Chapter 59

Alro was a child who had never been loved since birth.

His mother, upon seeing that Alro had black hair and black eyes right after giving birth, pushed him away along with the midwife.

Fortunately, Alro's life was not in danger, but she never even glanced at the baby who was thrown on the floor and crying loudly.

In the Kingdom of Shan, children with black hair and black eyes were shunned.

It was due to an old superstition that dark magic could bring misfortune to those around them.

Especially among the nobility who possessed magic, the birth of a child with black hair and black eyes was rare, making them even more ostracized.

Alro's mother was from a viscount's family. Alro's father was a civilian but held a middle management position in the military, and they had a fairly wealthy household. Alro survived thanks to this, and he was taken care of by others.

While Alro was in his mother's womb, his maternal grandparents died in an accident. Although it was purely coincidental, his mother associated it with Alro.

Alro first felt his mother's warmth when he was five years old.

He realized how to move the magic that flowed through his body. — It was the manifestation of dark magic.

He could control animals by directing this magic at them.

After experimenting with animals several times, Alro immediately directed the magic at his mother.

"—Say you love me and hug me."

He infused his wish into the magic.

His mother, with vacant eyes, reached out to Alro.

"I love you."

When she said this and hugged him tightly, it felt soft and warm. The strength seemed to drain from his entire body.

This is mother.

"Mommy."

He called her by a word he was never allowed to use.

"Mommy, mommy... "

His mother did not respond but continued to hug him silently.

Alro couldn't stop crying.

The illusion of being loved made his chest feel unbearably warm.

However, the magic did not last long.

A few minutes later, as soon as the magic ran out, his mother regained her senses.

Even when controlled, the memory remained.

His mother immediately pushed Alro away.

"You, you... "

Her face, twisted with horror and revulsion, as if she were looking at something abhorrent.

In that moment, he thought, "I messed up." He felt a strong impact to his head and lost consciousness.

After that, he never saw his mother again.

He learned that he had been abandoned when his father told him.

"Your mother won't be coming back. She said you're disgusting and she doesn't want you anymore. Ha. She's a fool, too. Throwing away a golden egg."

—A golden egg. That's what his father called Alro.

From then on, under his father's orders, Alro was forced to practice his magic relentlessly.

What started as 5 minutes became an hour, and controlling one animal became controlling ten. The range of his control increased dramatically.

It was a powerful dark magic unlike anything seen before.

His father secretly reported this to his superiors.

In the military of the Kingdom of Shan, one could not advance without bribes. His father seemed to have used Alro's dark magic as a substitute for bribes.

Young Alro had no way of knowing this and simply followed his father's orders.

Two intimidating men began to frequent their home, and Alro was repeatedly asked to demonstrate his magic.

After several days, Alro, along with his father and the two men, left the Kingdom of Shan.

He didn't know where they were going.

He was just told to get on the same horse as his father and to be ready to use his ability soon.

The heavy rain would cover their tracks.

At six years old, Alro could barely maintain his balance in the heavy rain. He fell multiple times in the mud, but no one helped him.

"—Alright, follow me. We've split up."

His father said this with a pleased tone.

Dad sounds happy. Alro thought this without understanding why.

"Hey, Alro, it's your turn. Stop the knights surrounding that carriage and make the horses throw the carriage."

"But... if I do that..."

"Those are bad people. If we don't take them out, your mother won't come back."

What...?

Alro felt a surge of strength at the mention of "mother" from his father, whom he hadn't heard say it in a long time.

"If I do this, will Mom come back?"

"If you do it well."

Alro strained with all his might.

However, there were ten knights, a driver, and the horses, and they were not ordinary people.

He managed to knock the carriage over, but the knights' techniques quickly repelled his magic.

The shock of the repelled magic was too much for his six-year-old, inexperienced body to handle.

He endured the chaos while moving, but he was already on his last breath.

The depleted magic reservoir began to react violently to the repelled magic.

Eventually, the dark magic lost control and went berserk.

It consumed his two companions and turned towards his father. Alro lost consciousness as he saw the dark magic envelop his father's legs.

When he woke up in the city of Fandrag, Alro's magic was completely drained. No matter how hard he tried to summon it, there was no trace of it. It seemed he had lost his magic entirely.

"You're useless! You've messed up my leg so badly. You've killed two of my superiors, and we can never set foot in Shan again!"

Alro didn't fully understand his father's anger but knew he had failed.

"And you've lost your magic? You're just trash! Damn it!"

With that, Alro was abandoned at an orphanage.

He was alone, not knowing what had happened, and then he was picked up by the Sieg family.

When he was finally able to survive on his own,

"Hey, Alro. It's Dad."

His father, who suddenly appeared after two years, looked over a decade older.

"I never thought I'd get hired by a noble family. —Hey, do you want to live with me? The injuries I got because of your power are so painful... I can't work anywhere."

His father shed tears.

"I'm glad... I'm really glad you're safe. I'm sorry. We had to part ways back then, but you're my only blood son. I've been worried about you."

His father, with a breath reeking of alcohol, hugged Alro.

"Alro. I love you."

It was the words Alro had always wanted to hear.

So, my father really does love me.

Even someone who fails all the time.

He's shedding tears for me and is happy to see me again.

If so, I have to do everything I can for Dad—.

Alro woke up.

The ceiling was adorned with patterns he had never seen before, and they were made of gold.

The fluffy bed made him sink slightly with every movement.

He thought he must have died.

Because his body didn't hurt anywhere, and it felt so comfortable.

The sensation of a hand gripping his made him quickly return to reality, and he looked over.

—There was an angel.

The sparkling child was looking at him with concern.

"Alro, are you awake?"

The hoarse voice, filled with tears, made Alro jump up.

"Princess!?"

"Does anything hurt? I think you should be fine because Mother healed you..."

Alro's eyes met Cynthia, who was looking down at him with a smile from behind Marievel.

I can't believe it. She used her precious light magic on someone like me.

Alro hurriedly got out of bed and knelt on the floor.

"—I'm, I'm very sorry."

"Oh, dear. If you can move so quickly, you must be fine. But since you just woke up, go back to bed."

Cynthia said this as if talking to a child.

Alro couldn't move.

Why? I was beaten by my father at home...

"Alro, it's hard to talk standing. Let's sit down, shall we?"

At Cynthia's words, Alro slowly stood up. He was told to sit on the bed and did so hesitantly.

Cynthia and Marievel sat on either side of him.

"You were found unconscious at home by the guards. Your husband heard about it through his work and had you brought here. It was quite a shock."

"I, I'm sorry for the trouble..."

"It's not your fault. Alro, you don't need to worry. Marie has always been such a great help, so this is the least we can do."

Despite her words, Alro felt intimidated.

Cynthia continued, trying to put him at ease.

"Your father is currently in custody for the violence he inflicted on you."

To be precise, he is in jail.

"Don't worry. He's being fed and has a proper bed."

"Okay."

Alro's expression gave no indication of what he was thinking. He just stared silently at his clenched fists in his lap.

"Alro, I think it might be better to stay away from your father for a while."

"Wh-what...?"

Alro looked up in surprise.

"This time, you were in a very dangerous condition with multiple broken bones."

"It's just this time."

If this continues, his father will become a criminal.

Alro panicked.

"It's not always like this... And it's because I didn't explain properly. Dad misunderstood."

"Even once, it's a serious matter to be injured so badly."

"It's because I'm weak. I get hurt easily. It's always like this."

Cynthia was at a loss for words.

She wanted to tell him that his father was wrong, but Alro looked so desperate.

"My father can barely walk. I have to help him."

A moment of silence.

"Alro, is this okay with you? Do you want to go back home with your father?"

At Marievel's question, Alro nodded without hesitation.

"I'm happy. When he found out I was picked up by the Sieg family, he was really happy. He said he loves me..."

Alro, as always, desperately pushed aside the emotions in a corner of his heart.

Only my father loves me...