After a moment, his drowsy eyes regained their spark.
Right, why worry about what's real or fake? Why concern himself with what's virtual or actual?
When the false becomes true, the true also becomes false; when nothing becomes something, something returns to nothing.
'My previous life was real, Roy of the Zoldyck family is also real, and Kamado Eiichiro in the cognitive world is equally real...'
'And I only need to handle present matters well and cherish the people before me.'
Roy's lips curved into that familiar faint smile as he got up and began dressing.
It was nearly four o'clock—his daily morning run couldn't be skipped. He'd treat it as warm-up practice for "Sun Breathing."
That's right; the moment he woke from the dream, Roy was delighted to discover "Sun Breathing" had appeared on his status panel.
However, it was grayed out, with a note that he needed to endure the "Weight of the Sun" to activate it.
Yet, 'Weight of the Sun...'
Roy put on his tank top and shorts, gazing toward the horizon where a hint of pale light threatened to tear through the darkness.
The scorching power contained within would undoubtedly test one's willpower severely.
He wasn't sure if he could pass, but he had to try first.
The young man took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and ran out.
At that time, a certain old man lying in his rocking chair was still sleeping soundly to cartoons.
In a bedroom hidden in darkness around the corridor corner, a pale, expressionless face suddenly opened its eyes.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom on the second floor, a man was forcefully pressing a woman against the floor-to-ceiling window.
Everyone was busy exerting themselves, just as Roy wouldn't slack off in the slightest.
From mountaintop to base and back up, his daily five kilometers quickly ended.
When he returned to his bedroom and looked up, gorgeous morning glow accompanied the crimson sun leaping above the horizon, bringing with it ancient wildness and endless vitality.
Roy felt inspired, closed his eyes, and began practicing "Sun Breathing."
Unlike Tanjuro, this time he used "Nen." Using "Sun Breathing" as a guide, he began driving aura to circulate within his body.
Then, he felt a burning sensation!
This burning grew stronger and stronger. As he performed "Dance," "Clear Blue Sky," "Fake Rainbow," and other movements, it almost expanded into a ball of fire, instantly igniting Roy from foot to head.
Pain... severe pain... extremely severe pain... It was the pain of being roasted alive over flames, so intense Roy nearly fainted.
He barely managed to lean against the door to avoid collapsing.
This showed what kind of significance it held that only one Tanjiro had appeared from the Sengoku period to the Edo period across a thousand years!
'I want this rotten age to turn to ash...'
'I want sunlight to shine, leaving nowhere for evil to hide...'
'I want to borrow the sun's true fire to burn away all darkness and slay all demons...'
In his delirium, Roy, who was in so much pain he nearly lost consciousness, seemed to hear someone's murmuring. Somehow, a figure appeared in his pupils.
It was a swordsman carrying a flute.
He had deep red hair with flame-like markings spreading across his temples. He stood quietly at time's end, looking at Roy gently, smiling as he said something that sounded like:
"Those who pursue the path ultimately reach the same destination."
"Brother, I said not to worry about the breathing techniques being lost. Now you see, don't you?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni... this figure... really resembled him...
Roy vaguely recognized the person's appearance, then his body swayed and he slid down along the doorframe.
Immediately, that deadly scorching heat dissipated. Only then was Roy liberated, gasping for breath, nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
Fortunately, all the suffering hadn't been in vain.
The status panel's notification sound provided timely comfort.
[Notification: "Sun Breathing" has been activated...]
[Current Progress: Beginner (1/100)]
'Finally... I succeeded...'
Roy smiled. The red sun shone down, morning glow spilling across his face, making him unconsciously spread his arms wide.
Enjoying this moment.
It was now five in the morning. As the ancient grandfather clock in the corner chimed, Butler Gotoh pushed the food cart as usual to bring Roy his meal.
He habitually knocked on the door, but seeing it was open with Roy sitting carelessly against it, Gotoh was stunned. He approached and reached out to help him up.
At that moment, Roy opened his eyes. Instantly—
Gotoh felt a sharp pain in his eyeballs, as if he'd looked directly at the sun or had a laser pointer aimed straight at his eyes. His vision immediately blurred.
"Ah—"
A scream echoed throughout...
Afterward, Roy's butler changed from Gotoh to the muscle-bound Tsubone.
"How is he?"
"The doctor said it's temporary blindness. He'll recover in a few days."
"That's good."
Gotoh was finally taken away for treatment.
After finishing his morning training class, Roy ate lunch while listening to Tsubone report on his condition.
Forking a piece of steak, he frowned and said: "Tell them to double his salary this month."
"There's no such precedent," the elderly butler said expressionlessly, hands crossed in front. "He's a dog of the Zoldyck family. Having food to eat is enough."
"However, young master..."
Tsubone bent down to stare at Roy, her gorilla-like frame completely enveloping him as she asked seriously: "The master asked me to inquire how Gotoh was injured?"
According to the doctor's diagnosis: the eyeballs experienced a stress reaction due to intense stimulation, leading to temporary blindness.
So what had stimulated him?
Silva wanted to know, Tsubone wanted to know, but since Gotoh hadn't exposed him, Roy had to respect that choice and show him respect.
So he leisurely pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth and said:
"I think as a master, I have no obligation to explain to a dog..."
"You say Gotoh is a dog, but aren't you one too?"
Tsubone nodded approvingly: "Of course I am too."
Then her tone shifted: "But the master isn't."
"Then let him come ask me himself."
Roy directly pushed back his chair and stood up.
When conversation doesn't align, there's no point in many words. He'd always respected butlers who could die for the Zoldyck family, but he couldn't agree with the self-perception of not treating people as people but as dogs.
He walked straight past Tsubone.
He also passed by a ghost with hollow, lifeless eyes.
Illumi seemed to have just returned from killing someone, still surrounded by thick bloody scent.
With hands in his pockets, he walked toward Roy. As they were about to pass each other, he suddenly stopped, turned his head to glance at him and said: "Dogs are dogs, and humans are also dogs."
"Just like killing people and killing dogs—equally simple."
"Is that so?" Roy smiled coldly, leaving Illumi with a back view that wasn't particularly broad but was piercing:
"Then congratulations, my dog brother. You certainly have good self-awareness."
Illumi: "..."
"Swish—"
He drew out his hand blade.