Chapter 7: Goodbye (Part 1)
Under the moonlit night, the sea shimmered with light. "Wolf Haru" crouched near the window of the small yacht, its glowing green eyes vigilantly scanning the shore.
Suddenly, its ears twitched forward, detecting faint footsteps in the otherwise silent night.
Through its enhanced night vision, it spotted a shadowy figure trudging along the shore. Back in the cabin, Haru, preoccupied with his growing list of uncertainties—his heart condition and the strange phenomena surrounding it—snapped to attention.
No time to dwell on the future. Right now, survival is what matters.
"Wolf Haru" bolted back to Haru's side. Together, they pushed a large crate into position as cover. Haru then directed the wolf into the room opposite the hallway, leaving the door slightly ajar so its sharp eyes could observe through the crack.
Haru turned to the striped tiger. "Toru, buddy, no offense, but I need you ready."
Out of options, Haru plucked a strand of his own hair and used it to form the familiar pentagram symbol on Toru's underside. The tiger, docile and compliant, watched him with trusting eyes, eliciting a pang of guilt.
"Thanks, pal," Haru muttered, patting its flank.
He crouched behind the crate, his breaths slow and steady as he readied himself. Through three sets of ears—his own, the wolf's, and the tiger's—he monitored the faint sounds coming from the ship's entrance.
Soon, the faint sound of footsteps grew closer.
Thud… thud…
The intruder's pace slowed. Then it stopped altogether.
After a pause, the footsteps resumed, this time more cautious.
They must have noticed the mess I left… Haru cursed himself.
"Who's there? Come out!"
The voice echoed down the corridor as the intruder took another step.
Haru steadied his breathing, keeping his eyes shut to focus entirely on the sounds around him.
In the darkened hallway, a single wolf's eye glimmered faintly through the door's crack, while Toru crouched low, muscles taut, ready to pounce.
---
Much later, Haru lay sprawled against Toru's flank, mentally replaying the encounter.
He had won, but just barely.
If the intruder had possessed even a little more Nen, Haru might have lost. Against a trained Nen user, both Toru and the wolf were little more than distractions.
A Nen user's durability was such that even close-range gunfire would struggle to penetrate their defenses—let alone the claws and fangs of mere animals.
My Star Mark is potent, Haru reflected. But it relies on landing a hit first.
He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. I need to focus on the basics. The Four Major Principles—Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu—I barely grasp Hatsu, and that's only because I've been winging it.
My Nen reserves are pitiful. Just two uses of Star Mark nearly drained me dry. This can't go on.
His thoughts wandered back to his heart. And what about the "death energy"? Is it a blessing… or a curse?
Toru rumbled beneath him, its steady breathing reverberating like distant thunder.
Haru lay curled against its warmth, the rhythmic vibrations lulling him into an uneasy sleep.
---
In the windowless room, Muser sat in silence, his mind racing.
Impossible, he thought.
That kid… did he manipulate himself the same way I do?
The realization struck like a lightning bolt.
The boy's caution, his precision—it wasn't just skillful. It was the work of someone with a veteran's instinct.
He fights as though he's seen countless Nen battles… but how could a five-year-old have such experience?
Muser shook his head. No… it's not possible.
He thought back to his earlier theory: that the boy's growth was accelerated by a parasitic Nen beast left behind by the boy's mother.
But even that explanation fell apart.
How would an infant know how to speak? To think critically? To wield Nen with such precision?
Muser laughed bitterly.
He's no ordinary child. And now…
He glanced at his hand. Every time he reached for the door handle, his muscles locked.
The boy's final command was still in effect.
Muser's forehead glistened with sweat. His life now rested entirely in the hands of that boy.
There's only one way out, he realized, his expression hardening.
From the hidden compartment in his shoe, he retrieved a small, disassembled firearm. With practiced efficiency, he assembled the weapon, loading a single bullet into the chamber.
Standing tall, Muser turned to face the north—toward Kakin.
"Forgive me, Prince Benjamin," he whispered. "I leave the rest to you."
He raised the gun to his temple.
Bang!
---
The muffled gunshot echoed through the ship.
Toru immediately snapped awake, its head lifting sharply. The tiger nudged Haru, who was still half-asleep against its side.
"Cut it out," Haru mumbled, swatting at Toru's paw.
But the tiger persisted, gently but firmly pushing Haru until he groggily sat up.
"What…?" Haru rubbed his eyes, the remnants of sleep slipping away.
Was that a gunshot?
He frowned, focusing his thoughts.
The Star Mark on Muser had entered a dormant state, a detail that didn't sit well with Haru.
Did I lose control? Or…
He shifted his perspective to the wolf's first-person view.
"Wolf Haru" blinked, its night vision adapting to the dimly lit hallway.
The door to Muser's room remained shut. But the wolf hadn't reacted to the gunshot.
Haru groaned internally. Of course. I told it to kill him only if he tried to leave. I didn't account for…
The wolf pushed open the door with its paws, stepping into the room.
The smell of blood hit immediately.
Muser lay crumpled in a pool of red, a tiny handgun still clutched in his hand.
"Wolf Haru" tilted its head, curious.
The bullet hole in Muser's left temple told the rest of the story.
---
(End of Chapter)