Coleman's Monologue

Kikyo, Kikyo Zoldyck.

Does she like children?

That is a very, very interesting question.

Coleman had once pondered it seriously.

The conclusion he reached was: no, this woman does not like children.

She only... only loves the "children" she approves of.

What kind of child does she approve of?

One strong enough, ambitious enough.

One gifted enough, ruthless enough.

Ruthless to the point that if the child were to kill her, she would accept it with pleasure.

Therefore, to win "Mother's" favor, Coleman deliberately molded his outward behavior to align with those traits.

To make her like him enough.

And what about Illumi?

Illumi Zoldyck, does he like children?

Does he like his younger brothers?

The answer is also negative.

He is very similar to Kikyo, yet different.

He possesses a possessiveness and desire for control similar to his mother's.

But under normal circumstances, he does not fly into a frenzy.

Illumi Zoldyck is a child who perfectly inherited both the strengths and weaknesses of his parents.

He admires strength, but not blindly.

He loves to control, but within limits.

As long as you don't dance on his triggers, you can enjoy a relative degree of freedom with him.

Therefore, Coleman also displayed a certain level of reliance and possessiveness toward Illumi.

In this way, he could fill the "stomach" of this little snake without being swallowed whole.

Coleman had a great sense of proportion.

He knew this was an abnormal family, and he also knew that if one didn't appear special in this household, they would be viewed with suspicion.

But none of this was difficult for Coleman, whose rationality occupied ninety percent of his mind.

It was just acting; if he wanted to, he could act for a lifetime.

However, all of this was far too dangerous for a new life just born into this family, ignorant and unaware.

A father who was accustomed to the darkness and long since desensitized to his wife and sons.

A mother and son who both admired strength and loved to control.

Coleman knew that if this little one didn't perform "beautifully" enough, he would likely live a life far from satisfactory.

Perhaps even a miserable one.

And judging by Mother's recent reaction, she was not very satisfied with this newborn child.

Black hair, black eyes—the same features as his older brother.

If he didn't possess seventy percent of his brother's talent, he would likely suffer "abandonment."

This was dangerous.

After all, Illumi was a special existence.

He was truly strong, and truly gifted.

Coleman didn't think anyone could reach his brother's level.

So, perhaps, he needed to do something.

For the sake of the family's genetic diversity.

Although the Zoldyck Family would never commit the act of harming or abandoning their own kin.

Yet, differential treatment resulting from one's own talent was an unavoidable reality.

Contempt and disdain would always leak out from somewhere in their eyes.

Inadvertent coldness and alienation were always sharp weapons that struck down a child's enthusiasm.

If not corrected, one day, this child might become psychologically twisted due to such differential treatment.

Unwilling to interact with outsiders, or perhaps becoming cold and cruel.

Inadvertently, one might just create a sick, twisted individual.

The younger generation of the Zoldyck family is just a neat little collection of perverts.

That simply won't do.

Having me and my brother is quite enough when it comes to perverts.

Why should anyone else get involved?

Besides, what's the fun in a bunch of perverts hanging around together?

Wouldn't it be rather nice to have a few normal children instead?

Licking his lollipop, Coleman looked at the baby in the cradle and thought as much.

You just go ahead and be a normal person, nice and quiet.

The youngest generation of this family already has an abnormal one in me.

There's no need to add another.

Well, this is my first time being an older brother, so I don't have much experience.

I'll just do my best to keep you from being persecuted by Illumi.

A flicker of light passed through his eyes, and strange emotions brewed within them as Coleman smiled down at the blinking infant.

After all, Illumi belongs to me~

I won't give him to you.