Chapter 89: Netero's Visit x Roy's Fury
In the world of darkness, a bright light shone upon a little girl. She wore a pink butterfly hair tie. Her eyeballs and tongue lolled out grotesquely as she reached for Moritonio. From the darkness behind her, countless hands surged forth—some grabbing his hair, some covering his mouth, some strangling his neck, others clinging to his legs—desperately pulling him into the endless void.
"The resentful Nen of those unjustly killed often returns to the earth after vengeance is achieved, making it difficult to utilize or capture."
"That child Roy is different. He seems able to absorb the power of the deceased to strengthen himself."
The day after Roy left home, Zeno came to give the Oldest Master his usual massage. Talk inevitably turned to the children of the family, accompanied by the usual critiques. Old people seem to share a common trait: they love to talk about their grandchildren. Maha tilted his neck back so Zeno could reach his back better, letting out a comfortable grunt. "Everyone's path is different. If he can do it, that's his ability."
"It's good for him to go out. Staying cooped up at home will turn him into a giant man-child sooner or later." 'Refining the heart through worldly experience'—how can one refine the heart without entering the world? A truly powerful Nen user must first have a sufficiently strong will. Whether good or evil, they cannot be the type to "shatter at the slightest touch."
"You speak wisely, Grandfather," Zeno agreed. "That child's reference point is the 'sun'. Taking it upon himself to illuminate all beings... it makes sense that the spirits of the dead would be drawn to him, even from a philosophical standpoint."
Philosophy? Maha shot Zeno a sideways glance. Is the kid trying to make a point? What philosophy? What illuminating all beings? "Is that brat Netero coming over again?!" The old man's tone was sharp, his gaze turning dangerous. Ever since Zzigg died, that kid had been looking for excuses to visit every few days. Did he really think Maha was just a decoration?
Zeno fell silent, neither confirming nor denying. He had always known his grandfather held a grudge against Netero for luring his father away back then. But with the twentieth anniversary of his father's passing approaching, and Netero requesting to see his dear friend, Zeno, as his son, couldn't refuse. And so—
WHAM!
Maha kicked him clean out of the room!
"Go find your philosophy! This old man disowns you as a grandson!"
Crash! Glass shattered. Zeno became a black dot receding into the distance. He had almost been kicked hard enough to trigger Nen After Death. It showed just how terrifying accumulated resentment could be!
Guianas.
In the darkness, the girl wrapped herself around Moritonio's neck. "Brother," she whispered幽幽道, "I missed you so much... I really, really missed you."
"It's been forty years. Can you tell me now, why did you strangle me that night?"
"You don't know how much it hurt... how awful it felt... I couldn't breathe at all... I begged you to let me go... but you squeezed even harder... So, my dear brother Moritonio, answer me!"
"Am I really your sister?!"
"Look me in the eyes and answer me!"
Shriek...
Pitch-black Resentful Nen shot towards the sky, startling nearby birds into flight. Moritonio was torn apart as he fell into hell. He, who had spent his entire life chasing thrills, finally discovered that he, too, could feel fear, could feel terror. He couldn't bear to face his sister's miserable, dead visage. He could only look pleadingly at Roy, as if to say, 'Save me.'
Roy remained unmoved. He pulled his cane sword free with a wet schlick, dripping blood. "Your sister is right here," he said calmly. "Why don't you ask her for help?"
Moritonio: "..." He never thought the blade he had wielded years ago would circle back and finally strike him down. He struggled to reach out a hand, only to be dragged down by even more hands.
The resentment surged. Of all the spirits Roy had encountered, the girl's malice was the strongest. He couldn't imagine the agony of being murdered by a loved one simply because one's expression wasn't 'surprised' enough, and then suffering in silence for forty years.
He watched quietly.
Pop. Moritonio's soul burst like a bubble the moment it was fully submerged in darkness.
Just then, an evening breeze swept through the alley, lifting Hisoka's red hair back. The boy stood atop the wall, watching with rapt attention.
The Resentful Nen, now without a vessel, lingered, stunned, for a long moment. It turned to look at Roy, then curtsied respectfully. Roy could even see the pretty pink butterfly bow tying her hair as she lowered her little head.
He faintly heard her say, "Thank you, brother."
"You're welcome." Roy sheathed his sword and gave her a slight nod. A realization dawned on him—the girl was strong! Her resentment was immense! She wasn't like the other remnant souls he had absorbed, whose spirits were too weak to exist independently and simply dissipated once their anchor was gone. Instead, her hatred had birthed resentment, and coupled with the 'blood tie', even without a host, she could linger, with the sky as her blanket and the earth her bed, perhaps even finding some measure of freedom for a time. It all depended on whether she wanted to.
The night grew deeper. A few leaves drifted down onto Moritonio's corpse. The girl straightened up, floated on the wind, seemingly wanting to see the world. She saw the flashing neon lights of the street, the endless stream of cars, the passage of time. Forty years had passed in the blink of an eye. Everything had changed; there was no place left for her here. So many things she didn't recognize, so many people wearing false masks, so many fake smiles that felt alien and frightening. When she landed again, without hesitation, she plunged into Roy's embrace, as if only there could she find a sliver of the warmth she craved.
"No... brother, I hate this world. I don't want to be human again..."
[Notification: "Life Energy" +50]
Faintly, Roy seemed to hear the girl's whisper. He leaned on his cane sword, looking up at the sky, letting the night wind blow through his bangs. His emotions stirred, tinged with a faint sadness. Clap, clap, clap. Applause broke the silence of the night.
Hisoka spread his arms wide. "What a spectacular performance ¤," he praised, his expression ecstatic, clearly wanting more.
Gotoh shot him a look and moved closer to Roy. The girl he had shielded had already safely left the alley; she was probably home by now. Only the two of them and the clown remained in the narrow passage. It felt somewhat eerie.
"If I told you... that you actually stole my prey... would you believe me? ♣" Hisoka shoved his hands in his pockets, jumped straight down from the wall, his eyes locked onto Roy as he licked his lips.
"Drop the act." Gotoh mirrored the gesture, hands in his pockets, gripping several coins, and glared back. In that instant, it felt like time warped, bringing a fated encounter forward. The young butler shielded Roy protectively, his voice cold. "Moritonio was your Director. As his troupe member, you had countless opportunities to act. Why didn't you do it sooner?" Now that the man was dead, blaming the Young Master? Gotoh had to make him understand that a butler's patience has limits! Especially when it concerned his master!
"Heh heh heh..." Hisoka covered his face, peering at Roy through his fingers with a sinister grin. "Because... your master is far more enticing, you see ♦." Ah... Subarashii... So beautiful, so wonderful, I want to devour him...♠ His expression gradually twisted, and a wave of malice uncontrollably surged from him towards Roy.
Gotoh narrowed his eyes, discreetly pulling out his coins. Just as he was about to strike, a hand pressed down on his. A cool breeze brushed past his shoulder. The next moment...
The boy, his sun-and-mountain earrings swaying, left afterimages in his wake. In Hisoka's widening pupils, twin suns ignited fwoosh, seeing through the clown's every move. Roy slammed a hand onto Hisoka's head, embedding it, neck and all, into the wall. Only his body remained outside, twitching twice before falling still.
So...
"Why the hell do I keep running into psychos?"
☆ ☆☆
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