Chapter 164: Process and Consequences

It was just a convenient dream, without consistency, falling sweetly.

"Hey, Killua. Gon. How did we meet?"

Studying in my living room.

Sora asked the two children he was tutoring while casually marking their worksheets.

The two who were asked each widened their eyes and answered.

"I guess you were introduced to me because your parents and I are acquaintances."

"And I, I was through Killua."

"……I agree."

Killua's answer was the same as in my memory.

His parents knew Killua's parents, so for convenience, he got to know them. Gon was Killua's friend, and Killua had Gon come over to teach Gon, because Gon was not good at studying, and before he knew it, they started teaching together.

Sora agreed with the answer they remembered, returned the marked exercises to the two of them, and explained again where they had gone wrong.

Even so, the explanation was mostly focused on Gon alone, so was it boring for one person to finish the quota, or was Killua angry because he felt Gon was monopolizing Sora and he was Together with him? I patiently taught the suspicious Gon mathematics from a small multiplication table.

"Sora. Excuse me, is it okay now?"

Right on cue, Kurapika walked into the living room and called out. Behind him, Leorio bent over with a wry smile, as if to say, "Sorry for the intrusion."

Thinking it was unusual for the duo who wouldn't come out of the study or call for a break to be there, he turned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Then Kurapika held up a box of medical-related books he must have brought from the study.

"The cases and contents of this book are different, do you know where the contents are?"

Kurapika took a book out of the box, the same format, the same thickness, but it was a completely different book. It wasn't even medical. Instead, a book about mythology.

"Oh my! Seriously? You're the only one who reads medical-related things, so maybe this is just a prank? Because I did something like a professor."

"What are you doing, you..."

"I mean, isn't this retaliation for being hit by the professor?"

"No, the professor has never been to our house."

Told that the contents were different, a completely strange exchange, Sora made a sound of disgust.

I'm tired of it. For generations, the Shikiori family has had a bit of a shut-in temperament, and it may also be because of obsession, having many hobbies, and just two or three books with different contents is not enough. If a problem arises, even the covers will be shuffled.

How do you know? Because Sora had done the same to her previous teacher.

Therefore, finding the original book and putting it back in its place was definitely a day's work. Fortunately, if it was Flat's work, it was nothing more than a prank, not Harassment, and it was a place that hadn't been touched.

Conversely, if there were any traces of interference with rare books, the possibility that this was not Flat's work, but the work of suspicious personnel such as Steal, rose. I'll go to the library to check it for now.

"We'll help you find it."

"Don't decide for yourself."

After finishing his studies, Gon announced with a bright smile that he would help.

Kurapika and Leorio apologized to them and the landlord Sora, saying, "Sorry to bother you, since you came to borrow books." "Don't do that," he replied.

After I answered yes, I asked.

"Huh, how did I and Kurapika meet?"

"Hmm?... Four or five years ago, I and the Flame Soldier snuck into your house. Don't remind me too much, that's a total dark history for me."

If Sora asked Kurapika the way he did Killua and Gon, he would get the same answer as in his memory.

Four or five years ago, Kurapika, who was about the same age as Killua and Gon today, had always been a smart child, but at that time, he was as curious, reckless, and mischievous as Gon.

The reason he and his childhood sweetheart and best friend, the Flame Soldier, snuck into this house was because Sora was studying abroad at the time, and his sister lived in the dormitory, so unless it was a long vacation, the house was empty, so he misunderstood. It seemed like an empty house.

However, even though they did sneak in, neither Kurapika nor the Flame Soldier entered the house.

He seemed to know that even if it was an empty house, one could not enter without permission, but the large garden surrounded by four walls that could not be seen from the outside was too attractive for a boy who admired existence. When I built a cardboard house "secret base" with the Flame Soldier at the edge of the garden, I met Sora who had just returned from a long vacation.

To Sora, the kid building a cardboard house in the corner of the garden was too cute to care, just let him do as he pleased. He called out, he was sorry from the bottom of his heart, this opportunity was a serious dark history, and he turned and left with a blushing face.

"You don't have to worry. Also, I met Leorio through you, how did you meet Leorio?"

"Hmm? Didn't I tell you? This guy's best friend and my close friend were hospitalized in the same ward, so we met face-to-face during visits and got close to each other, so that's the connection."

Leorio teased the shy Kurapika who was elbowing him to the side, and answered while holding his stomach.

I remember too. The reason they got so close and spent so much time studying in the library and at home was because they both became interested in medicine after their best friends were injured and sick.

The reason Sora's house was used as a library was probably because Kurapika admired Sora, but for Leorio, it was just that her house was closer to home than the library, and unlike the library, there were no borrowing restrictions, books could be borrowed, and depending on the item, I could give it away for free, so I was in a state of kindness.

By the way, both the Flame Soldier and Leorio's friends had long since recovered and been discharged, and their bodies were fine.

Digging up such memories, Sora nodded again, "Yes."

Seeing this, Killua tilted his head and asked back.

"Sora, what's wrong with you? You've been asking me things like that."

It was not yet possible to say that Sora was suspicious of Sora, and he kept asking them how they first met and how their current feelings were.

"Nothing special, just wanted to ask."

I answered with a smile while opening the library door and turning on the lights.

I had intended to clean and ventilate it often, but there were too many books, and I couldn't help but walk into that room that smelled of dust. Their faces turned to disgust.

"Hmm... ah, I haven't touched the traces of the rare books, so it's 80% out of 10."

But other than that, I did it evenly... everyone is not good, but I tried my best. Today Suena is going to share crab with me, so I think the crab for dinner can pay for my part-time job."

After confirming the rare books, I shouted to the four of them. Providing the most motivating rewards at the greediest time of their lives.

However, since the amount of shared food could not be expected to satisfy them, Sora's conclusion was that they should be given some meat to make up for it, and the four of them immediately checked the cases and covers of the books. Sora left the room to make a call.

"Ah, sister, buy some meat on the way home, meat.

We're all going to have hot pot today, so maybe sliced meat for shabu-shabu would be good."

Everything is strange. A world full of contradictions, where only the surface is tidied up.

Everything is unfamiliar, yet everything in the world is peaceful and happy.

A world where one decides that happiness will continue and end happily, with no hurtful things or hurtful events.

Even if it is a world that humanity should never be allowed to exist in, a world that should be regarded as unpruned, a world determined to have 'the only possible ending as a happy ending'.

It is a spinning lantern, until it falls sweetly.

Like masturbation, nothing can compare to productivity; a meaningless dream is just a deception.

However, it is certainly happy.

This is happiness—a dream.

Of course everyone wants a "dream world," I cannot deny that it is.

G. M. exclusive, no preparation Spell card, "Escape," "Escape," because Gon and Killua were forced to retreat and were brought in. Gon and Killua could not take it passively and flipped over on the spot, but Biscuit had no difficulty, and even Karna. Spell card, he should have known the effect of the card for the first time, but he landed calmly without any sign of unhappiness.

"Razor! Are you alright!?"

"Sorry! Sorry! Because I underestimated him..."

They could not be passive, but even so, Gon and Killua immediately got up and looked around. Once they entered GI, they listened to the game's explanation, and one by one they rushed over with sad faces.

Eta, the navigator who explained the game at the beginning, was amiable during the explanation, but the seemingly mechanical appearance was completely reversed.

Elena, who resembled Eta's face but had a twin-tail hairstyle, used a card that seemed to be exclusive to the G. M. and treated Razor's wrist.

While treating him, he complained angrily about Merlin, which was a bit embarrassing for Razor. It was an atmosphere where one could not say it was because of Karna, who was present, rather than Merlin.

Karna, the culprit who caused Razor's embarrassment, looked around and said:

Razor is also Razor, because there is a card with the same effect as the G. M.'s "Angel's Breath," although I should be, now even if I am separated from Merlin I am not angry, but I am sorry, I hurt him normally.

Karna, who is not good at guessing but too good at understanding things, knew that Razor did not understand our situation, so he said, "Eliminate," "Exclude." Of course, she was not angry about the current situation, so she tilted her head and looked at the bewildered Razor.

Killua was startled by this incoherent reaction.

"If you are apologizing! Bring us back! Bring us back to him immediately!!"

By the way, do you know him!? Do you know why I let you stay alone! If you are going to move now, why didn't you kick that guy out of the game from the beginning!!

Because of him, Sora!! Sora!!"

"Killua! Calm down!"

Stimulated by the reaction that being exchanged by them was nothing more than a waste of time, Killua grabbed Razor and demanded they return to Merlin.

If that were the case, at least Razor remembered that he and Merlin had known each other for a long time, and it was too late to blame him now.

Just as the G. M. did not know what happened here, we did not know what happened on the other side, but Killua put aside his own failure and mistakes, completely detaching from his frustration and regret. Stopping him by choking him.

However, even if Killua could hear his best friend's words, he could not reach his heart.

"Shut up! Don't stop! No matter what you do, send us back to his side as soon as possible!! If he escapes, I will never forgive you!!"

"Calm down, Killua.

First of all, what are you going to do now? Aren't you stupid enough not to know the difference between your opponent and your ability?"

When Karna admonished Killua, who was struggling to get rid of Gon, the target shifted from Razor to Karna.

"Ah! I know!! I am no match for him! I am so weak that leaving everything to you is better than me doing anything!!"

But! How can you do nothing!!"

All I did was a single blow. Of course, blaming Razor and Karna, telling Merlin to return to what he wanted to do to Merlin, was just anger.

I just wanted to punch him myself.

I know I don't have the strength to do that, and even if I did, it wouldn't wake Sora up, and I don't even think it would relieve my stress.

Even so, Killua couldn't do it.

Even if what I did was counterproductive and dragged down Karna, who was the only one with a chance to win, I couldn't say "do nothing." Even if it was the most rational, realistic, and best choice.

However, because he understood Killua's mood, he couldn't listen to Killua's complaints.

"You don't have to 'do nothing,' but don't be stupid, you bastard!!"

Because he had the same desire to do something as Killua, when Gon strangled him, Biscuit punched Killua on the side and blew away Gon, who was holding onto him tightly and preventing Killua from rampaging.

Biscuit apologized, "Ah! Sorry, Gon!" Just like that, a quarrel broke out between master and apprentice.

Killua's sword screen was within the expected range, but the quarrel between master and apprentice was completely unexpected, so while Razor and the G. M. troops were thinking about how to stop it, and whether it was okay to stop it at the beginning, Gon's eyes were a bit moist, and with tears, he shouted: "You two, just relax!

"You all know, you don't have time to be angry at anyone, and you don't have time to fight!!"

Burdening classmate Karna like this, does it matter if Sora dies!?"

Gon, who saw reality the most clearly, encountered the worst situation. He calmed down quickly as if he had been hit, and apologized to Gon, each other, and the G. M. with a pale face.

"Razor. Do you know the ability of the man named Merlin? Please tell me if he still has the ability to move."

"You can read the atmosphere!!"

However, just as the awkward atmosphere seemed about to permeate, Karna quietly asked Razor a question, breaking the air into pieces with a serious face.

It wasn't asking anything strange, but information that should be known, but I felt it wasn't a good time... Killua and Biscuit rushed in, and Karna seemed half-apologetic and half-confused. I had a serious face and answered seriously again.

"... Sorry. I thought if I could get confirmation that I couldn't do it, you could calm down a little and regain your composure... but shouldn't that be done now?"

Although he didn't read the atmosphere, both Killua and Biscuit felt frustrated that he had considered their feelings to the greatest extent.

If you only listen to what he said, it sounds ironic, implying "you are just doing meaningless things, don't complain," but he looked sorry, with a face saying he didn't know what was going on. So, Killua and Biscuit understood that this was what they said from the bottom of their hearts, and their Conscience hurt. They honestly admitted their mistakes and apologized.

However, Karna didn't know what he was apologizing for, so he tilted his head, returned to his usual serious expression, and replied: "Don't worry."

"The situation is the situation. It is cruel to tell you to stay calm.

Besides, I don't think what you are doing is meaningless."

Karna did not blame Killua or Biscuit, even though they wasted time and gave them time to escape without mobility.

As usual, he casually said why he didn't conclude that it was meaningless.

"The result and the process are not a set."

Of course, I absolutely will not accept the result of Master dying just like that... but I also do not like the result of Master being saved while you do nothing.

That is why... please help me. Isn't it painful to decide what is good or bad just by looking at the results?"

Hearing this, it was not Killua or Biscuit following behind him, but Gon who exclaimed: "Huh?"

"... I wonder if I didn't say enough again?"

"Eh!? You're wrong, Karna! Perhaps everything Karna wanted to say was conveyed correctly!!"

Karna has a terrible criminal record, and he has no confidence in whether his words are being conveyed.

Karna breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, "That is good," but Killua continued, "What was that?"

"Hmm, it's nothing major, I just heard someone say something similar before, so I was a bit surprised."

Killua seemed somewhat dissatisfied with this unresolved question, but since there was no time to ask him in detail, he was temporarily satisfied and turned to ask Razor about Merlin.

The blood that had risen to his head had already begun to subside; rather than returning to Merlin immediately, it was better to get even a little bit of information from someone who knew him, and his calm thoughts returned.

Seeing Killua ask Razor what exactly he wanted to know, Gon finally breathed a sigh of relief and repeated Karna's words in his mind.

(The process and the result are not a set, heh...)

This was a familiar term.

Regarding Killua's question, there was not much reason to deceive anyone. Come to think of it, it has nothing to do with me now, but I didn't say it because it would make things complicated.

I was just surprised because I never thought I would hear the same answer from Karna's mouth as Chrollo's answer to the "sky" question.

Although Gon did not understand the detailed reasoning, like Sora, Karna could not recognize the existence of "her" as a "personality of the body," and when "she" appeared on the surface, he could only remember it like a dream. I know I cannot even share it, so I was even more surprised because I knew it was not because I remembered the hostage Exchange.

But I was surprised, not only because I said the same thing.

Chrollo's words and Karna's words are the same thing. I know you are saying that the process is worth it, even if the ending is tragic.

But Chrollo's words were too ephemeral.

He was affirming the result that "everything becomes meaningless." Knowing that no one could escape, he had already given up on escaping, so he used "her" as a means to obtain everything, even if this would accelerate the result of "becoming meaningless."

If you cannot change the result, you are just greedily seeking everything you want in the process.

However, Karna separates the process from the result and does not ignore the result like Chrollo.

I did not give up.

Even if our "result" ends in tragedy, we believe that the "process" we walked and built might be something that makes someone else's result happy.

I believe that both the process and the result are meaningful.

Even if you know that "no matter how hard you try, the result will be the same," do not give up. Even if the result is the same, I believe the future will change depending on whether we struggle or give up.

If Chrollo's words are to cut off the future and live only in the present, then Karna's words are to live in the present, without letting go of the past or the future.

Thus, Gon finally got rid of Merlin's words.

"The technique to save Sora is in this real world, I threw away the phrase 'anywhere in the world' and chose the 'process' path again."

(It doesn't have to be there. I will find it.)

I did not give up. Even if the result is already decided, there is no reason to give up.

Because if he gives up now, Gon will regret it for the rest of his life. If you go through the process of giving up, it will be decided that not only Sora but also Gon will end in tragedy.

Thus, Gon looked forward and heard Merlin's story from the Razor Team.

... Gon cannot give up in order to find another "thing he wants to find."

Killua only got news about Merlin and wanted to return to Merlin immediately, but not only the GM, but Biscuit also said: "By the way. Who is that guy Karna?" I couldn't help but tell Biscuit, so the conversation started from that explanation.

However, when I asked Karna, "Sora's Servant. Lancer. His true name is Karna." Because he only gave an answer that I didn't know was information or a question, Killua tried his best to answer.

Even if I answered, Killua didn't know much about the situation around Sora's Karna, so he only told Biscuit about the "situation in Sora World," and then said: "The man's Dead Spirit is Sora's guardian spirit. I think it's possible."

Biscuit knew very well that it was stupid to seek common sense in Sora, and when he was told about "the situation on Sora's world (another world) side," he gave up on understanding and said: "As long as it's not an enemy, anything is fine..." In a sense, I am easily in this state of mind, but of course, the GM is not.

However, this was a brute-force explanation unrelated to Karna, but when he learned about the situation of Sora that Karna told him, he realized that he had no time or qualification to question him deeply.

"That's why I told you not to let me go, that's why you got in the way. I'm sorry, although I didn't know, it was all my fault."

"Don't worry, I also suffered an untimely injury, so I am the strong one, I am really glad I have a way to heal it."

As for Razor, he knew his actions were too excessive, so he bowed to Karna.

Confronting Merlin's Spell was less about the use of cards being hindered, and more about the kicking incident that showed the difference in ability at that moment, but after understanding the situation, I seemed to be very sorry.

Karna also apologized for going too far, which was a rare friendly exchange, but Killua said: "Is that what you mean?" I asked here.

"You understand our situation, right?

... Well, it's too late for this, but who are you people? You said you are GMs, but you are obviously not NPCs in the game, you are real people, right? Didn't Gon's father make this game?"

This is why I didn't immediately tell Merlin to return to normal, even though he shouldn't be able to afford it.

I just asked in passing who the Razor person was, but Killua realized that even if he returned to Merlin like this, Karna could do nothing, so he suppressed his impatience and tried to collect information.

As Karna said, the process and the result are not a set.

So Killua will not draw. Even if what you are doing has more serious consequences.

I swear, I will not let you deny the "process" you chose and walk with your own will.

I have been pretending not to hear that voice in my head, "Do not fight an enemy you cannot defeat."

"... We are humans, not NPCs created by Nen Ability. The GI game, Ging is the person in charge of planning and directing the production. We are one of them, GMs, responsible for game events and in-game systems."

Regarding Killua's question, the three looked at each other for a moment, but in this situation, it was meaningless to say they were NPCs, so Eta explained it now.

GI is the game made by Ging that Killua mentioned, but it was not made by Ging alone, but by many people. It must be something with type ability that cooperates and unites with each other.

This is not a "game world," it is an island that Ging owns that is not marked on the map but actually exists.

They told him that this island originally belonged to Merlin, so they had known each other for a long time.

"GI here but... reality?"

"I had no idea at all."

Although they knew the GM was a real person, the three of them still widened their eyes in surprise, perhaps not expecting that GI would actually appear in the real world.

As for Karna, perhaps she did not understand at all that Sora was playing a game called GI; as the explanation deepened, the angle of her neck tilted further, but she did not spend much time asking about this. Unfortunately, he straightened his tilted neck and asked about the supreme "Merlin."

"It was his island to begin with; did you steal this island from him for the sake of that 'game'?"

But as usual, is there anything else you can say? Asking such a question, the air instantly solidified.

Of course, Karna had no intention of criticizing or being sarcastic.

It seemed that way from Eta's explanation, but judging by Merlin's appearance, this situation did not seem to have happened, so he asked with half-belief. If there was one, it was a word full of concern, saying: "Isn't it too condescending to think of us as the perpetrators?"

In fact, Killua and Gon guessed that there was no sarcasm intended, but they couldn't see the worry in it at all; he twisted his face, looking completely confused.

"Ging and we both obtained this island through legal means. I don't think it's good, but did you know beforehand that something like this lived here? If so, I would have been looking for another island all along."

"Ah, yeah. I see. You don't have any malice or anything like that. Or rather, that's why you still let us live here, right?"

It doesn't matter, even if you know his ability, please tell me.

Eta and Elena remained silent, presumably because of their strong guilt for stealing the home, but Razor seemed to harbor strong hostility toward Merlin, as if attacking Karna in a slightly annoyed tone. Since Killua couldn't be bothered to clear up Karna's misunderstanding, he intervened, asking for the most important information they wanted.

"……Sorry, we don't know all the details.

The only thing I'm sure of is, to be honest, no one can compare to him. The pinnacle of Nen techniques…… Ging is finally a 'playmate'."

Feeling that pushing Karna further was too immature, Razor answered Killua's question obediently, but he knew he didn't have the information he wanted, so he didn't want to give him unnecessary expectations. With the premise and preamble telling them not to go too far, I dug into my memory.

"My understanding of my ability is that I can appear in other people's dreams, I can manipulate their dreams, and, as I said before, I can create illusions that can not only deceive the human eye but even the mobility of video equipment. I really don't know if I have any abilities because most abilities can be explained by showing them as genjutsu."

……If you believe his words, his system is the Specialist System and the Manipulation System. This is not a 'Manipulator-oriented characteristic', but a monster with 100% mastery of both systems, even though they are adjacent to each other."

Counting on his fingers, Razor told me the main effect of Merlin's ability, and then gave me his bloodline. However, when it came to his own genealogy, he frowned with a smile on his face.

Perhaps this information was not information he obtained himself after fighting Merlin, but information you were told.

I understand that the information obtained in this situation is unpleasant, but since the content is the content, the only person who can pay attention to Razor is a GM like him.

He already knew that "humans cannot win," but Biscuit, who understood what "Nen" was better than Killua and Gon, lost her color because of more fouls than she imagined.

"Eh? What is a Manipulator in the Specialist system? What are the characteristics of a type that can master multiple systems at the same time?"

"No, as you said, he has two systems. I think the ability derived from his Specialist system might be related to dreams, and his illusion-type abilities come from the Manipulation System.

If that guy's story is true, then the Specialist system is an innate ability derived from the Nightmare Lineage, and the Manipulation System is a system obtained by absorbing human blood. He was born with two 'Nightmare Lineages' and one 'Human Lineage'. Double Bloodline Holder, Double Bracket, that's what I call it, and I think it's true. To that extent, neither of his two abilities should have any restrictions, but the accuracy is too high."

Biscuit inadvertently voiced her interpretation of information that completely ignored common sense and prerequisites, but Elena denied it mercilessly and added further information, adding to his sense of despair.

"……If only it weren't a direct attack ability…… but hehe. No matter what you think, that Succubus is still very good at tricks."

"……First of all, doesn't that person feel that direct attacks are fine?"

Killua tried to find hope in the information he managed to obtain, but he gave up immediately. Definitely the type good at strategy; setting aside dream-related characteristics, the illusion-type ability was too suitable.

And as Gon recalled, Merlin's basic physical ability was superior to his appearance from the beginning. System-wise, he was in the weakest field for reinforcements; if he wasn't good at it, he was an ordinary warrior who could keep reinforcements out with one "Mata."

Although they tried to increase their chances of winning by obtaining information, they realized they had no chance of winning. When I was there, that guy who broke the air in a dangerous direction spoke up.

"Razor. Why are you wary of that garden?"

Like Merlin, he didn't show any malice or hostility, but unlike him, his tone was far from refreshing; he seemed uninterested or angry at the other party, and this alone made him look angrier than Merlin. Although he was more honest and kind, he lost miserably.

However, unlike Merlin, he looked at Razor with eyes that never looked far away and asked.

Because it was too clear, if it were malicious, one couldn't look straight at it. Those eyes, like Merlin's, made me feel that he was a person of non-human lineage, but still much friendlier and more reassuring than Merlin.

With those eyes, he asked questions as if looking for something.

"I know the garden is more than just an illusion. It's a magical place where, as long as you are there, your fighting spirit and anger disappear like snow under the spring sun. That's why I stay vigilant. I understand.

But is choosing to retreat immediately enough? If you were suddenly trapped in that demon world like a master, but if you knew the effect of that garden and were wary of it, at least you could pick up the card I dropped and cast it, right?"

In fact, even those masters who were caught off guard would hurt themselves to drive away their sleepiness, and except for the masters directly hypnotized by him, they never fell asleep.

Razor. What are you afraid of, what are you afraid of?

Isn't that garden just an effect that makes the trapped person fall asleep?"

Those were eyes that looked more trustworthy than Merlin's. However, because those eyes seemed infinitely Transparent and pure, Razor couldn't look at them and turned to leave.

I turned around to answer.

"……The effect itself is like that.

That garden is his 'Quan'…… If you step into the 10m square space 'Avalon' centered on him, you will be attacked by sleepiness, you won't want to do anything to him, and you will be harmed. On the contrary, it is an extremely comfortable sleep, enough to get rid of physical fatigue.

The reason I spared no effort to pick up the card and run before the garden was built is because of the 'condition of the trapped person'."

"Condition?"

Razor's answer made Gon tilt his head and parrot it, but Killua remembered. In that garden, Karna didn't quite understand, but everyone except him was suffering from terrible sleepiness, and there was no exception.

However, I remember that there were individual differences in the severity of sleepiness; Gon was the lightest, and Sora might be the worst.

Razor talked about this situation.

Even with a time delay of a few seconds, Karna fell; "Eliminate" was not it, "Escape" was chosen.

He said he didn't have the confidence to overcome the 'condition' of that garden's temptation, just like he couldn't look directly into Karna's eyes.

"We only know his ability, 'The Forever Closed Utopia Avalon Garden' is an ability proportional to the 'confession' the target clings to, attacked by intense sleepiness, no matter how you struggle, you will fall asleep defenseless in front of him."

＊＊＊

"Confess to being guilty? You mean guilty?"

Biscuit tilted her head in response to Razor's answer, shook her head slightly, and added some corrections and supplements.

"No, this is also a factor that makes the sleepiness stronger, but the only condition is 'confession'. Yes.

Even if you don't feel guilty, even if you think the punishment of the law is just a disadvantage, if you admit that what you have done is a 'sin', it is proportional to the weight of the crime, the number of crimes you have committed. Then I am attacked by intense sleepiness."

Having said so much, I can understand what a dirty place that garden is.

No one can live without committing a crime.

Strictly speaking, almost no one has never committed a crime; even if limited to crimes that should be punished according to law, there are people thinking and holding them. The better the person, the better.

So even if it's just proportional to 'sin', it's quite troublesome, but if 'confession' is a condition, the only ones who can escape the influence of that garden are a true saint, a good person who has passed, or a true saint from the bottom of their heart. Only a madman who does not confess, who believes he has done nothing wrong.

Even for a psychopath without a sense of guilt, as Razor said, as long as one lives in this human society, one should realize the disadvantage of being punished once a crime is committed.

Therefore, the Zoldyck family who make a living by killing, the Phantom Troupe who fear neither the judiciary nor the Mafia, the happy killer, the Serial Killer, and even the battle maniac Hisoka cannot escape that garden. They all know that even if they do not feel guilty, what they have done is a kind of "sin."

This is why Razor fled before that other world was completed.

Sure enough, I was in no mood to talk to them here, so I remained silent, but Razor is a felony and should be sentenced to death. Moreover, I am a bit reluctant to admit it, but thanks to Jin, I have turned over a new leaf, so my "guilt" was added to my "confession." Among the GM members, I am the one most affected by that world, and because I obtained it, Razor fled before the other world was completed and was caught there.

I am quite sure that once that part is completed, I will fall asleep, not even having time to wake up and scratch my own body.

Although he had been full of confidence in his ability as a Nen user since their first meeting, as he grew older, he had recovered, and his self-confidence in becoming a decent person was used as a "guilt" world for others. To become.

The other members are only about the same as Razor.

Perhaps no one has ever worked as a Hunter and never dirtied their own hands. Even if someone has, even if he did not do something directly, if someone sacrificed or was sacrificed, the kinder he is, the more he treats it as a "sin," and its weight becomes the power of sleepiness that strikes the other world.

In fact, although Gon is the lightest, he seemed very sleepy at first.

His sense of helplessness, such as "I can't do anything to Sora and Killua," "I'm worried about Mito," "I am the reason for the death of Gon's mother." Even his consciousness grasped the other world without ignoring it, so he said, "Live or die, die or live, even if they had no intention of killing from the beginning, it is force majeure, otherwise the number of victims would increase, and there is no way for the G. M. to resist."

"……Sora cannot move."

"Or rather, with that as a premise, that child can talk properly without sleeping……"

Killua scoffed at the trouble of "Avalon," and when he agreed that he didn't want to do it, Biscuit nodded and marveled at her disciple's willpower.

Although she never did whatever she wanted, the number of people she killed was at least as many as Bisky, and at most more than Killua.

This alone is enough; even if Sora should be trapped so much that he can't even get up, Sora did not give up his sin. Even if I am about to collapse, I will not make excuses to let go and reduce the weight, so that I can fall asleep the moment I am trapped in the other world.

Even so, it is already amazing that he was able to establish a dialogue without letting go of his consciousness until he might have been directly transmitted a breath.

However, the more he understood Sora's ferocity, the more he threatened to lock the strong-willed Sora in the cage that the man and Merlin called "Dream World."

Merlin's ability to "Manipulation" the "Dream World," even the GMs don't know much about it, but as long as it is a half-baked dream, those who understand Sora will definitely win. I believe.

As for Gon, because he did it to me before falling asleep, I clearly felt that it wouldn't be strange for him to wake up immediately after falling asleep and throw a Castration Fist.

Because he knows about her, and now entrusts his body to Karna, it makes him even more worried about whether he can wake Sora up.

Suppressing the anxiety that was about to erupt, this person himself had no problem. In fact, although Sora's life was thanks to him, Killua glanced at Karna, who was causing anxiety himself. He nodded deeply at Razor's explanation and said with conviction.

"Ah, I see.

That's why he deliberately transformed himself into a flower to approach the master."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone raised their voices in an "Ah?" and widened their eyes. For some reason, this man was not interested in Merlin's prank and was inexplicably satisfied with the way Merlin tried to contact him.

"……What are you looking at? Or rather, does this have anything to do with Merlin's ability?"

I thought I had understood, but Kurapika appeared in the battle against the shadows, and while understanding why he was so reluctant to speak, Killua rushed in.

It was originally meant to be sarcastic, "Please shut up," rather than hitting the nail on the head, but this secondary voice naturally wouldn't work on the worst Karna, despite his insight.

First of all, Killua was wrong.

"? On the contrary, where is it irrelevant?"

Not only Killua, but also Gon, Biscuit, Razor, and others, after hearing about Merlin's appearance, all expressed that although Merlin's hands were delicate, the fact was stupid, "I pretended to be a flower and tried to contact Sora"…… I thought he was afraid of being discovered by Sora.

However, since everyone was even more puzzled by the question he asked back, Karna said casually, tilting his head as if to say, "How can you not understand?"

Is his "always closed" Utopia Avalon Garden ability "a 10m square 'En'"?

If the range is that large, instead of specifically "making himself look like a flower," he should be able to activate it after removing his presence and approaching a certain point. Masters tend to be slow when encountering danger, unless their lives are in danger, so the chance of success is very high.

The reason why the master was able to continue to resist the influence of the other world is that he heard about Merlin from Gon, and he was somewhat vigilant from the beginning. If he hadn't appeared in Gon's dream, if the other world had been accidentally activated completely, I think the master wouldn't even have to resist and would have fallen asleep, right?

If you have a certain understanding of the master, don't you think the risk of 'complete surprise activation ability' is definitely smaller than the method he actually used?"

In front of Karna, everyone raised their voices in "……Ah!".

Except for the fact that the GMs and others didn't know much about the expression in Sora's eyes, as soon as Gon and the others pointed it out, they understood how dangerous it was for Merlin to cross the bridge.

Even if Merlin is not as good as Gon and the others, he should know that Sora's eyes are a foul. If so, I should know that the method of "making yourself like a flower" is a big risk. Telling him about his existence through Gon in advance would further strengthen Sora's vigilance, improve the accuracy of Sora's eyes looking at him, and increase the possibility of his hallucinations being seen through.

I don't think I'm too stupid to assume that.

"……I see. In other words, is there any reason for you to use such a sleeping hand?"

"There is a reason, but you already know why, right?"

Convinced by Karna's point of view, Killua began to think, "Why did Merlin choose a method that is both risky and time-consuming?" Killua immediately replied, "Then tell me everything first," and kicked his calf.

"Sorry, I have no words, but Killua, please don't use violence against the master's body. The master may not mind, but if you regret it yourself, I can't stand it."

"Shut up! Speak!!"

"Mr. Karna…… Killua is not angry because he doesn't speak, but because of that……"

Karna's bad habit is always saying things that shouldn't be said, even if he doesn't have enough important words, Killua blushed and went crazy, and Gon tried to strangle him from behind. From Karna.

Just as Gon thought so, Karna muttered, "Is it that kind of place?" then tilted his head, tell me the reason quickly.

Then, for some reason, Karna glanced at Razor strangely, and Razor asked suspiciously, "What?"

"……Sorry, if I said it badly and made you feel uncomfortable…… Razor, why don't you understand why I can explain his ability?"

"Teeth?"

Karna's mysterious gaze didn't seem to make him understand, and Razor, who mastered Merlin's ability, didn't notice.

Karna thought that he would understand the "reason" as soon as he learned about Merlin's ability, but he couldn't understand it from the bottom of his heart. After all, Karna said casually.

"The reason is simple.

Since he cannot move in that world, he probably just wants to keep the distance from the master at zero when the skill is activated."

＊＊＊

After being told, Gon and the others remembered.

Just as Karna said, Merlin didn't move a single step after activating his ability.

Although he was kicked away by Karna, who replaced Sora, even when he stood up, he didn't move a step from that position.

That's why I thought, "So this is the limitation of 'Avalon'!" Answer.

"No, it's not. If you think so, isn't it a Coincidence that he didn't move?"

"Yes. Although it was over ten years ago, at least when he was fighting us, he was still walking around normally over there."

"That's right. If I didn't notice, then there's nothing I can do; excuse me, I'm sorry."

After Razor immediately responded with "No" and Elena answered, Karna persuaded Razor with the same expression he had from the beginning, and apologized to Razor for "Why don't you understand?"

Of course, Killua said: "Don't make me happy!"

At the same time, Biscuit spoke up.

"No, this is not a Coincidence. At least, I think it's fine that he slowed down in that 'Avalon'."

Biscuit said this was not Karna's recklessness. She had reason to think so.

"Of course, we weren't fighting Merlin over there, we were just talking to him, so I can't deny it's a Coincidence that he didn't even move a step... but Sora was put to sleep and replaced by Karna, and at that time this guy kicked Merlin, and the posture of pushing back when he was about to fall backward was quite unreasonable.

After Razor defeated Avalon, the three of us went to find him, but we were all helpless and unable to interfere with the Spell he cast. Karna's kick was a surprise attack; even though he knew it was coming, with such great ability, he could have easily dodged Karna's kick at that time, so at the very least, a direct hit is too strange."

I noticed that as a martial artist, as a person, he has the richest life experience.

Karna's kicking method is impressive because they were able to generate such power from that position. That's nothing.

With reaction abilities like Gon, Killua, and Biscuit, it can be said that even if caught in Pitch Darkness, one could avoid being hit directly.

Then, why would Merlin, whose strength is greater than his own, receive a direct hit?

"I don't doubt your story. But when I think about what we saw, that he knew our foolish apprentice's personality and fouls, Karna is right. The conjecture that 'if he activates his ability, he wins' and 'cannot move' can explain most of the things he doesn't understand."

That guy, isn't what he is most vigilant about the time when Sora didn't fall asleep even after launching a surprise attack? Since that's the case, it must be done directly like this time, so if you think you want to activate your ability at zero distance from Sora, it makes sense.

If it's that girl's personality, even if she saw through the illusion of the flowers, if she found someone standing next to Gon who didn't know what they were doing, she would rather protect Gon and distance herself from him. It appeared in Gon's dream because that's how he viewed his actions. If you were even slightly vigilant, you wouldn't even look at the flowers or get close to them, you might tell Gon 'throw them away', so I deliberately took measures to make you more vigilant."

With Biscuit's follow-up, Killua calmed down, and the GMs were convinced, "I understand."

"But if that's the case, why could he move before, but it's impossible now?

Actually, in the first garden, did these guys live with Nen Ability Avalon a long time ago, or was it a more powerful person who forced Sora to be captured?"

"……No, I think that possibility is low."

However, Karna's guess is of course reasonable with Biscuit's supplement, but there are still many mysteries.

Especially "I used to walk around a lot" is a mystery. I can't think of a reason to lie to Razor Team, so if Karna's guess is correct, I can only explain Killua, but Karna looked up at the sky like a cat, denying this explanation, and the basis for his thoughts. Answered.

"I don't know much about Nen Ability, so I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but 'Constraint' doesn't have enough ability to produce the desired effect and power, so I want to use them by shaving off something. I can. I interpret it as converting it into parts, or increasing capacity through external attachments.

If this interpretation is correct, he wouldn't need to impose 'Constraint' on himself from the beginning. Incomparable to humans, the capacity of the Magic Aura comes from the world itself, and it is also good at drawing without consuming Magic Aura.

That's why to me, first of all, the ability 'becoming sleepy in proportion to the awareness of sin' itself feels strange. Even if he doesn't propose such a condition, in most cases, he can do anything by quantity rather than quality. This condition is not a restriction, it's part of my hobby. I think the purpose of making it was the hope of seeing someone who could still walk around normally even in such a situation."

After throwing hopeless information at Merlin once again, Killua no longer had the strength to bring it out.

I felt that rushing into Karna was too much trouble, but Killua noticed, so the attention shifted from Karna to Gon.

"?... Hey, Gon. What's wrong?"

Hearing Karna's words, he said to his friend who was bowing his head in thought, but Gon didn't seem to notice Killua, muttering somewhere in the air.

"……I didn't intend to become a Constraint, but maybe it turned into a Constraint?"

"Teeth?"

Killua didn't understand. Biscuit, Razor, and the G/M troops didn't know either.

Karna looked straight at Gon, remaining silent. Perhaps he knew from the beginning.

Like Gon, when he met Merlin back then, unlike Killua and Biscuit, he was not frightened.

Like Gon, he looked like he was looking at something painful.

I remembered that "painful thing". This explains the puzzling part of Merlin.

"……Is it because Merlin himself is the creator of 'Avalon', or because he is a nightmare and doesn't sleep at all? So the effect is different, but the conditions might be the same.

More than ten years ago, Merlin could move freely while fighting the spirits that visited this island in 'Avalon', while now he himself is trapped in that garden.

By any chance, precisely because he originally had such a table, without any restrictions, did a disadvantage he didn't expect appear?

Everything can be explained.

He must have noticed it after the battle with Jin and the others; perhaps that battle was the trigger. I missed something. It's too late, lost without knowing it.

To some extent, I strongly hope to know what the "answer that people seek from people" is, the "irrevocable thing".

So I went to look for it, but in the end, I realized this was something I couldn't have.

"…………Perhaps the effect and conditions of Merlin's ability also apply to Merlin himself.

Merlin committed some kind of 'sin', and because he was aware of the 'sin', he could move before, but now he can't even sleep, I think he can only stand there."

Razor and Elena paused for a moment at Gon's guess, saying: "No, he doesn't have that kind of humanity...", but Eta lowered her head and fell silent, as if thinking about something.

She didn't seem to think Gon's guess was an overly favorable interpretation of Merlin.

Perhaps she saw it too.

When Killua asked him for the "answer", perhaps they saw the same face that Gon saw.

I don't remember if his eyes were near or far at that time. I am sure that even if the reason for the emotion is incomprehensible to humans, even if the reason for the emotion is incomprehensible to humans, this emotion is undoubtedly shared.

To that extent, Merlin was questioned face-to-face by Killua... "You know nothing about humans"... and teeth na nine, in fact, now changed to the hair and other replies that follow the thrust of Natsu's hand, when I was desperate.

This is not incomprehensible.

He desperately realized that "something" was irreversible, and was told that the "something" he had long wanted had disappeared from this world, leaving no trace or shape, and I regretted it very much.

Thinking about it, in the end, Gon couldn't find the most important part even with intuition.

Merlin was full of regret and despair, and the "irrevocable thing" was the two choices he asked Karna.

An important person who knows they will be unhappy. However, wanting to walk the path they know leads to unhappiness.

Whether to affirm or deny this person's choice does not lie in which is right, but in which is more humanly rare. He revealed his emotions and painfully asked Karna.

……Who and which did Merlin answer?

And what kind of "result" did that "answer" bring?

Gon didn't understand at all.

I do not know, but I am trying my hardest to think.

I know I need it, so I am searching for it with all my might.

Just like "Sora's Redemption," it is another thing that Gon also wants to find.

Merlin only knows that this is the necessary "answer" for how to be saved.