Chapter 5

Returning to the mansion, I rang the doorbell.

However, Emma, the maid who usually appears right away, didn't show up for some reason.

Did my stepbrother order her not to let me in if I ever returned?

No, even if it's him, he should know that such a temporary fix would be meaningless.

In the worst case, I could just break the lock and get in.

Just as I was about to ring the doorbell again—

"…Huh?"

The door opened, but the moment I saw Emma peeking out from behind it, looking down, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

"Emma, what happened to your face…!"

Emma's face had swollen to nearly twice its size, and her features were almost unrecognizable.

There were painful-looking bruises around her eyes.

Her lip was split.

Fresh, raw wounds were starting to scab over.

She must have been hit repeatedly and mercilessly to end up like this.

"Who did this to you?"

Without answering my question, Emma's expression twisted.

"I'm sorry, Master Dio... I tried my best to protect it... but Lucy... "

Before she could finish, Emma broke down in tears.

◇◇◇

Lucy was lying in my room.

Her once-fluffy fur was almost gone, and her skin was red and raw all over.

It was due to severe burns.

The wounds were shining with ointment that Emma had apparently applied.

However, the wounds were so widespread, like overripe fruit, that it was clear the medicine wouldn't be effective.

"..."

Lucy's tongue was hanging out of her mouth.

Mixed with her short, labored breaths, there were pained, mournful whimpers.

I exhaled shakily and clenched my fists.

The story I heard from Emma kept echoing in my head.

After pushing me into the abyss, Adam apparently started carrying my books to the garden as soon as he got home.

These were the books I had collected with great effort to study about magical beasts.

My stingy stepfather never gave me any allowance, let alone money for books, so I had to work part-time jobs like washing dishes in the cafeteria and delivering milk to earn the money for them.

The jobs that children could do paid shockingly low wages.

But the books I needed for my studies were valuable, and even used ones were quite expensive.

After working day and night, I finally managed to get the books I wanted, and they became precious treasures to me.

The moment Adam tried to burn my books, Lucy attacked him.

Lucy, who had never shown her fangs to a human before, knew that what Adam was trying to burn were my treasures.

Adam kicked and punched Lucy, who was growling and biting at his pants, and she fell limp, unable to resist.

But Adam didn't stop his cruel assault.

Emma, who tried to protect Lucy from Adam's brutality, was also beaten.

Finally—

Adam tied Lucy's hands and feet and set her on fire while she was unable to move.

◇◇◇

"Lucy..."

(She's calling my name)

Lucy mustered her last strength and struggled to open her eyes.

In her blurred vision, she saw her beloved owner's face, on the verge of tears.

But that was all Lucy could do.

She couldn't lift her nose to bury her face in his neck.

She couldn't open her mouth to smile at him.

She wanted to tell him one last time how happy she had been.

But her beloved owner gently touched her fingertips, as if to say he understood.

He shed tears, unable to embrace her burned body.

These were the first tears he had ever shed, even after enduring all the injustices from his family.

He had been waiting to see his face one last time.

So, even though there shouldn't have been any regrets, Lucy couldn't help but think—

She wanted to lick the large tears rolling down his cheeks.

She could feel her heartbeat weakening.

She couldn't see anything anymore.

Until the moment everything faded away, she could hear his voice calling her name—

◇◇◇

I walked down the corridor leading to the living room, filled with cold anger.

From behind the slightly open door, I could hear my stepfather and Adam laughing.

"You threw that incompetent one into the abyss. Well done, Adam."

"That's what I expected you to say, Father."

"Although I banished Dio, I was worried that he might tarnish our family name wherever he went. If he's dead, I don't have to worry about that."

"Yes, that's right. It's a relief to have that useless one gone."

"There's no value in living for someone who can't contribute to the prosperity of our Bryce family. You should change your ways from now on."

"Of course, I intend to. —By the way, when will you let me take over the family?"

"That depends on your efforts. But now that Dio is gone, you're the only heir. I'll consider it more positively than before."

"Thank you. Thanks to the disappearance of that incompetent one, we can get along well as a family."

"Hahaha! That useless one was useful in the end."

"Haha! You're right, Father."

Unaware that I was eavesdropping at the door, the two of them burst out laughing.

So, not only Adam but also my stepfather had wished for my death...

No matter what they said or what injustices I faced, I had endured it, thinking it was my duty since they had taken me in.

But those two were the kind of people who would be happy to think I was dead.

I no longer needed to feel any sense of duty toward them.

With that resolve, I pushed the door open forcefully.

The two of them jumped at the sound.

"Dio!? W-Why are you alive...!?"

Adam, shocked, stood up, eyes wide.

My stepfather, on the other hand, looked at Adam as if to say, "This isn't what we agreed on."

"Adam! Didn't you push him into the abyss...!?"

"I did!! I watched him fall!! H-Hey... Could it be a ghost...!?"

"Idiot! He has legs!"

"Y-Yeah, but then why... "

Adam looked at me with a confused expression.

I stared back coldly and asked in a calm voice.

"Stepbrother, is it true that you hurt Lucy?"

"Lucy? Oh, that mongrel."

Adam first looked as if it was no big deal, but then he seemed to realize something and smirked.

"I see. You were shocked that I hurt that mongrel? Haha. Serves you right. I've always found it disgusting to have a dirty stray dog in our mansion. Every time I saw it wagging its tail and fawning over everyone, it made me feel sick. But you know, when I set it on fire, that damn dog cowered with its tail between its legs. That was a masterpiece—Gahh!!?"

I had already punched him before he finished his long-winded explanation, just to confirm the facts.

"..."

My half-crying stepbrother fell to the floor, looking bewildered.

He probably never expected me to seek revenge.

My stepfather was the same.

He stood there with his mouth agape, then suddenly came to his senses.

"Dio, you! What do you mean by that insolent attitude! You're a disowned, worthless nobody! How dare you show your face here! You're a failure who survived!!"

"You're right. I'm still alive, contrary to your expectations. Too bad."

I looked at my stepfather with utter disdain.

"What's that look for! Is that how you treat your stepfather!?"

"I no longer consider you my stepfather."

"What did you say!?"

"But let's put that aside for now. First, I need to settle things with Adam."

Adam's eyes darted around, clearly shaken.

He must have realized that his plot had failed now that I was back.

Cold sweat was dripping down the sides of his face.

—Master, it seems this one needs some punishment.

I heard Yeti's voice in my head.

"Yeti, you're awake."

—It seems Master desires the power of ice, which I can sense. Let's punish this one with freezing ice.

"Yes. Adam deserves to suffer."

Adam, who had tried to kill me and caused Lucy's death, needs to be punished.

I will judge Adam's sins first.

I will post the next chapter tomorrow.

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