novelraw Chapter 86 : Chapter 86
Chapter 86 : Chapter 86
Chapter 86. Father and Son (2)
“Die! You wretch who devoured your own mother to be born! Worthless refuse of humanity!”
Grian was savagely assaulting Raguel.
He struck the back of his son’s head with his palm and kicked at his body again and again.
Raguel only curled himself up, offering no resistance.
The fear carved into him ruled his body.
If he tried to flee or resist, the violence would only grow worse.
It had always been that way.
Remaining still and taking the beating was the safer choice.
“F-Father, I’m sorry. It was my fault.”
Watching Raguel tremble, Grian felt omnipotent.
It was as if he had returned to the past.
The days when everyone watched his eyes and feared him flashed before him like a revolving lantern.
Grian gave himself over to the exhilaration.
He rained blows down on Raguel.
“This is how it should be! This is the rightful order! I am the Watcher of the Abyss!”
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The dull sounds echoed down the corridor.
“S-stop, please. Please, I beg you.”
The more Raguel groaned, the fiercer the violence grew.
“Shut up! My life was ruined because of you! How dare you summon a demon?! Did you think the Miyatro Family was a joke?!”
If Raguel had not brought in the demon, Grian would still be reigning as king of the domain.
His current misery was all Raguel’s fault.
While relishing the moment, Grian suddenly flared into rage.
He lost hold of reason.
“I’ll kill you here and now! Too late, but I’ll set it right!”
He truly beat with the intent to kill.
He stomped with all his strength, fists flying.
Even when breath caught painfully in his chest, he did not stop.
The beating went on and on.
Time slipped by endlessly.
Grian’s breathing grew ragged.
At last, he was tired.
Reason slowly returned.
He felt something strange.
No matter how much he struck and trampled, Raguel had not budged.
He was not even begging for his life anymore.
Could he be dead? Grian grabbed his son’s hair and yanked his head up.
Father and son locked eyes.
Grian’s face stiffened.
“W-what is that?”
He could not help but be shocked.
Because he had seen his son’s ‘eyes.’
“…Father?”
Grian’s face twisted like a demon.
“I asked what that is! Why are you looking at me!”
Raguel was blind.
He had been born with one eye missing, and Grian himself had ruined the other.
His son was not supposed to have eyes.
But that clear gaze—what was it? Grian could not accept it.
He seized Raguel’s face in both hands.
His fingers pressed hard against his son’s eyeballs.
Raguel convulsed.
“N-no! Stop!”
Grian did not relent.
“Hold still! Eyes are a luxury for you!”
The pressure against both eyes grew stronger.
Raguel’s heart pounded wildly.
His fear of losing sight outweighed even his fear of his father.
His vision was proof of the covenant he had made with Yohan.
“Stop it!”
Raguel shot up and flung away Grian’s hands.
A sharp sound of friction burst out.
Grian was utterly taken aback. This was the first time his son had resisted like that.
Rage surged up.
“You—you brat! How dare you!”
He instantly slapped his son across the face.
Raguel shouted, his expression filled with defiance.
“Don’t touch my eyes!”
He shoved Grian hard.
Once a towering figure, now a gaunt wretch, Grian flew back and crashed into the bedframe.
“Keheuk!”
He looked utterly feeble.
Raguel froze for a moment, shocked at what he had done. He had laid hands on his father. That was unthinkable.
And not only that.
Grian had been shoved more than four meters away.
To knock a grown man that far with just a push—it defied common sense.
Raguel stared at his own hands.
That he possessed such strength… it bewildered him.
“…A High Elf.”
Among Elves, the most superior of beings. It was the recoil of becoming a High Elf.
Raguel turned his gaze on Grian.
Grian, slumped against the bedframe, could not rise.
He only stared up at Raguel with trembling eyes.
In that gaze was unmistakable fear.
Raguel slowly walked toward him.
With every step closer, Grian pressed tighter against the bed.
Like a man driven into a dead end.
“D-don’t come closer. Get away from me!”
Raguel looked down at his father, trembling in fear.
For some reason, Grian looked so small in his eyes.
“…Why did you treat me that way?”
His voice sank low.
Grian stammered.
“What do you mean!”
Raguel ground his teeth.
“No matter how much you hated me, I was still your son! Why did you torment me!”
Grian silently stared at his son’s actions.
His pupils rolled about restlessly.
Then suddenly, he forced a servile smile.
“S-sorry. It was all my fault. I apologize.”
Raguel flinched.
The change in his father’s attitude was shocking.
“…What kind of act is this?”
“Act? What do you mean? I was always sorry to you. I wanted to apologize like this.”
Raguel could not comprehend his father’s behavior.
“But just a moment ago, you were trying to kill me…”
“Ah, no. That was a misunderstanding. It wasn’t my true intention. I just lost my mind for a moment. Can’t you understand my situation? I’ve lost everything. Who wouldn’t go mad?”
Grian’s eyes drooped, his mouth corners sagging weakly.
He was making himself look as pitiable as possible.
Raguel was deeply confused.
It was his first time seeing his father like this.
He did not know how to react.
“I was always alone, like you are now. Always lonely. And how did you treat me then? Now do you understand how I felt?”
Grian nodded repeatedly.
“Of course. How much you must have suffered. It’s all my fault. I want to set it right now. Though late, let’s join forces. As father and son, we can support each other.”
Bewilderment spread across Raguel’s face.
“Join forces? What do you mean by that?”
Grian smiled amiably.
“Don’t you bear our master’s mark in your eye? I have the same.”
He stripped off his upper garment. Branded into his chest was a tattoo of a reaper holding a scythe.
The mark of the binding contract.
From Raguel’s left eye, the same sigil glowed ominously.
Raguel said.
“So what if we do?”
“It means we’re in the same position. We can serve our master together. Could you put in a good word for me?”
Raguel’s face twisted.
“What are you even talking about…”
“That power and sight—weren’t they our master’s gift? I too want to serve him, receiving my rightful due. Look at me now. I have nothing. It’s only natural I’d lose my mind. Help your father. Let’s support each other and live on, even now.”
Grian gently caressed Raguel’s hand.
Raguel stood dazed for a long while.
He was seized by an utterly unfamiliar emotion.
He had never felt this way toward another person before.
Endless disgust welled up.
He pushed away Grian’s touch.
“…You really are beyond saving.”
Grian forced an awkward smile.
“W-why say that all of a sudden? Was my apology lacking? Then I’ll kneel, if that’s what you want. Please, forgive me.”
It was miserably servile.
That was the kind of man Grian had always been.
Overbearing to the weak, cringing pathetically before the strong.
Even if his son was the one stronger, Grian acted no differently.
Raguel’s gaze grew cold.
“Now I see. You’re a weak, contemptible man. With neither pride nor conviction. Why was I ever afraid of you? My past shame.”
Grian’s expression warped slightly.
Only for an instant.
Then he smiled servilely again.
“No, I only…”
He could not finish.
A familiar voice cut into their conversation.
“What’s the point in denying it? He spoke nothing but the truth.”
It was Yohan’s voice.
Raguel turned.
“Yohan?”
Yohan stepped into the room from the corridor.
“Raguel, you’ve finally realized. As you said, Grian is a hollow shell of a man. No substance within. What better talent could there be for a scarecrow or puppet?”
The moment Yohan appeared, tension filled Grian’s face.
He could not even meet Yohan’s eyes.
“…It has been a while, master.”
Yohan gave a faint laugh.
“Yes, indeed. I have a task for you.”
“P-please, entrust it to me.”
Yohan looked at Raguel.
“Raguel, will you give the command?”
Raguel took a deep breath. He swallowed his resolve and spoke.
“Grian Miyatro, from this moment, you are my puppet. Without self, living as a scarecrow that moves only by command.”
Grian stared blankly at his son.
“W-what is that supposed to…”
Yohan patted Raguel’s shoulder.
“Well done. From now on, I entrust the territory to you. Receive the transfer from Ilea and Gaf.”
Raguel would surely handle it well.
Raguel nodded.
“I’ll live up to your expectations.”
Yohan’s face showed satisfaction.
“That’s enough for me. I’ll leave you to finish your talk with Grian.”
He had no intention of interfering further.
Now Raguel would deal with Grian himself.
The trauma was gone completely.
Yohan left the room.
He had something else to attend to.
‘Ha.’
He had to meet the Third Prince, Gawain.
The prince had come to the lord’s castle.
For Yohan, it was a considerable burden.
Things with Gawain had not ended well.
Gawain had once caught the scent of the Holy Spear Espada on Yohan, attempted to summon the spear, and fainted from the backlash.
That had been months ago.
No doubt he had come again to reclaim the spear.
Though Yohan was prepared, the encounter was still uncomfortable.
Perhaps it was the memory of nearly being killed by Gawain. Whatever it was, he did not want to see him just yet.
But he could not turn away a prince of the realm.
He had to respond.
Lost in thought, Yohan grasped the doorknob of the reception room.
He let out a quiet sigh and opened the door.
Gawain was seated inside.
The moment he saw Yohan, he beamed.
“Sir Yohan, it’s been a while.”
Yohan bowed.
“Yohan von Miyatro greets Your Highness the Third Prince.”
Gawain waved a hand and pointed at a chair.
“No need for such a ceremony. Please, sit.”
“As you command.”
Yohan sat across from him.
Gawain spoke.
“Sir Yohan, I heard the news. I must congratulate you.”
“What news do you mean?”
“Not only did you receive a title, but you were also admitted to the Council of the Kingdom. At such a young age.”
An uncomfortable subject right from the start.
Yohan replied calmly.
“It is all thanks to His Majesty the King’s grace.”
Gawain shook his head.
“No. That’s wrong. It should be seen as the work of Count of Staviana.”
His gaze sharpened.
He and the Count were mortal enemies.