Chapter 155: Memories

"... Thank you."

Having thrown away the Dagger she had pulled from her brother's side, though covered in blood, Retsu said this with a smile that was fleetingly lonely yet somewhat refreshed.

The gratitude she gave was Sora's, not the gratitude announced on a whim by the omniscient and omnipotent Goddess. This was a form of gratitude; I could completely abandon the expectation that I might be able to do this, but Sora did not notice.

However, a smile comparable to all the beauty in the world was twisted into the surprise of "I can't believe it" and the persistent sadness of "Why?", and her deep blue eyes were filled with determination, willing even to pick up objects.

Unlike the Goddess, Sora shouted with a face that coexisted with human weakness and strength.

"... Little Retsu."

Even though I called out, words did not follow.

It was not just Sora; Gon and the others were the same. Their pale complexions were not caused solely by the suddenly appearing Goddess; Retsu's actions were also one of the reasons.

But to them, Retsu's actions were not that sudden, nor that unexpected.

... Or rather, they could have predicted this development.

I tried hard to avoid it.

"Let us...? Why...? I...?"

However, only Omokage did not understand.

Kurapika's chains did not strike him down, but blood spilled from his mouth, and his already sickening complexion turned as pale as paper. He asked Retsu while facing her.

I had originally thought it would be better if the connection to Omokage was wrong, but now... if I knew the truth the Goddess spoke of, if it really was a connection, it would have been better from the start. Sister let us... I think it would have been better if I only viewed things as tools and Material.

If this was because she loved him, continuing to give her good things to extend her survival time, it seems it would have been better if there were no love from the start.

Even so, Retsu—

"If I were still alive, I would have become like this..."

I answered my brother clearly.

Although this was Retsu's own answer, Puppet, this was not the real Retsu's answer, and also... the brother's own answer.

"I don't want to see my brother hurt anyone anymore..."

Nii-san is not a "Puppet of God." I just wanted him to be the kind older brother who truly liked making dolls. That is why I thought I had to stop it with my own hands.

... This is my "truth." I was not forced by an order. It feels 'real'."

Although separated from Omokage and possessing an independent personality, Retsu's ethics were what her brother hoped for and believed in, so she received affirmation; the brother's kindness was the essence of Retsu's ethics. Following his heart.

... So, even though sad, even though painful, Retsu smiled and said she had no regrets.

Looking like she was about to cry, but perhaps because she thought crying was an insult to Retsu, she bit her lip and said to Gon and Killua, who were holding back tears: "You shouldn't cry."

Everything, let us follow his feelings, follow his heart.

Omokage looked helplessly at Retsu with dull eyes and said, "This is exactly what happened when your hand was bitten by a dog," and spoke self-deprecating words that insulted Retsu along with him.

However, Gon's words were rejected by Gon, who wiped away the tears about to overflow with Retsu's smile.

"... No, Omokage. Retsu didn't betray you because of resentment for being turned into a doll; she just wanted to stop you from the bottom of her heart, having once been a kind brother."

"... From the beginning, Retsu... your heart only wanted to continue being the 'gentle brother Retsu,' not a 'Puppet of God.'"

Gon did not know if this would save him.

However, judging from Retsu's actions and thoughts, and from the Goddess's assertion, this was true.

Retsu was born from Omokage's heart. I should not deny it.

That is why even Omokage must have regretted sacrificing his sister, at least in the beginning, equating such a title with his sister.

Compared to that title, I wanted to find my sister, wanted to live with my sister, but that was the beginning, that should have been my original intention, but in order to live with my sister as a doll, I didn't even notice that feeling, I had to let it rot, decay, and lose it; this is a terrible irony.

This is a fact, and I don't think this will be salvation.

Even so, facing Gon's words, Retsu smiled slightly.

Then... after taking a deep breath, Omokage slowly lowered his eyelids and slowly stopped breathing.

Retsu approached her brother who had stopped breathing and embraced him.

Seeing this, Kurapika wiped away the chain on his middle finger, revealing a complex expression of sadness, yet slight relief and forgiveness.

Kurapika's support disappeared, and Omokage's corpse leaned against Retsu, but Retsu still sat holding it, continuing to embrace him.

In the arms of her motionless brother, I cried while lowering my voice, continuously holding him.

... Just, just a little bit, faint to the point where you cannot deny it, even if it is just your thoughts, but...

No one knew if this was the reason for Retsu's tears.

Killua called out to Retsu, who continued to embrace her brother, and to Sora, who continued to look down at the dead Omokage while holding his sister.

"... Don't feel responsible because you couldn't do anything."

This was all done by Omokage himself.... On the contrary, thanks to your affirmation, it should be a little better."

"Hm? Did I say that?"

Fortunately, because of Killua's comfort, the sad face turned into a slightly embarrassed smile, but when Killua accidentally slipped up, Sora turned into an expressionless counter-question, and the others glared at Killua, "... Hey, don't say unnecessary things."

Finally, completely ignored and forgotten by the others, Hisoka said, "Ah, Sora doesn't know 'her', doesn't even know," deepening Sora's confusion.

Precisely because he didn't want to ask Hisoka "What's going on?", Sora continued to ignore Hisoka, tugging at Killua's hem and saying, "Think you don't have any assertions about this?", but Killua of course did not answer.

I mean, it's impossible for me to talk about an existence I don't remember or know, and most importantly, I can't talk about an existence I don't remember or know. "Nothing!!"

"... Sora, take care of that left hand. It looks painful."

Also, I will give you a sermon as you wish, stop messing around."

It's a pity to lie, but there is no other way, Kurapika sighed helplessly, then pointed at the wrist cut Sora made for the Gem Sword, changing the subject.

However, this seemed to be more than just an excuse to stop Killua from bombarding him with questions, and because his gaze was serious, this time Sora avoided his eyes.

"Hey, I understand how you feel, but all you're doing now is taking care of yourself."

However, sure enough, in front of the girl crying and grieving for her brother's death, Leorio stopped her kneeling and sermon, because this was about Sora's rest, and Kurapika himself thought that if he thought about it, it was definitely too annoying. Calm down. I nodded maturely.

He hesitated for a few moments, but then called out as if he had made up his mind.

"............ Let's go! Look......"

Even if she had no other choice but to consume her remaining Qi, slowly disappearing from this day forward, and even if she had to be reminded that she was not a living person while turning back into a puppet, she was still Gon. She stretched out her hand.

Along with the words, "Follow me."

But before the words could finish, the outstretched hand was swept away.

"！?"

It was not that Letz ignored this. Letz's hand remained wrapped around his brother's back, continuing to hold him.

What made Gon's hand disappear......

"——I cannot let it end like this!"

"！！??"

Retsu jumped up and saw the face buried in his chest.

The eyes, which were not focused anywhere, were extremely stagnant. As usual, the body holding me had no temperature, and I could not even hear my own heartbeat.

Definitely dead. Although Omokage was already dead, his eyes were wide open, and the corners of his eyes seemed to be splitting as he screamed.

"Doll! A human who lived like a rotting sewer is dead!"

"Ah!?"

"Let us!!"

Accompanied by resentment toward the Ghost remains, a black aura erupted, blowing away Retsu, who was clinging to the Ghost, and Gon, who was beside him.

Gon reached out toward the blown-away Retsu, but his hand did not reach; he was blown in the opposite direction and caught by Leorio, but Retsu was blown against the Wall, slamming hard into his back.

Even if I blew my sister away, the remains of Omokage would not spare me a glance.

...... Except for Hisoka, who was uninterested in the true intentions of Sora and Omokage, everyone else realized that the Goddess's words were more correct than they had imagined.

The reason Omokage wore a calm smile at the moment of his death was because of their own desires; they understood this was a misunderstanding.

Even without knowing his true identity, his intuition let him know that he would not even listen to the affirmation of an "Absolute" powerhouse, and the scene before his eyes proved it.

Two figures crawled out from behind Omokage.

He said "Doll pregnancy Doll Catcher" in ". Franklin and Phinks were Materialization-ed, perhaps because he was exhausted from spitting out the two, and Omokage's corpse collapsed on the spot like a broken string.

However, the puppets that crawled out of Omokage did not disappear.

Instead, they absorbed the ominous, pitch-black aura emitted from Omokage's corpse, becoming even more terrifying than when they first appeared.

"...... Spirit of the dead!"

"My god, I didn't expect the last moment, but you are putting up a very energetic fight."

Sora stopped the treatment of his left wrist and faced the puppets. Perhaps because the feast of Karna disappeared too quickly, making me frustrated, I happily licked my lips and said.

While thinking that Hisoka was so shameful, this time Sora did not have to swallow his anger; I could finish it with my own eyes, or should I say "Hisoka guard!!" I should run away, or in that case, run away carrying Retsu. Or rather, 90% of Sora's plan was solidified by the latter.

However, fortunately, "they" appeared before they could implement the strategy to destroy Serious.

"Another day, Ripper Cycloton!"

The Phinks puppet lunged silently at the temporarily closest Gon and Leorio, and at the same time, the similarly jumping opponent hit the puppet from the side, splitting the body in two.

Then, while clenching his fist to check his condition, he said in disappointment.

"What is it?"

"！?"

The puppet, which should have absorbed a large amount of Omokage's final Qi to strengthen itself, was crushed by a single blow from the puppet's model; unlike the puppet that looked like a 1980s pharaoh, it was a Phinks that looked like a common Yankee.

Gon and the others were shocked by Phinks's intrusion; although he was more of an "enemy of an enemy" than Hisoka, they knew they could not count on him to be a temporary ally.

Hisoka regretfully Recapture-ed the Playing Cards he had taken out and muttered, "It's already here."

For a moment, Sora lifted his leg to kick Hisoka away, his eyes widening in surprise just like Gon and the others, but he was not in a hurry. Or rather, this woman, perhaps she didn't even realize Phinks was a Phantom Troupe Spider.

Sora was someone familiar with Phinks; because of that big, strange hat, he couldn't see the doll's face clearly, and "this eyebrowless Yankee" was very inappropriate.

I asked such an abrupt question almost as a conditioned reflex, but I don't know if I can call it lucky, but I didn't have to say it out loud.

Sora noticed the muzzle of the Franklin puppet aimed at us and tried to kick Hisoka again, but before that, the aura of the Franklin puppet was even higher than the Bullet he fired. Turning into a honeycomb, his body swayed.

Just before the giant body fell to the ground, a black, slender figure jumped out and smashed the puppet's head with the stick it was holding in a final blow. If it weren't for that doll, it would simply be a grotesque pomegranate.

"This Franklin is completely unbearable. Seriously, I've never done this before, so I don't know."

"...... I mean, did you think it was me just now?"

The young girl looked down at the crushed puppet head expressionlessly, murmuring in a tone as if the person who crawled out of the hole in the Wall of Omokage had really flinched.

Those two looked familiar.

And the person who appeared behind them.

"We are a bit late. Omokage, he is already dead."

A short man in black clothes muttered his dissatisfaction with a heavy accent.

"Can't be helped, right?"

"I'm not good at psychometry on memories left in objects. Or rather, I've repeated it so many times that my head hurts."

A pretty girl in a mini-kimono and a quarrelsome person, as well as a hook-nosed beauty model in an open-chested suit, refuted these complaints.

"Alright."

While soothing the somewhat gloomy atmosphere of the three, a gentle man holding a Mobile Phone spoke up.

Then, a man like a ronin, wearing a kimono and ready to draw the Sword at his waist at any time, ignoring the friends' conversation...... Nobunaga spoke up.

"...... Yo. Has it been half a year? To the chain bastard...... Sora=Shikiori."

"...... Phantom Troupe"

For the sake of his best friend who swore never to get involved again, the leader Kurapika once again Materialization-ed his chains, and Sora also increased the brightness of his eyes to sky blue.

Of course, the other three were also surprised by the appearance of the real Phantom Troupe, and they all assumed the same posture, but in their minds, they were even more impatient than when they had activated the Death God's soul of the shadow.

There are only two dolls created by the thoughts of the dead Omokage, and although they have been strengthened, and Sora is not an opponent who can back down, so Franklin is a bit stronger, but I still have better odds of winning.

However, these 8 real Phantom Troupe members, all the wounds on their bodies, seemed to be in their best condition, yet they were far from being tough.

And the Phantom Troupe probably also knew that this Brigade was at an overwhelming disadvantage.

However, it is very difficult to get away.

I know that if I kill Kurapika, who is sealing Chrollo, Chrollo will be in danger because of his death.

In that case, even if it was just Sora... that's what he thought, but judging from what happened in Yorkshin and the information about Kurapika that everyone had been implanted with by Pakunoda, it goes without saying that it would be worse.

Killing Sora would surely deepen his hatred for the Phantom Troupe, and it is not hard to imagine that this person would trade his own death to turn his power into a cruel Curse to destroy the Phantom Troupe.

Sora is the same.

If one were to kill Kurapika, it seems very likely that he would choose to protect Sora after death rather than hate Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe, rather than leaving dead feelings for Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe, but there is no doubt that it is so. If Kurapika is killed, this woman will lose all her remaining humanity and reason and become a Demon of vengeance.

If the target is only the Phantom Troupe, that would be even better.

By this time, this woman was almost delirious. "I will become your Deterrence Beast Primit murder case."

Not only Shalnark, who plays the calm strategist, but also the short-sighted Nobunaga and Phinks know this.

However, even so, they clearly felt that it was a pity to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill their natural enemy.

What resolved the Hard state was a pleasant low chuckle.

"Kuku..., wouldn't it be better to stop?"

Even if he couldn't kill them, even if he didn't kill them, at least he wanted to take one of their limbs and put them at a disadvantage. He laughed and took a step forward.

Either he didn't realize it, or he ignored it because it was too much trouble to get involved with Kurapika and the others, but regardless, Nobunaga spat out his Tongue in disgust at Hisoka who had come out. "I'll deal with you later, traitor, get out!!"

However, Hisoka ignored the other party's angry voice, grinned, and told the Brigade.

"Did you forget? Sora has the strongest Bodyguard? Possessing the stomach hand to become..."

"And... the thing you least want to see, but your leader has a 'girlfriend' who fascinates you."

First, the entire Phantom Troupe realized it was the "strongest Bodyguard," and then it was "her," and everyone's face was covered in blood.

Leaving aside Hisoka's remarks in the first half, Sora himself was also confused because he didn't know what the second half was about. However, the other four kept staring into the distance, saying, "You don't have to worry."

Watching each of them so happy, Hisoka completed this Phantom Troupe.

"'She' only appeared for a moment."

Originally, these words were not meant as a threat.

The appearance of "her" was unconditional. Everything was a whim of the Goddess. Just because she appeared earlier does not mean she will help Sora or those important to her in a crisis.

Do not become a threat. However, as a Phantom Troupe, I was reminded that it was impossible for me to be optimistic.

The awakening of "her" is unpredictable because they are capricious. The possibility of it not appearing might be higher, but in any case, the possibility of it appearing cannot be eliminated.

And when she appears, I don't know what "she" will do.

Although it was useless, and everyone had already been stabbed, Hisoka still chased after them.

"At that moment, I said some very bad things, so you know, but 'she' was talking about Sora. It's best not to ask about the kindness sweetness."

Although he knew all this, he did not mention that Chrollo's Nen Ability was sealed, nor did he tell Hisoka that his wish would not be fulfilled.

Of course, no one sympathized with Hisoka's futile misfortune, but even a man who likes to be abused or falls into a disadvantageous position due to masochism would think, "I don't want to get involved in this anymore." Nobunaga clicked his Tongue a few more times. Time and asked if this was a huge persuasion.

"... Hisoka, is that 'very bad-tempered thing' about Omokage that the bitch Goddess mentioned?"

To Nobunaga's question, Hisoka smiled so brightly that he wanted to punch him, and replied, "Of course."

"... Our goal is to destroy Uvo's grave, steal his eyes, then turn him into a doll, and crush that doll by calling it the 'worst failure'... insulting the entire Uvo. Revenge against Omokage is revenge."

"But if the most important Omokage is already dead, I will assume my purpose has been fulfilled.... I don't know what that damn Goddess said, but if that's the case, she must have already killed enough Demon shadows to satisfy us."

Nobunaga said he would quietly exit today, and the hot-blooded Phinks and Feitan made dissatisfied sounds, but Machi and Shalnark tried to stop them.

"Well, you won't get a penny for fighting these guys."

"That's right. On the contrary, even if you don't have 'that,' if you come with a self-determination containing the 'Heart of the Dead,' we will be at a disadvantage."

The situation where everyone is injured is an opportunity, but after all, the risk of fighting them is too great to fight Chrollo, even if they haven't finished the annihilation yet.

Even though I felt ashamed to be ignored by the kindness of such a Brigade, and I was humiliated, but if I really fought them, I would die and become a "stubborn person." Without that assumption, Kurapika knew that he was afraid he couldn't even beat one member, Kurapika gritted his teeth until his back teeth were about to break, enduring the humiliation.

Similarly, Gon and the others continued to move forward themselves, they were angry that the Phantom Troupe didn't look at this matter, as if saying that their combat power didn't need to count anyone other than Kurapika and Sora, but they thought Kurapika was enduring, she gritted her teeth, clenched her fists and endured, only she couldn't endure it.

"Don't think you're going to die."

I denied Shalnark's words.

A body with almost no breath, neither a Demi-god hero nor an omniscient Goddess, is the heart of a weak and foolish person who will not stop walking even if broken, rising from sky blue to azure. He stared at the Brigade and said.

"We just want to survive."

If you don't have a chance to win, no matter how clumsy you are, run, run, run, and survive. I will never give up on the future. We don't want to die, we want to live, so we will continue to fight.

Don't just assume you're going to die."

Do you really not want to die? This sentence made me want to ask back.

In this case, if I said that, it wouldn't be strange for those Phinks who had already calmed down to thrive and attack me, but if you really want to live, no matter how clumsy you are, just stay quiet here. In that case, it's fine to accept the Brigade's judgment, but Sora, who disdains to intervene, can only be seen as a candidate for suicide.

But... Kurapika, Killua, Gon, and Leorio all know.

She not only wants to die, but also wants to live. Therefore, I cannot be complacent and silent here.

Sora... he knew that he denied Shalnark's words because he wanted the person he loved to live, because he wanted them to live, because he didn't want them to just not die.

So, the reprimand of "Don't say unnecessary words!" disappeared, and instead, they also looked at the Brigade and spoke.

"Don't use our 'death' as an excuse for you to run away!"

"That's right! We can't die!!"

"They're just scared themselves!"

"Hey, you're ignoring us!!"

It seems the cool-headed members of the Phantom Troupe were stunned by the sudden commotion, and the hot-blooded ones were somewhat annoyed, but even those angry hot-blooded members spoke up: "Well, then, as expected, here. Slaughter, or shall we start doing it!?" It did not come to that.

Nobunaga, who should have decided not to be confused, and the other members, who should not have had such a Prediction, knew, but they saw it.

Our comrades did what they thought was disadvantageous, but still won and survived.

The reason we are here now.

Because they saw the image of Uvogin in Sora, and because they had completely lost the will to fight, they ignored the words directed at them and turned their backs.

"... Retz will be dealt with sooner or later, so be prepared.

When the time comes... I will make you suffer more than hell."

This was the extent of the lines I spat out. It was more like Nobunaga, rather than his enemy Sora, was telling himself.

I know best that I cannot let a woman who is an enemy to my best friend and Shadow torture her to death. So at the very least, I am stubborn, only with my mouth.

If you don't do this, you will likely forget the fact that you are enemies.

Therefore, the Phantom Troupe left without grabbing the remnants who would not return.

"Things end here."

"If you die now, I will agree without complaint."

Seeing that the Brigade had already left, Sora glared at the shouting Hisoka, those eyes making Aogyoku regain its luster, and said:

Hisoka's intervention seemed to be protecting them, and it could be said he was actually protecting them, but he himself did not think so. What this guy did was the same as when he joined the Brigade two or three years ago to fight Omokage; he knew it was fake, yet he ignored it.

It was just because I wanted to enjoy all the prey I was focused on.

And since this matter was the despicable doing of this man, not only Sora, but of course everyone present held a grudge against Hisoka, and there was no intention of expressing gratitude, nor would anyone blame Sora for Sora's rude remarks.

However, Sora's words did not seem to hurt him as usual; "Too scary," instead, Hisoka roared happily, and not just Sora, but everyone let out a weary sigh. Everything was Iker's metamorphosis.

However, although I am unwilling to admit it, I can say for sure that things end here.

Hisoka's presence is annoying, but judging from his hobbies and tastes, it is almost impossible for us to be attacked by him, because he is covered in wounds, so it can be said that all threats are gone.

This is the reason why I should ignore Hisoka and leave.

"... Hmm? Retz?"

Gon discovered it.

Unbeknownst to them, Retz, who should have been blown against the wall by the sense of death from the great Shadow, was gone.

For a moment, she panicked, thinking she had returned to the doll's body, but on the wall floor where she had been blown and hit, there was no body like a drawing doll, about 20 centimeters.

Where is that? The five people other than Hisoka looked around anxiously and discovered a small figure dragging something on the balcony-like second floor.

"Retz!"

Gon called out to her, and Retz turned around and smiled slightly.

Gon called out innocently: "What are you doing? Come down!!"

Usually, it is dark, so I just carry it as a Flashlight, but Retz has no eyes. This is a field of vision that should not change regardless of whether there is light or not.

However, not just Killua, but even Sora, Kurapika, and Leorio were somehow holding candlesticks and looking at her suspiciously, observing her from below.

Gon was the only one who did not question what she was holding.

However, what he noticed as an "abnormality" was not what she was holding, but the smell he caught in his nose.

Actually, I had been doing it for a long time, but it was getting darker, and I had been fighting the entering sea, the Phantom Troupe dolls, and Omokage, so my nose smelled the scent of "that," but my head was like, "That's it." Gon finally realized what she had been dragging, because he had no time to identify and perceive what "" was, and he shouted.

"!? Retz, what are you doing!?"

Just as Gon shouted, Retz kicked over the dragged Container with the hand opposite to the one holding the candlestick, and "it" spilled from the second floor to the first floor.

If the contents spilled, even if I didn't have a non-standard nose like Gon's, I would have noticed it.

The thing Retz was dragging... the thing she kicked over was a plastic tank, and inside was... kerosene.

'No!?'

"Go away! It's dangerous, put out the candle!!"

A large amount of kerosene was dripping, everyone made impatient sounds, and Gon pleaded with Retz as if screaming.

Kerosene does not evaporate like gasoline, so it will not ignite like an Explosion, but a single candle is very dangerous. So, Gon asked desperately.

However, Retz did not blow out the candle as Gon requested.

As lonely and fleeting as ever, but as if the Heavy weight on her shoulders had been lifted, she said with a happy smile.

"Hmm... thank you for calling me 'friend.' Killua, thank you for saying 'tell me the truth' when I gave up.

... I am really, really happy. I'm glad I met you all..."

Retz held the candlestick with both hands to express her gratitude.

It was truly happy and shy, Retz said with a smile.

But... the continuation of those words, the "ending" she chose, etc., I know this is not what Gon wanted.

I know, but I don't want to admit it, so Gon reached out and called Retz.

"Retz!!"

Receiving Gon's call, Retz smiled.

I smiled and told the "truth" I shouldn't have said, because my brother took it away from me.

"Really... I'm glad I met you all... I'm glad we became friends.

... I love you. I love you all very much."

She expressed all her feelings for the friends who were not from Omokage, and not from the real Retz, but because they were Retz dolls.

... But Retz would not get down from there.

She did not take Gon's hand.

"... But I'm sorry."

Letz smiled with a hint of apology and announced the ending he had chosen.

"I will return with my brother. In my memories."

As he spoke, Retsu smiled, let go of the candlestick in his hand, and tears spilled from his otherwise hollow eye sockets.

"Let's go!!"

Killua grabbed Gon's arm and pulled him back, who was screaming as he ran toward Lettu, who was being swallowed by the Fire.

Just like how I tried to save Lettu, who had been kidnapped by the sea.

The difference was that when Gon turned around, Killua looked straight at him, bit his lip in frustration, and shook his head.

I didn't even look like I knew why I was doing this. This time, Killua was absolutely stopping Gon according to his own will.

Was it because Kun was more important than Retsu, or because he didn't want to deny Retsu's choice...

"...... Yeah. The Fire is going to burn. Get out quickly."

I chose Killua, but I was sure Killua really wanted to say "come with me," but the reason he wanted to jump into that Fire was because he had been holding his arms until they hurt. Even though he knew.

I want you to come with me.

If you feel guilty about abandoning Retsu, you can shift the responsibility onto yourself.

It was as if that was what he was saying.

Once again, Gon turned around.

When I looked around for Retsu, who should have been swallowed by the Fire, Retsu came down from the second floor and sat beside his brother's corpse.

Surrounded by Fire, it was hard to tell if she had turned back into a human form or was on the verge of becoming a doll again.

Even so, Lettu did not leave his brother's side.

But Gon's sense of smell was as good as his hearing.

"My 'truth' has disappeared just like that——"

Otherwise, I wanted to scream.

However, Gon had no right to deny it.

It was "true" that Retsu chose Omokage instead of his brother.

At the same time, proof

"——But I am not sad... because I was able to meet them."

Even though she chose to disappear with her brother, deep down she felt the joy of meeting "friends," and she told me that was the reason she wasn't sad.

That is why... that is why... I also chose Gon. Because I had to choose.

"............ Yes."

I nodded and escaped the Burning Residence while Killua pulled my hand.

Do not deposit regrets for this person.

I swear I will never forget all the memories I have with her.

＊＊＊

It was probably from the time Gon and the others were fighting Illumi, the Flame Soldier, and the sea dolls that Retsu not only wanted to use his eyes to keep the sea dolls Fixed, but regardless of the outcome, he intended to do so in the end. He must have poured kerosene inside.

The five who escaped just stared silently at the crumbling Residence, because it was so old and the Fire was swirling at an abnormal speed.

By the way, before I knew it, Hisoka was already gone. Perhaps he walked away at the latest when Lettu put down the candlestick.

(Is it really okay to let you go——)

Although it was his choice this time, Killua's heart was filled with regret and hesitation.

Perhaps sensing Killua's inner thoughts, or perhaps because Gon had difficulty taking care of himself, he whispered beside Killua.

"...... Let... him say he isn't sad... because he could meet us... he said he isn't sad..."

"...... Even if you aren't sad, I can't be like that. You idiot."

Killua hated Retsu's last words.

He admitted that he was grieving for Retsu's death and the loss of Retsu, and he mourned her, who was now just a memory.

As if comforting the two, Sora blew at the hair lifted by the Fire and said.

"...... If you are sad, you should say you are sad.

If you cannot digest your sadness, it will rot the 'memories' that live in the present and serve as food for the future into an 'obsession' that cannot escape the past."

When Gon and Killua were told they could cry, their tear ducts loosened immediately, but they hadn't completely broken down yet.

Indeed, Sora was right; she was happy that she made me cry, but I still couldn't let go of my stubbornness.

Because I could say the whole word just as it was.

Those words..., allowed to cry——

"You say that?"

Kurapika said in surprise.

"...... What?"

Hearing Kurapika's words, Sora smiled and broke free.

Perhaps he didn't like this answer; Kurapika frowned, pulled the distance between them, and said it again.

"You say that?"

Looking straight into Sora's eyes, I asked.

When looking, I lifted my hair slightly and tucked it behind my ears.

...... Let me see the Earrings Sora gave me with the sky-blue gems... which are very similar to the memento of Sora's sister.

Such words and actions... Sora was at a loss for a moment, and then... with an angry and sullen look, he still forced himself to smile faintly and Hard.

"——I am very mean to you."

Sora cursed at Kurapika, suddenly pressing his head against Kurapika's chest, his forehead against Kurapika's chest, and then gripped Kurapika's clothes tightly... and began to cry.

"Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Raise your voice and cry like a child.

I remember it was when I was crying.

I talked about my "dream" while dozing off on my sister's bed.

She did not give up, but chose to accept her own "dream," and saw her sister's smile while dreaming.

I had intended to chat with him for a bit, but because my younger sister was in a bad mood, she was strangled to death.

However, my sister immediately released the suffocation in less than 10 seconds.

I remember that as soon as I let go, my lips were saying: "Are you okay?"

... When my father was about to kill me, my sister prioritized killing my father, rushed over to support the blood-covered Sora, and helped me up.

That was the chance for my father to counterattack; I hadn't finished killing yet.

Even so, my sister used her body as a shield to tell me.

I cried out: "Run!"

I don't think they were close sisters.

Because Sora couldn't think of a reason why his sister would like her.

Terrible, annoying, and a snob trapped in values I couldn't understand as a Magician, I was deeply convinced by what Omokage said about "Material"...

However, there must be memories clinging to "perhaps..."

Regardless of my sister's true intentions, it was natural for me to have a sister at that time; even if I didn't speak to her or have direct contact with her, I still thought it was natural for her to be Together with me, so I didn't know anything. But... I don't think she was interested... but the reason Sora liked his sister is still clear even now.

So... although she wasn't my real sister, I was happy to see her again, but it was so fleeting and so sad that I lost her once more, to the point where I almost killed her. Sadness............

Sora held Kurapika and began to cry.

As expected of his own words, in order to live in the present, to serve as food for the future, and to prevent his "memories" from rotting, Sora cried to dispel all the sadness.

Seeing Sora holding Kurapika and crying, Killua threw away the "stubbornness" he had always Stick to, and Killua spat bitterly as usual, "That's it!"

While shedding tears, they shattered each other's tears.

Although Sora was sad, I knew he was sad, but he couldn't cry because he was still laughing at them... I couldn't stop crying because I had lost my "friend."

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Let us! Let us!! Why!?"

Honestly, Gon was unconvinced and repeatedly asked "Why?" regarding Retsu's choice.

Killua kept his head down, lowering his voice as much as possible, but he cried and kicked the ground over and over again, wondering if he was as dissatisfied with Retsu's ending as Gon was, or if he was dissatisfied with his own choice.

Watching them like this, Leorio felt he could not forgive Omokage for hurting his friends until now, but seeing the Burning Fire, this girl named Retsu who was swallowed by the fire was Omokage's Conscience. I remembered, and the anger just turned into sadness.

"... Cry. Cry if you want to cry... Then live on."

Leorio muttered to himself, closing his eyes to watch the three people crying for their loss.

Behind my eyelids, I could see the smile of a friend who was blocked by the reality of money and could not be saved.

I hope to see you again. I cannot deny the wish I have to be reborn.

But I don't think I want to return to the past.

Leorio might be able to see him for a short while; he knew that the driving force behind why he could reach the "present" and the "future" was surely those memories that dispelled his sadness. My friend, I smiled at my friend behind my eyelids.

(――――I'm sorry, Flame Soldier)

Kurapika held Sora's shoulders, crying while continuing to hold back tears, apologizing to the Flame Soldier in his heart.

I deeply apologize for being unable to convey the message he chose at the end of his life.

"Miss Umi............ What is the difference between me and..."

At first it had no meaning to me, but now I understand.

That is why I cannot say it. Kurapika hid the truth about "Umi" that he could not tell Sora, and remained silent.

There are many discrepancies.

The first problem is that although she was born from Sora's heart, she did many things that even Sora himself could not imagine.

However, this can still be explained by Sora's clear image; once she obtained the doll's body, her personality became independent, "My sister will do things I cannot imagine." In fact, Sora could not predict his sister's actions, but she did not feel uncomfortable with what she did, and firmly believed that she would do so.

The next thing that made me feel uncomfortable was that although Sora should have only answered "I hope so," Omokage asserted "Umi only views her younger brother as 'Material'."

And no matter how you look at it, Umi, who contradicts that answer, says and does nothing but dote on Sora.

However, the explanation for these things is that because they were born from Sora's heart, the "longing to become like this" and the "anxiety about what it might be like" were mixed together, creating that contradictory sister.

But this alone cannot explain it.

If the "Umi" in Sora's imagination was born from Sora's heart, then she made an absolutely impossible statement.

"... It's really good. Although I don't want to die, she would hand over everything else without hesitation."

Strangling Kurapika's neck, she said with a regretful face.

"... My mother, my father, Dead Spirit, Magician fool guys............ Because that is how I raised him. Everything, everything you have, everything you were born with, you were told to give to me, all that was asked of you, you were raised just to be taken away!!"

She felt regret for Sora's self-sacrificing dedication, saying: "It's all my fault."

... If it were an existence born from Sora's heart, that would be impossible.

That is because Sora does not think of himself as a person with such a spirit of self-sacrifice and dedication at all.

Really, what she did was more selfish than self-sacrifice. Because she was too bold, doing nothing but self-sacrifice, ignoring the concerns of the outside world, but according to Karna, she was just rushing forward without brakes or power, not wanting to let go. No matter the situation, no matter who you sacrifice, you will not let go.

And since I am that kind of person, it is impossible for my sister to think that way.

That is why this statement is absolutely impossible.

Whether it is true or false, the reason Sora does not care about himself is because he was forced to have his things taken away since he was a child.

Since Sora himself is not even aware that he is a person who does not care about himself, it is impossible for a life born from Sora's heart to evaluate Sora in such a way.

Then, what exactly is that "Sea"? No questions were raised.

That is the abnormality of Sora I learned about from Yorkshin; not only his eyes, but his body is also abnormal, "almost colorless. If you know the extent of the body, if you know what it is associated with, it is not difficult.

... Of course, even Omokage would not notice.

This is not the expected result of Omokage. And it is not something anyone can do, or rather, it is something only Sora can do, but this is by no means a Coincidence.

The reason it is possible is because the opponent is Sora, and the opponent who can become a Puppet with the ability of the surface shadow is the "Attachment" Sea that Sora feels attached to.

When Omokage's ability enters the body containing Sora's heart... there is indeed Sora's "heart," but that body also contains something else.

It is connected to the vortex of origin, the Abyss, the farthest end where all things are born and return.

When that hand seeking to "attach" to the body was disturbed without reservation, the "other party" also found that hand and grabbed it.

If it were another person, the other person you let live in your mind is the other person in your memory. This person himself should not be able to live in it, no matter how much he wants it.

But... Sora's body is also connected to the farthest place where "she" should return.

So I have always been there.

It was not Omokage that I grabbed.

"She," not Omokage... not Sora's obsession, but the ghost deep in Sora's heart that he hopes he will not forget. I guess he reached out and grabbed it.

Just as the Flame Soldier said, it means "not like us." That is—

(... Only you mean "real"... Umi)

Only the Sea is not an image that anyone other than a person born of human obsession can see at a glance as "fake," but the real "color-woven Sea" in the puppet body. It is the true soul of the ocean that fills and moves that doll.

Only she is real. Everything she says is true.

If so, all the discomfort is explained.

If he were not born from Sora's heart, he would do things that Sora himself could not imagine.

If you think about Sora's feelings for Sora, this seems contradictory, because he is a real soul, not a personality created in an image, so there will naturally be contradictions.

If Sora says he is treated as love or hate, if both are his true intentions, then it can be explained.

Most importantly, Kurapika now thinks that the behavior of siscon towards the Sea of Sora is born from Sora's image, rather than being treated as "Material," it is really too much love.

Kurapika suspects that the eldest sister leaning over might be a joke, because she saw her beloved little sister for the first time in nine years. Correct answer.

Anyway, if that is the case, Sora does not have to feel guilty for Kurapika and the Flame Soldier. There is no need to feel sorry.

That Sea is not Sora's heart. Because it is real, everything she does is borne by the Sea, not Sora.

This is why I know the reason why the Flame Soldier asked for information.

But Kurapika did not say so. I cannot tell you.

Although it is Kurapika's thought, I feel there is no need to know anything about Sora to create the Flame Soldier personality, or because he acquired a personality independent of himself, so even if he has knowledge, he cannot think too much. I don't know if that's the case, but the Flame Soldier's information cannot be passed to Kurapika because he is thinking about Sora.

I cannot tell you. Where is Sora's body connected?

There is a clause that Sora himself has guessed or understood to some extent, but Kurapika does not know how much he understands.

Just like Sora's "physical personality," if you don't teach it badly, Sora will not teach any information that can make him realize that his heart is dying, so that he can reach this world before he reaches this world. Cannot.

Since Sora is more familiar with this kind of knowledge than I am, I cannot rely on my own judgment to judge how much information is okay.

So Kurapika is my heart Flame Soldier, although this is what he wanted, he had to remain silent, even though he knew Sora made him feel guilty, he should not bear it.

This information might be salvation for Sora, but it might be a greater destruction than that.

Therefore, Kurapika has a sense of guilt that he cannot save the Sora who is tormenting him.

I pray that these words will help her, even if only a little.

"... Sora... she... Sea... loves you very much... In my opinion, she fell in love with you."

He did not affirm that the Sea is real, but affirmed the "truth" that Sora wanted.

Hearing this, Sora pressed his head against Kurapika's chest, hugged it, and sobbed.

"... Real?"

I answered the question that made me cringe from the bottom of my heart.

"--It is true."

Because the words are true.

Even without confirming that the sea is real, I do think so.

This is why Kurapika remembered the Suggestion he was given that made him very angry and jealous, and answered it.

(... Let's face it.

To the extent that you were resurrected from the brink of death, you gave me the Suggestion you gave me, and even spent time with my beloved sister I wanted to see, putting my pride first... I will not waste it.)

I swear, even if I know she will always be in Sora, and will always be there, she will not look at anyone other than my sister.

The future Kurapika dreams of is not the name of the "younger brother's" family.

The possibility of being born before reaching there.

I swear to face the possibility of tragedy caused by "Magic Circuit."

"Scarlet Illusion" version ends here.

Starting from next time, the GI arc consists of two parts, the first half is 10% original and 90% specified card capture event short stories, scheduled for battle/Bomber battles.

... That is to say, that scene of Hisoka that everyone likes is still a long way off. Maybe next year. Sorry to those who are looking forward to it.

I mean, if I'm not good at it, I don't like the possibility that the update early next year will be that time...

Then, as a lively piece of news, I am considering whether to make the "Last Mission" version of the second movie that seems to happen chronologically after the GI version, or until I get the "Last Mission" novel. A Questionnaire was set up to ask whether to make an original feature film instead of the second movie (a story where characters in the movie appear and co-star instead of a star system), or do both, or if you don't need it, so go straight to the Ant arc.