Chapter 60: The Life I Love

I hate lies.

"You are my life, you are the happiness of the world.

As long as I have you, I can do anything, and I can endure any pain and suffering."

I believed my mother's words.

But one day, my mother told me to wait here quietly, and she did not return.

I followed my mother's orders and believed her words; even as I waited to die in the middle of a pile of trash, I did not eat or drink.

The friend who took care of me when I was dying told me that my mother was Together with a man in Meteor Town, and when my mother saw me leave, I believed her.

My mother thought she had been kidnapped by bad people.

However, I gradually realized it was different.

Because no one spoke of taking revenge on the person who took my mother away.

Born and raised in Meteor Town, I knew nothing of the common sense or laws of the outside world, but because I was born and raised here, I knew this was Absolute.

"We accept nothing, so do not take anything from us."

That is the Absolute and almost exclusive legal rule here in Meteor Town.

Therefore, if my mother had been forcibly kidnapped and taken away without my will, that man would certainly have become the target of "revenge," but there was no discussion at all, which meant my mother had left me intentionally.

I was hurt. I was sad.

But I was helpless.

From that moment on, I hated lies.

At the same time, I got what I wanted.

Until I learned that my mother had lied to me and abandoned me, until I lost my mother in the true sense of the word."

I just wanted a family.

+++

I knew nothing.

I did not know why my mother had drifted from the distant country of Japan to this Meteor Town, nor did I know that my mother and I were descendants of a terrifying family.

Do you know about 10 years after your mother passed away?

My mother might have still been alive at that time.

I killed a person.

More accurately, the "Inugami" inherited from my mother devoured and killed the man who had just arrived in Meteor Town.

Many people who had not been here long misunderstood that this was a lawless place with no rules, and I thought, "I'm going to do it," and the flesh on the hands of those who touched my body was dug out.

They couldn't see it, but I could see it clearly.

Those who attacked me were clearly devoured alive by the wild beast floating at my neck.

A nightmare would be a better sight, but it was not scary.

Because at that time I could only vaguely see this beast, but my mother and I had already seen it several times.

... I am a descendant of a family that inherited a rather special Nen Ability called "Inugami" through the female line.

Perhaps because of this, my mother left normal human society and came to Meteor Town.

At the same time, this was also the reason I was expelled from Meteor Town, no matter what I gave up, Meteor Town should accept me.

"We accept nothing, so do not take anything from us."

This is the only and Absolute rule, so of course I was no exception.

Just as revenge is taken for improper harm done to residents of Meteor Town by outsiders, unfairly stealing "things" from within is a felony.

However, I was about to be attacked, I was the first to be unfairly subjected to Robbery, and I did not kill him on purpose; I might not have known, because thanks to my mother, I was able to understand that the Nen Ability I inherited was like an out-of-control accident, so my punishment was exile instead of death.

I cannot thank my friends for this.

At that time, I didn't even know what a Nen Ability was, and the Elder asked me how many times I had killed him, but I couldn't answer.

Thanks to the defense of my friends, I was spared from execution, but no matter how unfairly they committed Robbery, what I did was excessive defense, taking their lives. Because I didn't, I was exiled from Meteor City.

Perhaps the reason I was exiled was not just because I committed a crime, but because my "Inugami" possessed such a vicious ability that it could respond to my slight murderous intent and attack and kill someone. That's right.

The Elder said.

"If one day your power goes out of control and hurts people here, then this time you will have to be executed.

In order not to do that, in order not to do that, get out.

I don't think all of the Elder's words were lies.

But I knew that was not what was truly meant.

Because the look in the eyes of the Elder who said this was the same as the look in the eyes of the person I killed when he was begging for his life while being attacked by the Inugami.

I also hate lies.

+++

Having been born and raised in Meteor Town, I had no choice but to live outside Meteor Town.

No, I had a few choices.

At the same time I was exiled, my friends also left Meteor Town.

Unlike me, they were greedy people who wanted many things, whether good or bad, so they went out and became full-fledged "thieves," just as I said before. Yes.

My friend also invited me to come with him.

He told me not to go out alone.

I was the one who refused.

I was happy to invite my friend.

Machi and Pakunoda were among the few female friends of similar age there, and I haven't seen them since then, but I still consider them my best friends.

Franklin always listens to my foolish concerns and gives me all kinds of Suggestion; he is my most reliable person, just like an older brother.

I really don't remember talking to Feitan, but when he saw me Together with a newcomer, he helped me.... Perhaps this was just part of his hobby; I don't think he intended to help me.

Ubo and Nobunaga are very violent and made me cry several times, but I like them because they never lie.

I don't really like Phinks because he often tells stupid lies, but when I get angry, he is straightforward and apologizes properly, so I don't know why I dislike him.

On the other hand, Shalnark has always been kind to me; although he never tells me lies that hurt me, I don't hate him, but I don't like him either.

Thank you very much, Chrollo.

He is a person who understands more than I do; I clumsily explained what the "Inugami" ability that I didn't quite understand was, and explained this to an elder.

No wonder his friends chose him as their leader. I think there is no one else but him.

... But I did not join them.

Unlike them, I only want one thing, and that "what I want" is incompatible with their "Spider" way of thinking.

The "family" I seek is a unity that protects and guards one another for each other's sake.

Their "Spider" might be the same in a sense, but for the existence of the "Spider," they have established an Absolute rule: not only to cut off their limbs, but also to cut off their head.

This alone is unacceptable to me.

Because my friends are important to me, I can see that if one of them were gone, I would rather kill a "Spider" existence... that is the reason I left them.

I cannot accept it, but I do not want to deny what they want to protect, even at the cost of sacrificing themselves.

So, if I want to respect them, the "Spider," in my own way, I have no choice but to leave them and not participate.

... Well, I probably wouldn't have become one of them anyway.

I am grateful to Chrollo, but he is not the best among my friends, and he lies as easily as breathing, so if I were Together with him, sooner or later I would become a victim of my Inugami.

+++

It is strange that I have managed to survive from being banished from Meteor City to meeting "him."

I have no lifestyle to choose, or rather, I have nothing, but I refused my friend's invitation and refused the lifestyle that suited me best—the rice fields.

I do not want to live with an "Inugami."

I am well aware that this is just my foolish stubbornness.

Nevertheless, I still hate it.

I want a "family."

That is why I do not want that "family" to think of me as a "murderer."

With this in mind, I continue to reject the existence of the "Inugami."

However, my wish was not fulfilled from the beginning.

Of course. First of all, the reason I was banished from Meteor City was because I killed my own kin, even though I was a newcomer to the Inugami.

It was not acquired through proper Training, nor was it innate; it was automatically inherited, but it is difficult to control because it is a very special Manipulation System ability called Heart of the Dead, and it is not rare. It makes me attack a target in response to my pettiness or dissatisfaction, and that person will die.

So there is no one around me.

Those who would become my "family" always leave me, either because they fear my Inugami, or because they are attacked by the Inugami due to my anger.

When I was tired of the reality that the Inugami always eats the smallest buds of happiness in me, I met him.

"I want to have a child with you. I want a cute girl who looks just like you."

When I finally met someone who said this, tears of joy overflowed incessantly.

That person, who knew the danger of my Inugami, still stayed by my side.

The one who told me, "If you react to my anger and dissatisfaction, you will make me happy forever."

He is the one who said he would give me a "family," so I accepted his Atram proposal.

I am exhausted.

I am conceited.

My eyes are clouded.

I hate lies and am good at Discovery of lies, so I am conceited.

I am tired of a lifestyle where I am bound by my own stubbornness and unable to move, so I just grabbed the chance to give up that lifestyle.

I did not notice.

I did not understand the true meaning of Atram's words, and I was involved as a "murderer" who served as the final layer of protection.

... And continued to kill those he said were in the way.

I felt no guilt.

At that time, the world was only me and him.

After that, I only felt it was a pest that interfered with his and my happiness, or a background that added color to our happiness.

I was deceived by my mother, abandoned by my mother, and hated my mother.

Too stupid and too ugly, I am a "woman" myself.

I am too stupid.

He certainly did not say "lies" or anything like that. I really wanted a child to be Together with me, my daughter.

I did not expect that what he wanted was not my daughter, a "person," but an "Inugami," a "tool" for killing.

+++

I was a fool.

I did not notice anything.

After learning I was pregnant, I was not allowed to leave the mansion and was only allowed to have contact with very few people; the Barrier created by the man with the ability... I accepted Atram's futile words, "Everything is for you and your unborn child."

Even after I gave birth to the child, I still did not realize it.

Believing the midwife's words, "If you take this, the delivery will be easier," I took a suspicious drug. I desperately needed a child, so it wasn't Poison; it was probably a sleeping pill or something.

Just after taking the medicine, my consciousness blurred, and I found myself looking down at my own corpse and my newborn daughter.

Perhaps it was because I didn't remember giving birth, or perhaps it was because I was the daughter of a mother whose child was a frog, but even as I looked at my own daughter, I didn't feel she was particularly cute.

Not only that, I couldn't help but feel sad and miserable for my death; my husband was right beside me, but he didn't notice me.

Even though I desperately wanted a "family," I didn't care about the blood relation of my child. None at all.

Atram Gariasta couldn't even be bothered to see his "daughter," let alone touch the child of his own he had wanted so much.

I didn't realize you hadn't even given me a name.

It took over a year to notice.

While I was pregnant, a man who covered the Residence with a strange Barrier came and told Atram that his daughter had been born a year ago, so Atram became more interested in his daughter.

During their conversation, I learned of Atram's true purpose.

Atram viewed me as a tool to get rid of those who stood in his way, and I learned that "Inugami" is a special Nen Ability forcibly inherited through the female bloodline, while that Barrier user's bloodline is of the Manipulation system. As far as I know, they had formed a cooperative relationship so they could deal with their daughter, the Inugami, more easily.

... Even knowing this, I couldn't be angry for my daughter's sake.

I couldn't think of anything except revenge for the betrayal against me, setting aside my shallow stupidity.

In the end, I turned my target for revenge toward my daughter, rather than Atram or Alba.

I don't hate my daughter. My interest in my daughter is zero.

It was nothing more than thinking of a silly child, wanting to destroy what he cherished most, and making Atram feel sad for him.

I was never a mother.

I think I was a Hannya at the time, to the point that I felt the Rakshasa, who was neither human nor ghost, was more merciful.

Thanks to my daughter, I was able to become a "mom."

It seems my daughter can see me.

My daughter is looking at me... and she smiled.

Just as Atram wanted her daughter as a tool, to me, my daughter was nothing more than a tool to win my husband's love.

... The first reason I married Atram was "because he wanted a child, a family, a daughter," but I didn't realize that before I knew it, the priorities had been reversed.

When my daughter saw that I, this Demon called "woman," wanted to kill me as if she were going to destroy everything, she smiled, very happily.

There were no lies in that smile.

When I saw that smile, that pure smile, it made me realize that the smile Atram gave me was a shallow, ugly smile.

The family and truth I had been searching for.

My life. My world. My own happiness.

I love you, I want to protect you, I love you, I want to protect you, I want to protect you, I want to protect you, I want to protect you, I want to protect you, I want to protect you............

This is the reason I decided.

For that silly "woman" who treated me as "mom," the girl who gave me what I wanted, I decided to protect her, even if it meant throwing everything away. Yes.

+++

I made a mistake.

If the mother dies, the Inugami is automatically inherited by the daughter, and the daughter is already the "Inugami."

So it is no surprise that the "Inugami" could go out of control at any moment over some small matter, but Atram must have been well aware of the risks.

The reason I didn't get involved with my daughter was because I couldn't become her target. After many years, I finally knew.

In a sense, literally, I made the wrong decision, the wrong choice, because I knew I was a parasol-nanny girl raised with care.

What I should have done was get her away from Atram and Alba as soon as possible.

But I had anticipated it.

Even I, who am an ugly Demon myself, could become a mother, because the Demon was purified by my daughter's smile.

Because "Inugami" is of the Manipulation system, I had been practicing the Manipulation system ever since I became an "Inugami User," but my original bloodline was of the Incarnation System, which is closer to the Transmutation System.

So, I spent half a year becoming the power of the spirit of the dead, but I utilized my original system, the Incarnation System and Transmutation System; first, my body became Aura itself. "Dog" and became part of my daughter's ability as "Inugami."

By becoming part of her power, I was able to further improve my strength, because she provided me with Aura, allowing me to change my appearance from dog to human at will.

Just like that, I became part of my daughter's ability, controlled the Inugami, and appeared before Atram in human form to warn him.

My daughter cannot use the Inugami. I took over ruling instead.

If you give my daughter a normal person's life, I will do nothing. If it is for my daughter, I can kill again with the Inugami.

But if you treat my daughter as a tool again, I will become the Inugami and destroy this house.

... Perhaps, if she had appeared in dog form at this time, Atram would have been scared into submission, and her daughter might have been released.

I haven't become a mother yet. I am still a foolish woman attached to Atram.

My pride was a big mistake.

Atram would not listen to my Suggestion, and Alba's ability would drive me out of the mansion; this was within my expectations.

If you don't listen to my Suggestion, I will say it simply and clearly.

Those who knew how to treat their daughter but did nothing, those who wanted to use her as soon as possible but were angered by the fact that she couldn't be used and called her "useless," and the difference in treatment compared to an "Inugami User" when she grew up. I used them as an example, when they reluctantly laughed and said this also had its uses.

His purpose, the Inugami, is still mine.

I showed them what would happen if they didn't listen to my Suggestion.

I was being silly, I made a mistake.

Impossible, impossible... no matter how much I thought my daughter was nothing more than a tool, that guy..., even though she is his own daughter, toward a daughter who shares his blood, toward that one who is only a year and a half old, that guy is that guy aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Because I became part of the ability named "Inugami" and received Aura from my daughter, even if I don't like it, I know what kind of things my daughter and those heretics, those who are lower than Devils, are going through. Yes.

Because of my mistake, I was driven out of the Residence, dragging all the Inugami with me, so as long as those heretics lock themselves in the Residence, I cannot kill them. I cannot help my daughter.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Because I was stupid, because I put my meaningless pride first, because I had no eyes to see, because I didn't take you and run away immediately, I might as well have been killed.

No, that child should have died long ago.

I, who became a part of her Nen Ability, instead gave her an aura that allowed the child to survive.

I am the one who most terribly prolonged her suffering.

I am sorry. But I want you to live.

I want you to live, to live and be happy.

I will definitely help you... I will definitely protect you... So, please. Wait a little longer.

... Because I provided aura to that child, and because that child's hatred and murderous intent grew day by day, the Inugami became increasingly ferocious.

I can no longer return to my human form. In a place like this, I have no room to maneuver to clear the memories of my Nen Ability.

Unless you become the dog itself, you cannot control the Inugami.

... But I cannot completely abandon being human.

I mean, without human arms, I cannot embrace that girl.

After all, without a human voice, I cannot even sing a lullaby to her.

For that child, I can throw away anything; although I don't mind throwing things away, there are many things I want to do for her, and I cannot let go. I cannot throw it away.

But no.

I can no longer afford it.

I must choose. You must choose what you want to throw away, and choose only what you want to protect.

Okay. I know.

I know what I want to protect, what I must protect, and what I cannot lose. I know. I know...

... But it is strange.

Although I have no regrets, what I wanted to protect was just the one thing I wanted to keep; I should have abandoned everything just to protect that... I am that child. I can't remember your smile anymore.

She must be my most precious treasure, the one who made me a "mother"...

What should you do... I wonder...

That is all... in order to protect... I threw it away... I am coming...

Recently, recently... I don't know what I am doing... I am going to...

I must kill you... I cannot do anything... I know... but...

... I... why... I must... kill them... I cannot...

... I...

... doing what...

... What did you do?

"This is 'Death'."

If Sora stuck a Ballpoint Pen into a glass, he knew he had received a lot of resentment from all sorts of people. Shatter.

The common sense of physical laws lost to the Death God, who showed a madness for Nen Ability as usual.

"No..."

Alba despaired, letting her blood turn so pale that she doubted whether there was blood in her brain.

The Barrier set up around the Residence was wiped away by a single blow from Sora.

Just as Sora said, he died.

Alba's ability to "disturb human perception within a certain range" is extremely weak compared to normal Manipulation abilities, so unless Alba herself receives some kind of treatment, it is almost impossible to cancel.

Orthodox Manipulation systems use their own beloved items when manipulating people or objects; although they have the weakness of ending if destroyed, Alba's ability basically does not use matter as a medium.

His own aura has a suggestive effect that distorts the perception of others, so the simplest way to use his power is to use Alba's aura to Wrap everything he wants to keep Hidden, but of course, it is impossible for a human, not just Alba, to have enough aura to Wrap the entire interior of this Residence.

Therefore, instead of filling the entire Residence with his own aura, Alba drew his aura in the Residence as a "boundary line" and wrapped it in a dome shape to suppress the consumption of aura.

Even so, the range is wide, and I didn't have time to unlock it, so I used "Kamiji" to assist my ability, but those Kamiji are of course hidden all over the Residence, and it's not just that erasing one character cancels it; of course, even if one character is erased, Alba would be the first to notice the insurance.

The insurance did not react.

Even if the Kamiji were not erased, I am still alive and completely satisfied, but it was erased.

Although it was the intention of the deceased, I still firmly believed that I could kill the Inugami.

The key to Nen Ability is belief, self-suggestion, and willpower.

That was a very ferocious existence, but it could still be recognized as "alive." It is natural to think that if you are "alive," you can "kill."

However, Alba's ability is a thin haze; furthermore, even if the haze is visible due to the influence of the ability, it is troublesome because it is impossible to ignore it as unnatural.

Alba's ability to interfere with the target's consciousness without a clear form is no longer a "Nen" in itself, but Sora's immortal aura eyes captured the clear "Death," the killing.

... The Barrier covering the Residence disappeared, and Kiyohime and the Inugami barked wildly.

I don't know if it was a cry of joy or a cry of extreme hatred.

However, neither the hungry beast nor the mother who is no longer human would miss this opportunity.

The Inugami did not attack immediately.

No, the moment the Barrier disappeared, the Inugami drooled and tried to attack us, but faced with the barking of Kiyohime, who served as the command tower, he continued to float obediently in the air, "waiting," even though he looked like he hated it.

However, the "waiting" did not last long.

Kiyohime herself probably didn't know why she was making the Inugami wait.

... He himself is the one who does not understand that he stopped the Inugami from checking if the daughter was present.

Having forgotten her purpose and about to lose her purpose, Kiyohime could not stop, raising her voice, which sounded like a human scream or a dog's howl.

With Kiyohime's barking, the aura of the Inugami and her was further amplified, and at the same time, Atram Gariasta let out a twitching scream: "Hey!?"

Although he is not a Nen user, the aura of the Inugami and Kiyohime, which was amplified to the point of being visible and completely changed, made the spines of Needle and Kaito freeze, not to mention "Ren."

Seeing Kiyohime in such a state, it was meaningless to stop her, not to mention reckless, so Sora clicked his tongue.

"Idiot!!"

Kiyohime was trying to use her remaining Aura to do something that wasn't even revenge. She spat it out.

"Ko... rose!! Kill, kill, kill, kill!!"

"Ging! Kite! Please!"

Just as Inugami and the others finally said "ok" and jumped into the mansion, Sora kicked open the glass door blocking the way; not just the glass, but the door frame too, and shouted.

"Wait a second! Don't be stupid!!"

"You should listen to what I have to say, think of a strategy, and then act!!"

Although Needle and Kaito were quite surprised by the sudden outburst of anger from Sora after breaking through the Barrier, they understood even without asking what her "request" was.

In a straight line, although Sora was closer to her, Kaito and Ging continued to intercept the Inugami who were ignoring the three of them, heading toward Atram Gariasta as before.

I have no intention of protecting Atram Gariasta.

However, at least for now, I cannot let this person die.

Having lost her purpose, Kiyohime had even lost the will to kill Atram, and she did not know where her madness would go, so I was just buying time to stop her.

Yes, what the two of them were doing was nothing more than buying time.

Although he was complaining, he did not doubt anything, so even when facing a post-mortem opponent whose Aura had been amplified so much, he had no fear and did not lose his composure.

We knew that all we had to do was buy a little time until Kiyohime "stopped," so I believed we could do it.

I completely trusted that Sora would stop Kiyohime, so I had no hesitation or doubt.

Inugami and the others passed by Sora, and Sora rushed out of the glass door and jumped out.

Sora and the others were already out of sight, and she herself bent her twisted dog-like body and jumped into the mansion.

Dedicated to the enemy I hate and hate, the enemy I must kill no matter what I lose or what I sacrifice.

Why I hate Atram Gariasta so much, why I want to kill him, I don't know why.

The crazed Kiyohime, who had become murderous, only wanted to bite through the throat of her mortal enemy; she had forgotten that she was her husband.

"Don't ignore me. It's boring."

Except for Atram, no one could recognize it.

Until I realized that as I tried to jump into the mansion, my hind legs were grabbed.

"Aura!!"

Passing by, Sora immediately grabbed Kiyohime's leg, then swung both arms to slam Kiyohime to the ground.

Was this a physical story of stopping? Kaito and Needle, who had been watching him inadvertently, were pulled into the distance.

As soon as Sora let go, Kiyohime's beautiful face, which had already turned into a beast's, twisted with hatred, too flat, too half-baked, and she jumped up.

Even in a nightmare environment where Transmutation humanoids attacked with dog-like behavior, Sora's constantly accelerating thoughts never stopped.

Sora was a senior between Kiyohime and Sora, even if they were the same kind of "madman."

If this level of fear made her flinch, she would have died long ago, and this was a relief.

I protected with my arms to prevent Kiyohime from jumping at my throat and trying to bite me.

Of course, his arms were guarded by an Aura, but Kiyohime's hatred penetrated that armor and devoured him.

However, Sora was bitten on his own arm, flesh was gouged out, and blood gushed out, but he did not stop.

The moment Kiyohime bit his arm, he did not pull his arm back, but pushed it in, slamming it heavily onto the ground again.

Due to the structure of a beast's teeth, pulling back after being eaten is a bad move. If you do that, the flesh of the bitten part will be torn off and gouged out by the beast.

Therefore, pushing in as it is and counterattacking is correct, but because Kiyohime's teeth were closer to human teeth compared to a net beast, the wound was not like being pierced by a knife; although it should have been more painful, Sora still suppressed that pain to the edge of his head, as if to postpone it.

While pushing down Kiyohime, who was biting into his arm, and pushing her into his own arm, it instead turned into a blocked state.

Because her mouth was blocked, she could not give orders to the Inugami with barking or words; the Inugami ignored their Control Tower and were single-mindedly aiming for Atram Gariasta, being knocked down by Ging and Kaito.

Kiyohime glared at Sora, who had been hindering her, and bit Sora's arm hard in retaliation, but Sora's expression did not change.

Sora had a pitiful look on his face, leaning over Kiyohime just like he did at Atram's, and looked down with azure eyes, saying.

"Are you stupid?"

Pointing out Kiyohime's "mistake."

"How meaningless are you exactly?

Do you understand? Killing them won't stop it. Even if you kill them, as long as there is an Inugami, your clan will continue to be Cursed."

Kiyohime's suppressed eyes trembled for a moment.

A faint light of reason flickered in his eyes, filled with hatred and bloodshot.

"Even if you kill them, it won't end; why are you coming to clean up the trash now? You're trying to run out of your life Aura!"

Still! Still alive! Don't forget putting the cart before the horse!

Remember! Keep your spirits up, pretend you're still sane!!"

If you are a parent, live well and be a role model for your child!!"

Proportional to the length of Sora's speech, the strength of the chin clinging to Sora's arm also increased.

At the same time, the light of reason living in Kiyohime's eyes grew stronger.

The fact that she directed her hatred and bloodlust at Sora did not change, but instead of completely eliminating the madness of why she hated and why she wanted to kill him, there was a sense of logic as a human living there.

Eyes speak, rather than a blocked mouth.

"What do you know!?"

"What can you do!?"

Kiyohime's madness was not only the torture of knowing her daughter was still alive but being unable to help herself, but also the realization that neither she nor her daughter had a future, and it was also an escape from reality.

Even if I were to liberate my daughter from Atram, no matter how I controlled the Inugami instead of my daughter, I knew I would reach my limit someday.

That "limit" would be completely absorbed by the Inugami's system, losing the self, but if he were easier to control the Inugami, Kiyohime would not want it. Normal.

If something went wrong, Kiyohime would be swallowed by the Inugami's hunger and hatred, and she would truly become an "Inugami" herself.

In any case, Kiyohime's daughter, like Kiyohime, her mother, and the women of her clan, must eventually sever the "Inugami," with nowhere else to go. I know I will be robbed, and the end will be unfortunate.

When this "Curse" was pointed out to Kiyohime, even though she knew it, she could not separate it and could only use it in some way; Kiyohime was tearful, glaring at Sora.

Looking down at Kiyohime, who was crying at Sora with her eyes and cursing, Sora spoke in a very low voice compared to the swordsmanship just now.

"Kiyohime. Good, look."

I ordered quietly, then acted quickly.

I grabbed the Transmutation nose and upper jaw like Kiyohime's dog, pried it open, and liberated the bitten arm.

Fresh blood spilled from the weird wound that had been gouged out like minced meat, but Sora ignored it, got off Kiyohime, and grabbed it without hesitation and ran.

I grabbed a particularly large piece of glass from the kicked-in glass door.

Sora held the fragment without hesitation, as if perceiving the fresh blood overflowing from the palm of the arm bitten by Kiyohime, jumped into the mansion, and ran past.

Neither Ren, nor Kaito who was attacking the Inugami, nor Atram who had lost his self-esteem and was crouching down to beg for his life, appeared in his eyes anymore.

That eye caught

The eye connected to that "" only captured a "Death Line."

"Don't run!!"

While you shout, cut it off with a flash.

An empty space in the corridor.

There should have been nothing, no one, everyone believed, and unknowingly it disappeared from the edge of consciousness, wrapping it, the thing hiding it, torn to shreds, cut off, killed. Exposed.

"What!?"

A man wearing a gorgeous red coat and a top hat suddenly appeared in the corridor.

No, no. We all know he was here from the beginning.

Everyone could see it at first, but could only recognize it as a small stone on the road.

After Sora destroyed the Barrier of the mansion, Alba finally realized that she had used her Nen Ability on herself.

Alba tried to force Atram and Sora and the others to escape, but her awareness of her own existence was weakened to the point of disappearing from anyone's consciousness and Kiyohime's hatred. Technique.

Of course, Sora also forgot about Alba's existence. I don't remember his name, or even the fact that Atram had an accomplice, until Alba appeared after crossing space, I really didn't know what I had cut out.

However, even if she could no longer recognize Alba's existence, Sora's eyes had reached the highest precision and could clearly see "what Alba was hiding."

The thing hidden in that "something" was trying to escape, and the "Death Line" of the hidden thing.

So I cut it off.

Even if I don't know what it is exactly, I don't like the fact that it's trying to escape now, but more importantly, I want to show it off.

So Sora ignored Alba, who was kneeling powerlessly as if fear and despair had bottomed out, turned to face Kiyohime, and shouted.

"Did you see that? Kiyohime!!"

The Inugami ignored Sora's shouting and walked toward the defenseless Alba, but Kiyohime let out a loud cry.

Accompanied by Kiyohime's barking, the Inugami and the others stopped attacking, while glaring at Kiyohime with eyes even more resentful than before.

Not only at Alba, but also at Atram.

The Inugami's killing intent was still fierce, but the hatred and killing intent surging from Kiyohime had basically subsided.

Unknowingly, Kiyohime stood up to face Sora, somewhat dumbfounded.

Ignoring Kiyohime's appearance, Sora continued to speak.

"You seem a little cold.

Have you seen it? Where I killed your Inugami!

The Inugami is not the only one! I can kill Alba's Nen Ability, approach Alba's concept, without substance!

Do you know what this means!?"

Kiyohime's eyes widened.

There was no longer any broken madness in his eyes.

The azure eyes conveyed the light of reason as a human and the light of hope as a mother.

"I will break your 'Inugami' Curse."

Kiyohime's hope, her earnest wish, she wanted to realize it, even if she had to give up everything or lose it.

"It would be difficult if it were an ability I created myself, but the 'Inugami' is an ability inherited after birth.

If I 'kill' them with my own eyes, they are very likely to die in a chain reaction, but judging from the melee in the garden just now, this seems unlikely, and even if it happens, let's add a halo to the Inugami later, if the supply Ryu is connected, it can be cut off.

If I cut off that level, if I 'kill' him with my eyes, then no one will inherit the Inugami again.

... The Curse can stop here."

Kiyohime told her that no matter what, she could give her the "future" she wanted to give her daughter.

"... Really?"

Although he retained a human appearance, he had changed from a skeleton and should have almost been unable to speak human words.

"... Book, this you... Inugami... Kono... Curse Iga... solve... isn't it?

ano... child ha... normal not... girl no girl 2... nareru... no?"

"I can become."

Kiyohime's earnest wish and Sora's crazy wish were immediately responded to.

"But, if you are attracted by the Inugami's ability, you might die with the Inugami."

In exchange for the hope of giving her daughter a "future," Kiyohime also told him that he would lose his "future."

If I am killed by Sora's eyes, then I will have to give up the afterlife such as Heaven and Hell, as well as the future of reincarnation.

These eyes are the Blue of the End, which will kill the dead, concepts, and even living gods.

Because it was the eyes that plunged into "", and that is the beginning and end of everything.

Kiyohime, knowing this, answered.

"Rock."

Like Sora, she reacted quickly.

"I'm sorry. Angel. I am that person of the future.

Konnai demo, mada sachi se ni nareru no nara... sono sachi se wa, all of that for that child ni ageru.

... Dakara, I hope..."

Kiyohime no longer sees Atram or Alba.

It doesn't matter; the two of them are so suffocated by the bloodlust and fear of the Inugami that they don't even have the strength to run away.

I cannot lose it; I gave up everything just for this, but if I can give you something I had to give up, I will not forget it again.

Finally, Kiyohime remembered.

What do you want to do?

What must I do?

"That child... save me..."

"Okay."

+++

"Alright," the child said.

When he said that and smiled, I finally remembered.

I remember my daughter's smile.

The memories returned so vividly, so vividly that I don't know why I forgot them, while tears and shameless wishes overflowed and overflowed.

Ah, I want to see you as soon as possible. Want to see. Want to see.

I believe she won't smile at me again, but if she is still alive, if she can help me, I believe she will be fine.

Even if he doesn't turn to me, I believe he can smile normally.

I thought, if the person who smiled and said "save me" is similar to that girl, I will definitely be fine.

I swear everything will be alright.

"Kiyohime, where is your 'daughter'?"

When the girl said she would help her, I turned around to show her around.

Okay. My daughter must be in this mansion.

I am a member of the "Inugami," and because of Alba, I don't know the specific location, but if I can be rough, I can understand correctly.

However, it seems Alba set up a Barrier in the room where her daughter is locked in the mansion, and I cannot see it.

"Hey! Is there still a Barrier?! Hey, Kaito! Bring that red bull!"

"No need."

I stammered, the stubble clicked his tongue and pointed at the long hair, but the white-haired girl narrowed her eyes slightly and looked around the Wall like Alba. Empty-handed.

Immediately after, the stairs leading to the basement appeared before us.

No, it didn't suddenly appear, but I remembered there were stairs leading to the wine cellar here.

Ah... that child is trapped in such a cold and gloomy place.

No matter how hard I try, the regret and repentance that are not enough make my heart, which shouldn't exist, ache so much, but I know very well that I have no time to pay attention to such pain.

So I ran down.

I know it is impolite to rush down alone leaving the person I asked for help, but I cannot worry about that.

Running down the stairs, passing through the Hard sealed door with the advantage of a Ghost, to find your daughter.

No, I don't have to look.

The basement was supposed to be a wine cellar, but there was no wine or shelves; I remember it was filled with wine racks and aged wines that were worthless to me.

This place is entirely a "testing ground" for those heretics, an Altar imitating my damned clansmen.

"Ah... ah... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

The joy of finally seeing her disappeared at this moment.

I am not worthy of the joy of seeing my daughter again.

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

I know this child wants to be killed, he wants to die.

I can never forgive those heretics who made my two-year-old child suffer so much, but what I cannot forgive even more is myself.

I'm sorry I couldn't come to help you.

Sorry, I just made the wrong choice.

I know you are in so much pain that you wish you were dead, but even if I help you, I have no confidence in giving you a "future."

Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry............

"!?"

"... This is..."

"... Even the heretics are lukewarm."

Before I knew it, the three people behind me were speechless.

Although all I could do was apologize to my daughter, I still broke in to see her.

And they probably also understood what those two were actually doing in their daughter's current situation, and what they were actually trying to do to their own daughter.

... The daughter's limbs, thin and weak like a withered tree, were moving desperately, crawling as she asked.

It was very pitiful; rotten food was placed in front of me like dog food.

But even though my daughter crawled desperately to the point where her fingernails would crack, neither her mouth nor her fingertips could reach the Container.

The collar hanging around my daughter's neck was connected to the Wall by a very Heavy Chain; the chain was almost at the point where her fingertips could barely touch the Container.

When my daughter saw me or them, she would glare at me with bloodshot eyes and scream in a hoarse voice.

"Ah... ahhhh! Ahhhh!!"

This was not a cry for help. That voice had died long ago.

Now, only despair and hatred remained in this child.

It was a resentment and Curse toward the world itself, making me starve myself to the limit, and even beyond the limit.

The stubbled man screamed and bit his lip hard until it bled.

"Those guys... are they trying to make an 'Inugami' with a human!?"

Yes.

They didn't want me to control the Inugami, and knowing my daughter couldn't use the Inugami, they didn't even give up on killing my daughter because I couldn't use her.

They were trying to create a new "Inugami."

Not dog feed, but my daughter!!

+++

I don't know how an Inugami is made.

Without knowing it, I had already inherited it, so I don't even know if my mother didn't tell me, or if the manufacturing method had long been lost.

First of all, even the name "Inugami" was picked up or stolen from somewhere by my friend Chrollo, and I was told that I had seen a description similar to my ability in an old document in Japan, taken from there.

I don't even know if that article was about my family.

However, judging by the appearance and looks of the Inugami, there is no doubt that one would believe he would behead it after going mad to the extreme.

When I blindly trusted Atram, it was foolish of me to honestly tell him everything even when Atram wanted to know about the Inugami, thinking he understood my Curse and loved me.

The information was conveyed to Alba, and apparently that guy, who had a complex about his lack of combat ability, was confused about Atram's thoughts; it was disgusting.

I don't know the most important method, "how to use the post-mortem feeling after the dog is beheaded."

So, it is normal for someone like Atram, who doesn't know much about Nen, to conclude that it is impossible as soon as a Nen Ability user comes up with an idea, but Alba's system is the same Manipulation System as the Inugami, which is so-called "suggestion," a relatively rare ability effect even within the Manipulation System.

He thought that with the method I described, he could create a "Deadmind" and use his own power of suggestion to transfer the hatred, killing intent, and hunger contained within the "Deadmind." I am.

Of course, you also know that the chance of success is very low.

That is why they used my daughter instead of a dog as the test subject.

I know that if my daughter dies and the Inugami transformation fails, we will definitely be killed.

However, if my daughter dies, the Inugami inherited by my daughter will be released because it lost its heir, and there was also a Prophecy that the "Deadmind" of the daughter, that is, the descendants of the family that killed them back then, would attack in the same way. I think I can do it.

If it attacks and eats its own daughter, it can resolve the Inugami's resentment, get rid of the eternal hunger, and then disappear in satisfaction. I think if they just hid for a while, the Inugami would go around looking for prey.

In any case, this was likely convenient for them.

So they did it.

If they succeeded, they would use their daughter to eliminate the Inugami, and if they failed, they would hide her with Alba's Barrier and throw her out, letting the Inugami eliminate them. I am doing a terrible experiment.

However, since "starving to madness" is the absolute condition for the dog to "die," the judgment that it died before going mad without drinking water was wrong. Their plan was wrong because I made them accept it, and because I provided my daughter with reverse Aura, she lived for a long time.

The Inugami responded to my daughter's hatred and killing intent, and because I gave my daughter an Aura, I lost control of her Aura. Something can be done for the Inugami, regardless of whether her daughter's Inugami succeeded or failed.

This is why I sought help from other Hunters.

If I find a Hunter who can control so many Inugami, even if my daughter's Inugami fails, I think I should ask that Hunter again.

The long-haired man with stubble ran to the girl's side with a face full of tears, regretting his helplessness.

"Ah, damn it!! I'm not good at healing!!"

"Crazy Clown, Crazy Slot Machine!!"

The man with stubble amplified his Aura while scratching his head.

The long-haired man repeatedly pulled out a weapon, attacked the Wall with that weapon, and then pulled out a weapon again. I'm sure they were trying to come up with something with a healing effect, a healing effect that would appear randomly.

Likewise, I tried to provide Aura to my daughter, but I knew I had witnessed such terrible destruction, so I could not successfully pass my Aura to my daughter.

I know it's because my heart is too chaotic, but the more I look at my daughter, the less I can be calm; how can I give her Qi now? I don't know why either.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for not helping.

So don't make that face. Don't regret it. Don't blame yourself.

You are not wrong. Thanks to you, my daughter can get away from those guys, and she can finally be saved.

I am the culprit.

I thought I could do anything for this child, but it's my fault because I was too stupid, and everything backfired.

So... don't make that kind of face.

"Ahhhh!!"

The two gave her Aura, wanting to give her a little bit of healing.

No, I didn't have enough stamina to go on a rampage. Her rejection and hatred were too obvious, even though her limbs barely moved.

Please. Please don't reject those who come to help you.

Don't turn your hatred toward anyone who tries to help you.

I know no one believes anything. But if you want to blame me, if you hate me, if you want to hold a grudge, only me.

I am the culprit. Because I am, please don't reject the love, kindness, and happiness you give me.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

"What are you doing, Kiyohime?"

Also, the white-haired child crouching beside me, who could only apologize, said:

"You don't say 'I'm sorry' to your daughter."

I didn't understand what you were saying.

Shouldn't you say "I'm sorry" to your daughter?

What do you mean? I thought I couldn't do anything but apologize to my daughter; I wasn't qualified to do anything else, so I couldn't think of anything.

Just as I thought I might not even have the right to apologize, the white-haired girl sighed in annoyance and said.

"... I don't know what to say, but I think very few children are happy when their parents are sad, right?"

I mean, is it okay? My daughter's memory of her mother might just be her crying and apologizing, "I'm sorry," you know?

——Ah.

Truly, I am an idiot.

I thought I became a mother because of this child's smile, but I wasn't a mother at all.

... Is that so.

It's obvious that I'm terrible, but if I keep apologizing, I'll feel terrible.

I might not be qualified to see this child happy again, but I shouldn't impose my guilt on this child anymore.

Therefore, instead of saying "I'm sorry," I said something else.

"... Thank you..."

Dedicated to the two people who tried to help my daughter, dedicated to the child who taught me what I needed to say, and most importantly, dedicated to my daughter.

Thank you.

Thank you for being born.

Thank you for working hard to survive.

For smiling at me...

For letting me be a mother...

Thank you for being my family.

As I spoke what I wanted to convey to my daughter, my heart gradually calmed down.

Yes. No matter how much I became a member of the Inugami and had a way to provide Aura to this child, in my lineage, an Aura supply that combines Emission and Enhancement would not work.

So I imagine.

I thought I would give up or lose everything for this child, but I was wrong.

Throwing things away doesn't suit this child.

So I give instead of throwing away.

You are my life.

This is my world.

This is my happiness.

So... I give you everything I have.

I imagine myself melting, becoming a part of this child, and I place a very twisted fingertip, a mixture of dog and human, on my daughter's mouth.

... I really can't do anything like a mother.

I couldn't hold him, couldn't even breastfeed him, but now I can finally do something more like a mother.

I heard that the raw material for breast milk is blood.

I cannot share my flesh and blood to raise you, but if giving my life to you becomes the sustenance that connects your life and mine, that would be my greatest happiness.

... So, if you want to see me again, even if I am like this now, or if you want to see the mother who made you suffer, please live on and be happy.

You are my life.

You are my world.

I am in your happiness, because you are my happiness.

Because you gave me happiness.

I will become your life so that you can live happily.

Beautiful, beautiful, my daughter.

I love you. And always will.

＊＊＊

Clack, I heard a light sound.

It was the sound of Sora dropping his Sword to the ground, as if cutting through something invisible.

Just as Kiyohime melted, he gave all the Aura he had formed to his daughter, which was his own soul, then immediately cut it off and disappeared.

The root of the tube extending from the daughter.

The pass to grant Aura to the Inugami, and the reins to command the Inugami.

That "Curse" itself, which had been casting off the sins committed by my ancestors long ago, was severed.

"... With this, this child won't die from the collateral damage of the Inugami."

Muttering to himself, Sora reached out.

For a two-year-old child, there was too little flesh, and he gently stroked the cheek of the child who was as thin as a hungry ghost.

The child whose cheek was stroked fell into a peaceful sleep without knowing it.

That child, who had emitted hatred and killing intent unimaginable for a child who could still be called an infant, fell asleep after receiving all of her mother's Aura.

... If he were not thin, he would only look like a normal child; he smiled with equal satisfaction, stroked the cheek of the girl sleeping soundly, and stood up.

I stood up and turned around.

"Kite. You want a child."

Jin remained crouching and turned to give instructions to his disciples.

Before Haidou could even finish speaking, he used his hand filled with Aura to tear apart the paper-like chains bound to the child, gently supporting him so as not to wake him, while frowning and glaring at him. Him.

The scent of Fugura filled the basement.

A low growl, the sound of drooling.

The three of them stared at the severed head of the floating dog.

By cutting off the Aura supply path of Sora, the inherited Curse of the Inugami was lifted, and not only was the daughter released.

The Inugami was also released.

However, the starving, maddened Inugami probably did not realize this.

I finally understood who it was I wanted to eat the most.

I have come to eat and kill the best prey.

Perhaps because it was a race that prioritized the group over the individual from the start, and for the same reason it went mad, the Inugami underwent a transformation different from when it was with the Inugami User Hai.

This dog had only one decapitated head.

There should have been dozens, but only one head floated in the basement, dripping saliva and growling.

However, the head was not the same as the one before.

Due to the mental derangement, the self became defined by Ambiguity, and perhaps because everyone could no longer maintain their own form, all the Inugami fused Together, leaving behind the prototype of a dog's head, mixing into a mud-like state, making it about the height of an adult; he created a giant dog's head, turning into a monster even more terrifying than Kiyohime's transformation.

Sora turned to face the monster and asked.

"Do you not want to die?"

Even if you remove the fact that you are a dog, there are no elements that can communicate anywhere, such as language.

The Inugami just glared at me.

It roared and growled at any nuisance that hindered its best prey.

However, due to the fusion of all the Inugami, Sora's Aura erupted, ignoring the threat of Kiyohime that was more than just killing intent after the Barrier was lifted, and Sora continued to speak alone.

"You have no reason to want to die. You originally wanted to live. I understand this."

Because they were gathered Together, the threat of numbers had disappeared, but the only way to escape was the stairs behind the Inugami. But Sora held it in his hand and said.

"But I am sorry."

Tell the Inugami with your actions that you will be fine, with your words.

Likewise, the woman who escaped from the furthest corner, single-mindedly thinking "I don't want to die," told the mad dog ghost that she had long since gone mad.

"I don't want to die."

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die just like this.

I want to live.

So I declare that I will not give up.

There is a void in the sky.

Sky sky to sky from.

Using azure eyes to lead to "", he spoke the final warning.

Of course, this would not work on the Inugami.

The ghost, having lost the instinct to recognize Sora's mercy, apology, or even the final warning, let alone its own instincts, acted with a broken mentality at the end of its hunger, opening its fangs to devour anything that blocked its path.

I pierced deep into that jaw.

"――――Naive, Hatsu."