“Sister!” Yabao, the silver-haired little furball, was even more excited to see me this time than usual.
Knowing he had something to say, I didn't hesitate to ruffle his fluffy little head as he nudged closer, as a reward.
“Me too, me too!” Alluka’s little black head also popped up. Alluka was different from Killua; while the much-favored Killua passively received head pats, Alluka enjoyed them.
As for cute cats, I, who believed in treating everyone equally, never refused. I gave Alluka’s head a thorough petting.
Head pats could be a shared pleasure for both parties.
“Hehe, because Onee-chan pats so comfortably,” Alluka had once commented, “that’s why I like it.”
He then rubbed his head against my palm and tilted his head up towards me, his innocent blue eyes filled with the expectation of more pats.
“!” The Zoldyck cat haven, truly living up to its name, I loved it, I loved it.
It wasn’t in vain that I practiced petting cats at the cat café every day. My skills were becoming more refined, to the point where every cat would close its eyes and be tempted to roll over for me to pet them—nothing else, just skillful hands.
As for the two "toys" in the prison instance, they were far inferior to the cats. As humans, having a good appearance wasn't enough; they lacked charm.
So, I provided them with a large stack of junior high level reference books and practice sets, allowing them to swim freely in the ocean of knowledge.
This would not only improve their cultural cultivation but also enrich their impoverished spiritual lives, making it easier for them to pass the time.
I hoped they would become more profound, less frivolous, and stop trying to seduce me all day.
Being single for too long becomes addictive; I still preferred being online, entertaining myself.
After I finished petting Alluka’s head, Killua got down to business, “Sister, do you have time to take me and Alluka out to play recently?”
Take Yabao out to play? I couldn't wish for anything more! Forget "recently," I could be free anytime!
I nodded.
“Great!” Killua’s eyes lit up, and he high-fived Alluka excitedly, “Yay!”
“I told you, giving this kind of thing to Brother is completely fine!” Killua patted his chest, his face full of pride.
“En!” Alluka nodded vigorously, spreading his arms to hug Killua’s neck, “Onii-chan is the best!”
“…” I, who was passively observing their intimate interaction.
Jealous.jpg
If heaven gave me a chance to choose, I’d want to be Alluka. Remembering how Killua worriedly asked Alluka in the original work if Alluka would be sad that only he in the world liked Alluka. Nonsense! How could that possibly make them sad! Isn't that a classic sweet romance novel line?! Killua, don't you know this is a confession line that countless fangirls dream of! No matter which fan came, they would have the same happy expression as Alluka, beaming with joy!
I should be under the car~ not in the car~ seeing how sweet you are~
Jealous.jpg + 2
It's a movie for three people~ but I can never have a name~
Jealous.jpg + 3
Stop playing, stop playing, if you keep playing such sour songs, I'll devour the lemon trees.
The matter of Killua and Alluka traveling together had been reported to Silva before Killua asked me about my schedule. Killua said that Silva required a corresponding number of family members to accompany them at all times. This requirement was unexpectedly low, or rather, "normal." After all, for children aged over 4 and 3 to go out to play, even in the "real world" with good public safety and no superpowers, at least one guardian would need to accompany them throughout.
Given the Zoldyck family's excessive protectiveness towards the future head of household, Killua, I still found it hard to believe things would be so easy, so I asked Killua about Kikyo's attitude.
This matter was worth discussing.
Although Killua was a little tyke, he understood the personalities and the weight of people's words around him, knowing that getting the current head of the Zoldyck family on board meant half the battle was won. In fact, it was true. After Silva agreed, Kikyo, despite her numerous objections, could at most stubbornly use academics as an excuse. So, Silva arranged a test, letting Killua answer with his actual performance.
“The result was, of course, that I passed easily!” Killua proudly placed his hands on his hips, “As expected of me!”
“Mom cried and said, ‘Onii-chan is my best child,’” Alluka added.
“…” This was very much like Kikyo.
“That’s great, I want to be as amazing as Onii-chan too,” Alluka said.
“W-Well, it’s okay,” Killua scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject, “Although Mom didn’t help, Dad and Grandpa don’t have much free time…”
Silva’s seemingly simple request was indeed not that easy. The obstacle wasn’t just Kikyo, but the key was to gain the consent of family members in corresponding numbers? Elders collectively shirking responsibility couldn’t be forced. Among the Zoldyck family members, Killua’s remaining choice was…
“I didn’t expect Brother to agree,” Killua said with immense relief, “It was such a surprise, I thought he’d be like Mom! He said it was a reward, and that my recent training and tests had satisfied him.”
Hmph, satisfied him? I didn’t expect Milluki to put on airs in front of his younger brother.
Killua didn’t know that Milluki was the easiest character to handle in the entire Zoldyck family; I could simply coerce and entice him myself.
However, Milluki was still 6 years older than Killua, and the age and physical differences were there. Killua was still too young and still respected (?) his older brother.
“Plus Sister, and the numbers will be enough!” Killua said with anticipation, “No training, we can go out and play for a whole week!”
“Play for a whole week!” Alluka exclaimed joyfully, “We can see the world on TV!”
Oh right, I forgot that children are naturally curious about the outside world.
What was I thinking every day when I never proposed going out?
Kikyo always stayed home to watch the children, Silva and the others stayed home when they weren't working, and Milluki didn't have much longing for the outside world, so I unconsciously thought that staying on Kukuroo Mountain was the norm.
A closed environment can be very peaceful and comfortable, in other words, an "ivory tower." Some students, in their fascination with the purity and isolation of the ivory tower, choose to remain in school. I wasn't a good student; I didn't like waking up early, feared exams, disliked school, and after going to college, I only wanted to graduate and find a job. Pursuing a master's degree was completely out of the question. After leaving school forever, I occasionally had nightmares about not being able to answer questions in exams. Every time I woke up, I was grateful that I chose to find a job directly after graduation instead of going with the flow and trying to get a master's degree.
Work in society is another kind of hardship, essentially meaning insufficient ability and no family money. People like me experience continuous suffering just to live. If human lifespans could be traded like in a sci-fi movie, I would want to sell my remaining lifespan to those who need it, and leave the money for my parents to repay their nurturing kindness.
“Then, as for the time…” Killua tugged at my sleeve, bringing me back to reality.
“Anytime is fine,” I said to him with a smile.
“Yay!!” x2
The two little cats, one black and one white, embraced each other in joy, celebrating their first excursion since their birth.
Looking at Alluka’s innocent and bright smile, I felt a little worried about Nanika inside Alluka. Since Nanika wasn't discovered from birth in the original work, it meant that Nanika's awakening would happen when Alluka grew to a certain extent, right? The host is a vessel, and if too young, it would be difficult to unleash their abilities?
“Contact Brother, and we’ll depart immediately!” Killua raised his hand.
“Oh!” Alluka followed suit, raising his hand.
“W-Wait a moment,” I stopped their cheers, “Time is limited. If we want to visit all the places we want to go, we need to plan carefully before departing.”
“Oh, right,” Killua turned to Alluka and said, “Let’s write down the places we want to go first.”
“En!” Alluka was very obedient.
To save time spent on transportation, I suggested an domestic trip this time. The Republic of Bolo is considerable in size, and for first-time tourists, domestic travel options are more than sufficient.
After listing the desired destinations, we would categorize them into "Must Go," "Want to Go," and "Slightly Want to Go," and then plan the route.
Just as I was about to check the timetable for transportation along the way, I suddenly remembered that this was not the "real world." I was now incredibly wealthy and didn't need to consider the cost-effectiveness of transportation at all; I should go with whatever was most convenient.
Having money is wonderful.
I recalled how when planning trips in the "real world," I always had to meticulously calculate the most cost-effective方案. Which hotel was the most affordable, which bus route was most suitable, at which station to transfer for the subway, which restaurant was delicious and inexpensive, tour groups mostly had forced consumption, private tours were better, and so on.
However, no matter how carefully I calculated, the thought of travel being a daily money-burning activity, where the money spent each day far exceeded what I earned, made me feel a pang of pain even before departing. As a result, the plans only remained plans, and I increasingly felt more comfortable lying at home, and eventually gave up altogether.
The internet was so developed; some people filmed beautiful scenery for you, some experienced foreign customs for you, some tasted local delicacies for you, and without spending a penny, you could share in others' joy. Rounding up, it was as if I had also been, played, seen, and eaten.
Now I had a lot of money, but I was like a beggar holding a bowl of gold, unable to escape the inertia of long-term poverty imprinted on my body.
Alright, I was a spineless person, my roots had rotted.
Let me reorganize my thoughts.
I, Mols Zoldyck, have a lot of money.
I don't need to squeeze onto buses, take the subway, or worry about not finding affordable hotels; I can stay wherever I want. I have my game backpack, so I don't need to pack luggage.
I can travel by the Zoldyck's private airship or charter an airship temporarily. I can take taxis without worrying about the fare; no, I don't even need taxis; I can rent a car locally and drive myself. No, I don't even need to consider these details; as long as I bring a Zoldyck butler, the butler will handle all the miscellaneous tasks for me.
I don't need to consider any money-related issues or details.
I should only consider where I want to go.
Damn it, having money is great.
So, the travel plan was completed when the travel route was determined, taking less than an hour.
It was settled so quickly?
We can depart immediately?
What's going on?
Achieving goals without effort feels so empty, so floaty.
Is this what having money feels like?
As the saying goes, what you gain, you lose. When I have money, I lose worries.
Although, damn it, having money is great.
The matter of selecting accompanying butlers didn't require my effort; Kikyo had already chosen two butlers. Kikyo's intentions were obvious to everyone, and even Killua knew that these two butlers, while ostensibly handling chores, were secretly acting as monitors.
“Eh—Is that necessary!” Killua protested immediately, holding Alluka’s hand, “I can take care of myself and my sister! Besides, Brother and Sister are here, we don’t need to bring butlers!”
“Little Kill, I’m doing this for your own good. If someone is responsible for chores, you can just play and don’t have to worry about anything else,” Kikyo began to list the benefits of bringing butlers, “For example, if you go shopping and buy things, won’t you need a fifth person to help carry them?”
“Things can be put in Sister’s game backpack,” Killua pointed out Kikyo’s blind spot.
“!” Kikyo’s lengthy explanation immediately screeched to a halt.
Good heavens, as expected of the original protagonist, Kikyo’s first example hit the nail on the head.
Kikyo took a breath and opened her mouth again, clearly she had many other examples to cite and wouldn’t easily give up until she achieved her goal.
“No need to say more, Mother,” I interrupted Kikyo’s buildup, “I also think we need to bring butlers.”
“! !” x2
Both Killua and Kikyo were shocked.
What’s with the shock, Kikyo? Shouldn’t you be happy?
“It can save a lot of trouble,” I said.
How enjoyable is the life of a rich young lady being served? Killua, who had never been poor, couldn't possibly understand.
“I think so too,” Milluki agreed with me.
Of course, I was at least a salaryman who went out to work, and a shut-in otaku who was physically lazy would only be lazier than me.
“Let’s vote,” Milluki raised his hand, “I think we should bring butlers.”
I followed suit and raised my hand.
“Including me, that’s three votes in favor,” the voting result satisfied Kikyo, she ruffled Killua’s head, “Alright, Little Kill, since Brother and Sister have said so, you should be obedient. They’ve specifically made time for a week to play with you without working, don’t be too willful.”
“…Alright.” Seeing that the situation was one-sided, Killua obediently conceded.
Alluka, who had always followed Killua’s wishes, naturally had no objections.
Although yielding to the majority and authority, Killua was still sulking on the airship, his persistent low mood making Alluka beside him a bit flustered.
As the airship ascended and the figures on the ground gradually blurred, I moved away from the window and walked to Killua and Alluka’s seats, squatting down to explain to Killua using lip-reading why I supported Kikyo earlier, “You know Mom’s temper, she was already very opposed to this trip and was very worried about your safety. If we don’t make a concession, she might take other drastic measures, which would be even more difficult to handle then. This is called ‘retreating to advance’.”
“…En.” Killua was a smart child and understood that what I said made sense.
However, he was still a child over 4 years old, so even if he understood the reasoning, his reply was still subdued, mixed with awkwardness and grievance.
“Those two butlers are just for transportation and accommodation. When we don’t need them, I’ll take you to ditch them, and we can play freely without restraint, okay?” I continued to persuade him.
“Really?” Killua’s dimming gaze brightened, like a sky washed by rain, filled with pure blue.
I reached out and pinched the baby fat on his cheeks, nodding at him.
Killua instantly regained his energy, and a smile returned to his face. Alluka, who had been watching Killua’s expression anxiously, although he didn’t know what I was mouthing, smiled when he saw Killua smile. The two listless little cats were once again lively.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and just as I was about to stand up, Killua suddenly clutched my sleeve nervously and said in a very small voice, “But about Brother… will he…”
That’s it?
Mere Milluki?
You’re making me laugh.
In the original work, a 12-year-old Killua bullied Milluki terribly, pushing his luck and calling him “fat pig” one after another. I never expected Killua to be afraid of Milluki when he was younger.
Here comes the “player’s” sense of mission! I need to ensure the setting follows the original development! Gradually help Killua overcome his fear of Milluki!
I waved my hand dismissively and walked straight towards Milluki, who was sitting alone. To publicly display my eldest sister’s authority, I [equipped] the vocalization device.
“Brother,” I placed my hand on Milluki’s shoulder, “All decisions for this trip will be made by me, and you have to listen to me, understand?”
“…” Milluki looked at me without speaking.
Tsk, is this guy Milluki considering not losing face as a brother?
Before I could react, Milluki nodded understandingly, “En, I understand, Sister.”
Towards my comrades, I should be as warm as spring, using both kindness and authority, and further bribe Milluki with money to prevent him from getting in my way later.
“Good. For this trip, your expenses, I will reluctantly cover 20% of your costs,” I said, “Follow me, and you won’t be mistreated, little Mill.”
“Eh?” x3
I miscalculated. Milluki was actually surprised. I should have said “10%,” I’m such an idiot, too generous in a moment of impulse.
I turned my head to admire the surprised expressions on Killua and Alluka’s faces. They probably never thought their eldest sister was so generous?
Honestly, I’m not stingy usually!
“If Little Kill and Alluka want to buy anything, just leave it to me. You are children, it’s only right to buy things for you,” I said with a smile, “Milluki is no longer a child, his bills should be paid by himself. Right, Milluki?”
“Sister…” Killua was about to speak when Milluki’s words interrupted him.
“Little Kill,” Milluki stopped Killua, and the next sentence was my answer, “Yes, I know, Sister.”
“En, that’s good,” I took out a bottle of cola from my game backpack and handed it to Milluki, “A bottle of cola as a reward, sugar-free. You still need to pay attention to your |weight, Milluki.”
“Thank you.” In front of his younger brothers, Milluki was more reserved than usual, “I want to drink it later, so I’ll put it in the refrigerator first.”
“…” I nodded.
Milluki, holding the cola, walked towards the refrigerator. I walked towards Killua and Alluka and asked them if they wanted anything to drink or eat at the moment.
“Is there anything?” Alluka immediately became interested.
“Not everything, though,” I didn't dare to make a grand promise to avoid being proven wrong, “Let’s just say, the usual things are available.”
“Mmm—” Alluka tilted his head and thought for a moment, then raised his hand, “Onee-chan, I want soda!”
“Mhmm,” I nodded, “What flavor do you want?”
“Mmm—Peach flavor!”
“Okay, here you go.”
“Thank you, Onee-chan!” Alluka took the soda, “Wow, it’s cold, it feels so good!”
“What about Little Kill?” I asked Killua.
“Ah.” Killua seemed to have just come back to his senses, “Then I want orange flavor!”
“Okay, here you go.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
The two little cats sat side by side, each holding a soda bottle and drinking through a straw, their feet, not touching the ground, swinging back and forth in the air, innocent and carefree, not at all like children from a family of assassins.
I sat opposite them, watching them drink soda, and happened to [take out] a bottle of orange-flavored soda – love him, drink the same soda as him!
“Sister,” Milluki sat next to me, “I want orange-flavored soda too.”
“…” I let go of the straw in my mouth, “There’s none left.”
“Sister, you must have bought at least 99 bottles of each flavor,” Milluki accused, “Am I not also Sister’s brother? You said you wouldn’t mistreat me.”
Killua and Alluka stopped drinking their soda and looked at Milluki and me. I couldn’t be stingy anymore, so I had to [take out] a bottle of orange-flavored soda and hand it to Milluki.
Tsk—