Chapter 86

# Chapter 86: <Meeting Again?>

The masked man, Bikross, swung his whip. With a whoosh, the whip cut through the air and lashed at Benion.

“Aaaah!”

Though his body was heavy, the pain was just as intense. The whip continued to strike Benion’s body. The noble’s casual attire under his robe was torn, and red lines appeared on his exposed skin.

The sharp metal tip of the whip tore into his skin, and pieces of glass from the whip embedded themselves inside.

It felt the same as when Laon first received a beating right after he was born.

“Ugh, ugh, u-!”

Benion tried to scream, but no words came out of his mouth. He writhed, but his movements were sluggish.

Just like a dragon whose mana was controlled, his body could not properly exert its strength and only trembled. He curled up endlessly.

But like Laon, Benion glared at the black dragon on the table, his eyes filled with a refusal to submit.

Swish! Swish!

The whip swept across his cheek.

“Aaaah, ugh!”

Benion’s body convulsed, and his body gradually became stained with blood. But Bikross showed no reaction, swinging the whip at a steady pace.

The whip struck again and again, even as blood flowed, and the glass shards embedded deeper with no hesitation.

“Hmm.”

Kael turned his gaze to the sound of the groan. The silver cat, On, and the red cat, Hong, were curled up within the range of the invisibility device.

Hong repeatedly looked down at the floor, then back at Benion, as if struggling with the sight.

The room was soundproofed by a spell Laon had cast beforehand, so even if they made noise, Benion wouldn’t hear it. But it seemed like it wouldn’t matter even if they did.

“Ugh, ugh, ah, ah!”

Benion’s mouth was full of blood, and he let out groans and incomprehensible sounds. Each time, Bikross’s whip lashed at him more mercilessly.

Don’t speak.

Stay still.

Die inside.

The whip seemed to say these things, striking Benion relentlessly whenever he showed any reaction.

“...I have to watch, I have to.”

The silver cat, On, said this and lowered his head. Kael understood his feelings. On and Hong were suffering from the sight.

Kael took in the entire scene.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh, ah.”

Benion’s body convulsed violently. Bikross continued to lash at the most painful spots. Benion could no longer look at the black dragon on the table.

With a dazed expression, his body covered in blood, he simply lost consciousness.

Swish!

With a strong sound, the whip struck Benion’s head, and he finally lost consciousness.

Laon stuffed another piece of steak into his mouth. Though his eyes were open, he couldn’t see Benion. Instead, he saw his past self, over and over, unable to stop.

That’s when it happened.

“Choking.”

Thump, thump. A rough but gentle hand patted Laon’s back. It was a familiar touch. The dragon turned his head.

“Tsk, you’ve got it all over your mouth.”

A calm voice, seemingly indifferent, reached his ears. The dragon could see the sleeve wiping his mouth and Kael’s face.

Laon slowly turned his head.

Benion had fainted, but his limbs still convulsed, and he moaned. His body was covered in blood, making his skin appear red.

Bikross nodded after checking Benion again.

“He’s not going to die. Excellent and appropriate instructions.”

He put the potion back in its place.

Kael sighed, picked up the curled-up dragon, and frowned even more.

He was heavy.

Extremely heavy.

Despite not growing in size over the past few months, his weight had increased significantly. Kael’s arms trembled slightly, but he lifted the dragon anyway. He couldn’t just leave him, right?

Kael felt his shoulder getting wet and looked at On and Hong. They were restless, circling around Kael and the dragon in his arms. Kael, feeling his arms starting to go numb, quickly spoke.

“Let’s take a break.”

No one objected. Bikross, however, asked,

“What will you do when this one wakes up?”

“What can we do?”

Laon answered Kael’s unfinished sentence.

“I’ll continue.”

“That’s right.”

“I understand.”

Kael knocked on the basement door. Thud. The door opened with a small sound. Chae Han stood there, his face a mix of anger and gloom. Kael gave him instructions as he looked between Laon and Chae Han.

“There’s a new bottle of wine in there. Bring it. And some glasses.”

Kael decided he needed to drink today. As he headed upstairs to the mansion, he asked Laon,

“Have you grown? You’re heavier than last time.”

“You’re just weak, human. Your arm strength is lacking.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

Laon, who had eaten a lot of food early in the morning, lifted his head. The view outside the mansion’s window was visible. The fog was clearing, and morning was approaching.

“Well, growing is good. You’ve grown well.”

Laon buried his face in Kael’s shoulder. Kael’s arms were trembling slightly, but Laon pretended not to notice. And Kael willingly indulged this pretense.

After all, he’s only four now. It was enough to act this way.

***

Three days later, late at night. Laon flew from the table and landed in front of Benion.

“Haa, haa.”

Benion was panting heavily. Over the past few days, his face had become a mess, and the once proud and noble man was now crying and begging.

At first, he glared with the hope that someone would come to save him, but watching Laon eat every meal without any sense of time wore him down.

“Benion Sten.”

Laon quietly looked down at Benion, who couldn’t even lift his face from the ground to look at him.

Laon remembered the others who had tormented him. They would soon be dealt with according to Kael’s plan. And the Viscount, who, though not directly tormenting him, was the root of all the problems, would soon face a tragic end.

“I plan to keep you alive.”

That’s why Laon decided to keep Benion alive.

Now, this weak, pitiful, and hateful Benion, who couldn’t even look at him and was trembling. The term “human” seemed too good for him.

Laon recalled what Benion had said to him.

“Indeed, when I’m annoyed, seeing the blood of this dragon brat really whets my appetite.”

With a calm and infinitely composed voice, Laon spoke into Benion’s ear.

“So, whenever I lose my appetite, I’ll come to find you.”

Just as Benion had done, the black dragon would do the same.

Laon’s words made Benion’s body tremble. A dark red mist enveloped his body again. Benion trembled in fear, trying not to lose consciousness as he saw the dark red mist.

“He’s lost consciousness.”

But in the end, Benion fainted. Bikross confirmed this and looked at Kael. Kael, impressed by Bikross’s work, thought to himself,

Three days. He instilled fear and terror in the arrogant Benion. It was natural for his body to be injured, and Bikross had given him enough terror to occasionally lose his mind.

‘There was no need to call the priest Kaeji for mental torture.’

There was no need to call Kaeji.

Of course, Bikross’s process was often too cruel for Kael to watch, but he had promised to watch, so he had to.

Chae Han approached. He stood next to Kael and looked down at Benion.

“He seemed to wait for three days, hoping the Viscount’s family would come to save him. It’s a pity.”

“Do you mean it?”

“No.”

Chae Han shook his head at Kael’s question.

“I think we should do more, but I’ll hold back since it’s Laon’s territory.”

“Right.”

“Anyway, he might have clung to some hope, thinking you’d spare his life.”

Chae Han looked down at Benion with a peculiar expression.

The Viscount’s family was indeed searching for Benion Sten, just as he had hoped.

Thanks to the abilities of Kaeji, the eldest son Taylor’s companion, Benion’s two subordinates were captured. Through them, it was revealed that Benion had been collaborating with the underworld of Sten territory, engaging in all sorts of illegal activities.

The revelation shocked the citizens of the territory, as they had always considered the Sten Viscount’s family to be the most aristocratic, despite their authoritarianism.

Currently, the Sten Viscount’s family was searching for Benion Sten, who had fled alone, leaving his subordinates injured when Kaeji and his companions raided the scene.

Of course, the eldest son, Taylor Sten, who held the evidence, was leading the search.

Kael gave instructions to Bikross and Chae Han.

“Prepare.”

Bikross put on a new pair of white gloves. He held a potion in his hand. Benion Sten would be captured in a clean state from the secret hideout he had set up in a back alley.

It was time for him to feel the despair of surviving.

Kael watched as Bikross and Chae Han prepared.