"The master still has restraint in his strikes. With aura protecting you, even though the young master suffered some internal injuries, a few days' recuperation will restore you."
It was late at night. Gotoh replaced Luke, carrying Roy back to his bedroom. The young man's forehead was wrapped in gauze, with several bloody marks visible on his back. The young butler knelt by the window, carefully applying medicine.
On the desk against the wall, a lamp was already lit. Lamplight merged with moonlight, casting soft halos in all directions.
Roy lay there in a daze, seemingly admiring the moonlight, but his mind was racing, analyzing today's battle.
Undoubtedly, a huge power gap existed between him and Silva. This had nothing to do with Nen ability usage—Silva hadn't even used Nen when striking, relying solely on brute force and impossible speed to achieve absolute domination over him.
Ultimately, my body is still too weak.
The other party was in his prime. His flesh had been tempered through countless trials to an unreachable height.
To reach him, I must at least be able to fully push open the Testing Gate.
The Zoldyck family's Testing Gate—one door two tons, two doors four tons, three doors eight tons. Fully opening it required arms possessing two hundred fifty-six tons of absolute strength.
An ordinary adult's limit strength was around four hundred to eight hundred pounds. In terms of raw physical stats, in other words, Silva's current numbers were at minimum above five hundred. How high specifically, Silva wouldn't say, and Roy wouldn't ask. He only knew the next stage—first raise the physical strength to the most basic five hundred points.
"Young master, bear with it. Might hurt a bit." The ointment wasn't gentle; it was rather harsh. Very Zoldyck.
Gotoh just finished warning Roy when Roy sucked in a sharp breath, throwing all his plans to the back of his mind. Fortunately, pain was something that hurt worse when you focused on it. Roy simply diverted his attention, asking Gotoh, "That doctor near Heaven's Arena—have you contacted him yet?"
"I had someone ask. He has time Thursday."
"Then book tickets for Wednesday."
Tanjuro's condition couldn't be delayed. Early treatment was best. Rather, whether Conjuration could reverse his deteriorating health was a troubling problem. Roy was considering whether to take the Hunter Exam after learning the basic four principles and logging into the Hunter website to research.
As Gotoh finished applying medicine and wrapping gauze, he mentioned another matter. "That Wing called again, inviting the young master to watch the August 17th battle. He said viewing tickets and all travel expenses are covered. As long as the young master is willing to come, everything's no problem."
"What day is August 17th?"
"Next Saturday." Gotoh pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his expression grave. "That guy probably still hasn't given up on fighting you. He's been harassing you repeatedly. How about—I'll kill him."
Gotoh made a throat-slitting gesture after speaking.
Roy didn't look down on him, nor did he despise him, but he knew that if Gotoh actually tried this, by next year he'd probably have to bring a bouquet of violets to worship at his own grave.
"No need for killing. Moreover, he's not alone. There's an old woman behind him."
Roy casually replied, thinking of a certain blonde twin-tailed loli. If she got angry enough to tear off her clothes, the entire Heaven's Arena probably wouldn't be enough for her to demolish. And Roy had every reason to suspect her stats were also at least above five hundred!
"Then should I refuse him?" Gotoh asked tentatively.
Roy pondered briefly. "Forget it. Since he's sincerely inviting, let's go watch. Haven't seen him in a year. I really want to see what level he's grown to now."
"Reportedly, his opponent in this battle is a veteran Transmuter-type Nen user. If the young master wants to watch, you'll definitely discover something." Heaven's Arena had already publicly announced related information about this battle. Anyone interested could search online.
Roy hummed noncommittally. After Gotoh finished wrapping the gauze, he waved his hand, signaling him to go down and prepare materials for tomorrow.
That night, he simply lay on the bed like that, falling into a deep sleep.
After experiencing the difficult battle, Roy drifted into his dreams. Before him was a colorful tunnel. Passing through—the familiar Cognitive Ocean.
He rolled up his pants, stepping on soft sand into seawater, letting waves wash over his body, shouting loudly, "Ah—"
Releasing all negative emotions like loss, defeat, and dejection from his heart. Then, rubbing his face, he pushed open the Demon Slayer door and walked in.
The familiar sensation of falling came. Roy awoke again, leaning against the brazier, lying on the warm bed. Looking up, he saw Makomo staring with beautiful large eyes, curiously examining him.
The ghosts thought after he requested yesterday's leave and ate the hot pot Sakonji Urokodaki specially prepared, he should embark on the journey home to fight his father. Unexpectedly, Roy truly did as promised, staying with Sakonji Urokodaki in the wooden house for a day. Occasionally going out, just to hunt some game from Mount Sagiri, giving it to Sakonji Urokodaki for smoking as winter reserve provisions.
Only late at night, when master and disciple extinguished the oil lamp and bid each other goodnight, about to sleep, did they hear Roy mention once that he was going to battle. At that time, Master said nothing. Everyone was confused. But big-mouthed Shinsuke's imagination ran wild, shouting, "He's not going to battle in dreams, is he!"
Triggering everyone's heated discussion. Some indignantly said Eiichiro tricked them—he was just making excuses to slack off. Others said perhaps Eiichiro truly dreamed of Tanjuro. Father and son had built up resentment. Eiichiro, being a filial child, usually not daring to show it, could only vent in dreams.
Shinsuke and Fukuda even argued again over differing opinions. Somehow, only Makomo and Sabito exchanged glances, believing what Roy said was true.
"Intuition tells me Eiichiro isn't someone who lies." That's what Makomo firmly told Sabito the previous night.
So she didn't close her eyes all night, constantly watching Roy to see if he'd show any abnormalities. Unfortunately, except for frowning and turning over more frequently, Roy showed no difference from usual. Somewhat disappointing, Makomo.
"He's awake. Sabito, quickly ask if he killed his father."
Seeing Roy open his eyes, Makomo urged Sabito. Sabito helplessly rolled his eyes, simply pretending not to hear. Humans and ghosts were different. Knowing the other party couldn't hear them speak, yet asking him to ask—Makomo's curiosity really grew heavier day by day.
Suddenly hearing Roy say, "Lost. And lost quite miserably."
Right then, both he and Makomo, including all the ghosts curled up in the small wooden house like Shinsuke and Fukuda, froze on the spot!