Hunter x hunter: I’m interested in Nen abilities

Chapter 47: "Hey!"

"It looks like we won't be able to leave until tomorrow morning."

After disembarking with the crowd, Kanzai glanced at the twilight sky and sighed. "This is what they mean by 'unpredictable weather.'"

Is that how the phrase is supposed to be used? Haru was stunned. Turning to look at the Tiger of the Twelve Zodiac, he remarked, "I thought you had already left."

Kanzai replied, "My mission isn't finished yet. Why would I leave?"

Menchi chimed in, "We hardly saw you on the ship."

With his hands behind his head, Kanzai said casually, "If a bodyguard strays too far from their employer, that's when there's a problem."

"Fair enough," Shizuku nodded. "You might not be well-educated, but your experience is substantial."

Menchi was shocked. Shizuku, with her gentle demeanor, turned out to be so sharp-tongued? Yet, her usual calm expression made it seem like she wasn't intentionally mocking Kanzai.

"I'm a professional Hunter, after all. What did you expect?" Kanzai said with a grin.

So, he only hears the compliments, huh? Not just Haru—Dago and the others couldn't help but sweat nervously in silence.

Ochema's bald-headed Sloane interjected to mediate, "Let's find a hotel to stay at for the night and leave tomorrow."

He smiled as if recalling something. "Tomorrow is the 16th. Mr. Kanzai's short-term bodyguard contract runs until the end of January. It's rare to hire a capable member of the Hunter Association's Twelve Zodiac. If we handle some minor issues along the way, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Kanzai said, "Anyway, I'm the bodyguard, and I'll fulfill my duties."

Dago and the others, having nothing better to do and hoping to negotiate for higher pay, agreed.

Haru then looked at Menchi.

While on the ship, the three of them had spent a lot of time poring over a world map. Haru pinpointed several destinations he wanted to visit, such as the Hunter Association headquarters, the Lost Melody Wetlands, the Heavens Arena, and even the Zoldyck family estate, which was practically a tourist spot. He also considered visiting NGL to scout the place.

Shizuku didn't have a specific destination in mind—she simply followed Haru wherever he went.

Menchi, however, had her own plans.

"I'm not leaving Ochema," Menchi had declared while lying on her bunk in the cabin. Tracing a line across the map from Ochema's position in the southeast corner, she said, "Since I'm already here, I plan to travel around the Nuaamil Continent, sampling local cuisines and hunting for rare ingredients."

"After all, I'm a Gourmet Hunter."

With a smile, she reached out to pat Haru on the head, only to be met with a flick of his middle finger. "Little girl, are you itching for a fight?"

"Haha," Menchi laughed.

...

The group checked into a hotel, with Sloane footing the bill as usual.

After a brief rest, they trickled out of their rooms and gathered at the hotel restaurant for dinner.

Curious about Kanzai, Haru asked while cutting into a steak, "Mr. Kanzai, you look quite young. When did you become a member of the Twelve Zodiac?"

Kanzai speared a large piece of meat and chewed on it. "A few years ago, I think. I can't remember exactly."

Haru said, "I heard the Twelve Zodiac are personally selected by Chairman Netero."

Pausing his meal, Kanzai fixed Haru with a stare. After a moment, he said, "Do you want to join? The spots are full. That's what they call 'overcrowding.'"

"Unless the Chairman decides to replace someone," Kanzai continued, wiping meat sauce from his mouth and grinning. "The Chairman invited me because I'm strong. If you can defeat me, I could recommend you as my replacement. Want to try?"

"Mr. Kanzai, I'm not a treasure," Haru replied. "The way you're staring at me is making me feel pressured."

"Hmm!" Kanzai grabbed another steak and dug in. "This is what they call generosity!"

What a wordsmith…

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Haru brought a bottle of juice to his room and opened the window. Under the cover of night, a rock sparrow and two crows flew in.

The city's moonlight was dim. Haru dipped his finger into the juice and drew a crescent shape on the windowsill.

A ball of aura gathered at his fingertip, covering the crescent shape drawn in juice, leaving a dark gray moonlit mark.

"The moon mark is just a communication tool; the target carrying it doesn't matter. The mark itself is the anchor. So, it can also be applied to objects…"

Lost in thought, Haru turned and noticed Shizuku stepping onto her balcony next door to enjoy the breeze.

Haru waved with a smile. Shizuku tilted her head and waved back.

...

The next morning, January 16th, 7:00 AM.

At the bustling train station, Menchi, carrying a simple backpack with a kitchen knife strapped to her waist, stood ready to board. With her Hunter License, she could flaunt such items without issue—a true perk of being a professional Hunter.

Haru and Shizuku had come to see her off. Their train to Ochema's larger city of Cosmo wouldn't depart until 9:15. Cosmo, a more modern metropolis than the port city of Greebo, offered international ship tickets for traveling to other continents.

Thanks to their Hunter Licenses, they didn't need visas for such journeys.

"Wait," Haru suddenly asked Shizuku. "You don't have a Hunter License. Did you manage to get a visa to stay in Ochema?"

Unlikely, considering Meteor City residents didn't even have formal identities in international databases.

Shizuku replied, "We have people who can forge all kinds of documents."

"That's not very ethical," Haru criticized. "Maybe I should get a batch made too."

"What are you whispering about?" Menchi complained. "Aren't you here to see me off?"

"You haven't left yet?" Haru feigned surprise.

Menchi bared her teeth at him, but she couldn't help laughing. "Fine, we'll meet again anyway! Next time, I'll amaze you! I've thought of a fantastic new ability, perfectly suited for me!"

Haru scoffed. "How amazing? Two punches, and I'll have you down. Next time we meet, if you don't have at least 10,000 nen, don't even call me your friend!"

"Same goes for you!" Menchi stuck out her tongue. "Without my cooking to help you recover, don't let your training fall behind!"

Haru extended a fist.

Menchi smiled and bumped it. "I'm a Hunter too. Don't underestimate me!"

Both turned to the ever-blank Shizuku, who eventually extended her fist as well. The three fists bumped together.

Whoosh—

A gust of wind heralded the train's arrival. Amid the bustling crowd, Haru said, "You'd better get on."

Waving as she backed away, Menchi turned and disappeared onto the train.

Haru and Shizuku prepared to meet up with Kanzai and Sloane, as their own train would leave in two hours. Just as they turned to go, Menchi's voice called out again: "Hey!"

They turned. From afar, Menchi pointed at Haru and shouted, "What's your nen type?"

Before Haru could answer, Menchi laughed and waved it off. Blending into the crowd, she boarded the train and vanished.

(Chapter End)