Craig (3)

“Hahahahaha!”

Craig laughed heartily at Titan’s observation.

He’d been caught. He’d been trying his best to hide it.

Craig’s memory was gradually deteriorating.

He was aware of this himself. Of course, he often forgot even that, but fortunately, there were many around him who could correct him.

This situation was a perfect example.

Lost and his companions had entered boldly through the main gate, giving Craig time to prepare.

Yes, time to hear the name of his son, which had become hazy in his mind after not seeing him for so long.

The purpose of his son’s departure from the kingdom. Fortunately, Craig’s condition wasn’t yet severe enough to be called serious.

He could hear from Todd and paint over his faded memories.

But when actually facing Titan, he found himself at a loss for words.

Titan’s appearance had changed considerably from what he remembered, causing his mind to go blank, and in that brief moment, he forgot his son’s name again.

“Well then, son. What was your name again?”

“It’s Titan.”

The secret was already out.

Craig didn’t hide it anymore.

Even with his deteriorating memory, he was still king.

Though he needed help from those around him, his condition wasn’t yet problematic enough to prevent him from ruling as king.

That’s why Craig was confident.

He could still maintain his dignity.

“So, Titan, why have you returned to Malachite? You said it was too early to succeed the throne, so you must have another reason?”

“……”

Titan silently stared at Craig sitting on the throne.

He recalled how in the past, even making eye contact with him had been uncomfortable.

The same was true for Craig.

Back then, Titan had thought Craig ignored him out of resentment and hatred, but that wasn’t the case. Craig too had been unable to meet his son’s eyes out of shame.

That’s why this moment felt so significant.

The fact that he was talking with Craig, looking directly into each other’s eyes.

Yes, the sight of Craig looking at him so clearly…

“Father.”

It was both joyful and bitter.

As if he might have forgotten the events of that day. That made Titan sad, regretful, and deeply sorry.

Titan spoke to Craig with a deliberately rigid expression.

“I’ve come to ask for troops from the kingdom.”

“For what reason?”

“The outside world is in danger due to a being called devil. If it were just a matter of conflict between one or two countries, if it were a fight about mutual interests and pride they couldn’t back down from, I wouldn’t have bothered…”

“So you mean it’s not like that. It’s a war without pride, and the target won’t end with just the country they’re currently fighting—that’s what you’re saying.”

“That’s right.”

Titan nodded.

Yes, Craig was a king worthy of respect. Even with his deteriorating memory, he still possessed the experience and wisdom accumulated as king.

He could determine the answer even while listening to Titan’s explanation.

“So you think we should support this war?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, I’ll gather the ministers to review this. I’d like a proper explanation then… but is that your companion’s role?”

“There’s a silver-haired man with an unnaturally glib tongue, so you’d better be careful, Father.”

“Khahaha! To hear such words from your mouth, he must truly be a snake-like fellow!”

Craig laughed heartily.

At first, he’d been bewildered when told his son was coming.

It had been troublesome when he couldn’t properly remember even his name, let alone his face.

But now? Actually meeting and talking with him was quite enjoyable.

Craig couldn’t understand why they had grown so distant from each other all this time.

“But, Father. I have one request.”

“Hmm, what is it?”

“That you don’t take the battlefield.”

However, such an atmosphere couldn’t last long. Craig understood what Titan’s words meant.

“You think I’d only get in the way if I went now?”

“Yes, if you were to stand on the battlefield now, it would only cause confusion.”

“You want to make me a coward! A warrior should die on the battlefield. That’s the greatest honor! You of all people should know that?”

Craig is a king.

The king of orcs must be the most valiant, strongest, and wisest.

Yes, he is the strongest warrior. For someone like him not to take the field would be deserving of scorn.

What Titan was saying was essentially that Craig should die as an ordinary commoner rather than as a warrior.

This is his last chance. This battlefield is Craig’s last opportunity to die as a warrior.

Yet how could…

“Father, I am an unfilial son.”

“……”

“Dying on the battlefield. Surely that would be a fitting end for you now. But I, your unfilial son, want you to live, even if it’s unseemly.”

Titan finally understood.

He finally knew what Craig had been suppressing for his sake.

Even the illness he’d developed stemmed from having nowhere to express his grief.

It was a tragedy that arose because no one could be his pillar of support.

Titan knew. He knew he was far too late.

But that’s precisely why he wanted to spend even a little more time with him.

He wanted to talk more. Not as king and warrior, but as father and son.

“Father, I went to Alfheim. I learned many things there. I dare to ask, would you grant me some time?”

“……”

“I’ve tried to understand you. But what I knew was far too little. Please give this unfilial son time to learn what kind of person you are. Please live a little longer and talk with me.”

Thud!

Craig stood up, stamping his foot and shattering the floor.

Just this single emotional expression caused enough impact to shake the castle.

With such an angry expression, Craig approached Titan and glared at him, grinding his teeth.

Titan slowly looked up at the enraged Craig.

“……”

There were tears in his eyes.

The child who had bounced back just a week after his mother’s death, that strong and resilient warrior was now shedding tears for his sake.

“I see…”

Craig could finally understand. He had been a terrible father. The child hadn’t recovered from death in just a week.

He had simply stopped crying because there was no one to comfort him when he shed tears.

But now he cries.

Because it doesn’t matter if no one wipes away those tears.

Because he’s no longer a child who needs someone’s protection.

A being who can express his emotions as they are while still maintaining dignity, one who can carry even such pain.

His little son had grown up far too early.

“I see…”

Craig muttered the same words over and over, squeezing his eyes shut.

Thinking how unworthy he was.

Yet his son had grown up to be so admirable.

He regretted and was upset that he hadn’t been able to watch that process.

“I…”

Craig reflected.

The man who had never been a father until now pondered deeply.

Yes, just once. At the very end.

“I’ll do as you ask…”

He decided to bear the disgrace.

*     *      *

Craig had never acted as a father to Titan.

At least in his memory, it had always been that way. Craig had to be the king, and Titan had to be the successor.

A strictly businesslike father-son relationship.

Only now, with his imperfect memory, could he view it objectively.

Because he could look at his memories from someone else’s perspective.

“Hmm…”

After reflecting on his relationship with Titan and recalling their recent conversation, Craig let out a hollow laugh. It was absurd.

“Huhahahahaha!”

His son’s request to leave a blemish on his name, that damn unfilial son who selfishly asked for time and damaged his parental honor.

Craig had never been so glad to hear such words.

He couldn’t be more grateful.

Craig is a king. He’s responsible for looking after each and every one of his citizens in this harsh kingdom.

And now, for the first time, he’s preparing to set aside that responsibility.

Trusting in his son who had already become great. He was ready to bear that disgrace.

Craig’s footsteps, which had been filled with anger, gradually became more energetic. As if he was actually proud. But Craig soon realized.

He remembered when he looked at the place his footsteps had taken him.

“Rosaria! It seems that boy has already grown up. Would you believe, he told me…”

An empty, desolate room.

The garden-like room that had been decorated with flowers and tree branches was now gone.

His wife, who used to lie on the bed in the center of the room with a gentle smile, was also gone.

Yes, he remembered.

Why he and Titan had grown apart. The reason their relationship had become distant.

As if it were a lie that he’d been feeling good just moments ago, Craig instantly became somber.

His footsteps toward the room contained neither energy nor anger.

“Rosaria…”

Only sorrowfulness remained.

After spending some time in the empty room, reminiscing about his memories with Rosaria, Craig slowly raised his head.

“I’m sorry.”

Craig remembered.

He was now facing the source of the suffering he had forgotten until now.

That’s why he decided.

“My son, I’m sorry.”

To take the battlefield after all.

To meet his end as a warrior.

“Rosaria, I…”

The overlord of Malachite, Craig Khan, still had to be king.

Because on the day he bid farewell to his wife, he had made a promise.

Even if it was his son’s request, there were still things he couldn’t and shouldn’t go back on.

*     *      *

“So that’s how it is. Father won’t be going to the front lines. I apologize for making this decision on my own.”

Titan explained the conversation he’d had with Craig to his companions.

It was something he had done on his own.

He could only apologize to Lost, who had traveled all this way to gain Craig’s formidable strength.

Therefore, Titan apologized sincerely but didn’t waver in his decision.

“I see… So that’s how it is?”

Lost looked at Titan’s bowed head for a moment before taking out and lighting a cigarette.

He had been too complacent. No, he had been focusing too much on the battlefield situation.

“It can’t be helped. If you of all people made that judgment, I have no intention of arguing.”

He should have considered Titan’s feelings. Though Craig might be a warrior, the parent-child relationship was an issue that needed deeper consideration.

“Lift your head, Titan. If anyone should apologize, it’s me.”

It was Lost who had forced his way into such a complicated issue.

Lost could now realize that his plan had been wrong from the very first step.

Restraining the dementia-afflicted Craig? Using him as a military asset by controlling him?

‘What kind of madman am I?’

Lost had been unconsciously fixated only on Craig’s power. He had been discussing only Titan’s potential.

But he shouldn’t have made such assumptions in the first place.

Even with power so great as to be considered a trial, Craig was still ill.

He had been trying to force someone whose emotional wounds had festered to the point of affecting his physical body onto the battlefield.

And he was going to entrust that role to none other than his own son.

“I asked something terrible of you. I’m sorry.”

Lost looked up at the ceiling with a bitter heart.

Meanwhile, Titan, who had been bowing his head, raised it again.

After staring blankly at the ceiling for a while, Lost said.

“Then let’s go back. We can think more about the battlefield situation.”

“No, but we could still get the support of the kingdom’s soldiers at least…!”

“Titan.”

“……”

“This is the right thing.”

This is for the best.

This is the most appropriate approach to respect Craig’s pride while also honoring Titan’s request.

The best solution is to keep him unaware of the reason for the war in the first place. Fortunately, Titan had only explained it to Craig.

Because it’s war, because we’re not in a position to be picky right now. Making such excuses would lead to an endless cycle.

In war, one must win.

The devil must be defeated.

But that must be done while maintaining humanity.

What humanity faces is not the enemy before them but the malice within.

“I’ll handle the battlefield somehow. So you should, just once, choose what’s best rather than what’s second-best.”

If we don’t provide information about the war in the first place, there’s no reason for Craig to bear disgrace.

We’ve been choosing the lesser evil to avoid the worst. But that doesn’t mean we should turn our eyes away from the best outcome and only choose the second-best.

“It’s okay to be selfish for yourself sometimes.”

That’s what we call humanity, including all of this.

And I intend to defeat the devil while remaining human.