"Die! You unfilial little bastard who killed his own mother being born! You utterly useless piece of human garbage!"

Grian was beating Raguel indiscriminately, slamming his palm into the back of his head and kicking him all over. Raguel remained curled up, offering no resistance.

Deeply ingrained fear held him in its grip. The moment he tried to flee or fight back, the violence would only grow worse. It always had. He was better off lying still and taking the blows.

"F-Father. I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Watching Raguel tremble, Grian felt all-powerful. It was like returning to the old days. Memories flashed before his eyes of the time when everyone watched his moods and feared him.

He surrendered to the exhilaration, raining blows down on Raguel.

"This is right! This is how things should be! I am the Watcher of the Abyss!"

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Heavy impacts echoed down the corridor.

"P-Please stop. Please, please."

The more Raguel groaned, the more vicious the beating became.

"Shut up! You ruined my life! How dare you bring a Demon here?! Do you take House Miyatro for a joke?!"

If Raguel hadn't brought in the Demon, Grian would still be reigning over the domain like a king. All his present misery was Raguel's fault.

Grian's enjoyment suddenly gave way to rage. He lost all reason.

"I'll kill you right here! It's late, but I'll set things right even now!"

He began beating Raguel as though he truly meant to kill him, stomping and punching with all his strength. Even when he could barely breathe, he didn't stop. The beating went on and on.

Time dragged by. Grian's breathing grew ragged. Little by little, he tired, and his reason began to return.

Something puzzled him. No matter how hard he hit or stomped on Raguel, the boy didn't so much as stir. He wasn't even begging for his life anymore.

Had he died? Grian grabbed his son by the hair and jerked his head up. Father and son met each other's eyes. Grian's expression froze.

"W-What is that?"

He could hardly help his shock. He had seen his son's 'eyes.'

"... Father?"

Grian's face twisted like an evil spirit's.

"I asked you what that is! Why are you looking at me?!"

Raguel was blind. He had been born with only one eye, and Grian had destroyed the remaining one himself. His son wasn't supposed to have eyes. What, then, was that clear, steady gaze? Grian simply couldn't accept it.

He clamped both hands around Raguel's face and pressed his fingers hard into his son's eyes. Raguel began thrashing.

"N-No! Don't!"

Grian didn't stop.

"Hold still! Eyes are a luxury you don't deserve!"

The pressure on both eyes intensified. Raguel's heart began pounding wildly. His fear of losing his sight outweighed his fear of his father. To him, that sight was proof of the pact he had made with Yohan.

"I said stop!"

Raguel sprang to his feet and flung Grian's hands away. A shrill scraping sound rang out.

Grian was utterly taken aback. Raguel had never defied him like this before. Rage welled up.

"Y-You little wretch! How dare you!"

He immediately slapped his son across the face. Raguel shouted, his expression venomous.

"Keep your hands off my eyes!"

He shoved Grian hard. Once a massive man, now reduced to skin and bones, Grian flew backward and crashed into the bed frame.

"Gaaagh!"

He looked utterly feeble. Watching him, Raguel froze for a moment. He was shocked by what he had done. To lay hands on his father—it was unthinkable.

And that wasn't all. Grian had been thrown more than four meters. A mere shove had sent a grown man flying that far. Such strength defied common sense.

Raguel looked down at his hands. He had possessed this kind of strength all along? He was deeply bewildered.

"... A High Elf."

It was a consequence of becoming a High Elf, the most superior of all elves.

Raguel turned back to Grian. Leaning against the bed frame, Grian couldn't get up. He merely stared at Raguel with trembling eyes. There was unmistakable fear in that gaze.

Raguel walked heavily toward him. As the distance closed, Grian pressed himself tighter against the bed, like someone driven into a dead end.

"D-Don't come near me. Get away!"

Raguel looked down at his father, who was trembling in fear. Somehow, Grian seemed so small.

"... Why did you treat me that way?"

Raguel's voice was low and subdued. Grian answered in a trembling voice.

"What did I do?!"

Raguel ground his teeth.

"However much you hated me, wasn't I still your son? Why did you torment me?!"

Grian watched his son's behavior in silence, his eyes darting back and forth. Suddenly, an ingratiating smile appeared on his face.

"I-I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I apologize."

Raguel flinched. The change in Grian's attitude was profoundly shocking.

"... What are you doing, all of a sudden?"

"What do you mean, all of a sudden? I've always felt sorry for what I did to you. I've wanted to apologize like this."

Raguel couldn't begin to understand his behavior. He said,

"Just a moment ago, you were trying to kill me..."

"N-No. You've misunderstood. I didn't mean it. Your father briefly lost his mind. Please understand my situation. I've lost everything. How could I possibly be in my right mind?"

Grian's eyes drooped, and the corners of his mouth sagged limply. He was making himself look as pitiful as possible.

Raguel was terribly confused. He had never seen his father like this in his life. He had no idea how to respond.

"I've always been alone, just as you are now. I was always lonely. How did you treat me then? Do you understand how I felt now?"

Grian nodded over and over.

"Of course I do. How you must have suffered. It was all my fault. I want to put things right, even now. It's late, but 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?"

Grian gave him a genial smile.

"You have our master's emblem in your eye, don't you? So do I."

He stripped his upper body bare. A tattoo of a scythe-bearing reaper marked his chest over his heart. It was the mark of a contract of subjugation. The same emblem shone ominously in Raguel's left eye.

Raguel said,

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"It means we're in the same position. We can serve our master together. Could you put in a good word for your father?"

Raguel's face contorted.

"What on earth are you talking about..."

"That strength and eyesight—weren't they gifts from our master? I want to serve him for a fitting reward, just as you do. Look at me now. I have nothing. It's enough to drive anyone mad. Please help your father. Let's support each other from now on."

Grian gently stroked Raguel's hand. Raguel stood numbly for a while, overwhelmed by an utterly unfamiliar emotion. He had never felt this way about another human being before. Boundless revulsion welled up inside him.

He slapped Grian's hand away.

"... You really are beyond redemption."

Grian gave an awkward smile.

"W-Why are you suddenly acting like this? Was your father's apology not enough? I'll even kneel. Please forgive me."

He was utterly shameless in his groveling. That was the kind of man Grian had always been. He was so fierce toward the weak, yet fawned over the strong to a repulsive degree. Even when the person before him was his own son, he behaved no differently.

Raguel's gaze grew cold.

"I finally understand. You're a weak, pathetic man. You have neither pride nor conviction. Why was I ever afraid of you? I'm ashamed of my past."

Grian's expression twisted slightly. It lasted only an instant before he resumed his servile smile.

"No. I was only..."

He never finished. A familiar voice cut into their conversation.

"What are you trying to deny? He hasn't said a single thing that isn't true."

It was Yohan's voice. Raguel turned around.

"Yohan?"

Yohan was entering the bedroom from the corridor. He said,

"Raguel, you've finally realized it. Just as you said, Grian is an empty shell of a man. There's nothing inside him. Could anyone be better suited to being a figurehead or a puppet?"

The moment Yohan appeared, tension crossed Grian's face. He couldn't even meet Yohan's eyes.

"... Master. It has been a long time."

Yohan gave a small, derisive laugh.

"Yes, good to see you. I have a job for you."

"J-Just leave it to me."

Yohan looked at Raguel.

"Raguel, would you like to give him his orders?"

Raguel took a deep, steadying breath. Steeling himself, he spoke.

"Grian Miyatro, from this moment on, you are my puppet. You will live as a figurehead with no will of your own, acting only on my orders."

Grian stared blankly at him.

"W-What do you mean..."

Yohan gave Raguel's shoulder a pat.

"Well done. From now on, I'm leaving the domain to you. Have Ilea and Gaf hand over their duties."

Raguel would surely do well. He nodded.

"I'll live up to your expectations."

Yohan looked satisfied.

"I'll be going, then. Finish your talk with Grian."

He had no intention of interfering further between the two. Raguel would handle Grian on his own now. His trauma was completely gone.

Yohan left the room. He had something else to attend to.

'Hah.'

He had to meet Gawain, the Third Prince, who had come to the castle. Yohan found the prospect quite daunting.

His last encounter with Gawain hadn't ended well. Gawain had detected the scent of the holy spear Espada on Yohan and tried to summon it, only to pass out from the backlash. That had already been several months ago.

He would probably try to recover the holy spear again this time. Yohan was already prepared, but that did nothing to ease his discomfort.

Gawain made him somewhat uneasy. Was it the memory of nearly dying at his hands? Whatever the reason, he wasn't ready to meet him again yet. But he couldn't simply turn away a prince of the kingdom. He had to receive him.

Lost in thought, Yohan took hold of the drawing-room doorknob. He sighed once, then opened the door.

Gawain was seated inside. The moment he saw Yohan, he smiled brightly.

"Sir Yohan. It has been a long time."

Yohan bowed.

"Yohan von Miyatro greets Your Highness, the Third Prince."

Gawain waved away the formality and gestured to a chair.

"There's no need for ceremony. Please, sit down."

"As you wish."

Yohan sat opposite him. Gawain spoke.

"Sir Yohan, I've heard the news. Congratulations are in order."

"To what do you refer, Your Highness?"

"Not only have you received a title, you've also joined the Kingdom's Council. And at such a young age."