Chapter 58: Phantom Beast

"Wow..."

The three Hunters couldn't help but raise their voices. Alba admitted that all three of them were excellent Hunters, even if they were extremely annoyed.

Up until now, the Hunters sent by the guild, upon seeing "this," couldn't even scream for a full minute; they would stand there speechless, and the cruel ones would grab onto Alba and Atram.

Of course, Atram was not the kind of useless person to show emotion, which was why he was in this situation now, and Alba was not kind enough to follow him just because he was in the same line of work.

Rather, it was pleasant to look down on Alba's ability, the appearance of a warrior who could barely fight and had no way to act when dying, so I got rid of the Hunter who was clinging to me, "Help me," I was kicking away the Obstacle.

But these days, I cannot enjoy this kind of bad taste.

It was truly too annoying and irritating, and most importantly, it was creepy and unavoidable, but the reactions of the three made Alba secretly heave a sigh of relief.

When they saw "this," they were not overwhelmed by fear and despair, but the voices openly expressing the impression of "trouble" were very annoying, yet at the same time reliable.

Alba was once again irritated by his own thoughts, glaring at me.

From the garden of the Residence, I stared at the sky changing from deep red to indigo.

Due to the influence of the Barrier, I could no longer recognize the mansion before my eyes, and I stared at the courage of countless dogs with their heads severed for not even three seconds.

"Ahahaha, if you aren't a slave, you'll be beaten back!"

"Seriously, he survived! Or rather, this is definitely a Parasitic Nen Ability!"

For some reason, Sora and Ging raised a voice that sounded troublesome, and then started laughing.

Rather than laughing in disgust at seeing more Inugami than I had imagined, he was stuck on a simple and strange point.

Both of them were laughing their heads off, attracted not only by Alba but also by their companion Kaito.

"... Hey, are you really okay?"

Not knowing what was so funny to the two people who were laughing out loud, Kaito looked at them and thought, "Are you two parents and children?".

Seeing a group of Inugami shrouding the Residence, the three only felt "trouble" and even felt relieved; unexpectedly, this burst of laughter made them think: "Are you sure you're okay?!?" No wonder.

Kaito also thought "it could be said in another sense," but if he said it out loud, Kaito himself would feel a bit empty, so he scratched his head as if to deceive it and said, "... Yeah, I'm fine."

But once trust is lost, it can never be restored. Or rather, the sound of the two still laughing made Kaito's words less convincing.

Kaito had a headache over the BGM, which made the tension here and the fear of the Inugami erupt.

"I have barely had contact with Undead Nen, but it is vividly embodied in the experience of that laughing girl; it seems that even if you are not a Nen user, you can use Nen Ability to cause harm."

Of course, with this alone, that 'Inugami' would immediately regenerate, so this is just buying time, but if there is one person who can finish it, we have enough time to buy."

It is impossible to annihilate them today, but if we don't act recklessly, we can definitely reduce their numbers. A few days should be enough to annihilate the Inugami."

"... First of all, I doubt whether that woman can really kill 'Deadmind'."

During the break before sunset, Kaito asked, "If we are dealing with 'Deadmind', can't we do anything?", with a blank face.

Sure enough, the laughter had subsided, but this time, Kaito tilted his head to look at the woman who was laughing until she was almost choking, and said, "I think so too..." deeply agreeing in his heart.

Juniper also choked, but because of the disciple's kindness, I decided not to look.

"Although he is a professional rookie, as an amateur, he seems to have been active all along, so why don't you give him a little credit?"

Honestly, Kaito himself was thinking, "That woman, are you okay?" The fact and the look in her eyes seen from the rearview mirror dispelled my anxiety.

I hadn't seen the real thing, but to my surprise, the brightness of the indigo eyes suddenly rose to sky blue, just like the famous "Scarlet Eyes" of the "Kurta Tribe" in the rumors, but that was all.

Originally, Sora's pupil color would not change, and it was related to the death of the deceased. It should be judged that this is just a special constitution like the Kurta Tribe, which should be the only way.

However, Kaito and the truth were naturally connected. Of course, in both cases, Sora himself didn't even ask: "What do you think of those eyes?"

The moment I saw those eyes, those sky-blue eyes, so beautiful that I could understand a part of the hobbies and tastes that were so unorthodox that I wanted to complain, I walked across countless Death Lines. The Hunters were convinced that "these eyes also killed 'Deadmind'".

Those eyes, which had already dragged out signs of "death" far more intense than the Death Lines they had experienced so far, no longer needed reasoning.

Even if I didn't understand the logic, I was convinced that those "eyes" were abnormal.

Of course, Kaito was also interested in the theory of what those "eyes" were and how those eyes outlined the signs of his own "death," and he also wanted to know.

Even Kaito, who didn't have much curiosity about things outside his own field as a Hunter, thought so, so he was curious about all fields. They tried to get information about Sora's "eyes" and "how to 'kill' the dead's thoughts," but the two of them had barely received any news.

Somehow, while talking in the car or resting until the sun went down, basically, if you ask, this woman will say, "Hmm? Are you talking that far?" I feel like he is planning something behind the scenes and it is almost scary, so I thought if I asked him about the "eyes" and the destruction, he might answer, but neither Ging nor Kaito asked.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to ask.

Kaito glanced at Alba, which was also one of the reasons he didn't have time to ask.

"... By the way, how were you hired?"

Facing Kaito's question, Alba looked displeased, but at the same time answered coldly.

"Didn't you hear the story from the boss?"

I was hired just in case my boss saw the ghost of his dead wife. But that's it."

"That's not all."

Kaito immediately denied Alba's answer. "Not just that."

"You and the boss... Atram started signing an exclusive contract because of this, and it coincides with the time it disappeared."

I haven't fully understood your ability, but looking at this, I can say that you are a quite capable person. However, your ability is far from lacking combat ability, and it is not specialized in 'protecting' anything. It is an ability specialized in 'Hidden', with limited uses, right?

With you having this kind of ability, what was the reason you were hired two and a half years ago?"

Sure enough, in terms of the years and connections since becoming a Hunter, Kaito could not beat Ging, and she was Atram's dead wife, possessing the unique manipulation-type ability "Inugami User," which was undoubtedly the key to all this. I got information about a woman named "Kiyohime" from Ging's friend.

But unfortunately, because "Kiyohime" was from Meteor City, it was completely unknown whether "Kiyohime's blood relatives, especially those of the same sex" had a high possibility of becoming the "Inugami's successor."

Instead, Ging's friends were strangely picky and had a strong service spirit, not only about "Kiyohime" but also about the environment around her; Sora reminded people of her best friend's father. Rank.

Thanks to this, the mystery itself deepened, but I was able to identify the suspicious objects and targets.

One of them was about this person named Cornelius Alba.

Just as Kaito said, this man's first contact with Atram was not half a year ago, but two years ago.

It coincided with the time Kiyohime stopped appearing six months before she was supposed to die.

The three of them predicted from Alba's career and the discomfort they felt when entering the Residence that his ability would make a specific space unrecognizable from the outside, or would make people entering a specific space lose their perception. This is not orthodox like Illumi or Shalnark, and it is completely different from Kiyohime's "Inugami"; it is not creating a small number of puppets absolutely loyal to oneself; although the effect is rough, it is effective for an unspecified number of people. It should be called an "Implicit System".

Kaito continued his words, ignoring Alba standing beside him, ignoring Kaito's own remarks and doubts.

"……Kiyohime doesn't seem to be a person skilled at socializing, but it's not as if she had none."

"However, until some time after she passed away and was privately buried, those who knew her more or less did not notice that they hadn't seen Kiyohime for half a year. It was a complete blank. I want to know where Kiyohime was and what she was doing during the six months you were employed."

……Huh, is this a Coincidence?

"Alba, what are you hiding, and who are you hiding?"

Facing Kaito's questioning, Alba didn't even look at the Kaito beside her, smiling as she retorted.

"Does this have anything to do with this case?"

It certainly has a connection.

However, there is no information or evidence to suggest a relationship exists. That is why Alba was hired two and a half years ago, Kaito asked.

To obtain evidence related to this case, I requested them to provide evidence related to this case. After exchanging questions about things like the trial, Kaito gave up early on the Nordic myth Sword, Ravaten.

I knew from the beginning that she wouldn't answer, so I wasn't particularly frustrated. Honestly, I don't want to die knowing what this guy did.

As expected, it wouldn't increase anymore, but seeing the "Inugami" so angry within this Barrier that my skin went numb, I couldn't help but think so.

The "Inugami" itself might mistake itself for a human who committed suicide due to extreme hunger, but the reason the "Inugami User" harbors such "resentment" toward this house is lingering. Because it has already decided that this is terrible.

＊＊＊

"Ah, I laughed, I laughed."

When Kaito was already exhausted, Sora, who was laughing refreshingly, stood up to speak.

By the way, since Ging was still choking, Kaito's headache became worse instead of recovering.

Kaito barely squeezed out professionalism and asked Sora: "Do you want to join the meeting?"

"Yeah. After all, this is definitely a reminder of a dog's death, so according to the agreement, you two should act in the order of taking revenge on the guy coming toward you, my support, and me cleaning up the wreckage. Carved. Not bad."

If you feel this is dangerous, evacuate immediately. The number is higher than expected, but it's not something that can be replenished immediately. Anyway, if the number definitely decreases, it will take time, but it will be more favorable day by day. I won't be unreasonable.

Alba. Therefore, limit the scope of the Barrier to the inside of the Residence, and keep the garden open.

If I walk out of the Barrier, I can see that I will be attacked by the Inugami aiming for it. It would be better to leave the garden alone and suddenly appear here; this will surprise the Inugami and allow for a preemptive strike.

Also, when I retreat, don't be stupid, just put it inside the Barrier. I'm telling you, it's serious to the point that no one but me can do anything about it; with this number, it's impossible for me to annihilate them alone."

Sora reconfirmed the previously decided meeting details regarding their respective actions, and even for Alba, who was told for the first time that this could not be called a shift in strategy, he decided and ordered what she should do himself.

Alba's self-esteem was severely damaged by being ordered by a little girl of only 20 years old, and she didn't even have face, saying: "This is a stupid thing." Calm and objective self-admission that it would eventually kill me, so I held back.

Alba still didn't believe Sora could really do anything to the "Inugami," but she still held onto hope.

If she could really kill the "Inugami," then sending these three people away would lower her interest for a while, but she knew very well that the result would definitely be the same as suicide.

Yes, this is suicide.

Alba knows. Let me never be able to escape again.

Alba has no loyalty to Atram. So, such a high-risk profession, like acting as an escort for a man who is targeted after death, which is usually the worst thing, was long ago abandoned, run away from, and died.

I don't do it because I can no longer escape.

At first, it was just "work."

If she had devoted herself entirely to her business, even if Alba had abandoned Atram and fled, perhaps "she" would not have attacked her.

Since what "she" did and what Alba did were not much different, "she" might not hold a grudge against Alba as an individual if she had devoted herself entirely to the "business."

If he wanted to run away, as long as he didn't hinder "her," the only person "she" wanted to kill, or had to kill, was Atram, so perhaps Alba wasn't on his mind at all.

But Alba became greedy.

It is a Nen Ability that she chose, created, and refined through repeated Training, but her lack of combat ability is Alba's only and greatest complex.

To eliminate that complex, Alba accepted Atram's sweet talk.

I touched "her" anger.

So Alba cannot escape.

I am no longer just a person used by Atram and involved in it.

To "her," Alba is as guilty as Atram, a target of hatred, to the point that no matter what sacrifice is made or everything is lost, she can only kill him.

"……It's okay."

Recognizing once again how dangerous her position was, she suppressed the humiliation of being ordered by a little girl.

What was handed over was a simple metal Ring, the surface densely covered with strange patterns…… "Kamiji" were carved into it.

"That is the 'key' to my Barrier. As long as you have it, you can recognize the Residence and enter and exit with a pass."

"If you lose it, you are responsible for yourself. As expected, I have neither the right nor the obligation to take care of him."

"Okay."

Sora responded lightly to Alba's words, and the three of them each found a Finger suitable for the size of the Ring, or a tighter one, to avoid losing it.

However, the Ring stopped at the first joint of Ging's little Finger.

"……Sorry, is there anything else besides a large size or a Ring?"

"Do you have a Chain?"

Ging made a slightly awkward request, and Sora took a suitable Pendant from the Goo containing Jewels, separated the Chain from the top of the Pendant, and handed only the Chain to Ging.

The fact that Alba said nothing does not mean that it won't work if you don't wear it on your Finger.

"Are you ready? If you don't mind, I'll go back to the Residence."

"Also, please don't use flashy, large-scale attacks. As you expected, my Barrier specializes in Hidden rather than defense, so it doesn't offset attacks itself. The aftermath of the attacks is transmitted directly to the Barrier."

The boss certainly understands and is prepared for some damage to the garden, fences, and mansion, but I think it goes without saying, but if you are professionals, I hope you will keep the damage to a minimum."

After confirming that there was also a Chain hanging on Ging's neck with a Ring hanging on it, Alba warned him, and in the end, there was really no need to say anything.

Alba's judgment was correct. However, Sora, as a useless Destroyer, still responded to Alba's nerves with a soft "Yes, yes" as usual.

"Well, you can wait at the mansion. Well, if you can enter with a free pass, you don't have to watch. It would be fine if you open the garden Barrier as soon as you enter the mansion."

Alba was very annoyed by those instructions that didn't quite count as a unit, but what was even more troublesome was being expected to act as a unit and being told, "You should fight too," and quickly retreating to the mansion.

Moreover, even if only for the sake of the garden, he decided it was not good to shrink the range of the Barrier without reporting it to his employer, so he first took out his Mobile Phone, but at the very moment he took it out, Atram himself arrived.

"Alba, what about those three? The 'Inugami' have always been there... is it really possible to drive away 'Kiyohime' as well?

Do they know anything else... about 'that'?"

Alba felt frustrated by Sora's fault, but Atram could not stand any more irritation, and asked him more arrogantly than usual.

Alba was even more annoyed by that tone than by Sora's words and actions, almost forgetting that the other party was his employer, and replied in a tone that could not hide the thorns and Poison.

"... As far as the 'Inugami' are concerned, I could laugh even when seeing them outside, so I think it should be fine, right?

As for other matters... you seem to know that the six-month interruption before Kiyohime died was my fault. As expected, it seems that no one has been able to imagine anything about 'that'.

Well, it seems that the three of them are in the good category, so I can't imagine they could be very natural. This kind of thing can only be described as a Demon."

Alba's answer made Atram raise his eyebrows in disgust.

And that narrow-minded, timid man with no room to spare had a terrifying smile on his face as he retorted.

"... Yeah. Then, Alba. You speak as if it's someone else's problem, but you are a 'breast' just like me.

A long time ago, you were not just a Hunter I hired, but my 'accomplice'."

The words "I won't let you run away alone" made Alba bite his lip in frustration, accompanied by a colloquial secondary sound.

"It's all your fault, isn't it?!" Alba shook off the Curse in his heart, putting aside everything he had done and was still doing, and Atram's words... reported, "I will shrink the range of the Barrier so that they can fight easily."

In Alba's report, Atram's twisted smile returned to a face of unbearable frustration and unpleasantness. He was certainly dissatisfied with the decision to shrink the Barrier range and turn the garden into a battlefield without consulting his employer. Well, regardless of Atram's personality, this was natural.

However, he knew without thinking that the information Sora sent from Alba was correct, so Atram reluctantly agreed, then turned his back on Alba and tried to return to his room.

The function of Alba's Barrier was to make it impossible for people to identify the existence of the target, and he knew very well that the attack itself could not be stopped, so Atram deliberately observed the work of the three, although he might be surprised. It felt good.

However, the moment Alba reported that the garden had been opened, both Atram and Alba jumped at the roar echoing through the mansion, and both cast their eyes toward the garden.

"Oh! It looks like the injury really penetrated!"

"Old man, what are you doing! Have you heard about Alba!?"

"I mean, Needle-san, did you do it on purpose!?"

Countless dog ghosts with heads, three Hunters making noise, and a garden destroyed in an instant.

Obviously, Alba should have warned Ging more than Sora.

Alba only opened the Barrier in the garden, and when the Inugami flying around outside the mansion noticed the presence of Sora and the others, the Inugami unsurprisingly immediately launched an attack on the three.

Unfortunately, the beasts driven mad by hunger and hatred were not surprised by the sudden appearance of humans. Even the wisdom of those incredible accidents had long since disappeared, and what drove them was a madness that could no longer be described by instinct.

However, whether it was Sora, Jin, or Kaito, they had more expectations of winning the Lottery than the surprise of winning against the Inugami.

The three of them did not live a peaceful life that would allow them to survive in a situation where they could only make the most optimistic Prediction convenient for them without being able to think of other possibilities.

All three of them assumed the worst-case scenario.

So, even if the Inugami attacked immediately, there was nothing to think about, and the three of them moved faster than the Inugami.

"Hahahaha! Feast your eyes!! Dururururu... 4!!"

Kaito used his Nen Ability "Crazy Slots" and spun the slot machine.

As usual, Sora took out an ordinary Ballpoint Pen and got ready.

However, Ging was the earliest, possibly because he was the oldest in terms of age and Hunter history.

"Shotgun!!"

"Eh!?"

He ignored Alba's warning and fired several shots at the Inugami without hesitation, not to mention the beautifully trimmed trees, flower beds, small fountains in the garden, and part of the fence around the mansion. Speed.

It was probably a Nen Bullet that could also be learned in the opposite Emission type, just the basic knowledge of the Emission system, but even so, the power to create a Disaster in an instant like a truck hitting the garden was Ging's power. Nen Ability, which shows his high level as an actor, but at the same time shows his low mental age.

"What's wrong with you, old man!? Do you have eardrums in your ears!?"

"That's a stupid statement, hey! Or rather, what is he doing when he mentions Gon!?"

Sora inadvertently rushed into a destructive activity of high-speed throwing that even he couldn't do.

If anyone knew Sora's personality or what he had done so far, he would say "Don't tell me," but even if a Devil said it, the truth is the truth. Ging did exactly as he was told.

Regardless of whether he understood the situation with Gyasuka, Kaito was somewhat surprised by the noisy and carefree quarrel again.

"... Hey, Kaito. I feel like I'm mixed up with those two idiots, but I don't have time."

However, just as Kaito was dumbfounded, the clown who turned into a rifle said some annoying and unexpected things as usual, not rare at all, but in a tense tone I had never seen before.

It was a strange, hoarse voice, as if he had finally recovered from the state of being too shocked to speak.

I didn't even ask to know why.

I noticed an anomaly.

The Inugami were not coming towards us.

Just as the Barrier was released and they suddenly appeared, they were not caught off guard, and it was impossible for them to be afraid of Ging's attack.

Although it should have been impossible, the Inugami suddenly changed direction and rushed towards the few Inugami attacked by Ging instead of themselves.

All the Inugami, without exception.

Not just Kaito, but Jin and Sora also noticed the abnormal situation, and before they knew it, the quarrel stopped.

Instead, Ging raised his voice: "Pah!"

Kaito also saw the same thing, raised his voice as well, and felt the blood drain from his face.

Even if the Inugami were crazy, they were not worried about their comrades who were also being killed and forced to work, nor were they protecting them.

You could hear the sound of chewing meat, the sound of sipping blood, and the sound of crushing bones.

Not just starving to death, but also dogs buried alive, and food was in front of him but he couldn't reach it. Paddy field.

As Sora said, the Inugami could be hurt by his Nen Ability, but he could not eliminate it like an ordinary Nen Beast. Even if he was hit by Ging's blow, even if half of his head was blown off, he was still moving and slowly recovering.

It is a strange expression to use for ghosts, but the other Inugami were devouring the Inugami that were still alive.

To them, an injured, weakened individual is, according to the laws of nature, neither a weakling in need of protection nor a failure to be abandoned.

It is nothing more than prey.

Unaware that their hunger could never be satisfied forever, an Inugami is a companion... no, they have no concept of companions. It fights other Inugami, devours its kin—kin that may have already been weakened and become "prey"—and finally recognizes their existence, leaving not a drop of blood behind.

This alone is already a terrifying enough scene, but if this were all, neither Ren nor Kaito would raise their voices. This is not what is hair-raising.

Even if nothing is more vivid than this, cannibalism is common in the natural world due to hunger.

The reason I lost blood is because it did not end with just eating.

The Inugami degenerated while devouring its prey.

A strange dog, reminiscent of conjoined twins.

A dog with only one head would grow another, some in the front and back, some on the left and right.

The head-shaped ones were still fine. There were others that were not head-shaped, but rather parts where one dog head and another dog head were partially fused together.

The two were speechless, for the ghosts of dogs that had already died and would not die even if eaten were parasitizing the beast that devoured them, becoming even more deformed, when Sora broke the silence...

"... He is far less than the person I knew. But... well, this is convenient."

The voice behind them made their spines chill and goosebumps rise all over their bodies.

Wrong. It was not a voice.

The chill and the goosebumps were not from that boyish voice before the voice change, but from those few words that seemed happy and relaxed.

I knew it without looking.

Behind them, Sora's eyes had turned into "those eyes" again, the same sign of death, seeming to pull him out more powerfully than at that time.

As if to confirm this, Sora continued.

"You eat yourselves, you reduce your own numbers, it's convenient."

The Inugami that devoured other Inugami and became more deformed not only looked disgusting, but its Aura was also clearly enhanced. By consuming it, it absorbed the individual's Aura and strengthened itself.

The numbers themselves would of course decrease, but even if each one became increasingly troublesome, Sora's leeway would not disappear.

"So, why are you two both dumbfounded? Where did the old man's initial momentum go?"

The only thing that gave her a headache was the "number."

"Do you want to go first?"

Saying playful words, he slipped away between Ren and Kaito.

Holding an ordinary, cheap Ballpoint Pen, without any Aura, he devoured the individual that had been attacked by Ging and threw himself once again into the pack of Inugami that had identified him as prey.

In the azure sky, eyes were hollow.

I went to kill that immortal beast that kept dying.

"... A monster, is it?"

Involuntarily, my impression aligned with that of the clown.

The No. 4 rifle was of little use against the Inugami jumping around in the air attacking, and I wanted to spin the slot again to change weapons, but there was no doubt I would release the weapon once and spin it again; Kaito had no choice but to shoot down the Inugami with the rifle, knowing he would be hit by the Inugami's full-force attack.

Although I couldn't afford to change weapons, I could follow Sora with my eyes.

Rather, if he didn't do that, he might have had the ability to change weapons, but Kaito would rather watch the battle of the woman who said "I would even kill God" than gamble on what might lead to a worse weapon choice.

The first strike was enough; her words were true.

With an ordinary Ballpoint Pen without any Aura, Sora easily dismantled the Inugami, the ghosts, and the thoughts of the dead.

Even the word "dismantle" gave one a sense of incongruity.

Although they were twisted, irregular shapes, if you saw the Inugami cut so smoothly and then fall apart, and Sora wielding the Ballpoint Pen, you would doubt if the structure had been separated into pieces like that from the beginning.

Like the attack from the beginning, the Inugami were still moving after being dismantled by Sora. However, unlike when it was Ging, his movements were too slow, and there seemed to be no regeneration.

After all, the weakened individuals that were injured were preyed upon by other Inugami and disappeared.

However, deformed Inugami with multiple heads or head parts were not born.

Even if Sora ate the dismantled Inugami, the Inugami could not absorb the individual's Aura and could only reduce in number, slowly self-destructing.

"What on earth is this? Although they are beasts and not beasts, and although they are incredibly fierce, they are killing remains that have long since died! A Death God against Nen!?"

Hey, what are you going to do, Kaito? You're old and don't have a man's face. Why don't you add a new 0 to the slot and make me a Ballpoint Pen too?"

"Shut up, I'll have you cut later."

Contrary to Kaito, who was the master, he smashed the Inugami's head with the noisy clown, but his eyes still followed Sora.

Just like the clown said, Sora's movements were not delicate, but Sora was not injured by the Inugami flying in from all directions, but rather annihilated them with a momentum that suggested one person was enough. I can only describe him as a monster.

Even though it should have been a perfect blind spot, even though the escape route should have been completely blocked, Sora could always find a thin, thread-like gap between perfection and perfection to dodge and counterattack.

This alone highlighted this woman's "abnormality" to a hair-raising degree, but the "abnormality" she spoke of was, after all, the change in eye color, a supernatural ability that could not be explained by "just in case."

As she said before, it is impossible for "Deadmind" to be completely ineffective, but this woman, in addition to dismantling it, also threw Jewels at it, or put her fist into a "Hard" state and slammed it; we were also doing restraint.

Because it applies to the common sense of "just in case," I don't know the identity of the supernatural ability that kills all the important Inugami.

"... Needle San. Do you know a little about that 'power' of his? What is it?"

While chasing Sora and shooting Inugami, Kaito asked Needle for advice.

I only heard that Ging didn't like Pariston, so he scoffed at this matter and wanted to intervene, but Kaito knew that Ging didn't like Pariston, so he didn't want to be so aggressive.

That caretaker didn't mind being disturbed, but she was happy.

So, from the beginning, I had already guessed that the real reason I was involved was because of this newcomer, but even though I knew Kaito was more "abnormal" than I imagined, I started to worry.

How much does Ging know about her, and what is he interested in?

Is this interest just "wanting to know"?

I know very well that he is an inhumane bastard, a father who can only be described as a bad father, but I also know very well that he is not the type of person who would give up on someone he shouldn't lose as a person. As someone who respects and admires him more than anyone else, there is no worry or anxiety about what Ging does or wants to do.

If there were one, it would at least be "Please do not disturb me or others."

What worries me is that even Ging must find this "abnormality" unbearable.

That is why Kaito asked Ging...

"Oh!? Kite, what are you saying!?"

"! Jin-san, what are you doing!?"

However, Kaito's question was not only left unanswered, but instead met with a hurried response; when I looked at Ging for the first time since Sora attacked the Inugami, an unexpected scene was unfolding, and I couldn't help but ask.

For some reason, the Inugami were swarming around Ging.

With Ging's desperate voice and Kaito's urgency, Sora also looked at him; for some reason, 60% of the all-out attack was concentrated on Ging, like a swarm of insects around a streetlamp on a main road at night.

"Ahahahaha!

Uncle, that's amazing! Truly, an excellent Hunter is loved by animals!!"

"If I have to count this as an animal, I'd rather be the worst Hunter in this moment, Ging-chuan!!"

Just as Ging said. Even Gon wouldn't do this.

While arguing and hacking at the Inugami, I silently struck down a few Inugami near Jin.

"Seriously, why only target this old man? Actually, did you receive the first strike from the Origin?"

"Stop it! I don't want to know that fact!"

"No, you guys have plenty of room. Stop playing around, get serious."

The clown is not Kaito, but rather the one who relatively calmly threw himself into the exchange between Sora and Jin. He usually doesn't look like Kaito, his master, but sometimes he realizes that he created it himself.

Jin shouted at the clown's attack, "Kaito!!", but Kaito shifted the responsibility straight away, saying, "It wasn't me who said it, it was the clown."

Ging turned to look at Kaito, trying to complain about something to the disciple who shifted the responsibility onto his own ability. Say.

However, this must be due to the habit of not wearing any accessories.

A Ring engraved with Kamiji was handed to him so that he wouldn't be unable to see the Barrier Residence when exiting and wouldn't be rejected by the Barrier. The Chain hanging around his neck, which couldn't be worn on his Finger, appeared as he retreated to the beat, colliding with the Inugami, and the Chain was snapped.

"Hey!?"

Even more so than when he said "Save me!" to Kaito and the others.

At the same time, he reached out his hand; not only the guys who attacked Ging from the beginning, but even the Inugami that had been attacking Kaito and Sora ignored the two of them, and the Inugami formed an army and swarmed over.

Not for Jin.

It was the Ring that Jin reached out to grab.

"!?"

Fortunately, Sora herself could reduce the numbers, and even if the remaining three-digit number of Inugami all swarmed toward the small arena, it would only cause a major Collision.

Most ended in self-destruction, and the Inugami that had been by his side from the start and dodged the Collision fought alone; as Ging shouted, he safely grabbed the Ring.

"Sora!"

Even without being told, Sora and Kaito could understand.

At first glance, this Inugami clearly lacked any intelligence.

If Kiyohime had unknowingly inherited the "Inugami," and Atram Gariasta held a grudge over Kiyohime's death—"I cannot forgive him, I wish I were dead, but I want to kill him"—this would make him unknowingly unleash his ability, and the Inugami would go out of control. If so, then the Inugami should just be earnestly looking for Atram.

This kind of intelligence should not exist.

He couldn't understand why, compared to hanging on Sora's or Kaito's Fingers, it was easier to steal the Ring, which was the key to the Barrier, from the Chain Ging hung around his neck.

Then I could only think of one thing.

This Inugami clearly represented the will of some intelligent person.

"............ In other words—"

Realizing this, Sora picked up the Ballpoint Pen and smiled.

A fierce, cat-like smile appeared on her mouth, as if she had driven the prey into a dead end.

"There is no longer any need to avoid it."

As soon as I finished speaking, I stabbed him.

Perhaps he gave up on stealing the Ring because Jin had already grabbed it, and this time the Inugami attacked the three of them with the same distribution.

Sora did not hesitate to stab a Ballpoint Pen into the Inugami's nose, and just like before, until the pen sank deep into the soft Clay. I didn't.

"■■■■■■■!!"

The Inugami stabbed by Sora with the Ballpoint Pen let out a death roar that was hard to distinguish, whether it was pain, resentment, or fear, and his form collapsed and disappeared.

To be honest, Sora was so invincible that I don't know if she still remembered her words, "If you kill the Inugami, you will also die in the chain reaction, so if the other party doesn't know, I don't want to do that." This strike, Jin and Kaito realized that they hadn't done it was appropriate.

If the ban on using "points" instead of "lines" were lifted, it would trigger Sora's unparalleled power, which was already enough for Sora.

Sora, who killed all the Inugami in one hit, was even more suited to the titles of "monster" and "Death God" than before, and even laughed at herself, wondering if they really needed them this time. Ging and Kaito had roles.

"Tch! It's endless... Uncle! Kaito! Please attract the Inugami a little and give me some time!!"

Annihilating the Inugami one after another, Sora, who was just like an assembly line operation, clicked her tongue, jumped away, turned behind Ging and Kaito, and said:

"One hit to decide."

For a moment, I didn't understand what he meant. Killing the Inugami in one hit.

When I thought I was used to the fear being revived, I understood the meaning.

A chill slid down my spine, and goosebumps all over my body were telling me to run away.

Survival instinct understood by screaming and demanding to escape this place.

That Sora was not yet serious.

Concentrating Aura on the eyes to increase the precision of the "eyes."

From the bright sky blue, the brightness rose further, presenting a beautiful blue that seemed not to belong to this world.

And the azure, the sky, the void dragged out "death."

The fear of being dragged out by the existence of death is so primal that even a beast that has lost its reason will remember it.

The Inugami and the others stopped their movements for the first time, both afraid and confused.

However, there are also those who do not allow it.

"... Rose... kill!!"

"It," which views Sora as the most troublesome "enemy," even overcame the most primal fear and desire of the deterrence level, and ordered the Inugami.

"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!!"

"!?"

Just as it appeared, a sound like a high-pitched dog bark was forcibly turned into human language.

Perhaps it was in a "Shadow" state from the beginning. It is unknown whether he appeared because he could no longer hold onto his own "Shadow," or for some other reason.

There was a large dog in front of the first Wall that Ging broke.

Like the Inugami, it was not just a head, but a dog the size of a human, with a slender and supple body like a wolfhound, a strange dog with sparse and short fur on its body.

The dog growled and screamed.

"K... fake... come back, come back, come back, come back, come back, come back, come back!"

This beast might possess more rational intelligence than the Inugami, but no matter how you look at it, there is no reason for this beast to communicate, and the Inugami would respond to that cry and attack.

They forgot the fear they had felt until now, mistakenly believing that Sora was the one who destroyed them, drove them mad, killed them, and attacked them for the master they hated most.

But even so, Sora remained unmoved.

"You are the Control Tower!"

Instead, he muttered in a pleasant voice, and then ran.

Ging and Kaito shot down the Inugami that ignored them and tried to attack Sora, punched them, kicked them away, and ran along the path they had cleared, heading straight for the dog commanding the Inugami army.

Even if it wasn't Sora, it was obvious that this strange dog was the key to opening the special control system ability called "Inugami."

Because it was Sora, I knew it immediately.

I was convinced that if I killed that "dog," if I hit that "dog," not only this Inugami, but even those with the ability would die in a chain reaction.

... If I were convinced, "she" would surface in my mind with a faint smile again.

Admittedly, he was taking revenge according to his own will, but this was by no means his original intention; he desperately remembered her under his bloody hands, but even so, Sora would not stop.

The person I want to kill is the client Atram, not the "Inugami User."

I only have sympathy for the "Inugami User," both now and in the past.

Even so, what Sora decided to "kill" was still the severed "Inugami User."

It is a pleasure to dance in the hands of Pariston. I am tired of entertaining that person, but that is fine.

Sora chose to be a toy rather than let his bad taste cause him to destroy the person most important to him.

So it will not waver. Do not hesitate. It did not stop.

"Innocent-!?"

Until you see that "dog" from the front.

I reached the "dog" that seemed to be the Control Tower, and I stopped the Ballpoint Pen I intended to stab it with.

Sora's eyes widened, and Sora's lips trembled as he stared at the "dog."

"... With you..."

Although the Inugami launched a full-scale attack, he still opened a path and came before him, but for some reason, he stopped the attack, paused, and roared: "What are you doing!?"

"Hey!"

However, even the madness of the "dog" would not affect a madman who plays shogi every day to avoid "death."

He used Hatsu to strike his Tongue and then jumped away, kicked the "dog" away, and then Sora shouted.

"Ging! Kite! Retreat! Return to the mansion at once!"

Saying this, she swung her blade at the Inugami that was still attacking her and rushed toward the mansion.

Both of them obediently followed Sora's instructions because there were simply too many things they did not understand. It was clear that the mansion protected by Alba's Barrier was the right place to ask this question and get an answer.

Regardless of the nature of the Inugami or the effect of Alba's Barrier, the physical lock had no meaning, so it was not locked from the beginning, and Sora and the others retreated smoothly and rolled into the mansion.

"!? What happened!? What happened!?"

Atram shouted at the three Hunters who rolled in. Apparently, he was startled by Ging's unreserved attack and the damage caused, so he missed the timing to return to his room and kept watching the three people's work.

However, I was not always stunned and dumbfounded either.

Atram, who is not a Nen user, could not see the Inugami even if he was not in a "Shadow" state, but even so, unlike the previous Hunters, Sora's whole body was torn and covered in blood. Atram had been watching everyone. This time, it was because he had high hopes that he would be able to wipe out these Inugami this time.

Alba was taken aback and muttered: "... Is that woman really a Death God?... She killed an Inugami!?"

So, when Sora and the others rolled in and retreated, "What's wrong!?"

However, Sora acted regardless of these things.

When Atram asked, "What's wrong!?", she had already reached out her hand. As soon as Atram's team ended, Sora grabbed Atram's chest and pulled him to the ground.

"Sticky stuff!!"

"Boss! What are you doing!?"

Atram was suddenly pulled down and mounted; the only thing he could do was groan in the pain of being hit hard on his back, buttocks, and waist.

Ging and Kaito also could not understand Sora's sudden skewed behavior; they just watched with wide, defenseless eyes, partly because they were in the safe zone. Even on the surface, he did not seem to want to help his employer.

Sora ignored the reactions of the three and asked.

"... You... what did you do?"

Asked while being mounted, grabbed by the collar, and strangled by the neck, Atram asked back in anger, humiliation, and fear.

"... What are you talking about?"

I did not know what Sora was saying, nor did I know what he wanted to ask, so I asked him back, but Sora's answer was even harder to understand.

"——It is 'Kiyohime'."

When Sora muttered in a low voice, he fell silent for a moment.

The expression on Atram Gariasta's face became even more curious, but for the others, seeing the army of dog gods and one strange "dog" was enough.

As proof of their understanding, the three of them were speechless, as the blood drained from their faces.

Even though he sensed the three people's strangeness, Atram Gariasta still did not understand the meaning of Sora's words.

Sora no longer had the common sense that he could not resolve because he could not see it.

Even though she understood that this was an unreasonable statement, she still tightened her grip on the culprit who had not yet realized his own sins, making it brighter than the azure sky, possessing the supreme name of the blue sky. Suitable for a certain shade of azure.

"That 'dog', that 'Control Tower' dog, is Kiyohime... your wife is a pervert!!"

Answer me! What... what did you do to her!?

What did you do to her, what did you steal from her, such that after you died, your appearance and manner were altered, such that you had to change!?"

I feel it is not very good to write such things in the postscript when the main story is serious, but if I do not write it, there will be a great misunderstanding, so I will clarify it while resting in the air.

Not only Atram Gariasta, but Alba also does not have the same tendencies as Lord Anchin in the middle of the moon. They are merely accomplices. No warning label has been added.

The reason why Atram Gariasta's wife is neither Medha nor Tamamo, but Kiyohime, is completely different.