Putting aside trivial matters, I haven't forgotten my original goal for returning so early: my dearest Alluka. I must not forget my original intention.
As I expected, Alluka and Kalluto were playing in the sandbox with toys, harmonious and content, like two ordinary children from ordinary families. Aside from Illumi, the Zoldycks weren't entirely monstrous. Outside of rigorous training, they would give Alluka ample time to play and enjoy themselves. After all, the Zoldycks needed a mentally sound future patriarch, not a robot.
Whether it was an innate perception or influenced by Kikyo's costume changes, Alluka, dressed by Kikyo like a Japanese kimono doll, believed herself to be a "sister." Killua was still young and didn't pay much attention to gender concepts, so he indulged Alluka's wishes and naturally treated Alluka as his "sister."
Apart from Illumi, most children like small animals. A while ago, I let the bunny I was raising play with them. It turned out they had petted it too much, and the bunny thought it was pregnant, showing some corresponding physiological phenomena. I had to keep it in isolation for a period until its condition stabilized before bringing it out again.
"Onee-chan!" x2
The two little dumplings with black and silver hair ran up. One spoke in a childish, slightly slurred voice, while the other had a clear, bright tone. They were excited to see the bunny I was holding, raising their hands to pet its fluffy belly.
Indeed, the bunny's fur was very soft, second only to Killua's.
I squatted down and placed the bunny on the ground.
"Alluka, don't pet it too much," Killua, having received my explanation last time, blocked Alluka's hand and reminded him, "Otherwise, it will be uncomfortable."
"Oh," Alluka nodded, carefully petting the bunny from its head to its back. Then, he lay down on the ground, gazing into the bunny's eyes.
The bunny's nose twitched with each breath. Alluka stared intently at the bunny's nose.
We quietly watched the bunny's tiny pink nose together. Killua couldn't resist reaching out and poking it. The bunny instinctively recoiled, its ears perking up.
"Onii-chan!" Alluka sat up, displeased.
Killua made a face at him, then picked up the bunny and ran. The two chased each other around the sandbox. Due to the significant difference in stamina, Alluka soon became exhausted. He plopped onto the ground, panting, and resentfully pounded the ground with his hands, "Hoo—Onii-chan, bad!"
While Killua was laughing uncontrollably, I patted his head. Wow, his fluffy silver hair was really pleasant to touch, soft and warm.
Hey, on impulse, I quickly pulled out a few strands of his hair and [picked] them up into my game inventory as material for a paternity test.
"Onee-chan," Killua handed the bunny to Alluka and turned to me, asking, "Can you do that again?"
"?" I tilted my head.
"You know, the one where you go 'Uwah!' and summon New Orleans," Killua said, raising his hands high and opening his mouth wide when he said "Uwah," his actions quite exaggerated.
"Oh! Uwah!" Hearing "Uwah," Alluka knew what it was. He never tired of it.
Hawks are natural predators of rabbits. However, the bunny had seen New Orleans frequently since it was young, and New Orleans had never harmed it. Therefore, as long as its master was nearby, the bunny wasn't too scared.
To be honest, children are quite interested in "magic." I usually rely on my two pets to build good rapport with the two little ones.
I put on a serious expression, clasped my hands together, then opened them. Mid-way, I [retrieved] New Orleans from my game inventory. Thus, New Orleans suddenly flapped its wings and appeared out of thin air from between my palms.
"Uwah!" x2
This was their exclamation of surprise the first time they saw me perform this trick. I hadn't thought of naming it, so they took the initiative to call "Uwah" its alias.
I picked up my whistle, blew a command, and New Orleans took flight, soaring towards the clouds, becoming a tiny dot. Then, it swooped down, creating a gust of wind, and circled in mid-air. The two little ones jumped up and applauded, "Ooh ooh ooh!"
The bunny was still startled by the majestic sight of its predator and leaped out of Alluka's arms, burrowing into my embrace and burying its head.
Hmm, instinct is ultimately irresistible.
I signaled New Orleans with my whistle to disengage and fly freely. New Orleans chirped in response and quickly flew away.
"Aww—" Killua looked a bit disappointed. He preferred New Orleans to the bunny.
Alluka's preference was the opposite. Killua was a good brother and chose to yield.
Although I was biased towards Killua, considering that Alluka's affection for Killua could make Nanika Killua's strongest support, I needed them to have a very good relationship. Therefore, I would follow Killua's choice and support Alluka's preferences.
In Killua's presence, I didn't like using sound devices. The sounds produced by the devices were slightly different from real human voices. Mechanical sounds were hard to ignore. Speaking with such a peculiar voice in front of an idol felt somewhat awkward.
Killua had already learned many simple words and could understand short sentences.
I took out my notebook and wrote, "I bought a lot of delicious food this time," and "Shall we go for a picnic together?"
"Yecan?" Killua didn't understand the meaning of this word; it was new to him.
"It's eating lots of delicious food together on the grass," I wrote.
"Hmm, how is that different from eating normally?" Killua asked. "Is it just changing the location?"
"The food is different," I wrote. "We'll eat snacks! Only snacks!"
"Oh!" Killua's eyes lit up. "Yay! Only snacks!"
"Only snacks!" Alluka, with his unclear pronunciation, liked to mimic Killua when learning to speak, and he immediately repeated, "Oh!"
"But there's a problem," I continued writing in my notebook. "This requires Mother's permission. Kichi, go ask Mother."
With the picnic blanket filled with calories, the body-conscious Kikyo would surely scream. She would absolutely not agree to such team-building activities that solely increase body fat. Only Killua, the one she doted on so much, could persuade her.
Come on, use [Killua's Charm] on Kikyo.
The effect was remarkable!
Kikyo's turn. Kikyo used [Moderation] on Milluki, intending to monitor my calorie intake throughout the event.
Don't let me suffer alone! I used [Communication] on Milluki, texting him that I had brought the latest McDonald's Happy Meal and to come to the designated location quickly. It was a limited supply, available until it was all gone.
Following the phone's location, a panting Milluki appeared. He complained about why I had set the destination so far away. Before he could finish his sentence, Kikyo lectured him about his lack of exercise.
With no chance to retort, Milluki's dejected expression became a humorous scene for his two younger brothers, and Milluki's reputation within the Zoldyck family decreased.
Milluki turned his face away from Kikyo's view and silently mouthed to me, "Sis! Why didn't you say Mom was coming too?! Is there still food?! Has Mom taken it all?!"
"We haven't started yet. Mom will watch us eat later," I mouthed back.
"No!" Milluki scrunched up his face, looking utterly miserable. "We won't be able to eat much like that!"
"Choose yourself, one of two options: 'eat a little' or 'eat nothing at all.'"
Milluki resigned himself and found a spot on the picnic blanket farthest from Kikyo.
"...Cough." Another figure appeared under a nearby tree.
If not for that cough, I wouldn't have noticed anyone there. Zoldyck Boss Zeno's "Zetsu" was terrifying.
"Kaa-chan!" Killua waved to Zeno.
Alluka followed a second later, waving, "Kaa-chan!"
"Everyone's here," Zeno sauntered over. "What are you doing?"
"We're having a picnic!" Killua replied.
"Mm!" Alluka nodded.
"A picnic, huh?" Zeno smiled amiably. "Whose idea was this?"
"Onee-chan!" Alluka eagerly raised his hand to answer.
Just as Zeno was about to look at me, Killua called out, "Kaa-chan, sit here!"
"Here, here!" Alluka patted the picnic blanket.
"Mm, okay," Zeno sat to Killua's left. "Ah—speaking of which, I'm home, but it feels like everything in the house has nothing to do with me?"
"It's just a bit of fun, the children eating snacks together," Kikyo explained.
"I thought I was the only one forgotten, and I was a little sad," Zeno said with a smile.
"..." I was seen through! I'm sorry, I really did forget about Zeno.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder what Milluki has prepared?" Zeno said.
Everyone looked at me, the initiator of the event. The picnic blanket was still empty, waiting for me to bring out the food.
Opening my game inventory, I selected the "Takeout" category and [retrieved] [Fries (Large) x6] [Ketchup Packet x6] [Popcorn Chicken (Large) x6] [Crispy Chicken Fillet x6] [Pineapple Pie x6] [Hash Browns x6] [Cheeseburger x6] [McNuggets x6] [Crispy Churros x6] [Flavored Waffles x6] [New Orleans Grilled Wings x6] [Nutty Chocolate Danish x6] [Chocolate Muffin x6] [Strawberry Lamindton x6] [Lemon Lamindton x6] httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"500, 400, 900, 700, 1000, 800, 900..." As I took out the food one by one, Kikyo kept murmuring.
What strange numbers are you reciting, Kikyo?! Don't make it so tense! Milluki's expression is already off!
"I also brought ice cream. Eat these first, and I'll bring them out later," I wrote in my notebook.
"...Milluki," Kikyo's voice trembled slightly. It was clear she was trying hard to maintain her composure. "Mom will calculate for you... you can't eat too much, okay?"
"..." I nodded.
"Then, Mom, I..." Milluki had unrealistic expectations.
"You too," Kikyo shattered Milluki's fantasy without mercy.
"Okay," Milluki lowered his head. When Kikyo looked at Killua, he immediately mouthed to me if I had backups.
He knew I usually bought backups and didn't buy strictly according to the number of people. Upon receiving my affirmative reply, he happily gave me a thumbs-up.
Why is the game inventory good?
Delicious without delay, the ultimate enjoyment as if tasting it on-site at the store!
Except for Kikyo, who had almost nothing to eat, and myself and Milluki, who were being monitored by Kikyo, the other three ate with great joy... For Alluka's smile, it was worth it.
Later, halfway through the ice cream, the Zoldyck family's alien E.T., no, Zoldyck Boss Maha, appeared like a ghost. I'm truly impressed by this family's Boss. Everyone appears soundlessly. Is this meant to scare people to death?!
The picnic was nearing its end. Kikyo was still there, and the backup food couldn't be brought out. So, I gave the sponge cake I originally bought for Illumi to Maha. Afterward, I told Illumi and let's see if he dared to ask his great-grandfather for sponge cake! Hmph! With Maha's combat power, he could make Illumi disappear without a trace with just a flick of his finger!
Upon receiving the sponge cake, Maha patted my head and disappeared after a few steps. His strength was truly terrifying.
Maha appeared and left quickly, leaving everyone somewhat unreactive. Zeno asked me what I had just given him.
Replacing words with actions, I handed Zeno a sponge cake. As he reached out to take it, I hesitated and said I couldn't eat any more now. I asked if he wanted something fresher, which I could keep fresh for him.
"So thoughtful?" Zeno laughed and patted my head. "Good child. Besides this, isn't there something more important you need to 'preserve'?"
"Onee-chan..." Alluka ran over, grabbing my skirt with a wronged expression. He had accidentally dropped his ice cream.
I [retrieved] a backup ice cream and handed it to Alluka. He exclaimed "Wow!" and smiled at me, "Onee-chan, I like it!"
"..." I was truly worried he might suddenly turn into Nanika. Fortunately, he didn't.
I patted Alluka's head in response.
"Onee-chan, I want another one too!" Killua chased after Alluka and came over.
"Kichi, eating too much ice cream will give you a stomachache," Zeno said.
"Aww—Huh?!" Killua watched in disbelief as the second ice cream appeared in my hand and then disappeared. "Ah, what a pity."
"Milluki, how much did you actually buy..." Kikyo began to suspect I had lied about the quantity.
Not much, just about ten portions, hehe!
Alluka offered the ice cream in his hand to Killua. Killua verbally refused but couldn't resist taking a big bite. They were laughing, their laughter as bright as light.
The grass outside the shade was illuminated by the sun as if it were glowing, the brightest spots turning white, dazzlingly so.
I knew what Zeno wanted me to "preserve."
Unfortunately, I had long chosen the path of solitude.
Because I am the only "player" in this game, NPCs cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with me, can they?