Chapter 86
Father and Son (2)
“Die! You ungrateful bastard who devoured your own mother to be born! You worthless piece of human refuse!”
Grian was savagely beating Raguel.
He struck the back of Raguel’s head with his palm and repeatedly kicked him all over his body.
Raguel remained curled up without offering any resistance.
The fear engraved into him had taken control.
The moment he tried to flee or fight back, the violence would only worsen.
That was how it had always been.
For his own sake, it was better to remain still and endure the beating.
“F-Father, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
As Grian watched Raguel tremble, he felt omnipotent.
It was as if he had returned to the past.
Memories of the days when everyone had watched Grian’s every move and trembled before him flashed through his mind.
Grian surrendered himself to the exhilaration.
He struck Raguel indiscriminately.
“This is how it should be! This is the natural order! I am the Watcher of the Abyss!”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy blows echoed throughout the corridor.
“P-please stop. Please... Please.”
The more Raguel groaned, the more vicious the violence became.
“Shut up! My life was ruined because of you! How dare you bring a demon here?! Do you think House Myatro is some kind of joke?”
If Raguel had never brought that demon into the territory, Grian would still be reigning over it like a king.
All his present misery was Raguel’s fault.
Grian, who had been reveling in the violence, was suddenly overwhelmed by rage.
He lost what remained of his reason.
“I’ll kill you here and now! It may be late, but I’ll set things right at last!”
He began striking Raguel with genuine murderous intent.
He stomped on him and swung his fists with all his strength.
Even when he was gasping for breath, Grian did not stop.
The beating continued for a long time.
Time passed without end.
Grian’s breathing had grown ragged.
He, too, was gradually tiring.
His reason slowly began to return.
Then Grian noticed something strange.
No matter how much he struck and trampled Raguel, the boy did not move.
He was no longer even begging for his life.
Could he be dead?
Grian seized his son by the hair and yanked his head upward.
Father and son stared into each other’s eyes.
Grian’s expression stiffened.
“Wh-what is that?”
He could not help being shocked.
He had seen his son’s eyes.
“...Father?”
Grian’s face twisted like that of an evil spirit.
“I asked you what that is! Why are you looking at me?!”
Raguel was supposed to be blind.
He had been born with only one functioning eye, and Grian had destroyed the remaining one long ago.
His son was not supposed to have eyes.
Then what was that clear gaze fixed upon him?
Grian could not accept it.
He grabbed Raguel’s face with both hands.
Then he pressed his fingers violently against his son’s eyes.
Raguel began struggling.
“N-no! Don’t!”
Grian did not stop.
“Stay still! Eyes are a luxury wasted on the likes of you!”
The pressure on Raguel’s eyes intensified.
His heart began pounding madly.
The fear of losing his sight was greater than his fear of his father.
To him, his restored vision was proof of the covenant he had made with Johan.
“I said stop!”
Raguel sprang to his feet and knocked Grian’s hands away.
A sharp smack rang out.
Grian was stunned.
This was the first time Raguel had ever resisted him like this.
Rage surged within him.
“Y-you insolent brat! How dare you!”
He immediately slapped his son across the face.
Raguel shouted with a venomous expression,
“Don’t touch my eyes!”
He shoved Grian with all his strength.
Grian, who had once been a large man but was now little more than skin and bones, was hurled backward and crashed into the bedframe.
“Guh!”
He looked remarkably feeble.
Raguel froze as he stared at him.
He was shocked by his own actions.
He had laid hands on his father.
It was something that should have been unthinkable.
And that was not all.
Grian had been thrown more than four meters.
Raguel had sent a grown man flying with a casual shove.
It was strength that defied common sense.
Raguel stared down at his hands.
He had never realized he possessed such power.
“...A high elf.”
It was the result of his transformation into the most exceptional kind of elf.
Raguel turned his gaze back to Grian.
Grian remained slumped against the bedframe, unable to stand.
He could only stare at Raguel with trembling eyes.
There was unmistakable fear in that gaze.
Raguel trudged toward him.
As the distance between them narrowed, Grian pressed himself more tightly against the bed.
He resembled a man being driven into a dead end.
“D-don’t come any closer! Get away from me!”
Raguel looked down at his terrified father.
For some reason, Grian appeared very small to him now.
“...Why did you treat me that way?”
Raguel’s voice was low and subdued.
Grian replied in a trembling voice,
“What did I ever do?!”
Raguel ground his teeth.
“No matter how much you hated me, wasn’t I still your son? Why did you torment me?!”
Grian silently studied his son.
His eyes darted from side to side.
Then he suddenly gave Raguel a servile smile.
“I-I’m sorry. It was all my fault. I apologize.”
Raguel flinched.
The abrupt change in Grian’s attitude was deeply shocking.
“...What are you suddenly trying to do?”
“Suddenly? What do you mean? I have always felt sorry for you. I’ve always wanted to apologize like this.”
Raguel could not begin to understand Grian’s behavior.
“You were trying to kill me just a moment ago...”
“N-no, I wasn’t. You misunderstood. I didn’t mean it. Your father merely lost his senses for a moment. Please try to understand my circumstances. I’ve lost everything. How could I possibly remain sane?”
Grian’s eyes drooped, and the corners of his mouth sagged weakly.
He was trying to look as pitiful as possible.
Raguel was profoundly confused.
He had never seen his father behave like this before.
He did not know how to respond.
“I was always alone, just as you are now. I was always lonely. And how did you treat me back then? Do you finally understand how I felt?”
Grian nodded repeatedly.
“Of course I do. How painful it must have been. It was all my fault. I want to make things right, even if it is late. Let us work together. As father and son, we can support each other.”
Bewilderment spread across Raguel’s face.
“Work together? What do you mean?”
Grian gave him a genial smile.
“You have our master’s mark in your eye, do you not? I bear the same mark.”
He removed his upper garments.
A tattoo of the Grim Reaper holding a scythe was etched over his heart.
It was proof of the subordination contract.
The same ominous symbol glowed within Raguel’s left eye.
“So what?”
“It means that we are in the same position. We can serve our master together. Could you put in a good word for your father?”
Raguel frowned.
“What in the world are you talking about...?”
“That strength and your restored sight were gifts from our master, were they not? I want to serve him and receive proper rewards, just like you. Look at me now. I have nothing. Of course I’ve been losing my mind. Please help your father. Even now, it isn’t too late for us to support each other.”
Grian gently caressed Raguel’s hand.
Raguel stood there blankly for some time.
He was overwhelmed by an emotion completely unfamiliar to him.
He had never felt this way toward another person before.
Boundless disgust welled up inside him.
Raguel slapped Grian’s hand away.
“...You truly are beyond redemption.”
Grian smiled awkwardly.
“Wh-why are you suddenly saying that? Was my apology not enough? I’ll even kneel if that’s what you want. Please forgive me.”
He was utterly servile.
That was the kind of man Grian had always been.
He was mercilessly domineering toward the weak, yet groveled disgracefully before the strong.
Even when that person was his own son, Grian behaved exactly the same way.
Raguel’s gaze turned cold.
“I finally understand. You’re a weak and pathetic man. You have neither pride nor conviction. Why was I ever afraid of you? I’m ashamed of my past self.”
Grian’s expression twisted slightly.
But only for a moment.
He immediately resumed his servile smile.
“No. I merely...”
Grian could not finish.
A familiar voice interrupted their conversation.
“Why are you trying to deny it? He hasn’t said a single thing that’s wrong.”
It was Johan’s voice.
Raguel looked back.
“Johan?”
Johan entered the bedroom from the corridor.
“Raguel, you’ve finally realized it. Just as you said, Grian is an empty shell. There’s nothing of substance inside him. Who could possibly be more talented as a scarecrow or puppet?”
The moment Johan appeared, tension spread across Grian’s face.
He could not even meet Johan’s eyes.
“...It has been a long time, Master.”
Johan snickered.
“Yes, it’s good to see you. I have a task for you.”
“J-just give me the order.”
Johan looked at Raguel.
“Raguel, would you care to give it?”
Raguel took a deep breath.
After steeling himself, he spoke.
“Grian Myatro, from this moment onward, you are my puppet. You will live as a mindless scarecrow that moves only according to my commands.”
Grian stared blankly at Raguel.
“Wh-what do you mean...?”
Johan lightly tapped Raguel’s shoulder.
“Well done. From now on, I leave the territory in your hands. Have Ilea and Gaf brief you on everything.”
Raguel would undoubtedly perform the role well.
He nodded.
“I’ll live up to your expectations.”
Johan looked satisfied.
“I’ll be going, then. Finish your conversation with Grian.”
He had no intention of interfering any further.
Raguel would handle Grian on his own from now on.
After all, his trauma had completely disappeared.
Johan left the room.
He had something else to attend to.
“Haah.”
He had to meet Third Prince Gawain.
The prince had come to the lord’s castle.
Johan found the situation extremely burdensome.
Their previous encounter had ended badly.
Gawain had detected the scent of the Holy Spear Espada on Johan and attempted to summon it, only to lose consciousness from the backlash.
That had happened several months ago.
He would probably try to reclaim the Holy Spear again.
Johan had already made preparations, but that did not make the matter any less uncomfortable.
He felt uneasy around Gawain.
Perhaps it was because Gawain had nearly killed him.
Whatever the reason, Johan still did not want to meet him.
But he could not simply send away a prince of the kingdom.
He had to receive him.
Lost in thought, Johan grasped the drawing room’s door handle.
After releasing a sigh, he opened the door.
Gawain was seated inside.
The moment he saw Johan, he smiled brightly.
“Sir Johan, it has been a long time.”
Johan bowed.
“Johan von Myatro greets His Highness the Third Prince.”
Gawain waved dismissively and gestured toward a chair.
“There is no need for ceremony. Please, take a seat.”
“As Your Highness commands.”
Johan sat opposite Gawain.
The prince spoke.
“Sir Johan, I heard the news. It seems congratulations are in order.”
“To what might Your Highness be referring?”
“Not only did you receive a noble title, but you were also appointed to the Royal Council at such a young age.”
It was an uncomfortable topic from the very beginning.
Johan answered calmly,
“It is all thanks to His Majesty’s grace.”
Gawain shook his head.
“No, that is incorrect. It would be more accurate to call it Count Staviana’s scheming.”
Gawain’s gaze sharpened slightly.
He and the count were bitter enemies.