Chapter 405: Episode 62

Killua brought Number Nine all the way here, but he still couldn't say his thoughts were clear.

I cannot believe what that man named Pariston said. Killua tried to inquire about the Dark Continent and that Disaster himself, but found nothing. I doubt whether such things truly exist.

I don't fully trust Number Nine either. In the short time we've just met, what can you learn from her? Because of my personality, I don't feel this is dangerous, but even so, I cannot deny the possibility that my thoughts are being manipulated by some ability. He knows Killua's sense of closeness to her is unnatural.

I am not sure if my thoughts are objective. There is insufficient information to make a final decision. That is why Killua brought the girl to find the most suitable person to ask for their opinion on the current situation.

Biscuit Krueger. A professional Treasure Hunter; although she looks like a young girl, she is actually 57 years old. As a Nen user, she is a powerful person with a long career as a Hunter.

She is familiar with the situation of professional Hunters that Killua does not know. Even Killua admits that although her personality has some flaws, her view of human nature is correct. They are usually annoyed by each other and slap each other, but in his heart, he considers her a reliable teacher.

Can I accept Pariston's orders, or should I keep my distance from the girl, or should I be hostile? I was about to ask Bisque for her opinion on this matter.

As a result, I think even if there is a difference of opinion, Biscuit's judgment should be emphasized. For Killua, if he had to prioritize Number Nine or Biscuit, it could be said that Biscuit, who has been with him for a long time, would be the winner.

But this does not mean he doesn't trust Number Nine at all. So Killua did not explain her background at the beginning, but tried to let Biscuit see Number Nine's true face without any preconceived notions.

Number Nine continued the Kumite with Gon. It was a normal scene and didn't seem particularly dangerous. They fought each other in an unusual way, but at least it looked like there was no imminent crisis for humanity.

Most importantly, I must explain the situation to Biscuit correctly. In particular, hiding the news of Chairman Netero's death is a bad idea. This is a big deal for the Hunter Association.

Leaving Gon, who was obsessed with Kumite, alone for the time being, Killua called Bisque and began to discuss in a low voice.

"Alright, alright, stop. You two, come here for a moment."

Recovering from her stupor, Gon immediately proposed a rematch. It seems her personality is very competitive. We were all confident in our stamina, and I started to get a little worried about how long this match would last, so it was helpful that Bisque made us stop.

"As agreed, I will train you from now on, but if you want me to teach you, you must listen to my teacher, do not defy my orders, and look me in the eye when you answer, okay?"

Biscuit stood with her arms crossed. In the somewhat tense atmosphere, I was told to sit where I was. I sat directly on the ground and nodded at Biscuit's confirmation.

"That is the first order: from now on, do not use the power of the Disaster again."

Had it already been passed down from Killua? In other words, the power of the Disaster is the Almeiza Machine.

"I heard from Killua about your performance in the Hunter Exam. I am the head of Shingen-ryu. I went to kill the founder and master of Shingen-ryu, Netero, and became an apprentice there. That is why I was stunned and couldn't say anything."

I didn't expect Biscuit to be Netero's apprentice. He was the Chairman of the Hunter Association and naturally had many friends and acquaintances among professional Hunters. I never thought I would have the chance to meet those who spoke of him. I tightened the hem of my clothes.

"Netero's death was Netero's own fault. It was not my fault for intervening. In your view, you were just using your power to protect yourself, so I am not saying that was a bad thing. But you know, I cannot ignore the mismanagement that led to my master losing his life."

Biscuit's body radiated a glow. When you expand, your physique changes significantly. Her muscles bulged, and she had grown into a massive figure that one had to look up at. Even Gon and Killua were stunned.

"With your 'Vow' as a Nen-user, swear right here and now that you will never use the Disaster again. I will not forgive your expediency. If you say you cannot do it, I will kill you."

Biscuit's eyes were serious. She did not think of me as a Disaster, or an opponent that Chairman Netero could not defeat. Depending on my answer, she would do as she said. The presence of that aura was unimaginable.

I knew at a glance that this was not an opponent I could defeat by strength alone. It turned into a one-sided battle. To overcome the gap in ability, I had to rely on that power again. However, unlike that time, there was no Smart Phone this time. I am carrying a replacement Mobile Phone now, but I don't know if I can reach Luan.

"Are you afraid of losing power? I don't think so. Your hesitation now is a 'weakness.' You can do as I say, or you can choose to fight against it. But there is no future for someone who can only wait for someone else's help."

Biscuit's words pierced my heart. It was the same thing over and over again. An enemy you cannot control with your own power appears, and you tell yourself there is nothing you can do while using your own power. I was just asking someone inside me to do something for me. I remembered what Monad said.

"You have gained power. Once you possess it, one day you will have to rely on it. I will definitely return to this place."

This is correct. I don't want to use it if possible, but I will end up using it. That is how I lost myself, and one day I will no longer be me. I am afraid of that. At this rate, even that fear might disappear.

"But at least you are different from when you fought Gon. You are desperately learning how to fight, desperately seeking power. You have enough talent and guts. Throw that power into the sewer. Do you mind?"

If possible, it is not bad to be as prepared as possible. Just as Bisque said, "I will never use it again."

"Indeed, from now on, a life full of turmoil awaits you. Your true identity has been revealed to the world, that bastard Pariston is spitting on you, and there is the fact that you killed Netero. There must be many people who hate you enough to want to kill you, and I am sure that from now on, you will experience countless crises of death."

Biscuit will not mislead us with sweet words; she only speaks the truth and hides nothing.

"So what? If you become a Professional Hunter, try to overcome the deaths of one, two, hundreds, or thousands of people. I will teach you how to fight, and how far you can survive without relying on the Disaster. Well, what are we going to do?"

Tears flowed naturally. Seeing that reaction, he already knew what kind of decision I would make. He waited quietly for me to calm down.

A ringtone sounded, startling them.

"... Strange, you shouldn't be able to use a Mobile Phone in GI."

My Mobile Phone received a call. The intermittent ringing gradually grew louder, mixed with noise, and finally turned into a human voice.

"Don't be fooled! My King, this is a trap! After taking away your power, I will kill you! Please run away!"

The voice sounded exactly like Sixx, but I knew immediately who was calling. But no matter how loudly Luan warned of danger, my heart remained the same.

"Why!? Even if you don't do what these people say, you have me! With my support, you can safely use your power!"

I vaguely felt it was funny. Even an existence with a strong ego like Monad has the ability to exercise its power, and it will never come out without my consent. However, Luan can keep in touch with me like this.

This is not something you can do for free. Usually, only the 'King' can appear in the subconscious. For Luan, the 'Knight,' to reach him, he must step into the realm of the 'King.' This means cutting into my ego.

It is not like Monad, where I was stripped of a large amount of ego at once, but Luan is slowly eroding me without being noticed. During the battle with Netero, when I approved the download of that gun on the Smart Phone screen, I had a slight sense of loss.

If this relationship continues, I will be restrained by Luan, like a silk thread tightening around my neck. For me, it is just a matter of whether the existence replacing me right now is Monad or Luan.

"Your power will bring a revolution to this world! Right now it is all about danger, but soon it will be appreciated for its usefulness! A future where we can coexist with humans is just around the corner! We will definitely be recognized by the world!"

"Believe in what, seek what, decide for yourself."

"Don't be deceived by the enemy's words, don't be swayed by momentary emotions! How much loss will a wrong choice cause! How much danger are you in! Now is the time to lie down! Please, please think again...!"

No matter what path I choose, I must make up my mind here and now. Thinking about it afterward should not be the answer. I have plenty of time to worry. If you cannot make a decision at this moment, your resolve will waver. I am sure I will never reach the same state before or after this.

"Swear."

"My Kingggggg!!"

I looked into Biscuit's eyes and told her the answer. With firmness in my gaze, I stared at her steadily, not daring to waver.

"A vow has a price. What are you using to make your decision?"

Rather than indulging in power and losing myself, I want to continue being myself until the very last moment of my life. I would rather die being myself than let this soul turn into someone else.

"Life."

I said these words to myself, not to Biscuit. The voice coming from the Mobile Phone disappeared without me noticing.

"I can't keep up with the suddenly serious atmosphere, Biscuit got bigger, what do you mean?"

After I calmed down and Biscuit's size returned to normal, Gon asked me a reasonable question. Killua explained.

"What is the Dark Continent?"

"I don't know the details either."

"Hmm, it's no surprise that you newcomers don't know."

The world map that everyone has seen at least once, and the continents where people live, are just a small part of the world. They are small islands in the middle of a great lake. The world that unfolds beyond this vast Mobius Lake is called the Dark Continent, and it is said to be so large that its scale is unfathomable.

Even though humanity is in a society with such advanced science and technology, for religious reasons, discussion of the ends of the ocean is still prohibited, and the research and development of aviation technology, such as airplanes capable of traveling at high speeds in the sky, is restricted. This is all to hide the existence of the Dark Continent from the public.

The reason that continent is considered the greatest taboo in human history is because of the threats known as Disasters. The Dark Continent is a treasure trove of creatures and pathogens that could destroy humanity, and it seems no one knows what kind of danger would be brought about if the lid were opened carelessly.

"Hmm, one of those disasters is right here."

"Huh! That's right, I don't know."

Gon did not guard against me, but instead asked me: "What kind of place is the Dark Continent?" Are you really listening to my words or do you not believe me?

As for myself, there are many things I do not know about my origins. After listening to Biscuit's story, I understood some parts of it for the first time.

Up until now, I have been getting by with "I don't know," but this excuse is no longer valid. I really need to know who I am. First, I want to disclose the information I know without having to deal with the problems alone.

Don't just cover it up; tell everyone here. This requires great courage. I must show that I am not human. At that moment, I couldn't help but worry about how everyone would react.

But I don't want to keep hiding it. I feel this is sincerity toward my friends and the first step to knowing myself. I made up my mind and took the wrapping cloth out of my backpack. I showed everyone what was inside.

"This is..."

"A bug? The bug is huge."

I explained that this bug is "me." At first, it seemed like I couldn't understand what I was saying because I wasn't good at speaking, but gradually, everyone's expressions were stained with surprise.

"Eh! Is this Six!? Then, what about that human body!?"

"It should be something similar to a Nen Beast."

I also know there is a form called a Nen Bead. However, it is considered a very high-level ability that combines the three systems of Materialization, Manipulation, and Hatsu. It seems that if you don't accumulate training that usually takes more than a few years, just to manifest it and shape it, you cannot turn it into an object.

Indeed, Six's body is composed of Aura, much like a Nen Bead, but of course, I don't remember creating such an explosion, and when I woke up like an ant, Six's body was already in the rice field. Furthermore, at that time, the Shoko had not yet opened. Could it be like this?

"This is a very rare case, but if it exists, it is most likely a Parasitic Nen Beast."

It seems that a Nen Beast created by a certain person, after that person dies, remains a Nen Beast that becomes even more powerful, with the usage rights transferred to someone else. It seems almost impossible to deliberately create such an ability, and many of them are called Guardian Spirit Beasts, passed down from generation to generation.

A human who becomes a parasite is not necessarily able to use Nen. A Parasitic Nen Beast will actively absorb a person's Aura and materialize it. It cannot be manipulated because it was not created by the person's own will. Therefore, it is said that some people work for the parasite, and some people only work for the parasite.

As for me, I think it is possible from the perspective of blood relations. The existence of the "flock" I felt in my dream must be inside Six. That is the flock of ants I was born into, and the fact that several selves are mixed in this body may also be related to the characteristics of the Parasitic Nen Beast.

But I cannot say anything for certain. The Parasitic Type seems to be impossible to manipulate, but in Six's case, it is possible, and I can share senses just like a normal Nen Bead. It can be said that the Parasitic Nen Beast possesses that ability, but there are still many things I don't understand.

"But it's kind of cool! It looks like a giant stag beetle."

The main body was lifted by Gon and observed. You can turn it upside down to look at the abdomen.

"You... don't touch me so often."

"It's okay, because you have kind eyes. Ah, I remembered, this is Six's main body, sorry, I touched it."

Looking at Gon's situation, I started to feel it was ridiculous to worry about him not accepting me coming out. However, on the other hand, Biscuit was looking at the main body with a serious expression.

"This is a color I have never seen before. There is an insect called a living jewel, but... even if you scrape the edge a little..."

I feel like I am whispering some terrible things to myself. Is it really okay to study under this person? I held the main body and shook my head to protect it.

"Just kidding, I will train you well, don't worry."

"Killua is back, Six is a new addition, so what kind of arrangements will you have for special training in the future?"

"Let's leave it at that, but I plan to finish the basic training here, and next time we will seriously start the game capture."

"Really!? I did it!"

"But I have to teach Six, so we will be separated for a while. Gon and Killua, go collect cards together. I really want to go too. Blue. I want to find a planet... like a blue planet..."

I'm sorry, because of me, you have to change your plans. The Blue Planet seems to be a precious gem.

"Don't be so depressed. If we find the Blue Planet, we will bring it to you."

"Killua...!"

"We will trade twenty billion Jenny each."

"Killua...!"

"Don't be so mean, we didn't disband the team here, it is precisely because of Biscuit that we have become so strong."

"Gon, you are..."

Biscuit straightened her body and looked at Gon and Killua with a mysterious expression.

"When I first met you, you were so lazy that you could die at any time, but you have grown so much in this short time. Well, I am still very lazy, but I play the game normally... I should have already gained enough strength."

"Are you praising me or disrespecting me?"

"I am praising you. If you are like this now, you won't die even if you encounter a strong enemy. Don't go too far, collect the Spell Cards with all your might, and when this girl is done, we will go with you. Better. Quan."

"Yeah, when we get close to here, it will appear. If there is anything, we will keep in touch using the Contact Spell Card."

"When the Free Pocket is full, I will come to store the cards."

"Are we a substitute for a warehouse?"

They were hired by a millionaire named Battera to play Greed Island. Battera bought the game, hired many talented players, and promised a large reward to those who cleared it.

In addition, for Gon, it seems that his missing father participated in the production of this game, and he traveled thousands of miles to come here to look for clues. Each of them has their own reasons; they didn't just come to play.

If I weren't there, the three of us would be more efficient at collecting cards. Sorry again and again. When I lowered my head to apologize to everyone, Killua put his hand on me.

"You don't have to worry, next time you come, I will bring you some souvenirs, so please don't bother me."

To distract me, he playfully patted Six's head. Biscuit and Gon watched, whispering to each other.

(Anyway, is Killua that kind of girl after all?)

(This is more like a big brother treating a little sister.)

(My little sister... is she too dangerous?)

"Ah, loud, loud, loud! Leave Papa Gorilla alone, let's go!"

Biscuit and I saw them off. No, Killua was blown away by Biscuit, leaving for a while; to be precise, only Gon saw him off.

"Then, I must organize a Training menu immediately. You have more talent than this, if you compare this quality to a Jewel, yes... Garnet! You are a Garnet!"

It was announced with a sharp Finger thrust. I don't know why it was necessary to compare it to a Jewel, but perhaps this is the sensibility of a Hunter of Jewels. You say Ruby is trash, and Garnet is enough.

"Do you know? Carbuncle is a Garnet processed into a round shape. It is an ancient word meaning 'burning coal'. Although it is an inorganic mineral, it hides an energy reminiscent of Fire. You. I think it is perfect for you."

Deep red almandine is abundant and not a very expensive Jewel. Its dark color is not as popular as the bright red of Rubies and the like. In particular, under artificial light such as fluorescent lamps, the darkening seems to become more intense.

Biscuit said that when it is held up to the flame of a lamp, almandine is brightest in Pitch Darkness. The flickering Fire gives life to the Stone like a pulse, and a lonely red that shines in Pitch Darkness appears. She said she doesn't mind such things.