WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 86: Father and Son (2)
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“Die! You unfilial bastard who devoured your own mother to be born! Worthless human trash!”
Gryan was viciously beating Raguel.
He struck the back of Raguel’s head with his palm and kept kicking him all over.
Raguel curled up without offering any resistance.
The fear etched into him ruled him.
The moment he ran or fought back, worse violence would begin.
It had always been that way.
It was safer to lie still and take the beating, just as he was doing now.
“F-Father. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
As he watched Raguel tremble, Gryan felt omnipotent.
It felt as though he had returned to the past.
The days when everyone watched Gryan’s mood and feared him flashed through his mind.
Gryan gave himself over to the exhilaration.
He beat Raguel without restraint.
“This is right! This is how things should be! I am the Watcher of Narak!”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy blows echoed through the corridor.
“P-Please stop. Please, please.”
The more Raguel groaned, the fiercer the violence became.
“Shut up! My life was ruined because of you! How dare you bring a demon in here?! Do you think House Myatro is a joke?!”
If Raguel had not drawn in a demon, Gryan would still be ruling his territory like a king.
All his present misfortune was Raguel’s fault.
As Gryan savored the violence, rage suddenly overcame him.
He lost his grip on reason.
“I’ll kill you here! It’s late, but I’ll set things right even now!”
He began beating Raguel as if he truly meant to kill him.
He stomped with all his strength and swung his fists.
Even when he was gasping for breath, Gryan did not stop.
The beating continued for a long time.
Time passed endlessly.
Gryan’s breathing had grown ragged.
He was gradually becoming exhausted.
Little by little, his reason returned.
Gryan felt something strange.
No matter how much he struck and stomped on Raguel, Raguel did not even twitch.
He was no longer begging for his life.
Could he be dead? Gryan abruptly grabbed his son by the hair and lifted his head.
Father and son met each other’s eyes.
Gryan’s face stiffened.
“W-What is that?”
Gryan could not help but panic.
He had seen his son’s eyes.
“...Father?”
Gryan’s face twisted like that of an Evil Spirit.
“I asked you what that is! Why are you looking at me?!”
Raguel had been blind.
He had been born with only one eye, and Gryan had destroyed even that remaining eye in the past.
His son was not supposed to have eyes.
Then what was that clear gaze? Gryan could not accept it.
He gripped Raguel’s face with both hands.
He pressed hard on his son’s eyeballs with his fingers.
Raguel convulsed.
“N-No! Don’t do it!”
Gryan did not stop.
“Stay still! Eyes are a luxury for someone like you!”
The pressure on both eyes increased.
Raguel’s heart began pounding madly.
His fear of losing his eyes outweighed even his fear of his father.
His sight was proof of the covenant he had made with Johan.
“Stop it!”
Raguel sprang up and threw Gryan’s hands away.
Screech!
Gryan was greatly startled. It was the first time Raguel had ever resisted him like this.
Rage surged through him.
“Y-You bastard! How dare you!”
He immediately slapped his son across the face.
Raguel shouted with venom in his eyes.
“Don’t touch my eyes!”
He shoved Gryan hard.
Gryan, once a giant of a man but now reduced to a scrawny figure, flew backward and crashed into the bedframe.
Ghk!
It was a remarkably pathetic sight.
Raguel froze for a moment as he looked at him.
He was shocked by his own actions. He had laid hands on his father. It was truly unthinkable.
That was not all.
Gryan had been pushed more than four meters away.
Raguel had sent an adult man flying that far with a simple shove.
It was strength beyond common sense.
Raguel looked down at both his hands.
To think he possessed such strength. He was deeply bewildered.
“...A High Elf.”
It was the recoil from becoming a High Elf, the most exceptional kind among Elves.
Raguel turned his gaze back to Gryan.
Gryan could not rise as he leaned against the bedframe.
He merely stared at Raguel with trembling eyes.
Fear was clearly present in that gaze.
Raguel trudged toward Gryan.
The closer he came, the more Gryan pressed himself against the bed.
He looked like someone driven into a dead end.
“D-Don’t come closer. Get lost!”
Raguel looked down at his father, who was trembling in fear.
For some reason, Gryan looked very small to him.
“...Why did you do that to me?”
Raguel’s voice had sunk low.
Gryan spoke in a shaking voice.
“What did I do?!”
Raguel ground his teeth.
“No matter how much you hated me, wasn’t I your son? Why did you torment me like that?!”
Gryan silently watched his son.
His eyes darted about.
Then he suddenly gave a servile smile.
“I-I’m sorry. It was all my fault. I apologize.”
Raguel flinched.
Gryan’s sudden change in attitude shocked him.
“...What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“What do you mean, all of a sudden? I have always been sorry to you. I wanted to apologize like this.”
Raguel could not understand Gryan’s behavior at all.
He spoke.
“Just now, you were trying to kill me...”
“Ah, no. It was a misunderstanding. I did not mean it. This father of yours lost his mind for a moment. Please understand my circumstances. I have lost everything. How could I possibly be in my right mind?”
Gryan’s eyes drooped, and the corners of his mouth sagged weakly.
He wore the most pitiful expression he could manage.
Raguel was utterly confused.
It was the first time in his life he had seen his father like this.
He did not know how to respond.
“I was always alone, like you are now. I was always lonely. What did you do to me then? Do you understand my heart now?”
Gryan nodded repeatedly.
“Of course I do. How painful it must have been. It was all my fault. I want to make things right, even now. It is late, but let us work together. As father and son, we can support each other.”
Confusion appeared on Raguel’s face.
“Work together? What do you mean?”
Gryan smiled amiably.
“Isn’t the Master’s mark in your eye? I have one too.”
He took off his shirt. A tattoo of a Grim Reaper holding a scythe was etched over his heart.
It was the mark of the Contract of Subordination.
The same symbol glowed ominously within Raguel’s left eye.
Raguel spoke.
“So what?”
“It means our positions are the same. We can serve Master together. Could you say something good about this father of yours to Master?”
Raguel’s expression crumpled.
“What are you even talking about right now...?”
“That strength and eyesight, were they not gifts from Master? I want to serve Master as you do, receiving a fitting reward. Look at me now. I have nothing. How could I not go mad? Help this father of yours. Let us support each other and live together from now on.”
Gryan gently stroked Raguel’s hand.
Raguel stood blankly for a while.
He was overcome by an utterly unfamiliar emotion.
It was the first time he had ever felt this way toward another person.
An endless disgust rose within him.
Raguel knocked Gryan’s hand away.
“...You truly are beyond saving.”
Gryan gave an awkward smile.
“W-Why are you suddenly saying that? Was this father’s apology not enough? I will even get on my knees. Please forgive me.”
He was utterly servile.
Gryan had always been that kind of person.
He was so strong before the weak, yet he grovelled disgracefully before the strong.
Even if that person was his son, Gryan behaved the same way.
Raguel’s gaze turned cold.
“I understand now. You are a weak and pitiful man. You have neither pride nor conviction. Why was I ever afraid of you? I am ashamed of the past.”
Gryan’s expression twisted slightly.
It lasted only an instant.
He resumed his servile smile.
“No. I only...”
Gryan could not finish speaking.
A familiar voice interrupted their conversation.
“What are you trying to deny? Not a single word was wrong.”
It was Johan’s voice.
Raguel turned around.
“Johan?”
Johan was entering the bedroom from the corridor.
Johan spoke.
“Raguel, you have finally realized it. As you said, Gryan is a hollow shell of a man. There is nothing inside him. What greater talent could there be for becoming a scarecrow or puppet?”
The moment Johan appeared, tension crossed Gryan’s face.
Gryan could not even meet Johan’s eyes.
“...Master, it has been a long time.”
Johan gave a short laugh.
“Yes, it has. There is something you need to do.”
“L-Leave it to me.”
Johan looked at Raguel.
“Raguel, would you like to give the order?”
Raguel drew a deep breath. After swallowing his resolve, he opened his mouth.
“Gryan Myatro, from this moment onward, you are my puppet. Live as a scarecrow without a will of your own, moving only according to orders.”
Gryan stared at Raguel with a blank expression.
“W-What does that...”
Johan lightly tapped Raguel’s shoulder.
“Well done. From now on, I will leave the territory to you. Take over from Ilea and Gaf.”
Raguel would surely do well.
Raguel nodded.
“I will live up to your expectations.”
Johan looked pleased.
“I will be going now. Finish speaking with Gryan.”
He had no intention of involving himself further between the two.
Raguel would handle Gryan himself now.
After all, his trauma had completely disappeared.
Johan left the room.
He had something else to do.
‘Hah.’
He had to meet Third Prince Gawain.
Gawain had come to the lord’s castle.
It was quite burdensome for Johan.
Things had not ended well between him and Gawain.
Gawain had caught the scent of Holy Spear Espada on Johan. When he tried to summon the Holy Spear, the backlash had caused him to lose consciousness.
That had already been several months ago.
He would probably try to recover the Holy Spear again this time.
Johan had already prepared for it, but that did not make the encounter any less uncomfortable.
Johan felt somewhat uneasy around Gawain.
Was it because of the memory of nearly being killed by Gawain? Whatever the reason, he still did not want to meet him.
However, he could not simply send a prince of a kingdom away.
He had to receive him.
Lost in thought, Johan grasped the doorknob of the reception room.
After letting out a sigh, he opened the door.
Gawain was seated inside.
The moment he saw Johan, he broke into a bright smile.
“Sir Johan, it has been a long time.”
Johan bowed.
“Johan von Myatro greets His Highness, the Third Prince.”
Gawain waved a hand and pointed to a chair.
“There is no need for formalities. Please sit.”
“I shall.”
Johan sat across from Gawain.
Gawain opened his mouth.
“Sir Johan, I heard the news. I understand there is something to congratulate you on.”
“What do you mean?”
“Not only have you received a title, you have also joined the kingdom’s Council. At such a young age.”
It was an uncomfortable topic from the very beginning.
Johan replied calmly.
“It is all due to His Majesty the King’s grace.”
Gawain shook his head.
“No. That is incorrect. It would be more accurate to call it Count Staviana’s scheme.”
Gawain’s gaze was somewhat sharp.
He and the Count were bitter enemies.
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