Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 294: The Final Offering

He smiled again, still looking pitiful.

But his words... frёewebnoѵēl.com

They didn’t seem political at all.

This wasn’t some calculated move.

It was the final request of a father, looking out for his child.

Even Marcus—who usually dismissed things with a scoff—simply remained silent, his expression was unreadable, as he processed the King’s unexpected declaration.

"I see. That’s unfortunate. You were an easy king to deal with. Your reign was neither remarkable nor terrible, but compared to your predecessors, you were among the better ones."

"Now that I’m retiring, you don’t hold back at all, do you?"

Ignoring the somewhat sentimental exchange between the two, Sylas muttered bitterly to himself, clearly displeased.

"That damn Crown Prince is going to be king... Should I give him a harsh lesson before his coronation to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid?"

"I support that, Sylas. Depending on the situation, we could just eliminate him and take the throne ourselves."

Rocco trembled slightly and his eyes welling up with tears.

You guys are seriously saying this... right in front of the King?!

After finishing their audience with the King, Rocco was finally allowed to meet Ares.

Thinking it was more of a personal matter from here on, Rocco asked Laxus, "Wouldn’t this be boring for you? You don’t have to come."

But instead of understanding, Laxus dramatically burst into tears.

"Are you pushing me away, Rocco?! That’s too cruel—waaahhh!!"

Instant regret.

Rocco quickly pulled Laxus into a tight hug to console him.

Sorry, sorry! I totally forgot how unpredictable your emotional triggers are.

I’ve learned a lesson.

"Listen, Rocco. From here on, things might be a little bit too much for you. If you start feeling unwell, let us know immediately."

Standing before the door leading to the royal dungeon, Marcus gave a final warning.

Rocco straightened up and nodded his head firmly.

"Understood! I’ll be fine! Thank you very much!"

"Good. Sylas, keep a close eye on Rocco."

As Rocco puffed up his chest with determination, his father absentmindedly patted his head before casually assigning Sylas as his watchdog.

"Understood."

Sylas accepted without hesitation, and his father nodded in approval.

Rocco’s eyes watered slightly again.

H-hey! I just said I’d be fine!

The lack of trust stung a little.

He huffed in mild frustration, but before he could complain, Laxus gently squeezed his hand.

Rocco flinched but ultimately allowed it.

W-well... the dungeon is dark and scary, so... I guess I’ll let him hold my hand.

Just this once.

Hmph.

With Rocco and Laxus hand in hand, his father gave the guards a simple nod.

The entrance to the dungeon creaked open.

"Rocco. Don’t forget what I told you."

And with that, his father stepped inside.

The moment they entered the underground prison, the air changed.

A bitter chill clung to Rocco’s skin, sending shivers down his spine.

The atmosphere felt off—damp and suffocating, far worse than the dungeons back at the Di Malvento estate.

The passage stretched long and wide, the eerie silence amplifying every small sound.

Rocco instinctively wrapped his arms around himself, shuddering.

Without a word, Laxus draped his jacket over Rocco’s shoulders.

The scent of Laxus lingered on the fabric.

Rocco sniffed it absentmindedly, and for some reason, the anxious pit in his stomach lessened.

Sniff, sniff... Mmm... nice smell... fshuuu...

And then—

"We’re here."

As Rocco walked forward while inhaling the scent of Laxus on the jacket to calm himself, his father finally came to a stop in front of the deepest door in the dungeon.

The very back of the underground prison—the place where the most heinous criminals were confined.

The air felt even heavier than before, as if thick with something vile.

Instinctively, Rocco squeezed Laxus’s hand tighter.

In response, Laxus gently enclosed Rocco’s small hand within his own, holding it firmly.

At his father’s command, the guards standing on either side of the cell solemnly unlocked the door.

The inside of the cell was pitch-black, making it impossible to see.

Following behind his father and Sylas, Rocco stepped inside, still holding onto Laxus.

"Ah... at last, we meet."

The moment he set foot inside, a voice rang out—rich and sweet, almost intoxicating.

Rocco froze.

That voice... it didn’t sound like the Ares he knew.

His father and Sylas immediately stepped in front of him, shielding him.

Peeking out cautiously from between them, Rocco’s eyes landed on a gruesome sight—one so horrifying he nearly gagged on instinct, barely managing to hold back the urge.

Ares was covered in blood, his body in tatters, barely clinging to life.

Heavy, thick chains bound him so tightly it was obvious he couldn’t move at all.

His hair was brittle and dry, his skin dirtied and dull.

His body was skeletal, riddled with wounds and bruises.

If he were the timid Ares Rocco once knew, he wouldn’t have been able to endure such torment.

Yet, despite his wretched condition, Ares was smiling.

His murky red eyes locked onto Rocco, unblinking, unshaken.

"Truly... magnificent! You are the final offering I have longed for...!"

Ares threw his head back and laughed, his voice ringing eerily through the dungeon.

Rocco tilted his head at those strange words.

Final offering? What does that mean?

From the looks on his father’s and Sylas’s faces, neither of them seemed to understand the meaning behind Ares’s words either.

Could this be part of the "secrets" Ares had refused to disclose until now?

As Rocco fell into silence, Ares abruptly stopped laughing.

He shifted his gaze toward Rocco’s father and spoke.

"...Leave this place. All of you, except for him. If you do not comply, I will say nothing."

"What?! That wasn’t the agreement—!"

Sylas immediately flared up in anger, his presence exuding an intense, fiery aura.

But before the situation could escalate further, Marcus placed a firm hand on Sylas’s shoulder, grounding him.

Sylas exhaled sharply, regaining his composure.

It seemed they had at least anticipated the possibility of Ares making such a demand.

"Unfortunately, leaving only a child behind in this dungeon is strictly forbidden. That is not an option."