Sean said to Anton, "Did Dani order you?!" His tone sharpened as he readied for an attack. The air around them trembled, a tension in the space.
Anton wanted to reply, why would Dani order me if he can do it himself? After all, Sean's daughter was already bound under his cursed seal.
But before Anton could answer, the crowd began to stir.
Whispers turned into gasps. Eyes widened. "Is that Sean Mt. Brawner?!" someone excitedly said.
"Oh my God, I want an autograph!"
"What is he doing here?"
"You mean The Sean, the only Filipino Battle Mage ranked 'Greater Warrior' in physical level! Plus he's got 'Charge Magic' and 'Force Connect' making his strength and magic combo insane! Wait… is he charging his magic right now?"
The murmurs spread like wildfire. Then, someone pointed at Anton.
"Oh, that's why. It's the 'Bully Hero-Zero'. Honestly, they should revoke his license as a Battle Mage."
Anton heard it. His shoulders stiffened. He looked down and whispered, almost to himself, "I was young… and immature."
Sean felt bad and was about to speak, the guilt flickering in his eyes as he saw the judgment on people's faces but before he could, his daughter Greta spoke up.
"Well, past is past," she said calmly, tilting her head with a gentle smile. "So, what camera do you like?"
Sean looked at his daughter, proud, reducing his intensity to the fact she didn't judge, not even for a moment. The crowd, sensing the quiet sincerity in the air, began to disperse.
Sean turned back to Anton. "I'm sorry," he said. Anton nodded and accepted the apology.
Then Sean leaned closer, his voice dropping. "Do me a favor," he said. "Don't tell anyone about my daughter's location or who she is. I've made too many enemies… dark societies, dark clans… they'd use her, against me."
Anton met his gaze and nodded again, firm this time. "You have my word."
Greta smiled and reached into the counter. "Hey, Mr. Anton, today's your lucky day. We're allowed one staff discount per day and you're the chosen customer."
The manager, who had overheard, looked ready to protest until he spotted Sean. His face fell into a sigh of reluctant surrender.
"…Fine," he muttered. "One discount it is."
The camera purchase was successful.
As Anton was about to leave the store, Greta called out, "Hey, want to join us for dinner?" Her voice was bright and warm. This was her first time meeting someone who worked with her father.
Sean immediately frowned. "Greta…"
But before he could finish, his daughter shot him a glare. Her cold, sharp eyes cut through the air, the kind that said a thousand words without speaking.
Sean understood the silent message clearly that translated to: "I've had no sales since day one. He's my first customer. Let me have this, or I swear I'll use your card without caring about your credit limit."
Sean froze, realizing she meant every word. With a defeated sigh, he muttered, "Well, you did buy from her… and you're her first sale. So either you come willingly, or I'll…"
Before he could finish, Greta elbowed him gently and whispered, "Be nice. We don't want to scare our first guest in years."
Anton couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the urban legend Battle Mage, completely powerless against his daughter's stare. The tension faded into quiet humor.
Sean scratched the back of his head, embarrassed that Anton had seen this side of him, the mighty mage turned awkward dad. Greta giggled, and soon both men were laughing.
With nothing else to do that afternoon, Anton finally smiled and said, "Alright… dinner it is."
Sean & Greta's Sweet Home
Anton thanked Sean for the invitation. It had been so many years since anyone had invited him to dinner that the warmth almost made him tear up.
Greta noticed and quickly tried to lighten the mood.
"So, drinks?" she said with a cheerful smile. "You know what, why don't you go outside and relax on the balcony? I'll prepare some food. The drinks are in the counter fridge, just by the living room."
She glanced at her father. Her eyes sent a silent message that only Sean could decode: "Make him feel at home."
Her signals weren't something many could understand, but their bond as father and daughter was enough. Even without telepathic magic, Sean got the message.
Sean chuckled. "Anton, cheer up. I didn't know you were a cryer."
Anton wiped his eyes, embarrassed. "Sorry about that… it's been a while."
They moved to the balcony and sat down. The soft evening breeze brushed past them.
Sean leaned back in his chair. "Things were a lot simpler back in high school, huh? College was… a bit rougher."
"Yeah, it was," Anton replied, his voice lowering. He frowned. "Listen, I plan to apologize to everyone I've bullied. Maybe then people can forgive me. I was pressured you know how it was back then. Either I got bullied, or I became the bully."
Sean said nothing at first. He remembered what Anton's actions had caused, students dropping out, some even worse. Sean's chest felt heavy.
Anton sighed. "The day I found out I was a healer, I knew I had to act tough. Otherwise, I'd be the one getting picked on. You know how it was for healing mages."
Sean nodded slowly. He understood too well. Healers were often mocked for their lack of offense. "Well," Sean said softly, "the past is the past. Let's move forward. I heard you went out with James."
"Yeah," Anton said. "I told him about my past, and he went quiet right after. That's actually why I bought the camera to surprise him, he'd been asking the public for it the other day." He laughed lightly. In his thought, disappointed at himself "Here I am buying friendship"
Sean noticed Anton's reaction and tried to change the topic to make him feel better,
"It was under the name Leon Fischer and I can't donate to a deadman's account" Sean scoffed and said. "Of all the identities he could steal… he chose the one and only confirmed the Battle Scholar himself?"
Anton shook his head. "I don't know about that, but he mentioned his sister was dating Leon or something like that."
Sean blinked, wondering, "Dating? I thought the Gentlemen of Scholars were forbidden to da…"
Before he could finish, the glass door slid open.
"Behold!" Greta announced proudly. "My famous sizzling sisig!"
Sean froze, smiling awkwardly to mask the horror in his eyes. He knew how his daughter reacted to criticism… especially about her cooking.
Anton, unaware, took a generous bite. His expression shifted instantly.
Moments later, he was on his way to the infirmary.
---
The evening dinner had to end early
As Anton arrived home, he set his things down and took a quiet breath. He quickly wrote a note for James, wrapping the gift he had bought earlier with careful hands. When he finished, he smiled faintly with a small sense of peace, before heading toward his bed.
But as he leaned forward, a shadow crept over the front side of his body. It stretched unnaturally across the floor, long, cold, and shifting. From the darkness, a shape emerged… revealing a whip-like weapon, gleaming faintly under the dim light.
Before Anton could react, it snapped around his neck.
He gasped, hands clawing desperately at the bed frame, legs kicking in panic as the weapon tightened. The air left his lungs in broken, stuttering gasps.
"Why, Joshua?! I didn't do anything to you!" Anton choked out.
From the darkness, a voice answered calmly, almost detached.
"Sorry. Just following orders."
Anton's eyes widened in disbelief, and said;
"Just because… I didn't answer Dani's call earlier?"
Joshua's grip loosened slightly, but the pressure remained enough to keep Anton alive, enough to make him listen.
Joshua's grin flickered in the dark. "No, no, no," he whispered, almost amused. "Dani's angry at you, sure… but not enough to kill you. He'd rather keep you alive… just to watch you crumble. He's sadistic like that."
Anton's trembling eyes met his. Joshua leaned closer, voice dripping with mock sympathy.
"He told me to watch you. To keep you close, because you got too friendly with James. But the one who ordered your death…" He paused, savoring the shock. "…is Sean."
Joshua laughed a hollow, broken sound. "Sean isn't as kind as you think. He's done worse than Dani ever has. Dani kills and calls it justice. Sean?" His grin widened,
"Sean kills… and calls it love for his family." Heh. "What a sick, rotten father."
The truth struck him all at once. Dani would have never sent Joshua, he would have used his curse magic, Disobedience.
Anton's mind collapsed into a single, unbearable question: why would Sean betray him, after they had shared a meal at the same plate?
The whip constricted violently. The last thing Anton saw was the blur of darkness swallowing the room as his body went limp.
---
Back To Sean & Greta's Sweet Home
At the balcony, Sean stood in silence. The city lights flickered below him faint reflections dancing in his beer bottle.
"Sorry," he muttered, almost to himself. "I hope you understand… it's for my family."
He lifted a small pill from his pocket,
Without hesitation, Sean swallowed it, eyes fixed on the city. The light glinting in his gaze like guilt and resolve tangled into one.
Within seconds, his pulse quickened. A dark warmth spread through his veins, his breath turning shallow.
The lights blurred, the world swayed a dizzy rush of power and pleasure flooding his body.
The Black-Class Mana Booster hit.
Sean smirked faintly, half-drunk on strength, half-lost in guilt.
Greta sat in the corner, tears streaking down her face as the truth sank in, her father had killed Anton.
"It's for the best," she muttered again and again, clutching her knees. "It's for the best…"