My visualization training to conjure chains had advanced to its next phase. As I continued the intense mental imagery exercises, I reached a point where I dreamt of chains every single night. When I reported this to Aisha, she promptly confiscated the real set of physical chains.
From then on, I spent my days without any physical chains in hand, but before long, I began hallucinating them. Aisha assured me that my training was progressing splendidly, but from my perspective, being so thoroughly inundated with chains made me wonder if I was finally losing my mind.
With nothing else to do, my days consisted of repeating Ten, Ren, and meditative focus over and over. According to Aisha, moving on to other training before completing conjuration would only hinder efficiency.
As more time passed, the hallucinated chains grew increasingly vivid, until I could feel their tangible weight and icy coldness against my skin. Today, I could even hear the distinct metallic clinking of links rubbing together.
...Something was close. I was right on the verge of grasping it. As that sensation heightened, I felt an internal click—as if a key had cleanly turned in a lock.
When I looked down, I was no longer fiddling with an illusion. Genuine, conjured chains were wrapped around my fingers.
"...I did it."
Five chains extended from the fingers of my right hand, and a single chain was coiled around my left. I had finally succeeded in conjuration. To verify that this wasn't merely another waking hallucination, I swung one of the chains against the wall.
A sharp metallic crack echoed through the room, and a fissure webbed across the surface. It was real. Not a hallucination, but chains conjured by my own aura!
...I will have to pay for the wall damages later, of course.
No matter; a surge of triumph and relief flooded my chest. At long last, I had obtained the chains needed to bind those wretched spiders.
"Phew."
I let out a long breath. Checking the clock, I was startled to see that it was already two hours past the time I was scheduled to meet Aisha for dinner. I had been completely absorbed. That in itself was not a bad thing—intense concentration yields faster progress, and it had culminated in mastering conjuration.
...Still, it was unusual that Aisha hadn't contacted me. In all the time I had known her, she had never once broken an appointment without notice.
A knot of concern formed in my chest. Since my training milestone was complete, I decided to go check on her. First, I tried calling her phone.
Ring... ring... ring...
...No answer.
Why? Could it be that she wanted to answer but couldn't? Had something happened to her? Could Hisoka have attacked her?!
I decided to head directly to Aisha's room. If she wasn't there, I would check Gon and Killua's quarters. If she was nowhere to be found, it meant an unforeseen crisis had occurred—something so severe that even Aisha couldn't handle it easily. Otherwise, it made no sense for her to be late without a word.
I had to verify her safety immediately!
"P-Please, spare me..."
As I hurried toward Aisha's door, a pained, distressed voice leaked from inside.
"Now, now. We'll make this the last one."
"N-No! Not like this!"
"Oh? Are you planning to break your promise with Linna?"
"Indeed, Master. A promise is a promise."
"Ugh...! D-Do as you please!"
I could only catch fragmented phrases, but it sounded as though Aisha was cornered and being tormented! This was bad. Even if I burst in, I doubted my strength would make a decisive difference against whatever foe could corner Aisha, but I couldn't stand idly by. If I turned my back now, what kind of friend would I be?
I'm coming, Aisha!
"Hm? That presence...? Oh shoot! I was so distracted I didn't notice! Linna, Bisky, wait a—"
"Aisha! Are you alright?!"
In my haste, I shoved the door open without knocking—
Inside stood Aisha alongside two unfamiliar women. There were no signs of a violent struggle. Aisha bore no visible injuries, which was a relief.
The problem... was that Aisha was standing there nearly completely naked.
Her porcelain skin was fair, smooth, and utterly unblemished. I had literally confirmed she had not a single scratch on her body. The sheer shock caused my brain to short-circuit, and absurd thoughts raced through my head.
"K-Kurapika... um, we're a bit occupied at the moment..."
"Ah... I-I see. M-My apologies! I shall return later..."
I had to get out of there immediately and apologize properly afterward! Aisha offered an embarrassed, polite smile, but the murderous aura radiating from the other two women was terrifying. I was going to be killed!
"Greetings, Pervert-san."
"G-Greetings... N-No, wait! I am not a pervert!"
The humiliation! To be branded a pervert! That was Leorio's role, surely?! Granted, barging into such a scene naturally warranted suspicion, but—!
"Silence! Perverts must die! Yaaaah!"
She wasn't listening at all! One of the women—a tall, elegant beauty—erupted with an aura that surpassed even Hisoka's during his match with Kastro, closing the distance at blinding speed!
There was no time to dodge!
"Guh-wahhh?!"
S-So strong! Before I could even conjure a chain, I was blasted backward out into the hallway. I managed to brace myself with Ren at the last millisecond, but the sheer disparity in strength was overwhelming.
"You guarded instinctively with Ken? Excellent reflexes, even if I held back. However, you should have guarded with Gyo."
Ken? No, I used Ren... More importantly, she held back with that strike?! If that was restrained, taking a full-power hit with my current defense would have turned me into mincemeat.
Before things could escalate further, Aisha intervened. She had wrapped a sheet around herself to cover her modesty. I was immensely grateful; I wouldn't have known where to look otherwise.
"Linna! Stop!"
"B-But Master... er, Lady Aisha! This insolent scoundrel dared to lay eyes on your bare skin!"
I had no excuse, but why did this woman stammer so awkwardly every time she addressed Aisha?
"It's fine, Linna. Kurapika, are you hurt?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine, no serious damage."
I had minimized the impact by expanding my aura, but her mention of Gyo lingered in my mind. Just as seen in the match between Hisoka and Kastro, veteran Nen users relied on rapid Gyo distribution (Ryu) for dynamic offense and defense.
"That's a relief. Could you wait outside for a moment while I get dressed?"
"Understood. I will step outside immediately."
I retreated into the corridor before she even finished her sentence. Any longer in that room and my dignity would be entirely shredded.
Curse it all, where is Leorio when you need him? If he were here, he would have taken the brunt of this! ...What on earth was I thinking? I was clearly exhausted.
After catching my breath, Aisha's voice called from within.
"You may come in, Kurapika."
"Pardon the intrusion."
When I stepped back inside, Aisha was dressed in a remarkably feminine, elegant outfit.
I stared in surprise. It was the first time I had seen her dressed in such delicate, lady-like clothing—apart from the brief moment after the Hunter Exam when she quickly changed into practical athletic gear.
"I offer my sincere apologies once again for earlier."
I bowed deeply. Barging in on a woman dressing, even accidentally, was inexcusable.
"Don't worry about it. It's not like looking wears it away."
"Still, that is no excuse—"
"This girl has zero sense of danger, as always..."
"Indeed. Laying eyes upon Lady Aisha's unclad form is a transgression far beyond mere words. Execution would be too lenient."
A wave of pure killing intent washed over me. Terrifying! Death itself did not frighten me—I had already placed my life on the line when I resolved to avenge my clan. But facing a fate far worse than death at the hands of these two? That was genuinely frightening.
"As the person who was seen, if I say it's fine, it's fine. That's the end of the matter."
"Hear that, Linna?"
"Understood...!"
The tall woman glaring daggers at me was named Linna. Her aura was stifling, yet she seemed completely subservient to Aisha. What was their connection?
"Let me introduce him. This is my friend, Kurapika, whom I am currently tutoring in Nen."
"I see... so this is him!"
For a fleeting instant, I felt an aura so horrifying it made the previous killing intent seem trivial. Had I imagined it? Aisha's expression had briefly darkened, and the tall woman shrank back in fear.
I decided to introduce myself formally.
"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Kurapika. ...Forgive me, but who might you be?"
"...Forgive my manners. My name is Linna Lockbelt. I serve as the Grandmaster of the Kazama-ryu Aikijujutsu headquarters."
The Grandmaster of Kazama-ryu?! One of the two paramount martial arts schools in the world alongside Shingen-ryu Kung Fu! To stand at its helm meant she was one of the absolute pinnacles of the martial arts world. Why was someone of her stature in Aisha's room?
"And my name is Biscuit Krueger. Pleased to meet you, Kurapika-san."
"Y-Yes. Pleased to meet you as well."
The other girl appeared remarkably young and delicate—like a sweet, porcelain doll. Was she also affiliated with Kazama-ryu?
"Bisky, I asked you here to assist with Kurapika's training. You'll be spending plenty of time together, so drop the cutesy act."
"Guh! F-Fine, I get it wasa!"
Wasa?
The atmosphere shattered instantly. The delicate maiden transformed into a blunt, sharp-tongued veteran auntie.
"—Did you just think something rude?"
"N-No! Nothing of the sort!"
I felt my life flash before my eyes. If I had answered incorrectly, I would not have seen tomorrow's dawn.
"...Good. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Biscuit Krueger, a Master of Shingen-ryu Kung Fu and a Double-Star Stone Hunter. Aisha hired me to support your training."
A Master of Shingen-ryu as well?! Both grandmasters of the world's greatest martial arts traditions were gathered in this single room!
"What is the meaning of this, Aisha?"
"Address her with proper honorifics, you insolent forehead—"
"Linna?"
"...My apologies, Master."
Two things became abundantly clear: Linna Lockbelt despised me with a passion, yet she held profound, reverent awe toward Aisha. Why would the global head of Kazama-ryu treat a teenage girl as her superior?
"Kurapika, I brought Bisky here to dramatically accelerate your training. Having her guidance will make a world of difference."
"I see... so my conjuration training is officially complete?"
"Yes, though I already had a feeling you'd manage it. I've stopped being surprised by your talent."
"Well then, since conjuration is settled, we can move on to enhancing your fundamental output and applied techniques with Bisky's support."
"He really is quite the looker," Bisky murmured appraisingly. "I wonder who's better, him or Kastro?"
Linna chimed in, "Master Aisha, may I accompany you as well?"
"Don't you have responsibilities with Kastro?" Bisky interjected. "Linna recently took Kastro on as a disciple for Nen instruction."
Aisha nodded approvingly. "Kastro has immense potential and conviction. Under your tutelage, Linna, he will flourish into an extraordinary martial artist. You should return to him for now."
"Thank you, Master! I shall take my leave. Lady Aisha... until we meet at the dojo."
Linna departed, casting one last lingering, possessive glance back toward Aisha—and a venomous glare at me.
After she left, Bisky explained Linna's youthful appearance. "Linna is actually seventy-one years old. She maintains her youth through specialized Nen treatments—namely, my own Hatsu."
"And you as well?"
"Nope, this is my natural self."
When Bisky began to explain why Linna revered Aisha, Aisha hesitated. Seeing her reluctance, I spoke up. "There is no need to explain now, Aisha. I will wait until you are ready to tell me yourself."
"Kurapika..."
Bisky smiled. "Aisha, you've found yourself a fine friend."
"Yes! He is my dearest friend."
Her candid praise made me blush slightly.
Bisky asked why I sought power so urgently. I recounted the tragic massacre of the Kurta Clan, the desecration of the Scarlet Eyes, and my vow to bring the Phantom Troupe to justice.
Aisha listened quietly. Though her peaceful values made her naturally averse to senseless killing, she understood that she could not deny my righteous indignation. Her only desire was to ensure I possessed sufficient strength to survive and subdue them without losing my own life.
Bisky nodded thoughtfully. "I won't preach empty platitudes about revenge. If Aisha trusts your character, that is enough for me. I will train you with everything I have."
She revealed that Aisha had offered a fee of 100 million Jenny, but waived the monetary cost on one condition: Aisha had to model daily outfits chosen by Bisky so she could take photographs to sell to Linna.
Aisha groaned in defeat, realizing she had walked into a trap, while Bisky cackled gleefully.
Aisha then outlined my rigorous schedule:
Mornings: 150 km run to an uninhabited mountain range purchased by the Lockbelt family, followed by intensive rock excavation using Shu on mining tools.
Midday: 30-minute recovery sessions with Bisky's Magical Esthetician (Magical Spa).
Afternoons: Ken duration drills, Gyo visual recognition speed tests with push-up penalties, and close-quarters sparring.
Evenings: Extended Ken meditation and constant vigilance against surprise nocturnal attacks.
I braced myself for the grueling days ahead, wondering if I would survive the training before ever facing the spiders.
◆
[AN]
Notice of Kurapika completing his Conjuration. Unlike canon, his abilities have been slightly modified, and alongside that, an additional chain has been added to his left hand.
The abilities will be explained in later chapters. Though for the most part, it is largely unchanged from canon.