Kurapika's eyes turned as red as blood. The shimmering points of light within them resembled countless souls from the past, completely trapping Machi within their gaze in that instant.
An Aura, intensifying from weak to powerful, abruptly surged around him.
Joy, madness, anger, sorrow, fear, hatred, carelessness, loyalty, fervor, doubt, pleasure, shame, resolve… these human emotions, to varying degrees, can all influence Nen.
It can increase, or it can decrease.
It can grow stronger, or it can weaken.
But it is important to note that after exerting power beyond one's normal limits, severe repercussions often follow.
Kurapika had only just learned to control his Nen and had subsequently trained for several hours. Both his mind and body had already reached their limit.
Yet, driven by fury and hatred, he still released his Aura. In fact, the quantity of Aura was even greater than before.
This contradictory phenomenon was spurred not just by emotion, but also by his Kurta Clan's heritage and the Scarlet Eyes.
However, Kurapika, exhausted from his recent training, was like a dried-up lake. His current actions were akin to forcibly breaking through the ground to draw up large quantities of groundwater.
If Kurapika were allowed to continue like this, he would likely be unable to use Nen for at least a week, and it might even cause physical harm.
'So these are the Scarlet Eyes' effect...'
Law watched as Kurapika, with his body pushed to the absolute brink, erupted with an aura surpassing his usual capacity, gaining a clearer understanding of the Scarlet Eyes. Then, carefully controlling his force, he delivered a chop to the back of Kurapika's neck.
Kurapika's body shuddered. His eyelids slowly closed, veiling the crimson glow, and then he went limp, collapsing toward the ground.
Law stepped forward and caught Kurapika.
Machi set the wooden box down and looked at Law, "Knocking him out just like that? Aren't you worried about losing his trust?"
"His trust in me probably isn't that fragile."
Law laid Kurapika on the ground, removed his own coat, and draped it over him. Then he sat down on a rock by the stream.
To prevent Kurapika from overexerting himself and jeopardizing his future training, especially after having verified some aspects of the Scarlet Eyes' effect, Law couldn't allow Kurapika to continue recklessly expending his Nen.
Machi walked over and sat beside Law.
She leaned against his shoulder, gazing at Kurapika lying motionless on the ground. "You knew all along, didn't you? That a survivor of the Kurta Clan remained."
"Something like that," Law replied without further elaboration, simply acknowledging it.
Machi fell silent, her cheek gently rubbing against Law's shoulder.
Law suddenly drew Machi into his embrace. Neither spoke, quietly listening to the sound of the flowing stream.
Night arrived, the chirping of insects filling the air.
Moonlight spilled onto the stream, shimmering with silvery ripples.
Machi had left. Only Law and Kurapika remained by the stream.
Law sat on the rock, while Kurapika lay on the flat ground.
"Mmm..."
A low groan escaped Kurapika as he regained consciousness. The coat covering him was suddenly flung into the air.
He sat up with a jolt, his eyes swiftly scanning his surroundings before finally fixing, like a wounded animal, on Law seated on the rock.
"Where did that woman go?"
The words were forced out through gritted teeth, cold and sharp.
Meeting Kurapika's complex, unreadable gaze, Law rested his cheek on his hand and said calmly, "She went back. And her name is Machi. She is my woman."
Kurapika stiffened, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He clenched his jaw. "Just who are you? What is your connection to the Phantom Troupe?"
Law didn't answer directly. Instead, he opened the lid of the lunchbox beside him. "Eat first. I'll explain while you eat."
Observing Law's utterly composed demeanor, Kurapika remained rooted to the spot. His peripheral vision caught the coat lying on the ground. He took a deep breath, steadying the turmoil within.
A complicated expression crossed his face. After a moment's hesitation, he walked toward Law.
'Given the Phantom Troupe's methods, killing was as ordinary and simple as drinking water.'
'If Law intended me harm, if Law was associated with the Troupe, there would be no need for such elaborate measures.'
Silently, Kurapika began eating the completely cold medicinal food, listening as Law delivered an extremely concise explanation.
After hearing Law's account, the tension in Kurapika's heart slowly eased.
Knowing two things was sufficient for him.
First, Law and the Troupe were enemies. Second, Machi had left the Troupe and had not participated in the massacre of his people.
Viewed this way, he wondered if this was the reason Law possessed such detailed information about the Phantom Troupe.
His ability to believe Law's words so readily still stemmed from the logic he had just reasoned through.
The medicinal food in the container gradually diminished.
Law gazed at the moonlight reflected on the stream. "We'll continue after you finish eating."
"Mm."
Kurapika responded through a mouthful of food, his pace of shoveling food into his mouth noticeably quickening, puffing his cheeks and smearing sauce on his lips.
He, who normally paid great attention to his appearance, cast such concerns aside in that moment, desperate to salvage every possible second for training.
Soon, Kurapika swallowed the last bite. Though the food was cold, it settled in his stomach like a warm ember, gradually spreading heat through his body.
"This is medicinal cuisine. It's quite beneficial for physical training," Law explained, seemingly sensing Kurapika's puzzlement. He then retrieved a hand towel from Kuro's space and offered it.
Kurapika paused for a moment before silently accepting the towel and wiping the stains from his mouth.
"Thank you... Master," He said in a low voice.
Law couldn't help but look at the bowed Kurapika and smiled. "What did you just call me? I didn't quite catch it."
A faint blush touched Kurapika's cheeks. He opened his mouth, struggled for a brief moment, and then said, "Master."
"Didn't you just finish eating? Your voice is as faint as a mosquito's buzz," Law continued teasing.
As if steeling himself, Kurapika finally managed to utter, louder than before, "Master!"
"Good," Law nodded.
"..." Kurapika.
Afterward, Kurapika resumed his training.
The night wore on. Hours passed. Kurapika's Nen was depleted from the repeated opening and closing of his Aura Nodes. His body reached its absolute limit for the second time that day.
"Enough. We'll pick it up again tomorrow morning."
Law halted the session. He then walked toward the forest's edge, raised his hand, summoned his Shin from Kuro's space, and swung it toward the trees.
In an instant, over a dozen trees were cleanly severed.
Law recalled the Shin, deployed his Domain, processed the felled trees into logs, and swiftly assembled them into a small cabin.
Kurapika watched from the side, inwardly astonished.
Even with his grasp of most Nen Principles, he still couldn't comprehend how Law had accomplished this.
Once the cabin was built, Law took off his coat again and tossed it to Kurapika. "No blankets tonight, so make do with this. Don't refuse. In your current state, you're susceptible to the cold. I don't want you catching a chill tomorrow."
Kurapika, who had been about to refuse, was cut off by Law's preemptive words.
"Mm."
He gripped the coat a little tighter and responded quietly.