Chapter 114: Netero's Grand Idea x Giyu Tomioka's Shock
When power is overly concentrated in the hands of one person, it's extremely easy for problems to arise. First, the organization's ability to adapt becomes weak, unable to respond quickly to a changing world, leading to information delays or distortions and resulting in poor judgment. Second, a lack of effective oversight means power is excessively concentrated, leading to corruption or even abuse.
Netero was already aware of these issues. In recent years, he had been mulling over whether to form a new team, hiring the best Hunters from various fields to assist him in managing the Hunter Association. Of course... it definitely wasn't because he was bored and just wanted to find some opponents to fight in his spare time.
Voom... The airship cut through the air, slowly flying towards the exam site.
As evening fell and the sun set on the Sea God, which was en route to Dolle Island, the sea's surface reflected the afterglow, rippling with light. Kurapika, just as she had the day before, pushed the dinner cart to the bow to serve Roy.
She had learned her lesson. She didn't talk, nor did she try to take over. She just let Gotoh serve Roy his meal. Suddenly, she felt that familiar chill on her neck again. She looked suspiciously at Gotoh, but he was intently shelling shrimp for Roy, with no time to glare at her. She scanned her surroundings but saw nothing amiss. 'Was I just imagining it?' she wondered.
Little did she know, the moment she turned back, a head full of pins poked up through a hole in the deck, its owner staring blankly at her from the shadows. A woman... a living one... Who is she?! Illumi gripped the edge of the deck, killing intent uncontrollably leaking from his vacant eyes.
He suddenly met Roy's gaze, flinched, and ducked back down.
"Young Master?"
"It's nothing." Roy retracted his gaze, accepted the peeled shrimp from Gotoh, and said without looking up, "I have a task for you."
"Please instruct me, Young Master."
"Open her Nen nodes."
"Whose?" Gotoh had a bad feeling. He looked at Roy. The Young Master tilted his chin towards Kurapika. Gotoh's body instantly stiffened.
"Don't overthink it. Kastro can't be ridden. There's no harm in trying someone else." 'Type' is innate. 'Enhancer' is 'Enhancer', 'Conjurer' is 'Conjurer'. Forcibly trying to change him would only be a waste of Kastro's talent.
"Yes, sir." Gotoh narrowed his eyes at Kurapika. "I guarantee the task will be completed before we disembark."
The girl started, swallowing nervously.
That night, the sun set and the moon rose. Gotoh, following Roy's orders, began explaining the basics of Nen to Kurapika. Roy closed his eyes to sleep, his cane sword resting on his knees. He sat like a meditating monk, emptying his mind, listening to the waves crash against the Sea God. He gradually drifted into a dream.
He passed through the multicolored dream tunnel, as he did every day, arriving at the familiar Sea of Cognition. He pushed open the gate to the Demon Slayer world.
With the familiar sensation of falling... he opened his eyes again. He was met with an unfamiliar figure, busy in the kitchen with Sakonji Urokodaki. Roy paused, then climbed out of bed.
"You're awake... The porridge is almost ready." A pot of fish porridge was simmering on the fire. Sakonji Urokodaki, slicing pickled radish, spoke without turning around.
But the figure beside him did turn... revealing the cold, handsome face of Giyu Tomioka.
"Giyu Tomioka," he said.
"Eiichiro Kamado," Roy replied.
A ghostly wind shuttled between them, rustling their bangs.
Suddenly, Sakonji said, "Eiichiro, take your senior brother Giyu to meet your other brothers and sisters."
Giyu Tomioka's cold eyes flickered. A hand rested on his arm, and then a warm current flowed from it, up his arm, and slowly climbed to his eyes.
He looked again. The fox-masked boy had removed his mask, and was smiling at him. "Giyu," he called.
Giyu Tomioka's body trembled. He rushed forward and grabbed Sabito, burying his head in his shoulder, greedily breathing in his scent.
For how many years had Giyu Tomioka dreamed of his senior brother's face, his voice? It was Sabito who had comforted him when he cried after his sister's death. It was Sabito who had constantly encouraged him when he was too tired and wanted to quit his sword training. It was Sabito who had always defended him when their master disciplined him. And it was Sabito who, during the battle on Mount Fujikasane, had protected him and been devoured by the demon.
For all these years, Giyu Tomioka had never stopped regretting. If only he had been stronger back then, maybe his senior brother wouldn't have died. Maybe the other disciples wouldn't have died, one after another.
He held Sabito tightly. There were so many things he wanted to say, but the words caught in his throat, choked by sobs. Finally, he managed one sentence: "Senpai... I missed you."
Plip. A tear passed through Sabito's spiritual form, landing on the floor.
Shinsuke, watching from the rafters, felt his eyes burn. He grabbed Fukuda and started bawling, only to be kicked off by him. "Go cry somewhere else! I seriously suspect you're just wiping your snot on me!"
"You two!" Makomo wiped her eyes, glaring at them, which almost made her laugh. How embarrassing would it be if Sabito-senpai saw this? The girl slipped into the kitchen, deciding to hide.
Roy watched quietly from the side, just as he had when he'd helped Hiro Minamino. He silently accompanied them, feeling the subtle changes in "emotion" under this "intense impact," deepening his understanding of Nen.
A short while later, master and his three disciples sat opposite each other at the heated table. Sakonji Urokodaki, just as he had at the New Year, brought out the extra bowls and chopsticks and arranged them around the table. This time, it wasn't just for Sabito, Makomo, Shinsuke, and Fukuda... but also for Giyu.
"Master, this is the first time we've all been together in so many years," Makomo said, sitting beside Sakonji, her eyes bright with a smile.
Sabito and Giyu Tomioka looked at each other, then heard Sakonji let out a deep sigh. The old man, ever since that "blow" from Roy (the day he saw the red blade), had often fantasized if he would ever have the chance to sit just like this, sharing a simple meal and idle chatter with everyone. Now... his fantasy had come true.
Sakonji Urokodaki raised his bowl, gesturing to Roy. "To Eiichiro."
Sabito smiled. "To Eiichiro." He raised his bowl, his hand passing right through it, but he didn't care.
Then... Makomo... Shinsuke... Fukuda... Watanabe... Shimizu...
All eyes focused on him, "To Eiichiro" echoing in his ears. Giyu Tomioka was the last to raise his bowl, looking at Roy seriously. "Thank you, Eiichiro."
Roy smiled freely and raised his bowl. "To everyone." He tilted his head back and drained the porridge in one go.
"Careful, it's hot!" Makomo rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. Only this boy, with his ridiculously tough constitution, would dare drink it like that. Look at Giyu-senpai, sipping it carefully, far more cautious.
Sabito lowered his hand, smiling. "Don't worry. This is the man who can make his sword turn red-hot."
The moment the words left his mouth—
Clack!
The bowl dropped from Giyu Tomioka's hand, clattering onto the bed. The current Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, ignoring his disarray, snapped his head towards Sabito. "Senpai, what did you just say?"
Then, he turned his head, his expression more intense than ever before, and stared at Roy.
☆ ☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you