Chapter 19: Unless you win, you cannot protect

Sora kept staring at Hisoka with eyes like the blue sky, threw Leorio's briefcase to him, and handed it over.

"Hey, Leorio. You're blocking the way, take it. Then you two run away."

"You can't do that!"

"Don't be stupid! I know this is an Obstacle, but my heart isn't big enough to be licked like this and run away!"

Kurapika didn't even stop Leorio from giving the order again, and didn't even turn around.

However, Sora said clearly without looking back.

"Sorry, if it's the two of us, there's no chance of winning.

If you don't want to commit suicide, and if you want to beat him up for me, then you really should run away."

The two were speechless because they couldn't bear the serious tone, as if the tension of wanting to fight each other since meeting in the Underground Tunnel was a lie.

It was obvious, but Leorio's face twisted at this answer, and even Kurapika fell into despair.

Three years later, I was sure I was a little closer to Sora. Although she is older than me and can manipulate Mana such as Magic Eyes and Direct Death, I feel that she would be stronger than me in martial arts and other aspects because I am a woman.

However, although his confidence was shattered by not being able to catch up with Sora in the marathon of the first test, Sora's words also crushed the remaining faint hope.

Even though he was a weak and pitiful child who was always being protected, he still hugged Sora's back and asked.

"……Am I that useless? ……Just an Obstacle?"

Just as she said, if I were trying to confront Hisoka for Sora's sake, if I had time to complain like this, I should have run away.

Nevertheless, Kurapika still hugged him tightly without moving.

Ugly, expected words of denial.

"Yeah. Speaking of Obstacles, you are even more of an Obstacle than Leorio."

Sora, as usual, didn't look back and added a blow to Kurapika's question.

Watching Kurapika's expressionless face, which didn't even have a sense of despair, Leorio was about to say something, but was interrupted by Sora, whose voice was slightly brighter.

"You are too important to me, I will prioritize letting you escape and protecting you, rather than winning or running away from that pervert."

"What!?"

Kurapika's puppet-like expressionlessness turned into a real human blush, and the emotion of despair was conveyed by those words that were too straightforward, regardless of strength or weakness.

With Sora's words and Kurapika's reaction, Leorio's face looked like he was worried about something, and the smile of Hisoka, who had been smiling at Sora, also became different; what you saw was surely not Kurapika's persecution mania.

The problematic Kurapika had been healthy for 3 years, hitting it to the bottom of the valley, and then pulling it up all at once.

Seeing Kurapika in such a goldfish-like state, Sora turned slightly and said.

"So I'm sorry. Go on. You don't have to worry. I mean, you don't have to worry. You know, don't you?"

Where did I escape from and survive? Compared to that, this kind of pervert is affordable."

As usual, she said and laughed in a playful, easygoing way.

Kurapika was reflected in the corner where the bottom could not be seen in the distance, the blue seemed to swallow everything, becoming turbid, even though it was crystal clear.

"Looking away is really boring, isn't it?"

Hisoka said with a slightly displeased look, but anyone could understand, because he closed the distance, with a crazy smile and a sticky voice, full of joy, such as words not exactly the same as what he said.

He raised a Playing Card, intending to cut off Sora's neck, but Sora didn't even look at Hisoka, leaned her upper body back, then posed in a bridge position, and kicked him in a backflip manner.

The Trump card did not have Hisoka, but jumped towards him, kicking the corpse stuck on his head.

"Run away!!"

Sora screamed while raising a branch and stabbing it at the opponent, which was unusual for her.

Kurapika grabbed Leorio's arm and started running, finding that even if he reached out, he couldn't reach him.

"Let's go!"

"Oh oh oh! Hey! Sora! Don't die!!"

Kurapika pulled his arm, and Leorio turned to instruct Sora.

To that voice, Sora responded with her usual ridiculously high tension.

"It's okay! I'd rather kill this pervert than die!!"

＊＊＊

Hearing Illumi's words, Hisoka's mouth immediately became more excited, "I can't launch a surprise attack or a surprise attack to the extent that I think he has Fortune Telling."

Although he didn't even have a "circle", his gaze didn't turn in his direction either, and Hisoka was irresistibly happy that she had read the existence correctly.

"Ku ku ku Sora, you are really great"

"I'm not good at anything!!"

But of course, from Sora's perspective, this was the worst.

In order to let Kurapika and Leorio escape, I used a stick to jam Hisoka's Playing Cards and elastic glue, and kicked the corpse thrown out by the recoil of the rubber for about 30 seconds.

After that, Sora, who was running away in defense, had a match under Hisoka's pursuit. Rather than a conversation, Sora just rushed in, unable to stand Hisoka's disgusting monologue.

Sora screamed and denied while looking like she was about to cry, while waving a stick that didn't even have Aura, tearing off the elastic glue Hisoka tried to stick on her, making it invalid.

Facing the Nen Ability user showing such desperate power, Hisoka was still in a good mood, laughing and chasing after her, then asked.

"Hey, Sora, can I ask you one thing?"

"At this time, I have a question! I have nothing to teach you!!"

He strongly opposed Hisoka's words, but Hisoka completely ignored Sora's request and asked.

"Is that pair of eyes of yours a Nen Ability?"

As agreed, Sora did not answer Hisoka's question.

However, when he saw the blue sky's gaze rise quietly, Hisoka was trembling all over.

What pierced through Hisoka's body was neither fear nor threat, but pleasure and joy.

"……Your eyes are really strange, Number 404's eyes have a stinging feeling, but you are different"

While speaking, Hisoka embraced his own body, enjoying his own pleasure, while Sora stepped back.

His spirit was already further away than the continent, but Hisoka did not care about Sora's dizziness, continuing to speak as he pleased.

"Ah, I like that gorgeous sky blue; it is more thrilling than the usual midnight blue."

As they spoke, Hisoka understood why he was so obsessed with her, with Sora Tokiori.

Of course, that is because it is a raw fruit; even if she eats it now, it could still be delicious, but what is even more charming are her eyes.

From the first time I saw your face correctly, from the moment you looked straight into those eyes, I understood what it felt like to stare at you with sky-blue eyes now.

Forcibly ending one's own life, being forcibly dragged out of his body. In other words, there is nothing else.

When Sora handled Hisoka's Playing Cards, it truly smelled like death.

Hisoka intuitively felt that what was attacking him was not Sora, but something coming from her.

The stench of death remained clear and fragrant.

The brighter and clearer her eyes, the deeper and more stagnant, the more they embodied the mellowness of death; just looking at those eyes was like someone stabbing a knife into her throat. I love you so much, I am so excited, my blood is gathering.

I will leave it to your imagination.

"Shut your mouth yourself. Or rather, isn't it a cold? Go to the hospital, come out of that soft room with no windows and no corners!"

But of course, Sora was just unhappy with Hisoka's reaction, perhaps because he said "I like sky-blue eyes," the brightness of his eyes dimmed a little.

The color of the eyes changed when using "Fixed," but even though the brightness dropped a little now, the amount of Aura concentrated in the eyes did not change.

Therefore, it cannot be said that the Aura is unrelated to the change in her pupil color, but Hisoka was firmly convinced that this was not a Nen Ability.

However, to be honest, Hisoka did not care at all about her eyes or the ability to nullify his Nen Ability, because he was an esper who could not be trusted.

For him, what mattered was whether he felt comfortable and whether he could go all out.

So what Hisoka was thinking about was not the true identity of those eyes, nor how to capture the power, but how to make Sora enter the mode Illumi spoke of: "If you don't kill him, he will kill you."

Dissatisfied with the feeling of the soul being pulled away, the feeling had faded; Hisoka completely forgot about the Hunter Exam, thinking only of fighting Sora.

Just as Illumi said, after Sora let two companions Escape, she began to be obsessed with defense and escape.

First of all, even if you enter the "kill or be killed" mode, the Illumi who spoke of it is alive, which means that even if you open the Switch once, if you find a chance to Escape, the mode will be canceled, and you can easily escape. The price is expensive.

Hisoka's patience was irresistible even now, but if she escaped after being shown such a delicious state, he would not be satisfied even if he hunted Small Fish again; he clearly could not stand it.

So he asked:

"……Hey, Sora."

"One?"

Sora gave a bad answer to the Magician chasing her.

"Which one is more important to you, Number 99 or Number 404?"

Sora did not answer.

Without answering, I shifted the Aura around my legs and ran, clawing at the ground.

Grasping a tree branch like a Sword, her eyes widened again to sky blue, and Hisoka was firmly attracted by those eyes.

Feeling the mellow and rich scent of death gushing from joy, Hisoka threw the corpse covered in rubber bands at Sora like a hammer.

Just as Hisoka read, she put her own survival first, but that did not mean she did not care about others. On the contrary, when I was dealing with myself here alone, I knew he was a very good person.

Killua, who was particularly close to her, and Kurapika—he said that if he went to fight Hisoka because it was too important to him, he would be at a disadvantage if he stayed by his side.

The 2-meter-tall man's body was thrown out, and Sora did not slow down.

She ran straight ahead, without retreating or dodging.

The corpse of a strong man, holding a tree branch that was no different from having no Aura, was split in two so vividly and smoothly, opening a path.

Hisoka's temporary partner was an iai master; although I don't remember seeing him, I can say for sure that he was prettier than him. The moment he saw the "sky" eyes that shone clearly even in the blood mist, the joy that pierced his whole body reached a climax.

The existence of death that erupted from my body, and the unstable balance at the moment the Poker tower collapsed, made me realize that I am living in the present.

Sora could be said to be strong enough; although she had killed many people stronger than her, this was the first time he had this feeling. Determining that she was the only one, Hisoka went straight for her. To him, he did not dodge the Death God-like woman who was close at hand, but swung a Playing Card full of Aura.

Hisoka was only focused on killing Sora.

And Sora only decided to "kill."

"Sora!!"

At the same time that Hisoka's temple issued a hook, there was a voice as strange in tone as Sora's, and this had not changed.

Hisoka ignored the voice and the hook he caught in the corner of his vision. Because I knew that if I cared about such things, my life would surely be severed by this Death God.

Being killed is not bad, but in that case, I want to fully enjoy the death she gives me, so I ignored it, because an attack without even an Aura would be almost offset by the "coat."

But that was not the case for Sora.

I decided to "kill."

For her, who had already lost her balance, she did not realize that this was an act of helping herself.

She did not even know that it was her name that was being called.

The arm Sora stretched out, the tip of the stick, was hit by the Heavy weight of the fishing rod on Hisoka's temple, but he swung backward just like Sora had dodged his card for the first time.

It was aimed at the right shoulder instead of the heart or neck, but Hisoka's survival instinct, rather than his intuition, warned him with all his might, "Don't take it, avoid it," and he faithfully followed this warning.

It was not that he did not want to die, but that he wanted to revel in this feeling for as long as possible.

However, Sora was unexpected, moving Hisoka out of her line of sight.

What came into view of the azure sky was a stiff boy, posing as if swinging down a fishing rod.

Hearing the screams of her comrades, she hurriedly stepped forward to help, and without a moment's hesitation, ran toward Gon.

Just like when I went to Hisoka, I was holding a simple stick.

Even Sora herself might not know what Gon looked like in her eyes.

I just wanted to protect her. No matter who was sacrificed, no matter how many people were sacrificed.

For Sora, what Gon did was of no help. The gap in ability was too great; it was nothing more than a hot stone and hot water.

To the emotionless Sora, Gon's actions were merely a "disturbance," leading him to identify Gon as an "enemy."

And so, I waved my hand.

The staff, transformed into a Death God scythe, pointed toward Gon.

"Stop! Sora!!"

Looking at Sora's eyes, he stood in front of Gon, who was retreating while holding his fishing rod, and shouted.

"He is not your enemy!"

Kurapika spread his arms to protect Gon, standing before Sora.

"…………Kurapika?"

Sora muttered with a face that could only be described as puzzled, his eyes suddenly turning the color of the night sky and becoming rounded.

No matter whom I sacrificed, no matter how many people I killed, even if I did not know who had come to save me, I called out the name of the lover I would protect even if I went mad.

I remembered why I was still alive even though I was so insane.

Kurapika and Gon breathed a sigh of relief as they saw Sora's bloodlust fade and the atmosphere return to normal, but they realized it was too early to relax completely.

Sora had suddenly attacked Gon, who was supposed to be helping, catching Hisoka off guard; his reaction was slow, but he was not so insane as to stop the fight.

Wielding his cards, Sora raised his eyes again and turned to face Hisoka, while Gon and Kurapika also readied their weapons.

However, it was not Sora, Gon, or Kurapika who reacted to Hisoka first.

"Don't forget about me! You perverted freak!"

"Leorio!?"

"Ah!"

Seeming to find an opportunity to counterattack the scar on his arm and Leorio, who had tried to use himself as a hostage to fight Sora, jumped out of the mist and swung his briefcase with all his might. However, Hisoka's fist struck Leorio's face and sent him flying, and Sora shouted his honest impression.

Hisoka blew Leorio away and should have headed straight for Sora, but then a phone rang.

The sound reminded me of asking Illumi, "I'm going to have some fun, so call me when you reach the second exam site," and then it stopped.

While wary of Hisoka, Sora stood with his back to Kurapika and Gon, protecting them, while Leorio stretched out at Hisoka's feet, and the two prepared their weapons.

He still wanted to play with Sora, but Kurapika blocked his path to protect Gon, and even when Sora tried to kill him, he attempted to fight back.

Seeing all this killing, Hisoka thought for a moment in front of Leorio; it looked like the most delicious blue fruit coming toward him.

Thinking of Sora's reaction just now, if I killed one of them, especially Kurapika, they would be even more bloodthirsty than before, but the talent of the three of them was so high that it would be a waste to ruin them now.

At first, there was no one to protect, and because he thought they would be in danger if he didn't kill Hisoka, Sora insisted on killing Hisoka, to the point where he could only acknowledge Gon as "someone who could get his way."

If there were targets to protect nearby, she would prioritize protecting them and letting them escape, unlike Hisoka who fought Kurapika.

So, judging that it was impossible to let her reach such a delicious state after they arrived, Hisoka put his cards away.

"Sorry, time's up."

Although it was unsatisfying, Hisoka considered this "Examiner's game" worth it just for finding one excellent fruit, and Hisoka said to the three while carrying the Leorio he had knocked down.

"We should have a friend; would you like to come with us?"

At Hisoka's invitation, the three shook their heads violently at the same time.

"I'm bored."

Hisoka responded in an inappropriately cheerful voice and disappeared into the mist, carrying Leorio.

It had been almost a minute since Hisoka left, and no one said anything, nor did anyone move.

"……Leorio, are you okay?"

It was Gon who broke the silence, worried that it was too late.

After being beaten and taken away by Hisoka, Sora, who knew best what kind of person Hisoka was, said, "It's fine."

"That pervert is a battle maniac not just in his bones, but in his soul, so it's fine. He likes to torture the weak, but he likes to fight for his life against opponents equal to or greater than him."

"He probably likes Leorio, but he probably thinks he isn't ripe enough yet, so I think he will save Leorio by leaving his favorite food for last."

Hearing Sora's words, Gon breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good," but Kurapika said with a confused face, "No, that is..."

"Rather, Gon."

"Ah, what?"

The topic of Leorio's safety ended quickly, and Sora faced Gon with a serious expression.

Gon and Kurapika were a bit puzzled by Sora's serious expression, but Sora ignored their confusion and shouted loudly.

"I'm sorry, I lost control just now and tried to kill you!!"

Sora's super-dog and apology time had begun.

＊＊＊

"What, you couldn't kill me? Then I shouldn't have contacted you."

Just as Hisoka placed the Leorio he was carrying on his shoulder in a suitable place, a dissatisfied voice rang out.

"Well, sorry, my friends were gathered together, they all looked delicious, and it would be a waste to ruin them all now."

Hisoka replied to Illumi, also known as Gittarackur; despite being covered in needles and expressionless, Illumi subtly revealed his displeasure.

Of course, Illumi did not ask for his sincerity, so she ignored his provocative apology and quickly left Hisoka. Clearly, he just wanted to vent his dissatisfaction.

However, Illumi was also quite bold, but could not compete with Hisoka, whose personality was broad and could be interpreted as profanity and disregard in the play.

Hisoka followed behind Illumi, who hurriedly turned and walked away, while Hisoka talked about how wonderful the Hide and Seek game he had just played with Sora was.

"You're right, although it looks like you aren't using 'En', you dodged the attacks from the blind spot well; even if you have the ability to deal with all my attacks, they didn't knock. I'm really impatient."

"Creep."

Illumi gave the impression of being direct and frank, but Hisoka was of course used to being told that, so he didn't care at all and continued the disgusting conversation.

Illumi thought about sticking a needle in this guy's head, but decided not to, because that would only make him happy.

From the start, Hisoka was a self-generating power plant; even if you didn't engage him, he would make you feel uncomfortable, but Illumi remembered that if you did engage him, it would make him even more disgusting. The Magician brought up a topic that could never be ignored.

"Anyway, you really are a mysterious child; those eyes must be a Nen Ability, right?"

Illumi did not answer. He didn't even shift his gaze.

Despite this, Hisoka continued to speak to himself.

"At first I thought it was Manipulation, because it uses Jewels to attack, but it's not manipulating the Jewels themselves; rather, it's filling the Jewels with Aura that has changed its properties—it's a composite ability of Emission and Transmutation. Hey,"

"Learning the abilities of these two systems in a balanced way is Enhancement, which is sandwiched between them."

"But if that's the case, the 'Nen Ability nullification' related to those 'eyes' cannot be explained."

Just as Hisoka said, Sora's lineage is "Enhancement," aside from those eyes and Spiritual Power. And although the eyes themselves can be explained by the special constitution of the Kurta clan, unless you are in the middle of the trait "nullifying others' Nen Ability and Aura itself," you cannot learn it.

I am not saying it is impossible to master an opposing lineage to that degree, but what is certain is that even for someone with genius talent, it would require a considerable amount of Training.

First of all, if you have a foul ability like "Nen Ability and Aura nullification," there is no need to learn a combination of Emission and Transmutation. If you want some other ability as a sub, just make it a trait alongside Manipulation or Materialization.

Of course, Nen Ability is largely influenced and affected by the tastes and preferences of the person who has the ability, so there are many people who sublimate it into "innate," even if it doesn't match their lineage, but they are very careful about their appearance. I don't think he has any feelings when he doesn't have "Jewel." In fact, if you had feelings for it, you probably wouldn't just throw it away.

"So, are you going to conclude that this is not a Nen Ability?"

Illumi spoke his impression of Hisoka's conclusion in a tone that sounded somewhat absurd.

It wasn't that I was stupid from the bottom of my heart. It just happened while I was trying to cover up my dissatisfaction.

It was disgusting, almost incomprehensible, and regardless of the values of the Zoldyck family, I absolutely did not want him to be seen as a "friend."

Hisoka was in a much better mood, still saying that being treated like a fool was better than being ignored, or perhaps he knew what Illumi was hiding.

"Kuku, for someone who possesses a Nen Ability, she is like a Demon."

"Nen" is by no means all-powerful Magic; therefore, no matter how convenient it seems, there are risks worth paying, and there are laws that can be said to be absolutely impossible.

"However, that child is able to master Enhancement and the traits, as well as the opposite systems, and even if some restrictions are applied, he uses Hatsu. I'm afraid I can't go out much."

Nen users know that "Nen" is not all-powerful Magic, but they firmly believe that all mysterious "special abilities" in this world are "Nen Abilities."

So, thinking about it a little, I would realize the same thing as Hisoka, but I could not reach the same conclusion as him.

I don't know if it's because my thinking lacks flexibility, or because of the pride of being an extraordinary existence that has not been acknowledged.

"……I agree."

Although it was very frustrating, in reality, "the Demon gate for those who possess Nen" was an appropriate way to express it for Sora.

"Really, what is that woman doing? Is he really a Death God or a crazy Death God?"

"That habit, he is a hypocrite, he is noisy, he is stupid..."

"……Speaking of Sora, you are really emotional."

Whether it was surprise or genuine emotion, Hisoka said it in an unusual voice, but Illumi, whose reaction was even more unusual than Hisoka's, did not hear it.

Even if it didn't reach Hisoka, he didn't seem to care, asking without expecting an answer.

"Really, why do you hate Sora so much? Is it the image of you in my heart?"

Illumi did not answer.

However, the complaints about Sora that had been spewed out without anyone asking suddenly stopped.

My family has asked me many times what they dislike and don't like about Sora.

But I have never been able to answer correctly.

There are things I don't like, and there are things I don't like.

No sense of tension, basically always fooling around, bordering on unprofessional, work is easy, even if he can kill anyone without hesitation for his own survival, he hypocritically says "I don't want to kill." And this hypocrisy does not suit the Assassin's eyes that possess supernatural power, which he wants at all costs.

Illumi clicked her tongue, because her existence was already dazzling.

But the thing I dislike the most, the thing I cannot control my killing intent about, is when I am asked "What part of Sora do you dislike?"

The averted eyes and a back that didn't even turn around.

As if saying there was no need for the consciousness of being illuminated, those eyes naturally let go of the gaze that had once met.

Never looking back, and not making a move on the opponent, that back was Illumi's first, and most importantly, he disliked that.

"Hey? What's wrong?"

Illumi's unexpected answer to a question he thought would be ignored made Hisoka happily grab hold and ask more questions.

Perhaps because Hisoka's reaction was too stimulating, or perhaps because she remembered, Illumi clicked her tongue and announced.

"Everything. I hate that woman, her existence!!"

Declaring the conclusion you reached when you looked at that back that day remains the same.

Even Illumi herself did not know who she was announcing it to.