Zoldyck Love × Maha's Test

Illumi gripped the Wooden Nail tightly in his hand, placing it close to his heart. A rare flicker of emotion appeared in his usually empty and lifeless eyes—a mixture of surprise and excitement... He watched Roy disappear into the forest along the mountain steps, only then noticing...

The Wooden Nail wasn't an ordinary Wooden Nail; it was actually a "Nen Artifact" branded with the character "[God Script]," and it still retained Roy's warmth. The Sun-Earring Boy held the Wooden Nail and rubbed it against his cheek, murmuring softly, "[God Spear]...[God Spear]..."

"Does Nii-san mean I should be his gun?" Illumi lowered his head, his straight black hair falling to his waist swaying in the wind. He then raised his head, took a deep breath, and flashed away to chase after him.

"Tap... tap..." The sound of footsteps echoed...

Upon entering the house, the path led further into the mountain... Roy, leading Gotoh, slowly ascended the steps. In the distance, she spotted a mountain guardian with a neat golden ponytail, holding a cane in one hand, her expression stern and unsmiling, like a stone statue. Only when she saw Roy did her beautiful eyes, hidden beneath Scarlet Eyes, show a flicker of reaction...

From a distance of ten meters, Kurajing lifted her skirt and respectfully bowed to Roy, saying, "Welcome home, Young Master."

The dress that the girl often wore, featuring the traditional clothing of the Kurta Clan people, had been quietly replaced by a tailcoat at some point.

"Once you're in the Zoldyck, you must forget the past. Young Master has pardoned you, allowing you to contact your family and retain your original identity. You should repay Young Master tenfold." Gotoh's words of advice from the first day he entered the Zoldyck were still vivid in his mind.

Kurajing finally overcame all her hardships and opened the two Testing Gate the day before yesterday, officially becoming a member of the Zoldyck team. Now she has been entrusted with an important task and sent to guard the mountain, which is not without the help of Roy.

"Hmm." Roy walked unhurriedly to the girl. It had been a while since he'd seen her... He'd heard she trained exceptionally hard; her once fair and rosy skin was now quite tanned from the sun. He reached out to help her up, smiling as he looked at her and said, "When you're away from home, you can't let your family worry."

"If you miss home, tell Gotoh and ask him to switch your shift."

"I'll grant you a week's leave to go back and visit."

Home... Kurajing thought of her younger brother, her parents, and her uncles. Being a young girl at heart, her eyes welled up with tears... She sniffled, lowered her eyes to hide her embarrassment from Roy, and loudly proclaimed, "Reporting to Young Master, this is my home!"

She didn't even realize her voice was trembling; she was truly... determined...

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." The Kurta Clan, possessing "one of the Seven Wonders of the World," was like a child carrying gold through a bustling market, forever unable to escape being coveted, until... the entire tribe was wiped out.

Roy could clearly sense Kurajing's decision. If she could be given a chance to be reborn, she would rather not have the Scarlet Eyes... She silently patted Kurayama's shoulder twice, said nothing more, and walked straight past her.

Gotoh silently followed behind Roy, gave Kurajing a deep look, and then picked up her feet to catch up.

The young butler Youyou remarked, "The Young Master wants you to go home. Just go back. With him around, no one can say anything bad about you."

"And I certainly won't take your place."

Kurajing body trembled, and she lowered her head even further... "Yes!"

With another glance, the master and servant were no longer in sight.

"Whoosh~" Spring has turned into summer in just over a month.

It's only been a few days since I left home, but it feels like a long time has passed in a dream.

A breeze swept through the mountains, carrying fresh air and a hint of earthy fragrance.

Roy walked ahead, followed by Gotoh. Through the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, the silhouette of the Ancient Castle could be vaguely seen in the distance.

The Sun-Earring Boy suddenly said, "We can start reading it to her now."

Gotoh nodded. "How about we teach her the ' Breathing Style ' as well?"

Roy abruptly stopped, looked at her with surprise, and said with a half-smile, "Aren't you afraid she'll become stronger and take your place?"

Gotoh smiled and said frankly, "I don't care about that. I just hope that there are as many people as possible by Young Master's side, and the stronger the better."

The young butler's beard had grown longer; he seemed to have matured considerably after his trip, gaining a more sophisticated charm... He confidently pushed up his glasses perched on his nose. "Besides, if I could be so easily surpassed by them, it would also prove... I'm not worthy to be the Young Master's personal butler!"

"Hahaha..." Roy was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter... The laughter was mixed with a hint of Nen Qi, startling away several birds!

Gotoh scratched her cheek and laughed along...

The master and servant set off again, inseparable, their shadows intertwined. They were both apprehensive and joyful as they approached home, traversing countless mountain steps until they reached the summit, where they witnessed the majestic Ancient Castle casting its shadow over them.

A voice called out, "You're back!"... It was her father, supporting his soon-to-be-give-up Kikyo, as they strolled in the garden...

Taking a walk in late pregnancy can help the baby descend into the pelvis, stimulate uterine contractions, relieve anxiety, and enhance physical strength, thus preparing the body for the upcoming delivery.

Kikyo's belly was visibly bulging, and the Lolita-style tutu she usually loved to wear had long been replaced with loose maternity clothes. She leaned carefully against Silva, and through the hem of her skirt, one could even hear... a clear and strong heartbeat.

"Thump... thump..." A declaration to the world... his imminent arrival!

"Father/Master..."

99

Roy greeted them with Gotoh.

The Sun-Earring Boy straightened up again and said softly with a smile, "It seems it will be a healthy little brother."

Kikyo proudly raised his chin. "It must be."

Not only that... this baby will definitely have silver hair.

Silva put his arm around Kikyo's waist, placed his large hand on the woman's belly, and looked at Roy with a serious expression, saying, "Don't go out anytime soon, she's due in the next few days."

"You're the eldest brother, you should... be there."

"Certainly."

Illumi silently approached from behind...

In the dimly lit little room on the first floor of the Ancient Castle, Great-Grandpa was happily listening to cartoons and rocking back and forth in his rocking chair.

Behind him, a head of white hair swayed wildly as Grandpa Zeno massaged his shoulders... and in the nearby garden, Milluki, having been electrocuted...

A family must include everyone, no one can be left out!

Roy nodded, and for some reason, he suddenly recalled Alluka and Nanika's ever-changing faces, followed by... the "Skull of the King" gently stroking the giant Elephant Tapir's corpse.

"Oh, even you failed?"

The skeleton spoke these words, letting out a faint sigh across time... The echo still lingered in Roy's ears, and in Roy's solemn expression, Silva keenly caught a glimpse of it.

The man, without a word, continued his stroll in the garden, supporting his Kikyo. As he turned away, he said in a deep voice, "After you've seen your grandfather and great-grandfather, come to my study."

Roy remained silent for a long while, then softly uttered, "Yes."

He lifted his foot again, took a step forward, and when he reappeared, he was already standing in the mottled corridor of the ancient Ancient Castle, filled with the atmosphere of time, and walked unhurriedly towards the small room, draped in the "Rosy Garment" of sunlight.

"Your father adopted the name you suggested, so it's called Killua Zoldyck."

"Tap... tap..." A series of footsteps began, then fell...

Illumi followed Roy with Shadow Step, hands in his pockets, and strolled down the corridor with him, saying expressionlessly, "Father, I value your opinion."

Roy gave a soft "hmm" and didn't say anything more.

Illumi his head to look at him, and said again, "He loves you very much."

"I know."

"Me too."

"I know."

"You do not know,."

"Illumi," Roy suddenly stopped and turned his head to look at him, "I'm not happy."

Illumi stopped in his tracks, frowning. "Why are you unhappy?"

"Because," Roy reached out and grabbed the Sun-Earring Boy's head, pulling it into his palm, "My silly little brother, you need to learn to love yourself first."

[Circle] emerged, and the Heart Bug, following the Bloodline Bond, seeped into Illumi's heart... giving him a fleeting glimpse of the future, belonging to the original story...

His future, a glimpse into Illumi's life... Back then, he cared too much about Killua, even threatening him with Nanika, yearning to die at Killua's hands... almost twisted, almost insane... yet completely ignoring one thing...

"Me, my father, my mother, my grandfather, my great-grandfather... all those you protected and cared for cannot bear your death."

Do you understand?

Illumi: "I..."

"Shh..." Roy held up his index finger, gesturing for silence.

As Illumi stood there, dazed and confused, his empty eyes unfocused, black dots flickering in his pupils...

Roy rubbed his head, pointed his finger at his forehead, leaving a "Wind Breathing" before turning and leaving.

"Bang!" A refreshing breeze blew in from outside the window at just the right moment, knocking Illumi to the ground. The Sun-Earring Boy spread his arms wide, lying in a starfish shape in the mottled corridor, savoring the Wind Breathing, lost in thought.

He was so confused... he couldn't come to his senses for a long time.

Not far away, around a corner, is...

A dimly lit, small room.

An old man was enjoying a dry scalp massage from his grandson. He closed his eyes and hummed softly. His old eyes, hidden beneath his eyelids, seemed to be wandering in a trance, reaching to the heavens, taking in everything. He chuckled and said, "Zeno, see... he's stronger than you."

"Grandpa, you're being unfair!" Zeno defiantly, increasing the pressure on his hand. "I'm an only child, I don't have a younger brother to spoil."

The Zoldyck had only one son per generation for Third Hokage, and it wasn't until Silva's generation that the family began to branch out... While this is an objective fact, however...

Maha opened his eyes and glanced sideways at Zeno: "With your tendency to talk back, you're no match for Roy."

Zeno:

Just shut up. Comparisons are odious, and grandparents are always closer than grandchildren, especially since... there are several generations between them.

"Hmph, don't think the old man's words are harsh; even your grandmother admitted it herself."

"My grandma?" Zeno was taken aback, then looked down at Maha... The old man's withered body added a touch of desolation, and he simply said, "She said Roy is most like me, just like your father, neither of them are easy to deal with..."

Zeno's eyes flickered, and he said with no small amount of agreement, "Grandma is right."

"It would be great if I could meet her in person."

"You?" Putting aside whether Betty would be willing or not, just the matter of "meeting"... Maha sneered, "Then you'll have to beg your grandson and see if he's willing to take you."

An existence capable of connecting to dreams... the Zoldyck has only one like it.

The Youyou was the sound of the wind blowing through the window, the warm sunlight streaming into the corridor, the slightly raised eyebrows of Zeno, and the approaching footsteps of Roy.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the rosy dawn faded, and the red sun leaped out, slowly but steadily climbing towards its zenith. Outside, the Sun-Earring Boy walked in, leaned against the window, looked at his two grandfathers inside, smiled, and said gently, "Great-Grandpa, Grandpa, I'm back."

Maha sat up abruptly, the chair no longer wobbling. He reached out and shoved Zeno aside, then beckoned to Roy, "Grandson, come here and give your great-grandfather a back massage."

Zeno's eyes widened... So all that back massage I did for you was for nothing, huh? He patted Roy's shoulder irritably, then lifted his foot and disappeared into the shadows, vanishing in an instant.

The eight large characters on his chest, "One Kill A Day, Active Career," swayed in the wind... This time, Roy's eyes flickered, finally catching a glimpse of his clothes... The Sun-Earring Boy asked in surprise, "Grandpa seems to be holding a grudge."

"Ignore him." Maha snorted coldly, "If he dares to hold a grudge, I'll send him to see your great-grandmother."

She was worried about having no one to keep her company, feeling lonely...

"Cough... cough..." A faint, intermittent cough drifted from outside... Someone with swaying white hair, caught off guard, seemed to have given himself away, stumbled slightly, then picked up his foot and hurried away.

Roy was left to keep Maha. Suddenly, he remembered seeing a Stele Forest of steles, stretching as far as the eye could see, in the old man's dream. Among them was a stele of his great-grandmother. With a heavy heart, he started to massage the old man's back.

Seemingly sensing something... Maha closed his eyes and stopped speaking.

The grandfather and grandson basked in the rare warmth of the sun, enjoying their reunion after a long while... Then, Maha spoke softly, "Child, your idea for Meteor City was 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 chaotic things are, the more one craves order; the more oppressed one is, the more one resists... Roy followed Maha's back up, mimicking Zeno's technique, and massaged the shoulders of this "old revolutionary," saying with no small amount of approval, "I didn't think that much about it at first; I was just aiming to develop a few Believer. But, I didn't expect..."

"The darkness and filth there were far worse than I had imagined."

Human trafficking, indiscriminate killing, demolishing and reselling, selling and demolishing again... This is just one street, one corner... It's unimaginable how much evil lurks in other parts of Meteor City, how many villains like Bolton and Ilya who don't treat people like human beings are entrenched!

"Heh heh... how many people have you met, how many things have you done?"

Roy remained silent. If you add what he experienced in Demon Slayer, and what he witnessed on the battlefields of the Hokage world...

He replied truthfully, "Great-Grandpa, I have indeed seen some things."

"Is that so?" Maha stood up with a smile, the old man facing the Sun-Earring Boy with his hands behind his back. "Shouldn't you at least open your eyes before calling me Great-Grandpa?"