Chapter 216: Zoldyck Love x Maha's Test
Illumi held the wooden nail firmly in his palm, pressing it close to his heart. His hollow, lifeless eyes showed a rare ripple of emotion—surprise, excitement... He gazed obsessively at Roy disappearing into the mountain forest along the stairs, only then noticing...
This wasn't an ordinary wooden nail. It was actually a "Nen Tool" imprinted with [Divine Script]... It still retained Roy's warmth... The boy rubbed the wooden nail against his cheek, murmuring softly, "[Shinso]... [Shinso]..."
"Does Nii-san mean for me to be the spear in his hand?" Illumi buried his head, his straight black hair falling to his waist swaying in the wind. Raising his head again, he took a deep breath, his figure flickering as he chased after him.
Tap... tap... Footsteps echoed...
Entering the gate, further inside was the mountain path... Roy led Gotoh unhurriedly up the stairs. From afar, he saw the guard, a capable blonde ponytail, holding a staff, unsmiling like a stone statue. Only when she saw Roy did her beautiful eyes, hidden under the contact lenses masking her Scarlet Eyes, show a reaction...
From ten meters away, Kurapika (female) lifted her skirt and bowed respectfully to Roy from afar. "Welcome home, Young Master."
The dress with Kurta clan characteristics she used to wear had quietly changed into a tailcoat at some point.
"Entering the Zoldyck family means forgetting the past. Young Master is magnanimous to allow you to contact your family and keep your original identity. You should repay the Young Master doubly." Gotoh's instructions on her first day at the Zoldyck family were still vivid in her mind.
Kurapika's hard work paid off. She finally pushed open two Testing Gates the day before yesterday, officially becoming a member of the Zoldyck butler team. Now entrusted with the heavy responsibility of guarding the mountain, it wasn't without Roy's influence.
"Mm." Roy walked unhurriedly to the girl. Haven't seen her for a while... heard she trained very hard. Her formerly fair and rosy skin looked darker after sun exposure. He reached out to help her up, smiling at her. "Being away from home, you shouldn't make your family worry."
"Tell Gotoh if you're homesick, let him arrange your shifts."
"I grant you a week's leave to go back and visit."
Home... Kurapika thought of her brother, her parents, her clan uncle. Ultimately a young girl at heart, her eyes reddened uncontrollably... She sniffled, lowering her eyelids to hide her embarrassment from Roy, and said loudly, "Reporting to Young Master, this IS my home!"
Her voice trembled without her realizing it. Truly... determined...
An innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth. Possessing the Scarlet Eyes, one of the "Seven Most Beautiful Colors in the World," the Kurta Clan was like a child carrying gold through a busy market, never escaping covetous eyes, until... the entire clan was exterminated.
Roy could clearly feel Kurapika's resolve. If given a chance to be reborn, she would rather not have the Scarlet Eyes... He patted her shoulder silently twice, saying no more, and walked past her.
Gotoh followed Roy silently, took a deep look at Kurapika, and moved to follow...
The young butler left a faint sentence: "Young Master told you to go home, so just go. With him around, no one can say anything about you."
"And no one will take your place."
Kurapika's delicate body trembled, burying her head lower... "Yes!"
Looking again, the master and servant were gone.
Whoosh~ From spring to summer, only a month or so.
Only left home for a few days, yet it felt like a lifetime...
A mountain breeze blew, bringing fresh air mixed with the scent of soil.
Roy walked in front, Gotoh followed. Through the dappled light cast by the forest leaves, the castle's silhouette was faintly visible from afar.
The boy suddenly said, "She can have her aura nodes opened now."
Gotoh nodded. "Should we also teach her 'Breathing Style'?"
Roy stopped abruptly, looking at him in surprise, with a faint smile. "Aren't you afraid she'll become strong and take your place?"
Gotoh smiled and said frankly, "I don't care about that. I only hope the more people around the Young Master, the better; the stronger, the better."
The young butler's beard had grown. Having been out once, he seemed to have matured a lot, adding a touch of mature charm compared to before... He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses confidently. "Besides, if I can be surpassed by them so easily, it indirectly proves... I don't deserve to be the Young Master's personal head butler!"
"Hahaha..." Roy was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly... The laughter, mixed with some Nen, startled a few birds!
Gotoh scratched his cheek and laughed too...
Master and servant moved their feet again, inseparable, shadows intertwining. Near home, feelings of timidity and joy mixed. Crossing heavy mountain steps, until standing on the peak, witnessing the majestic castle casting a shadow over them.
A "Welcome back" stopped them... It was... Father, supporting the heavily pregnant Kikyo for a walk in the garden.
Walking in late pregnancy can promote fetal engagement, stimulate contractions, relieve anxiety, enhance physical strength, and reserve energy for the upcoming delivery.
Kikyo's belly bulged visibly high. The Lolita-style fluffy dress she usually loved to wear had long been changed into loose maternity clothes. She leaned carefully against Silva. Through the skirt, one could even hear... a clear and powerful heartbeat.
Thump... thump... Declaring to the world... his imminent arrival!
"Father / Master..."
Roy greeted with Gotoh.
The boy straightened his back again, smiling softly. "Looks like it will be a healthy brother."
Kikyo raised her chin proudly. "Definitely,"
Not only that... "This one will definitely have silver hair."
Silva held Kikyo's waist, his large hand on the woman's belly. He looked at Roy sternly. "Don't go out recently. The delivery is in a few days."
"You are the big brother, you should... be here."
"Of course."
Behind him, Illumi walked over silently...
In the dimly lit small room on the first floor of the castle, Great-Grandfather was enjoying cartoons while rocking in his chair...
Behind him, with white hair swaying, Grandpa Zeno was massaging his shoulders... Plus, Milluki who was electrocuted unconscious in the garden not far away...
The family must be complete, not one missing!
Roy nodded. Somehow, he suddenly remembered the constantly changing faces of Alluka and Nanika, followed by... the "Skeleton King" stroking the corpse of the tall Elephant Tapir in his mind.
"Ai, did you fail too?"
The skeleton said so, sighing faintly across time... Still ringing in his ears. Roy's solemn expression was keenly caught by Silva.
The man quietly supported Kikyo to continue walking in the garden. Turning his back, he said in a muffled voice, "After seeing your Grandpa and Great-Grandfather, come to my study."
Roy was silent. After a long while, he whispered "Yes."
He lifted his foot again. One step out, reappearing, he stood in the mottled corridor of the castle dense with the aura of time. Draped in a "cloak" woven of sunlight, he walked unhurriedly towards the small room.
"Father adopted the name you gave, Killua."
Tap... tap... Footsteps echoed...
Illumi used Shadow Step, hands in pockets, catching up. Walking with Roy in the corridor, he said expressionlessly, "Father values your opinion very much."
Roy gave a soft "Hmm," not saying much.
Illumi tilted his head and added, "He loves you very much."
"I know."
"Me too."
"I know that too."
"You don't know."
"Illumi," Roy suddenly stopped, tilting his head to look at him too. "I'm not happy."
Illumi stopped with him, frowning. "Why are you not happy?"
"Because," Roy reached out and grabbed the boy's head in his palm, "My silly brother, you must learn to love yourself first."
En released. The Heart Worm entered Illumi's heart along the blood bond... making him vaguely see a corner of the future, belonging to the original story...
A corner of Illumi's future... At that time, because he cared too much about Killua, he even threatened him with Nanika, longing to die at Killua's hands... Almost twisted and crazy... yet completely ignoring one thing...
"Me, Father, Mother, Grandpa, Great-Grandfather... everyone you protect and care about, also cannot bear your death."
"Can you understand?"
Illumi: "I..."
"Shhh..." Roy put his index finger to his lips, making a gesture of silence.
While Illumi was dazed, his hollow eyes losing focus, pupils trembling black dots...
Roy rubbed his head, tapped his forehead with two fingers, leaving a trace of "Wind Breathing," and turned to leave...
Bang! A fresh breeze blew in from the window just in time, blowing Illumi to the ground. The boy spread his arms, lying in a starfish shape in the mottled corridor, savoring the Wind Breathing, lost in thought...
Leaving him dizzy... unable to recover for a long time...
Not far away, around a corner, was...
The dimly lit small room.
An old man, dried up like a prune, was enjoying his grandson's scalp massage. He hummed with his eyes closed. Those old eyes hidden under the eyelids seemed to wander outside, growing into the sky, taking everything in. He chuckled Heh and said, "Zeno, see that... he's stronger than you..."
"Grandpa, you're biased." Zeno increased his hand strength unconvinced. "I'm an only child, didn't have a brother to spoil."
The Zoldyck family had been single transmission for three generations until Silva's generation, finally spreading branches... Although this is an objective fact, but...
Maha opened his eyes and glanced at Zeno. "Even this back-talking habit of yours can't compare to Roy."
Zeno: "..."
Shutting up directly. Comparisons are odious. The affection between alternating generations is real. Moreover... this skipped several generations.
"Hmph, don't mind this old man speaking harshly. Your Grandma admitted this herself..."
"My Grandma?" Zeno was stunned. Looking down at Maha... The old man's shriveled body added a touch of bleakness. He only said, "She said Roy resembles me the most, same virtue as your father, none of you are worry-free..."
Zeno's eyes flickered, agreeing, "Grandma was right."
"If her old self were here, it would be nice if I could see her."
"You?" Not to mention whether Betty is willing, just the matter of "seeing"... Maha sneered, "Then you have to beg your grandson, see if he is willing to take you."
The existence capable of connecting dreams... Roy is the only case in the Zoldyck family...
Leisurely was the wind blowing into the window frame, the warm sun cast into the corridor, Zeno's slightly raised eyebrow, and Roy's approaching footsteps...
9:00 AM. The morning glow dispersed, the red sun leaped out, climbing slowly but firmly towards the zenith. Outside the room, the boy walked over, leaning against the window, looking at the two grandfathers inside. He smiled brightly and said warmly, "Great-Grandfather, Grandpa, I'm back."
Maha sat up, chair stopped rocking. Reaching out, he pushed Zeno aside, then beckoned to Roy. "Good grandson, come here, massage Great-Grandfather's back."
Zeno glared... So my massage just now was all for nothing? He patted Roy's shoulder grumpily, then lifted his foot, merging into the shadow, disappearing instantly...
The eight characters "One Kill a Day, Active for Life" on his chest swayed in the wind... This time, Roy's eyes moved, finally catching a corner of his clothes... The boy asked in surprise, "Grandpa seems resentful."
"Ignore him." Maha snorted coldly. "Dare to be resentful, I'll send him to see your Great-Grandma."
"She's worrying about having no one to accompany her, lonely..."
Cough... cough... A faint dry cough came from outside... Someone with white hair swaying, careless, seemed to have exposed himself, stumbled, then accelerated away...
Leaving Roy with Maha. Suddenly remembering the vast forest of tombstones he saw in the old man's dream, one of which belonged to Great-Grandma, feeling heavy, he started massaging the old man's back.
Seemingly sensing something... Maha closed his eyes and stopped talking...
Grandfather and grandson enjoyed the reunion in this rare warm sun... A moment later, Maha spoke faintly, "Child, your plan for Meteor City is correct."
The old man tapped the armrest with his fingers. "That place is a breeding ground for evil, but also a good place to spread faith and revolution."
As the saying goes, the more chaos, the more desire for order; the more oppression, the more resistance... Roy followed Maha's spine upwards, imitating Zeno's technique, massaging the shoulders of this "old revolutionary." He agreed, "I didn't think that much originally, just went to develop a few believers. Just, didn't expect..."
"The darkness and filth there are far worse than I imagined..."
Trafficking humans, killing at will, dismantling and selling, selling and dismantling... This was just one street, one corner... Hard to imagine how many evils lurked in other parts of Meteor City, how many villains like Bolton and Ilya who didn't treat people as humans were entrenched!
"Heh heh... how many people, how many things have you seen?"
Roy didn't speak. If adding those experienced in Demon Slayer and witnessed on the battlefield of the Naruto world...
He said truthfully, "Great-Grandfather, I have seen some after all."
"Is that so?" Maha stood up smilingly. The old man faced the boy with his hands behind his back. "Let Great-Grandfather broaden his horizons too?"
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you