Chapter 116: Pleasant Bad Things

The moment I saw Abaki riding on Jack, his hands placed on his thin neck trying to strangle him, the faint black spots around Atalante's temples burst open, wriggling like amoebas, staining nearly half of her face.

Atalante's emotions also erupted along with the stains.

She could not see.

Abaki's face, like hers, had a creepy black spot that wriggled and changed shape; he didn't even notice he was strangling him, and Jack didn't seem to be in pain even while being strangled.

Even though I could see them, when I saw them, my explosive emotions would override everything I thought and understood.

Atalante was unable to move, filled with the swelling emotions in her mind.

"What are you doing!!"

"That's my line, Bokeh!!"

Atalante refined her Aura, struck a pose as if holding a bow and arrow, though there was nothing there, and without hesitation, fixed her gaze on the target. Screaming, Atalante flipped the high-density Aura emitted by her right hand using "Hard".

The reason I didn't kill the Spirit Arrow shot by Atalante's Direct Death was that I judged the premonition of death—where they would spin, accelerate, and repel them—to be a bad move.

Sora had to do more than just protect Abaki and Jack from Atalante's attack; he had to stop Abaki, not by trying to force his balance, but by using that momentum to pivot on his left hand and kick Abaki, who was going all out behind him, reacting to the rotation with his legs.

"Agu!"

"Kho! Mom!!"

Abaki, kicked away by Sora without hesitation, hit the Wall and passed out.

Just as the hands were removed from Jack's neck and Abaki's body, Jack coughed and rushed to his mother's side.

There, naturally, there was no hatred for the mother who had hurt him, let alone fear; he wasn't even confused. He was purely worried about Mom, so he rushed over.

But Atalante cried.

"Jack! Get away from that Demon!!"

Shouting loudly, Jack's actions were irrelevant to Abaki's actions; she made another move, loaded an arrow into her bow, and fired a Spirit Arrow.

Jack rushed toward the unconscious Abaki without hesitation.

This time, Sora used his right hand, which was only covered in "Goo"-like Aura, to slash and neutralize Atalante's Spirit Arrow.

Although he had done something impossible as a Nen user, Atalante never questioned it.

However, he glared at Sora, who was protecting Abaki, his eyes filled with hatred, and roared.

"Don't get in my way!! Why are you getting in my way!!"

"... I don't think there's any point in you hearing this, but calm down and take a good look!"

Does it look like Mr. Abaki is trying to kill him because of Jack's rudeness or annoyance?!? Seeing me crying and apologizing while also strangling his neck, do you think this mental state is okay!?!?

I mean, even if you are no longer "Healed," you can see the spots on your face!! Abaki-san is already bad enough, hurry up and look in a mirror! The same spots are floating on you too!!"

I tried to point out that Sora hadn't done anything until now, but just as Sora thought, Atalante didn't listen to Sora.

No, I could hear, but that didn't mean anything. Neither Sora's words nor the clear facts reached her mind or heart.

Before it reached you, it carried amplified emotions, twisting the answer into something different from the facts.

"Shut up!! If you are a mom, if you truly love your child, no matter what, no matter how, no matter the reason, you should protect them!"

Once you lay a hand on a child, that person is no longer a parent! A Demon worse than a beast!!"

This was likely what Atalante had been thinking from the start.

In my sanity, I thought: "Parents are human too, so sometimes I feel bad for their children. Those who exploit that are heretics, and the parents are victims too." The dissatisfaction he couldn't help but feel, even though he knew it was bloated, was thrown away, consumed his sanity, and dyed Atalante's thoughts a single color.

Regardless of the situation, the current Atalante would not consider them. I couldn't even see the will of the child I wanted to protect.

Atalante, having seen the most unforgivable thing, a parent hurting a child, was dominated by anger and hatred.

Now, to her, Abaki and Sora, who were hindering her, were nothing more than unforgivable enemies.

"Tch! Looks like the timing is the worst. Sorry, Jack. I'll do something about this idiot so you can Escape with Abaki-san."

Sora sneered at Atalante, who had turned into hatred for a parent hurting a child and an obsession with her own ideals, and gave instructions to Jack behind him.

"... Sorry. We let our guard down, thinking..."

"Yeah, I know."

Sora laughed at Jack's apology and comforted him, saying there was no problem at all.

If she had listened to the conversation properly, even if she didn't quite understand what Jack was saying, she should have understood that it wasn't Sora who made Jack sad, but Atalante didn't understand that now.

"You made a child cry, what are you laughing at!?"

It was a complete accusation, but for Atalante, who shouted out an unshakable truth, she pulled out an arrow again and fired it.

Not only Sora, but Jack, who was holding Abaki, also dodged, and a large hole was opened in the Wall.

Jack jumped out of the hole, holding Abaki, and ran away.

"!! Jack!!"

Atalante's focus was one-way toward Jack, but still very worried about his safety, he chased after him to the large hole he had dug in the Wall.

But before she could catch up to Jack, before she could jump out of the hole in the Wall, Sora blocked her path and, without hesitation, delivered a Heavy blow to her body with his Aura-filled right arm.

"Take a nap and calm down!"

However, even though Sora's fist smashed into Atalante's stomach, it only felt like his ribs had cracked.

"! Are you an Enhancer too!"

"Are you still getting in the way!?"

Judging by the way she attacked just now, I thought she was an Emitter, but it seems Atalante, like Sora, is an Enhancer, using compatible adjacent systems more than the original system, so the armor was harder than Sora expected, and she passed out. It was far from enough; I couldn't even feel pain because I was so angry that the drugs secreted in my brain were dangerous.

Nearly half of Atalante didn't know that Jack had already escaped from him, and was dominated by the thought that he must protect Jack and kill Abaki who hurt Jack; he was covered in eerily wriggling stains, his eyes filled with hatred, further amplifying his Aura.

"If you get in my way, I'll kill you first!"

Identifying Sora completely as an enemy, Atalante wrapped herself in Aura, strengthening her body and undergoing Transmutation.

It sought the flexible power of a beast, sharp fangs and claws, and wings that pierced the sky; it replaced Atalante's own body.

"!?"

Sora felt danger from the expanding aura, quickly moved away from Atalante, and was left speechless by the scene before him.

The aura turned dark and enveloped Atalante's body. The aura shrouding Atalante fulfilled her wish.

The aura covering Atalante was that of beastly muscular strength, sharp claws on her hands and feet, a strong jaw and fangs on her face, and black aura entwined around her arms, transforming into wings.

Of course, Atalante's body, which served as the axis, belonged to a human. It was impossible for her to become a beast; the nerves throughout her body were screaming, but she ignored such things.

Because for Atalante, there were things more important than this.

Because there were things that must be protected.

Therefore, there was an enemy before her that must be annihilated.

Therefore, Atalante transformed herself into a Beast.

"Divine Punishment Boar Metamorphosis Agriculture!!"

She only wanted to protect her children.

She hoped that children being loved and cared for by their parents would become commonplace, and when those children became parents, she would give her children the same kindness she had received.

Because she was not granted such "nature," and because she was abandoned and lacked the "love for one's own children" that a beast should have, Atalante sought it.

Atalante was a wild child raised by a beast.

She did not know if she was originally of noble birth; in any case, Atalante was born to a wealthy family, but her father, who was only looking for an heir, decided Atalante was worthless simply because she was a girl. He ordered her mother to abandon her shortly after birth, and the mother obediently followed her husband's tyrannical order, abandoning the child in the mountains.

She still remembered.

Her father did not even look at her profile, even when she apologized, "I'm sorry." If she hadn't persuaded her husband, she might have thrown her in front of an orphanage. Atalante remembered her mother, who faithfully obeyed him and abandoned her in the desperate mountains, even though she was still an infant who had just opened her eyes and learned to hear.

Perhaps this was a false memory created after she was rescued and reunited with her biological parents, but even so, Atalante's parents were trash.

This time, they did not regret throwing her away; instead, they welcomed Atalante into their family as their daughter.

The abandoned Atalante was raised by a female wild cat.

Originally, she was surely meant to be food, but the wild cat had apparently died shortly after giving birth, and the wild cat herself was likely trying to bury the sorrow of losing her own child.

For Atalante, the mother was absolutely that wild cat. Even if it was only in place of her own child, she still had the memory of being loved and raised.

However, the days of Atalante and the wild cat mother ended after about three years.

Before Atalante's eyes, her mother was shot and killed by a human Hunter.

Of course, from the perspective of the Hunter who found Atalante and the wild cat, it seemed the wild cat was trying to eat an infant, so he shot and killed the wild cat to help her.

The Hunter who shot the wild cat mother was a truly good person, and she knew she should be grateful, but the despair and hatred of seeing her mother killed before her eyes, and the days of recalling her reunion with her biological parents after being protected by a human—even knowing it was resentment, she could not help but hate that Hunter.

The reason her parents took Atalante in was not because they regretted their actions.

However, because it was a country that required the registration of DNA and other biometric data at birth, Atalante's own data did not exist because she had been thrown away before registration, but her parents' data was there, so it was quickly found. The real parents could not escape the fact that she was their child, so they only had a touching reunion with the daughter who had been separated from them due to an unfortunate accident.

From then on, until she ran away from home at the age of 12, Atalante was nothing more than a display piece to her parents.

For Atalante, who had been pampered like a beast, she could not endure this lifestyle that was no different from a tool for a political marriage; she successfully passed the Hunter Exam and became a Professional Hunter.

At first, she wanted to protect her biological mother, the wild animal, from the attacks of Poachers, but by the time she became a Hunter, the target she wanted to protect had changed.

Although she was originally a wild child raised by a wild cat, Atalante's view of life and death was basically that of a beast, the way of the law.

Therefore, to wild animals, whether it was poaching or legal hunting, Hunters were enemies, but at the same time, if they were hunted, she firmly believed they had simply died because they were weak. Even if she regretted ending her life here, and she had some regrets, she would not hold a grudge against another person.

This was why she thought Atalante's idea of "protecting" would tarnish the self-esteem of wild animals and her mother.

Instead, she wanted to protect values that transcended beasts, such as "I should die because I am weak." A world where one is loved, protected, and lives happily.

After leaving home and starting to live alone in the human world instead of the mountains, she realized she was still a blessed child.

Homeless children, wandering children, and abandoned children made Atalante realize their existence without a word.

Although they had no blood relationship, and although they were of different races, she had received a mother's love.

Even if she did not have the love of parents, she could live without worrying about food, clothing, and shelter until she was old enough to survive on her own.

She was reminded again and again that the environment she was in was more than enough for her.

She tried to save that abandoned infant, but when she finally saw the child die in her arms, she desperately made a vow.

Let us save not only children like me, but also children in even more tragic situations.

The happy cycle of a child being loved and cherished by their parents as they grow up, and giving the same thing back to their own children when that child becomes a parent one day, would become commonplace.

She did not want to think that she had to rely on the miracles of gods and Magic, even if she relied on them, there was no guarantee that her wishes would be fulfilled.

On the contrary, she was angry that this was not the norm.

Therefore, Atalante struggled.

She could not give up. If she gave up, she would not know why the mother killed that day, or the children she still could not help, had to die.

She did not think of them as necessary sacrifices to become the cornerstone of Atalante's dream. She did not want to make any sacrifices, and in fact, she hoped that her mother, the wild cat, and the children she could not save could live and be happy, so Atalante could not stagnate, nor could she look back.

At the very least, at the very least, she wanted to dedicate this dream to the victims.

In order for Atalante to live in the future and heal the traumas of the past, she withdrew from people because of her dream.

In order to use what her mother taught her, to protect what she wanted to protect, and to realize her wish as a human, the parts of others were nothing more than Obstacles.

This was why the aura draped over Atalante transformed into the skin of a demon, containing all the characteristics of a beast, and she faced the enemy as a demon.

Atalante lost human reason, driven only by human emotions rather than animal instincts; she no longer understood.

What did that person identified as an "enemy" say to her, reaching out a hand to bring her here?

She no longer remembered that it was the person who picked up Atalante's frustrated dream and returned it to her.

(Disgusting!!)

Seeing Atalante wrapped in Atalante's body, turning Atalante into a non-human, echoed in Sora's mind one after another.

The product of Sora's madness, a crazy calculation mechanism, constantly fulfilling his wish not to die.

Her ability was his natural enemy.

It is not the natural enemy of Direct Death. Sora's field of vision is still covered in lines and points of death that he cannot escape even if he goes mad.

As for the means of attack, this is probably a type of close-quarters combat ability. Compared to the previous Spirit Arrow, it would be more convenient if I could get into my range from there.

The problem is that this ability of Atalante is a type of Enhancement ability closer to a transformation type.

Imagining how one should move, how the other side will move in an instant, dreaming of one's own death, and continuing to refuse death. A Spider's leg, using oneself as a tombstone.

Like Uvogin, the Nen Ability that can enhance one's own body cannot be separated from Atalante herself. What Sora is clicking his tongue at is not just that ability, but also the ability that, if it were Direct Death, would at best only result in severe aftereffects.

Atalante did not consider the meaning or reason for that click. She did not know.

She did not know what the "enemy" in front of her was thinking, nor did she know what was blocking her path; she wrapped her entire body in her Beast skin Aura, crawling on all fours like a beast, lowering her upper body like a spring instead of raising her hips.

To call the person caught between Atalante, who is in a full beast-hunting posture, and Sora, who is glaring at him with sky-blue eyes and the eyes of a beast, a fool is simply heartless.

"Abaki! Jack!!"

Abaki let out a scream, Sora and Atalante suddenly tore open the door and burst into the room, a series of incomprehensible situations occurred, the thugs coming out of the room were panicked, and I suddenly entered the room, trying to pass between Sora and Atalante.

... I don't even have to think about what I'm thinking.

After seeing so many bizarre scenes in succession, I was stunned for a moment, but I think I finally noticed.

In fact, Jack jumped down from the fifth floor of the Hotel holding Abaki.

Even Atalante, who had lost her mind, let alone Sora, knew that Jack, who reminded the dead, would not be that bad to adults. What made Atalante worry was that he took away Abaki, who was trying to kill Jack.

However, from the perspective of ordinary people who cannot know these things, and from the perspective of the troupe members, Jack was panicking and trying to escape from Atalante, while Atalante suddenly attacked him for no reason. That is all that could be seen.

Therefore, in her view, what she did was precisely because she was genuinely worried about her friend and his daughter. Speaking of stupidity, this is the stupidest thing, but as a person, it is undoubtedly a precious thing.

However, the hatred for parents who betray, hurt, and even try to kill their own children, and the feeling that one must save the child betrayed by their parents, dominated Atalante, putting Jack's concerns aside. The woman who was also worried about Abaki was likewise an "enemy."

"Aaaaaahhh!!"

Atalante left human language behind, raised the threatening voice of a beast, and first swung the claws of a Beast toward the defenseless, foolish prey that jumped out in front of her.

"! Hello!?"

"Sorry!"

The woman who walked into the room in a near panic finally understood from Atalante's voice that this was not a world she should step into, let out a cramped scream, almost cast aside all fantasies of rejecting the woman, and pushed the woman aside to move forward.

Atalante's claws crossed Sora's already "healed" arms to avoid fatal damage to the face and neck, but the damage could not be completely offset, and Sora's arms were still stained with his own blood.

Ignoring the pain, Sora walked into Atalante's distance, stretched out his blood-stained arms, pressed them against Atalante's body, and forcibly hugged her body with the absurd power that also utilized Enhancement.

"You're in such a hurry, come down too!"

The moment Atalante was shouting and trying to pull Sora out of his hands, he arrived near the hole Jack jumped down from, and Sora tripped while still holding Atalante, causing him to lose his balance. I fell down from the hole. Digging a hole for himself.

While falling, Sora's sky-blue eyes instantly turned azure.

I found it, my eyes filled with anger.

One of the thugs watching us in the room. I don't know if he is familiar, but I am glaring at a boy of about 17 with a flat face.

I know he is John, even though I don't recognize his face.

He didn't seem to notice Sora's gaze; after removing his makeup, his smile was the same as his makeup.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

Having to watch the opponent who should have been fighting run away, a regretful scream rang out in the air about having to fight an opponent he did not want to fight.

Atalante could not understand the meaning of that scream, twisted her face in annoyance and anger, turned her Aura into wings during the fall, and tried to pull Sora away while slowing down, but in the end, Sora did not let go. Fell to the ground.

However, because she pressed Sora under her, although she protected her whole body with Aura, the moment Sora's injured hand left her body, she stood up, and Atalante was able to use the monster's skin to become human. Relying on her transcendent five senses to find Jack.

But before she could find Jack, Atalante fell clumsily within a step of Sora.

Although slowed down by Atalante's wings, it could not negate the damage from falling from the fifth floor. It might have made her fall.

"... What, are you trying to go by yourself?"

"I told you not to get in my way!!"

Atalante swung her claws again at anyone who grabbed her leg, hindered her, and stood in the way of her dream of saving the child.

This time, she hit Sora on the head, staining her white hair and white hair with blood.

Even so, Sora did not let go and looked up at Atalante.

"Didn't I tell you to leave the part I hit?"

Atalante didn't even know what the word meant. I don't remember where or who told me.

Even so, even though she was covered in blood and seriously injured, Atalante would not let go. The moment she saw the enemy who should have been blocking her, Atalante's face, wrapped in Demon beast skin, was bound to burst open. Tears streamed down. Twisted.

Although she couldn't remember, there was definitely an emotion that surged up with those words.

Atalante's chest must have been hurting because of her wounds, even though he himself was also injured.

Atalante's face was covered by a hood, and the black Aura completely obscured it. Seeing that the only mouth visible from there was not angry, but painful, twisted as if in confusion, Sora's heart sank.

(... Sorry, Atalante)

Atalante's reaction gave me confidence.

The ability placed on Atalante could not be killed directly by Sora.

Since this is also an Enhancement Nen Ability, it is as if this ability is parasitic on Atalante, so it is better to let Sora use Direct Death to kill this ability and let Atalante die herself.

In case something went wrong, she would very likely end up as a living corpse, unable to feel anything even if she were still alive.

However, since it does not have as much coercive force as the Control system, it is of course not Direct Death, and it can also be dispelled.

... But this is just a cruel method.

Regardless of whether she was mad before or is mad now, time is running out, and this is all Sora can think of.

Therefore, knowing in his heart that this is unforgivable, and bearing the sin that can never be forgiven, Sora acts for his own choice.

Jade eyes straight, fur Aura Sora looked deeply into Atalante's eyes and said.

"Atalante. What are you going to do?"

Atalante kicked Sora's hand that was grabbing her leg repeatedly and responded with an angry voice, showing her frustration at being asked such an obvious question.

... Although very annoyed, the attack on Sora was just a kick and not claws; he did not know that this was a warm attack that would not cause fatal damage.

"It should help Jack stay away from that bastard!"

"Who is the Demon?"

It was better than being slashed by claws, but if kicked by an enhanced leg, even if defending with Aura, it was still quite fierce.

Even so, Sora still grabbed Atalante's leg tightly, continued to look straight at her, and continued to press for an answer.

"Who is the Devil? From whom are you taking Jack away? Atalante, what do you mean by 'help'?"

"It must be that woman named Abaki who betrayed Jack's trust and feelings!!"

Don't you think there is nothing wrong with leaving a child to a woman who tried to kill her child?! To save that child... those children, the top priority should be to separate them from him!!"

"By your rulers others do not speak of salvation

While kicking, Atalante shouted the premise that he had to do this for his most important wish.

But for Atalante, what he had to do, which was breathing, and what he had to do, and saving the oppressed children, were all dismissed.

"Do not fall into trouble, you are the only one who can save those children.

As long as you are awake, one day you will be saved. It is just a question of whether you notice it.

Atalante. What you are doing, what you want to do, is not helping Jack. You are just trampling on others' salvation and happiness to save yourself."

"Don't be stupid!! Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!!"

Being stared at, although being looked up at, but not looking down on me, but pitying me, as if criticizing me. All the paths that should have been rejected, Atalante swung his arms and claws again.

Sure enough, the evil claws were blocked at the head again, the arms were full of Aura, and Sora rolled away from Atalante for the time being.

Sora finally left his feet, but Atalante ignored Sora and did not go to find Jack.

In his mind, it was his hatred for Sora. Feeling angry about being deprived of everything about me.

And then... still too small to notice, hidden in the shadows of hatred and anger, but it did cause anxiety.

Blood rushed to my head. Hatred and anger erode reason, making it impossible for people to find another way.

However, that hatred and anger must be Atalante's, so it was not imposed by anyone, but created by Atalante's heart, because it was true feelings, no one, not even Atalante himself, could stop it.

Except for hatred and anger, nothing could stop the emergence of emotions.

Covered in blood, Sora still stood up, and in order to further amplify the anxiety that arose, he shook.

Because Atalante had a good temper, even if he was unwilling, he would cling to him.

"Do you only want to hear and see what you want to hear and see, while shutting out anything inconvenient?

In order to save yourself, to be worshipped, to take away the salvation of a child who has already been saved, to trample, to match yourself with the face of the Virgin!?"

"Shut up!!"

Atalante shouted to interrupt Sora.

But compared to the previous voice, that shout was trembling.

Not even noticing the change in his own voice... Atalante pretended not to notice and lunged at Sora like a Beast again.

However, even if there were people around, everyone was afraid of that battle that was either war or separation, everyone could only watch from afar, not even daring to get close, I couldn't stand it. While continuing to speak, he avoided Atalante's attacks by calculating movements with an instinct similar to his innate Fortune Telling.

... This was never my intention, and Sora himself never tried to cover up his selfishness with beautiful things. Knowing this was her heart, she denied everything about her.

If you don't do this, you won't be able to solve the terrible "knowledge" that controls Atalante.

Sora said while regretting his own powerlessness and cursing his own meaningless eyes.

"What you are trying to do is meaningless."

If the culprit is a living person, I think it should be an ability similar to an Inugami.

Otherwise I cannot explain it.

So Sora guessed that the ability user was either the Manipulation System or an Emission/Specialization adjacent to the Manipulation System, and Atalante thought so too.

That was his biggest mistake, and Sora's heart was full of regret.

The other party also knew that if this series of events was done by a Nen user, the most suspicious system was the Manipulation System, so he showed it.

The mistake on Sora's side was that Atalante fell into his guess of knowing nothing about "just in case" and tried to escape the suspect by showing off his lineage.

It was precisely because she gave her the preconceived notion that "the culprit is the Manipulation System" by adding extra prior knowledge, and it was precisely because she let her guard down when seeing the results of the mizumi ritual, that she became a victim of the culprit's fangs.

(Stupid, stupid, I'm stupid!

I know the culprit is likely a likable criminal, but I can't assume I can't control it completely!!)

Even if it's not the Manipulation System, if the power of special Fixed feelings transforms into death hand increasing width, then using the Enhancement system is fine!!)

While dodging Atalante's attacks, Sora regretted while further amplifying Atalante's hatred and anger, while trembling and revealing anxiety.

Sora thought about it and immediately wondered: "Is it possible that enhancement and amplification have no substance?" Do not do it.

If you can only control things with substance, you should not be able to control a dog that has lost its physical body and turned into a soul breath.

First of all, Aura itself is Life Energy without substance. It is the same as or very close to the so-called soul, and its characteristic is that human emotions are the most influential.

Thinking this way, it seems more natural to be better at manipulating and enhancing things that do not exist than things that have substance.

This is why Sora concluded that having the ability to "enhance and amplify specific emotions" is not strange.

... At the same time, realizing that he made a terrible mistake when saying nice things to Atalante, considering her misanthropy and world-weariness, this person should have been disadvantageous.

"What you are trying to do is meaningless.

That child, Jack, has already been saved. It wasn't you who saved me, it was Mr. Abaki. There was no special reason, and he didn't want to save Jack, classmate Akagi grabbed the child's outstretched hand.

No matter what you do now, it is nothing more than a manifestation of self-satisfaction."

"Shut up! What are you looking at to say such things!?

That woman put her hand on Jack's neck! I want to kill you, I was almost killed, but Jack was saved by that woman, why should I get in the way!?"

He lashed out at Sora's words, waving his Beast arms unscrupulously, questioning what he did wrong and how Abaki helped Jack.

When asked, Atalante recalled his memories. I remember.

Right now, I still cannot see the true facts, because there is a thick emotional filter.

What was the expression on Abaki's face when he strangled Jack?

Jack was strangled, and the entire story of what he did played back in his memory, distorting the way Atalante wanted it to be.

However, even if people lie to themselves, they cannot hide anything.

Hidden by the filter, deep in our distorted memories, there is always a fact that, no matter how we look away, cannot be ignored.

Therefore, the more hatred and anger boil, the deeper the truth, and the more unease and guilt it oozes.

Slowly, but surely, the oozing emotions are unknowingly dissolving the thick filter layer by layer.

If he were deprived of control over his mind and body by a Manipulation ability, that would be another matter, but if Sora's guess is true, this ability only "enhances and amplifies the opponent's specific emotions," and I cannot control the target's actions.

Emotions are quantified, blood rushes to the head, reason disappears, you can't remember anything, and what was originally just a momentary boil is allowed to spiral out of control.

Conversely, it has been confirmed with Atalante that this ability only strengthens emotions and cannot prevent the opponent from developing an attachment to emotions they do not want to be attached to.

Although she has a relatively good opinion of him, she must think, "I don't like him."

The disgust is smaller than usual, but it hasn't disappeared, so at most I can only shift my gaze away from other emerging emotions.

At this moment, the emotions and thoughts occupying her mind and heart are undoubtedly Atalante's own, but at the same time, it is impossible to Seal the emotions and thoughts that the criminal does not want to attach to, strengthening her. The amplified Aura is also not infinite.

If it is an Enhancer type, it should be good at Emission, so the fuel consumption is good and troublesome, but even so, as long as the remaining Aura is used up, the ability parasitizing her head will disappear.

This is why Sora amplifies them by inciting Atalante's hatred and anger.

"You can't understand without saying things like that, and you distort what you see without realizing it, which proves that what you are doing is self-satisfaction!"

"Damn it!!!"

Without knowing Sora's intentions, Atalante's hatred grew as never before.

"Are you going to cut down that child, those children too!?"

For the sake of laws, rules, and evidence—those sleeping things—are you going to abandon lives that are suffering before your eyes and losing their lives at any moment!?"

You should know!? You must have taught me!! Those children just wanted to be born, just wanted to live!!"

How can you accept that, for whatever reason, taking care of that young child, a kind and innocent child who should be protected as innocent, is salvation!?!"

I! I must reach out! Even if I dirty my hands, if I don't take her away from her, those children's simple wishes won't be realized, so why must you block my path!?"

I can see water droplets dripping from my cheeks and my chin from my mouth, barely visible through the Beast's fur.

While crying and sobbing, Atalante appealed and asked.

While feeling disgusted and angry at Sora's words, he asked, "Why?"

I think this might be my friend.

Why reject my wish?

Overwhelmed by hatred and anger, the unease and guilt that were originally painted over and invisible gradually became impossible to ignore.

Pushed by Sora, the Aura applied to Atalante was further amplified, exploding even without enhancement.

Because hatred and anger were amplified, the emotions that followed, because you know that what you are saying and doing is crazy, this is why Sora is right. The guilt generated by this understanding is amplified, and it is so great that it cannot be ignored even without enhancement.

... So, it would be fine to just keep dodging Atalante's attacks.

With so much guilt, the danger to Sora's own life is greatly reduced. This is why, as an incited wabi-sabi, becoming a vent for Atalante's amplified emotions and stress until the Aura shrouding him completely disappears would be a good thing.

But I don't have the time to do that.

If he hadn't noticed the commotion, there would be time. But he was watching the match with a smile on his face.

Abaki and Atalante not only share the same ability, but are limited in number, except for Sora. The other party should have already sensed that he is the culprit.

The more he accompanies Atalante's emotional expression, the more time he has for the criminal to escape this town.

I am almost certain who the murderer is, so even if he runs away, as long as he uses his information network and connections as a hunter, and doesn't care about money, it is easy to catch him.

However, the other party did not have any purpose in causing this, but was a likable criminal just killing time.

Until he is caught, even if you try every way to escape using your ability, it is too troublesome, but the worst way is to give up on being caught. I cannot imagine how much damage that would cause.

The smile Sora saw before the crash convinced Sora that he came specifically to watch the commotion, that he is the type who would give up on that kind of despair, or that he is the type who cannot give up on that kind of despair. Even if he is running, once he finds prey, he endures it.

If it weren't for the fact that he used his power on Atalante, even if he suspected Sora, he wouldn't be able to get confirmation, but he applied the power to Atalante, making a certain emotion boil and go mad.

Of course, there was an intention to deceive him, but the fact that his hatred and anger, rather than his goodwill, were strengthened and amplified, no matter how you look at it, Atalante regained her reason after losing control. I can only think that I was looking forward to despair at that time.

Precisely because he is an interesting criminal with terrible taste, he must be caught as soon as possible.

This is why Sora went on stage.

"Because I don't want you to do something irreparable!!"

Atalante's scream-like question was met with a feeling of vomiting blood, and I grabbed her arm without hesitation.

The moment he grabbed her arm, he turned his back to Kururi and fell, while still holding Atalante's arm.

Atalante also realized what was about to happen, stomped her leg, and swung the arm that wasn't being held, but he could see his defenseless back, and the wounds on his head and arms. Hatred and anger amplified, guilt oozed, making her hesitate to lower her raised hands, and her legs went weak.

I really know.

Everything you did is wrong. I know I was just throwing a tantrum.

This is why Atalante was thrown onto Sora's back and fell heavily to the ground.

Just like that, Sora choked Atalante from behind, supported his chin, fixed his gaze, and said in his ear.

"... Sorry, Atalante."

Sora knew that apologizing had no meaning.

Because Sora cut it off just like Atalante said.

From Atalante, in order to help victims who may or may not have been seen in the future, she was cut off from the identity of the current victim.

"Atalante. Look."

Give Atalante the stage an interesting criminal wants, as a wanted actor.

Give Atalante an ending, despair.

Show off.

"... Jack?"

Jack stood there, the hem of his White Dress fluttering in the night Wind.

Standing and watching Atalante.

Glaring at me.

She glared at Atalante, as if reproaching Abaki for the day's behavior, and said.

"You wanted to kill your mother."

Hearing this, Atalante, still draped in the fur of a Beast, shuddered in fear.

Her lips trembled, and she spat out these words in a childlike voice on the verge of tears, with the excuse: "No... because... because he...".

Such heated hatred and anger had no Shadow, and no shape.

The ability Atalante possesses is to amplify a specific emotion by enhancing it multiple times.

Emotions are never created from zero. They are created by Atalante herself.

So, if that enhanced emotion becomes zero, then no matter how many times it is multiplied, it is meaningless; it is still zero.

If possible, I wanted to use up the enhancement aura on her before Atalante returned somewhere to protect Abaki, but I couldn't.

This is why Sora handed over the cruel instruction.

In order not to let Atalante take her eyes off me, I held him in my arms, making him unable to Escape, fixing his face, and making him watch.

Unlike during the day, Jack walked up to Atalante, glaring at Atalante with hatred instead of anger.

Atalante put it on because he was shocked by the emotion in his eyes. The Beast fur aura vanished as if falling apart.

Atalante, returning to the human world from the Beast, twisted her body as if struggling, her face turning very pale, mottled, lips trembling, and reached out her hand.

"Jack... I am—"

But he couldn't say anything.

I wasn't even allowed to say anything more.

The hand Atalante extended was coldly brushed away by Jack's leafy little hand.

And Jack, with a true human face and voice, spoke of the spirits of the dead, which should be a collection of pure souls.

"I hate you!!"

Hatred, anger, and rejection assaulted me.

"... Ah... ah... ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Atalante let out a miserable scream, as if her soul had been torn apart by the person she was trying to save, and then she fainted.

Her face was no longer tainted by that power aura that twisted and disturbed her emotions.

Jack's words certainly had hatred and anger, but more emotions occupied his heart; he tried to overcome those emotions, but in the end, they were amplified and painted over, it was useless, and the aura was completely exhausted.

I just couldn't overcome my despair.

Looking down at Atalante's face, the complexion was like a corpse, and although unconscious, only tears flowed.

"... Sorry, Atalante."

Jack shook his head and apologized.

"You don't have to apologize. The terrible thing is that we knew everything from the beginning, but said nothing because we tried to rely on you for everything.

... Sorry. This person isn't as bad as your mother. I know I'm just his toy. I know you were angry because of us, and you tried to help us.

............... But-"

Jack apologized for everything he did and didn't do, and for trying to protect his mother without saying anything to Sora and the others, and denied and rejected everything, plunging Atalante into despair. "This isn't bad," he said.

However, Jack still grabbed his own skirt, bit his lip, and spoke a selfish fact that should have been reasonably suppressed.

"I know, I know that wasn't your intention... but we still can't forgive this person who tried to kill our mother."

Realizing that Atalante was a victim just like his mother, Jack said that although he could forgive his mother, he could not forgive Atalante, even though he knew she was trying to save him.

Just as Jack was looking down in self-pity at that overly unequal and selfish condemnation, a gentle warmth surged into his little head.

"You don't have to forgive me; Atalante's words and actions might not have been her intention, but they were absolutely true. She was too selfish and undoubtedly acted according to her own will, so I cannot forgive you. Of course.

Or rather, judging by her personality, even without the emotion boost just in case, the first strike seemed quite normal, so if you can't forgive her and want to be angry, you can be angry. You have that qualification."

Sora forgave Jack for not forgiving Atalante and stroked Jack's short hair with his scarred arms.

"Of course, you can be angry at me for bringing Atalante and causing trouble.

Don't forgive us; we haven't done anything to make you forgive us, so it's natural that we won't be forgiven."

Sora told him that he should not only forgive Atalante but also forgive himself.

As if ruffling Jack's hair, stroking Jack's hair even harder, Sora still answered with a smile, even though he was stained with his own blood and had desperately lashed out at his allies.

"Jack, you don't have to forgive me, so please rely on us. Children should rely on adults and be spoiled. I know you don't want to hurt your mother, but you don't have to worry so much that you get hurt." Honestly relying on adults and being spoiled is a child's privilege.

And when adults rely on children, being cool is a privilege, so don't back down!"

He lightly scolded Jack for not telling Sora about their own selfishness, while saying he shouldn't forgive himself, but forgave him for trying to take advantage of him, Sora said with a smile.

Leave it to me. This is also what I wanted.

Jack's guilty words and smile, added to Jack's various negative emotions, made his tense face relax.

"... Strange thing!"

After saying this, Jack laughed, and Sora laughed while holding the unconscious Atalante.

This woman had no reason to care about such pulling; Sora held Atalante, took out a gem, and while performing first aid on Jack, said to the wound.

"Ah, Jack. I'm sorry, do you know the whereabouts or residence of that criminal responsible for the crime? Impossible, they wouldn't think they would cause such a fuss and solve it immediately, so if he is somewhere, only they know. I will still chase anywhere, or rather, I will definitely catch up, so if you know, tell me."

Regarding Sora's request, Jack answered obediently: "It's fine, I know he hasn't left the town yet." Clearly, Jack is skilled at "Yen," and seems to have an accurate grasp of the current location of the source of all evil.

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, Jack answered about his whereabouts, and for some reason, hesitantly reached out his hand.

When Sora asked Jack what he was doing, he awkwardly replied, "... I will take that person to a safe place."

Clearly, he intended to protect the unconscious Atalante, but he looked very reluctant while doing it himself.

Rather than truly hating it, even though I was told "I don't have to forgive you," I knew there was nothing wrong with Atalante, but I selfishly projected my hatred and anger onto myself just in case... he seemed to hesitate because he felt a strong sense of guilt for desperately hitting her.

Sora reached out to Jack again and grabbed his shoulder.

I will tell you the secret story in Jack's ear.

"Didn't I tell you, Jack? A child's privilege is to rely on adults and be spoiled. So—"

Hearing Sora's words, Jack widened his eyes again and asked: "Are you sure you want to do this?" I made a deal.

Taking advantage of Jack being stunned by the low-price guarantee, he handed Atalante to Jack, and Sora said with a brilliant smile that there was nothing to worry about.

"So, Jack. Can you tell me?

Everything you know, everything you know, and what you want us to do."

Ignore all the pain and act calm.

Because that is my privilege.

＊＊＊

Just off the main street of Gasgramland, the dirty side of the small town was quickly revealed.

It looked like the most gorgeous and prosperous small town, but that was just the surface.

Given that the casino is the biggest industry, we cannot expect good public order.

In order to keep the front that visitors can see sparkling, the dirty parts were hidden in inconspicuous places and covered with odors.

Sora walked alone in the slums, a corner of the town, and was treated as such.

The day was about to change; this was not a good place for a woman to walk alone, but no one dared to attack her.

Sora's whole body was covered in her own blood, and her wounds were still fresh because she had only stopped the bleeding with Gem Magic.

From the side, her body was covered with wounds, and in every sense, she should have been delicious prey, but the residents of the slums would not change their minds, and she walked quickly through the unknown center.

Quite easily like the Ten Commandments, everyone avoided Sora.

Even if she was covered in scars, they were not cautious, because they knew that the ordinary person was a Psychic, a magician, a woman with the eyes of a Death God.

Even if you don't realize it, you know you shouldn't get close to this woman.

This is the current situation, because Sora walked around with anger, which made him realize that he could not fight this woman.

Now Sora didn't look like she had smiled happily at Jack before.

Just so that Jack, Abaki, and Atalante wouldn't get angry at the person who hurt her, she walked toward the destination she heard from Jack, her birthplace.

Arriving far from the city center, one could still see the ruins of a caravan camp that mined natural gas, the true "Gasgramland," which could be called a lonely abandoned house. A very poor house.

At the same time, a foul odor drifted in the air, Sora's expression twisted, and her left hand covered her nose and mouth.

Originally, when entering the slum area, there were foul odors everywhere, but this place was particularly foul.

It was not only the stench of rotten kitchen waste, but because this area was originally a natural gas mining site, it was so thick that I worried about useless toxic gas leaking out.

Even so, Sora did not stop walking.

Without any hesitation or wavering, I moved forward into the stench that my body did not want to get close to.

There were no lights in the house.

Time was time, and the house was a house; it was impossible to tell if it was absent, asleep, or empty, but Sora quickly approached the house without hesitation, ignoring the key. The door opened, and she walked in.

I heard it as soon as I entered the door.

"That's terrible. Breaking in late at night without knocking. I'm surprised."

A gunshot, faster than these words, the voice was extremely soft, and he didn't seem surprised.

Sora's Hardened right hand moved and repelled the Bullet fired from the source of the sound.

Sora's complexion did not change at all in the face of the killing intent that flew directly between her brows.

However, her left hand was still protecting her mouth and nose from the stench, but she expressionlessly suppressed the emotions that were about to erupt, and even in the Pitch Darkness, she looked at him with eyes flashing with sky blue.

From the darkness inside the house, a person's figure gradually emerged.

He held a gun in his right hand and hid something behind his back with his left hand.

A 17-year-old boy wearing clown makeup revealed his unkind true colors, with a gentle smile on his face, walked slowly closer, and said:

"Is it the mosquitoes and other children replying to teeth, actively defending this and the acrimonious world, eh?"

He claimed his direct killing intent was self-defense against someone who suddenly broke into his house.

From the timing of the gunshot, Sora was completely clear that he was aiming completely, not aiming immediately.

So, ignoring this stupid provocation, Sora said.

"Heh, you haven't run away yet.

When she fought back with a rare, obvious contempt and mockery, in her complexion and voice, the other party's face also twitched openly.

"... What are you talking about? Or rather, why did you suddenly come to my house?"

"Because you can relax here, you are a small fry.

Don't pretend you don't have evidence. I don't care anymore, anyway, you did something that made me want to beat you up."

Speaking of "small fry," his face twitched even more.

"Haha, really, even if I collapse at this time, it will only be a whimper.

By the way, for your information, why do you think I am the culprit? Unlike that Atalante, you have been wary of me from the beginning, haven't you?"

To this, Sora's contempt disappeared, and her face turned pale.

When you don't like being treated as a "small fry," for those who don't understand that pride is nothing more than a useless small fry, this is no longer a good idea, so even if you no longer try to get rid of it, it will only look like a small thing. I don't even want to provoke him.

Therefore, I replied with a pale face and a pale voice, pitying her.

"Your vigilance is nothing more than a prejudice; I am not on guard against your aura."

This is not because Atalante is not vigilant against you, nor because it worked as you expected, or because you are an idiot who forgot to stay vigilant. It is because I put unnecessary knowledge into it, giving it a preconceived notion. This is my fault, it has nothing to do with you.

To me and Atalante, you might be forgotten in an instant;

The reason I answered is out of regret; I can only stick to that kind of foolish pride, but I have no motivation to respect that kind of pride.

This is why Sora answered him that he did not care about John himself.

"If it were just your 'name', I might not have noticed it."

"But you dress up as a clown, so it was easy for me to associate and remember it. So, even though I know it is a prejudice, I am lucky that I somehow connected it to it and started to be vigilant."

"You have no value yourself," Sora said, his smiling mask twitching without pulling the trigger, presumably curious as to why Sora was on guard against him.

Sora would answer.

A Coincidence, proving that this world is a distant world, one that can no longer be said to be parallel to the world he is in, but a world from the same mainstream.

"... In my world, there is a person with the same name as you. The happy criminal Serial Killer has..."

"'Killer Clown Killer Clown', John Wayne Gacy."

Sora replied, "'Killer Clown Killer Clown', he said... the funny criminal with the same name tore off his smiling mask, looking dumbfounded... and then started to laugh."

That was not a mask, but a twisted and ugly grin, which seemed to be genuine joy and amusement.

He was a clown who could never become the protagonist, but when he became the protagonist, he expressed his joy.

Atalante's Nen ability is like a Noble Phantasm. "Divine Punishment Boar Metamorphic Agriculture" can be realized by changing the application of the Enhancement system, so I brought this name as it is.

Although it did not appear in the work, the complaint letter "Phobos Disaster" was launched, and "Heavenly Bow Tauropolos" can be understood as an Enhancement system, so these are of course not as powerful as the original version, but they can be used.

I got the inspiration from a horror novel with the themes of "children" and "circus".

... However, as I wrote in the previous postscript and on-site report, I confused John Wayne Gacy and Ed Gein until the second half of the story. So his early name was Ed...