Killua's sudden appearance and departure.
It drastically altered the eerie atmosphere in the area.
Kikyo's wavering emotions also came to an end at this moment.
Her previously restrained, twisted aura did not flare up again after Killua walked through the Testing Gate.
Her red electronic eye contracted slightly, exuding a cold, piercing gaze that locked onto Morrow from a distance.
"Kalluto, finish the 'guest's' request as soon as possible, then come home."
After a pause of three or four seconds, Kikyo left those words behind before lifting the hem of her bell skirt with both hands and striding briskly toward the Testing Gate.
Gotoh and the other butler immediately pushed open the Testing Gate upon seeing this.
Kikyo stepped through the open gate.
The moment the heavy sound of the Testing Gate closing echoed behind her, she abruptly quickened her pace, sprinting in the direction Killua had gone.
She had clearly seen Killua's indifferent reaction earlier.
The next few years would be crucial in determining whether Killua could become an outstanding heir, there was absolutely no room for mistakes.
The more Kikyo thought about it, the more anxious she became, leaving the two butlers far behind her.
In front of the Testing Gate.
Kalluto stood silently, his sidelong gaze fixed on the closed stone door, as if waiting for Kikyo and the others to get farther away.
Then, his eyes shifted toward Morrow, who remained as composed as ever.
"You're insane."
His violet eyes burned with anger.
It was unclear whether he was angry at Morrow for risking his life or at his own helplessness.
Or perhaps both.
"That's more like it."
Morrow smiled faintly at Kalluto's reaction.
Kalluto froze. "What?"
"When you're angry, it's fine to hold back a little, but don't suppress everything. It's good to let your emotions show naturally, like you're doing now. What I mean is, there's no need to put on a front around me. You always wear that cold, steel-plated expression, and I have to work hard just to guess what you're thinking."
Morrow chuckled.
Kalluto's eyes widened slightly before he abruptly turned his back on Morrow with a cold snort. "You don't have to guess."
"But we're friends."
Morrow tilted his head back to glance at the towering walls, his tone tinged with emotion. "And friends care about each other's feelings, that's just normal."
Yes, a perfectly normal thing.
But in the world beyond those walls, it was the most abnormal thing imaginable.
No matter how mature Kalluto was for his age, he might never truly understand something like this.
And indeed, Kalluto didn't understand. Yet, for some reason, he felt inexplicably happy, though he instinctively buried the emotion and focused on something else instead.
"Stop changing the subject. If Killua hadn't come back just now, Mother would have killed you."
"Oh, then I must be pretty lucky today."
Morrow didn't explain the true meaning behind that killing intent to Kalluto, nor would he mention that Killua had already sensed it.
If he did, Kalluto would probably spiral into self-doubt again.
"I've transferred the payment. Let's start looking."
Not wanting to waste time on the topic of Kikyo, Morrow decisively pulled out his phone and transferred 100 million Jenny to Kalluto's account before heading back toward the mountain path they had come from.
Hearing that they were about to start playing... no, carrying out the request... Kalluto didn't bring up the earlier matter again. He quickly followed, his wooden sandals clacking against the ground.
—--
Inside the guard booth... Zebro opened the window and leaned out, staring in shock and bewilderment at the two figures walking side by side into the distance.
Morrow and Kalluto had already left the towering trial gates far behind, their forms disappearing into the dense layers of forest as they ascended the mountain path.
"Here, a gift for visiting."
Walking along the rarely trodden mountain trail, Morrow suddenly produced an exquisitely crafted small fan.
The fan ribs were made from a material called Purple Cloud Bamboo, giving the entire fan a purple hue with faint cloud patterns visible on its surface.
Kalluto accepted the fan without hesitation, an unconscious smile appearing on his face.
His current fan was just an ordinary paper one.
Not that he didn't care about formality, but plain paper fans were more practical for daily training of his Shu technique.
Receiving this beautiful, finely made fan from Morrow genuinely pleased Kalluto.
Noticing the smile on Kalluto's face, Morrow secretly chuckled before saying seriously, "Try opening it to see how it feels."
"Mm."
With a swift motion, Kalluto unfurled the fan, only to see a bright green cartoon frog head staring back at him from the fan surface.
"?"
Seeing those big, round black eyes of the frog head, Kalluto's smile froze instantly, his young mind momentarily unable to process what he was seeing.
Morrow pointed at the cartoon frog and explained, "This little frog is quite famous, apparently the main character of a children's cartoon. Very popular with kids, so merchandise sells really well."
"..."
Kalluto's slender fingers tightened silently around the fan handle. After a moment of silence, he said expressionlessly, "I know. It's called Big-Eyed Frog."
"Huh?"
Morrow looked at Kalluto in genuine surprise. He'd meant this as a prank, never expecting Kalluto would recognize such a thing.
"So you do know it! Did I actually pick the right gift then?"
"..."
Kalluto's grip on the fan tightened further as he enunciated each word clearly, "I know it because my great-grandfather likes watching its cartoons."
"I see."
Morrow laughed, "So through constant exposure, you've come to like Big-Eyed Frog too. I meant to tease you, but accidentally..."
"I'll kill you!"
Kalluto suddenly swung the fan at Morrow like a blade.
Morrow dodged nimbly, staring in disbelief at the aura now swirling around Kalluto's fan. Though deliberately restrained in intensity, it was unmistakably the Shu technique.
"Kalluto, you're serious."
"What? Didn't you tell me to test how it feels?"
Kalluto closed the fan, better suited for slashing now, and raised it high, chasing after Morrow to deliver another strike.
Morrow turned and ran.
"I meant test the feel, not test it on me!"
"Fans are meant for cutting people."
"What? Who taught you fans are for cutting people?"
"My mother."
"Well that explains... wait, a few practice swings is enough! What's with this three-hit combo?"
"You said earlier, when angry, it's okay to hold back some, but not all of it."
"I meant don't suppress everything, not that you should kill someone!"
"Same difference."
Kalluto unleashed a lightning-fast five-hit combo.
Morrow dodged gracefully using Rhythm Echo, then quickly put distance between them, sprinting up the mountain path.
"How about I get you a different fan?"
"No."
Kalluto pursued relentlessly, raising his fan high as the mountain wind caught his lips, curling them into a faint smile.
—--
Over half an hour later.
In the small town named Zaomu at the foot of the mountain, Kalluto held a bag of food in his left hand and a sugar pancake in the other, his mouth smeared with frosting as he ate.
"Where to next?"
After struggling to swallow the pancake, Kalluto tilted his head to look at Morrow and asked.
Morrow handed Kalluto a bottle of juice, looking exasperated. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? This is your turf. Aren't you supposed to show me around and introduce me to the local customs or something?"
"But I'm not familiar with this place."
Kalluto took a big gulp of juice and replied matter-of-factly.
Even when he occasionally went out on missions, it was usually a straight path from point A to point B. Even if he passed through here, his steps and gaze never lingered for a moment.
Hearing Kalluto's words, Morrow could roughly guess the reason.
It was likely because of Killua's precedent that by the time it came to Kalluto, the demands and rules had become even stricter, the control even more pathological.
And with Kalluto's personality, always obedient to his family, it was entirely possible he didn't know how to bend the rules, rigidly adhering to them instead.
"Let's go find the hot spring eggs. That place was recommended by Menchi, so it's gotta be good."
Morrow glanced around the street.
Various stalls lined both sides, with many tourists stopping to browse.
This place used the Zoldyck Family's gate as one of its tourist attractions, which had managed to draw in a fair number of visitors.
Morrow's eyes skimmed over the street signs, quickly figuring out the direction before leading the way.
Who would've thought…
That the one playing host would actually be him, the guest.
As they passed a stall specializing in candies and chocolate beans, Morrow suddenly stopped.
Kalluto, following behind, halted as well.
The reason wasn't Morrow, he too had noticed the stall.
Morrow scanned the candies and chocolate beans in the food cart, then bought a portion of each.
"Give these to your brother when you get back. You owe him for being able to come out in the first place."
Stuffing the packaged candies and chocolate beans into Kalluto's arms, Morrow continued walking ahead.
Kalluto stared blankly at Morrow's retreating figure.
The reason he'd stopped earlier was that he'd remembered how much his brother loved candies and chocolate beans, and he'd wanted to secretly bring some back for him.
Yet Morrow had already considered even this, buying them before Kalluto could.
Kalluto tightened his grip on the kraft paper bag and silently followed.
The two walked through the streets until they reached a forest path.
Irregularly shaped stone slabs paved the ground, winding deep into the woods.
At the end of the path was a hot spring inn.
But the inn's main attraction wasn't the hot springs; it was the seemingly ordinary hot spring eggs.
"What's wrong?"
Morrow stepped onto the stone slabs, glancing at Kalluto from the corner of his eye.
For some reason, Kalluto had grown unusually quiet during their walk.
"Nothing."
Kalluto shook his head.
Morrow gave him a strange look but didn't press further, continuing to lead the way.
Several dozen minutes later.
Morrow finally got his hands on the hot spring eggs Menchi had recommended. He and Kalluto found a quiet patch of grass and sat down casually.
"Here."
Morrow handed Kalluto a peeled hot spring egg.
Kalluto took a bite, only to frown at the strange, sour bitterness that filled his mouth.
"Such a weird taste."
"Huh, really?" Morrow quickly peeled the second hot spring egg and popped it into his mouth.
After just a couple of chews, he understood the strange taste Kalluto had mentioned.
But once the initial sourness faded and the yolk melted on his tongue, a sweetness emerged.
All in all, it had its own unique flavor.
"Want another one?"
Morrow pulled out a third hot spring egg from the bag.
Kalluto shook his head. "No, it's not good."
Then, in a flat tone, Kalluto added, "That Menchi person, right? The things she recommends aren't all that impressive."
"This recommendation was a bit underwhelming, yeah."
Morrow stuffed another hot spring egg into his mouth.
If Kalluto wasn't eating them, he'd have to finish them all himself.
Beside him, Kalluto watched quietly as Morrow ate.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange-red glow through the trees.
Nightfall was approaching.
Finally, Morrow finished the last hot spring egg and stood up, glancing at the sky.
"Time to take you back, Kalluto."
"Yeah."
Kalluto also rose to his feet, looking back at the path they'd taken. A flicker of reluctance passed through his eyes.
Today had been the most relaxed and happiest day he'd ever had.
But this kind of carefree life didn't suit a Zoldyck.
On the forest path, the two walked one after the other.
"Morrow."
"Yeah?"
"Will you come play with me again?"
"Hard to say."
Morrow kept his gaze forward. "Right now, my focus is on training."
Truthfully, in half a month or a month, he'd return to Kukuroo Mountain to test his progress.
So he'd definitely be back at least once or twice more.
But next time, he had no plans to take Kalluto out again.
After all, Kikyo already knew about it.
If it was just a rare, occasional outing, that would be one thing.
But if he kept coming back for Kalluto, it'd be pushing his luck.
Morrow wasn't that arrogant; he knew his limits.
That was why, even though he'd return, he didn't give Kalluto a direct answer.
Hearing Morrow's response, Kalluto couldn't hide his disappointment. Then he suddenly remembered that Morrow even used car rides to train.
It probably had something to do with the person Morrow was looking for.
"So when are you going to find that person you mentioned?"
Kalluto quickened his pace, walking side by side with Morrow.
Morrow replied calmly, "Probably in three or four months."
"That long… Morrow, why are you looking for them?"
Kalluto couldn't help but ask.
Morrow glanced at him and grinned. "Guess."
"I don't want to."
Kalluto had no interest in playing childish guessing games.
Morrow looked away, his voice quiet and simple. "To kill."
"..."
Kalluto froze for a moment but didn't press further, silently resolving to help Morrow find that person.
The two fell into silence, walking wordlessly back toward the Testing Gate.
After a while, Kalluto suddenly spoke up again.
"Morrow."
"Yeah?"
"Can you always be my friend?"
"Huh? Why'd you ask that out of nowhere?"
Morrow glanced down at Kalluto, only to find him staring straight at him.
"Of course."
"Okay."
Kalluto smiled, but then Morrow added:
"As long as you stop trying to slash me with your fan."
Swish.
The sound of a fan snapping open.
—--
Night descended. Kalluto returned to that cage-like home.
Meanwhile, Morrow got his hands on a specially crafted alloy-weighted training set, just as he had hoped.
It was unclear whether this would cause any trouble for Kalluto.
—--
Late at night.
Zoldyck Family estate.
Kalluto sneaked into Killua's room and pulled out the candies and chocolate beans Morrow had bought.
"Brother, here."
"Wow."
Killua's eyes instantly lit up with excitement. "Where'd you get these?"
"Morrow bought them for you."
A small smile played on Kalluto's face.
Hearing that, Killua immediately understood who Morrow was. He grabbed a handful of chocolate beans and tossed them into his mouth, chewing as he asked, "Where did you guys go?"
"To... uh, nowhere. We weren't playing."
Kalluto panicked for a moment, nearly slipping up.
Though, in truth, he already had.
Killua pursed his lips, a flash of envy in his eyes, and bluntly asked:
"Can you take me with you next time?"
"..."
Kalluto froze, unsure how to respond.