Based on my understanding of the original work in the "real world" and my actual experiences over the past few years, I've found that when it comes to aspects involving pain indices, the Zoldycks have a particular fondness for whips and electrocution.
Why is that?
Thanks for the invitation. As someone who's been through it, I can confidently tell you that these two methods are sufficiently painful and have relatively minor after-effects on the body, making them the optimal choices for household education and professional training.
Due to their rigorous training from childhood, the Zoldycks possess a high tolerance for pain. Spanking, as used by ordinary families to discipline children, is trivial to the Zoldycks. It must be escalated, with whips replacing ordinary educational tools like palms, belts, rulers, or rattan canes, to serve as a deterrent.
Ah, whips. While leather whips might seem similar in nature to belts, their thickness varies, becoming thinner towards the end. According to physics, under the same force, a smaller area means greater pressure. Thus, when the thin end slices across the skin, it feels as if a thin blade pierces it, tearing through flesh with a swish, leaving behind a sensation akin to burning flames that lasts a long time, a truly "exhilarating" experience.
I recall that countries retaining flogging in the "real world" achieve effects of flayed skin, blurred flesh, and gruesome sights.
The Zoldycks employ a different technique; they only leave subcutaneous bruising, with almost no bleeding.
Is this perhaps similar to [Steal Soul], where not drawing blood is a higher-level skill?
Or perhaps a matter of style?
It's contradictory, isn't it, to pursue a bloodless execution in the most bloody profession?
Gripping the whip, I look at Illumi, who has cuffed himself in the cell.
Being whipped is basic professional training; even I underwent it, so naturally, he has too. I wonder about his level of tolerance?
Rest assured, it's definitely not worse than mine. In the original work, he had his arm snapped by someone, his entire arm swelling up, yet he maintained a completely expressionless face throughout, as if nothing had happened. He even commented on the opponent's potential. In short, he's a formidable individual who is unafraid of pain and views it as inconsequential.
Although I've practiced [Gritting My Teeth] to Level 9, I'm not as resilient as he is. I'm still quite afraid of pain. The so-called [Gritting My Teeth: Level 9] only signifies my ability to maintain normal actions and thought processes under Level 9 pain, and has nothing to do with my personal feelings.
Since Illumi, this tough guy, has proactively invited it, this is hardly the time for being squeamish or hypocritically benevolent. Besides, I still need to report back to Kikyo. Otherwise, she might think I'm still being unreasonable, and I might end up being the one to receive "education." Therefore, this whipping is unavoidable.
Speaking of which, should I whip his face?
No, I won't. If he loses his only remaining redeeming quality, I can't guarantee I won't lose my temper and whip him to death. (Laughs.)
That said, my experience as a whip-wielding executor is rather limited. I've only had one lesson, and my strength and accuracy are merely passable.
The most efficient way to fulfill my task is undoubtedly to whip him evenly, creating a visually impactful effect of whip marks all over his body.
Given Illumi's small frame, which is much smaller than an adult's, twenty-odd whip marks would be quite impactful.
However, ending it too soon might make me appear perfunctory, possibly displeasing Kikyo. So I paused, intending to rest in place and kill time.
Seeing that I had no intention of continuing the whipping, Illumi spoke, "This level won't do, sister."
I had just placed the whip on the table when I turned to look at Illumi.
"You need to use the strength of your shoulders and arms more flexibly," Illumi advised. "If you observe the opponent's movements closely... do you know the knack, sister?"
"..." What? You want to tell me what to do?
I covered my ears with both hands, shook my head, then lowered my hands, pointed at him with my right hand, and brought my hand to my mouth, making a zipper motion across it, indicating that I didn't want to listen and wanted him to shut up.
"Sister, I am very much looking forward to my soon-to-arrive younger sibling. I am eager to be a brother, but..." Illumi said, "You don't look forward to being a sister, do you? Hmm, I know you like to be alone and dislike interacting with people, that you are a very cold person."
Cold? The person who deliberately killed the hawk I raised calls *me* cold?!
"Whether it's Grandpa, Dad, Mom, or me, sister, you maintain distance and show no concern."
"..."
"Sister, you don't love any of us family, do you?"
...Love?
I can't possibly explain that you are fictional manga characters and my real family is in the "real world," can I?
Besides, I didn't come here willingly; what I desire is an end, a permanent conclusion.
Take durian, for example, known as the "King of Fruits." It's said to be delicious, but I just dislike its smell. If someone sent me a truckload of durian, I wouldn't have any strong feelings; I'd just think it was a waste of money.
"Therefore, I never expected that the death of that hawk would stimulate you so much. I thought that even if I, Mom, Dad, or Grandpa died, you wouldn't feel even a little bit sad."
Yes, if you died, I certainly wouldn't be sad. I'd probably dance on your grave and enthusiastically celebrate the world being rid of another scoundrel.
"This is not right," Illumi said. "How can a mere pet, something like that, be placed above family?"
I had a premonition that he was about to spout nonsense. I frowned at him, hoping he wouldn't continue.
However, he isn't someone who often considers my feelings.
The only time we cooperated successfully was when he, too, finally found the academic workload unbearable.
He even tried to challenge family traditions, not wanting to learn [Steal Soul], but ultimately succumbed to pressure from elders (or rather, the cesspool).
Yes, appealing to his emotions wouldn't change his mind. Only reality, only those stronger than him, could make him change, or even submit.
In other words, it's "bullying the weak and fearing the strong." No, in the Zoldyck style, it should be "respect for the strong." They have a severe "admiration for the strong" complex. When internal family disputes arise, they don't try to unify opinions but allow individuals to compete based on their own ideas. As long as they don't kill family members, they can be unscrupulous. Whoever is more capable decides the outcome.
There's a scene in the original work, shown from Killua's perspective, depicting the relationships among the Zoldyck family members. It's evident that apart from seniority, the personal strength and potential of family members determine their status within the family. The higher the strength, the greater the say; the higher the potential, the more attention they receive. Hence, the exceptionally talented Killua is an object of great importance to the entire family. Readers often joke that "the entire Zoldyck family loves Killua."
Mihgo, serving as a negative example, is relatively unfortunate. Being a strategist with low combat power, he has to obey elders in the family and was even bullied and threatened by the younger Killua.
At that time, Illumi, being an adult with considerable strength, had a relatively equal relationship with his elders.
Alright, Illumi Zoldyck indeed has sufficient capital to disregard the feelings of those weaker than him.
He is still young for now, so he might consider seniority and give his "sister" some face. In the future, his personality will become increasingly obnoxious, transforming him into the complete scumbag he is in the original work.
No, he's quite a scumbag even now; it's his nature. As the saying goes, "it's easier to change the mountains and rivers than to change one's nature." I'm not so conceited as to believe I can reform him early on. I lack the ability, and more importantly, the qualification. I wasn't a noble person to begin with.
"Sister, it's precisely because you aren't serious enough that you've fallen behind me," Illumi stated calmly, without any hint of mockery. "If you were a little stronger, you wouldn't have your things ruined by others."
"..." This bastard really hits where it hurts.
"That thing... that hawk, it truly deserved to die," Illumi said, tilting his head, his lifeless black eyes making him appear simple and innocent. "Without it from now on, can you try to love your family—love us? For example, when I die, can you also be angry for me, be sad for me?"
Love?
How amusing.
My mother in the "real world" also asked me similar questions.
["Will you cry when I die?"]
["If there's a next life, do you still want to be mother and daughter with me?"]
I remained silent.
She sneered, calling me cold. Oh, cold. The same word Illumi used. It seems she wasn't wrong; I am indeed quite cold.
["You're so pathetic. Why are you alive? You've never loved anyone, you have no yearning for love. You're a monster."] she said.
Yes, I've never loved anyone, nor have I yearned to be loved. I am a monster.
During my student days, the first time someone confessed to me, my initial reaction was bewilderment.
At the time, I was too embarrassed to directly say, "No thank you, I have no feelings for you." Even a monster like me knows that saying such a thing would hurt others. So, I chose silence. The other person mistook my silence for a positive affirmation and, fueled by enthusiasm, constantly showered me with attention, volunteering to do my chores, clean the blackboard, sweep the floor, and so on. My classmates chimed in with their encouragement, turning the incident into the center of attention in the entire classroom. I found it increasingly difficult to find an opportunity to reject him. It would certainly be very awkward, and I didn't want to hurt him, yet it ended in the most hurtful way possible, concluding that uncomfortable period for me.
As I grew older, I thought a lot. I believe I became this way primarily because I understood the cost of love too well.
Completely selfless love doesn't exist; not even God, not even the Almighty can achieve it.
Love comes with a price; love is accompanied by expectations.
God himself, unable to tolerate a world full of sin, sent a great flood to destroy it.
Love has a price; love requires a positive response, otherwise, it is not love.
Love has a price; love requires tangible proof, otherwise, it is not love.
Love has a price; love requires self-sacrifice, otherwise, it is not love.
Love is so precious, love is so noble, love is so beautiful. Upon receiving "love," the rest of the world becomes unimportant.
Perhaps because it is so precious, the price of obtaining it is exceptionally high, and suffering will follow it like a shadow.
Anxiety, constant longing, lovesickness.
And when you lose it, you will experience a hundredfold, a thousandfold greater pain.
Heartbreak, unbearable agony, soul-wrenching sorrow.
My parents in the "real world" initially married out of love for each other. They were once so passionate that they attempted suicide together to defy family opposition. Later, however, they became people who hated each other the most.
Although I was merely an observer, I saw, I heard, I felt it. I watched firsthand the brief flare of fireworks, and then their descent into eternal darkness.
Years after their divorce, my mother in the "real world" said she dreamt of their passionate past romance. She felt disgusted by this nostalgia and cried as she spoke.
I said, "I remember too. I remember in elementary school, our family of three would gather for lunch, right in front of the television, chatting while we ate. It often went on for over an hour without us realizing it."
She was surprised, and then a little angry, saying, "That never happened." "Your father was often out eating and drinking at the time." "This house was just a hotel for him to sleep in." and so on.
"..." I don't know. I can't recall. Perhaps it was just my imagination.
I think my mother in the "real world" is very brave. I've seen her rage, I've heard her cry hoarsely, I've seen her weep, I've seen her spirit broken... Even after enduring such setbacks and suffering, she still hoped that I would be capable of love.
So, I once harbored a sliver of hope. I didn't want to repeat her mistakes. She didn't want that either. We discussed it, we evaluated it together. After I came of age, I cautiously tried dating and maintained it for several years. Finally, I failed.
When we broke up, I wasn't sad at all; I was merely relieved.
I think I'm different from her. Things like "love" are not suited for me.
"Love" doesn't bring me happiness or joy; the numbers in my bank account provide a greater sense of bliss and security.
Because love is so ethereal and elusive, it can't fill my stomach. When it disappears, I have to pack my bags, move out of the shared rented apartment, and spend money to rent a new place.
My mother and I in the "real world" don't own our own houses; we live in rented accommodations.
Without money, rent cannot be paid, and we, will have nowhere to go.
Even grave plots, needed after death, require payment and periodic renewals, or they will be disposed of.
Yes, without money, one has no place to rest, whether alive or dead.
Sometimes I wish I were a man. Then I wouldn't have to worry so much about personal safety and could rent cheaper, shared housing.
Compared to the extravagant and fleeting "love," I crave money more.
I have no money, and here, I owe the Zoldycks a great deal of money.
They raised me, they gave me pocket money, all of which needs to be repaid.
"..." I will work hard, I will try my best.
Yes, in reality, I have nothing. That hawk didn't truly belong to me either. It was a gift from a Zoldyck, and then taken away by another Zoldyck, so it's considered returned to them.
"..." I looked at Illumi without any emotion.
He widened his eyes slightly, appearing somewhat surprised.
"Sister. If you really miss that hawk..." Illumi thought for a moment, "Well, you can also stroke my head, just like you would stroke it. Okay?"