With my limited intellect and clumsy eloquence, I was unable to change Kikyo's mind and only made the situation worse. Mishi, who had done nothing wrong, grew thinner each day, his gaze towards me filled with resentment. If this continued, Mishi would deviate from his original character setting and transform into Killua Zoldyck, re-enlisting as a Captain to drive titans away on other sets!
No, Kikyo's difficulty level was too high. I'd almost gone gray from worry. Then again, my character's hair was already silver-white… that wasn't the point!
At my wit's end, I decided to seek external assistance and ask Illumi, an audience member outside the "stage," for help.
Illumi was the child who most resembled Kikyo. No one in the Zoldyck family understood Kikyo better than him.
This bratty younger brother was constantly out on missions. His Nen ability to manipulate humans was incredibly useful for assassination, and many tasks were assigned to him, leaving none for me. I was so envious my teeth almost fell out.
Damn it, if the Zoldyck family dealt in logistics or smuggling, with my game backpack ability, I could definitely bring glory to the family.
I finally managed to corner the busy Illumi and asked him if he wanted a sister.
"Sure, I don't mind," he replied.
I told him Kikyo wasn't planning to have any more children and asked how he thought I could persuade Kikyo.
"There must be sufficient reason," Illumi said. "Children aren't just things you can have on a whim."
Fine, Illumi, you're absolutely right. Just stating the obvious. Did I not know a reason was needed? I couldn't find a reason convincing enough for Kikyo!
"Why does Sister want a younger sister?" Illumi asked me.
"Because… obviously, I don't have one!" I absolutely could not say it was for the smooth development of the original plot.
"Mother naturally won't listen to such a selfish reason."
"I know! That's why I came to ask you!"
Honestly!
It's not like they don't have the money to raise children!
The Zoldycks could easily afford another child! Both parents were in good health, and having another child was perfectly fine. Isn't having many children a sign of prosperity for wealthy families? Why are they so stubborn!
Illumi pondered with his chin in his hand for a moment. Just this brief moment of serious thought made me feel a rare sliver of family affection. Kikyo had recently grown impatient with my mentions of a sister. This was typical double standards. I hadn't even complained to her face about her nagging me about my past deeds!
"No, I can't think of anything," Illumi concluded. "Sister, you should just give up."
"..." You useless brat!
"Oh, right," Illumi said, clenching one fist and hitting it into the palm of his other hand as if struck by inspiration. "Isn't Mother planning to dress Mishi as a girl? You can just settle for Mishi as your sister."
"..." You useless, useless brat!!
"Then there's nothing we can do," Illumi said nonchalantly, completely unaware of the gravity of the situation. "There's no need to rush such a thing. They're still young; perhaps in a few years, they'll change their minds and have another child."
More stating the obvious.
From the Zoldycks' perspective, these were indeed not wrong thoughts.
I knew that only I was aware of the original main plot, which was why only I was anxiously worried about Kalluto not being born on time, or even not being born at all.
No one in this world could understand me. This was a battle I was destined to fight alone and arduously.
Gritting my teeth, I stopped Illumi, who was about to leave, and held up my index finger. "Having another sister wouldn't do you any harm. If you help me convince Mother, I'll give you 100,000 jen."
Secret technique: Money makes the world go 'round!
"Changing Mother's decision won't be that easy," Illumi said, looking at me without moving to leave.
I understood. I knew he wanted to drive up the price. I had deliberately lowballed the offer; if it succeeded, there was no loss, and if it failed, it was an expected outcome.
"1,000,000 jen," I added a zero.
"Sister, there's no need for that," Illumi tilted his head, feigning cuteness while actually rejecting the offer.
"10,000,000 jen," I threw out the estimated price.
I couldn't add any more zeros, or I would be heartbroken. After all, in the "real world," I was so poor I found even milk tea expensive and only drank plain water. Willing to spend 10,000,000 jen at once in this world was already my psychological limit.
"This is not a simple matter. It concerns a new life, Sister," Illumi said solemnly.
Nonsense! What do you know about the preciousness of life? I can smell the blood on you! You just want to keep raising the price! You greedy merchant! You brat!
"100,000,000 jen. I can give you 100,000,000 jen," I declared, having gone all out. "That's all, take it or leave it."
"Ehhh—" Illumi's expression finally showed a flicker of emotion, surprise. "Sister, are you really this persistent?"
"Are you going to do it or not?!" I pressed.
"I can try," Illumi was indeed swayed by money. If he hadn't moved, it meant the money wasn't enough. He perfectly inherited the Zoldyck business mindset. "Let's pay half as a deposit first."
"Fine, but if you fail, you have to refund the entire amount." Don't think I'll be a sucker, you brat!
"Then I might end up doing unpaid work," Illumi's attitude was firm. "I put in the labor, and I deserve compensation regardless of the outcome. There's no such thing as refunding a deposit."
"What labor! You're just talking. If you fail, you still get 50,000,000 jen for the commission? You take me for a fool, trying to get something for nothing?"
"That's not what I mean. According to regulations, deposits are non-refundable. This is to prevent clients from reneging and to avoid doing unpaid work," Illumi patiently explained when money was involved. "I am very loyal to 'transactions,' Sister. Don't you trust my credibility?"
"I don't trust you. I don't believe you can complete the task unless you give me some confidence." Mainly because I was reluctant to part with the money.
In other words, if Illumi could successfully persuade Kikyo to change her mind, ensuring Kalluto's timely birth and getting the original plot back on track, I would grit my teeth and bear the heavy expense.
"Alright, for the sake of family, I'll reluctantly try my best. This is a one-time exception, Sister," Illumi said as if bestowing a great favor.
He was so annoying. If I weren't desperate and pressed for time, I'd rather die jumping off Mt. Kukuroo than ask him for help.
"First, we wait," Illumi paused. "Mother is already annoyed by Sister's constant talk about a sister. Any further persuasion will only be counterproductive."
"..." Yes, seeing the increasingly thin Mishi showed just how serious the counter-effects were.
"Waiting is the most important first stage. This is what we do best: waiting for the target to relax, expose a weakness, and then strike."
"..." So much nonsense. Have you forgotten that you and I attended the same Zoldyck private academy? I know these principles just as well as you do.
"So, we wait for three months first."
"...Can't it be faster?"
"This way is safer, and there's enough room for maneuvering if we fail," Illumi explained. "I swear by 'transaction' that I'm fully considering your interests, Sister."
"..." I still didn't find Illumi's plan very reliable. Given that Illumi seemed to have high efficiency and success rates in the original work, I'd tentatively place some trust in him. After all, I couldn't think of a better plan for now.
"Since we're at it, I'd also like to ask why Sister is so anxious to have a younger sister?" Illumi asked, tapping his lower lip with his index finger and tilting his head. "Why the rush for such a thing? The amount of money willing to be spent on it far exceeds my understanding of Sister, making it highly illogical – I'm very curious. If Sister is willing to tell me the real reason, I can offer a discount on this commission."
I was careless. He was right; my eagerness was too evident, and impulsively raising the commission to 100 million jen directly indicated my level of concern for this matter, which was indeed suspicious in others' eyes.
Illumi discovering my abnormality had both advantages and disadvantages.
Thanks to his question, I realized the illogical nature of my words and actions and could pay more attention to avoid further mistakes. Recalling my past behavior, I believed I hadn't revealed any information I shouldn't have.
On the other hand, Illumi had become curious about my true motives. I would have to be extra careful from now on, lest this shrewd kid uncover my "player" identity. Fortunately, he was still not fully developed and couldn't openly do anything to me. Otherwise, his probing would not be gentle, but a direct physical threat, like when Killua took Alluka away with Nanika surrounding them.
Should I lie? No, my lying skills are poor, and Illumi isn't a fool. Lies would only make him more curious about the truth.
Should I answer with silence? Would he easily back down then? He was even willing to offer a discount to hear the real reason; I smelled danger.
Caught in a dilemma, I felt extremely agitated. I clenched and unclenched my fists. Thinking about the many things I hadn't accomplished in my "real world," I shouldn't be fixated on success; I should be mentally prepared for failure.
Yes, do my best, and if it doesn't work, so be it.
That's how life goes, isn't it?
"I don't want to tell you." I decided to tell the truth and be firm. "Illumi, you swore by 'transaction.' You won't be like an immature child and hold a grudge, intentionally slacking off on the commission, will you?"
I had to take a gamble on Illumi's professionalism. After all, the Zoldycks valued credibility and adhered to transactional rules; this was the education Illumi had absorbed since childhood.
"Mm, I understand. I will also observe confidentiality," Illumi nodded and gave a formal reminder. "For the smooth progress of the commission, Sister, please be sure to observe the three-month waiting period and do not mention anything about a sister to anyone."
"Of course." Don't underestimate me!
The three-month waiting period was incredibly easy to get through.
"Nen," was described by many characters in the original work as an unfathomably profound ability. How profound it was, I wouldn't discuss for now, but the cultivation of its applied techniques was enough for me to struggle with.
After becoming a Nen user and experiencing cultivation firsthand, I realized that actual training was not as easy as depicted in the anime.
The anime's simple phrase "one month" took only a second to say, but it actually encompassed thirty days of exhausting training.
Even more disheartening was the slow progress. The longer I interacted with "Nen," the more I understood the monstrous talent of the original protagonists. Their leveling up was so effortless, joyful, and exciting. They grasped concepts instantly, progressed rapidly, and surpassed Nen users with years of experience as if it were natural, radiating confidence, with the world at their feet.
As for me? No talent. This wasn't false modesty; I had a way to quantify it.
For instance, "Ren," one of Nen's applied techniques, was an important means to strengthen offense and defense and needed to be maintained throughout combat. The first stage standard was 30 minutes, and the second stage was 3 hours. According to the original setting, it usually took a month to extend it by 10 minutes. I was that "usual." Yet, the protagonists extended theirs by over two hours in just one month. The gap was despair-inducing.
The talent of the two protagonists in the original work was truly monstrous. I fully understood Wing's shock at their talent. this world was too unfair.
Just like the original character Wing's evaluation of the two protagonists, calling them extraordinary monsters.
Alas, after all, they were the protagonists. How could they be protagonists without some incredible skills?
Before transferring to become a Nen user, I had imagined myself progressing as rapidly as the protagonists, surpassing Illumi effortlessly. Unfortunately, reality dealt a harsh blow, and I abandoned this fantasy.
Then I fantasized about developing an overpoweringly buggy Nen ability, with rules that defied logic and effects that were incredibly explosive, allowing me to roam the world and conquer all enemies. Instead, I was a Specialist type with the lowest offense and defense, and all I had was an unchosen game backpack – a garbage-collecting ability.
This truly couldn't be blamed on my pessimism, negativity, and depression; life betrayed me first.
The world kissed me with pain, making me want to shut myself away.
The three-month waiting period flew by. I texted Illumi, who was on a mission, asking when he would return to fulfill his promise. He replied that he was already on his way.
Good.
Please, begin your performance.