After a moment, a spark of clarity appeared in his sleepy eyes.
Indeed, why care about what is true or false? And why concern yourself with reality or illusion?
When falsehood is perceived as truth, truth becomes falsehood; where there's nothing, there exists something.
'In my past life, I was real. Roy from the Zoldyck Family is real, and so is Kamado Eiichiro in the world of consciousness....'
'And I, I only need to focus on the present and cherish the people before me.'
Roy's lips curled into a faint smile again as he got up to get dressed.
It's almost four o'clock. The daily morning run can't be missed; consider it a warm-up for the upcoming practice of "Sun Breathing".
Indeed, the moment he woke from his dream, Roy was pleasantly surprised to find the name "Sun Breathing" appearing on his panel.
It's just that it was in an ashen grey, noted... it required him to endure the "Weight of the Sun" to activate.
Yet, 'The Weight of the Sun...'
Roy put on a vest and shorts, gazing into the horizon, where a sliver of dawn hinted at tearing through the darkness.
The scorching power contained within undoubtedly tested a person's mind.
He wasn't sure if he could endure it, but he had to try first....
The young man took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and ran out.
At that moment, an old man lying on a rocking chair was still sleeping soundly with an animation playing.....
In a bedroom hiding in the darkness at the corner of the corridor, a face as pale as a ghost suddenly opened its eyes...
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom on the second floor... a man was forcefully pinning a woman against the floor-to-ceiling window...
Everyone was busy with their own efforts, just as Roy would not slack off even a bit.
From the mountain to the foot and back again, the daily ten kilometers quickly ended.
When he returned to his bedroom again, the brilliant morning glow, along with the red sun leaping over the horizon, came at him with an ancient wildness and boundless vitality....
Roy felt an impression, closed his eyes, and began practicing "Sun Breathing".
Unlike Tanjuro, this time, he engaged his "Nen". Using "Sun Breathing" as a guide, he began to circulate the energy within his body.
Then, he felt a scorching sensation!
This scorching sensation grew stronger and stronger, as actions like "Dance", "Clear Blue Sky", "Raging Sun", and others proceeded, it almost turned into a ball of fire, instantly igniting Roy from head to toe.
Pain... Oh, the pain... Excruciating pain... It was as if being roasted alive on a bonfire, so painful that Roy almost fainted.
He barely managed to lean against the door to avoid collapsing.
It was proof of how rare it was, from the Warring States Era to the Edo Era, for only one Tanjiro to emerge over a thousand years!
'I want this decaying era to turn to ashes...'
'I want the sunlight to shine, leaving no hiding place for scoundrels...'
'I want to borrow the true fire of the sun to incinerate all darkness and slay all evil ghosts....'
In the midst of it, Roy, who was on the brink of losing consciousness from the pain, seemed to hear someone's sleep talk, and a figure unknowingly appeared in his pupils....
It was a swordsman with a flute.
He had deep red hair, with flame-like patterns spreading across his temples... He stood quietly at the end of time, looking gently at Roy, saying something with a smile, which sounded like...
"All pursuits ultimately lead to the same destination."
"Brother, I told you, there's no need to worry about the Breathing Technique being lost, you see it now."
Tsugikuni Yoriichi... this figure... really resembled him...
Roy vaguely recognized the appearance of the figure, and then he tilted sideways, sliding down along the doorpost....
As it happened, that scorching heat that was torturous enough to kill a person faded away... Only then was Roy freed, gasping for air, nearly exhausted.
Fortunately, none of the suffering was in vain.
The prompt from the panel offered him timely consolation.
[Prompt: "Sun Breathing" has been activated....]
[Current Progress: Entry Level (1/100)]
'Finally... I've made it.....'
Roy laughed as the red sun shined, morning glow spreading over his face, making him involuntarily stretch out his arms.
Enjoy the moment at present.
It's now five in the morning, accompanied by the chime of an ancient clock in the corner, as the butler Wutong pushed a dining cart, as usual, to bring Roy his meal.
He habitually knocked on the door, but upon seeing it open, with Roy casually sitting next to it.
Wutong was taken aback and went up, reaching out to help him up.
At this moment, Roy opened his eyes, and instantly——
Wutong felt a pain in his eyes, as if he had seen a sun, or as if someone had held a laser pointer close, blurring his vision directly....
"Ah——"
A scream echoed....
Afterwards, Roy's butler was changed from Wutong to King Kong Barbie — Tsubone.
"Is he okay?"
"The doctor said it's only temporary blindness, he'll recover in a few days."
"That's good."
Wutong was finally assisted down for treatment...
After completing his morning training session, Roy was having lunch, listening to Tsubone report on his condition.
He speared a piece of steak, frowning as he said: "Issue a command to double his salary for this month."
"There's no such precedent." The old butler said expressionlessly, hands crossed in front of him: "He's just a dog of the Zoldyck Family, having something to eat is enough."
"But young master...."
Tsubone leaned down, staring at Roy, his gorilla-like body enveloping him entirely, seriously asking: "The master asked me to inquire how Wutong got injured?"
According to the doctor's diagnosis: his eyes were subjected to severe stimulation, causing an intense reactive response, leading to temporary blindness.
So, what stimulated him?
Silva wants to know, Tsubone wants to know too, but... since Wutong didn't reveal him, Roy wanted to respect his choice, to give the other party respect.
Thus, he leisurely pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth and said....
"I think as the owner, I'm not obliged to tell a dog..."
"You say Wutong is a dog, does that mean you're not?"
Tsubone nodded in agreement: "Of course, I am too."
Then he shifted the tone: "But the master isn't."
"Then let him come and ask me himself."
Roy directly pushed his chair aside and stood up.
Differing opinions made further words redundant. He respected the butlers who would die for the Zoldyck Family, but he could not agree with the self-perception of treating people as dogs.
He walked straight past Tsubone....
He also passed by a ghost with empty eyes...
Illumi seemed to have just returned from killing, the thick scent of blood still lingering on him....
With hands in his pockets, he walked towards Roy, intending to pass him. However, as they brushed past each other, he suddenly paused, and turning his head, glanced at him and said: "A dog is a dog, a human is a dog too."
"It's as simple as killing a man and killing a dog."
"Is that so." Roy sneered coldly, leaving Illumi with not a wide yet glaring back:
"Then congratulations, my dog brother, you do have quite the self-awareness."
Illumi: "..."
"Whoosh——" in a flash...
He revealed his hand blade.