NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Chapter 23: This Girl, She’s the One!
Chapter 23: This Girl, She's the One!
"In any case, if you're hungry, you eat," Menchi declared.
Deciding not to argue with the boy who claimed to be twenty, she pulled out a knife resembling a small chef's blade from her waist. With a deft twirl, she gripped it firmly and smiled. "I'll go find something edible."
Seeing the blade in her hand, Toru warily circled around her and hid behind Haru.
Haru pointed at his own head, then toward the nearby East Town as if to say, What's wrong with you? Can't you just eat at town restaurants instead of going for wild food?
Menchi shrugged. "You're the one who decided to run off into the wilderness to train. It's strange enough that you're out here. If you're training Nen, why not stay at a hotel in town? Why did you come all the way out here so early?"
"It's too cramped in town. I need more space to move around. What about you? How can you sleep at night knowing your Nen ability is a mess at your age? If I were you, I'd practice day and night until I got it right—"
"I'm going to find ingredients!" Menchi yelled, storming into the woods with her knife.
Haru shouted after her, "It's not even noon! Even if I train myself to exhaustion today, I'm not eating lunch early. Haru doesn't break training schedules!"
As her figure disappeared into the forest, Haru crossed his arms and turned to the quiet Ginta. The two exchanged glances, neither saying a word.
The silence grew awkward until Haru suddenly felt a strange, eerie sensation—a familiar pulse of death energy stabbing into his heart. Then came another, and another.
Haru stiffened. He calculated that within a kilometer radius, the death of any living creature—excluding microscopic organisms—would send death energy surging into his heart.
The pulses dissipated upon reaching his heart like mud sinking into water.
Previously, even one death energy surge had caused his chest to ache. But now, after Menchi's swift dispatch of three animals, the resulting three surges felt much less intense.
Perhaps it was because he'd grown stronger.
Or maybe his heart hadn't yet absorbed enough death energy to affect him significantly.
Or, more likely, the process of his heart absorbing death energy operated by rules he couldn't yet comprehend.
---
"Why so little? It's barely enough to eat!" Haru grumbled, tossing aside a gnawed bone.
Menchi's cooking skills were no joke. As Ginta had said, she had been crowned World Chef Champion at age twelve. Even in the wilderness, with limited ingredients and seasonings, her roasted game tasted extraordinary, enough to make Haru nearly swallow his tongue.
Menchi smirked. "Who told you to give half of it to your tiger friend?"
Ginta finished his portion, wiped his mouth, and gazed at Toru, who was busy gnawing on half a wild deer. "A good hunter is often loved by animals. That's why just seeing poachers is enough to make people hate them."
Haru patted Toru's head. "Why is it called the Crescent Tiger anyway? That name feels unlucky."
"It's officially called the Emerald Moon Tiger because of the unique patterns on its fur that shimmer beautifully under the moonlight," Ginta explained. "Its beauty is considered one of the world's Seven Wonders. Unfortunately, that beauty has made it a target for collectors, enthusiasts, and poachers alike. Over time, it earned the name Crescent Tiger because of its endangered status."
"So… it's just unlucky in the most literal sense." Haru sighed, stroking Toru. Suddenly, he asked, "This Ghost Island appeared out of nowhere 24 years ago. Do you think someone's Nen caused it? Who could have such power?"
Ginta nodded and spoke slowly, "Whether or not Nen was involved is uncertain. Due to pressure from Kukan'yu Kingdom, there's been no thorough investigation of the island. This event caused a huge stir back then but was quickly suppressed by both governments. Over time, the records dwindled, even online."
"24 years ago, this island mysteriously appeared. Crescent Tigers were discovered here, even though they were previously exclusive to Kukan'yu Kingdom on the Azian Continent. Naturally, people speculated that this island came from Kukan'yu. The kingdom soon accused Ochima Federation of illegally occupying their territory."
---
"On May 5, 1970, part of the Kavia region within Kukan'yu Kingdom's borders inexplicably moved to form a connection with Ochima's mainland border…"
At that moment, within a Blanchett Company facility at the edge of the Crescent Tiger Sanctuary, the sanctuary's manager was reading aloud a document to Ochima's representative, Sloane.
"This led to a 13-year dispute between the two nations over ownership of what is now Ghost Island. A compromise was reached on September 1, 1983, introducing a neutral party, the Falk-Weiman Research Institute, to oversee conservation efforts for the island's endangered species."
The manager placed the document down and continued, "On December 20, 1990, Blanchett Company acquired the Falk-Weiman Research Institute. Since then, we have managed Ghost Island, balancing conservation efforts with tourism development."
He turned to Sloane and Kanzai. "According to the agreements we inherited, without Kukan'yu Kingdom's explicit approval, Ochima has no authority to investigate Ghost Island. I'm afraid we must decline your request."
Sloane grinned. "I've already told you, Kukan'yu approved this investigation."
The manager remained calm. "According to our records, Kukan'yu has issued no such statement."
"This is a direct promise from First Prince Benjamin Hui Guorou," Sloane countered.
"A prince's verbal promise holds no legal weight."
"Well, I have high hopes for Prince Benjamin as the next king. I hear King Nasubi Hui Guorou thinks highly of him too."
"That's their family matter. I have no comment."
"Isn't this island rumored to hold the tomb of Kukan'yu's legendary ancient king?"
"I have no knowledge of such a thing."
Realizing the manager wouldn't take the bait, Sloane rubbed his bald head.
---
Meanwhile, in the sanctuary's outer zone, Shizuku wandered the forest alone. "Where are all the Crescent Tigers? Not a single one in sight…"
She glanced at the midday sun, found shade under a tree, and sat down.
From above, two crow-sized birds perched on a branch, stealthily watching her.
Shizuku suddenly raised her hand, summoning an unusual vacuum cleaner-like device.
"That's her Nen ability! The conjured 'Blinky'!"
"Crow-Haru" instantly recognized the bizarre vacuum.
This strange object had a biological mouth-like nozzle that could suck in anything Shizuku deemed non-living, regardless of size or quantity. Even she didn't know where Blinky stored the items.
"Blinky, bread," Shizuku commanded.
With a pop!, the vacuum spat out freshly packaged bread onto the ground.
Shizuku picked up a few pieces and began eating, then muttered, "Blinky, water."
Pop! The vacuum produced a bottle of mineral water, seemingly fresh off a supermarket shelf.
After drinking, Shizuku glanced up and noticed the two birds staring intently at her. Their gaze felt unusually intelligent, almost as if they were analyzing her…
In truth, both "birds" were thinking the same thing:
"This girl's ability is perfect for survival. She's the one!"
---
"What do you mean, 'She's the one'?!"
Menchi's panicked voice jolted Haru from his thoughts.
Brandishing her knife, Menchi warned, "Even if you claim to be 20, I haven't fully believed you yet. Besides, looking like a kid, don't even think about getting weird ideas about me, Haru!"
Haru was speechless. Finally, with a deadpan face, he retorted, "What's wrong with how I look? I once met a fifty-year-old who looked like a porcelain doll trying to act cute! Honestly…"
(Chapter end)