I'm Really Not A Nen Exorcist (HxH Fanfic)

The rainy season had arrived in Luluci, and nearly every region was covered in sudden downpours.

Taro Region.

It was evening. The sky was gloomy and oppressive, with dark clouds rolling overhead as rain poured heavily. Everywhere one looked, it was a curtain of vertical rain lines.

At the place where the tomb was excavated.

In the downpour, high-powered floodlights were set up around the area, their beams crisscrossing to brightly illuminate the tomb's entrance as if it were broad daylight.

Near the entrance, temporary shelters and tents were neatly arranged, with personnel in hooded raincoats moving between them. Some were part of the excavation team, but most were elite soldiers armed with high-end weapons.

Tourism was a primary source of income for Luluci, and the main attraction for tourists was the ancient ruins and tombs that held the nation's historical civilization. Because of this, Luluci placed immense importance on the excavation and protection of these sites.

Every year, the nation invested heavily in military equipment to strengthen its protection measures. Armed forces were stationed both at the excavation sites and around publicly accessible ruins and museums, providing round-the-clock security.

When necessary, Luluci would even pay large sums to hire professional Ruin Hunters to assist in excavation work.

The tomb, that was recently excavated, was believed to be linked to the legendary [Golden Kingdom of Sunset].

This attracted the nation's heightened attention.

Not only did Luluci immediately dispatch the excavation team and military forces, but they also sealed off all tourist attractions in the Taro rRegion, strictly prohibiting outsiders from entering.

"Satotz, this way."

Inside the tomb's passage, behind the sealed door, a slightly chubby man with a gentle face was seriously examining the ancient writing and murals on the wall.

Even though the lighting equipment had already been set up, the slightly plump man still wore a headlamp, as if that would allow him to see more clearly.

The slightly plump man is named Quinn, and he is a professional Ruins Hunter.

The man he called Satotz was also a professional Ruins Hunter.

Satotz had short, light purple hair, thin eyebrows, and full eyelids, but what stood out the most was his glossy, slightly curly mustache.

If Moses were present, he might have recognized Satotz as the first examiner from the original work's Hunter Exam due to his distinctive purple hair and mustache.

Hearing Quinn's call, Satotz did not respond, but walked over leisurely.

Quinn, with his back facing Satotz, looked up at a partially damaged mural on the passage wall. He could vaguely see that the person in the mural was wearing a mask.

"Satotz, look, this mask... Doesn't it resemble the legendary golden mask that Tumonkatan stole from the Sun God?"

Quinn struggled to contain his excitement as he stared at the damaged mural.

Unlike Quinn, Satotz was not as excited as he stared calmly at the incomplete mural.

Large sections of the mural had cracked and fallen away, revealing dark stone beneath. On the remaining part, about one-third of a mask could still be seen.

If one looks closely, they could spot an emblem engraved on the side of the mask: a short sword with wing-like guards vertically piercing through a three-dimensional orb. Both the hilt and the tip of the sword were sharp, exuding a fierce, cutting edge.

This engraving on the side of the mask was the infamous symbol of the [Sun Disc].

Every native of Luluci was intimately familiar with these legends.

However, these legends were, in fact, derived from historical records.

The historical figure most associated with the [Sun Disc] was Tumonkatan, the infamous tyrant who had gained great renown in this region.

And when discussing Tumonkatan, one could not avoid mentioning the golden mask he allegedly stole from the Sun God.

Satotz looked closely at the Sun Disc symbol on the mask.

According to local historical texts, even without deciphering the ancient writing on the stone walls, the symbol alone was enough to deduce the significance of the mask depicted in the mural.

"It is indeed very likely..."

There was a gleam in Satotz's eyes.

Such highly symbolic images have always been held in high esteem and cannot be desecrated.

If this symbol was carved on the walls of the front passage, it means that this tomb is most likely the tomb of Tumonkatan, the tyrant of the country.

Perhaps-

Beyond this passage lay a labyrinth of corridors.

In these corridors, there would be numerous side chambers, filled with offerings and funerary items, where one might stop to examine the treasures.

And after navigating the maze, one would eventually reach the trenches filled with the remains of the buried.

Finally, what would come into view would be the dark palace, chained and suspended above, a place known as the Underworld Palace.

Within that Underworld Palace lay the sarcophagus of Tumonkatan and, without a doubt, the Golden Mask of the Sun God that countless people covet.

As thoughts swirled through Satotz's mind, he slowly looked toward the end of the passage, where faint light emanated.

That light came from the excavation team's lighting equipment, set up deep within the tomb.

The reason why he and Quinn hadn't ventured inside yet was because the commission issued by Luluci was to restore the tomb.

Therefore, their main task was to find ways to repair the broken murals on the passage walls, rather than accompanying the excavation team to excavate the tomb's depths.

If circumstances allowed, Satotz would actually like to go deeper into the tomb and see Tumonkatan's Underworld Palace and the legendary Golden Mask of the Sun God with his own eyes.

"Satotz, Satotz..."

Quinn's call pulled Satotz back from his somewhat unrealistic thoughts.

"Satotz, we don't have permission to join the excavation. Please don't do anything reckless. If we cross the line and break the rules, not only will we lose this rare and valuable job, but we might also face the highest level of complaints."

Quinn seemed to have seen through Satotz's thoughts and quickly lowered his voice to remind him.

Satotz nodded at Quinn, indicating that he would not do anything rash.

Seeing this, Quinn didn't say anything else, but began to think about how to repair the nearby areas that had been eroded by time.

In the past, Satotz was a Ruins Hunter who was solely focused on gaining fame and recognition in the industry.

But now, after being influenced by Ging, he is no longer obsessed with fame. Instead, he wants to devote himself to the protection and restoration of various relics as a professional Ruins Hunter.

Satotz cleared his mind of thoughts that would interfere with his work and continued walking forward, his eyes scanning the vivid relief carvings above the stone door of the passage.

Restoration was no easy task, and the first step was careful, detailed observation.

Suddenly-

Satotz's pupils contracted abruptly, and his gaze dropped sharply, looking towards the light source at the end of the corridor again.

Different from the expectation he had just now, his current look toward the passage's end was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

Because he had suddenly felt an ominous Aura coming from the depths of the tomb.

The Aura was like a fire that grew stronger in the wind, growing from weak to strong in an instant.

"That is..."

As a Ruins Hunter, Satotz knew that this Aura was the Post-Mortem Nen commonly found in tombs and ruins.

But it was the first time that Satotz encountered the Post-Mortem Nen that could grow so intensely within moments.

Even from this distance, he could clearly feel the threatening nature of this ominous Aura.

'What exactly was happening inside?'

Instinctively, Satotz took a step forward, ready to rush into the depths of the tomb to investigate.

"Satotz!"

Quinn stretched extended his right hand and pressed down on Satotz's shoulder, then said quickly:

"If even the specialists from Luluci Country can't handle this, then even if you and I rush in, we won't be able to change anything. We'd be held accountable instead!"

"I know very well what the consequences will be, but my reckless actions may save more personnel on site from the threat of that Aura."

Satotz calmly shrugged his shoulder, shaking off Quinn's hand from his shoulder.

Quinn frowned when he heard this.

Of course, he could also discern the strength of that Aura, which could undoubtedly threaten the lives of ordinary people.

But he cares more about doing his job well rather than being reckless and violating the regulations.

Besides, deep in the tomb, there is the famous Nen Exorcist employed by Lulusi, who is also renowned in the field of ruins. Even if something unexpected happens inside, it is not their turn to worry about it.

Quinn is very rational, or rather, he prioritized his commission over the lives of ordinary people, so he naturally cannot agree with Satotz's behavior.

More importantly, neither of them could exorcise Nen, and their abilities were nowhere near that of the Nen Exorcist...

Despite his convictions, Quinn gave up trying to stop Satotz.

Satotz didn't glance at Quinn again. His figure darted like a swallow toward the depths of the passage.

However, after sprinting several dozen meters, he abruptly stopped.

"Huh?"

Satotz still looked at the light source deep in the passage in doubt.

The intensity of the ominous Aura he had sensed was rapidly weakening at this moment.

"It should be Mr. Heram who suppressed the Post-Mortem Nen."

Quinn looked past Satotz's back and towards the light source at the end of the corridor, and then said calmly: "This is why I stopped you, Satotz."

"…"

Satotzu didn't say anything. He continued to gaze ahead, sensing the gradual weakening of the ominous Aura.

Once he confirmed that the threat from the Aura had dropped to an insignificant level, he quietly withdrew his gaze.

'It seemed it truly was Mr. Heram who had swiftly taken control of the unknown Post-Mortem Nen.'

Satotz shook his head slightly.

He knew very well about Heram's accomplishments in the field of ruins, and he was aware of the man's formidable strength and Nen Exorcism Ability.

However, his behavior just now was not because he doubted Heram's capability to handle the situation, but because he wanted to reduce the threat faced by the personnel on-site.

He just hadn't expected Heram to control the situation so quickly.

Seeing that Satotz remained silent, Quinn tactfully changed the subject and said, "It would be great if every Ruins Hunter could learn Nen Exorcism Ability."

"That's why it's just an if."

Satotz responded briefly, and shifted his focus back to his work.

Hearing this, Quinn's mouth twitched slightly.

'I preferred the old you, Satotz...'

Quinn sighed in his heart.