Everyone was stunned.
Katsubi stepped forward, tension tightening his face.
"Enough… this isn't right. What are you trying to say?"
Before Killua could answer, Lina slid closer to the pit where the creature's remains lay. Her tone was cold, detached:
"The Parasaito is dead. There isn't even the faintest trace of a soul left in it."
Killua narrowed his eyes.
"You seem calm… is there something we don't know?"
Lina replied icily, "Yes. I know that Khayri is willing to do anything… to gain power."
Katsubi gasped.
"So he really considered letting that thing take over? Even though it would devour his mind and body?!"
Lina: "I told you. He seeks strength because his true enemy is terrifyingly powerful."
Rejil stepped closer.
"You've known him a long time, haven't you?"
Lina took out a small lab vial.
"I'll collect a sample for research."
Killua: "But—"
Rejil: "She's a biological researcher. It's fine."
Lina placed the sample in a secure case and stepped out of the hole.
Then she said calmly, "Katsubi will handle the rest." (Katsubi is responsible for the final disposal of the target.)
She continued:
"You can't call it knowledge, not really. Khayri is secretive. My grandfather treated him once—he was in terrible condition, badly injured, and clearly being hunted."
She exhaled slowly, recalling:
"I was thirteen when we met. Even after all these years, I never understood him fully. My grandfather was a physical therapist, but also studied spiritual phenomena. They grew close through those conversations… and stayed in contact until my grandfather died under unknown circumstances."
She looked down.
"He never told me why he was injured that day. He's never been able to use his left arm since. I don't know who his enemy was."
"He trained endlessly, obsessed… and fascinated by my grandfather's research on the supernatural. That's how he ended up here."
Katsubi slammed his foot.
"Damn it… he broke the oath. He was about to surrender himself to darkness."
Lina turned to Killua.
"You… you haven't taken the oath yet."
Killua exhaled deeply, preparing to leave.
"My time with you taught me a lot. But I'm not meant to be one of you. I have to go."
Katsubi: "You're really leaving?"
Rejil: "Don't be stupid, Killua! We could sync better as a team!"
Killua shook his head.
"It's not about syncing. I just can't stay in one place for long. Thank you."
Rejil sighed.
"As you wish… but you didn't come alone. What happened before?"
Killua nodded quietly.
"Yes. I came with my sister. I'll go back to her now."
As he left, Lina smiled and whispered:
"This boy… he hides his own secrets while uncovering others."
Killua wandered home deep in thought.
(Is what I heard really true?)
A memory flashed: Khayri's trembling voice whispering to the Parasaito:
"Damn it… should I do it? We both want it… but if I had the power… then—"
He stubbed his toe on the table.
"Ah! 😵💫"
Alluka peeked out.
"Killua? Are you okay?"
Killua, embarrassed:
"Sorry…"
Alluka smiled warmly.
"I'm done. I'm glad we're leaving this gloomy place."
Killua laughed.
"It's like the Zoldyck house."
Then softly:
"But… there's someone I need to visit."
Alluka stayed silent.😶
*****In an abandoned office across the city, Khayri sat alone, drinking.
"Was I really about to do it? Is this weakness going to swallow me?"
He smashed the glass.
"I won't stop. Not until I try one last time."
From the shadows… Killua emerged.
Khayri stood abruptly.
"Why are you here? Lina said you left."
Killua:
"One last thing… before I go."
Khayri smirked.
"Don't tell me you came to say goodbye."
Killua:
"Partly. But I also have questions."
Khayri sat back down.
"About what?"
Killua:
"You know something about the book."
Khayri:
"Not exactly. But the incantation hinted you at something...?."
Killua:
"Nothing important, maybe… But I heard what you said there. I know you know something."
Khayri, coldly:
"Don't get your hopes up. I don't care what you think. I don't know anything."
Killua clenched his fists. "Okay. One last question. What was the crazy motive behind what you wanted to do?"
Khayri:
"You really think I'd tell you anything personal?"
Killua stepped forward.
"Let's make a deal."
Khayri:
"On what?"
Killua:
"I can help you. Trust me."
Khayri's eyes narrowed.
"You're asking about the book… so you don't have it. What can you possibly offer me?"
Killua whispered:
"Oblivion."
Khayri exploded:
"Idiot! You think I'd believe your crap?! Get out!"
Killua:
"So you don't want it."
Khayri mumbled:
"I wish I had your power. I'd teach you a lesson for messing with me."
Killua:
"Sorry… for making me do this."
A dark aura enveloped him.
Khayri panicked and stepped back, but it was useless.
In a heartbeat, Killua appeared behind him, twisted his arm, and slammed him to the ground.
Khayri growled:
"It won't work—!"
A shadow formed beside him. A hand touched his shoulder.
Khayri froze.
"What… what are you doing?!"
Killua:
"Make him obey my commands. All of them."
Nanika's soft voice:
"Okay. It's yours."
Khayri screamed—
Then fell silent.
Killed inside, he whispered obediently:
"The book… it belonged to the royal family. The Kingdom of Kakin. Maybe… with the Fourth Prince. He hoards rare artifacts. I don't know if it's still there."
"I tried to find it myself… I almost died."
Killua:
"What does it look like?"
Khayri:
"Plain. Ordinary. What matters… is the content."
Killua:
"Who created it?"
Khayri:
"Something not from our world. Maybe from the Dark Continent. No one knows how it came here."
"It is… unique."
Killua:
"One more question—"
Khayri interrupted, voice cracking:
"I want it… desperately."
Killua:
"Why?"
Khayri's tears fell.
"To bring back my twin brother. I want… to wake him. He's there because of me."
Killua froze.
(So this book… is like Nanika?)
Khayri continued:
"He tried to save me from the fire. We were fifteen. I argued with my mother and locked myself in the room with my headphones. I don't know what happened… suddenly everything was burning."
"My brother Khai broke in to save me. He succeeded. But we both fainted. I woke up. He… didn't."
"Our parents died. And I lost Khai because of my own stupidity."
He trembled.
"I want to try again. To free him… or join him."
Killua closed his eyes.
Remembering the terror he felt when Gon was in a coma.
Khayri:
"Sadness alone is harsh. But guilt… it kills you."
Killua:
"You must obey me now, right?"
Khayri:
"Yes…"
Killua: "Then listen. From this day forward, you are the one who saved Khai that day. You did everything you could. There's nothing more to blame yourself for. And Khai… he will wake up someday."
"Seek happiness—not cursed power."
Killua left, this time accompanied by Nanika—as part of a deal, letting her go out for just one day after fulfilling his request.
Later, Khayri slowly woke up and touched his head.
"Huh… did I fall asleep here?"