Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 283: The Demon’s Curse

"Haha, what a cute theory. You’re always so adorable, Rocco."

"Wha—what?! Why’d you say that all of a sudden?! That’s totally something Laxus would say!"

As expected of Laxus’s father.

His unexpected adorable comment left Rocco completely stunned.

His face turned bright red, and he flailed awkwardly, causing Laxus to puff out his cheeks in a pout and pull him into a tight hug.

Guh—too tight, too tight! Can’t breathe!

"W-Wait. I get that there’s something off about all this. But then... if Ares isn’t the mastermind, who is? Who’s the real villain?"

Rocco furrowed his brows and muttered to himself.

Saying it out loud like that was embarrassing, but he was too curious about the truth to care.

He tugged on Laxus’s sleeve while looking up at him expectantly.

Come on, Laxus, explain it in a way even my dumb brain can understand.

Seeing Rocco’s enthusiasm, Laxus chuckled and patted his head before gently explaining, much like Makarov had earlier.

"Actually, we’ve discovered that an ancient curse was placed on the king’s brother. Well... rather than just the king’s brother, it’s more accurate to say it’s a curse passed down through the royal bloodline."

"...Huh? A curse?"

"Yes, a curse. A possession curse that’s been inherited for generations."

Rocco froze for a moment.

Wait, hold on, what?

The conversation had suddenly taken a very fantastical turn, and he struggled to process it.

Tilting his head in confusion, he asked, What kind of curse?

Laxus suddenly pointed to his own eyes.

Rocco blinked. "Huh? What are you doing? I know your eyes are red."

"Rocco, do you know why red eyes are considered ominous?"

"...Huh? Isn’t it because they’re, like... the color of demons?"

"That’s right." Laxus ruffled Rocco’s hair.

Ahh... that feels nice.

Rocco practically melted under the head pats.

As he looked down at the relaxed Rocco, Laxus narrowed his crimson eyes and continued.

"Then, do you know why demons are feared?"

"Hmm? Uh... because they... chomp people up? Getting eaten would definitely hurt..."

"Aww, that’s adorable! I want to give you a gold star for that answer, but it’s just a little off."

"Gyah! Quit squeezing me so hard! I can’t breathe!"

Even as he flailed in Laxus’s embrace, Rocco couldn’t shake the thought.

Why were demons so feared?

It was such a simple question, yet somehow, it felt deeper than it seemed.

Just hearing the word demon was enough to make people feel uneasy.

Enough to make them want to stay away.

But if someone suddenly asked why demons were feared, could he really give a proper answer?

...Probably not.

Laxus smiled gently at Rocco, who was groaning in frustration as he tried to understand.

"What makes demons so terrifying," Laxus explained, "is that they approach humans with pure malice, forcing them into unfair deals with clear ill intent."

"Ugh, you’re using complicated words again. I have no idea what you just said."

"Ahh, you’re right. Sorry, Rocco, I totally forgot for a second that you’re a bit of an airhead."

Laxus said it so casually that Rocco almost felt bad for not understanding.

He pouted, puffing out his cheeks in frustration, and Laxus quickly tried to comfort him.

Although he always had a habit of adding unnecessary comments, Rocco could tell he genuinely felt bad, so he decided to let it slide with a simple nod.

"In simpler terms," Laxus continued, "demons are evil beings that manipulate humans. But because humans can be foolish, they let themselves be used—sometimes willingly. And that’s often because their goals align with the demon’s."

This time, Laxus’s explanation made more sense.

Rocco nodded enthusiastically and repeated it back.

"So demons are bad. But humans are dumb, so they let themselves get manipulated. And if a human’s goal happens to be the same as a demon’s, even if they know they’re being used, they still obey the evil demon?"

"Wow, Rocco! You’re a genius! Super cool! So smart and adorable!"

"Ehehe, well, I am pretty amazing, aren’t I?"

Rocco couldn’t help but giggle at the praise. Ehehe, guhehe.

Now that Laxus had put it in simpler terms, it was easy to see how devious and cunning demons truly were.

Rocco now understood that demons were undeniably evil.

But why was Laxus telling him this now?

As he pieced everything together in his mind, his super genius cool brain reached a shocking realization.

Wait a second... red eyes were the color of demons.

Which meant... anyone with red eyes was a demon?!

"—Wait! Laxus, you’re not a wolf, you’re a demon!?"

"Aww, so that’s what caught your attention? Not the king’s brother, but me?"

"Kyaaah! Rocco, you’re too cute!"

Rocco had proudly declared the truth, expecting a dramatic reaction—something like, So, you’ve figured it out... I hate sharp-witted brats like you...

But instead, Makarov just gave a wry smile, Laxus clutched his chest in delight, and Sylas covered his mouth, trembling as if trying to hold back laughter.

"What the heck?! Why is everyone reacting like this?!" Rocco huffed in frustration.

...

Since today was a bright, cloudless day, they decided to cancel the tea party at the Del Fiore estate and play outside instead.

Of course, Rocco had already finished most of the snacks Laxus had prepared.

He had even saved a few in a bag to share with his father and Sylas later that evening.

The preparation is complete.

As he stepped into the garden, it almost felt like the flowers were smiling at him, swaying happily in the breeze.

Po-wa po-wa~

They looked so cheerful, which made him happy too.

Good, good.

"Laxus, Laxus! Let’s play tag! Tag!"

Excited, Rocco swung their linked hands back and forth as he looked up at Laxus.

But Laxus only gave him a troubled smile.

"Hmm... but the injury you got from yesterday’s game of tag hasn’t healed yet, has it? Didn’t Sylas forbid you from playing for a while?"

"Guh...!"

Rocco let out a small groan and hung his head.

Laxus was right.