In this world, all information related to "Nen" was kept from the public.
Therefore, ordinary people knew nothing about Nen.
Even if they had personally witnessed Nen users displaying unusual abilities, they would only regard them as beings like psychics, superhumans, or people with special powers.
The many phenomena once caused by "Grudges" had been deemed supernatural occurrences brought about by ghosts and spirits.
Moyu had no shadow.
If the woman noticed that, she would definitely mistake Moyu for some kind of ghost or spirit.
A set of footsteps echoed within the Temple.
Facing the main gate, Moyu slowly backed toward the courtyard, glancing from the corner of his eye at the woman crawling across the ground.
The dark night, the mountain forest, a monster.
And a woman who had fled in panic to the Temple for help.
In this tourist attraction with its dismal visitor traffic, such a scene had never played out before.
Not to mention anything distant—there had never even been any reports of murder or accidental death.
Yet this had happened on the very second day after he learned Ten and awakened his Nen Ability.
Was it a coincidence, or was there some other reason?
Moyu silently pondered this.
If Ten and Soul Echo had not given him a certain degree of confidence, he truly did not know how he would deal with the threat before him.
Before Nen, ordinary people truly had no power to resist.
Now, though, as long as he ensured he had a route of retreat, he could use this so-called "monster" to test his skills.
Though calling it a monster...
Although he could not get any more information from the woman, judging from the amount and intensity of the aura, the other party was most likely a Nen user with only a superficial grasp of the basics.
Having made up his mind, Moyu retreated all the way to the courtyard, stopped, and asked, "What's your name?"
"Monica Hope."
Lying on the ground, the woman answered weakly between ragged breaths.
"Monica, right? I need you to stay here and not move. Can you do that?"
From beginning to end, Moyu's gaze had never left the aura in the darkness.
During the time he had retreated from the front gate to the courtyard, the speed at which that mass of aura approached had noticeably increased, more or less revealing its desire to attack.
Before making contact, he could not determine whether the owner of that aura was specifically after Monica or simply an indiscriminate attacker driven by the urge to hunt and kill.
But whether it was the former or the latter, he needed Monica to serve as bait.
He felt no psychological burden in making that decision. After all, Monica had brought this trouble upon herself.
"What... y-you want me to stay here and not move?"
Monica stared blankly at Moyu, thinking she had misheard him.
Her companions' agonized screams still rang in her ears. Telling her to remain here was no different from throwing her into a tiger's jaws.
"Yes."
Moyu answered concisely, then slowly looked at Monica.
Since opening the door, this was the first time his gaze had settled on Monica's face.
There was only one choice.
Although Moyu did not explain anything, Monica, whose will to survive surpassed that of most people, could read some vague meaning in his eyes—eyes so calm that not a single ripple could be seen within them.
Then her mind began racing faster than it ever had before.
Bait!
In an instant, Monica understood her value in this situation.
She could willingly remain as bait and help the boy before her deal with the monster that had slaughtered her companions.
Or she could refuse to stay, and the boy would abandon her, leaving her like some pathetic insect struggling through this courtyard as she waited for death to arrive.
What choice was there, really...?
Monica slowly came back to her senses. There was no need to ask further; she struggled to say in a nearly despairing tone, "All right. I'll stay here and won't move."
"You're very smart."
Moyu gave Monica a long, deep look.
That will to survive—the kind that would desperately clutch even at a single straw—was never meaningless.
In return, provided circumstances allowed, he would do everything he could to keep Monica alive.
"Your decision has gained Perception's approval. Your current Manifestation Aura cap has increased by 10%."
Moyu had been about to turn off the unnecessary lights when that genderless voice sounded in his mind once more.
After the final syllable faded—
Moyu could clearly feel that the amount of aura released from his body had increased.
"This time, it was because of my decision?"
Moyu's expression shifted slightly.
The first time had been because his outstanding appearance pleased "Perception." This second time, Perception had approved of his decisive choice to leave Monica in the courtyard as bait.
Just what exactly was this Perception...?
A thought flashed through Moyu's mind, and his raised foot stopped in midstep.
He thought of the bizarre Calamities beyond the world map, and of another answer he had instinctively rejected.
The situation did not allow him to investigate further. What he could confirm for now was—
Perception's existence benefited him.
Setting those thoughts aside for the moment, Moyu turned off the unnecessary lights in the Temple as quickly as possible.
Before long, every area of the Temple except for the courtyard where Monica was located had plunged into darkness.
The only remaining light source shone over the helpless Monica like a spotlight focused upon a stage.
Meanwhile, Moyu concealed himself in the darkness of a corner and waited quietly for that mass of aura to arrive.
Not long after.
Footsteps sounded outside the Temple gate. They first climbed the stairs, then crossed the threshold—
The intruder had come openly and brazenly.
From the corner, Moyu's pupils contracted slightly.
In this ink-black night, the glow of Nen was as conspicuous as the moon.
That meant—
Moyu had been able to see the other party in the night from the gate earlier, so naturally, the other party could also see Moyu standing before the gate.
So, despite knowing there was another Nen user here, the intruder still chose to enter directly through the front gate.
Was he simply confident in his superior skill? Or was he an Enhancer capable of both offense and defense, one who excelled at direct combat?
Moyu's thoughts raced.
Several breaths later, the footsteps drew nearer and nearer.
At last, a figure radiating aura entered the courtyard and walked straight toward Monica, as though he had not noticed Moyu's existence.
But Moyu could not possibly naively believe that the other party had failed to notice him.
Meanwhile, Monica, obediently curled up in the center of the courtyard, began trembling violently in terror.
Hidden in the darkness, Moyu quietly observed the newcomer.
The other party was a slender man covered in blood. Every step he took left a bloody mark upon the ground.
The blood staining the man's body had likely come from Monica's companions.
But compared to that copious amount of blood, what concerned Moyu more was...
The man's aura differed from what he had observed earlier. It was clearly fuller and more powerful.
That was enough to show—
The other party truly knew there was a Nen user here, and had therefore taken Moyu seriously.
A huge thanks to "321323315" for the Alliance Leader donation. I'm truly on my knees here!!! Since I write without an outline, I spend more time thinking while writing... which makes my writing speed very slow. But I'll clarify my ideas as soon as possible and strive to increase the number of updates while maintaining quality. Thanks again for the Alliance Leader donation. All Piggy can do is do my utmost to write this Hunter fanfic well!!!
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