CHAPTER 140: THE FATHER’S RAGE

But Gabrant still had not brought Shiao Yi to him.

Shiao Yi was supposed to be the exchange condition for Dominic’s release.

Earlier, the guards who witnessed Dominic’s release had come to report.

Their faces were pale, almost deathly so.

"Th-the room where Lord Dominic was kept... it was... it was in terrible condition. It was completely destroyed, as if a monster had gone mad and raged through it. The floors, the walls, everything was in ruins. It could only have been caused by something terrifying..."

Frowning at the absurd report, Jircniv asked what Dominic’s condition was.

"H-he himself was badly injured. His hands were covered in blood," one soldier answered nervously.

"And when we tried to take him out of the sealed chamber..."

Another guard that was trembling so hard that his voice broke, continued.

"A-an enormous surge of magic erupted without warning. It was Lord Dominic’s magic. We thought he was going to lose control again. The pressure and the fear froze us completely..."

The first guard stepped in to finish, seeing his comrade nearly faint just remembering it.

"Then, suddenly, a boy appeared right in front of us. After the boy went into the room and Lord Dominic was taken back inside, the magical surge disappeared. We were honestly relieved."

"After that, the boy stayed inside the chamber with him. A knight of Tesnia came and stationed himself at the door. He drove us away, saying he would guard the entrance. It was that red-haired, bear-like man, and his face was absolutely terrifying."

"Since Lord Dominic had already received the notice of his release, we came straight here to report what happened."

After finishing their report, the guards left the office, but before the door fully closed, Jircniv overheard their voices leaking through.

"Hey... was that really done by Lord Dominic?"

"Who else could it be? But... could a human even do something like that? With bare hands? He’s a monster..."

The door shut with a dull thud, and their voices were cut off.

Silence filled the room.

Inside that quiet, Jircniv rested his chin on his clasped hands over the desk.

It was clear that something was wrong with Dominic.

That must be why Shiao Yi had gone to him.

But just the thought of Shiao Yi being with Dominic made Jircniv’s chest tighten painfully, a sharp ache twisting his heart until it was unbearable.

Could Shiao Yi really be safe beside such a violent man—someone who had unleashed magic in a reckless burst, someone who had destroyed his room so completely that even the guards trembled with fear?

This feeling was new to him.

It was as if he was no longer himself, as though some dark, ugly thing was swallowing him whole.

No.

Shiao Yi was meant to be with him, not with a man like that.

Jircniv could never hand him over to such a frightening figure.

At today’s council meeting, he would make things clear with Gabrant.

Dominic had been released, his crimes wiped clean.

That meant Gabrant had to pay the price.

And so, without closing his eyes once, Jircniv greeted the morning inside his office.

...

When Gabrant looked into the room where Dominic had been confined, he was struck speechless.

Had there been some kind of violent battle here?

Could it be that Dominic had been locked inside with a magical beast?

Was he still alive?

Fury welled up in Gabrant’s chest as he stepped inside.

The destruction was beyond anything he could have imagined.

Just what kind of beast could have done this?

And now, he could sense no trace of it. Where had it gone?

From the bloodstains splattered on the walls and floor, he could feel the residue of Dominic’s magic.

All of the blood in this place belonged to him.

Had he been devoured?

Had Dalmasca deceived them all along?

Had there never been any intention of freeing Dominic?

Was this nothing more than a cruel execution?

The blood in Gabrant’s body boiled, and his vision blurred.

Perhaps others would laugh at him for realizing it so late, but it was true—he did care for Dominic.

He cared for him as his son.

Now he could not contain the raging anger he felt toward Garcias and Dalmasca, who had fed him such shameless lies.

—Those bastards.

How dare they mock me like this?

I will show them what it means to cross me.

As he trembled with rage, he caught sight of Blunagum running to the far corner of the room.

Someone was there, covered entirely in curtains soaked with blood and filth.

Gabrant froze again, robbed of words.

Was that his son—Dominic?

More than joy that he had not been eaten alive, it was sheer shock that filled him.

Where was the Iron Knight who had once looked at him with cold, emotionless eyes?

Yes, not long ago, he had even shown anger for the first time.

In battle, those icy eyes had burned with life and joy.

But what Gabrant saw now was not even human.

Empty eyes that reflected nothing.

The vacant gaze of a beast gone mad.

"Dominic!"

The sight chilled him to the bone.

With Louis’s help, he managed to drag Dominic out of that ghastly room.

Then came the third shock.

From Dominic erupted an overwhelming surge of magic so fierce that Gabrant froze in place, unable to act.

He braced himself for the end.

He and Louis, along with everything around them, were about to be swallowed by destruction and fire.

"Dominic!"

With his cry, that massive force vanished.

Gabrant could not understand it at first.

Then he saw the boy.

Dominic had collapsed again inside the room.

Was it the barrier around the chamber? Was that what had prevented the catastrophe?

Had that boy been the one to stop it?

As Gabrant’s eyes widened in shock, the boy declared that he would heal Dominic.

Those words made fresh anger rise inside Gabrant toward the very boy he had just reconsidered.