Upon arriving at Auren's home and greeting his lazy masters, who are in the middle of another chess game while receiving massages from their maids, Auren immediately pulls Konrad aside.
Time for my own Advanced Nen technique. A combination of En and Ken. By pushing my Ken to the absolute limit and going for range, instead of focusing on defense, I can create a way smaller version of En that is capable of pushing aside any other En! People performing En will just notice a large shield inside their radius without knowing any more details. Even Gyo can't see through it.
I call it... Enken!
Though the name requires some more work, I guess....
Performing what appears to be an extremely thick and powerful En, but barely 5 meters large, Auren stares at Konrad.
That should give us some privacy. Now... I wonder how many lies she told.
"Tell me. What did you see?" Auren asks him. "Was she lying?"
"No, in fact, she was the most truthful person I have ever seen," Konrad replies, his eyes looking somewhat embarrassed.
"..."
"..."
"Are you kidding me? Did you fall in love with her or what's wrong, huh?" Auren asks him. "Your Hatsu clearly failed then."
"I don't think so, Auren," Konrad replies seriously. "I think... it's more about what she's not saying. What she is saying is doubtlessly true. I'd admit it if I thought my Hatsu was not working, or if my... desires got in my way, but I really don't think so. However... when she stared at me... I got the feeling she could see right through me. My entire body tensed up... and I am not talking dirty here. I... I think she knows. In front of her... I feel inferior and almost worthless. So I'm quite cautious about making important statements... but I believe her words can be trusted. In fact... you realize that even now she knows that the two of us are having a private conversation."
True... but so what? I refuse to be spied upon any longer.
"..." Auren remains silent, deep in thought.
So she really is truthful? Maybe I've misjudged her. This is all because I get the feeling they're talking behind my back... and have plans for me. If they were more upfront, I wouldn't have these thoughts.
Anyway... she could probably see through Konrad even without looking at him... still, there is no reason to doubt Konrad. I have to hope that Leira succeeds in getting some info out of Rosa. I feel a little uncomfortable if the truth is being withheld from me.
Time slowly passes, and despite the relatively short reunion, everyone still decides to focus on their own things, and the group splits up again.
Leira is still on the island and is, of course, more than just a little busy with her numerous experiments. The Rice, obviously her top priority.
Eren decides to finally spend some time with his siblings, and with Battle Olympia over and his reputation as a top Floor Master established, he has no reason to return there. They, along with Ella and Killi, decide to live at the new settlements for a year or two with the intention of buying and maintaining a small villa, after scouting the area and deciding on a suitable location.
Konrad almost immediately returns to Yorknew and continues managing his businesses.
Neffi unexpectedly also returns with him, deciding to focus even more on her company and mastering her newfound craft. Of course, Auren promised to provide her with some more feedback about the armor she specifically made for him. However, before she leaves, she insists that she will join him when the Hunter Exam starts, reasoning that she, along with Vanessa, had decided to 'help out' for the exam.
Goreinu, seemingly bored, rejoins Zepile, Ura, and Oron and decides to help out with their acquisition of items, apparently following a clue leading to an item that sounds suspiciously like a Regalia, not just a weapon or armor piece with lingering Aura.
Every one of them takes a very small supply of the mysterious rice with them, Goreinu taking some extra for the others, while Auren still keeps most of his own supplies with him, depositing it on a secure spot on his airship, tightly guarded by Marsha.
Only Vanessa decides to stay with Auren, as she wants to continue sparring with him. The two eat almost half a kilo each as they continue to train and spar with incredible intensity, Vanessa's Aura growing at a more and more rapid pace, surprising Auren greatly.
Even Rakshala, who, of course, continues using En around the clock, notices and visits the two of them quite often, offering some advice, especially to Vanessa. Sometimes she also joins the spar and is able to spar with Vanessa on equal terms, even teaching her during the fight.
When fighting, she does not rely on Aura or physical strength, but, similar to Pariston, controls her opponent by completely reading and predicting any moves.
As time passes and the new year gets closer and closer, it is almost time for Auren to head towards Swardani City to meet up with the other examiners. Planning on making just a little stop in Yorknew, where he's scheduled a meeting with Pariston, the time for Auren to set off has finally arrived.
Sparring one last time with Vanessa, while Rakshala watches with an amused and curious expression, the two clash against each other, not holding back their Auras.
Auren, merely using Basic and Advanced techniques, can't afford to take it easy on her anymore, as Vanessa fights with all her might and is becoming more and more skilled, finally able to put to use her incredible Aura. While she avoids using her Meteor Fist, Meteor Straight, and her even more powerful Hatsu that could destroy Auren's entire mansion, she uses simple, emitted punches from time to time, even adding some Manipulation into them, causing them to slightly curve or slow down, or speed up mid-flight.
She's finally using her brain a little. Manipulation, along with Enhancement, is still a neighboring affinity. Of course she should use it, even when performing basic attacks.
With a mind-blowingly quick four-punch combo, sending four ranged strikes flying towards Auren, who is cornered and can barely dodge them all as every one of them behaves abnormally, Rakshala claps from behind.
"Excellent," she cheers. "Just like we trained."
Continuing their brawl, with Auren slowly but surely gaining the upper hand, as he's clearly superior in hand-to-hand combat, especially from up close, the spar ends.
Breathing heavily, a slightly frustrated Vanessa complains. "Why... can't I... keep up?! I'm so close... but... I can't climb that last wall."
"You can... by now, I am not exactly holding back anymore. You are pretty good... especially for an Emitter," Auren admits. "I'd say you'd be able to beat up the likes of Pariston if you know how he thinks and fights."
"That... doesn't cheer me up. That weak-ass smug idiot can't be that strong," Vanessa says, still breathing heavily.
You'd think... his true strength is unknown even to me.
Rakshala then walks up and looks at Vanessa, her face suddenly concerned. "Did you... make an Oath?" she asks, completely out of the blue.
"Oath?" Vanessa repeats. "I guess you could call it that, just a small one though."
This woman....
"You..." Auren says, shocked. "I told you the dangers!"
Vanessa nods, looking completely relaxed. "Yes, and you yourself also made one, right? Mine is much simpler, so don't worry about me."
"It partially explains your unnatural rate of improvement," Rakshala states. "You can talk to me at any time. I'd be glad to offer some guidance."
"I appreciate it," Vanessa says, smiling. "But I am not stupid. I'll be fine."
"..."
Eating a quick snack, rice balls made with various fillings, the three talk idly for once, Rakshala unexpectedly casual and approachable.
"I suppose you two will keep up your training... Auren, your new technique seems like a waste of your time, in my humble opinion," Rakshala states, appearing a little annoyed.
Auren grins and shakes his head. "Nope, my Enken is very important. Your intrusive and frankly dystopian use of En, reminding me of an absolute police state, gave me the idea... but perhaps there are other strong En users, or maybe people with scouting abilities. I have the feeling this ability may come in handy. It also helps me train my Ken and En at the same time, so I don't waste any time."
"Though I dislike it... for personal reasons, I hate to admit it, but I agree," Rakshala says. "It's an incredible technique. To have reached the point where you can come up with custom Advanced Nen Applications... at your age. That is the realm of true mastery you're approaching... no, you have entered it."
"I can't even use En... how can you come up with such a technique on your own? It's insane! You really are like a master..." Vanessa says, her face full of genuine surprise and admiration.
"You don't seem like the type to appreciate something this boring," Auren comments.
"If I really like something, I treasure all aspects of it! I like Nen, and I won't ever get bored improving. Which is why I'm so frustrated that I just don't have any talent with En... though I've reached a radius of 1.8 meters! You said 2 meters is the minimum requirement. I'm sooo close."
"Why focus on something you know to be unsuitable for yourself?" Rakshala asks, smiling softly.
"Because I love Nen! All of it." Vanessa bluntly states. "So even if I'm destined to be the worst En user, I at least want to become one. Knowing the entirety of something may help me come up with new stuff, just like Auren casually made up his own Advanced technique."
"Quite the mature and agreeable position," Rakshala comments, snickering, before petting her head, causing to Vanessa to close her eyes and giggle. "I wish you the best of luck. I'm afraid I'll be leaving as well. I'm heading to our new nation. It's unclear if I should return here or stay there permanently. The location here is close to Yorknew, so it's much more convenient, but as a leader, I need to be close to our people. I also need to test out the effects of the seeds."
Vanessa perks up, her face full of confusion. "I heard it still takes time and experiments to see if the rice can grow here? How can you test its effects?"
"..."
If she talks about seeds, she means... her Nen marks on everyone... which the elders are dutifully placing. I heard they perform the tiny ritual daily, sometimes for hundreds of people.
"Let's go, Vanessa," Auren remarks, 'saving' Rakshala from replying.
Finally, the two say their goodbyes to Rakshala and, accompanied by Jolt, along with Marsha, who is in the mood for another journey, the two enter the airship and start their travel to Yorknew.
Auren, of course, also takes the egg with him, which seems slightly more active now, Auren guessing the birth is getting closer and closer.
Back in Yorknew, the two meet up with Pariston in a luxury hotel called Hotel Bayloke.
They enter the lobby, which is completely empty, with just two staff members present, both looking nervous. In addition to that, a bunch of suspicious bodyguards are also present, razor-focused on watching out for any intruders.
Confidently walking past reception and going past a bunch of bodyguards, Auren guesses to be Hunters and multiple 'normal' bodyguards, all properly dressed in neat black suits, Auren and Vanessa are led to Pariston, who is relaxing on the top floor.
Upon seeing Auren and Vanessa, Pariston can't help but smile, as he exaggeratedly stands up from his seat, full of enthusiasm.
"Oh my, if it isn't the two-time victor of Battle Olympia and the famous Meteor Fist Vanessa ✨. It is such a pleasure to see you again, Auren, and of course, to meet your talented and lovely girlfriend," Pariston says excitedly.
"... You haven't changed a lot, Pariston," Auren replies.
"I'm already close to perfection, so any change would only lead to something worse ✨," Pariston states, stretching his hands towards the sky.
Typical Pariston.
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