"Riina, thank you for everything during this time."
Today, at last, we part ways with Kazama-ryuu for a while. There's still a little time left before September, but considering the travel time to Yorknew, we probably need to depart around today. If we're too late, we might keep Leorio-san waiting.
It's been a long time since I last saw Leorio-san—over half a year. I wonder how he's been?
"Please, there is no need for such words! If it's… Aisha-san, you may stay as long as you wish with absolutely no issue! …Of course, that applies to your disciples as well. Thanks to you all, our dojo has grown livelier. Sparring with outsiders from time to time truly sharpens both body and spirit. Thank you very much."
"No, it is we who gained invaluable experience here at Kazama-ryuu. The thanks should come from us. Riina-dono, we are truly grateful."
"Thank you very much!"
Mm-hmm. I'm glad to see the tension between Kurapika and Riina has mostly faded. Well… it wasn't really mutual tension—Riina had been the one who disliked Kurapika one-sidedly.
I'm not sure what happened, but it seems Riina's sharp edges have softened. I've even seen her give Kurapika proper advice a few times. …At first, all she did was hurl insults and sarcasm at him.
"Hey, Aisha. I know I don't have the right to say this now that our contract's over… but let me say it anyway. …Aren't you going to change your clothes?"
"I refuse."
At long last—at long last—I've returned to my old, comfortable outfit! Now that the contract has ended, I no longer need to wear those cute, feminine clothes!
"Ahh, what a waste. You're definitely losing out, Aisha… Maybe I should come along with you after all?"
Biscuit is staying at the main dojo a little longer. The Greed Island player selection will apparently begin at the same venue after the September 10th Southern Peace Auction ends.
So she plans to take her time. Well, since you need to buy the Southern Peace Auction catalog to enter the venue, she probably won't head to Yorknew at the last minute. We'll need to buy a catalog too. Better not forget.
"Biscuit is right! Aisha-san should polish herself more—"
"I have polished myself enough as a martial artist."
"You've polished too much!"
That's not true. I still don't believe I can defeat Netero with certainty. Until I can achieve a perfect victory over him, I cannot afford to slack in training!
…Wait. Am I really free from Absolute Obedience / Geass?
…Lately, I'm not so confident about that.
Well, it's not like I intend to let my skills rust now anyway.
"Gon-kun, Killua-kun, this is goodbye for a while. Listen carefully to Aisha-chan and do your best, okay?"
"Shion-san! Thank you so much! You take care too, Shion-san!"
"Yeah, you stay well."
Shion and Kastro-san also came to see us off. At the main dojo, Kastro-san has already become someone highly regarded. For Riina to take someone who isn't even a Kazama-ryuu disciple as an inner student—that's unprecedented. Naturally, he stands out.
"Mm. I'll invite you all to the ceremony with Wing!"
"Thanks! I hope you get to see Wing-san soon too, Shion-san!"
"Hey, Gon! Don't say stuff like that or—"
"Ahh, Wing! It's already been 68 days and 12 hours and 32 minutes since I last saw him! I want to see Wing so badly… Even Visual Memory / Otakara Folder has its limits.
…Maybe I should create a new Nen ability? What would be good? Conjuring Wing? No, that won't work. Manipulation is too far from my affinity for perfect control, and besides, that would feel like cheating.
Maybe telepathy, at least hearing his voice. No, that's what phones are for… And just hearing his voice wouldn't be enough! Hmmm… Really, I just need to see Wing regularly. Like, 24 times a day.
Then I wouldn't have these worries. But to do that, I'd have to escape from here. And if I get caught, I'll end up like Tonpa-san… And then it'll all be over—I'll be like a prisoner trapped in a dungeon…
Wait!? A captive princess, and Wing comes to rescue me! A prince on a white horse!? N-no, calm down, me! 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17… whew."
"D-damn it, we're too late… You idiot! After dating Shion for nearly a month, you should've learned how to handle her by now! Gon! What were you even learning at Kazama-ryuu?!"
"Training in Nen! Definitely not how to handle Shion-san!"
"That's it! I'll make a teleportation ability! Emission is a bit far from my affinity, but if I limit it so I can only move to Wing's side! Then I'll just blow away the disadvantage of a weak category with my love for Wing!"
"Hey, Riina-san. Is this really your top candidate for next headmaster?"
"...Perhaps we acted a little hastily…"
Yep. Shion's in top form as usual today.
Though… I wonder about that Nen ability. I don't think Shion has a combat-type ability. Is that really okay?
Not that I can talk. I don't have a combat-oriented ability either. Angel's Veil could certainly count as one, though.
As Shion spiraled further and Killua delivered lightning-fast retorts, Kastro-san walked past them and approached me. …Though he looked slightly exhausted from watching Shion.
"Kastro-san."
"Aisha-san. I owe you greatly. I believe I am repaying that debt in my own way."
Ah… he understands my intentions. As both a martial artist and a person, he truly is admirable. One day, he will surely grow into a warrior known by all.
"I will become stronger. Stronger than anyone—stronger than Hisoka, stronger than you! So, Aisha-san… fight me again someday. And when that time comes… I swear I will not disappoint you!"
"…! Yes! I will look forward to that day!"
I can feel his unwavering resolve. The day he surpasses Hisoka may not be far off.
But that man is not stagnant either. Complacency would be fatal… though with the Kastro-san of today, I believe he will not grow arrogant again. Those strong, straightforward eyes of his leave no doubt.
Heh. It's been since Netero that I've felt this eager to fight someone.
"Everyone, I know it's hard to part, but it's time."
"That's right. Then, we depart for Yorknew!"
"Yeah!"
"Full of energy, as always."
"That's a good thing. You were worried about Aisha back then too, weren't you? Being lively is proof she's moved on, at least a little."
"I know that. But still… don't say things that remind me of that time. Did you forget the hell I went through the next day? If Riina-san hadn't seen me coming out of Aisha's room at dawn…!!"
"…Sorry. I brought it up myself, but even now I get chills thinking about it. Being alive truly is a wonderful thing…"
"What are you two doing?! We're leaving you behind!"
Alright. Time to head for Yorknew.
Farewell, Kazama-ryuu. Farewell, Armstral!
…
Next time I return here, I hope I'll be able to stand before Mother's grave again.
◆
"So this is Yorknew! Amazing—there are so many people even though it's early in the morning!"
"The Dream Auction starts today. Including tourists, it's probably more active than usual."
"We're meeting up with Leorio-san around noon, right?"
"Heh. I wonder how he'll react when he finds out we've been together this whole time except for him."
"You shouldn't say such mean things… Wait, you didn't tell Leorio-san that we're together?"
"Hm? Nah. Thought it'd be more fun this way."
"W-What are you thinking?! After the Hunter Exam, Leorio-san was worried about me when I disappeared. I told you to contact him!"
"Did you? My bad, forgot. But Aisha, you could've contacted him yourself."
"I don't know Leorio-san's phone number or home code. How exactly was I supposed to contact him…?"
"Huh? You could've just asked Killua or Kurapika for it."
"Isn't it rude to get someone's number from a third party?"
At least, that's what I think. Isn't that just common sense?
"You're too proper. Well, whatever, can't be helped this time. More importantly, Gon, you seriously need to buy a phone already. It's essential for a Hunter."
"Ah, I totally forgot."
"Even aside from being a Hunter, you should at least have one for contact purposes. It's inconvenient if something happens."
"You're right. Then can I go buy one before Leorio gets here?"
"Of course. Then let's go togeth—huh? …Wait a moment. I think Leorio-san is nearby…"
This presence… heading straight toward us. It's probably Leorio-san.
But… his footsteps are far more refined than before. What happened?
"Oh, there you are! Yo! Long time no see, you guys!"
"Leorio!!"
"Oh, he really was here."
"As expected of Aisha. To pick him out in this crowd."
"No, honestly I wasn't confident with this many people."
"—Hey! Aisha!? You're okay?! After the Hunter Exam you disappeared—I looked everywhere! I was worried!"
"I'm sorry, Leorio-san, for vanishing without a word. …And thank you for worrying about me."
"O-Oh. Well, as long as you're safe, that's what matters."
Just by looking at him, I can tell Leorio-san has grown stronger too. He's not using Ten, but even the aura naturally leaking from him is smooth and steady. He must have undergone some harsh training as well.
But I'm relieved. That reassuring atmosphere he gives off hasn't changed at all.
He's aiming to become a doctor. I'm sure Leorio-san will make a wonderful one.
"So, Aisha, what were you doing after the Hunter Exam? You didn't know about the Yorknew meetup, right?"
"Hey, Leorio. We've probably got a lot to catch up on, but let's check into the hotel first. Gon wants to buy a phone."
"Oh? Then this is my time to shine. Gon, leave it to me. I'll haggle even the newest model down to the bone."
"Really? Then I'll leave it to you, Leorio."
Leorio-san's bargaining skills were just as incredible as he claimed…
The store said the phone cost 200,000 Jenny per unit—he haggled it down to nearly half that. By the time he started negotiating down to the tens digit, the shop clerk had tears welling up in his eyes…
"…Leorio. That might've been a bit too much…"
"Really? Haggling's common sense. Money's something you should save whenever you can. If you ask me, not haggling is the real mistake."
"He's shaving off parts of his humanity to save money."
"Ahaha…"
Well, I do understand his point. There are so many people in the world suffering because they don't have money… You never know what might happen in life, so saving where you can isn't wrong.
Still… I could never imitate that level of bargaining.
"So, you guys learned Nen, right?"
"Yeah, perfectly."
"What about you, Leorio?"
"Yeah, I've got it down too."
Come to think of it, who taught Leorio-san Nen? Shingen-ryuu? Kazama-ryuu? Or…
…Huh?
…Ah!!
"L-Leorio-san!!"
"Whoa!? W-What's wrong, Aisha?"
I forgot something incredibly important!
How could I forget something so crucial?!
"Leorio-san! D-Do you have a book called the Black Book!?"
That's right! According to what Kastro-san told me, Leorio-san should have the Black Book!
Well, Kastro-san didn't mention Leorio-san by name directly—but from the story he told, the one who helped him could only have been Leorio-san!
Then this is my chance! The perfect opportunity to reclaim the Black Book and erase it from this world!
I can't let this chance slip away!
"How does Aisha know about the Black Book?"
"The Black Book? I've heard that somewhere before."
"I believe… Kastro mentioned it when he fought Hisoka at Heavens Arena."
"Please! Will you give me the Black Book!? I'll pay whatever money I have! If it's not enough, I'll earn as much as needed—please!"
"C-Calm down, Aisha! You don't need to talk about money. If it's you, I'd give you a book for free. But—"
"—R-Really!?"
"Do you have a fever? Nausea? If you're feeling sick, you should say so."
"Picking a fight, are we, Kurapika? Anyway… Aisha, listen calmly. I owe you. Giving you the Black Book for free would be nothing. But… I don't have it anymore."
"Th-That can't be…"
The world goes dark before my eyes.
I thought I could finally get it back… Yet once again, the Black Book slips away at the very last moment.
Why? Am I cursed?
"Th-Then… where is the Black Book now?"
"Yeah. Let's get to the hotel first. I'll tell you everything there. Looks like we've all got a lot we want to ask each other."
◆
After we arrived at the hotel and checked in, we gathered in Aisha's private room to talk.
Aisha had suggested saving money by booking two rooms and having someone share—but no way. Even I wouldn't make a girl share a room just to cut costs.
"Let me start."
Aisha seems really concerned about the Black Book. I'm curious about what she's been up to too, but I'll go lady first here.
—It was after we parted ways at the Zoldyck place.
I was heading home to study for my entrance exams. I was traveling by ship when I noticed a handsome guy who looked really sick.
I don't like pretty boys, but illness doesn't discriminate. So I decided to examine him. My medical skills were barely more than amateur-level at the time, but luckily, the symptoms were something I recognized. He showed the same signs as someone who'd eaten a certain type of poisonous mushroom. When I asked him about it, sure enough, he had eaten mushrooms. Thankfully, the medicine I had on me worked. After one night, Kastro was completely back to normal.
Maybe he felt indebted to me after that, because he started talking to me a lot. I was traveling alone and bored anyway, so we grabbed a meal and chatted about all sorts of things.
At some point, I mentioned that I was a professional Hunter. That's when Kastro's expression turned serious, and he asked me:
"Do you know about something called Nen?"
At the time, I didn't even know the first thing about Nen. When he explained it to me, I was skeptical—no, I didn't believe it at all.
But what he showed me was more than enough to make me believe.
Empty space suddenly heating up. A piece of paper in his hand burning to ashes in an instant. A bottle sitting far away shattering without being touched.
It was obvious it wasn't some magic trick. He told me Nen was an essential ability for professional Hunters. Kastro himself wasn't a pro Hunter, but he'd heard about it while studying Nen.
So I asked him—could I use Nen too?
He said that with enough effort, anyone could master it. Some people could even develop unique personal abilities.
There was no way I wouldn't be interested.
So I asked him to teach me Nen.
But he refused. Said he was still too inexperienced to teach others.
Instead, he gave me something called the "Black Book."
The Black Book was said to have been written by the legendary martial artist Ryushou Kazama, detailing Nen training methods in exhaustive detail. Apparently, Kastro had followed the book's instructions to awaken Nen and grow stronger.
After we parted ways, I read the Black Book excitedly. I figured this would make me a superpowered guy too.
But it said I had to meditate and all that stuff to awaken Nen. I had medical studies to focus on, and honestly, it sounded like a hassle. Was I going to give up already?
Still, as I kept flipping through the book casually, I came across a section describing various Nen abilities.
There were so many, it was hard to believe one person had come up with them all. Just reading the concepts was fun—I got totally absorbed.
And then I found it.
That ability.
"That ability?"
"Hold on. Let me wet my throat first."
He took a drink and continued.
—The abilities in that book were incredibly diverse.
Conjuring glasses that could predict the near future. Manipulating sand to attack a target. Turning aura into ice to slice enemies apart or seal them in an ice coffin. There were even advanced abilities combining multiple Nen categories.
But none of those caught my attention.
What did was… a healing ability.
"A healing ability? You mean—"
"Yeah. Exactly what it sounds like. Healing others with aura. It felt like scales fell from my eyes. I thought—so something like that is possible?"
—If I could obtain that power, I could save a lot of people.
There was a note saying the ability didn't work on diseases. Even so, I wanted it.
People don't die only from illness. Plenty die from external injuries. There are countless cases where someone is rushed to the hospital with severe wounds, but they bleed out before a transfusion can be given or stitches can be applied.
Diseases and infections can be cured once treatments are established. But massive blood loss from trauma? Sometimes there's just nothing you can do.
With this ability, more people could be saved.
Sure, I could only save a handful on my own. But I wanted to do what I could.
The moment I decided that, my motivation skyrocketed. I was shocked at how focused I became during meditation. I was determined to awaken Nen—nothing else mattered.
After about a week of meditating like that, I became aware of my aura.
The next day, I could already use Ten.
"…That's an incredible speed. I believe I'm justified in being jealous of all of you…"
"Huh? Really? Didn't you guys awaken around the same time?"
"I awakened in a week as well. Aisha says that's very fast."
"We didn't awaken through the proper method, so it's hard to compare."
"Even Zushi—the super talented kid—took six months to awaken."
"Leorio-san, you possess rare talent. But more importantly, you approached meditation with unwavering resolve. Nen is influenced by the mind more than anything."
"Okay, awakening Nen is great and all, but what about the part where you said you don't have the Black Book anymore?" Killua asked.
"Yeah, that comes a bit later."
—After awakening Nen, I trained every day according to the Black Book. Studying for medical school at the same time was rough. But knowing I was moving toward my dream kept me going.
Then one night, while I was busy with training and studying, I suddenly sensed something and woke up.
A burglar?
I braced myself.
But before I knew it, a shadow flickered in front of me—and the next instant, I was pinned down from behind.
Was I about to be killed?
That's what I thought. But the shadow looked at me and said:
"…So it really is Leorio."
Then he suddenly let me go.
I sprang up and looked at his face—and I was genuinely shocked.
It was none other than Hanzo—the fellow pro Hunter who took the exam with us and cleared Trick Tower alongside us.
""Hanzo-(san)!?""
"Yeah. I was stunned. I had no clue why Hanzo would be in a place like that."
"No way. Why was Hanzo at your house, Leorio?"
.
—Yeah, I'll get to that in a second.
Once I confirmed it was Hanzo, of course I was confused. "Hanzo!? What are you doing here?"
Hanzo hesitated a little, then slowly explained his reason.
Apparently, he had been tasked with retrieving a scroll called the Hermit's Scroll. He used his Hunter License to enter the country where it was supposed to be kept—but unfortunately, it had already been stolen from that nation.
Even so, he didn't give up. He gathered information.
And eventually… he came across the Black Book.
There were all sorts of rumors surrounding it. He started wondering—could the Black Book actually be the Hermit's Scroll?
While investigating the Black Book, the trail led him… to me.
Seems like someone overheard my conversation with Kastro on that ship.
And that's why he snuck into my house.
After that, he asked me to give him the Black Book. It turned out it wasn't the Hermit's Scroll after all—but he'd grown interested in it.
But I still had a lot I wanted to learn from the Black Book, so I refused.
Then he said, "In that case, I'll train you. Once you're satisfied with your growth, hand over the Black Book."
At first I thought, what the hell are you talking about?
But when I really considered it, it wasn't a bad deal. Training alone has its limits—and it's inefficient.
I wanted to get stronger. Having someone to spar with and confirm Nen techniques? That was exactly what I needed.
So I—
"You accepted… and handed over the Black Book?"
"That's right. Sorry, Aisha. If I'd known you wanted it so badly, I would've refused."
"N-No, it's fine. More importantly—do you know where Hanzo-san went!?"
"Sorry, I don't. He said he was going to keep searching for the Hermit's Scroll, but he didn't say where."
Even if I'd asked, he probably wouldn't have told me. Hanzo trained me, sure—but he never once showed me any true ninja techniques. The guy's easygoing and talks a lot, but when it comes to that stuff, he's tight-lipped. Guess that's what you'd expect from a ninja.
"Ah…"
"W-Whoa! You okay, Aisha?!"
As soon as I finished talking about Hanzo's whereabouts, Aisha suddenly collapsed forward!
Her body's well-trained, but she's still got that softness unique to women—and that scent you don't get from men—
What the hell am I thinking!?
"I-I'm fine… Sorry. Just felt a little dizzy."
"You sure? Nothing hurts? You're not short of breath?"
"I'm really fine."
Man… she was that shocked? How badly did she want the Black Book? Now I feel guilty.
"I'm really sorry about the Black Book."
"It's not your fault. There was no way you could've known I wanted it."
"Yeah… If only I'd at least had your phone number."
"Yes… If we had exchanged numbers sooner… Actually, why don't we exchange them now?"
"Me too, me too! I just bought mine—I should use it!"
And just like that, all five of us finally registered each other's phone numbers.
It only took eight months since we first met. Man, that took long enough.
"Registration complete. Ah, my contacts list has reached ten people now. Finally, I've hit double digits!"
"Aisha… don't say something that sad so proudly."
"Lucky. I only have you guys."
"There's an even stronger contender here."
Well, Gon just bought his phone today—but Aisha grew up in Meteor City. She probably didn't have many people to exchange numbers with.
She's lived a rough life for someone her age…
"Anyway, that's my story. So, Aisha—what were you doing after the Hunter Exam?"
"Yes. I'll properly explain—and apologize as well."
—
The girl is explaining
—
"—And that brings us to the present. Leorio-san, I'm truly sorry for worrying you."
"Hey, don't sweat it that much. More importantly… Kurapika-kun, Killua-kun. Care to explain something to me?"
Why the hell was I the only one left out!?
Everyone else has been traveling together—what the hell is that about!?
Sure, from what I've heard, maybe it couldn't be helped—but you could've at least contacted me!!
"Pyu pyu pyuu~"
"You think whistling will get you out of this, Killua?"
"No, calm down, Leorio. I do feel sorry about this. But—if it's an excuse—I was desperately focused on becoming stronger. I never meant to neglect you. Please believe that. Failing to contact you was truly my fault. I apologize sincerely."
Tch… if he puts it like that, I can't really press him too hard.
I know why Kurapika needs to get stronger.
Fine. I'll let Kurapika off.
"Alright, Kurapika's fine. Now then, Killua-kun. Care to explain yourself? Hm?"
"H-Hey, wait a sec! Why am I the only one? Aisha and Gon—"
"Gon didn't have a phone, and Aisha didn't know my number! You were emailing me! You could've said something!"
"...Hehe. I just thought it'd be fun to surprise you—"
"—You ready to face the consequences, huh?"
Now's the time to show the results of my training.
Roar, my aura! Rise to the limit!
"Hm. This prank has gone a bit too far. I'll assist you, Leorio."
"Two against one. You won't call that unfair, will you?"
There's no such thing as unfair in real combat! Hanzo drilled that into me!
"W-Wait, Leorio! I-I've got something I need to tell you!"
"What? Begging for your life won't work."
This charged-up aura won't settle down unless I vent it on something.
Don't worry, Killua. I'll heal your wounds afterward!
"Ah, well… the truth is… Kurapika peeked at Aisha naked—"
"DIE!!"
"GUHAAAAAA!!?"
"K-Kurapikaaa!?"
"That was for my grudge! And this is for my sorrow! And this is for my hatred! And this is for my jealousy!"
"Stop! Kurapika's life bar is already at zero!"
"You peeked at Aisha naked!? You lucky— I mean, you indecent bastard! That alone is unforgivable! And since when did she start calling you without honorifics!? Out of all of us, I'm the only one she still adds '-san' to! I've thought you were a smug bastard for a while now, but this is the last straw! On behalf of all the unpopularity-stricken gentlemen nationwide, I'll punish you! Keep apologizing to me in the afterlife, Kurapikaaa!!"
"Guh—w-wait, calm d—gah! Th-this is a trap—"
"I'll help too, Leorio! (…Sorry, Kurapika. You're going down for my sake.)"
"Y-You traitor, Killua! You schemed—GUAHHHHHH!!?"
◆
Because of Killua's scheme, the two-on-one matchup of Leorio & Kurapika vs. Killua instantly shifted into Leorio & Killua vs. Kurapika.
Caught completely off guard, Kurapika took Leorio's full-powered, aura-infused blow head-on. Before he could even regain his footing, he was overwhelmed and slammed into the ground by the combined assault of Leorio and Killua…
W-What a massacre…
"…We've lost a good man," Leorio muttered solemnly.
"Yeah. He was our irreplaceable friend," Killua added gravely.
"Please don't speak of me in the past tense… I'm still alive. …Barely, but still."
He was twitching slightly, so technically he was alive… but he was completely unconscious.
"You two went too far. Kurapika didn't peek at Aisha naked on purpose, you know?" Gon said.
"That's good to hear," Leorio replied. "If he had done it on purpose, I would've finished him off right here."
"Y-You don't have to go that far… He really didn't mean it, so please forgive him…"
Between this and the whole Riina incident, he'd already received more than enough punishment. No—this was excessive.
"Tch. Sorry about that, Kurapika. …Whoa, his eyes are rolled back."
"D-Did we overdo it? Guess it can't be helped. I'll heal him—hang on."
Heal?
Does that mean Leorio has finally developed a healing ability!?
That's incredible. Healing abilities are rare and highly valuable. It would definitely help him in the future.
The problem is… it's probably modeled after an ability written in the Black History.
Ah… what kind of ability has been unleashed into the world this time? What am I supposed to do with this frustrating feeling? Someone tell me…
"Let's see… mostly bruises. Some minor abrasions. No broken bones. Diagnosis complete. Alright, here we go—
[Palm Healing Technique / Hoimi]!!"
—Hey, wait just a second.
I mean, yes, it's a healing ability, but!
Even after a hundred years I still remember that word! Well, more accurately, hearing it just now made me remember… It's probably burned into my memory. Back in my original world, that word was ridiculously famous.
While I panicked internally, Leorio's palm became enveloped in a gentle aura. When he placed his hand on Kurapika's body, the aura slowly spread throughout him, and his external injuries visibly began to heal.
"Ugh… w-where am I…"
"Oh! Kurapika's awake! Nice one, Leorio!"
"Wow! That's amazing, Leorio!"
"Eh, it's nothing special. So, Kurapika—anything still hurt?"
"No… nothing hurts. Wait—Killua! How dare you set me up like that!"
"Uh-oh."
"Get back here! Don't run!"
The two of them started chasing each other around the room. It wasn't small, but it wasn't exactly spacious either.
It was… kind of heartwarming.
Kurapika seems brighter than before. That's probably a good sign… I think.
"Come on, you two, knock it off. You'll bother the people in the neighboring rooms," Gon said.
"Gon's right. Please calm down," I added.
"…Guh. Sorry."
"Whew. That was close," Killua muttered.
"Killua, your pranks go too far sometimes."
"Tch. Yeah, yeah, sorry."
Well, it's kind of cute, these kinds of pranks… Though maybe not for the victim.
"Hm. Since I feel no pain or lingering injury at all… Leorio, you used your healing ability on me, didn't you?"
"Yeah. It's called [Palm Healing Technique / Hoimi]. Works just like you experienced."
"I see… Does it consume the patient's stamina to activate?"
"Nope. No such restriction. I mean, if it drained the patient's stamina, that'd be dangerous even if the wound healed, right? Sure, adding that kind of condition would boost its recovery power—but still."
"Oh, that reminds me—Mizuha-san from Kazama-ryu heals by consuming the target's stamina, right?"
"Yes. Though she can also heal using only her own aura. However, if she does that daily for injured people, she'll exhaust her aura and be unable to train herself. So unless it's urgent, she refrains from doing so."
"So Leorio's [Palm Healing Technique / Hoimi] isn't that strong?"
"Tut-tut-tut. You're too naive, Killua. I've got proper conditions set to boost its power."
Oh? Did he modify the version I wrote?
I don't even remember what conditions I originally put in…
"First, the effect's stronger if I'm physically touching the target. Direct contact with the injured area increases recovery even more. So it works better on external wounds—internal damage is a bit less effective. Not by much, though.
"And if I understand the nature of the injury and have properly studied the appropriate medical treatment, the healing power increases further. That means if I slack off on studying medicine, I might not be able to heal serious injuries. It's a condition that disciplines me too. If I neglect my studies, more lives will slip through my fingers."
"…Leorio. I've gained new respect for you."
"Cut it out, you're embarrassing me. …Wait. Does that mean there was a time you looked down on me?"
"Your refinement was always… financially oriented, ahem. …Never mind."
"Y-You bastard, bringing up old stuff again!"
"Haha. But that's really amazing, Leorio. Now you just have to study to become a doctor."
"Thanks, Gon. Though that's the hardest part."
"I'm sure you'll be fine, Leorio-san. I truly believe you'll become a wonderful doctor someday."
That's not just encouragement. It's my sincere hope.
Leorio will become a doctor people can rely on. He has to.
"Man. With a healer on the team, aren't we basically unbeatable?" Killua said.
"Don't let your guard down," Kurapika warned.
"He's right. Carelessness gets people killed. Never forget that."
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
Still… I get what Killua means.
If this group fights together—even without me—we could probably defeat most opponents of equal numbers.
It's like a classic RPG party: Hero, Warrior, Magic Knight, and Priest.
…So what does that make me?
Considering my "boss attribute"… the Demon King?
The Demon King joining the hero's party. That's not funny at all…
"Well, I may be the healer, but I've got at least one offensive move too," Leorio said.
"Huh? Seriously!? What's it like!?" Killua leaned forward.
"Hey, don't just ask me. You guys should share your abilities too. Normally you're supposed to keep that stuff secret, you know?"
"Mm. For once, Leorio speaks wisely."
"That last part was unnecessary!"
He's not wrong.
Even among allies, casually revealing your abilities can be dangerous.
It's unlikely anyone here would betray us—but there are Nen users who can manipulate others. If someone like that controlled you, you could spill your allies' secrets easily.
Kurapika, in particular, is wary of the Phantom Troupe. From what Hisoka said, there's a member who can read someone's thoughts simply by touching them. Almost certainly a Specialist ability.
If captured by someone like that, your secrets would be as good as gone.
That's why Kurapika hasn't told anyone—besides me—much about his abilities. It's not about trust. It's just reality.
"I don't really have some fancy ability like you guys," Gon said. "I just fight as a straightforward Enhancer…"
"You've got that rock-paper-scissors thing, though."
"Yeah, it feels right, but if you think about it, it's basically just Ko. Should I try to make something more unique?"
"Don't overthink it, Gon," I said. "Enhancers who create abilities outside their main category certainly exist. But right now, it's more efficient for you to keep strengthening your aura through Ten and Ren. That's the nature of an Enhancer. You can think about other types after you've mastered your own."
A good example is Netero.
He's an Enhancer, yet he possesses the absurd ability known as Hyakushiki Kannon.
But that technique was born after he reached the limits of his strength and surpassed them. That's why it's powerful.
"…Yeah, you're right. I'm not good at complicated stuff anyway. I'll just keep doing what I can!"
"Hey, what's this rock-paper-scissors ability? How does that work as an Enhancer?" Leorio asked.
"Oh, that? It's like this—"
—
Ability Explanation in Progress
—
"…What kind of training did you guys go through?" Leorio asked. "Your aura output is overwhelmingly higher than mine, and I survived special training with Hanzo, you know?"
"We saw hell."
They answered in perfect unison!?
So it was that intense… I'm sorry, everyone.
"So Killua turns his aura into electricity? That's amazing. If you can emit that, wouldn't your opponent have no way to defend?"
"Yeah, I've thought about that," Killua said, scratching his head. "But I haven't properly trained in Emission yet, so it's not that easy."
"There simply wasn't enough time to complete category-specific training," I added.
Maybe once we get to Greed Island, we'll have more time to work on that.
"And Kurapika manipulates chains to do… stuff. What kind of 'stuff'?"
"That's a secret," Kurapika replied calmly. "You'll see eventually."
"That's not fair, Kurapika!"
"The only one we really know about is Dowsing Chain," Killua said. "The one he uses for dowsing. I mean, what kind of dowsing catches lies?"
"Now that I think about it," Gon said, "Nen is really amazing."
"You've got at least as many abilities as fingers on your right hand. Probably four more!" Killua guessed.
"Who knows?" Kurapika smiled faintly.
To be precise, excluding Dowsing Chain, Kurapika has six more abilities.
…Wait. What kind of cheat code is that? Hey, Memory—what happened to capacity limits? I have five abilities, and two of mine are dead skills, damn it.
"And Aisha's ability is… aura concealment?" Leorio asked.
"Yes, that's correct."
"…Even if you're using Ten?"
"I don't know. I'm actually using Ten right now."
"…What about Ren?"
"It won't be detected. I'll try using Ren a little. …Well?"
"I can't tell at all. Wait—how are you supposed to fight that?"
"Exactly," Killua said. "No matter what she does, you can't see her aura output or distribution in combat. It's seriously unfair."
"Even if we could see it, it wouldn't matter," Gon added. "The skill gap's way too big. It's not even a fight."
"Seriously? Is Aisha really that strong?" Leorio asked.
The three of them nodded vigorously in unison.
Well, I have no intention of losing to people who've known Nen for less than a year.
"She can fight Chairman Netero, you know? Of course she's strong," Killua said.
"But she lost to him, right? Just how strong is Chairman Netero anyway?" Leorio asked.
"He's super strong!" Gon said excitedly. "The three of us—me, Killua, and Aisha—played a ball-grab game against him, and we couldn't even compete! Though… Aisha did get the ball afterward, didn't she?"
"To be precise, Chairman Netero attacked me, so I won by default due to a rules violation."
"Chairman Netero is said to be the strongest martial artist in the world," Kurapika explained. "He was even considered a rival of the legendary warrior Ryusho Kazama. There are only a handful of people in this world who could stand against him."
"Geez… you're that strong?" Leorio muttered.
"I've simply trained longer than all of you. If you train as long as I have, you'll surpass me easily."
"How long are we talking?"
Over a hundred years… maybe.
…Though considering their talent, they might surpass me in ten. That's terrifying. Maybe I should train even more.
"By the way, what's the plan for tomorrow?" Leorio asked. "You guys are here for Greed Island, right? But the selection event isn't until the last day of the auction. What are you doing until then?"
"Now that you mention it," I said, "why did everyone decide to meet in Yorknew in the first place?"
I'd only heard that we were meeting in Yorknew in September. I didn't know how that decision came about. When they left the Zoldyck estate, they didn't even know about Greed Island yet. So was it just for the auction?
"Oh, that was because Hisoka told Kurapika that if he wanted information about the Spider, he should meet him in Yorknew on September 1st," Gon said casually.
"…What?"
They were supposed to meet Hisoka in Yorknew?
Kurapika and Hisoka reunited at Heavens Arena—but judging from Hisoka's reaction then, that meeting hadn't been planned.
Hisoka intended to use Kurapika's desire for revenge to engineer a fight to the death with the Troupe's leader.
…And originally, he had planned to tell him about that here. In Yorknew.
Which means—
The Phantom Troupe is coming to Yorknew!?
The probability is extremely high!!
Wait. Think.
If the Troupe is coming to Yorknew, what are they targeting? They're thieves. If they're coming, it's to steal something. And the auction started today, September 1st!
Their target must be auction items.
But which auction? The "Dream Auction" isn't just one event. There are tens of thousands of official auction houses, led by the prestigious Southernpeace.
And beyond the official ones… there are the underground auctions, dealing in stolen goods, said to be run by the Mafia community—
The Mafia… run it?
N-No way…
No, the odds are—
But what if!?
A faint, fragmented memory inside me screamed the loudest warning possible. I can't ignore this.
"Hey, Aisha? What's wrong?" Leorio asked. "We were just saying maybe we'd check out the open-price auction market tomorrow…"
"Wait, Leorio. Sorry, but I need to act separately tomorrow," Kurapika said.
"…Kurapika. You're not planning to search for the Troupe alone, are you?" Killua asked sharply.
"Alone!? That's reckless!" Gon protested.
"Based on what Hisoka said, there's a strong chance the Troupe is already in Yorknew—"
"Kurapika! Do you know when and where the underground auction is being held!?"
"—!? A-Aisha?"
"Do you know!? Or not!?"
"Y-Yes! Wait, calm down. …The underground auction changes location every year. It's illegal, after all. The fastest and most reliable way for us to find out would be through the Hunter website—"
Before he could finish, I rushed to the computer in the room and powered it on.
Even the few seconds it took to boot felt unbearable.
Thank goodness we chose a room with internet access.
Come on… come on… connect already—
Connected!
I immediately entered the Hunter-exclusive site and searched: This season's underground auction — location and date.
Please… let it be listed…
…There!
Without even checking the information fee, I paid it.
Money doesn't matter. Time might be running out!
Location… the Cemetery Building basement.
Date… today!?
Time… 21:00!
It's 20:51 right now.
Nine minutes.
Can I make it!?
But what if I'm wrong? What if this is just paranoia? An apology won't fix that. Worst case, I'd make enemies of the entire Mafia community.
…
Even so!
Even if there's the slightest chance that he—the man my mother loved—might get caught up in this—
I pulled up a map of Yorknew.
Damn it! It's far!
No time to waste. I stepped out onto the balcony and leapt down directly.
I could hear voices calling my name behind me, carried by the wind—
But I don't have time to answer.
Please…
Please let this just be my imagination…
-----------------------------------------------
Leorio's training partner was Hanzo. Even if it was for the sake of strengthening Leorio, it might have been a bit forceful…
As for [Palm Healing Technique / Hoimi], I'm sure it's pretty obvious what it's referencing. Leorio understands his natural affinity and, fully aware of it, chose to create an Enhancement-type ability.
By the way, Leorio also has an offensive Nen ability… I'm sure most of you can already guess what it is. lol
For now, here are the detailed specs for Hoimi:
[Palm Healing Technique / Hoimi]
Type: Enhancement ability
A recovery ability that heals wounds by enhancing the target's natural healing power. Direct physical contact with the target significantly increases its effectiveness. By combining it with Emission, it is also possible to heal a target at long range; however, the effect drops drastically, and since it will heal anyone it hits, it is rarely used that way.
Additionally, the more accurately the user understands the target's injuries—and the more proper medical knowledge they have regarding treatment—the stronger the healing effect becomes.
Because this ability does not perfectly align with Leorio's natural affinity, it cannot reach its absolute maximum potential. However, Leorio's own resolve and determination boost its effectiveness.
Restrictions
If the user is not directly touching the target, the healing effect decreases significantly.
If the injured area is not directly touched, the healing effect decreases.
If the user cannot properly identify the injury, the healing effect decreases.
If the user has not studied the appropriate medical treatment for the injury, the healing effect decreases.
Vow
None
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