool down a little.
"W-who are you…?"
"Are you alright, Kastro? My name is Bisky. This woman is a friend of mine, but she can be rather impulsive, so she acted rashly just now… She's not a bad person. Please—please forgive her."
T-this woman! She's painting me as the villain while presenting herself as a kind-hearted lady protecting her friend!
Tch! It's true I acted roughly in the heat of the moment—I can't exactly argue back… Very well. I'll spare Bisky some face this time.
"My apologies. I let my excitement get the better of me. I will cover the full cost of the door, so please don't worry."
I suppress my aura and respond calmly. That said, I have no intention of yielding when it comes to the Black Book.
"Well… if you're apologizing, then I don't really mind, but…"
"Thank you. Now, regarding the Black Book—"
"Ah, so that's what this is about. I'm sorry, but I already gave the Black Book to someone else—"
"…What did you say?"
"Riina-sama!"
Ah—there it goes again. I released my aura once more. Unacceptable. A martial artist must always remain calm. And yet, whenever Master is involved, it becomes terribly difficult to restrain myself.
"…Could you explain in more detail?"
"O-okay. It happened about—"
――The young man explains――
"—And that's why. Do you understand now why I can't give you the Black Book?"
Damn it! So it's already fallen into someone else's hands!
Still, this is valuable information. Compared to having no leads at all, this is night and day.
Next, we just need to get the name and description of the person he handed the Black Book to, use that as a foothold, and expand the search—
…No. There's something I must confirm first.
"Kastro, I have one question for you."
"What is it now?"
"…The Black Book you had—what language was it written in?"
"Ah—! Now that you mention it…"
So even Bisky remembered. Yes—the Black Book actually—
"? It was written in the common language."
—! So it was that one…
In that case, even if we chase the current holder… no, we should still retrieve it. We cannot allow the knowledge Master left behind to spread aimlessly throughout the world.
"I see. I don't know why you asked that, but I have a question of my own."
"That's fair. It would be rude for us to ask unilaterally. If it's something I can answer, I will."
"Yes. …Your name is Riina, correct? Could you be Riina Rockbelt?"
"Yes, that's correct. Do you know me?"
"Just as I thought! …Ah, perhaps this too is fate. …Riina-sama!!"
Suddenly, Kastro straightened his posture and bowed deeply before me.
What is he planning—
"Please—will you teach me Nen!"
"I refuse."
Honestly—what nonsense.
I have no time to waste on trivial matters like that. I must find a successor and train them thoroughly into a worthy heir.
Unless they are of the Kazama school, I simply don't have the leeway to teach Nen to outsiders.
"P-please, I beg you!"
"You're persistent. I don't have that kind of time. If you want a Nen teacher, ask Bisky over there. She's also one of the strongest in the world."
In fact, when it comes to Nen instruction, she might even surpass me. Especially her shortened Ken training using aura recovery through Magical Esthetician—that's guidance no one else can provide.
Bisky flashes me a grin and gives a thumbs-up, as if to say Nice one! Honestly—what a troublesome girl. Still, helping your little sister's love life is part of being an older sister, I suppose.
"H-how unfortunate. I had hoped to learn from Riina-sama herself—the foremost disciple of the great warrior Ryusho Kazama, and the one who embodies his teachings more than anyone else alive—"
"—Very well. I will accept you as my disciple."
"…Eh?"
"W-wait, Riina!?"
That face of hers is screaming This isn't what we agreed on!
But Bisky—what agreement are you talking about? I don't recall making any promises with you.
When I signal that with my eyes, Bisky twists her face in frustration. Oh my—looks like the cat's been cornered.
"R-really!?"
"Yes. I've changed my mind. You seem to have considerable potential."
"Th-thank you very much!!"
Fufu… it's been a while since I've seen Bisky look this annoyed. There's something delightfully shiver-inducing about it.
"T-that's wonderful, Kastro."
"Yes. Thank you, Bisky."
Hmph—trying to raise your favorability score, are you?
She smiles sweetly at Kastro, yet directs raw hostility at me when he's not looking.
Very well. Let's offer a compromise.
"If he becomes my disciple, that means when he comes to see me regularly… you'll be able to meet him too, you know?"
"Tch! Fine—let's go with that this time. Just make sure no one else makes a move on him."
We converse by transforming aura concealed with In into text—a useful technique for secret communication when others are nearby.
"Then for the time being, you'll accompany me on my business. I must visit Kazama-style dojos across the land. Along the way, I'll oversee your training."
"…Understood. There's no reason for me to stay in Heaven's Arena anymore. I'll go with you."
"Good. …Unfortunately, we couldn't retrieve the Black Book, so there's no reason to remain here either. Time is precious—let's depart at once. What will you do, Bisky?"
"Of course I'm coming with you!"
Well, naturally. She's an idle woman who came to Heaven's Arena hunting for handsome men.
And once she finds her target, she intends to stick close to him—
"That won't be possible, Bisky. That would be a breach of contract."
—!? T-that voice!!
I instantly turn toward the entrance of the room.
And there—
"It's been a while, you two. I never expected to run into Riina here—Bisky aside."
"Master!"
"Aisha!"
"Aisha…?"
Ah! To encounter Master in a place like this—what fortune! Truly, good deeds come back around. Master looks even more divine than usual…!
That anger-filled smile is magnificent—wait. H-huh? She's angry? Why? What did I do!?
"I sensed a strong, familiar aura and came to investigate… but why is Kastro's door in such a miserable state? If you know anything, I'd like an explanation."
"Hii!"
Ah—r-right…! I destroyed it impulsively…!
Eek! Master's smile is growing deeper!!
M-Master once said that smiling is fundamentally an aggressive act—that it originates from beasts baring their fangs!
"And Bisky. This is troubling. You made a contract, yet you're trying to break it so easily."
"N-no, Aisha! Th-this was just a momentary thing—!"
A contract? Between Master and Bisky? What could that mean?
"…Perfect timing. I was just thinking it was time we had a proper talk about Wing and Shion's bet."
W-what!? Why does Master know about that!?
I glance at Bisky, but she shakes her head—it wasn't her. Then who!?
Ah—Master is here. And Wing and Shion are here too…
W-what atrocious luck!
E-even her speech has reverted to how she used to talk… She must be genuinely furious.
"Now then—explain yourselves."
Despair closed in around us.
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