Chapter 85
Father and Son (1)
A great deal of preparation was required before they could leave for the royal capital.
First, Johan needed a proxy to govern the territory in his absence.
Until now, Gaf and Ilea had fulfilled that role.
But he could no longer leave it to them.
They would be accompanying Johan to the royal capital.
They would likely be away from the territory for quite some time.
Someone would have to take their place.
Who would be suitable?
One person immediately came to mind.
Raguel.
Although Raguel was young, he was attentive and intelligent. His knowledge was also remarkably extensive, thanks to the vast number of books he had read.
If Johan entrusted the territory to him, he would likely prove highly competent.
He would make an excellent proxy.
There was only one problem.
Raguel was a high elf. Although Ilea’s illusion magic made him appear human, it could not completely conceal the subtle sense of incongruity surrounding him.
Someone with sharp instincts might notice that there was something unusual about Raguel.
That would hinder his public activities.
It was a critical flaw.
The lord’s proxy had to meet countless people.
The territory’s residents, the chiefs of its various villages, priests from nearby parishes, and other lords of the south—he would inevitably have to interact with an unspecified number of people.
That was impossible for Raguel.
For the time being, the high elf still had to remain hidden.
Johan sank into thought.
‘What a shame. Raguel would have been perfect.’
Finding someone else would not be easy.
There was no one he could trust.
That was only natural.
To govern the territory in Johan’s place, one would need to know every secret of the forbidden archive and Johan’s true identity.
Among the humans who met those requirements, how many would willingly side with Johan?
They could probably be counted on one hand.
Raguel was one of them.
“Ahem.”
Johan wanted to make use of Raguel somehow.
After thinking for a long while, he finally spoke.
“We will be staying in the royal capital for the foreseeable future.”
Everyone in the underground study looked at Johan.
Ilea said,
“I’ve already begun preparing everything we’ll need. I contacted the count, so we should have a residence arranged soon.”
They could not simply show up in the royal capital with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
There was a considerable amount to prepare.
Servants, carriages, furniture, clothing, a mansion... They needed to maintain at least a certain standard if they wished to live in the royal capital.
The nobles there placed great importance on appearances and dignity.
If Johan appeared like an impoverished country mouse, it would leave them with a poor first impression.
Since he needed to build his own faction, Johan had no choice but to pay some attention to appearances.
He had to seem frugal without looking shabby, and splendid without appearing extravagant.
Gaf spoke.
“How long do you plan to remain in the royal capital?”
“Quite a while. There’s no definite date for our return.”
“If you intend to be away that long, you’ll need to find someone else to govern the territory. As you know, we currently have neither a treasurer nor an administrator. I don’t have enough hands to manage everything alone.”
The territory’s internal affairs were in dire condition.
Bandits infested its outskirts, and lesser spirits continued to appear.
Groups of slash-and-burn farmers were also quietly entering the territory.
They did not even know the exact size of its population.
No taxes had been collected this year, but they would have to begin collecting them next year.
Ultimately, they needed more people to solve all these problems.
“I was already planning to appoint an official proxy.”
Gaf asked,
“Surely you don’t mean me? I’ll warn you in advance—I have no relevant expertise. If we continue running the territory as haphazardly as we have been, it will eventually go bankrupt.”
In truth, there was no need to worry about bankruptcy.
The Myatro Barony was a treasure house for the entire kingdom.
If they sold even a portion of the treasures piled high within the forbidden archive, the Myatro Barony would become the wealthiest territory in the kingdom.
Of course, Johan had no intention of disposing of those treasures.
The legacy stored in the forbidden archive was as precious as life itself. Its value would only increase as the story progressed.
It could never be squandered in exchange for mere silver or gold.
Johan looked at Gaf.
“I know. The position of proxy would be too much for you. We need someone else to govern the territory.”
Ilea asked,
“Do you have someone in mind?”
Johan’s gaze turned toward Raguel.
“Raguel.”
Everyone nodded as though the choice made perfect sense.
“Young Master Raguel would be suitable.”
“Not a bad choice.”
“Great End, it is a most reasonable decision!”
Only Raguel appeared flustered.
“J-Johan, what do you mean all of a sudden?”
“Exactly what I said. You will serve as the lord’s proxy.”
“What ability do I have to do something like that...?”
“You’re far more intelligent than you think. You’ll be able to handle it better than anyone.”
Embarrassed by the sudden compliment, Raguel lowered his head.
Ilea chimed in.
“He’s right. You’re remarkably intelligent. I realized that when we played chess the other day.”
She had once played chess with Raguel while he was still blind.
Even without being able to see, Raguel had played remarkably well.
He had conducted the entire game by memorizing every move on the board.
It was evidence of his exceptional intelligence.
With Ilea joining Johan in praising him, Raguel did not know how to react.
He lowered his head even further.
“P-please, both of you, stop. I’m not that impressive.”
Hakain, who had been listening silently, spoke.
“He seems to enjoy considerable trust, but is there not one problem?”
Ilea replied,
“Young Master Raguel is a high elf.”
Hakain was now aware of most of the territory’s secrets and circumstances.
Johan had concealed nothing from him.
In exchange, Johan had bound him with a contract.
Hakain could not tell anyone about the Myatro Barony or Johan.
Hakain nodded.
“Precisely. Moreover, until recently, the young master suffered from a disability. If he suddenly appeared looking like that, someone would undoubtedly find it suspicious.”
“There is a way to resolve that. We can use Grian.”
Ilea asked,
“Are you planning to make Grian Young Master Raguel’s puppet?”
Johan nodded.
Raguel would make every decision concerning the territory, while Grian would publicly carry out his son’s orders.
As long as they followed that rule, Raguel’s true identity would never be exposed.
It was not a bad solution.
Johan looked at Raguel.
“That’s right. Raguel, do you think you can do it?”
Raguel carried deep trauma related to Grian.
His father had abused him since childhood.
That fear had been carved into his very bones.
Could a son who had suffered such violence truly subdue and control his own father?
Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible.
Raguel spoke without confidence.
“Do you mean that I’ll be giving Father orders, just like you do?”
“Precisely. Grian will become your subordinate.”
Doubt flickered across Raguel’s face.
“...I want to help you however I can, Johan. If you ask something of me, I intend to do it. But I’m not confident that I can handle everything properly. I won’t refuse after you’ve asked me, but please don’t place too much faith in me.”
He was expressing his thoughts with complete honesty.
Johan said,
“Why don’t you meet Grian first? He’s probably a much smaller man than you remember.”
Raguel had not faced his father even once in recent months.
His entire body trembled slightly at the mere thought of him.
“M-my father?”
“Yes. Go and see him first. If you still lack confidence afterward, I won’t force you any further.”
Johan was certain.
Raguel would overcome his fear of his father.
Even in the Abyss, he had looked Grian straight in the eye.
He had refused to surrender to his fear.
Raguel was no longer the same person he had once been.
He had grown considerably, both mentally and physically.
“I’ll try, but please don’t expect too much. I’ll still do my best.”
Johan snickered.
“That’s enough. Go on.”
Raguel looked slightly startled.
“R-right now?”
“Why hesitate? You should strike while the iron is hot.”
Raguel’s shoulders drooped.
“...All right. I’ll go.”
He trudged away with heavy steps.
His back looked remarkably forlorn.
Johan felt somewhat guilty, but it could not be helped.
There was no one who could replace Raguel.
Nor was there any way for Johan to help him with this.
All he could do was silently hope that Raguel would succeed.
Raguel left the study.
***
Grian stared blankly out the window.
His expression and eyes revealed a profound emptiness.
He no longer possessed any desire to live.
Everything had been taken from him.
There was not a single thing in this castle that belonged to him.
Grian did not even know what was happening within its walls.
He had become a nonexistent man.
No one sought him out or cared for him.
Even if he starved for days, no one showed the slightest concern.
He had lost far too much weight.
His belly had sunk inward, and his cheekbones protruded sharply.
He was slowly withering away.
No one had noticed the change.
Even if he died like this, his body would not be discovered for several weeks.
Perhaps he would be forgotten forever.
Grian slammed his fist against the bed.
“...How did this happen to me? How?!”
It was all because of Johan—that damned demon.
He had trampled Grian’s life beneath his feet.
Grian wanted nothing more than to report him directly to the Holy Order.
He wanted to tell them that a demon lived in this territory.
But he could not act on that desire.
The moment he harbored malicious thoughts toward Johan, pain throbbed through the left side of his chest.
The subordination contract restrained him.
“Damn it! Goddamn it!”
His impotent rage naturally turned toward a different target.
This time, it was Raguel.
That wretch, who was worth less than a worm, had brought a demon into the territory.
As if being born crippled had not been enough, he had even severed his father’s hands and feet.
“I should have killed him back then!”
There were far too many moments Grian regretted.
Instead of merely beating the boy, he should have used a blade.
Sparing him simply because he was his son had come back to haunt him.
Grian’s eyes became bloodshot.
He grabbed a water jug and hurled it against the wall.
It shattered into pieces.
A loud crash rang out.
At the same moment, he sensed someone outside.
A person screamed from beyond the door.
“Uwaaah!”
A heavy thud followed, as though someone had collapsed onto the floor.
Thump!
Grian shot to his feet.
“Wh-who’s out there?”
No one had come to see him lately.
He strode toward the door and flung it open.
His expression twisted violently.
“Y-you!”
Raguel was sitting on the floor, looking up at Grian.
It was the first time he had seen his son in several months.
Raguel spoke in a trembling voice.
“F-Father, I only...”
Grian knew that foolish expression well.
His son always wore that face whenever he looked at his father.
Grian’s hand rose naturally.
It was almost a reflex.
Raguel immediately curled into himself.
Although still furious, Grian felt an inexplicable thrill.
Memories of the past resurfaced one after another.
Once, everyone in the castle had treated him that way.
They had trembled in fear before him.
For the first time in a long while, vitality returned to Grian’s face.
He felt alive again.
Grian surrendered himself to that pleasure.
He began stomping on his son and striking him.
All manner of abuse poured from his mouth.
Grian’s face filled with ecstasy.