A plea...
It really didn't seem like something Meruem would do.
But the motive of the plea wasn't for life, but for Gungi and Komugi.
Precisely because the complexity was stripped away, leaving only the most pure essence, Law could see it clearly.
Yet, when that feeling of pleading reached Law's heart, it was equivalent to Meruem's lingering attachment showing signs of becoming more complex.
Therefore, Law had even less reason to keep Meruem's attachment. Doing so would mean never having peace of mind, even in sleep.
'Is it a lingering attachment, or a fragmented soul?'
Law sighed softly in his heart, once again suppressing the idea of turning Meruem into a Nen Beast.
Even if he could smoothly conjure Meruem, it would still require effort and time, and the key point was that the conjured result would be a Nen Beast without combat power.
Thinking back, to conjure the White General, he had spent well over two years.
So, with the effort and reward so disproportionate, Law couldn't find a single reason to convince himself to turn Meruem into a Nen Beast.
Ignoring Meruem's plea, Law now noticed that Komugi was crying.
"..."
Law silently watched the continuously weeping Komugi.
Under the coverage of Nen, the various senses of an ordinary person were likely amplified, even developing some kind of ability similar to analysis.
So much so that she could glean much information from a single sentence of Law's.
Probably, that analytical ability had become Komugi's habit, which was also why her eyes shed tears first.
'If this continues, will I soften?'
Law showed a silent, bitter smile. He reached out, picked out his own pieces from the board, and began preparing his formation for the next game.
His movement startled the bewildered Komugi.
"I'm sorry."
Komugi apologized reflexively, then hurriedly began arranging the pieces, her movements clearly in disarray.
Clatter.
Several pieces were swept off and fell to the floor.
Komugi froze for a moment, wiped her tears, and bent down to feel for the pieces on the floor.
"Sit still. I'll pick them up."
Law stopped Komugi's action and lifted his hand, using Domain to draw the pieces over.
Komugi, being blind, was unaware of this, but she obediently straightened up.
She was self-aware, docile and obedient, never overstepping recklessly. So when Law said she should go home after the games, her first reaction was silent tears, not questioning.
Law placed the pieces one by one onto Komugi's piece tray and said, "Let's begin."
"Mhm."
Komugi squeezed a sound from her nose, her hands gripping her trousers, creating deep creases.
Even while recognizing her position, the desire to ask questions in her heart was like a volcano about to erupt, nearly impossible to suppress.
'Why stop playing Gungi after ten more games?'
'Is it because I keep winning?'
These doubts were what Komugi had analyzed from that single sentence of Law's.
Komugi opened her mouth. Just as she was about to lose her restraint, the sound of a piece being placed on the board made her shut her mouth involuntarily.
Thus, the creases she gripped on her trouser legs deepened.
One game, two games, three games...
Until nightfall finally arrived at the last game.
Arranging pieces, setting formations, the game began.
Thirty minutes later, Law's pieces were caught in a deadlock.
"Fortress to open the way, then using Cavalry and Bow to cut off all avenues of escape. Really, no mercy at all."
Law looked at the game where all hope was thoroughly severed, then couldn't help but look up at Komugi, whose worry was unconcealed.
'Even with such great emotional turbulence, does it not affect the game at all?'
'Truly a born player, possessing an extreme talent in a certain domain.'
'Then, having evolved to this extent, who else could be her opponent?'
'Surely someone exists.'
Law withdrew his gaze, glanced sideways at the phantom of Meruem, then shifted to look at Komugi and said, "It's over."
Komugi's body trembled slightly. She bit her lip and remained silent, of course knowing what this 'over' represented.
She didn't want to lose this happiness. Lowering her head, she said softly, "I... will I still have a chance to play against... the Supreme Commander?"
The Nen light enveloping her fragile body was visibly receding into her at a speed discernible to the naked eye.
Law watched the process of the Nen gradually withdrawing into her body. He didn't answer. Instead, he used the fastest speed to collect the pieces from the board.
After collecting the pieces, Law still didn't answer Komugi's question. He merely extended his right hand, gently placed it on the board, and said, "Go rest. Tomorrow morning, I'll arrange for someone to take you home. Also, I'm giving you this board set."
A thought was sprouting in Law's mind.
"Supreme Commander..." Komugi raised her head.
"Go now." Law cut her off directly.
A sorrowful expression appeared on Komugi's face. She even forgot to bow. Picking up the cane beside her, she groped her way to her feet and then walked towards the door.
Just as Komugi stepped one foot out of the room, Law suddenly said, "Perhaps there will be a chance."
Komugi whirled around, but due to excessive force, she fell to the floor, looking quite awkward.
"I-I'm sorry! I've acted improperly again!"
Komugi hurriedly got up, her sorrow turning to joy, revealing a simple, honest smile.
"I said perhaps," Law said helplessly.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Komugi nodded repeatedly.
"Do you know what 'perhaps' means?"
"Yes!"
Law was left speechless. He rubbed his forehead and said, "Go on."
After Komugi left, Law gazed at the board in silence.
Kuro had approached at some point, saying greedily, "Give it to me to eat. It's just a waste anyway."
"Get lost."
Law said very impolitely.
"Tch."
Kuro snorted and went back to eating snacks.
The game room suddenly became quiet.
Law raised his index finger. A flame-like black Nen flickered on his fingertip.
"I originally intended to erase you directly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Law flipped the Gungi board over. Using the black flame on his fingertip as ink and the bottom of the board as canvas, he forcefully engraved a set of Divine Script onto it.
Stroke by stroke, the volume of the black flame grew smaller and smaller.
By the time Law drew the final stroke, the black flame had completely vanished, and an obscure, difficult-to-understand black Divine Script now adorned the board's underside.
"As long as Komugi keeps using this board to play, perhaps one day, you can borrow her Aura to manifest a form."
"I'm not doing this for you."
Law looked at the black Divine Script on the Gungi board's underside, as if looking at Meruem, or as if looking at Komugi playing seriously.
"Gungi is, after all, a world for two."
Not one human and one ant, but two people.
Law flipped the board back over, then stood up and left.
At that moment, a wisp of Aura drifted up from the board, like smoke, slowly floating towards Law.
Sensing it, Law looked back at the black smoke and was taken aback.
"So that's it... Thanks are unnecessary."
Law raised his hand and absorbed the black smoke into his body. His numerical value increased to 99%.
"Take care."
Having received the final benefit, Law wasn't excited or overjoyed. He calmly turned and left.
He had engraved Meruem's lingering attachment onto the board's underside in the form of Divine Script. Doing so would cause a small portion of his Nen to remain forever within the board.
Thus, Meruem's attachment could stay in contact with Komugi. Combined with the hope Law had just given her...
As days passed, Komugi's desire to play Gungi with the Supreme Commander would grow stronger.
By then, Meruem's attachment, anchored to the board, could become a medium, having a chance to be materialized through Komugi's Aura, becoming an eternal opponent.
This is what's meant by Nen arising from the heart, and it's also where the wonder of Nen lies.
However, Law hadn't expected that doing so would also grant him a gift from Meruem.
A pleasant surprise?
Good deeds bring good rewards?
Law didn't feel that way.
Perhaps he had just done the right thing.
With this matter settled, it was time to leave.