Chapter 7: I am very happy

Sora is not particularly strong.

Even so, to the young boy she saved, to Kurapika, Sora is stronger than anyone, possessing the "strength to fight alone" that he himself desires.

"Death is not scary at all.

My greatest fear is that this anger will eventually fade away.

So please, tell me. I need the strength to fight all by myself."

He said he wanted to become stronger.

With eyes of scarlet filled with the fire of hatred, he begged to learn Magic.

A sorrowful face, always on the verge of turning into blood and tears, spoke of his resolve.

This is the reason Kurapika lives.

Kurapika no longer has the parents who waited for his return, no longer has the kin who supported him with their emotions while escaping the outside world, nor does he have his best friend who shared the same dream. Since he had already given them his only possession, Sora answered that she understood this was a goal he wanted to reach no matter what.

A 13 or 14-year-old boy should not have a heartbreaking Curse.

"Then why don't you die now?"

Kurapika opened his eyes wide, looking at Sora's face with a reflex-like expression.

The reaction was so shocking that the Burning hatred was extinguished by confusion and bewilderment, and Kurapika's eyes returned from scarlet to their usual reddish-brown.

After the transformation, Sora leaned back in her chair and continued to speak.

"If you aren't afraid of death, but only afraid of your anger fading, then why don't you die before it fades away?

No matter what kind of result you leave behind, no matter what kind of result you leave behind, you will eventually have the same destination."

Just as Kurapika was about to say something, no words could come out of his mouth.

Don't say foolish things, there is no meaning in that; Sora's words and the darkness were covered by his midnight-blue eyes, and I endured to keep the hatred from surfacing. When Sora saw this, she was heavily wounded, turning into a face of regret.

They had only known each other for about 10 days, helping one another, but Kurapika's personality was easier to understand than she had imagined; Kurapika felt she was mocking his resolve, was rejected, and nearly cried. At the very least, it shouldn't be that.

On the contrary, he was blaming himself, not Sora.

With my resolve and words, one day, everyone will escape the end of everything, and I will realize I cannot escape. I guess he thought this was an insult to her for helping him, even though he had no spare time.

So Sora was angry; Kurapika thought he had said something so outrageous, so Sora reached out her hand.

When Sora reached out to stroke Kurapika's cheek and touched it with her Finger, he opened his eyes wide and took a deep breath.

Then again, his face twisted as if he were about to die, and he held onto Sora with a hoarse voice, saying: "... No! No! No, Sora! No!"

"... If you want to die, if you feel it would be easier that way, then I will kill you without hesitation."

I was terrified by the "lines" Sora saw, which only Sora could see, thinking I had been touched by "Death," even more shocked and regretful than the person who was terrified by the fact, desperately towards Sora, and then Sora said to the boy who told her "no."

Other than that, Sora was not angry at Kurapika's remarks and reactions.

This was a bigger problem, but "What if I die now?"

In Sora's view, rather than the hardships and pain of living in this world, she was more afraid of reaching that Abyss and being melted, so she had been escaping until now.

I simply weighed the pain and fear and chose the lighter one, so I seriously thought that if I weren't afraid of "death," perhaps it would be easier to die, which is why I brought it up.

The thought itself was serious, but before I anticipated it would be denied, it was a premise.

That day, he had the same wish, "I don't want to die," which is also the reason I met him until now.

When I tried to say I was going to choose to live, my words were more serious than I had imagined.

Honestly, I wasn't angry; I could tell you, I said it very clearly, but if I said that, he would definitely attack me to hide his embarrassment, so I put it off.

Because it was his own fault, he was willing to accept it with a smile until he was hit, but this little brother's bad mood took a long time to recover, and it still hadn't faded.

So Sora stroked Kurapika's silky golden hair, while Kurapika repeatedly muttered "No... it's not...", forcibly pushing the topic forward.

"But for me, it would be best for Kurapika to live a happy life, at least 80 years from now, surrounded by his descendants, saying things like 'You lived well'."

From the beginning, I told him my request; if he answered "I want to live," I intended to answer.

He doubted whether he could hear Sora's words, but Kurapika's muttering of denial suddenly stopped, and he raised his head as if clinging to her.

Only then did Sora breathe a sigh of relief, leaning her upper body slightly, her forehead tapping against Kurapika's forehead.

As if measuring the temperature, as if confirming the temperature, as if confirming they were still alive, Sora spoke to the brother at a very close distance.

"Don't say you aren't afraid of death, and don't run away without facing what survives. If you do that, even if you successfully complete your revenge, you will only regret it; are you going to end it? Do you have burnout syndrome?"

The eyes that turned scarlet and the eyes that turned into the sky reflected each other.

Kurapika stared straight at those eyes that, although different in color, origin, and everything else, felt too similar.

Kurapika remembered that because of those eyes, everything of his had been stolen; he didn't trust people, but he could trust them again.

Kurapika's words could always touch Kurapika's heart because she had eyes that strongly reminded her of her kin, carved into her memory without fading. I don't know.

"Kurapika, you can do whatever you want. There is no obligation.

Don't imitate to reduce your choices. Don't sacrifice everything for one purpose; be more greedy, even if it means death. In any case, when you die, everything will be meaningless, so don't give up everything you can get while you are alive. Reach out and take what you want."

If it were someone else, I would say "Don't mess with beautiful things" and cover my ears.

Kurapika was always tormented by selfish guilt, even if the Elder was the first to act cowardly, he could only survive by obtaining a permit to go out.

For example, if the Flame Soldier were in the opposite situation, I believe you and your best friend would be happy that the Flame Soldier survived and hope they lived a happy life from then on without revenge. Because I am not family or a close friend, or kin who wanted to avenge themselves at the cost of their lives, I know the wounds of what I lost can never heal, but I still survived, and I cannot get rid of the guilt of it.

That is why I did not listen to the few but rare meddlesome people who guessed my situation and persuaded me "not to take revenge." Whether sincere or hypocritical, I know what I am saying is right, but the guilt of self-reproach makes me unable to make such a choice.

However, in Sora's words, I feel my loved ones, my family, and my best friend are all saying it to me. It will open up a world you have never seen before.

Someone who vividly recalls the kin in their memory and brings them back to life, even if what they lost is different from when they said "let's be a family," someone who tries to return it cannot help it. I gave it to myself, and I am still just a child.

"Don't tell me you will fight alone. I am lonely.

I will help you, so Kurapika should look for 'what you want to do' instead of 'what you must do' and face the other party. If you don't even know what you want to do, I will increase your choices now, and I will kill anyone who gets in the way of what you want to do, whether it is guilt or hesitation, so rely on me."

I couldn't help but be glad that she didn't deny that revenge was futile, useless, but instead said: "I will help you," and then told me to look forward.

Someone who can revive a dream lost due to the loss of a best friend and kill the guilt of not being able to dream such dreams anymore clearly indicated this.

"If someone kills your happiness, I will kill God."

"This is the reason why Kurapika should live on."

Hearing these words, Kurapika's stubborn tear ducts collapsed; true to his pride that hated being seen and his overly honest desires, he hugged Sora and buried his face in her shoulder, weeping.

Sora stroked his back, held him, let out a whimper, and patted him gently.

(... Oh, my God. I missed the timing for this apology), wait.

Afterwards, seeing the atmosphere become annoying, Sora broke the mood and told him honestly: "By the way, I'm sorry, Kurapika. What if I died right now?" I even remember Kurapika being so embarrassed at being hit. Ashamed for taking things too seriously, holding the Wooden Sword.

Our ways of thinking are completely different, we don't talk enough, it's easy to misunderstand, and we brush past each other. A higher relationship.

Sora remembered what she had promised to give him.

"I'm an idiot. There's too much blood in my head."

Sora kicked away the ball of light, landed on the pitch-black museum floor, smoothed her bangs, and began to talk to herself.

"If I kill him at this very moment, that child's 'choices' will decrease."

Because I confirmed my revenge, because I promised to provide help even if I did so, I myself made the Phantom Troupe Spider, I remember not to kill.

Sora's younger brother remembered that Kurapika was the type of person who couldn't resolve death even with a hateful enemy, and would always carry it as a sin forever, so if possible, he could resolve it with his own hands, even if he didn't know it, I want to get rid of it unknowingly, but I can't.

The only thing Sora wanted and hoped for him was his happiness.

To him, whether "revenge" was truly the clearing of the past necessary to obtain happiness, or his obsession with guilt, I still haven't heard the answer.

As long as you don't ask Sora, the Phantom Troupe Spider cannot kill.

I promised to give you a choice.

If one cannot move forward without doing it personally, even as a reckoning of the past, and still having to bear the heavy burden of sin, then destroying the squad with one's own hands is equivalent to saying "What if I died now?" Most importantly, insulting his determination is unnecessary.

"This is the reason why we don't kill each other."

"I don't know what the 'meaning' is."

Sora walked behind Chrollo and turned to say, the smile on her face truly living up to its name, but of course he couldn't understand what she was saying, and was pushed directly onto the dumbfounded Chrollo.

However, thanks to Sora's unilateral bokeh completely shattering the air, the heat that had originally been captivated by her eyes subsided a little, and Chrollo returned to his usual calculated height.

Turning to face Sora, although Chrollo was furious, his guard against her never relaxed, and at the same time, Chrollo flipped through the book to confirm.

Piercing the deadly point with a toe, the ball of light that served as the trigger condition and starting point for the Apocalyptic Beast World's End Beast disappeared.

Since it had the ability to create and use Nen Beasts from its own shadow created by this ball of light, the ball of light disappeared, and the remaining Nen Beasts naturally disappeared as well, but at this moment, Chrollo turned over. The thief's instinct skill Hunter had nowhere else, the Apocalyptic Beast World's End Beast was not mentioned.

As long as the original owner of the ability does not die, it will not be lost. I felt danger.

You can hear the sirens of police cars in the distance.

It doesn't matter how many powerless police officers come, but it's unlikely, but if the police have Nen, or cooperate with bounty hunters, it depends on the level and number of opponents. As expected, Chrollo and Shalnark would be a bit difficult to deal with other ability users and this woman.

(... Well, it's not like there was no harvest, so I'll withdraw today.)

He couldn't steal Sora's ability, let alone the Jewel, but even so, he learned of the existence of those eyes, and since it was self-reported, he couldn't confirm how much of it was true, but the "Instant Death Evil Eye" alone was already a bumper harvest for Chrollo.

While feeling a bit sad for the participating members, he decided to withdraw today, closed the book, and said.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Today..."

"Hmm?"

"Hey!?"

Just as Chrollo said he was going to retreat, hearing Sora's dumbfoundedness and Shalnark's desperate voice at the same time, Chrollo opened his eyes wide and opened the book that was about to manifest again.

However, as expected, Sora placing the Ballpoint Pen on the floor to hit the "dead point" was faster than directly opening the page for teleportation and flight skills and drawing out the skill.

This woman, it seems, only withdrew from "killing each other" and had no intention of withdrawing from the battle.

Although she didn't want to stop the battle, Sora, who had completely forgotten the original reason for the battle and the existence of the job, stabbed the Ballpoint Pen into the floor without hesitation.

The entire pen sank as if stuck in soft clay, and at the same time, there was no sound in the entire museum.

The walls, floors, pillars, and ceilings were all messy and lacked regularity.

The museum itself did not collapse or get cut, but was dismantled and perished, as if these shaped blocks had been stacked without any welding from the beginning, and maintained a magical balance.

Neither Chrollo nor Shalnark lived in a lukewarm world, and they died in the collapse of a dying museum.

Ignoring gravity and other things, and trying to escape by jumping on the rubble of the collapsed floor, walls, and ceiling.

"Why is that woman who doesn't look at Feng Shui so unreasonable!?"

"That's why I told you to back off! Why are you so stingy today!!"

Chrollo's complaint was interrupted by Shalnark's correct judgment; he regretted being too obsessed with those eyes, but the next moment, Chrollo deeply regretted getting involved with a woman named Sora Ciciori.

"Commanded by the head of the Edelfelt family!!"

If we can escape from this collapsed art museum, then those women who have been on the verge of death and have been running away have no reason not to escape.

On the contrary, unlike us, we know where and how it will collapse, so there should be a little room for maneuver.

Sora, like them, used the collapsed rubble as a foothold and ran around, obsessed with living, but only at such times did he seem truly happy, smiling and chasing like the strongest Enhancer comrade.

The breath that had been circulating in his arms and head was also circulating in his legs, and when he swung with a right leg that was close to "Hard", Chrollo's face changed, from his left arm to his shoulder and side, and he shouted.

"Wait a minute, you!"

"Lady, fork, lift!"

Sora of course ignored Chrollo's shouting, called out the name of a technique passed down directly from his apprentice who loved wrestling, laughed innocently and happily, and slapped in mid-air.

Enhancer Sobat and Attribute-type Defense.

It goes without saying who won and what the result was.

"After all, you have to do it where you have a foothold.

Flying like a Dragon Ball is a bit fun and exhilarating, but if you decide to make a huge swing from a Sobat and a back-drop combo, then you should take it easy on the first Sobat!!

Master! Give up, give up!! The easily breakable joints won't fall off, but will break in the opposite direction!!"

Although Biscuit decided to break her own arm, she did not reflect on the collapse of the museum; the disciple spoke of his regret at being unable to fully decide on Lady Krollov's forklift, yet let out an annoying scream in the Hotel room.

Watching the disciple's reaction, Biscuit said in surprise: "I admire you for holding back your scream to the limit and saying most of what you wanted to say."

"I'm sorry! I completely forgot this was work, I'm sorry!"

"Noisy!"

Sora finally apologized obediently, not freeing him from his squeezed arm, but placing her fist on his head and sitting down on the bed.

Then she crossed her legs and ordered Sora to sit up straight.

Looking down at the white-haired disciple sitting with his arms crossed, she sighed first.

I have a lot to say.

Although I have said so much, if I were to preach as a teacher, saying the museum was destroyed and all the Jewels were ruined, if I could preach for three days and three nights in a row. Including my personal grievances.

However, they were attacked by the "Phantom Troupe," so Bisque pushed all the responsibility for the museum's collapse onto them, not expecting them not to be provoked, so I postponed it. You can

There is only one thing the disciple did that Biscuit cannot forgive most of all.

"Sora. Why did you go out of your way to tell the enemy about your 'eyes'?"

Although Sora's "Instant Death Evil Eye" is powerful, it is neither invincible nor omnipotent.

If Sora himself does not interfere with the lines and dots, it will have no effect, so Sora himself can basically only use it at close range.

Bisque was angry because he was so open not only about the name and effect of the ability, but also about its shortcomings.

However, this person had anticipated it himself long ago, yet still said with a straight face.

"The only benefit of these eyes is that this chuunibyou vibe is cool, so I wanted to explain it in a cool way!"

"Sure enough, there are more advantages!"

Somehow, I was expecting an answer on the spot, but Biscuit gave me an even stupider answer than I had anticipated, and I inadvertently hit Sora's head while poking him in the wrong direction.

"Attached... no, but I don't think explaining it frankly will hurt me, so I did it, but will it?"

"... Of course, you have already overcome the shortcomings of your eyes, so it is not a big problem, but it is best not to give out any information."

When he asked me with a strange, childish expression, holding my head with teary eyes, I no longer knew where to start preaching, and Biscuit held his head with both hands.

In fact, as Sora said, once the seed is known, her magic eyes are not the end of the world.

It would be a disadvantage if one could avoid melee combat, but Gander possesses long-to-mid-range attacks called Gem Magic, so even if the opponent is far away, they can kill the "Nen Ability" itself, so Sora should be unkillable, right? The Nen Ability is about the size of an air gun, and it was shot out before it could be killed.

However, even so, Sora's system is Enhancement, although he is not good at defense. There are very few people who can penetrate her armor from a distance, and first of all, if the opponent keeps their distance, this woman would rather just run away normally.

"So, I guess you are hoping I keep a certain distance so it is easier for me to run away, or the other party will think this guy's ability is bad and retreat. I don't know about that."

Unknowingly, Sora clenched his fist and smashed another knuckle into the disciple; the disciple suddenly changed from sitting upright to a cross-legged posture and nodded.

"Besides, that playboy seems to be obsessed with my eyes."

Full of confidence, she said with a smug smile.

"If you tell me it's extremely rare, even if brother Kurapika meets you and is Together with you, you will aim for me, right?"

Once these words were out, Biscuit was completely speechless, let alone wanting to hit him.

My life is important, but I want to risk my life to protect the people I care about.

This is a way of life with true value. That is why if you were dating normally, you would think Sora is a stupid weirdo, a bit too kind, but a normal good person.

But this is a product of double madness, far from normal and ordinary.

To escape "death," one always assumes "death," eating away at the humanity of "only now relieved because it is about to break," saying only "I don't want to die." A kind of madness that only prioritizes instinct.

The reason he is swallowed by that kind of madness is because he has a pair of eyes that remind him that this world is always full of "death," so even with such insight, he cannot give up the wish of "I don't want to die" and realize that wish. To do that, I have no choice but to be swallowed by this madness.

But Sora met.

I met someone important to me whom I want to protect, even if it costs me my life, and discovered the value and meaning of protecting someone.

Especially humans among living beings can possess madness loopholes.

This goes against the self-sacrificial survival instinct impulse love clause.

Although Sora is very angry, it looks like a negative number multiplied by a positive number. Two conflicting madnesses maintain a strange balance, exactly showing Sora the truth.

This is why she is so dangerous.

Saying "I don't want to die" is a crazy wish, "I want to protect the people I care about" is a crazy love clause, but once it tilts, Sora will definitely be destroyed.

Although Sora doesn't want anything outrageous and only wants to live a normal, ordinary life, he is already crazy to this extent, and he must maintain balance with a magical balance. Biscuit, who has lived longer than him, knows there is nothing she can do about it.

No matter how strong he becomes, Biscuit made him realize that he is almost powerless.

"Don't make that face, ghost. Sympathizing with a madman will give you a headache, and those who collect mummies will only turn into mummies. Ah, mummies are the original form."

"What!?"

As usual, she said abusive words without thinking of her master as her master with a smile.

She said it with a bright and gentle smile, which proves that she is completely crazy, because she cannot find a madman anywhere.

Sora knows someone who looks just like Biscuit.

After Sora apologized straightforwardly, both the brother and Kurapika showed undisguised, awkward anger, then sulked for a while, and then said to Sora.

"You're crazy," he said.

There was no contempt or fear, and he himself had no pity, but said to Sora with a sad face that could endure pain, but he himself said he regretted letting Kurapika become like that. Other than that, I have nothing. Nothing special to consider.

At best, I can only think that I spoke roughly.

She did not realize that this impression proves that it is too late to go crazy now.

Kurapika noticed.

I realized that I was powerless to do anything about it.

Her madness cannot be Extinguished.

I can even foresee that even if I could restore the magic eyes of Direct Death to normal eyes, I would rather push her to destruction.

Seeing the fragility of this world, I know that even if I gave her normal vision now, she would be unable to endure the "death" that exists simply because she cannot see it.

"What if I died right now?" This is exactly what Kurapika should have said.

Because she is still alive, she is always afraid of death, and she must run frantically without rest, so if she died, it would likely be easier.

Sora thought for a long time and definitely chose to live on.

And so, Kurapika told her.

"That is fine," he said affirmatively.

Kurapika did not deny her choice, because she is the one who even affirmed revenge and gave her the "transcendence of it."

No regrets. Do not feel sad for them, do not want to save them, or want to do anything for them.

It is her madness that keeps her alive, and how she recognizes herself.

"No matter how crazy you are, no matter how crazy you are, it doesn't matter.

If Sora is Sora, as long as it doesn't change, that is fine. That is enough."

So Kurapika affirmed her madness.

Then, he spoke the best "next" he could give to Sora.

"Sora. I have not yet found what I truly want to do.

However, I hope you are happy too, Sora. No matter what happens, I hope Sora can survive, do what he wants to do, and be happy."

Without these words, Sora would have broken down long ago.

Her desire to remain sane and return to a normal state greatly disrupted the balance of her madness, at least in maintaining an appearance of normalcy.

Allowing her to survive and return to normal in a place where she originally had no choice but to die is no different from accepting the destruction that should have happened that day.

So she acknowledged her madness.

Accepting one's own abnormality, feeling a bit sad for not getting most of what one wanted, knowing that no matter what one does, one will regret it in the end, someday—this is the reason I am alive, because when I was there, I decided to live without regrets.

So even in hell, Sora can smile calmly and say.

"Do not think you want to save me or do anything.

Even if I do not do that, I am happy to be able to live and remain sane."

At Sora's words, Biscuit was speechless once again.

This time, instead of feeling regret or helplessness, she could not help but admire this disciple, who honestly declared herself "happy" for a lifetime, having to escape from hell with no way out, fighting for time.

After all, this would be the product of madness.

But indeed, intervention is nothing more than an extra help.

Whether born of madness, or something ordinary people cannot understand, even if there is a kind of false, deceptive happiness...

Because the moment you feel happy, there cannot be lies or falsehoods.

＊＊＊

"Ahahahaha!"

"Were they blown away! The Leader and Feitan were blown away by a female opponent!"

"Hey, hey, what kind of gorilla is the opponent!?"

"Shut up."

"Shut up."

The commander, whose left arm was fractured and supported by a triangular bandage, with ribs and internal organs severely damaged, breathing with difficulty, let alone speaking, ordered the three-man reinforcement team to burst into laughter with a sullen aura.

Of course, they were not the type to shut up obediently after being told. If that was all it took to keep you silent, then even if you hadn't come with the summons "Come if you are free," you wouldn't have come all the way home to mock the news that should have been sent: "The Leader and Feitan were blown away by a woman."

Eventually, when Machi and Boyuetian said with slightly exhausted expressions, "... We are actually gorillas," the three of them fell silent.

The three people heading toward Biscuit did not look down on their opponent, nor did they relax their vigilance, but as expected, Biscuit seemed to be a Phantom Troupe-level reinforcement type, unexpectedly. Before they could even launch their Hatsu, they were blown away and forced into a rout.

Upon hearing this, Nobunaga and the other two temporarily apologized to Feitan.

"Are you not apologizing to me?"

"Because this is Chrollo's selfishness in the first place."

Chrollo was also terrified by the woman and raised his voice in dissatisfaction, but Shalnark no longer wanted to hide his anger and rushed in.

"I warned you, because this was obviously dangerous. I don't know why, but your strange stubbornness, what is that?

When I was blown away by the momentum of the Bullet, my heart almost stopped from worry."

"Even so, when I was kicked away, you laughed."

"Oh, was I discovered?"

After a long while, he glared at Shalnark, who was saying disgusting things like "worry," but stuck out his Tongue as if to say such looks didn't hurt or itch.

Did you forget I am the Leader? He originally wanted to ask him seriously, but Uvogin seemed to have forgotten that the other party was an injured person and slapped him hard; just do it if you don't understand.

"Then who is stronger?"

Obviously, this was not an encouragement, nor was it a finisher; it was just prey.

Chrollo knew that when he heard that the Phantom Troupe's number one battle maniac was the Leader and those two women who could blow away the Phantom Troupe's number one Feitan, he couldn't help but get excited, and asking you would be stupid; leave me alone, I will only tell you the bare minimum.

"Uvo, do not kill the master, and certainly do not kill the disciple."

"Hmm? You still haven't given up on Chrollo?"

Shalnark was truly shocked by Chrollo's words and raised his voice.

"Why would I give up?"

Hearing this answer, not only Shalnark, but everyone present was speechless.

Just now, it was as if his usual calmness had gone somewhere? Chrollo stated that he had no intention of giving up, or rather, he could not give up.

Like the reinforcement trio, upon hearing the news that the Leader was blown away, Shizuku neither laughed nor worried about the Leader, reading a book at her own pace. When I thought so, I was too scared to do it. She even asked.

"Leader, is it love at first sight?"

Kuroro immediately responded to the protagonist's statement.

"It is not."

He was serious. He kept a straight face and continued.

"I agree with that 'eye', but I do not agree with that woman. Seriously.

Seriously, no."

＊＊＊

"……Suddenly, I want to throw a ball at that handsome guy with a face full of wrinkles."

"What has gotten into you all of a sudden? Are you going to castrate me?"

With this, the first contact with the Brigade, much like an exposition of the setting, came to an end.

Next time, I would like to start the trial version of the original work after finishing 3 episodes.