Melody.
Once a woman said to be beautiful—until she listened to the Sonata of Darkness. After that, her appearance changed entirely.
She ended up looking more like a groundhog.
She awakened her aura and became a Nen user.
But if Melody could choose again, she'd definitely give up Nen to have her original face back.
Mana's situation was strikingly similar.
Her face had visibly darkened.
When a person's appearance is altered by Nen, it can shake their very identity. And Melody had been just a regular person before any of this...
"Come here."
Linne gestured to Mana.
Mana stepped forward without hesitation.
Linne raised her hand and placed her palm gently on Mana's chest.
A strong suction force burst from Linne's hand.
A moment later, a strange aura—dense and layered with emotion—was drawn out from Mana into Linne.
Then, Mana's appearance began to change.
She was healing.
Her face, once warped and darkened, returned—bit by bit—to her former self. It happened fast enough to see with the naked eye.
Mana's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Thank you, Linne-sama."
"Go back and rest properly."
"Yes."
Linne turned to Menchi. "That wraps things up. Everyone's worked hard. Get some rest. Kaizen, stay here."
She stopped Kaizen before he could leave.
Everyone else began filing out.
Even the middle-aged woman who had been quietly standing beside Linne left.
...
"Linne-sama."
Kaizen spoke respectfully.
Linne's strength and status were both deserving of reverence—she stood even above Zeno in terms of seniority.
"You really do resemble him."
Linne looked closely at Kaizen, her eyes carrying a strange softness.
"Except for the hair color."
"Are you referring to Great-Grandfather Maha?"
"That's right."
She nodded slowly.
"Time flies... His great-grandson is already this grown."
She let out a wistful sigh and motioned to the seat opposite her.
"Sit."
"Yes, Linne-sama."
"You don't need to be so formal. Call me Linne-san."
Kaizen froze.
"…Yes, Linne-san."
Linne smiled.
"Actually, I knew about you the day you arrived at Gourmet Paradise. I even came to see you. You've done well—reaching this level at your age."
She nodded approvingly.
"You carry the Zoldyck bloodline with pride—not just in Nen ability, but in other aspects too."
"That fallen man… you destroyed part of him, didn't you?"
Kaizen nodded.
"Even managing that is impressive. Back in the day, he had reached S-rank. But something happened on the Dark Continent… and he weakened."
"But judging by that cursed silver coin, he's regained a lot of power."
"He's taken another path."
Linne paused, caught in memory.
"Back then, we were close… young partners."
"So when he returned to the human world twisted, I couldn't bring myself to stop him."
"I gave him chance after chance—hoping he'd return to who he once was."
"But he never did."
"He became something else entirely. A monster. At that point… does it even count as 'living' anymore?"
"Was that still him?"
"Or someone new?"
"…The latter. No question."
"And he knew it, too."
"But I couldn't accept it."
She shook her head slowly.
Kaizen fell into deep thought.
Based on her words, Linne had always known about the Fallen's actions… but didn't interfere because of old emotions.
The way she described him sounded eerily similar to something Kaizen remembered:
A zombie.
A soul that dies… and is replaced by something else that wears the same skin.
He's no longer himself.
Kaizen recalled the Fallen's earlier form.
"So the complete version of that man… is like a mummy swallowing a youth?"
"That young soul vanishes… and a new one takes over the corpse?"
He looked up. "So, Linne-san… the reason you stepped in this time—was it because you finally couldn't tolerate him anymore?"
"No."
She shook her head gently.
"It's because I don't have much time left."
"I can't keep pampering him."
"There's a bit of selfishness in it, too."
"His strength now isn't what it once was."
"But what he brought back from the Dark Continent… is unique."
"Even opposing the curse bound by the silver coin took a massive toll on me."
She extended her hand.
"See the change?"
Kaizen leaned forward.
"This is what I paid to fight against the contract—the price of the cursed silver coin. I couldn't make the decision before. But now… I don't have many years left."
"My life is almost over."
"That's why I acted."
"Before I die… I'll end it with my own hands."
"I've already given him more than enough."
She smiled faintly.
"But enough about that. Let's change the topic."
"Kaizen, tell me—how are things with the Zoldycks ? How are the little ones?"
"Great-Grandpa Zeno is semi-retired now."
"Silva-san's leading the family."
"Cousins Illumi and Milluki are doing well."
"Kalluto's following Kikyo-san."
"And Killua… is training in Heavens Arena."
Kaizen gave a broad but safe overview—nothing too private, but enough to build rapport.
...
"And you came to Gourmet Paradise for inspiration?"
"Partially."
He was telling the truth.
Kaizen came not just to train, but to absorb the unique properties of Gourmet Paradise into his Nen. The "gourmet cells" intrigued him. He wanted to experience every dish here—and see how it could shape his aura.
"Then let me give you a gift."
Linne smiled.
"After the Ten Masters Challenge, I'm organizing a tournament."
"A Candidate Contest—bringing together the chefs and gourmet hunters of Gourmet Paradise."
"It'll be useful to you."
"All the top names will be there."
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (1047 chapters in total)