Suddenly, three members of Waalthe appeared, carrying a man.
“I tortured those involved with Annette and obtained information. Claire is Johan’s child, but Rex is not. He is a child of infidelity.”
The man groaned as he was thrown to the ground. He was alive. However, it was clear he had suffered severe torture, as blood flowed from him all over.
“Thank you. You may go now.”
Wahash told his subordinates this, and the Waalthe assassins bowed and disappeared.
All that remained was the battered man, thrown between Jared and Wahash.
“Hey, are you alright?”
I rushed to the man who clearly looked as if he had been tortured, and I recognized him. “No way,” I shivered.
“Th-that voice—Young Master?”
“You… No way…”
It was no wonder I recognized him. He was a knight who had once guarded Jared. I knew he had left the Daum barony, but who would have imagined he was being tortured by Wahash?
“Ah, yes, it is indeed Jared-sama… I have wanted to see you for a long time, and to apologize, I am truly sorry. I have regretted that day for so long. Why did I obey Annette-sama’s orders that day? Even if I was threatened, as a knight, no, as a human being, I did something shameful.”
“You were threatened?”
“…Yes. If I didn’t want my loved ones endangered, I was told to leave you alone. I immediately understood what had happened. I questioned Annette-sama, but she said I was an accomplice—no, it’s true. For my own sake, I left you, Young Master…”
“Stop talking. There’s nothing to worry about. I’m alive like this. More importantly, wait, I’ll tend to your wounds now.”
I took out clean cloths I had for first aid from my pocket and applied them to his wounds.
“Please, just let me die.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you won’t die from wounds like these.”
I had no intention of saying anything more to him now. I just understood that he had regretted and suffered for a long time, so it was fine.
Tearing off the sleeve of his clothes as he sobbed, I tied it tightly with cloth to stop the bleeding.
I only applied a hemostatic dressing to the deepest wound, but the other wounds from the torture, not enough to kill him, were severe. There was pain, and great suffering, but he could not find relief in death. His suffering must have continued eternally until his objective was fulfilled.
“Is it true about Rex?”
“Yes. Annette-sama had someone she admired long before she married Johan-sama. They say they were in a tutor-student relationship, but she gave him up when she got married. However, due to her feelings for Liza-sama and her dissatisfaction with her position as a consort after Karina-sama, she committed adultery.”
“What a foolish woman. And you’re a fool too. You should have just told me sooner before being tortured.”
“I thought that if this matter became known to anyone and reached Johan-sama’s ears, it would hurt his heart.”
He was not completely controlled by Annette, even if he ended up giving in to her. In an unseen way, he had remained a loyal retainer to his father, Johan.
Jared embraced him and headed towards his father.
“He’s a loyal retainer who ended up like this for your sake. Please, tend to him.”
“—Understood.”
“Johan-sama, I apologize.”
“It’s alright. Rest now.”
Though his words were few, the loyal retainer, upon hearing Johan’s forgiveness, lost consciousness as if a thread had snapped.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. A child doesn’t need to worry about their father. You have things you need to do, don’t you? Your feelings shouldn’t have changed now.”
“Of course. My resolve hasn’t changed—Oh, Father.”
“—Wh-what is it?”
Johan, surprised to be called “father” for the first time, was told by Jared.
“You probably understand, but Annette is to blame, not Rex.”
“I understand that much. However, let’s make all decisions after everything is over.”
Entrusting the unconscious man to his father, he glared at Wahash again.
“Jared—”
Without turning, he waited for his father’s words.
“I care about you more than Annette. Please don’t push yourself too hard. No one will blame you if you lose.”
“Thanks, Father.”
Contrary to his father, who carried his subordinate into the mansion, Jared strode towards Wahash.
“I understand what you’re trying to say. Rex really doesn’t seem to be Father’s child.”
“That’s right. Even so, do you intend to protect him? You know there’s no blood connection.”
“Is that all?”
“What?”
Jared began to gather magic power within his body.
Until now, towards Wahash, he had only felt a desire not to acknowledge him as his grandfather. Now, it was different. Anger brewed.
There was no need to unearth facts that did not need to be known. In the process, he tortured someone who was suffering for his wrongdoings.
No matter how much it was for his daughter, there were things that were right and wrong. Wahash had easily crossed that line.
He also couldn’t forgive Annette. If possible, he even felt like killing her right now. However, he wouldn’t change his opinion now. He vowed firmly that he would never change.
“Rex has no blood connection to me, ah, is that so. That’s why you hate me. And why Annette can’t get close to me. I finally understand. But then, you’re going to kill Claire and Rena too, aren’t you?”
“That is correct.”
“Then, what I must do remains the same as at first. While I honestly dislike Rex, I don’t want him to be killed. More than anything—he’s also Annette’s victim!”
Needless to say, Rex wasn’t aware of his origins. This truth was too much for such a young child.
He didn’t know who his real father was, but he would make that person pay for their sins. However, to pay, he had to be alive.
“Then, let’s do this. I vow not to lay a hand on Claire Daum, Rena Daum, or Rex Daum. I am satisfied just to have witnessed your kindness, sincerity, and simple-mindedness. There is no longer any need for us to fight.”
“No, there is.”
He channeled the gathered magic power throughout his body, strengthening it. He delivered a fist with a sound and declared to Wahash.
“I don’t like your methods. I’m not a praiseworthy person either, but even so, I’m still better.”
“You dare say that—Then, prove that resolve with power.”
“I will, without you telling me—Here I come, Wahash!”
“Come, Jared Murphy.”
No signal was needed. Both men kicked off the ground at the same time.
