Chapter 36: Interview

After finding the person he was looking for, Kurapika called out to him.

"Gon."

The Gon who was called back did not seem any different at first glance. He was a calm, straightforward, and very intelligent boy.

However, Kurapika was somewhat worried.

When I asked him if he had managed to Collect the Plate, there was a brief but noticeable gap.

He was so enthusiastic about finding his target that he seemed to feel obligated rather than just working Together with Leorio.

The sense of incongruity I felt when joining them yesterday still lingered in my mind, though it wasn't as bad as it was then.

"That I could make it this far is all thanks to Gon."

"That's not true."

The words of gratitude expressed after chatting for a few moments carried the same discomfort.

The reply was as expected, but if Kurapika knew him, the feeling in those words was the embarrassment, joy, and pride of being acknowledged for his own childishness.

However, the feeling currently pinned on Gon was somewhat self-deprecating.

Should I touch upon it or ignore it?

Kurapika thought for a moment.

"……Gon."

"Hm?"

"Did something happen during the fourth exam?"

After thinking about it, I asked.

"I was curious because you seemed a bit strange when you joined up."

If it were the old me, I wouldn't have wanted to say anything, because I didn't want to say anything.

But when I look back at myself, I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want anyone to discover my weaknesses and make fun of me, or feel disappointed in my weaknesses.

Rather than being alone and hating one's own weaknesses without telling anyone, rather than being self-deprecating or discouraged, admitting one's weaknesses, accepting them, and being told "You are strong"—Kurapika already knew that this would always be a source of happiness.

I know there are others more suited than me, but I am truly grateful to Gon, so if I realize this myself, I want to take on that role.

Kurapika waited.

Quietly waiting for Gon's answer.

"……My prey target was Hisoka."

"!"

After a while, Gon answered, and Kurapika was surprised to hear the name of such an unexpected person.

But at the same time, I could guess why Gon would act strangely based on that name.

The fact that he is here now means Gon succeeded in stealing the Plate from Hisoka, but fortunately, Gon is childish, so even when Together with him, he didn't show any disgust, just like how he would proudly tell his parents the proudest thing that happened to him. I should tell you the report of the proudest thing that happened.

Not doing so would mean Gon could have gotten Hisoka's Plate, but not in a way that satisfied him.

"……I saw an opening and stole the Plate, but I was also being tracked by another person, and I was hit by a Poison Arrow, and he easily took the Plate."

In the end, Hisoka took the Plate back from him and left it for me. He called it a loan.

Gon's story was exactly what Kurapika had imagined.

"……When I said I didn't want it, I was shocked, and he said, 'If you can beat me, I'll accept it.'"

Recalling the humiliation of having his Root stripped away and trampled, Gon's voice was filled with tears, which was completely different from the failures and setbacks he had made up for until now.

But he did not cry.

Gon bit his lip, tears about to overflow, but he did not cry.

He did not cry and continued to speak.

"……When Hisoka was blown away, Sora saw me."

"Sora?"

Although he knew he might be digging into Gon's wounds, Kurapika, who had no intention of interrupting until the interviewee suddenly appeared, raised his voice.

But when I was also told… when I recalled the reaction when I saw her again after the fourth exam ended, I was convinced.

When Sora and Gon reunited, he was surprised to find Gon covered in scars.

At the time, I wanted to ask what was going on because it made no sense, but immediately after, I found a Handprint on someone's face, which seemed to be Sora using all her strength to slap him. I found it. By noon, I remembered that I had completely forgotten what I said to Gon because I was more worried about it.

Gon wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and explained what happened with an awkward smile, just as Sora had sarcastically said.

"Yeah… that's why I was scolded by Sora."

I was lucky not to be killed by the person targeting me and Hisoka. When I was rejected, I was really angry.

But at the same time, Sora also denied Hisoka's words. Hisoka said to me, "I let you live," but Sora is the only one who can let anyone live, using his own power to move his heart, breath, and thoughts. He told me to live on, and told me to forget Hisoka's words, except for the parts I wanted to remember.

……He told me that I thought it was just a dream, and told me to forget it.

But when I woke up in the morning, he was gone."

When speaking the first half, her expression was slightly depressed; in the second half, she smiled happily like the usual Gon Kurapika knew, and finally, Gon's appearance changed again.

Kurapika thought this didn't seem like him.

"……I think Sora was probably worried. At first, he knew why I was knocked down by Hisoka, but he pretended not to know about my stubbornness. Because he respected my pride, I think he left before I woke up so I could forget meeting Sora and being scolded, thinking it was just a dream."

"But, I want Sora by my side."

A little lonely, he said.

"I know you're spoiled, but I want to be Together with Sora. When I said 'I want to become strong,' he said, 'I wish I could'…… I don't mind if I stay weak."

Mother…. In this way, what I want to do and what I don't want to do are mixed together, and I really hate my selfishness and weakness. I feel like I'm in trouble… so, instead of being on Sora's side, instead of being spoiled by Sora, it's better to stand by someone else's side and help others… I guess."

"So I looked for you two."

After listening to Gon's words, Kurapika sighed and said:

"Just like always, I don't know if that woman is sensitive or dull to people's feelings, or if she is sweet or stern toward others."

"Ah, Kurapika is the same."

Kurapika's words made Gon smile as he usually did.

I don't know why Sora did not stay by Gon's side.

It might be the result of being considerate to Gon as I just thought, or it might be the result of Gon pushing him away so as not to be spoiled.

Or perhaps there is a thought or reason we cannot imagine, one we do not understand. If it is a thought circuit that forever cuts diagonally upward, that is quite possible.

But this is what I know.

She understands that Gon has lost his confidence and does not want to show it, pretending to be his normal self.

This is why it is ironic when you see Gon again.

If you cannot reflect or learn, if you have it written in your dictionary but miss that part at a critical moment, you might as well be an ordinary Gon who never had it written down to begin with, I guess he says.

Of course, this is nothing more than Kurapika's own imagination.

However, I have watched her enough times all along to make me feel she is that kind of person, so I believe her.

"Gon."

This is the reason for what Kurapika said to Gon.

"I, Leorio, and even Sora, have only reached this point because of you."

Because I have the same feeling too.

I hate my own weaknesses and hope someone will acknowledge my existence.

This is why Kurapika proposed to cooperate with Leorio.

At the time of making the request, I thought I was using others to satisfy my own ego, and as a result, I hated myself.

Being seen as someone you want to say "you are worthy" to never feels bad.

On the contrary, he knows he can be proud of it, so he tells me.

Not because Gon wanted these words.

Kurapika looked straight into his eyes, smiling gently, expressing her true feelings.

"For this, I am truly very grateful."

Gon was stunned by Kurapika's words for a few seconds, but answered while scratching his cheek with his fingertip.

"……I am a grateful person."

Awkward. But somehow proud.

This is the ordinary Gon that Kurapika is familiar with.

Kurapika breathed a sigh of relief that Gon had finally returned to normal, and at the same time, an announcement came from inside the Airship.

"Uh, the Chairman is accepting interviews from now on. If your number is called, please go to the first Reception Room on the second floor.

Examinee number 44. Number 44, please come over."

Hearing the broadcast, Kurapika and Gon looked at each other and muttered at the same time.

""Interview……?""

＊＊＊

"Hmm, sit down."

The first problem child of this year's Hunter Exam, the first person to be interviewed, asked me before sitting down.

"Is this the final exam?"

"I am not saying it is completely irrelevant, but this is just a question for reference."

Probably convinced that this was not an exam Hisoka wanted least, nor one without combat potential, he sat down quietly and began the interview.

"First, why do you want to become a Hunter?"

The first question was a motivation question, just like a job interview.

Of course, Hisoka's application motivation could not be mediocre, and harmless motives could not be concealed.

"I don't want to be different, but having the qualification is very convenient in many ways; for example, even if you kill someone, there are many situations where you can be exempted from responsibility."

He answered honestly, without any value, but Netero showed no interest in Hisoka's overly dangerous thoughts, noted down what he said, and quickly moved on to the next question.

"I see.

Then, among the other nine people, who are you most concerned about?"

A few seconds later, Hisoka answered Netero's next question expressionlessly.

"Number 100.

Number 99 and number 405 are also hard to shake off, but after all, she is in a special place; I hope to see these two one day, but I want to see her immediately."

He answered with a low smirk, so happy that he felt like he was going to hum.

Netero looked at it with cold eyes and continued to the next question.

"Fumu... then the last question.

Among the nine people, who do you most want to fight with right now?"

"That would be number 405... wouldn't it?"

Hisoka's expression was even more serious than when he put his hand on his chin and brought up 100, but Hisoka's answer was almost immediate.

"Number 99 is the same, but I don't want to fight right now... in that sense, 405 might be the best."

He did not simply answer "the opponent I don't want to fight," but emphasized the "now" part that Netero mentioned.

Moreover, as expected, Hisoka focused on the "now" part, wearing his eerie smile, magnifying his viscous bloodlust, and said to Netero without hesitation.

"By the way, right now, among the hundred or so I have given you, the person I most want to fight is you."

These words were too arrogant, too rude and disrespectful, yet Netero noted down Hisoka's answer, looked at the note, and whispered.

"Mm-hmm, thank you for your hard work, you may withdraw."

"…………"

I don't know if the tone that made you want to poke your head out was plain and unremarkable, or if it was just teasing Hisoka.

This old man remained consistent even when struck by disgusting killing intent, to the point that even the Professional Hunter Menchi lost her composure.

Far from ignoring it or reacting, Hisoka acted like a willow swaying in the Wind, blocking everything; this attitude made Hisoka somewhat dissatisfied, but he still honestly left the room.

(That is a bad old man, just as if I had been poisoned, because I am full of the sky.)

Thinking of this, I knew that the fact that I could adopt such an attitude toward myself was proof of that old man's strength.

In Netero's eyes, Hisoka's provocation must be an ant provoking him.

However, just as Netero did not care about Hisoka's provocation, Hisoka did not care much about Netero's indifference either.

He was not stupid enough to be unable to gauge his opponent's ability, but this guy still knew he was the strongest.

I believe that even if I died, my confidence would not waver, so I decided to wait for the green fruit to ripen, while looking forward to the day I would have to face him.

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 53, Pokkle answered.

"I am paying attention to Number 404. From what I can see, this is the best balance."

"I don't want to fight Number 44. Honestly, I cannot participate in a fight."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 99, Killua answered.

"Gon and... well, maybe Sora. Number 405 and Number 100.

Gon is the same age as me, so it is natural that Sora... cannot be ignored in any sense."

"Maybe Number 53. It doesn't seem like there's anything fun about fighting him."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 191, Bodoro answered.

"It is Number 44. I can't help but notice him."

"Number 405 and Number 99. I cannot imagine fighting a child.

Number 100? Is he a man? 404 was also a bit confused at first, but... What!? A lady!?"

"... Excuse me. I would also like to add 100."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 301, Gitarakul answered.

"Number 99."

"Number 44."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 405, Gon answered.

"Hisoka, Number 44, is the one I'm most interested in. There are many things."

"Hmm... I cannot choose 99, 100, 403, and 404."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 294, Hanzo answered.

"It's Number 44, this guy is the worst anyway."

"Of course, Number 44.... I don't want to fight Number 100 again."

＊＊＊

Kurapika answered, Examinee No. 404.

"Number 405 is good. Number 44 is terrible."

"... Number 100, I don't want to fight her, I can't beat her, I've decided not to fight her.

If it were an opponent other than her, I would fight anyone if there were a reason, but if not, I don't want to fight anyone."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 403, Leorio answered.

"It's Number 405, I owe you a favor, I hope you pass."

"That is the reason I don't want to fight 405."

＊＊＊

Examinee No. 100, Sora entered the Reception Room.

"Mm, sit down."

I called him the same as the other students, but Sora made a strange suspicious face, sat cross-legged on the Zabuton, and seemed very angry.

It would be an exaggeration to call it a warning, but somehow, she didn't seem to think this was "just an interview."

"So, what is it? I mean, maybe the reason the final exam numbers are different is so I wouldn't be last?"

Before Netero could speak, she rested her elbows on the low table and spoke first; although he had heard from his direct disciple about her high alertness and good intuition, Netero confessed to being impressed, while at the same time reporting on the fourth exam, which gave me a bit of a headache.

The Association already knew that Gitarakul was a pseudonym, and that he was actually the eldest son of the Zoldyck family.

This person himself did not really intend to deceive the Association.

With that feeling, I said to the daughter before me—who was disguised rather perfunctorily, had a direct connection to Illumi, but had not yet recognized her own true identity—"Use that intuition for other things." After that, Netero somehow held back what he wanted to say and began to speak.

"I'm sorry, please don't be so cautious. What I said last was my personal situation.

I just wanted to chat with my direct disciple, who is so fascinated by me."

Hearing the words "direct disciple" and "grand-disciple," Sora's eyes widened, she pointed her Finger at Netero, and raised her voice in surprise.

"So the Chairman is the master of that old hag!"

"Do you not want to die, or do you want to commit suicide?"

Netero had this disciple, who was once a teacher but a terrible apprentice, use a name he dared not speak.

When asked, that person laughed and said: "I am fine. My teacher is a foolish old man, but he is very kind."

Currently, Netero is trying to pass this statement to his direct disciple, and recording whether he is also Harassment-ing him or helping him too much.

"Well, anyway, that is the relationship between me and you. I am personally very interested in this matter, so I am just passing it to the end so that I have time. So please do not panic."

"Really. I am very sorry for doubting you."

Although his words were not directed at a superior, he had a good impression of his honest apology, and Netero first asked the same question as the other students.

"Let's put personal matters aside for a moment. As an Examiner, I will ask you a question first.

Why do you want to become a Hunter?"

"If you have heard from my master, you might know, but I do not have a household registration, so it is an ID card."

For Netero, who had heard news of Sora from Biscuit since she was young, this question was actually just a formality.

The answer was as expected, so Netero did not even take notes and continued to the next question.

"Hmm. Then, among the nine people, who are you paying the most attention to?"

Honestly, judging from the current test reports, I could have anticipated this question. One of the four people approaching him, or one of the two people following him. Or I think I will add a note for all six at once.

However, Netero remembered. Just as my direct disciple said, this disciple is the woman who slashes diagonally upward.

"There is no one else."

This was a direct answer.

After Netero answered so quickly, he whispered "I understand," and even wrote "I understand" in his memo.

As usual, Sora, sitting across from him, tilted his head and watched.

Sora asked: "What happened?" voicing his doubt.

Sora, as expected, rested his chin on Netero's question and answered with curiosity.

"Hmm... I am not good at moderate, harmless relationships and a sense of distance. I want to keep the people I like in a place where I cannot see them, and I do not want to see people I do not like. That is why I am not paying attention to anyone."

"Are your interpersonal relationships only 0 or 100?"

Hearing Sora's answer, Netero's head rested.

To her, this did not mean "I am paying attention," even if she was not paying attention, protecting her seemed very natural.

The direct disciple Biscuit had an embarrassed look on her face and said: "It is not that her line of thinking is strange, but her perspective is fundamentally different from ordinary people. Although it is a bird's-eye view, from multiple angles, she has some strange points where she is very stubborn, such as, 'This is it!' Aside from the path I have already decided on, I cannot think of anything else, so sometimes, or three out of ten times, the story does not mesh."

I did not make any sense of it when I first heard it, but now I realize how accurate the criticism is.

The conversation was established and mutual understanding was possible, but because they were standing in different places to begin with, what they saw was different, and Netero felt the conversation was incomplete.

With such an explanation and reasoning, I thought that among the people Netero predicted would attract attention, they would fall into the category of "I do not like it, so I do not look at it," and those two were brought up as topics. I decided to proceed to the next question.

"Hmm... Then, among the nine people, who do you least want to face right now?"

"Everyone. If you are asking about me from an old hag, you know more than I do about not having a household registration!

I do not want to die!! If it is cooking for the second exam, I am willing to compete with anyone, but I absolutely do not want anyone to be my opponent!!"

I knew very well what Sora said, and I was looking forward to this answer, but Netero's reaction was faster than I imagined, and he began to explain enthusiastically how he did not want to die.

"... You really do not want to die from the bottom of your heart."

"No wonder!"

Netero said with slight surprise, and immediately received a full-force answer and affirmation.

Hearing this, Netero asked with a wry smile: "Does the 'Magic' of 'Parallel World' transfer have such a big risk?" looking back.

It must be strange for Biscuit to say so much.

However, since he did not hide anything, Sora rested his chin on the table and started talking again, without even asking "Do you believe it?"

"To be precise, I did not do a 'Parallel World' transfer. Because this world is so different from my world, it is far from a parallel world.

It is a parallel world, or rather, it is a world that wandered into a twisted world; even if you misunderstood the old man's 'Magic,' it is hopeless to want to return to the original world."

Believe it or not, in Sora's view, there was almost no trouble, so I skipped the troublesome exchange and answered the question obediently.

If Netero could not get confirmation, it would be interesting, because he is a person who believes in what he wants to believe, so he smiled with satisfaction at Sora's answer and took a sip of tea.

His hand had already left the writing tool. Perhaps this topic was a private chat he wanted to use in his own way to bring Sora to the end of the interview.

"Hmm. First of all, are 'Parallel World' and 'Other World' different things?"

Netero did not even understand the meaning of the two words "Parallel World," perhaps because he was not young and did not like science fiction.

"When I say parallel world, I am referring to different worlds adjacent to each other, like parallel lines, not intersecting, but not involving each other. For convenience, 'Parallel World' is not entirely accurate.

If you imagine a tree instead of parallel lines, would it be easier to understand?"

"Wood?"

He was explained as the raised finger pointed to the world, and when he was convinced, he was completely denied; Netero tilted his head like a child and parroted.

After Sora answered "Yes. A tree," he opened his left palm and started the explanation again.

"The trunk is the 'Tree of Beginnings.' If it is the Root, Truth, Abyss, Polar, or the original place, then the branches derived from there are 'Parallel World.'

Do you know about Time Paradox?"

It is often used as a joke in science fiction, but if you go back to the past and kill your parents before you were born, you would not be born, but if you were not born, you would not go back to the past and kill your parents, and I would not exist at all, so there is a contradiction; the parent murder incident did not happen in the first place, it stems from the divergence of possibilities and keeps increasing.

Even if you were born, it would only grow a branch, and you who killed your parents would still exist; even if you returned to the original era, your parents would still live normal lives.

The old man's Magic is to move such a 'Branch' world, observe it, intervene in it, and make the events of which world the thickest branch, becoming the 'Authentic History.'

It is already the divine realm, but there is a limit to what humans can do. That damn old man is not human without a metaphor.

If the world line... 'Branch' is too far away, even if it is barely observed, it is almost impossible to interfere with the movement, otherwise it will consume a lot of time and energy.

Just like I said just now, if it is just that one person was not born or has been born, or if the victorious country and the defeated country are reversed, it is easy to walk back and forth, but this world and my world have many things in common, but it is better to be in a place that does not fade. A lot. Or rather, when the number and shape of the continents are different, the world line is already very far away. It is surprising how much we have in common."

"... I once tripped near the 'tree trunk', just running around aimlessly, and happened to arrive there."

"So, even if I miraculously mastered 'Magic', even if there are 'Mages' like this old man in this world, there is no hope of returning to the original world."

Finally, Sora compared his palm to a "tree trunk" and his fingers to "tree branches," squinting his eyes as if gazing into the distance.

Although I was not entirely convinced or understanding of that explanation, I realized that Sora returning to the original world was more desperate than I had imagined, and he gave me a painful look.

Just because she is a disciple, I had not thought about having the kind of intense volunteer spirit Biscuit has to let her return to her original world.

I was, however, a bit interested in the "Magic" her teacher used in her original world, and I really hoped there was a "strong person" Netero was looking for, even wanting to ask if he could use it if Sora's story was true.

However, even if I hadn't lost my homeland, I wouldn't be able to go back, and I felt ashamed of my own ambitions.

But, Sora was still tilted upward.

"Hmm, I don't want to go home, so it doesn't matter."

"No. Give my emotions back to me."

Netero withdrew his gaze from the distance and rushed directly into the line he had mentioned.

That woman, who was keeping pace with Netero and whom even Hisoka could not break, had lost control.

"Because I am too attached to this place, I don't want to go back. It's not that I don't like my original world, or that I don't want to go back, but for me, 'I am doing very well here, so don't worry about it.', once you receive the message, you won't regret it anymore.

... Besides—"

Sora was always tilted upward.

He always said things that ordinary people could not understand.

This had a lot to do with her innate personality.

However, knowing the person named "Shiki Sora," one could understand the residents of the world she originally lived in before she escaped from "" and came here.

She was different from before; I wouldn't say she was a different person, but clearly, she had changed from the previous "Sora" into someone called "Sora."

"—If I have to go back to 'that side' to return to the original world, I absolutely do not want to go back."

Sora said, holding his head with one hand as if enduring a headache.

The reason she was incomprehensible to ordinary people was because she had sunk to the farthest place, a place ordinary people could not reach, where she had been destroyed and remade.

Netero looked at his other uncovered eye.

Its eye was bright and sky-blue.

"... I don't want to go back to 'that side' alone."

I remember very little.

Even if I only remember a fragment, even if it is only temporary humanity, it cannot be made up for, because it was crushed and submerged.

"Even if it is the place you will eventually reach, even if it is the ocean where all things are born, it is a lie, and it is not scary.

I don't want to end up in a place like that."

I only remember being afraid.

Even Ging, who protected me, was decomposed and melted; I only remember the terrible fear of my own melting.

"Of course I cannot go to such a place. It is impossible for me to come back.

The reason why people other than 'Mages' cannot come back once they reach there is because if you don't stop being human, you cannot see that kind of thing, nor can you come back."

I don't remember how I managed to escape from that Origin, from the farthest place, from the beginning, from "".

"It is impossible for me to end as a human, and it is impossible for me to return as a human."

It is said that he frantically gathered the things that constituted his melting and decomposing self, and even though other things that did not belong to him were mixed in, he repaired his form and spirit, and then escaped. I just don't know.

I don't remember; I can only guess from the results.

I knew from the beginning that my body was different from before, not just my spirit, but my body as well.

There was no change in appearance.

However, this body is connected.

The Four Symbols before the Eight Trigrams.

The Ambiguity before the Four Symbols.

Before the ambiguity, the primitive, the original—

"I was in that place... I was—"

"Enough."

I don't know where I am looking; I feel like I am looking very far, but what I am looking at is too close.

At the same time, her pair of blue eyes, which were like a void because they were too bright, too clear, and too beautiful, dimmed, turning into an indigo that was nearly black.

Sora returned to his midnight blue eyes and apologized, "... Sorry."

"Sorry, this is an interesting profession, so I couldn't help but ask again, listening seriously.

You can refuse to talk about things you don't want to talk about, right?"

It wasn't Netero's fault as he said, but he apologized for being more than half a century older than him; Netero ended the story and let Sora leave the room.

After letting the disciple leave the room, Netero took a deep breath as if he could finally breathe freely, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

There was no sense of relief in discovering humanity; this disciple, whose humanity was somewhat weak and whose perspective was not human, made him tremble with fear, his face pale.

What Netero felt when he saw those eyes was the Dark Continent he had only been to once in his youth.

Netero complained to himself that the overwhelming "death" itself, which had no meaning or value as a human, had passed.

"Exactly... my lifespan was shortened by a hundred years."

I have enough room to say something light.