Chapter 308: Ants x Calm Before the Storm
Illumi left in a huff...
The boy's smooth black hair swayed as he turned and walked away, leaving Roy to stare at the back of his head.
Roy watched him leave. With a single glance, he captured a trace of stubbornness and defiance naturally escaping from the top of Illumi's head through his aura, presenting a deep, gloomy gray...
Roy smiled and ignored him. He simply lay down on the bed and began to rest and recharge.
There were still about seven hours until the break of dawn. Roy placed his hands over his lower abdomen, closed his eyes, and immersed his consciousness, once again arriving in his Cognitive World through "deep sleep."
This time, he didn't push open the Gate of Naruto to delve into the Naruto world. Instead, he rolled up his pant legs, took off his shoes and socks, and strolled along the sandy beach, letting the ebb and flow of the Sea of Cognition wash over his feet.
After a short while, he stopped in front of the Gate of Demon Slayer. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out, pushed the door open, and walked in...
Buzz~ A familiar sensation of falling washed over him...
The character named [Eiichiro Kamado] reconnected...
When Roy opened his eyes again, the only thing in front of him was a small grave mound and a withered field of red spider lilies swaying gently in the wind... Roy stood quietly for a moment, recalling how he had gazed across the opposite shore with the Sage of Six Paths. He wondered... if Yoriichi Tsugikuni had found his wife and child on the other side by now.
The young boy cast a deep glance into the night with a hint of melancholy.
In the next glance, his body instantly transformed into light. Sheltered by the moonlight, he drifted and flew towards his home.
The three wooden cabins surrounded by the mountain forest in an open clearing gradually came into view, lined up in the shape of the character "品" (pin). Faint, intermittent snoring drifted out from within...
Roy didn't reveal himself. He hid within the moonlight, watching his mother Kie, his father Tanjuro, his grandmother, Nezuko, Tanjiro, Takeo, and Shigeru, as well as little Hanako curled up like a cat in Kie's arms. In his heart, his understanding of "bonds," "bloodlines," and even "karma" gradually deepened...
Furthermore,
A feeling faintly arose deep within Roy's heart. As long as he wished, he could manipulate the lives of these people through the Threads of Karma at any time. Similarly, he could use Karma: Blade to erase his bond with the Kamado family... as if he had never existed. From then on, he would no longer be the eldest son of the Kamado family.
But, is this what he himself, and the Kamado family, truly wanted?
Roy transformed into a wisp of moonlight, hovering in the night. At a certain moment, he suddenly heard a gentle murmur:
"Eiichiro, is that you?"
Roy froze, poking his head out to look down...
Tap tap tap... A soft string of footsteps emerged from the house, trailing all the way to the wooden veranda. He saw—
Bathed in the moonlight, Tanjuro had draped a coat over himself and leaned against the pillar. He was looking at the exact spot where Roy was hidden in the moonlight, watching him gently.
Clearly, for a healthy Tanjuro, the Transparent World had progressed far beyond its past state!
"Father, are you well?" Knowing he could no longer hide, Roy slowly emerged from the moonlight. Stepping on swirling winds, he landed on the wooden veranda... His swaying, fiery red hair cascaded down his back, looking exactly like Tanjuro himself in the past. With a single glance, it seemed to make Tanjuro see his former self... The difference was, his former self was sickly, while the young boy before him was robust, tall, and mighty, almost catching up to his own height. It couldn't help but make one sigh with emotion.
Tanjuro's pupils rippled with light. He said warmly, "After taking the medicine you brought, I'm much better."
Roy gave a soft "mm" and floated over to the man's side. Watching the bright moon hang high alongside Tanjuro, he heard him say, "Should I wake your mother?"
Roy gently shook his head, "No need. Partings are too bitter; I don't want to see Mother cry again."
Tanjuro tucked his hands into his sleeves and nodded silently. Following that... father and son seemed to have their mouths sewn shut, falling into a simultaneous silence. After a long while, Roy raised his feet again and said, "Father, I'm leaving."
Tanjuro didn't say a word. As Roy was about to ride the moonlight and fly away, the man reached out to smooth the wrinkles on the corner of his clothes, saying to himself, "Every time you come home, something major happens. Father is very ashamed that he cannot stay by your side. Therefore,"
"Eiichiro," Tanjuro lovingly rubbed Roy's head, saying warmly, "Please take care of yourself,"
"I hope to see you whole and unharmed next time..."
"Yes!" Roy smiled brightly, a warm current silently flowing into his heart.
The young boy looked deeply at Tanjuro. His gaze bypassed the man's shoulder, lingering on his mother Kie, his grandmother, Nezuko, Hanako, and Tanjiro, Takeo, and Shigeru in the side room for a moment. His body gradually transformed into light...
Gradually, he disappeared from Tanjuro's sight.
Leaving the man alone, a solitary figure leaning against the pillar, staring blankly at the sky. It took him a long, long time to return to his senses...
Whoosh~ A gust of wind arose, blowing through the lush mountain forest, causing the leaves to rustle.
Roy left home and flew straight toward Mount Sagiri. Tonight, he reunited with his teacher, drank and sang with his fellow disciples, and indulged in the scenery. After completely relaxing his spirit,
With the final bowl of wine,
He heartily clinked cups with Sabito.
With a glug, he tilted his head back and poured it down his throat.
After a satisfying, long exhale, the night turned to dawn!
Subsequently, he hazily opened his eyes. Passing through the Gate of Cognition, he detached from the Demon Slayer World and returned to the Hunter World...
The Calm Before the Storm
Chime~ At 4:00 AM, the clock in the corner chimed.
The young boy lay spread-eagled on the soft, large bed, just as he had returned to the kang bed supported by Sakonji Urokodaki after drinking all night with Sabito and Makomo. At this moment, he felt his spirit and energy were full, his entire body indescribably comfortable.
Caw~ A crow's cry sounded appropriately from beside his pillow.
Jin-kun flew over, sleepily opened its eyes, and plopped its bottom onto Roy's head, resuming its nesting... Its head bobbed up and down, making Roy suspect whether this fellow had actually guarded him all night or simply slept through the night.
Fortunately, now was far from the time to dwell on this. With a thought, Roy simply retracted Jin-kun back into his body. He sat up, put on his training clothes and sneakers, and as usual, began his morning run around the entirety of Kukuroo Mountain.
At that time, in the Zoldyck family's ancient castle, in the second-floor bedroom, the lights were turned on, and a tall figure was fully geared and ready to go.
At that time, in the Zoldyck family's ancient castle, at the far west end of the first floor, Illumi, sporting two dark circles under his eyes, had stayed up all night, grooming himself in front of the mirror.
At that time, in the Zoldyck family's ancient castle, the two old men were taking a walk, having already begun their practice in the garden. One was in a horse stance, methodically throwing straight punches. The other was holding a watering can, watering the flowerbeds, accompanied by a round-headed Beans in a crisp suit, serving him attentively... It was a scene of peaceful and quiet times, except...
It was a bit too "beautiful" and "peaceful"...
Roy swung his bedroom door shut, passing through the mottled corridor dense with the aura of time and history. Exiting the main gate of the ancient castle, he focused intently, running all the way towards the foot of the mountain.
Faintly, several gazes moved as the boy moved, their expressions varying, their hearts entirely tied to him.
Is he really going to be okay? Beans was serving Netero as he practiced punches, a clean towel draped over his forearm. His two tiny bean-like eyes darted around, tracking Roy's back as it disappeared into Kukuroo Mountain. He was startled by Zeno's sudden voice.
"Excuse me," Zeno's white hair swayed. Having taken off his pajamas and changed back into his robe—the words One Kill a Day, Active for Life returning to his chest—he moved, nudging the slightly swaying Beans aside. The watering can in his hand tilted,
Slowly spraying a thin stream of water onto the tulips in front of Beans...
Beans hurriedly stepped back to make room. Taking another look at Roy's retreating back, the boy had vanished into the mountain forest without a trace in the blink of an eye.
"Ho ho ho... that boy is quite calm. It makes us old geezers look even more nervous than he is..." With a smack, a "Punch of Gratitude" was thrown... Netero opened his mouth and exhaled a breath of stale air. He reached out to take the towel from Beans, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead. Turning his head, he glanced behind him.
In the second-floor bedroom, before that massive floor-to-ceiling window, the man stood like a stone statue, watching Roy leave. His entire body faintly exuded a fighting spirit...
It was desire, it was expectation, and even more... it was impatience!
Sizzle sizzle... The thin stream from the watering can dampened the tulips... Zeno's white hair swayed. As he raised his eyes, two dark circles were faintly visible on his face as well.
Following Netero, he glanced at Silva, giving a chuckle, his words unknown...
Netero cast a sidelong glance at Zeno, stroking his beard and giving a light "mm". The corner of his mouth imperceptibly traced a faint, almost nonexistent smile. Looking at the sky, today would be a good day. It was just unknown... what kind of a hellish scene it would become once the fighting started...
Tap... tap... The young boy's footsteps gradually faded into the distance...
Until, looking down from above, Roy's figure could no longer be seen. Only then did Silva's figure disappear from before the massive floor-to-ceiling window in the second-floor bedroom.
At that time, the bright moon was sinking in the west, and the red sun was about to rise in the east.
As the break of dawn arrived, light faintly surged beneath the horizon...
As usual, Roy ran through the mountain forest, down the stone steps, and past the butler's villa. At the end of the stone steps, he saw Kurajin, her hair in a high ponytail, holding a cane, guarding the entrance to the mountain path as always.
Roy's feet moved. In the next glance, he flashed in front of the young girl, brushing against her crystalline earlobe, and breathed lightly, "Didn't I give you a day off? Why are you still working?"
Kurajin's body trembled, her ear feeling numb and tingly.
Two clouds of red imperceptibly crawled onto her cheeks. She bowed to Roy and said, "Good morning, Young Master."
Straightening her back, she said shyly, "Pika hasn't woken up yet. I figured I had nothing to do, so I came over to stand guard for a while..."
"Is he adapting well?"
"Very well."
"That's good." Roy nodded noncommittally. He raised his feet again, brushing past the young girl's shoulder, and ran towards the mountain gate at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, he heard... the young girl muster her courage and shout at him, "Do your best, Young Master!"
Roy waved his hand behind his back. His feet moved, and he disappeared. When he returned,
He had finished his run and was back in his bedroom.
Rumble... At the right moment, the soft sound of a dining cart rolling over the stone floor came from outside the door...
By the time Roy had taken a quick shower and come out, Tsubone had already laid out a sumptuous breakfast on the dining table.
A single glance revealed it was entirely Roy's favorite foods. Clearly... the kitchen had specifically put in effort beforehand...
Roy used Scorching Intent to dry his wet hair. He tossed the towel to Tsubone, grabbed a piece of bacon, took a bite, and said, "Speak, is there any news from Hall recently?"
The Curse on the back of his left hand silently counted down Roy's life as always. When it came to Grandfather Zzigg, the Church of Truth, and the unknown entity behind the church... Roy never would, nor did he dare... be careless. Even if today, for him, was no ordinary day...
Tsubone, her Barbie-pink hair tied into two ponytails behind her head, heard this and carefully glanced at Roy.
Seeing his expression as calm as usual, as if he didn't care much about the impending battle... The old butler's emotions fluctuated. She adjusted the reading glasses on her nose and said respectfully, "Hall has been keeping a close eye on the Church of Truth. He just called last night, saying... an informant claimed to have witnessed with their own eyes..."
"That Hisoka Morow, whom the Young Master killed before, is suspected to be alive and has recently appeared within the Church..."
Roy had long anticipated this.
Expressionless,
He stabbed his fork down, picking up a piece of sandwich and tossing it into his mouth. Swallowing it whole, he said, "Tell Hall I understand. Additionally,"
"Send down the order: there's no need to fixate on Hisoka Morow. He... is not the priority."
A known enemy is not terrifying; the unknown... is what makes one anxious...
Crunch~ crunch~ Roy finished the sandwich in a few bites, using milk to wash it down.
Beside him, Tsubone respectfully acknowledged the order.
Pulling out a tissue and handing it to Roy, she compiled another piece of intelligence and recounted it: "Today, around 2:15 AM, someone tagged the Young Master on the Hunter's official website."
The Hunter's official website? Roy raised an eyebrow, looking at Tsubone calmly, "Is it a man named Ging?"
"No," Tsubone organized the information and handed it over, "It's an organization called the 'Biological Survey Team' that contacted the Young Master."
"The other party introduced himself as Kite, having met the Young Master during the Hunter Exam period."
"He just sent an invitation to the Young Master during the night, requesting the Young Master's assistance in investigating a creature's leg fragment..."
Roy froze abruptly.
His expression instantly turned grave.
Setting down his knife and fork, he took the information compiled by Tsubone and opened it to look.
Entering his sight—
A massive ant leg, almost the size of an adult human, densely covered with tibia and tarsi, with stiff bristles attached to it... Like steel needles, they pierced the eyes with pain...
As Roy's expression shifted, his first thought was—Chimera Ants!
The B-class biological entity, Chimera Ants, originating from the Dark Continent, was supposed to appear ten years later, yet it had appeared prematurely now...
It was hard to say... choosing this moment to appear, wasn't it to... target...
Roy turned his head to look out the window. Netero, his elongated earlobes swaying, was currently dining with Zeno in the garden.
His profound gaze,
Was lost in deep thought.
☆☆☆
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