Chapter 320: Vanessa’s Despair—Careless Agreement

Walking back towards the mansion, the snake’s cries growing slightly louder as it’s desperately crying for more water, making Auren genuinely stumped.

“I can’t just always use Heavy Rain... I’m already feeling the drain. I’m training and keeping it up constantly; for the first time, I’m feeling genuinely dazed, and my head is hurting a little,” Auren admits, rubbing his temple.

“But...” Neffi replies. “What can you do? It’s the only thing that can keep that little cutie satisfied. Or you’ll have to throw her in a lake... but then you can’t take her with you.”

“I’m not sure...” Auren replies. “It’s not like I can learn a new Hatsu just to create water to feed her. I don’t even want to name all the reasons why that would be a bad idea. I mean, I can already do it, but it’s even less effective and more draining than Heavy Rain.”

“Perhaps something... that can store things?” Neffi suggests.

“I can’t. My oath prevents me from learning such a Hatsu. Even if I randomly add a water element to it, it’s still forbidden; after all, I can’t deceive myself. That’s clearly... no... exactly what I thought about when I made the oath. That’s a no-go. As for finding something, convenient items like that don’t exist. This isn’t a game where I’ll just stumble across something I need for my situation. This is the real world.”

Game...? Real world?

... ... ...

Perhaps... it’s almost time anyway.

When I first... arrived at Lidor’s Mansion, I made various notes; by now, I know them by heart. I wrote down quite a few magical cards belonging to a certain game... I’m pretty sure there is one which would be just what I need! Not just pretty sure. I know the exact card I want- no, the exact card I need!

I must get it or this snake will drive me mad!

It’s not time yet... but I definitely need to take action soon; I already own the game anyway. It would not only be convenient, but it would also serve other purposes... Conjuring water is incredibly difficult, but just manipulating it is not... so many opportunities.

Something benign that nobody else would pick is exactly what I need!

“You thought of something?” Neffi asks, half guessing, half stating.

“Maybe,” Auren replies. “Let’s talk with our Fame Hunter first.”

Making a short stop in the mansion and entering the room provided to them, the snake once again drinks tons of water from the bathroom as it happily plays in the bathtub.

Auren and Neffi stare at each other helplessly as the bathtub suddenly empties in just a few seconds.

After the snake has had its fill, they leave again and make their way deeper into the forest, towards the backside of the mountain, the opposite end from where the Trial Gate is located.

Hearing sounds of yelling and things shattering in the distance, Auren and Neffi don’t have to struggle to find their way towards their goal.

Arriving after a couple of minutes, they see Vanessa standing in a clearing. However, to their surprise, she is wearing a helmet that looks like a torture instrument. Obscuring her vision, allowing only a tiny bit of empty space, and looking extremely heavy with various metal parts sticking out of it, disturbing her balance, the helmet leaves Auren quite surprised.

In addition to that, Vanessa is wearing weighted clothes, not just vests, but outright armor that appears ancient. She also has metal shackles around her feet, legs, and arms. Even her hands, which are wearing Auren’s Regalia, are covered with additional shackles.

In the distance, Auren sees various wooden spears and stones being flung at her at high speed, all of them covered in Aura, using Shu.

Despite the weight, Vanessa reacts in an instant, not using En, but relying purely on her senses and reactions to strike down any projectiles coming at her with precision.

“Is Maha bombarding her? That’s some intense training,” Auren admits.

Snickering, Neffi can’t help but pick up a couple of rocks and throw them at Vanessa at the same time as Maha resumes his attacks.

Reacting to Maha’s wooden projectiles, Vanessa punches down four in a row, only for her to panic as she notices Neffi’s attack and shifts her body, desperately pulverizing one of the stones thrown by Neffi, turning it into dust.

Regrettably, the second one hits her against her metal helmet, which shatters on impact as well.

“You are quite mean... Neffi,” Auren points out, feeling a hint of pity for Vanessa. “However, she almost had it.”

“Hey! That’s unfair!” Vanessa yells loudly, ripping off her helmet, trying to take it off, but failing spectacularly.

As Auren and Neffi walk closer, Maha also appears, looking a little dissatisfied.

“Hehe, there might be more enemies waiting; you can’t just focus on one direction and one opponent. If you match their rhythm, a second attacker might surprise you,” Neffi replies.

“While she is right... don’t use that excuse to justify your prank,” Auren says, unable to hide a grin himself, positioning himself so Vanessa doesn’t notice.

“Damn you, Neffi,” Vanessa yells, trying to catch Neffi, only for her to easily dodge her. Vanessa, with her limited vision and added weights, is completely outclassed in terms of speed and agility and clumsily chases after her.

“Sorry to interrupt your training,” Auren says to Maha, who now looks at him, as if asking what he wants. “We have a reason for doing so, though. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Finally!” Vanessa says, giving up on her chase and returning to Auren. “I can’t take this anymore.”

I’m sorry to say this... but...

“You should stay a while longer... it looks like your training is incredibly effective, and you haven’t quite finished what Master Maha taught you,” Auren replies, seeing her eyes beneath the helmet widen.

“Huh? How can I stay behind? I need to teach Leroute! I’m her master!” Vanessa argues immediately.

“I’ll be teaching the others anyway... one more doesn’t make much of a difference,” Auren says. “You can finish your training and then join us in a month or two.”

“I... I know you are right... but I caaaan’t bring myself to say it,” Vanessa admits with a heavy sigh. “... ... ... Fine... damnit... I’ll regret this... I just know.”

Seeing Maha grin, a slight but clearly devious smile forming on his sewn-together lips, Auren feels quite satisfied.

Even if he can’t admit it, he likes her.

“Will you let her rest for the rest of the day, Master Maha?” Auren asks, causing Maha to turn around and simply walk back towards the mansion.

“Hey! You still got the keys!” Vanessa yells after him, chasing him desperately.

Slowly but surely following along, Maha slows down on purpose, giving Vanessa the illusion that she can catch him. Dodging by just a hair’s breadth, he keeps playing around with her until they reach the mansion.

“Give me the keys!” Vanessa roars, sweat pouring down her body as she breathes hard.

Maha shrugs and then points back to where they just came from.

“Does he mean to say he left the keys where you were training?” Neffi wonders, causing Vanessa to collapse and grumble, almost fainting. “Damn old fossil, bastard, torturous, slave-driving, asshole, perverted, smug, unfair, evil, tiny, imp, devil, idiot, fucker..........”

Still, despite her anger as she lists off the longest list of insults Auren has ever heard and her exhaustion, she gets up and stomps away, heading back towards the clearing.

“I’ll... just follow along to make sure she’s okay,” Neffi says, a little pale, not sure if she should be worried about Vanessa or laugh at the situation.

“Thank you,” Auren says, looking after them.

Left alone with Maha and, of course, his pet, which curiously eyes the old man, Auren watches as Maha does not leave but instead stares at him.

“I’m grateful that you are teaching her,” Auren says, briefly lowering his head. “I mean it.”

“It means nothing. It’s just a whim of mine,” he replies, once again shocking Auren. “It’s interesting to take on another student after many, many decades. Also, if it’s her... it’s equally satisfying.”

“Heh, I’m not sure if you’re talking about her growth, potential, or just the satisfaction of seeing her struggle and rage,” Auren says. “In any case... the promise I gave you... I intend to keep it.”

Not responding further, Maha simply nods at him.

“Do you want to keep being an assassin?” Auren suddenly asks. “Why don’t you join my... organization? We could use someone like you. You could train a lot more people and eventually join me in my search; that way you can find out on your own.”

Maha shrugs, simply stating, “Too old. It’s almost time....”

“If I... could change that, would that change your reply as well?” Auren suddenly asks, talking quickly.

Looking at Auren with mockery, Maha shrugs and walks towards the mansion.

“That’s...” Auren begins, now smiling widely. “Not a no... I’ll take that as a yes... and a promise. I’ll be back sooner than you might think, old man!”

“You know... I could even introduce you to a woman your age,” Auren continues, walking after him. “I’m afraid I’m gonna insist, hehe, so I’ll make it up to you with various gifts.”

Looking genuinely frightened, Maha stares at Auren with outright confusion, causing him to speed up even more before disappearing inside the mansion.

Finally, after a couple of hours, all the Zoldycks, except Killua, are once again dining with Auren, Neffi, and an utterly exhausted Vanessa, enjoying their goodbye meal.

“I learned a lot from you... and I’m genuinely grateful you’re allowing Vanessa to stay a while longer,” Auren says.

“Likewise. I’m quite surprised myself,” Zeno says. “And considering the fact that you won’t flood our precious home and estate anymore, I’m willing to allow a bunch of craters  to appear in our little mountain forest.”

“Auren dear,” Kikyo says, looking slightly unhappy. “Take care of Kill for me, will you, dear?”

“Of course,” Auren says. “As long as he’s with me, I’ll guarantee his safety. Even if we eventually go our separate ways, I’ll always help him.”

Everyone, especially Silva, looks quite pleased with Auren’s reply, while Illumi maintains a calm, emotionless face.

However, to Auren’s surprise, Milluki looks slightly annoyed as he sits there without eating, not even listening.

“Not hungry, Milluki?” Auren asks, his curiosity piqued.

“I’m... on a diet,” Milluki explains.

“Heh, your last one lasted three days,” Zeno says. “You are simply unable to lose weight. It’s a fact that can’t be changed in life. If I could, I’d simply find a Nen user who could make you thin, but I haven’t been so lucky yet.”

Silva merely glares at his son, showing utter disappointment.

“Heh, do you want to experience the worst pain of your life, Milluki?” Auren asks. “In return... you’ll be thin and healthy. At least for a while... until you overeat again.”

“Really?! I accept!” Milluki carelessly says.

“I’ll give you one more chance to think about what you just said. I’m not joking. It’s the worst torture imaginable; your mind might break,” Auren says. “Also, I have a condition. Tell me the real reason why you are suddenly on a diet.”

“I... I can do it!” Milluki yells, sounding just a tad unsure, obviously not fully convinced. “As for the reason... I... don’t want to disgust Vanni... and I want to convince her to model for me so I can create my ultimate doll!”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“A deal is a deal,” Auren says, smiling.

Nen games... experiments! There’s something I’m curious about and want to try! I’m sorry, Milluki, but you’ll be experiencing a nightmare.