Jared, his complexion poor and still struggling with the reality he couldn’t accept, wore a pained expression mixed with anger.
“What did you just do to Olivier?”
Directing palpable hostility at Wahash, he began gathering his magic power, prepared to fight if the answer displeased him.
“I merely intimidated him for meddling in family matters,” Wahash replied.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jared retorted, his tone noticeably rougher. It was clear that Olivier being choked by Wahash’s pressure had infuriated him. Despite this, Wahash grinned, his lips curling up at his grandson’s overt hostility.
“Well, what will you do, my grandson? You’ve always cowered in your fiancé’s arms, but the time has come to make a decision—with me.”
“I refuse.”
“—Oh?”
Jared rejected him without waiting for him to finish.
“Also, stop calling me your grandson. I don’t consider you my grandfather.”
“Is it because I am the head of Waalthe?”
“No. That doesn’t matter. What I don’t like is that you, who so readily involve and consider innocent people collateral damage in your revenge, remind me of Annette Daum. I’d die before becoming the grandson of a man like that.”
“Hah, you certainly have a lot to say.”
“I do.”
Jared had been listening the entire time.
Jared had once wanted to know the reason for his mother’s death, but now he slightly regretted knowing. He was drowning in a wave of facts, including Wahash claiming to be his grandfather, his father’s lack of emotional response, and the matter of Karina. Olivier had been the one reaching out, offering a hand to keep Jared from sinking. He was truly grateful to her from the bottom of his heart. Thank you for being here, thank you for supporting me.
It was precisely for this reason that Jared had stood up for her in her time of crisis. He had found the courage, knowing he could no longer run away.
And now, he stood before the man who claimed to be his grandfather.
“So, you’re saying you don’t want to avenge your mother, Liz?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
He couldn’t possibly ignore the reason for his mother’s suicide. Jared himself had few memories of Liz Murphy; he had more memories of Karina, in fact. Yet, he remembered his mother talking about magic. He still vividly recalled her telling him adventure stories when he couldn’t sleep as a child.
He had loved his mother—her free-spirited, optimistic nature, her strong self-awareness and will. Yet, at her core, she was kind and caring, sometimes possessing a gentle, loving expression.
When he had been dejected after being told he lacked talent with the sword and had disappointed his father, she had hugged him, telling him that the sword wasn’t everything. He was truly grateful for inheriting his magic power and talent for magic from her.
He could never forgive Annette for taking his mother from him. If he could, he would fly out of this room right now and impale Annette with a stone spear. But that would be wrong.
Jared, who had spent time close to his mother, even if it was short, knew. Wahash was wrong.
Even if he truly was his mother’s father, he had to say when something was wrong.
“Then, what are you saying?”
“The mother I knew was someone who did what she wanted. I have no memory of her ever abandoning her will to do things she didn’t want to do. It’s truly regrettable that she took her own life. I want to cry. But if my mother, who always decided everything by her own will, chose to die with acceptance—then, speaking cliché, I want to respect my mother’s will.”
“You—you mean you’ll let Annette and the others who drove Liz to her death go unpunished?!”
Wahash’s smile vanished, replaced by a roar and a surge of killing intent.
Jared spread his arms again, shielding Olivier to ensure she wouldn’t be harmed.
“That’s not it. That’s unforgivable, and I won’t forgive it. Annette and the others must be punished. However, killing them ourselves is not punishment.”
“Is that your will?”
“It is.”
“You’re going to leave the people who took your mother’s life to the justice system instead of killing them with your own hands?”
“Yes, that’s right. Not everyone has the power to kill those they hate, just like us.”
Considering they were a Viscount family, they might try to evade punishment. If Annette claimed she merely ordered Karina to threaten Liz and drive her to suicide, then the punishment might not be as severe as he desired. But that’s how it should be. Acting out of resentment and hatred would turn him into someone like Barnabas Kaif. He couldn’t end up like that pitiable young man. Jared had gained too many precious things to abandon everything and chase revenge.
“You’re too soft, far too soft. But that softness is very much like Liz. I don’t dislike your softness; it’s truly human. However, what if Annette and the others escape punishment?”
“Humans who don’t atone for their sins will be punished. For example—yes, perhaps a stone spear falling from the sky. But it’s wrong to punish someone without giving them a chance to atone for their sins, isn’t it?”
“Still too soft. But, much like Liz, I cannot easily change my own will.”
“Then I will stop you, even if it means fighting.”
Wahash’s eyes widened at Jared’s words. It was the first time he had shown surprise. Then, he burst into laughter.
“You say the most amusing things! Do you really think you can defeat me? Do you think defeating Pfeil, Luzer Fisher, and Barnabas Kaif means you’re on my level?”
“It’s not about that. I’ll do what I must to uphold my will, and you’ll do what you must to uphold yours.”
His laughter stopped abruptly, and all emotion vanished from Wahash’s face. It was as if all the emotions Jared had sensed earlier—anger, joy, sadness—had never existed from the beginning. The man before him was like a doll devoid of feeling.
—This is the head of Waalthe, Wahash…
Jared understood that the Wahash who appeared before him now was not the man claiming to be his grandfather, but the leader of an assassination organization.
“Jared Murphy, I understand what you’re saying. Very well. Tomorrow—I will kill Annette. I will give you one day’s grace out of consideration for you to be in optimal condition to fight me.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“If, and only if, there is a chance for them to atone for their sins, it is this one day. Tomorrow, as Waalthe, I will bring death to Annette and kill everyone involved.”
Jared met the emotionless gaze and glared back.
“Show me how strong your will truly is.”
With those words, Wahash’s form blurred and dissipated like mist.
