Chapter 154: The Outcome of a Conscientious Choice

When they first met Karna, the three of them lost their strength and sat down on the spot.

Then Hisoka clutched his stomach and began to laugh.

In the hall echoing with Hisoka's loud laughter, Kurapika, with an aura that drowned out the laughter, angrily rebuked Karna for his stupidity, because he was as innocent and naive as ever, which was too troublesome.

"It's better than not sharing memories with Sora; if you aren't good at it, you'd better not."

"But, I'm going to ask here now!? What the hell do you think that was, you punched with such force that you blew the entire wall away!?"

"……I'm sorry, Kurapika. I really apologize for failing to read the atmosphere."

Karna, who had exchanged personalities with Sora, apologized tremblingly, but the sincere apology had the opposite effect on the current Kurapika. Or more precisely, the apology itself was disastrous, unable to read the atmosphere.

"If it's just an apology, couldn't we have done something from the start!?" The three looked at Kurapika, staring longingly at the exasperated Kurapika who felt it was too late and nothing could be done.

"……I understand why Sora would apologize, and why Kurapika has such a headache."

"If you were that strong, I thought you should have let it out from the beginning…… but it really is better not to."

"I mean, are you the one who is angry at me because of that?"

Leorio's final mutter was the most accurate argument.

Worse than Kurapika was Karna; she blew away the Omokage without hesitation, yet she openly admitted she didn't know who that person was or what the current situation was. I understand the feeling of doing so, but such behavior is nothing more than a waste of time.

"！Sorry, Kurapika! Leave the preaching to me!"

Karna, who was listening earnestly to Kurapika's impromptu sermon, said this, jumped over the second-floor balcony-shaped railing, and took action.

Perhaps because she knew she was wrong, Karna did not blame Kurapika for his so-called stupidity, but rather made a mistake. She said she would take responsibility.

"！?"

Accompanied by a rumbling sound, the wall directly below the one Karna had destroyed on the first floor was also destroyed, and a ghostly specter emerged from the dust of the rubble.

Franklin must have destroyed the wall Karna had smashed from the outside. Sensing its presence, Karna grabbed the two children, Gon and Killua, who were standing side by side on the wall destroyed by the Bullet, like a dog or cat, and returned to the positions of Kurapika and Leorio.

Seeing Karna's such natural and swift movements, everyone couldn't help but widen their eyes, looking at the Karna who had returned, but in Karna's view, everything she could do was a matter of course, and she did it because she wanted to. Not knowing what that meant, she tilted her head and thought, "Did I fail to read the atmosphere again?"

"Ah, thank you! Mr. Karna!!"

"……I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blamed you just now. It's all my fault."

However, the completely obedient and shy Gon was the first to grasp the current situation; he fully admitted his own faults and apologized, and expressed his gratitude for helping the two people who might have become targets of Omokage's attack.

"……I didn't do anything to be thanked for."

From Karna's perspective, he wanted to help, so he did it himself, so he tilted his head as if confused by the two's words, showing his usual expressionless face, as if rudely cutting off their gratitude. Fortunately, no misunderstanding occurred.

A large part of it was because everyone had heard from Sora about his clumsiness, but the expression on his face when he said this might be because he was happy with Gon and Kurapika's pure love and gratitude, rather than the expression on Sora's usual face. That was because her smile was far more beautiful and charming than the fleeting, pale one.

Seeing that smile, they did not doubt it, but Killua and Leorio could not believe that a Demi-god Heroic Spirit was an unconventional existence. I think I should believe him, Karna.

I still don't understand why Karna's soul would exist within Sora. No matter how politely and kindly it is explained, no one has the confidence to fully understand it.

But this is what you need to know.

Karna is Sora's ally.

To protect her loved ones, to protect her dream of a happy life, even if she is suddenly awakened by a situation where she doesn't know what is happening, she will act without hesitation to complete the mission, and they don't even ask those they protect to thank them in return; they only need to understand that they will protect them.

This is information worthy enough of trust.

And to understand that Karna is such a person, that brief, faint, shining smile is more than enough.

＊＊＊

"……What kind of eyes are those! Who are you!?"

On the other side of the self-destructed wall, Omokage made a crazed sound from within the dust cloud.

Omokage's ability is to enter people's minds when making dolls, so I think almost all of this information would be ignored, but as expected, I got nothing other than information related to the "attachments" used as Material for the dolls. It seems Omokage doesn't have any information about Karna.

So, let alone his personality, he seemed confused by the sudden change in the eyes he was most obsessed with, but he witnessed with his own eyes the skill of the doll that had attacked him head-on. However, he did not realize that his advantage had been overturned by Karna alone.

The means and purposes for Retsu from long ago had been reversed, and for Omokage, who had been twisted, rotted, and fallen into despair over his sister's appearance, she had become an obsession with dolls and eyeballs. The strange eyes were great just to look at, and I felt they were eyes that were too pure, straight, and unwavering.

……The reason why the eyes of a simple and kind person are so attractive to Omokage is that those eyes feel like his sister's eyes, very similar to his sister's eyes.

At some point, he forgot the reason for his obsession with his sister, and for Omokage, Karna's eyes were nothing more than Sora's mysterious eyes on the verge of death, the jewels he desperately wanted.

After being hit by Karna, although it was on the second floor, he still fell from the wall, and no matter how he used his Aura to protect himself, he should have suffered considerable damage. Especially, because he is the least compatible type of Enhancer, he is not good at defending against direct attacks, and he was covered and tattered.

……However, only those eyes felt no pain. They radiated a dazzling light of obsession, and one could even see that he was oblivious to his own injuries.

The light made the four feel disgusted, but Karna stepped forward to protect them, for better or worse, showing his own pace with an expressionless face that completely ignored Omokage.

"Are you asking for my name? I am the Lancer Servant. Her true name is Karna."

"Sora told me to think of it as a ghost that haunts you. Don't ask for a detailed explanation. It's useless to ask anyway."

From an outsider's perspective, this remark was no different from a provocation. Thanks to Sora's explanation, everyone truly understood Karna.

Once the dolls regained their strength, Hisoka's laughter stopped abruptly, and they began their playfulness again, which might warm their shoulders..." a wry smile.

Those who knew him would only react this way, but of course, Omokage took Karna's serious self-introduction as a provocation, his face twisting from a smile of ecstasy in front of the jewels into one of humiliation.

"Meaningless? You give me that! Are you saying I can't understand the 'Magic' of your world!? Are you saying my dolls and my Nen Ability are just child's play in your world!?"

"My, my" Doll Conception Doll Catcher, even in your world, are you trying to say that Magic is commonplace!?"

Karna said: "I don't really understand it myself, and even if I did, it's not something I could imitate. Of course, there was no communication with the other party at all."

On the contrary, Karna's current state further stimulated the Omokage complex ignited by Hai and Sora, whether it was Omokage's "Doll Conception Doll Catcher" or Magic.

"……If you think so, is that it? I think I've been amazing enough."

"……Karna. Shut up. Answer the question directly. How much of Sora's memory do you remember, and how do you grasp the current situation?"

Karna tilted his head, inciting the opponent without any malice, and Omokage's pale face turned red like a patient's, twisting into humiliation and anger.

By the way, Karna certainly didn't provoke him. I'm not being sarcastic, but I am saying "It's good to set your goals high, but don't underestimate yourself too much."

However, perhaps because he witnessed the skill of parrying Franklin's Nen Bullet with minimal Aura, Omokage held back his anger, did not strafe with Nen Bullets, and waited for an opportunity.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Kurapika placed one hand on Karna's shoulder from behind, asking for the information he had grasped, in order to give him the information he should temporarily have……, the vector was different, but diagonally above.

"Because his eyeballs were stolen, visual information didn't come in, and he probably doesn't know anything. How much?"

"... The main body?"

Just as he said, Kurapika merely conveyed the information he had mastered, saying, "If you knew you were an enemy of Sora, you wouldn't need to ask!"

For some reason, this man felt that the Omokage before his eyes was likely a doll.

After seeing through his own limitations, Kurapika trusted his insight to the point of fearing it. Partly because Omokage was able to withdraw from the Phantom Troupe without being killed by Hisoka, he cast his gaze toward Omokage, but Omokage himself had his eyes widened by Karna's remarks, and the parrot retracted its meaningless words.

Judging from Omokage's appearance, it was not acting.

Judging from his current words and deeds, if the real thing had never appeared before them manipulating his own puppets like he did when he escaped from Hisoka, just as Karna said, he would giggle, "What? Are you talking about it?"

However, Karna seemed not to understand why he would ask such a question, tilted his head in confusion again, and answered casually.

"Is the ability to create puppets what breaks your and your master's hearts?"

"That man carrying the coat is Kurapika, isn't he your greatest enemy? I remember that much, and I also remember what kind of person he is. Because I didn't treat it as a tool, it didn't feel scary, and although it looked fragile, it was also too weak. It is completely different from what I remember, and I even suspect it is someone else's doll."

"That level of doll would never shake your heart. In that case, I thought the main body was controlling the puppet from a high place...?"

About halfway through, Kurapika and the others finally reacted... "You... are you serious?" Following the prompt, Karna guessed that he might have made a big mistake, but he thoroughly explained everything he thought was the reason Omokage was in front of him was a fake.

Silence often descended.

The silence was broken when Hisoka, who was playing with the Chrollo doll that Karna claimed was "too weak," burst into laughter upon hearing the first ambiguity.

While playing with the Chrollo doll that had been declared too weak, Hisoka laughed until he cried, describing the person Karna was as accurately as possible.

With such a reaction, Karna also guessed it. Your own mistake.

Ever since Omokage said "main body" and rolled his eyes, he had been thinking, "Impossible...", but in his memory, only Chrollo was an object he could compare with the real thing, but that memory did not. Because he felt weak, and because he had such a high opinion of Sora and her companions, this hypothesis was the only way to connect the two, so Karna believed it.

His insight was excellent, and I think he could read minds, but his kindness was such that even when Karna himself discovered the value of others and was high above, he never looked down on them, which seemed to be completely counterproductive.

And even Karna could hear that his words sounded sarcastic, despising everyone present, saying: "Is that the extent of the ability?"

Moreover, this was relatively better for Sora and the others, because it could be seen as the other side of expectation, but Karna's remarks were not salvation for Omokage.

"... That... how should I put it... I am really sorry."

So Karna unconsciously made an embarrassed and apologetic expression from the bottom of his heart, apologizing to Omokage who was completely frozen by his words.

Of course, Karna's best thanks were not conveyed, or rather, even if they were, it would only make it more annoying.

Karna was a little disappointed that his gratitude was not conveyed, but he knew what he had said, and that being angry would not help.

As an individual, Karna could fire a few shots instead of apologizing, but of course, it was impossible for Sora's body to do that, so I thought from the bottom of my heart that this was terrible, and I circulated the remaining aura, minimizing the necessary amount. I tried to parry it as before.

But before that, two small figures jumped out from my sides.

"! Wait!"

The two did not respond to Karna's words and jumped out directly... Gon and Killua squeezed out their remaining breath, fully equipped, blocking the bullets with themselves as shields, just like Sora who swapped positions with Karna.

The two said while protecting Karna.

"Karna!"

"We may be much weaker than Karna, but let's fight together!"

"Yeah, you are certainly powerful, but in many ways, I am worried about entrusting you to anyone other than Sora! I am sillier than Sora, can I leave him alone!"

Actually, I know.

The gap in ability between us and this Heroic Spirit is so great that rather than doing it ourselves, it is better to let Karna do it alone.

It doesn't matter that the father is the Sun God. Since the body originally belonged to Sora, the father's gift that Karna should have received is now almost non-existent. He knows that everything he possesses is the ability he obtained through his own strength.

Nevertheless, Gon and Killua still jumped into the exploding bullets.

I just don't want to do such a thing.

If I did that, even if she bothered to get angry, all the anger would turn into a farce.

"... Absolutely!"

"Karna. Everyone is heading to Omokage from different directions. So don't worry, go for a suicide attack. Protect someone, don't try to protect them. No one needs that."

Thus, not only Gon and Killua, but the inexperienced Leorio also carried out "practice" that should not last five minutes while playing with Nen Bullets using Goo, while Kurapika blocked the Nen Bullets with his Chain. He cut as many times as possible with his ring finger. Even if it was rewarded or shot down by a bullet, he would pull the chain on his middle finger toward Omokage.

I don't want it to be a farce. With that single-mindedness, they whipped their bodies that were already tattered and lacked Sora's left-leaning aura, but they still stood up to build a line against Omokage.

Until Karna entered the distance of Omokage.

Although it went against his wishes, Omokage sneered at their thoughtful actions, calling it "weak."

Although they did nothing themselves, everything was borrowed from others, and everything was fake.

That's why, even though I always try to do things myself, it's easy to change places, with almost no risk. Not because I think

By showing off the clown named Karna, I want to affirm that I don't rely on him, and affirm my comrades. Starting from there.

Karna alone is enough, so I didn't replace him.

Even with Karna, who should be enough for one person, no one thought "I have already finished," because I believe they will help Karna.

Even if that knot-hole eye didn't convey anything, I still wanted to show off.

I know, without being told.

So, so—Karna narrowed his pale scarlet eyes, smiling as if looking at something dazzling.

I don't want you to get hurt, I don't want you to force yourself. If I did such a thing and got hurt more, not only Sora, but I would also be sad. There is nothing wrong with relying on oneself, I would rather say I feel proud as Karna, but more importantly, I think they are precious and powerful because they never gave up.

Although it is only useful at such times, they tried their best to protect me who had already caused a lot of trouble, and those who believed in themselves and worked hard to open up a path were more dazzling than anything else.

Therefore, the will cannot be wasted.

Karna vowed to reach it this time and clenched it.

—Sora held what he had been grasping for a long time, not letting go, and stepped forward with a smile.

Although he didn't have time to turn around so he didn't know his smile, Gon said happily as if he had seen it, and while catching the Nen Bullets fired by Omokage, he continued to push forward.

"Mr. Karna! Hurry up and end all this, and then let's have a good talk! Ever since I heard about Sora, I have been wanting to meet and talk to you!!"

Facing the boy who innocently announced his plan afterwards, Karna also took the spirit bullets from Omokage's hand, and while blushing, rolling, and counterattacking, he answered with a wry smile.

On the day I was summoned, he said: "I want to get along with you, so let's eat together. What do you want to eat, Mr. Karna?" Sora looked at the boy's face.

"... I cannot use Sora's body for long. If I only use this body, the master's Magic Aura is consumed, and the longer I use it, the more I risk consuming the master's personality.

... So, whatever you want to say to me, or whatever you want to ask me, just treat me as the master. If I were the master, I would certainly talk to you about anything, if I could hear that story through my master... If you want to understand me, if you can dream like that, then I would be very happy. That is why."

As usual, he could not read the atmosphere, but unlike before, after being depressed for a moment by the heavy disclaimer, the Aura on his body also decreased, but the simple words of Gon in the second half made him nervous. Once, where did he live? Are you there? With a thoughtful Aura, I answered with a smile.

"Yes!!"

During that exchange, the other three thought, "You really need to read the atmosphere. Is that what you mean?"

At the exchange between Gon and Karna, in one sentence, the three of them laughed happily.

Smiling, a dazzling light that no one despaired of flashed in his eyes, and he walked toward Omokage.

(Why, why, why!? Why did it turn out like this!?)

I do not know Omokage.

The one who has the upper hand should be the one who has the upper hand.

I thought the ocean, Flame Soldier, and Illumi would be enough, but it was within my expectations that these three would be killed.

I should have used these three to consume as much Aura as possible, scratch their physical strength, and cause wounds. After that, I thought if I used the Phantom Troupe puppets, I would have plenty of time.

One of the puppets was destroyed by an unexpected intruder named Hisoka, and I had to use three of them, which made me a bit pained, but even so, the combination of "Doll Catcher," Franklin for long-range, Phinks for melee, and Nobunaga for defense, should be able to suppress the five of them, regardless of their numbers.

... The biggest accident, even the existence of Karna, should not have suffered such great damage.

If he had no interest in anything other than himself and the master of his body, Sora, Omokage would be dangerous, but if four people far lower than him had almost exhausted their Aura, I could leave. If it weren't for the personality, no matter how monstrous Karna's ability is, Omokage should have the advantage.

Even if not by his side, the four people other than Karna are like hostages to Omokage.

Although it is a cave, Omokage was only looking at unnecessary places, and Karna, who should have been on the second floor, was pulled by him to intentionally close the distance to protect Gon and Killua from being hit by his Nen Bullet. Because he realized this, he predicted that no matter how close Karna was to him, if he attacked them, he would not be able to get close to him.

The imagination was correct.

But with those eyes of his with holes, his rotten heart, which only had his own desires and obsessions left, would not notice.

No one intended to rely on Karna alone.

Omokage did not realize that no one had given up, or rather, everyone except Karna wanted to blow away Omokage's smiling face with their own hands. Their own Bullet.

Karna would not go to help anyone.

Although they did not use the minimum Aura like I did to minimize the damage, no matter how they guarded with Aura, even if they were covered in bruises and their own blood, Karna watched them. He rushed forward without doing anything.

And the other four did not stop their steps either.

Even if Omokage injected more Aura into it, doubled the firing speed of his Nen Bullet to increase its power, and even if Killua penetrated the protective Aura and punched holes in his hands and feet, causing him to fall, they would be defeated—I only worried about shouting "Killua!?"

Hearing that voice, Killua responded: "No problem!"

He stuffed strength into his blood-stained limbs that should have had no strength, and struggled to crawl up.

Killua's struggle was completely different from when he was in front of the Illumi puppet during the day; his eyes were filled with a light that was by no means Pitch Darkness, so obsessed, but he did not like it and intended to finish him off. Just as I was about to fire another Bullet, Kurapika's Chain approached in front of me, distracting me on how to deal with them.

At first, there was no need to move. The situation where I could win by literally laughing and firing Flame Soldier Bullets was approaching alone, so Omokage did his best to stop his most powerful enemy, Karna, from getting close to him. He could buy time by running around the hall, using the Coffin that stored the Brigade puppets as a Wall, and concentrating on shooting Nen Beads.

(Damn it! Damn it!! How could my dolls lose to these guys!!)

Cursing reality, cursing his own current situation, Omokage fired the last Bullet at Karna. I ignored Leorio approaching behind me.

However, since he is the least experienced Nen user, I am not taking it lightly either.

My own "Doll Catcher," but Omokage decided that even if he had the power of three people, he would be at a disadvantage against five. Let me go.

The unlocked opponent is Nobunaga, who is exclusive to the Brigade, which is not very convenient, but in a one-on-one situation, one can expect huge effects.

Seeing Nobunaga crawl out from behind Omokage, Leorio shouted: "Peh!?"

Omokage mocked him from behind, calling him an "idiot!", but things did not develop as he had imagined.

"'Leorio!!'"

Gon and Kurapika shouted the name of their unreasonable companion, Kurapika grabbed Leorio's arm with the Chain on his ring finger, and Gon dived into Leorio's side from the flank, forcing him to escape.

But this was a bit different from protecting Nobunaga from Iai's damage. The two noticed something that Leorio and Omokage had not noticed, something flying from behind them, so their faces changed, and they saved Leorio.

Leorio was blown to the side, entering the empty trajectory, with elastic gum as recoil, and he was blown away like a pinball. Missing Machi and Feitan dolls.

It can only be said that it has been destroyed, but it has not returned to the puppet's body, which means it is still alive and has not been completely destroyed.

Therefore, even if Nobunaga entered his own "Ryu" range, he could not cut off the distance between the two and Pursuit Leorio and the others.

And I did not evade.

I don't know if it's because of my loyalty as a puppet, because if I avoid it, I will hit the ghost behind me directly, or because I don't want to let my friends get hurt again, because I don't care about ghosts.

However, Nobunaga did loosen the Sword at his waist and hugged the two.

Even if Chrollo's real Sword pierced Nobunaga's forehead, he would throw away the comrade he was holding and try to escape or dodge, but I did not.

"... I can understand what Karna said, 'Too bad,' isn't your personality and ability a bit sweeter than others?"

Saying this, Hisoka narrowed his eyes to the limit, raised his head, and laughed like a Demon.

I grabbed Chrollo's face, who was about to turn back into a puppet, with many weapons from Trump and Feitan stuck in his body, and pulled him a little closer.

I defeated Chrollo's doll with a similar strategy.

If it were the real Chrollo, even if he were thrown at a dying comrade, he would not dodge, creating a decisive opportunity.

"Using the Phantom Troupe Spider, I will abandon them and try to kill Hisoka according to the rules I set for myself.

However, this Chrollo was not as conspicuous as Nobunaga, but when I threw it aside and used Machi and Feitan as shields, I hesitated for a moment. I don't know if it was accepting or giving up on dodging, but in the end, I still dodged, but the momentary delay became the beginning of a Barrage of various weapons and weapons connected to Hisoka's gum.

The reason for the hesitation is because the puppet Omokage made is not good, or because this reflects the wish of the member who made this puppet, "Together" forever...

Or this Chrollo, because I know it is not the "Phantom Troupe Spider," even if I abandon my friends, it is the Phantom Troupe Spider, I might have hesitated because I could not use it.

If that's the case, maybe the heart is still not bad, but Hisoka did not have the motivation to follow up like that, so Omokage's face twisted with humiliation, and his impatience had no room for maneuver.

Omokage realized that after Nobunaga, whom he had worked so hard to separate, was now released, even Hisoka was released, and he panicked and continued to fire Nen Bullets in all directions.

No one was aiming at it anymore. All I could do was keep everyone away from me, throwing a tantrum and throwing things around like a child.

"Ahhh!!"

Through this clumsy behavior, I noticed it.

Completely forgotten, having disappeared from his side at some point, even the voice that should have been stolen was restored because Omokage had forgotten its existence.

(There is this person!!

If you use this guy, Letz, the others' actions will be blocked, Hisoka aside!!)

Omokage came up with a way to turn the situation around, using his sister's doll as a hostage.

"We! Come here...!?"

But before he could finish his command, he noticed what Retsu possessed and ignored it.

The reason for the disappearance halfway through was not because Omokage had completely forgotten Retsu's existence, nor because Retsu had hidden somewhere to avoid being caught in the battle.

Let's go get "this."

What Retsu held in her hand was a doll the size of a 4-5 year old child, with beautiful blue eyes and wearing gorgeous clothes... a doll that looked like Retsu, with real Retsu eyes.

Letz held the doll with his left arm and stabbed it toward the doll's own eyes.

"Let you...!?"

He was about to plunge his Acrobatic Dagger into the doll's eyes, about to slash his own eyes into a straight line.

"Those are your eyes!? Stop!"

His sister could not believe his actions; Omokage screamed and ordered Letz.

…………But,

"Don't let me."

You cannot let them in; you let in someone who shouldn't have come near.

Her white hair, tied with a crimson ribbon embroidered with gold thread, fluttered, without a single black spot, let alone a stain. The white hand extended correctly toward Omokage.

What coexisted in Retsu and the doll were not blue and scarlet eyes, but the final azure that swallowed both Retsu and the doll, making them worthless and meaningless.

From the beginning, Sora had no intention of entrusting everything to Karna.

It is true that I entrusted him to him, because it was difficult for him to enter Omokage's range with his own ability, but what he said was only the reason he took over from Karna.

I don't like Omokage borrowing the tiger's power, so I was angry, but I still said on the same ring, that Karna, I just wanted to hit him; compared to that, it is nothing more than a kitten.

So, when they were communicating with Karna, they were communicating while strongly demanding that Karna remember, even if it was just a half-baked memory sharing.

Sora ordered Karna: "As long as you can reach, come and replace me."

Karna appeared only for that command.

However, the first and greatest opportunity was that Karna did not treat Omokage as his main body, so he did not replace him and was blown away.

Well, in the end, what Sora wanted to show, what he wanted to point out, and what Omokage did and possessed were all fake, all borrowed from others, so he showed it to his heart's content. I don't want to blame Karna.

Instead, while thanking him for sending him here at the best time, he stretched out his right hand and pressed it against Omokage, shouting.

"Order turning into chaos has no meaning!!"

If it were Karna, she wouldn't let go, because she thought it was an Obstacle, something she had been sticking to, not putting it in her pouch or pocket; she kept sticking to it because she guessed it was because she shouldn't let go... her sister. The Devil power left the sea but the charge filled the difference, the reply, the rice field treasure, the stone was pressed onto Omokage to detonate its Mana.

"What!?"

Did Sora not realize that he had picked up what the sea doll left behind? It creates nothing, does nothing; it just devours the surrounding environment and self-destructs.

"Foolish!? Why————"

The brother who still did not understand reality was swallowed by Sora's Aura... into the sea, unable to give any orders to Retsu, and the free Retsu answered sadly.

"What I want you to cherish is not my eyes, but my true feelings..."

This is because my brother wished to remain the same as before. Retsu's wish was to be born as a doll.

However, Retsu, knowing this could never be realized, took responsibility herself and personally cut off the last support between herself and her brother.

"——Let's end it now, brother. The doll's past obsession with hurting people..."

Just as Letz cut the "True Eye" embedded in the doll, the sea's Mana was exhausted, and Kurapika's Chain Jail reached Omokage.

＊＊＊

Kurapika's "Chain Jail," just as Kurapika predicted, Omokage would not enter "humans other than the Phantom Troupe" and exert its effect.

Gon and Killua were worried that if Omokage entered the forced "Zetsu" state, his ability Letz would disappear, but once he shared his Aura with him, he would exist independently of Omokage until he ran out of that Aura. Or the Flame Soldier, Letz did not return to his doll, but stood at the edge of the hall.

Don't come near me.

However, Gon wanted to talk to Letz, who was holding a sad-looking doll and a Dagger, but he couldn't think of anything. To do it.

"You are too foolish... Retsu, you who should be loyal to me... why did you do this..."

Omokage did not even realize he was constrained by the forced "Zetsu" state; he kept repeating the unresolved questions and resentment about being betrayed by Retsu, his eyes unable to focus anywhere.

Seeing this, Hisoka seemed to have completely lost interest in Omokage, so he did not say to Kurapika and the others: "Why don't you guys kill Omokage? Then give him to me."

However, the fact that he did not leave this place meant that even if he lost interest in Omokage, he seemed interested in this ending.

Hisoka viewed their battle as a spectacle of the same interest as Omokage, which was very unpleasant, but everyone knew that dealing with them would be troublesome, so for now, Kurapika ignored Hisoka and consulted with his friends on what to do with Omokage.

"Using your little finger chain, why not set a rule and then throw him to the Hunter Association?"

"No, this guy is obsessed and has already forgotten his purpose.

... You can commit suicide yourself, but please don't use my ability to commit suicide."

When Leorio was treating her, Killua first made a Suggestion, but Kurapika glanced at Omokage with a look of disgust and replied. To this, Killua also apologized and sighed in disgust.

"... Why? Why don't you understand how wonderful my dolls are? With eternal life, your beautiful eyes will live forever, you know? Don't you think it's wonderful?"

Omokage continued to whisper deeply and pitifully to those who were murmuring, with no understanding of the brilliance of his own dolls.

I couldn't even feel the sanity on the surface there. Omokage was more like a broken doll than Retsu, just repeating words no one understood.

However, repeating this creepy and ignorant remark like this is annoying, but of course that is all, because Kurapika's forced "Zetsu" has already sealed her Nen Ability.

In the previous battle and the sea treasure used by Sora, Omokage also lost a lot of Aura, but even so, they should have more leeway than us.

Everyone knew why Kurapika didn't want to kill him, and everyone hoped he wouldn't. And it wasn't limited to Kurapika.

To put it bluntly, even Gon does not care about the life or death of Omokage himself, but this is why I do not want to let anyone bear the death of such a guy, and even less do I want anyone to bear it.

However, if I let this guy go now, that undisciplined Omokage will surely repeat the same mistakes.

Even if we give up on ourselves, we are only sacrificing others somewhere. Nothing is solved, so there is no way to release it.

Still bound by the chain on Kurapika's middle finger, acting as a bounty leader and former member of the Phantom Troupe to reach out to the Hunter Association, but in the current state, before Kurapika could even reach out, the Aura was exhausted, and the restraint was lifted; I believe you will be caught.

Omokage's Nen Ability is very troublesome, so if they do not seal their ability, no one can rest easy. However, the time they can do this is limited, and there is no grace period.

"Didn't you use the chain that absorbs the Aura of the sea? Why not treat yourself while absorbing this guy's Aura?"

"That is still in the experimental stage; you can indeed steal Aura, but most of the stolen Aura will be used to Materialization the chain and to exert your power, so the burden on me should be less than mine." The chain on the middle finger, but it doesn't matter, if you make a mistake, I will take away all of this guy's Aura and let him die."

Leorio remembered the new technique Kurapika used in the battle with the sea and tried to make a Suggestion to use it, but it was also rejected because it was very likely to kill Omokage as well.

"Then I can only kill this guy's Nen Ability."

The silent Sora opened his mouth.

Actually, of course, it was the first method that came to mind.

After struggling to find something else, Sora mentioned the method of returning to the starting point if it could not be found, and took out a common Ballpoint Pen from his pocket.

"... Not good."

"It's not that this guy is going to kill it, but his ability. It's fine, he is more of a materialized specialist, so like Uvogin..."

"No!"

Kurapika did not change his mind, lowered his head, and rejected Sora's proposal.

Sora told him in a bright voice, "I will not kill Omokage."

Denial.

"Even if Omokage doesn't die, the dolls he created! If what you said is 'real', you will kill them!! No! No, no!

If you don't want me to kill anyone, don't kill anyone either!!"

If Sora killed Omokage's ability, then Sora would kill something that he wanted to kill even less than Omokage... at least that's how Retsu felt.

Kurapika realized the chain on his little finger and begged Sora while crying, as if he would rather dirty his own hands than let him do it.

"... Yes."

Leorio hurriedly tried to soothe Kurapika's despair, Gon stood in front of Sora trying to stop him just like Kurapika, and Killua would rather dirty Kurapika's and Sora's hands.

Sora responded to Kurapika's appeal.

"Then, are we still going to struggle?"

He smiled and agreed to Kurapika's request not to kill him.

With a fleeting smile that made you look like you were trying hard to be strong, making you look younger than your actual age, but even so... Kurapika, who chose to struggle rather than kill, seemed satisfied with Sora's performance and smiled brightly. Stepping forward, Omokage stood in front.

"... Omokage. Your dolls are not 'eternal'."

Omokage's shoulder twitched and jumped slightly.

The resentment that kept being spewed out stopped, but Omokage did not look up. Pretending not to hear Sora's words, denying reality.

Nevertheless, Sora continued to speak.

Rather than killing Omokage's power with your own eyes, it is better to hope that they will realize that your power has serious flaws... and that they have already lost them irretrievably.

Knowing that rather than killing Omokage himself, killing the Nen Ability that is the obsession necessary for Omokage's survival would be a cruel act of despair, Sora still had a faint trace of "hope". Believing, expecting, and then speaking.

"Omokage. This is not a provocation. I am not even boasting that the 'Magic' skills of our world are superior to 'Nen Ability'. Even if you ignore the fact that you have a lot of talent from the world's Mana, you can at least say that when you reach this level in a generation, you are more talented than me. Both my sister and I are monsters. It's interesting to compare."

"... What are you talking about?"

Omokage, who had been unresponsive and ignoring Sora's words, finally caught up and asked back.

However, Sora did not answer the question but continued to tell the story himself.

It was not sympathy. It was just a prelude to guidance.

"Omokage... the 'eternity' you want is Replacement Magic Flash Air. So, your ability, which seems to be a subspecies of it, will not be realized... that is what I am saying. By diving into the sea, you tried to fly in the sky... the story is that you made a big mistake from the beginning."

That face jumped like a phantom, the blue eyes very similar to Retsu's, and looked up to ask.

"... What does this mean?"

Sora answered the question expressionlessly.

As if Sora had no right to show any emotion, he continued with a doll-like face, wiping it from his face.

"Replacement Magic Flash Air is a 'Degenerate Exchange' magic. This is the foundation. If it is not there, it is no longer Replacement Magic. It is another magic. Other... abilities."

So it is impossible. It is impossible to achieve it using Replacement Magic from the beginning. Even if you cannot achieve 'eternity' with the true, original combination of body and soul, you cannot achieve 'eternity' with Replacement Magic that cannot escape the laws of 'Degenerate Exchange'. No matter the cost, the scales will not balance.

"'Eternity' has not yet fallen into the realm of civilization magic, although it is a realm, it cannot be achieved with magic. Even if Replacement Magic Flash Air reaches the level of magic, it will never become true magic. There is always a dead end..."

"... Do you really understand? The Phantom Troupe dolls are good proof."

Not only Omokage, but Kurapika and the others did not understand what Sora was trying to say. Among them, Gon, who was the most unable to keep up with the conversation, asked awkwardly: "What's going on?"

It was not kindness either. It was just pointing at Omokage.

The "eternity" that Omokage saw in his dolls was nothing more than an illusion.

"To give a doll a personality with Replacement Magic, it is either Concept Replacement, which is implanting one's own image of 'this doll's personality is like this', or mistaking the doll's heart for the doll's original body and remodeling someone's heart. Or it is personality replacement, putting it into the doll."

I thought the Omokage doll was a Concept Replacement, but this is someone's concept image. This part of the heart was given to the doll and made into a personality. This is not Concept Replacement, but personality replacement.

However, if that is the case, the doll cannot be used in battle. The connection between body and spirit is so strong that even the slightest injury will cause the personality put into the doll to return to the original body.... Omokage did not take the 'entire spirit' of its flaws out of the body and put it into the doll, but only 'part of the spirit', and used that part to make up for the mental deficiency. Concept Replacement. I overcame it by building a character. By expanding a part, I made the subject unable to recognize that this part was my own missing part, and weakened the connection.

I think this is a great technique.... But, since it uses Nen, even if it is only a part, your Nen still wants to return to the original body. I cannot completely overcome it.

So, as time passes, the doll loses its heart, like air in a balloon. My heart returned to my original body, and in the end, only the 'obsession' that shaped me remained... no, as time passes, that will disappear too, won't it?"

At Sora's words, Omokage's eyes widened.

Hisoka, who had been listening to Sora's story silently with a puzzled look, suddenly raised his voice: "Ah, so that's it."

When Gon and the others turned their attention to the voice involuntarily, Hisoka grinned and told them what he had noticed.

"I don't quite understand what Sora's story is, but these dolls were indeed not given a 'heart' to be used as tools, so this is strange."

Although they are heartless, they try to protect one another and hesitate to abandon them. The Phantom Troupe Spiders have lost their "rules" and mutual stubbornness, leaving only their "obsession" to move the bodies of the puppets, which is why everyone is so sweet."

Although he did not know that Sora was an "Otherworld Mage," he pointed out the interesting aspects of the Brigade puppets faster and more accurately than those who did know.

Just as Hisoka said, it is strange that he did not deliberately give her a heart, but even if he had, it would be a personality unlike his own.

Their relationship is fleeting and insignificant; even Hisoka, who had no intention of betraying him from the start, has a strong friendship with the Brigade members. I know some people would rather abandon their comrades and kill the enemies they are using.

It was fine that the Nobunaga puppet did not cut down the companion thrown within the range of the "Quan," but the act of letting go of the weapon and grabbing the companion pulled out Nobunaga's own rigid personality. It is impossible.

Of course, there is no benefit in creating such a personality and turning it into a puppet, so it is clear that Omokage did not intend to do so.

Then, thinking about why such a doll was born, Sora's guess makes the most sense.

That doll was made at least three years before Hisoka replaced her. Over these years, just like the carbonation of a drink, the Brigade puppets began to lose their true colors, and what remained in the end was the Brigade's "obsession," the core and heart of the puppets.

The reason they became such puppets is that they only have pure "feelings for their comrades," unmixed with anything else, to the point that even real people would not do stupid things to protect each other.

"... Omokage. I thought your puppets had the restriction of 'losing their eyes' and you used Replacement Magic to fix the lost 'things'... but if it is not magic, but a Nen Ability, Mana, I think it might be possible here, there are many people there, but... but this is just to buy some time."

You are Replacement Magic Flash Air, the foundation and shortcoming I have never been able to overcome; the law that things replaced will always deteriorate is impossible to escape.

No matter what your heart for the doll is, or stealing that person's eyes, it is all just buying time. It is far from eternal; it is nothing more than something that slowly fades away like forgetting and will eventually disappear."

"Shut up!!"

She did not affirm Hisoka's words, but she did not ignore them either, letting him speak to the end, and then Sora continued.

He is neither without talent as a Shadow Nen user, nor is his ability skill inferior. But I was fundamentally wrong. Sora told Omokage that his ability was to keep him away from his goal, but Omokage was bound by Kurapika's chains and began to cry.

"It's a lie!! If it were true, what would happen to Retsu!?"

Even if you look at Retsu again, aren't you like a puppet whose heart has faded and is about to disappear? You're wrong!! Let's admit it, the Brigade puppets are a mess! But I still have Retsu, my masterpiece!!"

I don't know why you! Her beauty! Why, instead of dying and rotting one day, she lets us—I don't want to give you those eyes, let them last forever!?"

If Sora denied Omokage's words by citing Retsu, twisted obsession and prejudice would flicker in Omokage's eyes, and even if restrained, he would shout loudly to make him open his eyes wide.

Kurapika tried to inject more of his remaining Qi into the chains to completely stop his Qi, and even his movements, so as not to hurt Sora, but Sora stopped him with his hand.

"... That is why I want you to stop now."

Sora spoke without expressing any emotion, neither in expression nor voice, but Aogyoku's eyes were leaking a little, unable to be suppressed.

His eyes did not shed tears, but exuded a thin layer of uncomfortable, sad emotion.

"... Yeah. Although the Brigade puppets are like that, Retsu-chan, as your progenitor, is still like a person, although it should be your heart, that girl who disagrees with your purpose is strange.

At first I thought he had already replaced several generations, and that child's mentality should be as twisted as yours..."

"That's right! Retsu betrayed me, but that is proof that I am someone else!!"

"Retsu, my doll is proof of eternity!!"

"Wrong!!"

When Sora admitted that if Sora's guess was correct, Retsu contradicted Omokage's claims, Omokage began to defend himself as if he had taken the head of a Demon.

His accusations were denied by a cry that sounded like a sob.

"... Gon?"

Retsu, who had been silently hanging her head after Omokage was restrained by Kurapika and his eyes were cut, raised her head and made a confused sound.

She felt even more pain and wanted to cry.

Sora said "Replacement Magic Flash Air," and Gon still did not understand why he could not achieve "eternity" with that kind of magic.

However, "Replacement Magic Flash Air," I somehow understood that a great price had to be paid.

Once you know this, you know a lot.

I know what Sora is struggling with, and his expectations, so I shouted because I had the same expectations, because I wanted to believe in him.

"No... why doesn't Retsu want to steal people's eyes like you... why must Retsu be as kind, so, so kind as the real Retsu... Omokage, you... this is because what I paid was 'compensation' and not Retsu...

I want to return to your heart, let's say Conscience, but to keep it in Retsu's body, you... to keep Retsu the gentle Retsu... you gave your kindness... your compassion... all of that to Retsu. Because there is... that is why you... Omokage no longer understands anything. I don't know why Retsu is sad, or what makes Retsu happy... because I gave it all to Retsu—"

Omokage opened his mouth to refute something, but could not say a word. I just stayed quiet and opened my eyes.

When she dropped a doll that imitated herself onto the floor, Retsu was also at a loss.

I know Gon's words, what you realized, what you understood, none of it is salvation.

On the contrary, I know this will be the final blow to Retsu.

There is no evidence. But when you think about it carefully, it all makes sense.

Those Brigade puppets born from other people's hearts will only disappear over time, unless they come into contact with the Brigade again, and even if I come, I can always continue to replenish them in the form of supplies.

However, as Sora has said many times, Replacement Magic Flash Air is a deterioration replacement.

Every time he gives his heart to Retsu, Omokage's own heart wears down and wears out. By now, he has been twisted, rotted, and fallen.

From the moment he used his younger sister as a test subject and created the doll named Retsu knowing he didn't want this puppet, it was indeed a part of Omokage that was twisted from the beginning. Retsu herself proved that this was not just it.

However, Retsu also proved that his conscience had been lost.

Retsu has no responsibility or fault.

However, Retsu also realized that it was the older brother's conscience that twisted the younger brother to this point, depriving him of his kindness. Shut up.

To Retsu, Gon apologized over and over again, "I'm sorry."

I know it will hurt. Even so, I had to say it.

I want to believe because I want to expect because I want to make it come true.

That is because Sora feels the same way.

That is why Sora, as an adult, must take responsibility for the final struggle.

"... Let's stop now, Omokage."

Speak kindly and reach out your hand.

"If you go on like this, you will only hurt others, sacrifice your own sister, make your sister sad, and only make your own heart cold and become a useless person. Yes... a meaningless fall."

It is not that you are inferior. I just chose the wrong method; originally I didn't notice it, but now I have noticed it, so let's do it this way.

"So please stop your Conscience and let us Recapture your heart... That might be the death of that 'Retsu', but... rather than you and that child continuing to gradually lose the precious things that make you human... it would be better for you alone to take it back, and this time you should choose the means to do so... I should be able to compensate my own younger sister and the Retsu who is here now in a way I can be proud of."

"Even if Retsu herself wanted to say it, Kun cannot say it, 'Conscience, let us Recapture it,'" Sora said, reaching his hand out toward Omokage.

"It will never end. What you have done is sinful, but even so, if it was a precious thing that made you human in the beginning, even if I cannot forgive you now, I say I will give you a chance, a future."

In order not to completely deny what Omokage had done, and in order not to let it become worthless or meaningless, Sora gave Omokage the greatest possibility.

"...... But,"

"...... Lies. Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies!!"

Omokage bit the hand Sora extended, saying "This is a lie," denying it all, rejecting it, and then pulling it aside.

Even while bound by chains, Omokage struggled and let out an earnest scream.

"What is this all about!! I don't make dolls, so I died! Even if I die, my dolls will continue to live and kill you! My... my dolls are eternal. If I throw away and Recapture such a rotten body, yes, the reason I lost is because I used such a fragile human body; if I also became a doll..."

That scream reminded Sora and Gon.

Omokage truly had no Conscience, no kindness as a human.

If Sora's guess was correct, it proved that even for Retsu, it was only a matter of time before she could maintain her current good personality.

... Omokage himself gave up his current Nen Ability and neutralized him without dirtying anyone. With neither expectations nor hope, even if Retsu's life as a doll ended, she would live on in her brother's heart with her brother's kindness.

Due to the struggling and writhing, Sora was reminded that all struggles were in vain.

(... After all, I can only kill this guy.)

Sora's back, still struggling with something, hurt severely, as if giving up would be much better, and Killua was weak because she would no longer struggle to hurt her. Not to protect himself, but for her, when he used his Finger to gouge out Omokage's heart again————

"――――This is not a lie."

A chill slid down my spine.

He said this in a gentle voice.

The great Omokage, who seemed not to hear anyone's voice anymore, stopped laughing and looked for the owner of the voice with a bewildered expression.

I knew who it was. The voice was right in front of me.

The hand I had extended had not been Recaptured. Instead, that hand stroked Omokage's cheek, and she... "she" slowly opened her eyes and said.

This made no sense. It was just a whim.

It was just a whim, I laughed.

Just like the deep blue sea, just like the high blue sky, just like the symbol of the farthest place humans yearn for, he laughed and said.

"'I' say."

Blue sky.

Her eyes were full of helplessness and despair————

＊＊＊

Sora did not realize the momentary void of consciousness. I did not notice.

Kurapika and the others around were pale and speechless, and even Hisoka widened his eyes in surprise; I didn't feel an unnatural look, as if I had seen it.

"... Thank you."

Unexpectedly, Retsu, who should have been at the end of the hall, hugged Omokage's side and said to Sora.

Lonely, with a smile.

Even so, Retsu smiled at Sora and said to Sora, as if she had blown something away.

"...... So please don't think this is your fault."

"If I am your brother's 'Conscience'... then I have a responsibility to stop him."

Pulling out the Acrobatic Dagger stuck beside her brother, Retsu smiled slightly.