Hunter × Hunter Chapter 315: Homecoming

Welfin and Ikalgo continue their exchange beside the camper van. Welfin snaps, "Shut up! Gimme a moment, will you...!?" while raising a hand. Someone remarks, "Guys like you and Hina who remember their past lives are a bit... different." Another voice notes, "Looking from a guy like me who doesn't remember his 'past life'..." Welfin glares silently. Ikalgo suggests, "I'll think, 'Oh, this guy remembers.' You can just tell by looking..." A large panel shows Ikalgo's expressive face as he adds, "Maybe it's the light in their eyes, or some destination they see." In a wide landscape view, the small being states, "I think it's not that. She probably can't speak in the first place." Welfin replies, "According to Hina, she won't speak a thing." The cloaked figure stands alone as Ikalgo concludes, "She's a kid, I think." Welfin answers, "I see," while they walk the path together.

In a barren rocky landscape under a cloudy sky, Ikalgo and Welfin stand facing each other. Ikalgo asks, "WHAT THE HELL'S THAT MEAN...?" Welfin replies, "DON'T DIE, UNTIL YOU DIE." Nearby, a small figure stands before a camper van as someone shouts, "OH SHUT UP! I GET IT! WEEEL-FIIIN!" Welfin, in close-up, says, "BUT BE WELL. WELL... WE WILL PROBABLY NEVER MEET AGAIN." Ikalgo's face fills the next panel as he asks, "REMEMBER ANYTHING?" Welfin answers, "IT WAS GYRO'S FAREWELL, AND THEY'RE MY FAVORITE WORDS." Further along the path, Welfin walks toward the camper van while a small bear-like figure watches. Welfin remarks, "I LIKE IT A BIT. LIFE'S AS YOU MAKE IT, HUH?" The bear replies, "NAH." Welfin turns to the bear and says, "LET'S GO. ALL RIGHT..."

The camper van drives across the vast rocky plain toward distant mountains. From inside, a voice declares, "ALL RIGHT! WE'RE GONNA GO FIND GYRO-SAMA, FOR REAL NOW!" Inside the vehicle, several passengers discuss their situation. One says, "EVEN IF THEY MOVE QUICK AND MY CARD'S BEEN KILLED, MONEY CAN GET US THROUGH." Another adds, "YEAH... THIS PUBLIC VEHICLE AND MY CARD SHOULD GET US A PASS. ...YOU BETTER BE SURE THE PORTS ARE SAFE." A passenger warns, "CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT DEAD PEOPLE." Someone shouts, "LOOK FORWARD! DRIVE! DRIVE!!" Another asks, "WHO'RE THOSE?" and insults, "YOU'RE SUCH A FICKLE BITCH! WHAT HAPPENED TO HAGYA-SAMA AND REOLI-SAMA?" A man with a scar reflects, "I'VE FALLEN SO FAR... SO I'M A RESIDENT OF RYUUUSEIGAI NOW..." Ikalgo and Welfin sit among the passengers. Ikalgo exclaims, "JUST LIKE THAT, WE'RE THE WINNERS OF HIGHER SOCIETY AGAIN!!" Welfin adds, "IF WE'RE LUCKY, HE'LL ALREADY HAVE GATHERED COMRADES AND TOOLS... AND BE READY TO BUILD A NATION!" Someone notes, "GYRO'S HEADING THERE, FOR SURE." Welfin concludes, "DON'T BE SO PESSIMISTIC. IT'S ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE."

Welfin bares his teeth and declares with fierce determination, "THERE'S NOTHING TO FEAR!! BRING IT ON!!" He continues, "I'M THE MAN WHO STOPPED THE KING! I'VE DIED TWICE NOW! BUT I'M STILL ALIVE!!" In the next panel he adds, "OPTIMISTIC...? OF COURSE!" while gripping a small device. From off-panel a voice replies, "YOU ARE WAY TOO OPTIMISTIC. I'M JEALOUS." Welfin then proclaims, "AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT DEAD, WE'LL BE ALIVE AND KICKING!! THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!" A wide landscape panel shows the three travelers moving through rocky terrain as Welfin concludes, "...I'M AN A-CLASS POLITICAL CRIMINAL ANYWAY. I GUESS I'LL HAVE FUN WITH MY LIFE." Close-up portraits label the trio: Welfin the grinning chimera ant, Hina with her wide-eyed surprised expression, and the stern-faced Bizeff. At the bottom of the page a caption reads, "THE THREE TRAVEL TO RYUUUSEIGAI TO SEARCH FOR GYRO..."

Ikalgo, wearing a hooded cloak and carrying two large round objects, walks through a forest and asks, "THAT'S THE VILLAGE?" A bird's-eye view reveals a circular settlement of many buildings surrounded by trees. Ikalgo's large eye is shown in close-up with a dotted texture on his shell. In the forest Ikalgo approaches from behind while a small hooded figure stands ahead. A tall robed figure holds up a sign reading "MAKE NOISE" and stands beside a tree. Another panel shows a masked character in robes leaning against a tree trunk. Ikalgo's clawed hand grips one of the round objects. In a dramatic close-up Ikalgo faces forward and states, "I'M WITH YOU." Beside him the same robed figure replies, "DON'T WORRY."

Pouf clone and Palm walk side by side along a forest path, their figures casting long shadows on the ground marked with cross symbols. In a nearby field, a woman carrying a basket of berries pauses while a child crouches among the plants and another watches nearby. Suddenly the woman’s face twists in terror as she spots the pair; she drops the basket and screams at the top of her lungs. “THE MONSTERS ARE HERE AGAIN!!! EVERYONE RUN!!!” Villagers nearby erupt into panic, a young woman and child fleeing with arms raised while shouting “AAAAAA AAAAAAGH! MONSTERS!” Pouf clone and Palm stand calmly in the village square as the chaos settles. Pouf clone says “YEAH, SURE.” Palm replies “MM.” In close-up, Pouf clone’s insectoid face fills the frame, sweat drops visible, as he reassures, “IT’S OKAY.” “I’M HERE.” A small panel shows Palm’s hand and a tiny creature on the ground.

Pouf clone stands with one arm raised, addressing the villagers through speech bubbles: “WE JUST WANT TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS, THAT’S ALL!” “WE MEAN YOU NO HARM!” From a distance a villager calls out asking if anyone friendly can understand them, while another shouts “HEY! NGL CITIZENS!” and “HELP US!” A woman appears in a doorway holding a large spiked weapon, glaring suspiciously. Pouf clone leans forward and begins, “IT’LL TAKE A WHILE TO EXPLAIN.” A villager mutters “NAH.” and questions whether Pouf clone is “A SHIT …” Another demands “IS THAT A SHIT …?” and “YOU CAN TALK? WHO ARE YOU!?” while a third yells “YOU!” In a closer shot a man with slicked-back hair sweats nervously and tells the pair they are the only ones who can help. Pouf clone asks if they can at least hear them out, warning “YOU MIGHT NOT BELIEVE US…” The final wide panel shows a large wooden village building with shuttered windows.

A lavish spread of food rests on a wooden table inside a traditional building, with two robed figures standing silently in the background. Killua sits with his back turned, scratching his head as a small 'SCRATCH' effect appears. In the next room a lone figure kneels before a low table. Killua’s face fills the frame, eyes half-lidded and thoughtful. Three sliding doors stand open along a wooden corridor. Behind the left door a small figure peeks out nervously; behind the center door a robed, cat-eared person stands with hands clasped; behind the right door a slender silhouette waits in shadow. Killua, visible from behind, stares toward the silhouette.

Killua’s eyes widen in shock. “INA!?” he blurts. He leans forward through the doorway, sunlight flaring behind him. “REINA!?” he shouts, the name exploding in a jagged speech bubble. Ikalgo clings to the doorframe, asking “TELL …? HOW CAN YOU …”. He suddenly bursts forward, arms outstretched, screaming “REINA-AAAAA!!” and “REINA!!”. In the final wide panel Ikalgo hugs the girl tightly; she answers “OF COURSE I CAN TELL!” while Ikalgo replies “HOW CAN YOU TELL…?”.

A tearful woman with wild hair leans forward, shouting desperately that she is Reina's mom and expressing overwhelming joy that Reina has returned. Reina stares back in shock. In the next panels a small bear-like creature bursts into loud sobs, apologizing repeatedly and wailing that it is sorry. Flashback images show the creature explaining how Onii-chan told the monsters to leave and protected Reina by sending it away. The wide panel reveals a rural village with thatched roofs as the bear-like creature continues apologizing, saying it is sorry it could not protect Reina and that mommy could not be with her. Reina and Kuruto are both praised for trying so hard. In the bottom panel the bear-like creature kneels on the dirt, hugging a woman tightly while villagers gather around the entrance of a building. Speech bubbles read 'REINA-CHAN.' and 'WELCOME HOME.' as the group watches the emotional reunion.

A short-haired girl and a boy in a turtleneck smile and invite everyone to eat, noting that the bear-like creature must be hungry. The bear-like creature hugs the girl tightly while looking surprised. In the village street an octopus-like chimera ant carrying baskets walks past villagers and politely declines food. An elderly woman insists on preparing a feast for Reina-chan's savior. The octopus-like chimera ant waves goodbye and walks away down wooden steps, muttering that it has repaid the debt and refusing to accept special treatment. Its footsteps are marked 'PAT' 'PIT' as it departs.

A bird-like creature with a long beak stares intently. Nearby, a round-headed spotted figure smiles and says, "LET'S EAT?" A voice replies, "THANK YOU." The two figures walk side by side, the round one holding the bird creature's hand. The bird creature's eye widens with a tear forming as it reacts with "!?" The round figure turns and suggests, "LET'S EAT DINNER TOGETHER?" In a wider view the pair stands together, the bird creature hunched forward asking "WHY AM I...?" while the round figure wonders "...HUH?" The scene shifts to a vast mountainous landscape where two unseen speakers react in shock: "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ...?" and "WHAT THE...?" A caption reads "REINA AND PROVUDA RETURNED HOME."

From a high aerial perspective, multiple airships marked with the letter H float above a large walled compound. Massive black impact symbols and debris scatter across the sky as the airships are violently struck. The compound below features a central building with a circular roof and surrounding structures, while several smaller H-marked vessels are caught in the chaos. The entire scene conveys a sudden large-scale aerial assault on the facility.

A vast ruined stadium lies in ruins under a stark sky, its stands collapsed and the field scarred by destruction. Large narration boxes declare that the true purpose behind the Great People's Tournament at East Goltore was the summoning of the entire populace for genocide at the dictator's own hand. Bold text announces that shocking news has just arrived. In the next tier of panels a frantic reporter describes how President Diego's corpse has already been found in the rubble; it appears he attempted suicide, taking his people with him. Another panel shows a dense crowd of civilians and soldiers as the voice continues that the people were robbed of their freewill by a special chemical and faced death by weapons of war including the Miniature Rose. The bottom panel centers on a composed female news anchor holding a microphone in front of a city skyline. She reports that some experts say this is likely a revolution of some sort and that the condition and whereabouts of East Golt's No. 2 officer, Commander Bizeff, are still unknown.

Further news panels continue the broadcast. One shows soldiers and vehicles in a mountain village while narration states that citizens who attempted to escape were executed and their numbers are estimated in the tens to hundreds of thousands. Another panel cites the International Peacekeeping Agency confirming massacred bodies found all over East Golt. Additional boxes mention dark rumors about East Golt and NGL, numerous agencies attempting contact with no response, and the Mitene Federation facing mass change. A black horizontal bar with a bright flash interrupts the report. The final panel shows an indoor scene with a television displaying the news, a round table set with food and a bottle, and a hand raising a glass. The speaker says Let us raise our glasses— as the word NOW appears on screen.

A large white dog lies curled on the wooden porch, its body relaxed in sleep. Text above it reads: "TOO LONG TO FESTER, TOO SHORT TO LEARN A SPIRAL PATH OF TIME." In the upper right panel, tall grass sways as narration continues: "GOOD MEN AND BAD MEN, REPEAT IN ANY AGE, THAT THING CALLED 'MAN'... LET US RAISE OUR GLASSES." A wide central panel shows the same porch scene from a wider angle. An older man in a hat sits in a rocking chair reading a book while a television sits nearby. The dog rests at the edge of the porch. Narration boxes state: "AND LET SO MANY THINGS OUT...? THAT IS WHY WE YEARN... EVEN THOUGH ALL IT TAKES TO FILL A LIFE... IS THE SUN, THE LAND, AND A POEM." At the bottom, a caption reads: "EXCERPT FROM KIKUCHI MASAO, 'THAT THING CALLED MAN' (MINMEI PUBLICATIONS)" followed by "DIEGO (THE REAL ONE), ENTERING HIS 30TH YEAR OF SUNNY FARMLAND LIFE SPENT IN RETIREMENT."

A crowded city street fills the top panel. A large screen on a building shows a silhouette while text boxes announce: "WOULD RETIRE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HUNTER ASSOCIATION, AND A MESSAGE PERTAINING TO HIS SUCCESSOR. IT WAS ANNOUNCED VIA ONLINE VIDEO THAT NETERO... THE SAME DAY-" Below, a busy crosswalk scene shows many pedestrians. A dropped newspaper lies in the foreground. Text states: "HOWEVER, IT WAS QUICKLY SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AS LARGER NEWS WAS BROADCAST UNDER THE DIRECTION OF POLITICIANS. THERE WERE ONLY A PRECIOUS FEW WHO REALIZED THAT IT WAS A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT." The bottom panel shows a group of people on the street reacting with varied expressions. Bold text declares: "MANKIND RETURNS TO A FAUX PEACE...!" The page ends with the Hunter x Hunter logo and "...CH. 315 / END".