Milluki's Virginity vs. Urokodaki Sakonji's Expectations

"What are you doing?"

"Hugging a tree."

"Why are you hugging a tree?"

"Hugging a tree."

A thick vein popped out on Illumi's smooth forehead. He simply closed his eyes, choosing to ignore what he couldn't see.

It was high noon, and while the sun was a bit harsh, the Zoldyck brothers were fine—one had the shade of the tree, the other had a parasol to block the heat. It wasn't hot, though the scene itself was somewhat bizarre.

"Young Master Milluki, please slow down."

Just then, a chubby little boy came scurrying along on short legs, chasing a butterfly, followed by a panting butler.

The three or four-year-old climbed up and down as if he had an endless supply of energy. Perhaps he had eaten a butterfly last time and found the taste decent... Milluki approached cautiously and executed a beautiful "Mount Tai Press"...

He lunged forward, crushed the butterfly, grabbed it, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Chew... chew..."

Green juice trickled down the corners of his mouth.

Milluki lifted his head in satisfaction, only to notice... there was someone plastered to the tree, and another buried in a hole. Both looked somewhat familiar...

Terms like "Big Brother" or "Second Brother" clearly didn't exist in the Zoldyck household.

The chubby child climbed up from the ground, squatted by the pit to peer at Illumi, then circled around to the tree to look at Roy... He pulled down his pants, exposed his little bird, and began to pee...

Roy frowned and glared down at him. Milluki looked up and met his gaze, completely unfazed. He thrust his hips forward, nearly spraying Roy...

Seeing this, the corners of Illumi's mouth twitched violently, as if he were gloating...

Who would have thought that Milluki, hearing the movement, would turn around out of curiosity... The steaming hot boy-urine poured directly onto Illumi's head.

This time, there was no need to thrust his hips; Milluki let out a comfortable hum.

Unfortunately, the next second, before he could even pull up his pants, he was grabbed by the collar and hoisted into the air.

His little bird was left exposed to the air, dangling helplessly...

It turned out Illumi had jumped out of the pit.

"You're three years old. It's time to start training. Let's begin with electrocution."

Illumi, his face dark, carried Milluki away like he was holding a fat cat... Even without looking, Roy knew what he intended to do.

He decisively abandoned the cypress tree and hugged a willow tree instead.

The result of a child eating random things was foul-smelling urine and a fiery temper, much like Illumi right now, whose anger was rising steadily.

"Calm your heart..."

"If it doesn't concern you, don't ask..."

"Adjust your breathing..."

He chanted silently in his heart...

"I am the tree... I am the tree..."

Dazed and confused, it didn't take long before Roy was once again asleep against the tree trunk...

"Nii-san... Nii-san..." This time, he seemed to hear someone calling him.

He opened his eyes only to find himself back in the familiar snowy country.

He shivered instantly from the cold.

If there was ever a definition for "just escaped the fiery hell, only to fall into an ice cave," this was it.

Tanjiro held a pot of hot tea, fed him a sip, and said with concern, "Nii-san... it's already dark. Let's head back."

As the warmth flowed into his belly, Roy finally felt a bit warmer. He glanced at the sky; the night was deep. If not for the reflection of the white snow, one might not even be able to see their own fingers.

It seemed he really had been hugging the tree and sleeping for a full two or three hours.

It just hadn't been very effective, aside from... almost being frozen into an ice sculpture.

"Let's go."

Taking deep, uneven steps, Roy didn't insist further and led Tanjiro toward the cabin of Urokodaki Sakonji.

In the mountain forest behind him, a few scattered figures followed, and occasionally, the sound of ghostly winds could be heard howling amidst the cold breeze...

"The difficulty

Perched on a tall birch tree behind them, Sabito accompanied Makomo, watching in silence...

The Kamado brothers were destined to part ways after this night.

"Father's health is poor... the family lacks a pillar... the money from selling charcoal, the clothes, and the sugar all need to be brought home..."

Tanjiro followed behind Roy, carrying a teapot, knowing full well that tomorrow morning was the time he had to depart.

He was a sensible child who had learned to read the room from a young age; realizing that Roy had no intention of leaving Mount Sagiri anytime soon after becoming an apprentice, he did not pester him to stay.

"The family needs you, and they need me. I will return from time to time to check on them."

The small wooden cabin in the distance had already been lit.

As if reading his thoughts, Roy stopped in his tracks, turned around, and smiled at Tanjiro: "I will organize a training regimen tonight for you to take back and practice diligently."

"I will return once a week to check your progress."

"If you slack off by then, don't blame me for beating your backside to a pulp."

"I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Tanjiro said resolutely...

Roy patted him on the shoulder: "Go back and tell Father that I have never forgotten my promise, and please ask him and Mother to take the utmost care of their health."

"I understand," Tanjiro's eyes grew hot, and he took a breath: "The family needs me, and the world needs you."

Roy was taken aback: "Who told you that?"

He did not believe this was something that could come out of Tanjiro's mouth.

"Father said it."

"He said that Nii-san has a big heart and shouldn't stay in the mountains; you should go out into the vast world to explore and see it for yourself."

"He also said that he has held Nii-san back, held this family back, and that Nii-san shouldn't be nostalgic—just go and walk your own path."

A cold wind blew, stirring the boy's bangs, causing them to sway slightly...

Roy touched his hanafuda earrings, stood still, and gazed in the direction of home, unable to speak for a long time.

There were so many things he wanted to say, yet it felt as if there was nothing to say; in the end, it all turned into a single "I will"... The next day, he watched Tanjiro depart.

"Are you in such a hurry?" Urokodaki Sakonji came to Roy's side, watching from afar as Tanjiro, with a basket on his back, turned his head every few steps to wave at them, and said indifferently: "A person only has twelve hours in a day. Excluding eating, drinking, relieving oneself, and sleeping, the time available for training is less than eight."

"Even if you are in a hurry, you cannot escape this law."

Urokodaki Sakonji was right; humans are not machines and ultimately need rest, especially "sleep," which accounts for the vast majority of "rest."

But... what he could not have imagined was—

Roy's day could be twenty-four hours long... By day, he could train at home, and by night, through deep sleep, he could come to Mount Sagiri to hug trees...

Therefore...

"Even laws have days when they go wrong, Master..."

"Perhaps I will grasp the mysteries of 'Breathing' faster than you."

Tanjiro's figure disappeared from sight...

Roy tilted his head and smiled at Urokodaki Sakonji, then turned and walked into the mist-shrouded forest...

Urokodaki Sakonji's face, hidden beneath his tengu mask, could not be seen clearly. He watched Roy walk away in silence for a long time before letting out a soft chuckle: "Then this old man will just wait and see."