After handing over the Phantom Troupe, we returned to our room. Inside, two people were fidgeting with excitement, eagerly waiting for our arrival.
One of them was Riina. It looked like she was itching to give me a present as soon as possible. She was probably imagining how happy I'd be, or how I'd praise her, and her heart was dancing with anticipation. What is she, a kid?
The other was Leorio-san. He seemed unable to stop thinking about the bounty for subjugating the Phantom Troupe. If this were a manga, his eyes would probably be completely replaced with money symbols.
Well, we can check the reward anytime, so let's hear what Riina—who went out of her way to come here—has to say first.
"So, Riina. You said you had a present for me?"
"Yes! I managed to obtain something Aisha-san has been wanting, so I thought I absolutely had to give it to you!"
"Eh!? You got your hands on a sex-change drug!?"
"""Why would it be that (you know) (exactly) (seriously)!!"""
Whoa! I got hit with a full group retort!
I mean, that's basically the only thing I want.
Or rather, I was so surprised by what Riina said that I blurted out "sex-change drug" without thinking… what do I do now…?
"Why the hell would you want something like that!? What are you even planning to do by becoming a guy!?"
There's no way I can say, "So I can lose my virginity!" even if my mouth were torn open!
Even if it's Gon or Netero, this is absolutely a secret objective. I'm taking it to the grave!
"That's something I'm curious about too, Aisha."
"Seriously, becoming a guy would be such a waste!"
"Hm, Aisha, do you want to be a guy? Why?"
Ugh, I just let that slip, and now I'm being cornered like this…
Think, think of a good excuse… that's it!
"Well, you know… it feels like everyone's been avoiding me. I thought maybe if I became a guy, that wouldn't happen anymore…"
That wasn't a lie—it was genuinely how I felt. Maybe it's just unbalanced having one girl among a group of guys. Gon and the others probably hold back around me because of that. But as friends, I want that kind of distance gone.
"Why would we avoid you, Aisha?"
"Yeah, I can say with absolute certainty that's not the case."
"Don't worry about weird stuff like that."
"Yeah, avoiding a friend is impossible."
"Everyone… is that really true?"
"Of course!"
"Then can I start sleeping in the same room with you guys?"
"Of course!" "Wait, hold on!"
Which is it?
Gon and Leorio-san are in favor, while Killua and Kurapika are against.
Isn't this just the same situation as before? Damn you, Killua and Kurapika. Let me join the sleepover too!
"Let's settle this by majority vote! Who wants to all sleep together?"
"Yes!"
Fuhaha! Three in favor! Only Killua and Kurapika against!
With a majority, the motion passes! Long live democracy!
"Who thinks we should separate by gender?"
"Yes!"
W-Wait… hey, Riina and Bisky. Why are you two joining the vote?
"Three in favor, four against. Since the opposition has more votes, the motion is rejected. Secretary Killua, record that."
"Got it."
"Objection! I don't think Riina and Bisky are relevant to this motion!"
"No, Aisha-san! In Japon, there is a saying: 'Boys and girls over seven should not sit together.' In other words, once men and women reach a certain age, sharing a bed without restraint is out of the question! Even among close companions, one should maintain proper decorum!"
"Riina's being a bit dramatic, but Aisha, you should be more aware that you're a girl."
Y-You two! Whose side are you on!? Especially you, Riina! Whose disciple are you!?
Damn it! To think I'd be betrayed by my own disciple! Riina! You've deceived me, Riina!
"Bringing up majority vote was a mistake, Aisha."
"Guh… I'll back down this time. But next time, I will definitely…!"
"I mean, sleeping together is fine, isn't it? At Heaven's Arena and the Kazama-style dojo, Aisha slept with us too."
Oh, Gon. You really are a kind kid. I'm so lucky to have a pure and innocent friend like you.
"…Wait a second. Hey, Killua, Kurapika. Have you guys slept with Aisha before?"
"Indeed, that's not something I can ignore. Setting aside the dojo incident, this is the first I've heard about Heaven's Arena."
…Someone swallows audibly.
Like vengeful spirits, Leorio-san and Riina stand up and glare at Killua and Kurapika. The pressure they emit makes it feel like the air in the room itself is warping.
Putting Riina aside, for Leorio-san to release this much hostility… did he really want to have a sleepover that badly? I feel the same way, Leorio-san.
"…We're doing this, Killua."
"Yeah. Forget Leorio, there's no way to stop Riina-san with words. Before we get killed… we'll strike first!"
For some reason, a deadly battle began.
◆
"We're very sorry."
The death match was over.
The battle between the Riina & Leorio-san duo and the Kurapika & Killua duo had been intense.
Kurapika had been slammed repeatedly into a floor reinforced with aura, Killua had been smashed again and again into walls reinforced with aura, and for some reason, in the end even Leorio-san had been hurled into an aura-reinforced ceiling.
…Yeah. In the end, it was basically just Riina rampaging one-sidedly. Also, a moment of silence for Leorio-san, who somehow ended up on the receiving end.
"Listen carefully. As I said earlier, you are not children—you are young men and women of age. And yet you casually try to share a bed with a woman? That is utterly improper!"
"No, if anything, we were the ones opposing it…"
"Silence. The moment you shared a bed, you forfeited the right to argue."
"Wait, why am I included in this…?"
"You also supported the idea of sleeping together, didn't you?"
"And Gon gets a pass!?"
"That child is innocent, unlike you all. More importantly—listening to you just now, a group of grown boys making nothing but excuses… don't you find that pathetic? Listen well. A true man is one who is taciturn, yet harbors a quiet flame within, and proves everything not through words, but through actions. In other words—"
Riina's lecture(?) continued.
Killua and Leorio-san had already tuned it out, but Kurapika was still listening properly.
…Wait, the "ideal man" she's been describing this whole time—could she be talking about Ryushou? If that's the case, that's seriously embarrassing, so I wish she'd stop.
"—and therefore, you all should—"
"Ah, Riina?"
"Yes! What is it, Aisha-san?"
"Well… I was just wondering what my present might be?"
That was a lie. Well, I was curious, but more than that, I felt bad for Leorio-san and the others, so I used it as an excuse to cut the lecture short.
The moment I mentioned the present, Riina's bad mood from earlier vanished, and she immediately broke into a smile. I really need to do something about this girl's Aisha-first mentality.
"Ah! Of course. My apologies, Aisha-san. I'll show it to you right away."
With that, Riina went to retrieve the bag she had placed on the floor.
Seeing that, Leorio-san and the others finally looked relieved, as if they had just been set free.
"Here it is. Go ahead and open it."
"This is… a Joy Station? …No, wait—this can't be…"
Inside the bag was a Joy Station. But there was something different about it.
It was supposed to be just a game console, yet it was enveloped in aura. And there was only one such game I knew of.
"Greed Island!?"
"As expected of you, Aisha-san. That is correct."
Whoa… to think I'd get to see Greed Island even before passing the selection exam. It shouldn't be something easy to obtain—how did she get this?
"How did you manage this?"
"Well, Battera-san was kind enough to give it to me. When I asked with utmost sincerity, he willingly handed it over. He is a very kind person."
"Utmost sincerity? From you?"
"Bisky, is there a problem?"
"Nothing at all~"
"…You didn't threaten him or anything, did you?"
"Of course not! We had a proper discussion and reached a mutually agreeable deal."
If that's true, then fine… but judging from how Bisky said that, I can't help but suspect she may have at least maneuvered things into a situation where he had no choice but to agree.
"However, there is one condition for playing the game. If you clear it, the reward must be handed over to Battera-san. Is that acceptable?"
Ah, that makes sense.
Battera must have been so obsessed with Greed Island precisely because of the clear reward. If that condition was part of the deal, then it doesn't seem like she forcibly took it from him. That's a relief.
"That's fine. Even if we joined through the selection exam, we'd probably have to agree to the same condition anyway."
I had already factored in that I wouldn't be able to freely keep the reward even if I cleared the game.
What I want is a sex-change drug.
In that case, if I undergo the transformation inside Greed Island, it doesn't matter if I can't bring the drug outside.
The annoying part would be having to enter Greed Island every time I want to switch between male and female—but with the game right here, that becomes much easier. Well done, Riina!
"Ah… this is more delightful than I expected. Thank you, Riina."
"Ah…! If Aisha-san is pleased, then I couldn't be happier!"
Seeing my reaction, Riina looked even more delighted than I did, her expression practically melting with joy.
Haha… she's as over-the-top as ever.
"(Hey, I've been wondering this for a while—why is Riina-san so devoted to Aisha?)"
"(If I knew that, I wouldn't be struggling. Do you know how many times I've been scolded by her over Aisha?)"
"(That's your fault. Have you forgotten you peeked at Aisha naked?)"
"(I told you, that was unavoidable…)"
"Hey, what are you talking about?"
"Don't worry about it, Gon. More importantly, we finally got Greed Island, didn't we?"
That was a pretty blatant attempt to change the subject, Kurapika.
I could hear your whole conversation, you know. And Killua really should let that incident go already—I don't even mind.
"With this, we won't need to participate in the selection exam—"
"I believe you are mistaken. The one being invited to this Greed Island is only Aisha-san."
"Huh? But if you use a multitap, four people can play, right?"
"Yes. Therefore, the participants will be Aisha-san, myself, Bisky, and finally Kastro-san—four in total."
"Hah!? So we can't play!?"
"There is a selection exam, is there not? Please do your best to pass."
Thus came Riina's merciless declaration.
Also—so Riina plans to play Greed Island too. Well, she's the one who prepared it, so I can't really complain.
Still… I feel a bit bad for Gon and the others.
…No, on second thought, I'll take advantage of this opportunity.
For what I need to do in Greed Island, it's better to use Riina's version rather than go through the selection exam. I can't afford to expose my weakness in front of unknown third parties. I had originally planned to give up on that—but this timing is perfect.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I'll be entering the game using the Greed Island Riina prepared."
"Eh? That's fine, but…"
Gon blinked in surprise at my words.
He probably never expected me to say that. He must have thought I'd insist on taking the exam together with everyone.
Honestly, if not for my circumstances, I would have done exactly that. We've come this far together—it's only natural I'd want to continue together.
"…Understood. Then we'll enter the game through the selection exam in ten days. Aisha, go ahead and enter first."
"Tch. Just because you're going in first doesn't mean you can rush ahead in the game, got it?"
"Don't worry, Killua. I probably won't be doing much for a while."
"?"
At the very least, I should avoid acting normally for about a month. During that time, I'll have to rely on Riina and Bisky to protect me. I'll explain the situation to them later.
"So, Aisha, are you entering Greed Island today?"
"Let's see… Riina, when will Kastro-san arrive?"
"I contacted him last night, and he should be on his way by car. If all goes well, he should arrive by tomorrow morning."
"I see. As you heard, I'll enter Greed Island after Kastro-san arrives."
The sooner, the better—earlier than those entering through the selection exam.
If we overlap, there's a chance too many people might discover my weakness.
…But that also means I won't be seeing Leorio-san for a while.
He has to focus on studying to become a doctor. In the end, we barely got to spend any time together. I really feel bad about that…
"I'll be lonely not seeing you for a while, Leorio-san…"
"Yeah, can't be helped. Just make it up to me next time we meet."
Yeah… we didn't even get to go around the auction together.
Making it up to him is the least I can do.
"Yes, definitely."
I gave Leorio-san the brightest smile I could muster.
It's not much, but when we meet again, I'll repay him properly.
There's also the matter with Dominic-san… oh, right, speaking of that—I had something to pass along from him. I was so excited since last night that I completely forgot.
"By the way, Leorio-san. Dominic-san asked me to relay something to you."
"Oh, that guy? What is it?"
"He said he wants to thank you for the treatment. If you're willing, he'd like you to come see him."
"I see… it's not like I was looking for thanks, though."
Even though Dominic-san would probably offer him a large reward.
Leorio-san was extremely fixated on the Phantom Troupe bounty, yet when it comes to medicine, he doesn't care about money at all.
My favorability toward Leorio-san just went up by about 120 points. That's practically a limit-break level increase.
"If you're concerned about him being part of the mafia, I can go with you."
Having me there would probably put him at ease. Dominic-san seemed like a man of honor, so he likely wouldn't do anything to harm Leorio-san anyway.
"I would be honored to be introduced!"
"? The fact that the treatment involved Nen abilities has already been exposed, so if you'd prefer to keep it quiet, you don't have to force yourself, you know?"
He suddenly got enthusiastic? Maybe he's holding back out of consideration for me? That would be like the kind-hearted Leorio-san, but… this feels a bit different. There's something almost desire-like about it…
Well, if he wants to meet him, I'll take him to Dominic-san sometime. He should still be hospitalized, so the chance will probably come when I reunite with Leorio-san.
"No, no, it's totally fine!"
"Hey, Leorio. Haven't your motives changed or something?"
"Hahaha, what are you talking about, Killua-kun? More importantly, let's check the Phantom Troupe reward already."
"Right. Then let me check it on the computer…"
Putting aside Leorio-san's obvious attempt to change the subject, checking the reward is definitely something we should do. If this is where we part ways, we also need to divide it properly.
I turned on the hotel computer and checked my account balance. Insert the license, and… …huh?
"Ten, hundred, thousand… i-it says about 34 billion have been deposited…"
"34 billion!?"
The Phantom Troupe had that much bounty on them!? Could this be some kind of mistake…? Did I misoperate the machine back then and add an extra digit or something? I'm curious—I should confirm with Netero. Let me call him.
"…Ah, is this Netero? I wanted to ask about the bounty—"
"Wait a second! Now's not really the time—whoa!"
What I heard on the other end was an explosion.
Oh right, he was being attacked by the mafia or something. I thought Netero would be fine, but is he actually struggling more than expected?
"Phew. That was close—the transport vehicle almost got wrecked. So, what was it? The bounty—whoa! H-hurry it up!"
I could also hear the sound of a car speeding. It must be moving at incredible velocity—the screech of tires against the ground echoed even through the call. Then came another explosion. Are they being targeted by missiles or something?
"Well, I checked my account balance and saw that 34 billion had been deposited, so I thought it might be a mistake."
"No mistake—Hyakushiki Kannon!—there! It's 2 billion per Troupe member! And an additional 10 billion for dismantling the Phantom Troupe as a whole!"
"…Did you just use Hyakushiki Kannon?"
Using that while driving… no, that's not the point. Is he really being pushed so far that he needs to use Hyakushiki Kannon? Netero?
"Damn it, they're persistent!"
"Impressive as always. Silva, I'll stop the vehicle's movement. Ignore that and target only the spiders behind us."
"Understood."
"Honestly… no one told me I'd be dealing with Netero. This job isn't worth the pay."
…Wait, I just heard a familiar voice and name.
And if I can hear them clearly despite the moving vehicle, that means they're running alongside it?
Someone that strong, with a familiar voice—and the name Silva.
Yeah, that's definitely the Zoldyck family attacking. Thank you very much.
"Ah, that answers my questions. I'll hang up now. Sounds like you're busy, so good luck."
"Hey, wait! Don't you think about helping a littl—"
Good luck, Netero. You're number one.
Well, the Zoldycks' target seems to be the Phantom Troupe, not Netero himself, so even in the worst case, he won't be killed.
Besides, I believe he won't lose that easily.
"Looks like there's no mistake."
"Whoa, seriously!? 34 billion divided by five is… 6.8 billion jenny!?"
"That's insane. With that much, you could buy over 45 million Chocorobo-kun!"
Ah, looks like Killua didn't hear that conversation.
Netero had his hands free, so background sounds came through clearly, but I didn't, so the audio probably wasn't as clear on my end. If Killua had heard it, he definitely would've reacted to Zeno-san and Silva-san's voices.
But seriously, Killua—you're planning to spend your entire share on sweets? How many Chocorobo-kun would you have to eat per day to finish that?
If Killua lives another hundred years… that's about 1,232 per day. He'd definitely get fat. No, he'd probably develop some lifestyle disease and die before finishing them. I can't even imagine a chubby Killua. Would he end up like Milluki?
"Hm…"
"What's wrong, Gon?"
"Yeah… actually, I have a proposal for everyone."
"A proposal?"
"Yeah. About this money… would it be okay if we gave all of it to Kurapika?"
"Gon!?"
Kurapika looked just as shocked as the rest of us.
Well, anyone would be surprised if they were suddenly told they'd receive 34 billion.
But what's Gon thinking suggesting something like that? I don't really care about money, so I'm fine with it—but he must have a reason.
"Hey, are you serious, Gon? I get that Kurapika did a lot to capture the Spiders, but all of it is too much. If anything, Aisha deserves the biggest share."
"Leorio is right, Gon. There's no way I can accept all of it myself."
"Yeah, I know Aisha worked the hardest. But with this much money, it would help Kurapika get his comrades' eyes back, right?"
…Gon. This kid really is…
So kind. More pure than anyone, and deeply caring toward his friends.
That's also what makes him a bit dangerous—but I hope he stays that way.
"Gon… you…"
"I have no objections."
"Guess I don't have a choice. You better treat me to Chocorobo-kun later, Kurapika."
"Aisha, Killua… thank you…"
"…Can I at least get like 100 million?"
…Leorio-san. This guy really is…
My favorability toward him just dropped by about 4 points. It's now at 3,452.
"Just kidding, just kidding! Hahaha! Good luck collecting your comrades' eyes, Kurapika!"
"Yeah, thanks, Leorio."
"Uu… this is such a nice story."
"Here, Bisky. Use this to wipe your tears."
Bisky's surprisingly soft-hearted. And Riina, handing her a handkerchief, is looking at her with what can only be described as a gaze full of affection.
To Riina, Bisky is probably like a cute little sister. Though sometimes—no, quite often—their roles seem reversed.
"Well then, Aisha-san. Since the matter of the reward is settled, shall I guide you to the place where you will play Greed Island?"
"A place to play?"
"Yes. For security purposes, I have prepared a mansion somewhere in Yorknew. If you were to play in a hotel and a stranger were to tamper with Greed Island, unforeseen issues might arise. It is a game based on unknown Nen abilities, after all. It is better to be cautious."
I see. I hadn't thought that far since I was originally planning to use what Battera had prepared.
She's right—it's a game created by someone else's Nen ability, and we don't fully understand its mechanics. Better to proceed carefully.
"Understood. It would be rude to keep Kastro-san waiting, so let's head out soon."
"Yes! I'll guide you there!"
So this is really goodbye with Leorio-san for now.
It's a bit lonely, but I'll look forward to the day we meet again.
"Well then, everyone—I'll be waiting for you in Greed Island. …Leorio-san, good luck with your studies."
"…Yeah. Tch. Now I kinda want to play Greed Island too."
"Hehe. Then you'd be joining Gon and the others in training hell, you know?"
"I think Leorio should come too."
Why are you two saying that in sync?
"Haha. That sounds terrifying. Probably safer for me to stick to studying."
"How rude. Moderate training is good for your health, you know?"
"What exactly counts as 'moderate'…?"
Again—why are you saying it in sync?
"…Well then, see you."
"Yes. Let's meet again."
After saying my final goodbye to Leorio-san, I left the room.
◆
We were guided by the limousine taxi that had brought Riina to the hotel.
What Riina had prepared was a mansion far larger than I had expected. Compared to Dominic-san's estate, it had no garden and was much smaller, but compared to an ordinary person's house, the difference was like heaven and earth.
When I remarked, "It's a very large mansion," she apologized, saying it had been hastily prepared for this occasion and that it was shabby. …Is my sense of scale the one that's off? Someone please tell me.
Inside, there were many refined furnishings that even I could tell were expensive, and every room was immaculately cleaned. …Was this really prepared in a hurry? Just how much money was spent on this…? I'm too scared to ask.
While we were spending some time in the mansion with Riina and the others, Kastro-san arrived. It was a little past 19:00. If I remember correctly, he was supposed to be at the main dojo—just how fast did he travel to get here?
Even though we took it easy, our train journey took three days.
"Thank you for waiting, Riina-dono, Bisky-san, and Aisha-san. I'm glad to see you're all doing well."
"You seem well too, Kastro-san. How is your training going?"
"Ah, Riina-dono's training is strict, but I can truly feel myself getting stronger because of it. The disciples at the Kazama-style dojo are also strong, and there isn't a day that I don't learn something. My days are very fulfilling."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Confidence could be felt in every word he spoke. He must have undergone rigorous training and overcome it. I'm looking forward to seeing just how strong he's become under Riina's guidance.
We didn't have a chance to train together at the main dojo, so I'll confirm how much he's improved in Greed Island. He's probably stronger than Gon and the others now, so he should have a good influence on their training as well.
"Now then, Kastro-san. We invited you here so that you could play Greed Island together with us. Greed Island is a game created by Nen users, and it is exclusively for Nen users, with the risk of death involved. Though we called you here, if you dislike the idea, you may return."
"You must be joking. After being told that, do you really think I would leave? If Riina-dono is playing as well, then it means I can receive direct training from you within the game. There's no way I would refuse. I'm ready to go even now!"
"Very well. However, it's best to be in perfect condition. For today, rest well. Dinner has just been prepared."
"My apologies. Then I shall gratefully accept your hospitality."
…Yeah. Kastro-san completely reveres Riina as his master. You can tell from the way he speaks that he holds her in high regard. He must truly respect her.
"Kastro-san! I helped with today's cooking too!"
"Ah, then I shall enjoy it gratefully, Bisky-san."
Huh? Is Bisky still putting on an act in front of Kastro-san?
I know she behaves well with people she just met, but I thought she'd already gotten fairly acquainted with him through Riina.
"You only washed the rice. Kastro-san, tonight's meal was prepared personally by Aisha-san. Please savor it properly."
"No, I only made a few side dishes. Riina, on the other hand, had excellent technique. It's something I'd like to learn myself."
"In that case, Aisha-san! Would you like to train in cooking together with me sometime?"
"You really will turn anything into 'training' if it involves Aisha, won't you…"
"Haha, to be surrounded by such beautiful women and be served a home-cooked meal—what a blessing for a man."
"B-beautiful? That's just stating the obvious—! Heh… hehehe!"
Hey, Bisky. Your act just completely disappeared, you know?
Kastro-san looked a bit troubled seeing that, but still watched over her kindly.
At this point, isn't he already aware? And that look—he's treating her like a younger sister.
…Hang in there, Bisky.
◆
We spent the night in what you could probably call one of Riina's secondary residences. Anyway, today is finally the long-awaited day we get to play Greed Island.
…No, the truly "memorable day" should be the day I return to being a man. Today is still just a checkpoint along the way.
Ugh… my heart's pounding. Can I really make it into Greed Island?
Based on my understanding of the [Boss Attribute] restriction, I should be correct.
But I've never once had my aura completely depleted by its effects before, so there's no guarantee this will actually work.
Still… I have no choice but to bet on it.
According to the information I got from Milky, Greed Island exists in the real world. When I heard that from him back on Whale Island, I remembered—oh right, that's how it was.
But I don't know where in the real world it actually is. Milky said that if you investigate Greed Island directly, you can roughly determine its location.
Even if we did figure it out, there's no guarantee we could enter it from the outside. And even if we could, entering illegally might mean I wouldn't be able to obtain the gender-change medicine.
If I want to achieve my goal, I have to enter Greed Island through the proper method.
"Now then, I will explain what is necessary before we begin Greed Island."
In an underground room prepared by Riina, there was a monitor and a Joy Station connected to it. She had even gone so far as to prepare a hidden basement room to ensure that Greed Island wouldn't be stolen while we were playing.
…Well, I can't really say that's excessive.
After all, I'm the one who taught them never to let their guard down when dealing with Nen users. This is also a Nen-related matter, albeit indirectly. It just shows they've followed my teachings thoroughly.
I'm proud to have such capable disciples.
"In the manual that came with the Greed Island we received from Battera-san, it says the following: if you perform Ren in front of an active game console, the player will be transported into the world of Greed Island. Once you go there, it seems you cannot return unless you meet certain conditions. Therefore, it is likely we won't be able to come back here for some time. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes."
"No problem."
"I understand."
"Very well. Then I shall—"
"No, Riina. May I go first?"
"But… considering the risks—"
"No. I must be the one to go first."
If I went later, I'd end up making the others wait.
And if I couldn't enter Greed Island at all, I'd be separated from Riina. I might be fine, but Riina… she would definitely lose her composure. No—she absolutely would.
"If you insist, Aisha-san…"
"I'm sorry, Riina."
Alright. Let's do this.
I stood in front of the console, raised my hand, and performed Ren.
Immediately, Greed Island's ability reacted to my Nen. The effect should be teleporting the player into Greed Island.
And yet…
Despite the effect activating, I was still standing in the exact same room.
…As expected. My [Boss Attribute] had activated.
"Um… Aisha? What's wrong? You just have to use Ren on the console, right?"
"Yes… that's correct."
To everyone else, it must look like I'm just holding my hand out. Of course—it's because I'm concealing my aura with [Angel's Veil].
…Sigh. I guess I have no choice but to explain.
"Could it be, Aisha-san…?!"
"You noticed, Riina. Yes, I am using Ren even now."
"Then what does that mean—? Ah! Your ability to hide aura!"
"An ability… to hide aura?"
I hadn't told Kastro-san about it before. I don't like revealing my abilities unnecessarily, but this time it can't be helped.
"Well, yes. One of my abilities allows me to conceal my aura."
"And you're using it right now?"
"Yes. I'm using it while performing Ren, but…"
"Then why can't you go to Greed Island? Did Riina get sold a defective copy or something?"
"No… have you forgotten, Bisky? Aisha-san's other ability."
As expected, Riina remembered.
She wouldn't forget something related to me—especially something I told her during the Hunter Exam interview: the effect of [Boss Attribute].
"Oh! …I see. But that means Aisha can't play Greed Island at all."
"…? What do you mean? She can't play because of her ability?"
"Aisha… is it okay to tell Kastro-san?"
"Yes. At this point, it would be rude not to. I'll explain."
I took a breath.
"I have another Nen ability. Its effect is to nullify any special Nen that directly affects me."
"—!"
Kastro-san was too shocked to even speak.
Of course he would be. A Nen ability that nullifies Nen sounds absurdly powerful.
But offensive Nen still works on me, and it consumes a huge amount of aura, so it's far from invincible.
In fact… it hasn't been useful at all so far. If anything, it's just getting in the way of me entering Greed Island.
…Someday, I'm counting on you to actually be useful, [Boss Attribute].
"Then, Aisha-san…?"
"It's fine. I anticipated this, so I've come up with a method."
"A method?"
"Yes… though it's a bit forceful."
With that, I increased the intensity of my Ren.
From the outside, it wouldn't be visible due to [Angel's Veil], but my body was now wrapped in an immense amount of aura.
"I have a request for all of you."
"Yes! Anything!"
"This ability cannot be turned on or off. That's part of its restriction. So I will now use Ren at full power. My ability will continue activating to cancel out Greed Island's effect, which will drain my aura. Once the amount of aura required to nullify it exceeds my total aura capacity… I should be able to enter Greed Island."
This is my trump card.
No matter how powerful a Nen ability is, it cannot function without aura.
It's a crude method—but it's the only one I have left.
"If you exhaust your aura completely, there's a high chance you'll faint. If you enter Greed Island like that, you could collapse over there and get hurt. Are you sure about this?"
"…No. It's not safe at all. If it's just aura depletion, I'd be fine. But if my ability is what causes it, then I will definitely lose consciousness—and I won't be able to use Nen at all for an entire month."
"!?"
This is my greatest weakness.
I don't even know how long I'll be unconscious. And being unable to use Nen for a whole month is a massive handicap.
In a dangerous game designed for Nen users, that just makes things even more deadly.
"That's far too dangerous! Please stop, Aisha-san!"
"I appreciate your concern. But no matter who tries to stop me, I will go to Greed Island."
"…"
I know very well how dangerous it is to be without Nen.
I've lectured my disciples—and Gon and the others—not to underestimate Nen.
And yet here I am, doing exactly that.
…but I have no choice. This is the only way.
For the sake of my long-cherished wish, I will not stop.
"Your request… is it that you want us to protect you while you can't use Nen?"
"…I know it's shameless to ask."
I'm knowingly putting myself in danger—and asking others to save me.
It's foolish. Pathetic.
If they abandoned me here, it would be completely justified.
But even so… I had no intention of stopping.
"…Understood. I will protect you with my life, Aisha-san!"
"Sigh… of course you would, Riina… Fine! I'll help too! I didn't think you were this reckless."
"…Thank you, Riina. Bisky. And Bisky—your act slipped."
"Ah."
Bisky slowly turned her head toward Kastro-san with a stiff, grinding motion.
He simply smiled gently at her.
"No need to worry, Bisky-san. I prefer you as you are now, rather than when you force yourself."
"K-Kastro-san!"
…She's so easy.
One kind whisper from a handsome guy and she's completely knocked out.
I'm worried about her future. She's almost sixty, after all.
"I will also lend my strength to protect Aisha-san. Though I don't know how much help I can be."
"No, your presence is very reassuring. Thank you, Kastro-san. …Once I'm transported, please come as quickly as possible."
"Leave it to me!"
Heh. Knowing Riina, she'll jump in immediately after I disappear.
Normally I'd tell her to grow independent—but at times like this, she's incredibly reliable.
"Now then… I'll increase my aura even further!"
The moment I finished speaking, I pushed my Ren to its absolute limit.
Maintaining [Angel's Veil], I unleashed full-power Ren while continuously nullifying Greed Island's teleportation ability with [Boss Attribute].
Even with my massive aura reserves… at this rate, it won't take long to run dry.
.
"Haah… ah… ngh…"
After just a few minutes, my breathing became ragged.
It's been a long time since I've pushed my aura this close to depletion…
Even during endurance training, I always left some reserve—just in case.
Yeah… activating [Boss Attribute] while using [Angel's Veil] is a terrible combination. The cost is far too high.
Still… this has been a valuable lesson.
"I'm… reaching my limit…"
Sweat poured from my entire body.
My remaining aura… is almost gone.
Just a few more activations of [Boss Attribute], and—
"Ah—"
No… my consciousness is… fading…
◆
At last, the long-awaited selection exam has come. With this, I can finally catch up to Aisha, who went ahead.
…Well, first I actually have to pass the selection, though.
That aside—
"Why the hell is Leorio here at the selection exam?"
Sure, one ticket lets up to five people enter, but weren't you supposed to be focusing on studying to become a doctor?
"Ahh, well… I just wanted to get a feel for the auction atmosphere while I was at it, and I was curious about what the selection exam would be like. It's fine as long as I don't actually participate, right?"
…Seriously?
Don't tell me you've got lingering feelings about being separated from Aisha. It's not like it's a permanent goodbye.
"Come on, it's fine. I'm happy just being able to stay with Leorio a little longer."
"Now that's a nice thing to say, Gon~. Way better than some twisted brat."
"What'd you say!?"
I oughta knock him out.
"Calm down, Killua. Look, it seems like the explanation for the selection is about to start."
Following Kurapika's words, I looked ahead and saw a man in a black suit standing on stage with a microphone.
…Tch. Fine. Since the selection's starting, I'll let it go for now.
But you better remember this later, Leorio.
"Thank you for your patience, everyone. We will now begin the Greed Island player selection exam."
And with that, the explanation began.
So the method is: show your Nen, and some guy named Tsezguerra decides pass or fail at his own discretion.
Tch… does that mean I might have to show my Hatsu? No—first I'll show them my full-power Ren. If that proves my strength, they won't have any complaints.
The black-suited man stepped down, and a Pro Hunter named Tsezguerra took over.
"—32 people!! Once 32 candidates have passed, the selection will end!"
With that declaration, shutters came down over the stage, and the remaining black-suited staff continued the process.
"Those who wish to be examined, please proceed from here."
That was it. That was the entire explanation.
As soon as he finished speaking, several people immediately rushed forward to take the test.
"Hey… that's it? That's the whole explanation?"
Even Leorio, standing beside me, looked confused.
Minimal explanation. Too many unknowns.
And yet, the applicants were already moving.
Those who rushed in first. Those who followed. And those who stayed still.
Which is it? Which is the right answer?
Think, Killua. Stay calm.
Right now, I need to infer the rest from what little was explained and choose the best move.
Draw conclusions from limited information—this is exactly what I've been drilled in at the Kazama-style dojo while fighting Nen users.
…32 people. He said 32 would pass.
So that's the maximum number of Greed Island players?
And he said the selection ends once 32 pass.
If 32 people pass, does that mean those lined up behind won't even get tested?
That makes no sense. How could you judge that those who didn't get tested are weaker than those who did?
Right… that means they won't actually pass 32 people here.
If you think about Greed Island's situation and Battera's position, it's obvious.
No matter how many pass, they'll still evaluate everyone. And they'll deliberately keep the number below the maximum—saving slots in case more promising candidates show up later.
"O-oi! Is this really okay!? The selection's progressing, but none of the people who went in are coming back!"
…Honestly. Guess Leorio can't figure it out.
Fine. I'll explain it—
"There's no need to line up. Getting in early won't make any difference."
"…Huh?"
Who the hell is that?
Someone spoke to us from behind.
Just when I was about to explain things…
I turned around with a glare.
Standing there was a black-haired man.
About 180 cm tall. Pretty tall. Sharp eyes, well-defined features. Lean, well-trained body.
…He's strong.
And not just that—he's from the underworld.
I can tell just from his presence.
He's the same type as me.
An assassin.
"Aren't you gonna explain what you mean by that?"
"Ah, well—"
"No need. I'll explain."
Seems like Leorio can't tell how strong this guy is.
Not surprising. It takes someone from the same line of work to notice that level of presence control.
"—That's how it is. Got it, Leorio?"
"I see~ Not bad, Killua."
Heh. I'm just smarter than you.
"Heh. Not bad, Kill. Guess you didn't go soft out in the outside world."
"…Who the hell are you?"
He knows me?
Only my family calls me "Kill."
And I don't know this guy—
—Wait.
Black hair. Knows me. Family.
No way…!
"Huh? Oi, did you forget your own brother's—"
"—Die, you damn brother!!"
"Whoa!? What the hell are you doing!?"
Tch! He dodged that surprise attack at point-blank range!?
As expected… not enough to take him down, Illumi!!
"Shut up! I'm not your puppet anymore!"
"What the hell are you talking about!? I threw away all my puppets!"
Don't mess with me! You stuck needles in my head!
You think you can just play dumb!?
"Your control over me is gone! I've surpassed you!"
"…! Idiot! I'm Miluki! Not Illumi!!"
…Huh?
I looked up, then down, then back up again.
This… is Miluki?
This cool-looking guy? This fit body?
Miluki…?
No way.
"You think I'd fall for that!? You just changed your face with needles, didn't you!? There's no way that pig could get this skinny! If you're gonna lie, make it believable!"
"Idiot! Why would I lie about something like that!? I just lost weight!!"
"No way!! Miluki losing weight is more impossible than the world turning upside down!! And becoming this good-looking!? That's even more impossible! Don't mess with me!!"
"You're the one messing with me! I'll kill you, you brat!"
"Bring it on! I'll crush you!"
My aura was already flaring at full power.
I'm definitely taking this guy down!
I don't think he's Illumi anymore. If it were him, he wouldn't bother with this kind of act.
But there's no way I'm accepting that this is Miluki!
That fat otaku pig turning into this? Impossible!!
He responded to my aura and entered a battle stance.
Tch—his manifested aura… it's stronger than mine!?
That makes him even less like Miluki!
Wait—since when could he even use Nen!?
"I'll teach you how to treat your older brother!"
"I told you—you're not my brother!!"
Outwardly, we were both heated.
But in reality, we were carefully watching each other for openings.
This guy… he's seriously strong.
"Come on, stop it, Killua~. You're bothering everyone else."
"Gon is right. If you cause trouble here, you might not be allowed to take the test. The same goes for you. If you're here, you want to become a Greed Island player, correct?"
Gon and Kurapika's words snapped me back to reality.
…Yeah. They're right.
If I screw this up and can't enter Greed Island, it's all for nothing.
"Tch… fine. …Oi, Kill. You still not gonna admit I'm Miluki?"
"…."
I looked at him closely.
His features… yeah, definitely from our family. More specifically, Mom's side.
And now that I look closely… there is a trace of Miluki's face.
Like when he gets serious.
"…You really Miluki?"
"I've been telling you that."
No way…
What happened to him in just half a year!?
"That's it! You used Nen to lose weight!"
"Idiot. Who the hell would waste Nen on something like that? I worked my ass off to lose it."
"…What the hell happened to you?"
Actually… now that I think about it, there was something.
When I called him about Greed Island, Gotoh said he'd thrown away all his figures.
He must've already started dieting back then.
Even his voice sounded different.
Guess his buried vocal cords finally got uncovered.
"…I-it doesn't matter. Anyway, where's Aisha? She should be at this selection exam, right?"
…You bastard.
You've got a thing for Aisha, don't you!?
So that's what this is—this pig climbed the tree of love and turned into a prince!?
Keep that kind of story in fairy tales!
"Oi. I don't care if you're Killua's brother or what. Why are you bringing up Aisha?"
"…Who are you? This doesn't concern you. Get lost before you get killed."
"It does concern me. I'm Aisha's number one friend."
Leorio… you've got guts.
Do you even remember he's a Zoldyck?
And don't go calling yourself her number one friend—at best, you're just the first one she made.
"That so? Then you've got nothing to do with this. Stay satisfied being just a friend."
"Hah? You picking a fight?"
"You started it."
"Knock it off, Leorio. If you cause trouble, you won't be able to take the test—oh wait, you weren't taking it anyway. Go ahead, keep going."
Yeah! That's right!
Leorio's not taking the test, so if he gets kicked out, no problem!
If Miluki gets dragged out with him, even better!
"Actually… I changed my mind. I'm playing Greed Island too!"
"Hah!? Oi, what about your medical studies!?"
"If it means leaving Aisha alone with this guy… I won't be able to focus on studying!"
"But Leorio, what about your exams?"
"It's fine. The application deadline's next January. As long as I'm back by then, no problem. And if I try, I can even study inside the game!"
That's insane…
"There's no way study materials exist in Greed Island… right?"
"…So you're worried about Aisha too…"
"Huh!? N-no! I'm just worried about a friend! She looks like the type to get tricked by bad guys!"
"Who are you calling a bad guy?"
"You."
They kept glaring at each other.
At least it wasn't escalating into a fight.
"Tch… Leorio, you idiot…"
"Sigh. That's enough. Leorio, if you're taking the test, don't waste your energy. And you too, Miluki. If you want to fight, do it in Greed Island. …Though if you fight, Aisha will just get hurt."
"…Yeah. You're right."
"…Leorio, was it? Sorry. I got heated."
They both calmed down.
Kurapika really knows how to handle them—just mention Aisha.
"I'm Miluki. Killua's older brother."
"Heh, not bad. You're way easier to talk to than him."
"Tell me about it."
…What the hell is going on?
They're shaking hands!?
Since when did they become friends!?
"Anyway, Kill. Why isn't Aisha here? Explain."
"Heh. Your beloved Aisha isn't here. Too bad, Miluki."
"What!? What do you mean!?"
"Heh… just kidding. She's already inside Greed Island."
"What!? How!?"
"…Long story. Let's just say she managed to get in first."
Yeah… no need to explain about Riina-san.
Besides… with that person around Aisha right now—
Miluki, you've got no chance.
"Oy. It's our turn soon. There are barely any applicants left."
"Huh? Since when?"
While we were talking, most of them had already finished.
There were around 200 people earlier.
Now… only about 10 left, including us.
Alright.
Time to pass this and catch up to Aisha.
◆
"Alright. You pass."
That makes sixteen successful applicants so far. There shouldn't be many left… though at this rate, we might not even reach twenty.
No… the ones remaining are probably those who understand the true nature of this test. And people like that usually have the ability to match.
In fact, the last few candidates have all passed consecutively. I had planned to carefully select around twenty players, but depending on how the remaining applicants perform, we may exceed that number. If it comes to that, I might have to reject some of the weaker ones even if they've technically passed.
…What a troublesome job. If that happens, I'll definitely be resented.
Well, I knew what I was signing up for.
Hmm. The next challenger is here.
"Nice to meet you."
A child, huh. There are actually quite a few Nen users among children, but very few reach a practical, combat-ready level.
Still, applying common sense to Nen users is foolish.
…I learned that the hard way from Riina Lockbelt.
"Now then, show me your Ren."
"Ren, huh? Sure."
What the boy displayed… was simply Ren.
…Good grief.
He was told to show Ren and obediently did just that. Amateur. He doesn't even understand basic Hunter terminology.
And yet, he made it this far—
"—W-What incredible aura!"
"Well? Is this still not enough?"
Is he really as young as he looks!? His Ren is on par with mine! For a boy his age to produce this much aura…!
"No… you pass."
Judging by his expression, he expected to pass with Ren alone.
A cheeky kid… but promising—and honestly, a little frightening.
…I can't afford to slack off either.
Now then, the next challenger…
Another child? About the same age as the last one. Since they came one after another, they're probably companions.
In that case…
"Show me your Ren."
"OSS! Hah!"
With a shout, aura bursts out.
As expected. His aura volume rivals the previous boy's—no, in raw power, this one surpasses him!
What incredible children…!
This boy seems to be taking "Ren" literally, unlike the last one.
But I can't fail someone with this level of fundamentals over something like that.
Strong players may become rivals, but I won't let personal feelings interfere.
"Very well. You pass."
"Yes!"
"However, a word of advice. When a Hunter tells you to 'show your Ren,' it means 'show the results of your training.' It's a way of asking how strong you are. Remember that."
"Huh!? Really? Thanks! Um…"
"Tsezguerra."
"Right! Thanks, Tsezguerra-san!"
A straightforward kid. If he finds a good teacher, he'll grow even more.
…He reminds me of when I started.
"Now then, show me your Ren."
The next one is young too. Not quite like the previous boys, but still mid-teens.
A chain wrapped around his right hand… a weapon? Or something else?
"Ren, huh… That wall—would it be a problem if it got a little damaged?"
"Not at all. Show me everything you've got."
I see. He understands the Hunter meaning of Ren.
I glance toward the wall he pointed at—and then notice something wrong.
"What!?"
When did that happen!?
The chain from his right hand has crept along the ground and bound me!
And the moment my attention slipped from him, he was already at my throat, pressing a knife imbued with aura against it.
"…My apologies."
After a brief pause, he withdraws the knife and releases the chain.
He used words to guide my attention, bound me instantly, and his aura control on that knife was impressive.
No question—
"It's fine. You pass. Head through that door."
…To think I'd be caught off guard this many times in a row.
I need to stay sharp until the end.
"Ren? That's a Hunter term, right?"
"Yes. It means to show the results of your training."
The next challenger is slightly older than the others—late teens, maybe early twenties. Still young compared to most.
"Showing the results of training, huh…"
"Don't worry. I'm a professional Hunter—a Single, no less. I won't go around spreading what I see here."
"…Hmm. My ability is healing-type. You don't look injured, so would plain Ren not be enough?"
"Healing-type Nen, you say?"
If that's true, he's extremely rare.
Most Nen users create abilities for themselves. Support-types are already uncommon—and healing types are even rarer.
I need to confirm this.
"Wait. Then I'll make a wound. Heal it."
"Hey, hold on. I'm aiming to be a doctor—I can't just watch someone hurt themselves for no reason."
I see. A future doctor. Strong principles, good character.
Even without Nen, he'd make a fine one.
"Don't worry. Just a small cut on my fingertip."
"Alright… just a little, okay?"
I make a small cut and hold it out.
"Now, please."
"Got it. This is easy… there. All healed."
It's… completely healed.
No scar. Perfect restoration, instantly.
Definitely a healing ability.
Though with such a shallow wound, I can't judge its limits.
"How severe an injury can you heal?"
"Well, it depends on my medical knowledge too… but if I brute-force it with aura, I can probably heal most injuries. It's inefficient, though—I need more knowledge. The worst I've handled so far was massive abdominal damage with multiple organs injured. Managed to fully heal it."
"…I see. Remarkable ability. Continue honing it."
"Thanks. So, did I pass?"
"Of course. You pass."
"Alright!"
That ability will be incredibly valuable in Greed Island.
There are very few healing options in the game—only something like Breath of Archangel, and no one has even obtained that card yet.
In such a dangerous environment, a healer is priceless.
If he weren't already with a group, I'd recruit him myself.
Especially now… when something like a mass of malice is lurking in Greed Island.
"By the way, would you consider joining my team in Greed Island? I can assure you—we're the closest to clearing it. It'd be the fastest path to the reward. The payout won't be perfectly equal, but it'll be substantial."
"Appreciate it, but I came with my friends. I'll have to pass."
"I see. That's unfortunate. What's your name?"
"Leorio."
"As I said earlier, I'm Tsezguerra. If you need anything, contact me—I'll offer what help I can."
"Nice, thanks, Tsezguerra-san."
Well, it's partially self-interest—but there's no harm in building goodwill.
Still… a healing ability.
Back then, Battera explained why he was so obsessed with clearing Greed Island.
His lover fell into an unexplained coma. No doctor could cure her.
But Nen… perhaps Nen could.
…If she's healed, the reward for clearing the game might disappear.
For a Single-star Money Hunter like me… I've grown soft.
Maybe those young ones rubbed off on me.
…If it comes to that, I'll have to apologize to my team.
Well, I suppose I could at least request compensation for Leorio's information—and ensure the reward remains if the treatment succeeds.
…Though that would also mean compensating Leorio for revealing his ability without permission.
After saying I wouldn't spread it…
…Honestly, I've gotten far too soft.
I shouldn't have listened to Battera's story.
====================================
At last, we're finally entering the Greed Island arc. Puhat didn't get a single moment to shine.
Leorio is coming along too. It might not seem very like him to not focus on his medical studies, but even in the original story, I really wanted the four main characters to be active together. Leorio and Kurapika barely showed up for so long, after all…
Oh, and study materials can be brought into Greed Island. Between studying, training, and playing the game over there, Leorio is probably going to be the busiest one.
The malice lurking within Greed Island… what exactly is being overlooked here…?
Kastro is living the good life, surrounded by beautiful women (an old lady, a muscular old lady, and a former man).
Should he explode…? Nah, maybe not.
====================================
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