80 Chapter 77: Unexpected Conflict
Grain couldn't believe it.
The Elder he knew was always strict and focused on the clan's well-being. He couldn't care less about his own son, much less Kurapika, who was just part of the clan.
"..."
The Elder sighed, understanding Grain's doubt.
"People change, Grain. Even the toughest can soften over time," he explained patiently.
"Just keep an eye on Kurapika, as I asked."
"..."
Grain rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"Alright, but how long do I have to stick around in this boring village?" he grumbled, scratching his head in frustration.
"Not for long," the Elder replied curtly.
"And what if I just decide to leave on my own?"
Grain frowned, feeling unsatisfied.
The Elder met his gaze with seriousness, "Grain, don't force me to order the clan to find my own son..."
"...Crazy old man."
Grain rolled his eyes, a mixture of annoyance and resignation evident on his face.
"Like you even consider me part of the family... Fine, whatever. I'll be glad to leave this place and take a break," he muttered irritably.
"Be careful of what you're doing out there, Grain," the Elder cautioned his son with a furrowed brow.
He couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling he had when Grain returned earlier, the scent of blood clinging to him, "You reap what you sow..."
"Why? You taught me the way I am right now. What's the big deal?"
Grain retorted, brushing off his father's concern as he headed out after Kurapika.
"...You reap what you sow, indeed."
The Elder muttered self-depreciatingly as he sighed heavily, conflicted by his thoughts.
He trailed off, remembering the young woman who had crossed paths with Kurapika and Pairo and inspired Kurapika to set his eyes upon the world and be adventurous.
His memories drifted to the open book on his desk titled Dino Hunter as he muttered, "Am I wrong to keep us isolated from the outside world?"
As Kurapika emerged from the forest, he marveled at the sight of the small town sprawled before him. His eyes sparkled with wonder as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Wow! This must be the outside world," he whispered in awe, gazing at the quaint town stretching out before him. "And this is just a small town?"
His imagination ran wild, envisioning what larger towns might look like.
"Hehe, let's see what it looks like from the inside!"
With a gleeful giggle, he eagerly ventured into the heart of the town.
However, his excitement was not met with the same warmth from the townsfolk.
Instead, their eyes bore into Kurapika, their expressions wary as they noticed his distinctive clan robe.
Murmurs spread through the crowd as fingers pointed in his direction.
Lost in the novelty of the town, Kurapika wandered, completely absorbed in his exploration.
"Oh no! The test!"
With a sudden jolt of realization, Kurapika's eyes widened, and he slapped his forehead in dismay.
Recalling a large grocery store he had spotted earlier, Kurapika hastily retraced his steps, determined to fulfill his duty.
"Whoaa, so this is a grocery store?"
Upon entering the store, he was struck by the vast array of goods lining the shelves, his eyes widening with wonder at the sight.
"Hmm?"
Spotting someone grabbing a basket, Kurapika followed suit, retrieving the list of items provided by the clansmen.
"Alright, let's do this!"
With focused determination, he swiftly gathered each item on the list, ensuring not a single one was overlooked.
However, after he's done with everything.
Kurapika realized something...
"Eh? This is too easy, isn't it?"
Kurapika was a bit confused by how smoothly things were going.
However, despite his confusion, he was glad that his task seemed simple.
With his groceries in hand, Kurapika joined the line at the checkout counter, following the example of the other shoppers.
"...Umm, my grocery bag and the money..."
"Ahhh! Y-you!"
As he reached for his bag and prepared to pay, a sudden scream rang out, startling him.
He turned to see a man pointing at Kurapika's robe with his face contorted with fear.
"Y-Y-you demon! It must have been you who killed my daughter!!!"
The scene erupted into chaos as the man accused Kurapika of a heinous crime, his voice shaking with rage and grief.
Without warning, he lunged at Kurapika, his hand closing around the kid's neck with a vice-like grip, intent on delivering his brand of justice.
The sudden assault took Kurapika aback, his mind reeling as he struggled to comprehend the situation.
"Don't do this, man!"
"Let him go, goddammit!"
"You'll get all of us killed!"
Panic spread like wildfire through the store as onlookers pleaded for the man to stop. Their voices were full of fear and desperation.
Kurapika didn't understand what the man was talking about as he tried to open up his mouth.
"...I-I'm n...!!!"
Unfortunately, his words were choked off by the tightening grip around his throat.
"...No. This can't be happening..."
He fought against the man's overpowering strength, gasping for air as his vision blurred.
Inwardly, Kurapika tried to calm himself, to quell the rising tide of panic threatening to consume him.
But just as he reached a breaking point, something within him shifted.
Kurapika's expression darkened with anger as he glared at the man who had accused him, feeling unjustly accused and insulted.
His eyes, normally a deep, tranquil blue, suddenly blazed scarlet, radiating an aura of power that seemed to pierce straight into the man's soul.
The man's fear became tangible as his grip loosened, and he stumbled back in terror.
"You're a demon! A demon!"
He shrieked, his voice shaking with fear, before hastily letting go of Kurapika and fleeing in a state of panic.
As the man let go of Kurapika, a collective sigh of relief swept through the store. But no one dared to approach him.
Fear was evident in their eyes as they glanced at Kurapika with unease, causing him to struggle to catch his breath and cough violently.
Looking around, Kurapika noticed the wary gazes directed at him as if he were some kind of threat.
He couldn't help but wonder if this was the reason for the strange final test.
"...They're all discriminating against me," he muttered to himself, quickly gathering his groceries and paying for them.
Feeling the weight of the town's hostility pressing down on him, Kurapika's only desire was to escape the unsettling atmosphere as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile...
After fleeing from Kurapika, the man collided with another person in his panicked escape.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he muttered in a fearful tone as he was about to continue.
However...
This new individual blocked him, which made him look up as he felt his whole being run cold.
The one blocking him was dressed in all black and sporting menacing scarlet eyes that greeted him with a chilling calmness.
"Hey there, haven't we met before?"
Grain greeted as he licked his lips excitedly.
Hours later...
The town erupted in hysterical screams as horrified residents stumbled upon a gruesome scene of a mutilated body, its limbs arranged in a ghastly circle, a macabre spectacle that sent shivers down their spines.
Meanwhile, in Meteor City...
Taka's jaw dropped in astonishment as he looked at the once-dilapidated building, now transformed into a stylish restaurant that seemed out of place in its surroundings.
"What on earth?" he muttered, disbelief evident in his voice.
He had come intending to mock Raymond and the others, expecting to find something to laugh at.
But what he saw before him exceeded his wildest expectations.
Raymond emerged from the building, spotting Taka's stunned expression.
He chuckled knowingly, "Looks like it's your first day on the job, kid. Better get ready!"
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Character's Image:
Taka
Watanabe
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