Urokodaki Sakonji's Views on Life and Death × Silva's Three More Whippings

A person dies twice in their life: the first time is when they stop breathing, and the second time... is when they are forgotten by the world.

Maha won't forget, Zeno won't forget, Silva won't forget... now it's Roy's turn...

Large families value the orderly succession of their lineage...

Late at night, after instructing Gotoh to prepare the dishes, Roy took a shower, changed into his pajamas, lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, carefully searching for memories of Grandpa Jager. The only image he could recall was a shocking scene of him, Netero, and the Gourmet Hunter Linne first arriving on the Dark Continent, witnessing towering Sandworm burrowing through the ground and stirring up the wind and clouds.

It must have been quite a thrilling scene.

Just immersing yourself in it is the kind of experience that makes you tremble with excitement.

"Swish... swish..." The evening breeze lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing the deep darkness outside the window...

Roy knew in his heart that this world was a giant nesting doll, with a river flowing from the Dark Continent, forming Lake Mobius... Lake Möbius encompassed six continents... the six continents nurtured billions of people, of whom less than ten percent Nen user.

Therefore, knowing that there are heavens beyond heavens and worlds beyond worlds, if he were Jager, he too would be unable to resist embarking on an adventure.

The Sun-Earring Boy remembered the dream, turned over, and closed his eyes.

He went to bed very late tonight.

Because I have something on my mind.

In the Snow Country, Roy, as always, enters the world of Demon Slayer through a dream.

Without needing Urokodaki Sakonji to make a move, he took the initiative to take down the basket, carrying a basket of pebbles, and went deep into the dense forest to practice his swordsmanship.

Today, we scattered more gravel than we did yesterday.

Sabito clearly saw that the Sun-Earring Boy wasn't focused or concentrated enough, and answered Makomo's question, "Why is Eiichiro not in the right state of mind today?"

"Do we still need to practice?" Makomo asked again.

"Certainly.."

"There's no need for so much affectation when practicing swordsmanship. You should practice when you're in a good mood, and you should practice even more when you're in a bad mood. As you practice... as you practice, your worries disappear..."

Sabito glanced behind Roy... Not far away, under a birch tree, Urokodaki Sakonji, wearing Tengu Mask, silently watched for a while, then turned and went back to the cabin, picking up his carving knife.

Just as Sabito had expected, he didn't stop Roy like last time, but gave him a day off and continued carving the mask on his own.

One slash, three stones fall... a hundred slashes, two stones fall... a thousand slashes, one stone falls... two thousand slashes, no more stones fall... As the Sun-Earring Boy sweated profusely and completed three "pseudo- Ten Thousand Swings" techniques, frost had already formed on his bangs.

[Hint: Swordsmanship +20]

[Sun Breathing: 83→87/100 (Beginner)]

"Whoosh~" Roy sheathed his sword and exhaled a stream of air from his nostrils.

He carried the pebbles in his basket, not one missing, and turned back along the path he had come from, returning to the familiar Small Wooden Cabin.

Oil lamps were already lit in the wooden cabin, and a hot pot sat on the kotatsu. The master had also sliced two plates of wild boar meat and served them with some wild vegetables dug from the snow, simply arranged on a plate.

He said:

"Sit."

Pick up half a plate of meat and put it into the pot...

Wisps of steam rose... and soon the entire room was filled with the rich aroma of meat...

Makomo squatted by the pot again, staring longingly at it, and couldn't help but swallow her saliva.

Roy put down the baskets and Asauchi the food, then sat cross-legged, enjoying the pleasure of the meal, which even eased some of his worries.

"Are you going to fight your father again?"

Soon, the two plates of meat were empty, and they had eaten most of the wild vegetables as well. Urokodaki Sakonji ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to them...

Roy pursed his lips and gently shook his head. "No, I was just thinking about my grandfather. I'm going to pay my respects to him tomorrow."

"Grandfather?"

Great-grandfather.

"That's considered a very old age."

Urokodaki Sakonji ladled himself a bowl of soup and drank it, saying, "Prepare some of Grandpa's favorite dishes. If he likes to drink, bring a bottle of wine too. It doesn't have to be too expensive; just something he usually likes to drink."

"I don't know what he likes to drink..."

"You haven't seen it before?"

He died before I was born.

Urokodaki Sakonji: "..."

There was a long, long silence, and when the word "life and death" was mentioned, it seemed like everyone fell silent...

It was too heavy... Makomo sensed the awkward atmosphere and said somberly, "Master is probably thinking of us and is saddened again..."

The Sabito remained silent, staring intently at the roof beams. It too had many unfulfilled regrets, things it couldn't express...

Shinsuke and Fukuda were unusually quiet for a while. Surrounded by a multitude of souls, they all slowed down their movements, found a corner, and crouched down.

Roy observed everything, finished his soup, silently cleared the dishes, and then left the remaining broth outside to Shimizu. When he returned, Urokodaki Sakonji at the window, gazing at the boundless Snow Country. With his back to Eiichiro, Sabito, Sabito, Makomo, Shinsuke, Fukuda, Watanabe...

There are thirteen people in total, who are also your thirteen senior brothers and sisters.

The old man turned around and said earnestly, "I never thought they were dead; I thought they always lived in my heart."

"When Master gets old one day, he will go down to reunite with them."

"When the time comes, I'll accept their complaints, blame, scolding, and even beatings... I'll take it all..."

The weathered old face beneath the Tengu Mask spoke, revealing an extremely kind smile...

Roy listened quietly, when he heard soft sobs beside him, which grew louder and louder until they turned into loud wailing...

"Master, I miss you so much!" Shinsuke and Fukuda sobbed uncontrollably.

Makomo wiped away her tears, the fox-like Sun-Earring Boy's eyes reddened, and he tilted his head back and closed his eyes... The Sun-Earring Boy remained silent...

That night, she undressed and lay on the kang (heated brick bed)...

She muttered to herself, "I saw Master; they didn't blame you..."

Tossing and turning, listening to the cold wind rustling the window paper, I snuggled up to the kotatsu and fell asleep.

The familiar feeling of falling washed over me...

I leave the Cognitive World and return to my familiar bedroom.

Roy listened to the "ding" sound of the pendulum striking the reed of the clock in the corner, lingered in bed for a few minutes, then washed up and went for his morning run.

After leaving the Ancient Castle, passing the Butler Villa, and arriving at the mountain gate, Roy noticed that Kastro was asking Zee for advice on power techniques. When Roy returned to the bedroom, a bunch of yellow chrysanthemums was placed against the wall in the passageway next to the door.

"Chrysanthemums can't be brought inside; it's bad luck," Gotoh explained, pushing the food cart.

Roy gave a soft hum, looked away, and listened to Gotoh report on today's training plan while eating breakfast.

Distracted...

"The master said that now that the Young Master has mastered the [Supreme] move, he should also learn [Practice]... He seems to know that in the Heavens Arena, the Young Master was pressured by someone using [Practice], and he has given the order that the Young Master will be tested again in a while, still with three lashes."

"How long is 'a while'?"

"The master didn't say. It's just..."

Roy forked a piece of beef and popped it into his mouth, glancing at it indifferently...

Gotoh carefully chose her words, saying, "Just give him the instructions, and see how he feels. If he's in a good mood, he might forget about it. If he's in a bad mood..."

The young butler adjusted his glasses and said cautiously, "I'll draw it soon!"