Responsibility (2)
Chapter 93
Jimy’s thinning hair stood on end toward the ceiling.
Though he didn’t know the exact meaning of the phrase “responsibility without pleasure,” his well-trained sixth sense keenly detected a looming threat.
But even in his prime, Matthew had always been several steps ahead of Jimy when it came to instincts.
Matthew immediately realized staying put would be disastrous.
Without hesitation, he hurled himself toward the window.
CRASH!!
Breaking through the window, Matthew tumbled once on the ground three stories below.
Though a few shards of glass were embedded in his back, now was not the time to worry about such trifles.
Matthew urgently ran and hid between the alleys.
“…”
Having witnessed the entire scene, Jimy belatedly began to put distance between himself and Ray.
Slowly moving his feet, Jimy finally reached the office door.
Just as Jimy was about to throw himself out of the office…
ZING!
Suddenly appearing ice bound Jimy’s left foot to the floor, thwarting his escape.
Finally furrowing his brows, Jimy vented his frustration.
“What?! What is this all about now?!”
“Calm down and sit here for a moment.”
Ray half-forced Jimy to sit on the chair.
Toward the grumbling Jimy, Ray honestly explained the situation.
“Mom is pregnant. From the circumstances, it seems to be the child of a nobleman who ran away after an accident.”
“?!?”
It was an unimaginable bombshell.
Stunned, Jimy finally regained his senses and asked in disbelief.
“What? Pregnant? And with a noble’s child?”
“Yes. So… we need someone to play the role of the father to deceive others.”
“…”
Jimy froze in place.
After a brief silence,
Jimy pointed at his own face with trembling fingers.
With a dead serious expression, Ray gave a thumbs up.
“Will you do it?”
“Do what?! You son of a bitch!!!”
Jimy screamed as he drew his sword from his waist.
“AAAAAAH!! Am I insane?! No way! I can’t do it! Get out of my sight right now, you devil!!”
An attack filled with fury swung toward Ray.
Dodging Jimy’s wild attacks, Ray eventually grabbed the sword blade with bare hands.
“Jimy, just listen to me for a moment.”
“Shut up!! Shut up, I said!!”
“Jimy, I owe Bella a debt.”
A sadness settled in Ray’s eyes.
*
After being reincarnated into this accursed world,
I had no choice but to lie there listening to the biological mating sounds of my parents.
HUFF HUFF ANG ANG THUD THUD.
It was truly a wretched experience.
Thanks to my semi-forced open ears, I inadvertently gathered various pieces of information from the conversations of my biological parents.
My biological mother had an older sister.
Her name was Bella, my aunt.
Bella and my biological mother lost their parents at a young age.
To protect her younger sister and survive in a harsh world, Bella entered the brothel business.
It must have been a difficult decision, but she likely thought it was better than starving to death.
Despite society’s taboo against her profession, Bella worked hard without complaint.
Thanks to her efforts, Bella quickly established herself in the brothel and earned a decent income.
Even though she sold her body at the brothel, Bella tried her best to raise her younger sister with dignity.
Thanks to Bella’s efforts, my biological mother grew up without much lack.
My biological mother had a somewhat pretty face and managed to successfully ensnare a decent man.
However, my cursed biological mother was naturally promiscuous and lacked morals.
Disregarding Bella’s sacrifices, she committed adultery even after forming a family.
Worse yet, she and my biological father often gossiped maliciously about Bella and her profession, questioning how she could sell her body for money.
Lying there, I silently mocked my biological mother many times.
The shameless prostitute wasn’t Bella – it was her.
If only I could stand on two legs, I vowed countless times to tear her apart first.
But I never got the chance to commit such patricide.
Amidst her brazen adulterous acts,
One day, my registered father came home earlier than usual.
Lost in their passionate embrace, my biological parents failed to notice the approaching presence of my registered father.
Even seeing him with my own eyes, I remained silent.
As my registered father approached, the passionate moans continued unabated.
Later I learned that the reason my registered father came home early that day was because he received a notification of his younger sister’s death in the dungeon.
Upon learning that his sister, who had become a knight’s heir, had perished, my registered father trembled violently as he returned home.
Yet my biological parents, unaware of this, continued their usual antics, uttering words that insulted my registered father.
A bitter smile formed on my lips.
At the edge of my vision, my registered father approached wielding an axe.
The axe swing cleaved my biological father’s head cleanly in two.
My biological mother’s scream echoed throughout the room as the axe swings continued.
Ah, damn.
What a relief.
I wanted to applaud enthusiastically, but my arms were too weak to move.
The screams eventually subsided into silence.
Having delivered righteous judgment, my registered father hesitated as he approached me.
By then, he already knew I wasn’t his biological child.
Even if he had struck me down with the axe right then and there, I would have harbored no resentment or blame toward him.
My registered father stared at me for a long while, conflicted.
After what felt like an eternity, I let out a small sigh.
A baby’s sigh isn’t much different from babbling.
“Baa…”
“…….”
I still don’t know.
Whether my sigh that day influenced my registered father’s decision or not.
Ultimately, my registered father turned his back on me without swinging the axe.
Judging that he had lost his entire family, my registered father took his own life that day.
The space fell silent except for the thick scent of blood.
Feeling hatred burn within my chest, I simply endured.
How much time passed? Someone acquainted with my registered father came looking after losing contact with him.
Seeing the state of the house, the acquaintance first retched.
Things became complicated from there.
Having lost my guardians, I was in a position where dying anytime wouldn’t have been surprising.
That’s when Bella arrived upon hearing the news and took charge of caring for me first.
She cried a lot upon losing her younger sister, unable to easily accept the sudden tragedy.
Yet Bella did not blame anyone.
Not her younger sister who never matured despite countless headaches.
Not my biological father who committed adultery with her younger sister.
Not my registered father who split her younger sister’s head open.
She mourned deeply without blaming anyone.
Packing her sorrow tightly into her heart, Bella made efforts to take me in. However, that proved to be no easy task.
About my biological father, his status happened to be a gentleman.
The noble house he belonged to, which had previously ignored and neglected him, suddenly appeared when the murder case broke out, demanding vengeance.
They pressured Bella to hand me over for punishment under the principle of collective responsibility.
When Bella refused to give me up, they demanded she pay a substantial compensation instead.
Learning of this incident, Count Philip sympathized with Bella and offered a reasonable compromise.
Even with Count Philip’s goodwill, Bella had to pay the compensation using all the goods she had accumulated working at the brothel.
The emotions I felt at that time were of utter despair.
Being just a newborn infant, Bella confided in me secrets she had kept hidden from others.
Bella wished to have a family. She wanted to watch lovingly as her child conceived in her womb grew up step by step.
After her younger sister secured a good marriage and became independent, Bella worked hard to achieve her dream.
As a prostitute, Bella couldn’t have a normal family.
She would either have to become a wealthy man’s concubine or use her savings to hire a husband.
However, given that Bella was young and beautiful at the time, perhaps she might have caught a decent man and fulfilled her wish sooner than expected.
But my existence blocked Bella’s path forward.
Left penniless and now responsible for a child, Bella ultimately couldn’t leave the brothel.
I was a burden to Bella.
A damnable tumor that shattered her dreams.
Yet Bella often smiled brightly at me, a newborn who still couldn’t walk.
“We both have unfortunate fates, don’t we.”
Bella said as she placed her finger in my tiny hand.
“But don’t worry. You can rest assured.”
That day’s warm smile from Bella…
“Starting today… let’s be mother and son. From today on, you are my son.”
Warmed my soul that was growing cold.
“Son, thank you. Because of you, mother has fulfilled her wish?”
That day,
With the feeble grip of a newborn, I clutched Bella’s finger and swore.
Yes, for you alone.
I will try to prevent the destruction of this accursed world.
*
“Huff… Huff…!”
Watching Jimy sobbing uncontrollably after hearing the story, Ray rested his chin in thought.
It was puzzling how someone with such sensitivity and mental fortitude managed to endure as a mercenary.
Well, given his natural disposition, it made sense he had come down to Phillip’s County to start an orphanage.
“Jimy, do you believe me?”
Ray scratched the back of his neck and asked.
Ray confessed that he retained complete memories from his infancy.
He wanted to fulfill the secret wish Bella had confided in him during those early days.
While speaking, Ray wondered if Jimy would believe him, but Jimy instead looked perplexed and countered.
“What’s so strange about some crazy guy who manifested sword aura at nine having memories from infancy?”
“…That’s true.”
Convinced, Ray cleared his throat.
“Hmm, Jimy… I’m not forcing you. But… I’m asking you. I want to avoid arousing suspicion as much as possible. If someone could lend their name, I trust only you and Matthew.”
“What do you want from me?”
“That… say you slept with mom after drinking… and testify…”
Toward Ray’s awkward muttering, Jimy shouted.
“Fine! If you’re going to do it, do it properly!”
“…What?”
“Anyway, I don’t have any romantic interests right now. Let’s declare Bella’s unborn child as mine and hold a wedding.”
“Are you serious?”
“When I find someone later, we can get a divorce then. That works, right?”
“…”
Moved by Jimy’s proposal, Ray blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar expression on his face.
Seeing Ray’s unprecedented expression, Jimy burst out laughing.
“What, are you so grateful you’ll die?”
Hesitating, Ray finally stammered.
“…Can I call you dad starting today?”
“AAAAAAGH!!”
Jimy spat blood.
