Chapter 88: The Sun Will Never Fade × I Will Chase You to the Dark Continent
Mother Kikyo's belly grew larger each day. Often, Roy would see Father Silva gently guiding her through the garden after dinner, helping her digest her meal in the evening air.
During these moments, Silva shed his usual stern facade as a father figure, perfectly embodying the role of an attentive husband.
Roy emerged from great-grandfather Zigg's chamber. This time, he'd lasted three minutes.
He leaned against the window sill, quietly recovering his mental energy while waiting for Gotoh to bring dinner. In the distance, footsteps approached—growing closer. A head of white hair bobbed into view. Grandfather Zeno came, hands clasped behind his back, joining Roy to admire the night landscape. In the garden below, Kikyo was shouting about something, then delivered an indignant punch to Silva's arm.
"Your great-great-grandfather asked me to tell you," Zeno said, "our family has had single sons for three generations straight. No brothers to offer advice on what you should or shouldn't do. So..."
"From now on, you can discipline him however you see fit. As long as he doesn't die from it, nobody in this household will object."
"He went too far!" Illumi was still hanging from the willow tree. He'd declared that unless Roy personally cut him down, he'd stay there forever—he'd rather hang himself to death than give in.
Roy acted like he hadn't heard. Silva and Kikyo, out on their walk, pretended not to notice. But Milluki wandered over that evening and peed below Illumi's hanging form. Had he been tall enough, he probably would've pissed on his head. Even so, Illumi endured.
"All 'Manipulator'-type Nen users are pissy like that," Zeno said with a teasing glance at Roy. "The more something they can't have, the more they want to possess it. You, though... I'd wager you've got quite the future ahead with that one."
So it would be. The sunset faded, yet it never truly disappeared. The sun never belonged to any single person—how could anyone ever possess it?
Roy shrugged indifferently. "Not a problem."
"He crosses the line once, I hit him once. Until he stops trying to use his claws."
It was crude and brutal, but undeniably effective. Zeno nodded in agreement, glancing at Illumi shivering as the cold wind rattled through the tree. His expression shifted. "On another matter—your request to access the household intelligence apparatus. I rejected it."
Zeno's tone remained calm. "Since you understand some things shouldn't be crossed, you should be the first to follow the rules."
The Hunter's world wasn't just fighting and killing—it was information gathering above all. His recent year-end conversation with Father Tanjuro lingered vividly in Roy's mind. He felt the time had come to take more direct action. Not just to pursue learning Conjuration to treat Tanjuro's illness, but also to establish a reliable, stable information network. The official Hunter Association website appeared to be an excellent starting point.
"I understand," Roy said. Only successive family heads held authority over the intelligence apparatus—this was law.
In the original story, Milluki had transformed into a computer genius partly because of exactly this constraint.
"You're sensible," Zeno turned to face him, visibly satisfied. "If you're going to pursue freedom, you'll have to rely on your own strength. I'm very much looking forward to hearing your name one day—on the mainland."
"You will," the young man smiled. "I won't disappoint Grandfather."
Zeno chuckled softly but said nothing more. He patted Roy's shoulder and walked away, hands behind his back.
The weather grew colder. The old man spent increasing amounts of time in his room. Roy would have to visit more often—not for any particular reason, just to give him massages, work the stiffness from his joints. Whatever helped.
Footsteps faded...
In the garden, Kikyo got the ice cream she'd been demanding. Satisfied, she linked arms with Silva.
Roy watched for a moment, then turned back to his bedroom. As he arrived, Gotoh wheeled in the meal cart. The butler stared at Roy's face for a long moment, looking perplexed, then absently touched his own beard before laying out the food.
"This morning, Illumi wore your face and got into my bed," Roy said flatly, biting into the pizza topped with diced onions.
Gotoh fell silent, apparently at a complete loss for words. His face, getting into bed—no wonder the young master had been so furious this morning. Now it all made sense. Punishment was in order!
Yet Gotoh couldn't ask much, given that Illumi was involved. So he simply attended to Roy's meal while making his report, "The tickets you had me purchase have been confirmed for early reservation."
"Departure December 27th. We transfer in Glam Gas Land and then depart again on December 29th. Estimated arrival at Saheim-Tal Union on January 2nd. We'll take a ship to Whale Island."
Roy had anticipated the request would likely be denied, so he'd instructed Gotoh to prepare a backup plan. Since that avenue was closed, he'd pursue the Hunter Association website path instead—take the Hunter Exam first.
"Glam Gas Land is that entertainment hub famous for performance arts, isn't it?" Roy finished his pizza and wiped his hands with a napkin.
Gotoh adjusted his glasses. "Yes, sir. The circus there is quite renowned. We'll have one day for rest in between. You could explore if you wish."
Roy hummed noncommittally. The mention of circuses reminded him of someone—a person with extensive apple-farming experience who was quite skilled with playing cards. His birthplace was supposedly in Glam Gas Land. The Muratori Theatre, famous for their "flying swimming" act.
John Doe, the Hundred-Faced Murderer. His Nen ability: Blood Magnet (Transmutation type). Roy glanced at the status panel—his Life Energy sat at zero. Time to replenish.
"Make your preparations. The Hunter Exam on January 7th. We can't be late."
"Yes, sir."
Gotoh cleared the table and left.
Over the next few days, Roy ate and drank as normal, trained as scheduled. In a blink, December arrived.
The weather grew bitterly cold. Unlike Whale Island with its eternal summer, the winter slopes of Kukuroo Mountain had turned barren—every direction showed nothing but desolation.
Mornings, Roy practiced breathing techniques to strengthen his body through controlled poisoning. Afternoons brought the poison's activation, and he'd sunbathe while visualizing the sun itself. Evenings, he'd climb from the ground and pay respects at great-grandfather Zigg's chamber. Each day that passed was busy and fulfilling.
In the meantime, Illumi hung in the tree for several days, but halfway through the night, he secretly cut his own rope and jumped down. The young man emerged from the ground, hands in his pockets, following Roy toward the basement. They walked side by side down separate paths, not once touching.
After a time, Illumi spoke. "Why could you see through my disguise?"
Clearly, this question had been eating at Illumi for days straight.
"Because your eyes had no light," Roy answered honestly.
Eyes without light were a desecration of the sun itself.
Illumi stopped in his tracks. He raised a hand, touching his own face, unconvinced. No light? Every night, he transformed into Roy's exact likeness and studied himself carefully in the mirror. That form had plenty of light!
"Hey," the young man called out to his brother. "Even if you saw through it, don't think you can shake me off. Not even if you run to the Dark Continent!"
Roy's pace never wavered. He didn't turn around. He didn't answer. His eyes merely swept across the corner of the wall.
The security camera in that corner flashed red, capturing the young man's declaration perfectly.
So, my foolish little brother, perhaps pay attention to yourself first.
That night:
"Report, sir. Young Master Illumi says he wants to go to the Dark Continent."
"Oh?"
The moon reached its zenith. Illumi had just cut his rope and begun to descend when he was hoisted back up.
Maha's command. Zeno relayed it. Silva carried it out. Milluki had already peed below.