Chapter 81: The Night of Redemption Approaches

The fragile hand that had pierced Uvogin's chest pulled away.

There was not even a drop of blood on his fingertips, and Uvogin's chest, which should have been pierced through, did not even have a bruise.

But Uvogin could not stand; he collapsed and scattered under the power of the earth rumbling behind him.

At the same time, Sora's legs went soft, his knees buckled, and his body trembled as he fell.

"!! Sora!!"

But before he could fall to the ground, Kurapika ran over and caught him in his arms.

At that moment, Kurapika was chilled to the bone by Sora's high fever and the fresh blood overflowing from his eyes, his heart filled with regret for having let him go.

However, Sora murmured vaguely with an extremely hollow expression, unaware of whether he realized Kurapika was holding him.

"………………Why……?"

Were the beads of blood dripping from his eyes wounds caused by overheating, or were they tears?

Accompanied by the crimson dripping, powerless words spilled out.

"……Even if it were God…… I should have been able to kill him…… If he were still alive…… If it were there…… If it were there…… I am a concept…… But…… How... why...?"

"Sora! Enough! Enough!!"

Kurapika interrupted her incoherent words, hugged her, and covered her eyes with his hands, steam rising from them.

Knowing full well this would not be a comfort, Kurapika still covered her eyes with his own hands, letting his eyes see nothing more, while the other hand was Sora's right hand... Uvogin. I grabbed that hand that pierced through.

However, that hand had no strength, nor did it react.

Just as I held him while crying, he did not stop me.

"……What…… are you making a fuss about?"

The sound of Kurapika's crying from the bottom of his heart annoyed him, and Uvogin, lying on the ground, complained in a faint voice, a voice so weak that one could not even tell what had just happened.

I have no ambition. A faint sound issued from the broken words. However, he had no fear or regret, continuing his words as if it were a daily chat.

"……If you're going to make a fuss, ……I'd be happy if you won, making a fuss…… If it goes on like this, even I am not worth losing…… or even dying."

"Shut up!!"

Kurapika hugged Sora tighter and shouted.

A gleam of hatred flashed in Sora's eyes again, but in Uvogin's view, he really could not understand why the two had such a reaction.

---I don't understand why my enemy feels such great regret over his own death.

I knew.

The method Sora proposed was, in fact, just a gamble.

I knew from the very beginning that this was a terrible gamble.

No matter how many stories Kurapika heard, he still could not fully understand why Sora's "Instant Death Evil Eye" would not only kill living things but also matter and even intangible concepts. I first thought Sora's method was "impossible."

Although I barely understood the power of Sora's eyes, I understood a lot.

Setting aside Enhancers like me, Manipulators who replace abilities with other substances, and Emitters who are good at separating Aura from the body, first of all, there is the human body and physical ability itself. One must know that it is impossible to kill someone who possesses Enhancer-type "Nen Ability" without it being strengthened.

First of all, Aura is Life Energy itself. Even for abilities that are easier to kill, there are rarely cases where the ability user has no effect other than "losing Nen Ability."

The ability that was killed itself occupies "capacity memory," so the limit value of Aura that can be created and stored will drop sharply.

Nen Ability is the spirit of the person who has the ability; it is the "heart" itself. Because strong feelings and emotions are strongly influenced by the ability, there is no guarantee that the personality will remain the same even if the "heart" itself is killed; if the ability is derived from the body of the person who possesses the ability or from physical fitness, it is highly likely that it will be killed by the functions derived from it.

And if Sora's eyes were to kill him, even if it were only a small part of his body, no matter how advanced the medical treatment, it would count as "resurrection of the dead." Unless Magic miracles are utilized, it cannot restore its function.

Sora's eyes, the ability of the "Instant Death Evil Eye," are by no means a convenient ability.

Sora, the owner of those eyes, should know much better than anyone else; it is too powerful, too cruel, and will only produce irreversible consequences……

Despite this, Sora persisted. I expected it.

He believed in the eyes, believed in the Curse itself, and believed in the reason for his destruction.

How to destroy this person without killing Uvogin.

Kurapika's Chain Jail already knew what a troublesome ability this was, so even if he used Sora as bait, he could not expect to let his guard down.

In fact, before he was captured by the chains entangled in the gaps and the Chaos mud that wrapped around his whole body, he had already torn off his right arm without hesitation and thrown it away, only then managing to Escape.

First of all, it is doubtful whether Kurapika, who consumed so much Aura in an accidental/unexpected battle with Uvogin, had the ability to detain him until he was handed over to the community again.

Even if he did, the community would immediately kill Uvogin instead of greedily collecting information or using him as a hostage; I can easily imagine returning to the drawing board.

No, let alone starting, even if you lose an arm, if you have a guy with healing abilities, it can be regenerated and restored, and this information would be known to the Brigade, so if you choose to keep this person alive, at least if you don't take away the Nen Ability and disable it, this side will be at a one-sided disadvantage.

This is why Sora wanted to gamble on this, no matter how impossible it was.

If I were stronger, if I had come up with the "answer" earlier, if I had put this matter to the community and everywhere the first time I detained him……

Kurapika bit his lip, thinking of his own incompetence.

If that were the case, now she had already been excessively hurt, and she was full of regret for not even losing the bet.

I knew from the beginning.

Despite this, I still anticipated it.

I had a dream.

Kurapika's pain caused Sora's eyes to kill the "Nen Ability," which might be more important than life; for this man who only thought about this battle, I wish I could have known a little about paralyzing him while keeping him alive and depriving him of his most important thing.

I am not asking for reconciliation or an apology.

However, to know even a little about what was stolen from Kurapika, to know the despair of having to live on even when the most important thing is already irredeemable, and to know even a little about the sins one has committed—I thought knowing this would make me feel better than this person being dead.

Sora must have had the same dream.

Thus, she went against her own promise and gambled on this bet.

However, the ending was as expected from the start.

Too cruel, the preset harmony.

Sora raised the precision of his eyes to such a point that he had likely reached the limits of humanity... or even exceeded that limit, piercing the "Dead Point" he had discovered.

What was certain was that it was the "death" of the "Nen Ability" itself.

However, Uvogin's Nen Ability was the most orthodox, simplest Enhancement system.

Killing his Nen Ability meant that the breath could no longer circulate through the body that sustained his life.

I will not die immediately. I am just slowly entering every function of my body. The Life Energy Aura is not distributed; it is exhausted, and its functions have ceased.

I do not know if Uvogin not feeling pain brought any relief to Kurapika and Sora.

I do not want you to die in pain. First of all, I do not want him to die, so I adopted this method.

But even dying peacefully was a painful feeling for Kurapika.

Sora had dirtied his hands again.

Besides, I have killed someone other than myself, and I am responsible for the death.

The dying person before my eyes has killed far more people, and I cannot help but hate him, because I know that this person will not even go to hell, but will fall into an empty Abyss, sinking and melting. Nothing.

Kurapika could not bear the thought that he and Sora would one day be in the same place, and he stared at Uvogin and began to cry.

However, no matter how much anger and hatred Kurapika shed, the other party felt no guilt for it.

He just smiled and moved his face, which he could barely exert any strength into, as if to say, "Look at me."

"... I don't know... it was them... I came here to kill you... but now... why are you regretting...?"

"... Don't you dare lay a hand on yourself! Don't think about anything! You can kill without feeling anything, what do you know!!"

Kurapika's anger still made him smile weakly, and he replied, "I don't know, that's why I'm asking."

Uvogin continued to speak calmly, a stark contrast to what was seen during the battle; his jokes and laughter showed no signs of resistance or fear of the impending "death."

"... But... seriously... why are you crying? Laugh if you've won... I'm serious... it's not worth dying for..."

"I don't care about your death!"

Kurapika interrupted Uvogin like a whining child.

Even embracing Sora was not to support or protect her, but to snuggle against her.

Uvogin sighed in disappointment at Kurapika, ignored Kurapika's words, and continued what he wanted to say.

"... Why... you who survived... do you regret it?... Regret... what you wanted was... me."

I agree.

This made too much sense to me, and I thought to myself, "Then there's no help for it."

But that does not mean I do not regret it.

He accepted the fact that he had lost because his opponents were even stronger than Kurapika and Sora.

It was an interesting battle. I think the last chain was not tampered with either.

I am satisfied with the battle itself, because it was a joy to see them try to survive by any means necessary to win.

But... by understanding the reason for my failure, I also realized the possibility that I could have won.

No, that is impossible. I am certain I would have won.

... If I were fighting anyone, even if I brought Nobunaga, with whom I have a poor relationship, no matter what means the two of them took, no matter how they struggled, I would only have the confidence that we would win.

However, in that situation, I could easily imagine that it would be a harder and more interesting battle than fighting alone, even though I had no intention of winning.

Unlike me, Nobunaga's ability seems unique to him, and although it is the same Enhancement system, his physical strength is not very strong. A 2-on-2 ratio will never be in your favor.

... However, for some reason, when I work with a childhood friend who should have been an Obstacle, even in seemingly dangerous situations, I can always win and survive.

Because I feel that I cannot afford to lose, rather than fighting alone.

—Because I realized that I am stronger than when I fight alone.

That is why, even though I am regretful and frustrated, for some reason, the other party is crying as if to say it is fine to have lost, and the other party is just dead, sleepy, and just being held in his arms.

It is regrettable and frustrating, but it is certainly interesting! This is a sight that makes me want to go crazy.

Even if I use my last bit of strength to provoke him and mock him, Kurapika's eyes will never return to Sora's eyes.

My will to survive has disappeared, and I am tired of being stared at by those eyes that seem to be dying.

So, I do not resist the body that cannot even bear the weight of its eyelids, and I thought I would die in disgust.

Regretting myself, continuing meaningless regrets, you bastard! And when I could no longer speak, I cursed in my heart, trying to close my eyes...

"... Ah... right."

I used force again to open my tightly closed eyelids.

Confirming the owner of the voice.

"... Sora?"

That burning sensation made me feel like my blood was boiling, let alone moving my body; I thought it was taking away the energy for me to sing, and I trembled all over, and my voice fell.

"... You... your name... what is it?"

She asked in a voice as weak as the dying Uvogin.

I asked the name of the person I killed.

"... Uvogin..."

I told you in a hoarse voice.

I have no voice left.

Her voice was weaker than the chirping of an insect, but Sora heard it clearly, and she continued in the same faint voice.

"... Yes... Uvogin. You... die there."

Cruel, heartless, and unremarkable at this point... she recounted the ending she chose for herself, even if she did not want it.

"You... die there... the end... even regret... in a place where you cannot... nothing... finally... melt..."

Blood was still flowing from Kurapika's eyes, and he covered his eyes with his right hand.

His painful sigh was absurdly hot, as if burning from deep within his throat.

Even so, even though Kurapika was on the verge of stopping breathing at any moment, Kurapika still roared: "Enough! Stop it!".

"... We... will live on..."

Until the very end, those lips would not stop spinning, until they had said everything they wanted to say.

"... No matter how many... regrets... we have already done... how much... harm... we will survive... and then do it.

... Kill me... I don't mind if I die... I will never say that.... We... we... are afraid of death... so... so... be happy... until we die... survive... and then do it."

Sora's words did not stop.

On the contrary, Kurapika's weeping plea stopped.

Even at the moment of being so weak that he wanted to leave, that hand was still pulled back.

Sora was still dreaming.

So I cannot say anymore.

I cannot say that I should give up on that dream.

Whether it was because he realized Kurapika had fallen silent, or he just wanted to laugh, Sora raised his mouth, pulled him into Kurapika's embrace, and said one last sentence to Uvogin.

"... So,... Uvogin... you will die here."

This was truly just words she said, because she wanted to say them.

It was not even a declaration of resolve to accept all the choices you have made, the consequences you have caused, the sins you have shouldered, and to keep moving forward even if you regret it.

Realizing that he just wanted to brag to Uvogin, and that Uvogin could no longer do that, Uvogin could not speak, but still used his last bit of strength to just move his lips.

(Damn woman, good girl)

Dedicated to the woman who engraved Uvogin's name as a sin, dedicated to the woman who chose happiness, dedicated to the woman who engraved her own death into memory and used her heart as a tombstone. Abusing praise, Uvogin closed his eyes.

I cannot move any part of my body.

The only freedom left at the end is thought. I also know the grace period is only a few seconds.

So the last remaining time for Uvogin is—

(... That's terrible... tomorrow's work... I can't go)

This was an apology that was not conveyed to his comrades.

The Neon Nostrade guards gathered in the Inn room all had gloomy faces, as if waking up.

How many times had someone tried to say something, but ended up saying nothing and shutting their mouths?

We all know what you mean.

Will Kurapika be okay? The safety of the young boy, who had just become the leader of Dalzollene.

At first, I wasn't too worried. To put it bluntly, he was the only one who stayed in his assigned room, glad that he had waited for the Phantom Troupe members who had escaped.

Considering what they had done, it went without saying that the Eleventh Brigade would definitely come for revenge.

This was why Kurapika, who was probably the person who hated Bodyguards the most, personally still wanted to live; he stayed behind as bait waiting for her, and took action alone to finish the matter. Fortunately, everyone let him in, knowing that he didn't work for the group, and that the Brigade definitely had some personal purpose.

However, as expected, they did not let Kurapika do whatever he wanted, because as long as they didn't interfere, they didn't care about the cause of Kurapika's death at all.

He had a record of single-handedly paralyzing and capturing an opponent that even four people couldn't kill, and everyone believed he was fine, which was why he was sent out.

However, no matter how much time passed, this trust would be replaced by anxiety.

This anxiety made me want to ask the question, "Is Kurapika safe?" but I eventually shut my mouth.

Such a truly meaningless period of time would eventually come to an end.

"...! I'm back!"

The date had changed, and just as Kurapika returned from outside last night, Senritsu raised her head and said.

His voice and expression were full of relief, and the restlessness that had originally accumulated in everyone's chests was also replaced by relief.

However, he noticed that Senritsu, who was looking outward and could presumably hear Kurapika's heartbeat, changed from a relieved expression to a puzzled one, and Squala shouted: "What's wrong?"

"... Kurapika has definitely returned, and it looks like he is injured, but there doesn't seem to be any life-threatening danger... However, it seems that besides Kurapika, there is another person."

"Hmm?"

Listening to Senritsu's words, everyone tilted their heads in unison just like her.

I thought for a moment that he had successfully captured the Eleventh Brigade and brought him back, but the people here had not known Kurapika for a long time, but even so, when I saw him last night, I was convinced that this was impossible.

Contrary to his appearance and usual demeanor, he was short-tempered and had a tendency toward bloodshed in his mind, so, except for Wese and Linsen, everyone who was not present understood, and the two who were not there also understood. Seeing it also received the report, so they probably knew.

So, for better or worse, if it was a battle that didn't get in the way, even if it was capturing them alive, everyone knew that Kurapika didn't have the calmness to do that.

If he left him behind and brought him to this Inn with the escort target, it would be too strange.

If he was still calm enough to calculate the credit for being captured alive, he certainly wouldn't have thought that his Brigade friends would help again, and at the very least, he shouldn't have endangered Neon.

Senritsu heard the questions in everyone's hearts and added: "It's not that member of the Brigade."

"It's not the Eleventh of that squad, it's a completely different person... and, that child's injuries are heavier than Kurapika's."

"? Even more so?"

Once again, I was relieved because I didn't have to deal with the crazy combat-specialized 11, but Senritsu's explanation made me wonder what kind of situation and circumstances Kurapika was in. I asked with a face full of confusion, but Senritsu did not answer again.

She did not answer because she already knew who the "person" she brought back was.

I could not answer.

Even from such a distance, Kurapika's heart would be torn apart. The melody of the heartbeat was so painful that it seemed to resonate with me as well, and even so, I didn't know what to say.

Listening to his footsteps, Kurapika was walking alone. The other person he brought must have been holding him, because he couldn't even walk.

However, judging from the voice from the bottom of his heart, the other party had not fainted. The violent heartbeat was being tortured by intense pain, to the point of being unable to even faint.

But that heartbeat was not just something that complained of pain.

The sound of the heartbeat, and the faint voice that I suspected even Kurapika, who was holding him, could hear, repeated over and over again.

"I'm sorry," he continued to apologize.

Long ago, when Kurapika returned with someone else, Senritsu had already guessed who Kurapika was.

This is why the melody of the two was so painful that I could not speak.

... Perhaps only Senritsu understood that the battle with the Brigade had reached their worst possible ending; he could say nothing, falling into silence.

"I will take a look."

Unlike Senritsu, the helpless Wese stood up and left the room.

When one person started to move, everyone left the room.

No one thought that bringing a wounded person required caution, nor did anyone think that Kurapika would bring an unrelated person for no reason, but this did not mean they should just ignore it. Asking Kurapika who brought her here was a decision that required no discussion at all.

Senritsu also knew this, naturally lifting his hips to follow everyone else.

Even if only a little, I tried to speak on his behalf, saying things he did not want to say.

Senritsu left the room to help with his request.

Kurapika walked down the corridor carrying a person, looking exactly like a ghost.

The main reason was that Kurapika's presence was eerily faint; he used "Zetsu" to hide his presence from the public, but Kurapika's appearance itself was ghostly enough.

His entire body was filthy, torn, covered in countless scratches, and his clothes were stained with blood that was indistinguishable from his own.

However, this person's complexion had turned blue-purple, pale to the point of death.

The expression was inorganic, expressionless like a doll.

But only the eyes were very organic.

Regret, guilt, helplessness—all the emotions that tortured him were mixed together, and he looked down at the person he was holding with desperate eyes.

I wonder if the person I am holding is still alive.

Even though she was still alive, her breathing was short and painful, and beads of sweat dripped down; despite this, her complexion was as pale as Kurapika's.

Few elderly people have hair this clean and white, with no pigment to be found, which is why the "red" stood out.

Most of the face of the woman Kurapika was holding was likely covered by cloth.

Since both sleeves of Kurapika's clothes were gone, he must have used them as bandages for first aid, wrapping the sleeves over her eyes.

I knew very well that this was really just a comfort.

Looking at the cloth covering her eyes, stained a vivid and vicious deep red, like a cute ribbon for tying hair, I no longer dared to hope to see the eyes behind the cloth.

Kurapika had a sleepy look on his face, not knowing what to say to someone who was more heavily injured than they had imagined, leaving him speechless.

However, the speechless Wese noticed what the person in his arms was wearing and what was most persistent, and although he knew it was useless, it sublimated into a kind of ability, and he raised his voice.

"! Kurapika! That girl is the 'Red Coat' I mentioned!?"

"Eh!? Seriously!?"

"Without a doubt! The hair color is different, but I won't mistake those lips!!"

Hearing this, everyone except Senritsu focused their attention on the clothes they hadn't noticed before, as they had been distracted by the blood in their eyes. Naturally, I ignored the lips that were indistinguishable from Wese's.

Looking closely, it was indeed a person wearing a slightly oversized red coat, which deceived his physique.

In the eyes of Squala and Rinsen, why Kurapika would bring a heavily injured Red Coat became even more of a mystery, but during the intermission before No. 1 escaped last night, Basho listened to the conversation between Kurapika and Senritsu, covering his eyes with his right hand as if to say "I can't look at you," and looked up at the ceiling.

Ignoring their reactions, Kurapika seemed not to hear what they were saying at all, approaching without a word, like a true ghost.

Not understanding what he was going to do, Squala and Linsen retreated honestly, and Wese felt frustrated by the dying appearance of his benefactor.

The relatively calm Basho stopped looking at the ceiling and tilted his head to look at Senritsu.

Silently, she lowered her eyes and nodded.

Basho guessed that it had been hit to a degree that required no correction.

Kurapika, who ran in front of them to prove this, still looked down at the person in his arms with a desperate, doll-like expression on his face, and suddenly said.

"... I want you to hide her here."

Of course, even if you suddenly say such a thing, no one can say yes or no.

However, Kurapika did not answer Squala and Linsen's question of "What do you mean?"

"Please..."

Kurapika held the human who was motionless except for limping and breathing painfully, lowered his head, and earnestly begged his comrades.

Kurapika knew how crazy and unreasonable he was. It wasn't that he had lost his composure to the point where he didn't understand.

Rather, I managed to think calmly about my own regrets, just wanting to cry all the time, which had no meaning, and the result was the present.

At first, I wanted to escape Yorknew.

I wanted to throw away my job, my squad, and everything else, just take Sora, and then just run away holding Sora.

However, since the Mafia from all over the world were gathered in Yorknew at this time, of course, there were no immigration regulations applied on the surface, and a good, ordinary person with no criminal record could easily pass through formal procedures to come and go, but as long as there was the slightest suspicion, the sinister side of the underworld would be revealed, immediately restrained, and painlessly deep into the heart.

Kurapika and Sora were a bit suspicious now, so if they were caught by the Mafia's security net, it would be better to kill them without listening to their arguments.

If the other party found some value in us, we could tell; they would definitely be sucked to the bone, and human dignity would be trampled and taken away.

Hunters certainly prove their License and use the privileges that come with it; if they handed over Uvogin's corpse to the community, their suspicion would vanish, and even the high-ranking Mafia might even flatter them. If you take this approach, you will definitely be caught in the information network and security network of that Brigade.

It was indeed annoying, but the friendship of the Phantom Troupe was stronger than Kurapika had imagined.

He no longer thought about the possibility that the Brigade would not target Sora.

Kurapika had no choice but to return here.

No matter how suspicious he was, he used the achievement of capturing a Brigade member as a shield, choosing to push aside his own selfishness and pleas.

... I know that saying I had "no choice" but to return here is a terrible deception.

I know the best way is to contact Gon and the others who were sure to visit, entrust Sora to them, and let them take her and escape.

If it were Gon and the others, the Mafia and the Brigade should have no marks on them, so if their actions were prominent, Sora would not be caught by the Mafia or the Brigade's intelligence or security network.

Except for Uvogin, who confronted him directly, his appearance and name might be unknown, but the Phantom Troupe knows he belongs to the Nostrade Family, which means he found this Inn in a short amount of time.

Suspecting Uvogin's point of no return, the possibility of him finding him again is not small; relying on that intelligence for revenge, the Phantom Troupe will appear before him.

Furthermore, even if he heard that his closest guard Dalzollene had died, one could not expect his ethics and morals to only complain about not being able to get the mummy from the auction. Employer Kurapika of the human collector knows that relying on companions as trustworthy and important as Sora will ensure Sora's safety, rather than hiding them in this Inn right next to them.

But Kurapika cannot let go.

Even knowing it was he who let her suffer all this, he still did not want to hand her over to someone else's hands.

Even though I cannot think of what I can do for her, my childish selfishness is shouting and appealing.

Even though he wants to kill such a weak and selfish self, Kurapika still persists to the end in a selfish way.

If I withdraw here, I seem to not even know why I have lived until now.

The only thought I can think of is that if I were not here, Sora would not be hurt and would be able to live in gentle and mild happiness.

If you admit it, this fact would negate Sora's life more than Kurapika, trample on everything Sora has had until now, belittle it, and make it meaningless.

So even if Kurapika wants to commit suicide out of self-loathing, he still persists in his choice.

Kurapika holds Sora tightly and continues to plead, not knowing if this is a way to make himself happy or just to lighten the burden of sin.

The first to respond to this request and join Kurapika's camp was, of course, Wese.

"Wow, I have a request too!

I have no idea about the specific situation, but this girl really helped me! If it weren't for this child, I would definitely have had my head split open like Ivankov!

So, please. I will ensure I don't interfere with my work, so I won't cause you trouble... Please. I beg you."

While asking other members to face him, if he refuses, he might be willing to use his ability to force him to make a promise. Being warned and pulled.

Sure enough, Senritsu stepped forward to stop Wese's actions, but she also stood on Wese's side.

"Wese. Calm down.

... However, I also want to ask you one thing.... Perhaps the reason Kurapika was able to return is because of this child, and I think we won't have to fear that big shot anymore in the future.... So, after the auction ends, before the Mafia security net established in Yorkshin calms down, I don't think there will be a loss for us to hide."

Kurapika said nothing, but was convinced that Uvogin was already dead, and it was very likely she killed him, not Kurapika, or at least a large part of it; Senritsu never hides this woman. Let them believe it is not a loss for them.

However, Linsen said: "I understand your feelings, but when you hide an unknown person, it's like carrying a bomb, and so many unexpected things have happened. If it has nothing to do with me, I have no obligation to listen even if it is an order; as a senior in this job, I cannot give permission."

At his words, both women were silent, unable to refute. Linsen's words were right; he did not say, 'Throw it away to a place that has nothing to do with us now.' So, give up hiding here and do something as soon as possible."

But Kurapika still did not pull.

"... Please. I won't bother you. I will never bother you. I will do everything. I will take all the responsibility... Please."

Basho saw that he did not hear Rinsen's words and was still repeating the same words over and over, continuing to plead with his colleague, and sighed deeply.

"Kurapika. Say something, listen carefully.

Just because I'm hiding here, what do you want me to do? Such a heavily wounded person, do you want to let him lie there?"

Kurapika wondered if he was listening to anyone, but Basho's words stopped him from pleading over and over.

Even though he said he would do anything, he found that the thing he wanted to do most was unrealistic.

Basho still remembered the indifference and composure seen in the conversation with Senritsu, shouting like a whining child: "I know nothing about the red coat."

There is no need to explain how important they are to each other.

Knowing this, Basho persuaded the young Kurapika of his selfishness.

"I know how you feel, but that is another matter.

If it is just letting him sleep in a place where I cannot even treat him, I believe it will be irreversible. If you are looking for a hospital, I will help you."

"... Can you have a doctor who doesn't use a Hunter card and doesn't even have an interest in the Mafia secretly treat her? And who else will protect her?

First of all... this fever and eyes are already too late. I cannot recapture it from the beginning. Even if you use 'Hatsu', it might not recover. That is a 'Magic Miracle'; if not, it is impossible."

However, Kurapika bit his lip under Basho's persuasion and spat back.

He told her how desperate she was, which is why he could not let her go.

Basho learned that Kurapika was more desperate than he expected and was speechless, which is also why it was difficult for Kurapika to leave.

However, he also could not ignore the information that the Phantom Troupe was monitoring him; Linsen tried to persuade him again, but was stopped by his hand.

"Ah... you are really a troublesome guy. Anyway, if you don't want to go back, don't ask, just take him to your room. Even if it's too late, you can't take it back; are you holding me like that or holding me? I don't know, or put him on the bed; instead of that position, it's better to wrap him in proper bandages comfortably.

Even if you are complacent, if you are thinking about that child, put that child first."

Squala scratched his head while stopping Rinsen, saying it in a very annoying way.

His words, and his remarks of completely forgiving Kurapika's request, made not only Rinsen and Basho, who were blocking Kurapika, but also the woman beside Kurapika, and even Kurapika himself, open their eyes wide and unable to speak for a moment. He looked puzzled, with a puzzled face.

"... Squala! Did you hear the story!? That red coat is from the Phantom Troupe..."

"Phantom Troupe, those guys, I believe it is the same for us. You and I, their names and faces are listed as members of the Nostrade organization on the Hunter Site, which is much more dangerous.

A person who is so heavily wounded, throwing him into a room to let him sleep, he won't go out, and the information won't leak out; the risk of being discovered and attacked by the Phantom Troupe hasn't changed much."

Linsen was the first to thaw, but Squala interrupted him, saying the risk had not changed.

It seems he is also him, and he has no intention of backing down.

"On the contrary, it would be more troublesome if Kurapika prioritizes that child and resists future work.

In that case, rather than forgiving his little bit of selfishness and helping him, it is better to let him do things well."

Having said that, Squala looked at Kurapika again and asked again.

"So, just in case, does the Phantom Troupe know your and that child's faces and names?"

"... I and the Phantom Troupe members who knew her appearance and name have been dealt with. She might be identified as 'red coat', but it should be impossible to confirm who she is."

"That's fine then.

Story over. The decision to hide was made by a majority of 3 votes to 2. Those who agree should cooperate within the scope of not hindering work."

Squala nodded at Kurapika's answer, forcibly summarized it, and turned back to the room.

In addition, Squala was only a little older than him, not his superior, so Linsen could have ignored his opinion and strongly opposed it, but as Squala said, there is a risk of being targeted by the Phantom Troupe, their faces and names are well-known, they are bigger and less persuasive, and Linsen himself said he would abandon a woman who would die at any time, which is bad.

So, I just said, "No matter what happens, I don't know," and gave up.

Basho also felt quite close to Kurapika, so he didn't say anything, just smiled and said, "That's fine."

Senritsu and Wese suggested, "If you want to hide them, why not let them sleep in our room?"

Then, except for Sora, the surrounding sounds and stories finally calmed down to the point where they could reach his ears and head, so he called out to Squala, who was returning to the room.

"...... Squala!...... I will tell you what happened. Boss Nostrade, you decide whether to..."

"............ Also, I owe you a favor."

"Don't say it. It's disgusting."

As a final word of thanks to Kurapika, Squala patted the head of the pet dog in the room, not hiding his embarrassment, but answering with genuine dislike.

In fact, from Squala's perspective, I didn't intend to do her a favor. Even if I wear it, I'm in trouble.

The reason he listened to Kurapika's selfishness and responded to her plea was only because he belonged to the same category.

I want the person I love to be within reach, within reach. I want to protect it with my own hands. Squala also had such thoughts.

Squala's situation was the opposite of Kurapika's; his lover Eliza was Neon's maid, a workplace romance, assuming she was by his side before they were attracted to each other, so it went smoothly without anyone complaining. Only.

Denying Kurapika's selfishness and plea meant denying Squala's feelings.

This is the only reason I let you become an ally.

It wasn't that he was on Kurapika's side; Squala just intervened to justify himself.

That is why he didn't have to owe a boy younger than him, but he considered him a Professional Hunter, much younger, clumsier, and more dangerous than him. Let me assure you of one thing.

"Rather than that, you'd better protect that child well. You are a man."

Kurapika bit her lip and responded to Squala's words with an expression as if she were about to cry.

"-It goes without saying!"

Hearing this, Squala smiled stubbornly.

He smiled, feeling relieved in his heart, as long as he was stubborn again.

By the time I told Squala and the others what happened, it was already past three in the morning, but I didn't want to sleep, let alone rest.

Kurapika left the room with her usual pale complexion and came to the Women's Restroom.

Senritsu walked out before knocking on the door.

"Ah, Kurapika. Are you done? Then let's go hear the news from Squala, please take care of us."

With this perfect opening to welcome her in, even though they were some distance from the room, she could hear her telling Squala how the battle with Uvogin ended. I can be sure.

It was obvious that Senritsu and Wese, who opened the room for me, were taking care of me.

However, even if Kurapika noticed this, she couldn't honestly thank him, and couldn't even produce a self-loathing frustration for being taken care of, just answering.

When I entered the room in place of Senritsu, Wese was wiping sweat from Sora, who was lying on the bed, and replaced the wet Towel on his forehead to lower his heat a little.

Sora's eyes were re-bandaged with appropriate bandages, and as expected, the bleeding had stopped, and the bandages were still snow-white.

As for the clothes, I don't know if he made this matter easier, but not only the coat, but even the work clothes inside were taken off, letting me change into the Hotel's pajamas.

Her hair, tied with a deep red ribbon embroidered with gold thread, was untied, and the white hair spread out as if melting into the pillows and sheets.

I want to see Sora with his hair hanging down.

Kurapika reminded me of the future I hoped for at that moment in the coffee shop I cherished so much, the happiness of that moment itself.

At that time, I should have been able to picture a happy future in my mind.

The wish was fulfilled, but now even the happiness of the past will only accelerate the pain of the present.

"...... Kurapika. Is this what you gave me?"

Wese noticed Kurapika entered the room and jokingly said to Kurapika, who still had a desperate look on his face, wanting to distract him, and was thrown out by Sora. I grabbed his arm to show him.

A Red Ribbon was wrapped around her wrist.

"I was allowed to take off my clothes and put them back on, but she at least refused to untie my hair, this girl."

Kurapika listened to Wese's words silently.

There was still despair in her eyes.

However, the doll-like expressionless face turned into a crying face again. Wese guessed that what she said would only have the opposite effect, and she just said "... Sorry" and left the room.

As soon as the two left the room, Kurapika muttered "Big idiot," of course, this was not directed at Wese's words.

Looking down at Sora, who only knew he was still alive, he hardly knew if he was awake or asleep.

"You... you are really an idiot."

Other people, although he only cares about things, he doesn't care about himself at all. You seem to respect me, and you don't take care of yourself at all, even a little bit of what I want to take care of."

As usual, I want to hear that voice laughing awkwardly in my complaints and trying to make fun of it.

I want to think this Sora is a lie.

However, this is proof of the cruel reality, making my lips, which should only be able to breathe in pain, tremble.

Not a sound. I didn't even have the strength to speak.

But I know what he is saying, without any lip-reading knowledge.

"Sorry." He only thought of Kurapika, knowing he didn't care about his current situation at all, and apologized hurriedly.

"If you are going to apologize, I should have told you from the beginning."

Hearing Sora's words of atonement, Kurapika bit her lip, interrupted coldly, and grabbed the hand with the ribbon wrapped around Sora's wrist.

I can't believe my hands are dirty. If you say it's dirty, then you are just as dirty. I want to say that I carry the same amount of sin, but I can't let him say that.

"From the beginning... before this happened, you should have told me without worrying about me, you were selfish from the beginning, why take a step back from the important part?"

In response to Kurapika's words, Sora repeated "Sorry" in a low voice, whether because she was awake to hear what he said, or because she saw the conversation from a few hours ago in her dream.

Over and over, Sora repeated.

After Uvogin passed away, Sora had been apologizing to Kurapika.

"I am sorry I could not keep my promise."

"I said I would not lie, but I am sorry for all the lies."

Although Kurapika was only apologizing, he cried while wanting to take Sora home; he calmly judged and instructed that if he did not hide Uvogin's corpse, or at least bury it, it would only cause trouble. However, Kurapika was truly angry.

Regarding the eye treatment, Kurapika said, "Holy Chain, I know it is unreasonable for her not to rely on me when I insist she use my Jewel to treat me before using it, but I feel enraged."

Thinking about it later, "Why do Conjuration types and Enhancement types have the same healing ability?" Emperor Time, first of all, the ability of Holy Chain is not a "healing ability" but an "enhanced self-healing ability," so if it is used on an overly exhausted Sora, Sora's lifespan would be shortened more than his own, so Sora's "pre-filled gem treatment" could be said to be a good play, but the anger remained.

Besides the anger, Sora also said some unforgivable things.

Kurapika, who was originally trapped in suicidal emotions due to self-loathing for his own weakness, Kurapika, who insisted on sticking to it no matter what regrets he had, was shaken fiercely once again; did she not know?

Even if you understood, do you think you have to say it?

She said.

"I'm sorry.... I have been lying... I couldn't keep my promise... I made you sad... I made you angry... I'm sorry."

I knew from the beginning, no one told me.

However, Kurapika pretended not to notice what she did not say and looked away... while shedding blood that could only be seen as tears, Sora finally pretended Kurapika did not know. That was impossible.

"I'm sorry.... I'm sorry.... I'm sorry.... But... still... please... Kurapika... please..."

"--You... do not kill."

She let Kurapika make a choice in his way of life, never narrowing the scope; if it required him to be happy, she affirmed any path of sin, shedding blood. True intentions do not matter.

"... Sora. I want to be happy. I want to make your wish come true. That is true."

No matter what happens, this is not a lie; it is a fact that cannot be changed no matter how painful it is."

A wish that should have been realized face-to-face without being told.

The answer I promised never to let go of again.

I decided to stand up no matter how much I was hurt. No matter how much I regret it, as long as she is by my side, this is a dream I can never give up.

This is a dream I cannot give up.

This is a dream I do not want to give up...

"... But I don't think I want to kill you now."

I dirtied your hands, No. 11 Uvogin, I want to kill everything, even the Brigade that won't let you escape... I cannot do anything to you myself, nor will the God who saves you, nothing."

But now, that dream is like a terrible burden again.

I want to throw it away and give up now. Even though I know it would make things easier, I still cannot let go of Kurapika.

"... Hey, Sora. Tell me."

"How can I be happy?"

Compared to Sora's eyes and head, it is much better, but even so, he held his own burning hands and would not let go.

Even though he understood that holding her hand was like holding a blade and would only hurt himself, he still could not let go of the "dream" he saw with her.

"... How can I save you?"

I asked about the absolute premise that the "dream" I cannot let go of becomes reality, but Sora did not answer.

Just repeating, repeating apologies, repeating atonement.

The answer is the cold self in my heart.

The arbiter who would never forgive Sora for making him go through this, he spoke words of condemnation that were too simple and too late, more than anyone else.

"I wish we had never met."

From the beginning, if you and I had not met, even if Sora went bankrupt, he would not be the only one hurting himself. It is precisely because I left the human part behind that I do not have to live a torturous lifestyle; I have suffered more than anyone, yet I still cannot stop walking.

If you and I had not met, if I had not begged "save me," perhaps Sora would not be broken, would not be complacent because of the "death" of others, and perhaps eventually one day could commit suicide. But for all of this, you and I, precisely because of this, she lost all the happiness she should have had."

I already know the answer, without being told.

Even knowing this, Kurapika still could not let go of his hand.

This "answer of sin" is correct, but there is another "answer of happiness" because I do not think it is wrong.

Unwilling to think so, he gripped Sora's hand tightly with his right hand, and placed his left hand on his own ear, stroking the swaying sky-blue Jewel decorating his ear.

"May Kurapika be happy."

Kurapika, as if it were his own smile, hope, prayer, unable to let go of the form of happiness he longed for, only spat out depressing words, with no answer.

"... I'm sorry. Sora... I'm sorry."

I know the answer, but I cannot choose.

In a situation where I cannot choose, time continues to pass cruelly without waiting.

Night falls, and no one atones for their sins.

For some reason, I wrote about Uvogin's final moments while imagining Father Andersen's final moments in hell.

"Don't cry, Demon. You became a Demon because you didn't want to cry, right?"

Also, I tried my best with Basho's lines. I really like Basho, but it is difficult because his lines are tied too obviously in the original work...