Chapter 11: The Reason
"At that time, I had gained some insights into how to digest potions. I left Backlund after telling your father. I didn't expect that your mother would pass away after giving birth to you, causing Mason to suffer a near-mental breakdown."
"By the time I found out, it was too late. Even though I consulted the Count on methods to digest potions and learned about the 'Acting Method,' there was no way to save Mason's unstable psyche."
Sigh. Rolls sighed internally. His predecessor had died believing that Mason valued work more than his own son; in reality, Mason's mind was simply unstable. But what was the use of knowing now? Both of them were gone.
"Two years ago, your father had Keene Lister send me a message, hoping to see me one last time."
"Was it because Father was dying?"
Byrd Mastang didn't answer the question. His voice grew heavy as he continued, "After receiving Keene's message, my spirituality told me I had to return to Backlund as soon as possible, or I would certainly regret it."
Everyone possessed spirituality and could communicate with the Spirit World—sensing information from higher levels regarding themselves—though ordinary people could not perceive it. When using divination tools, this information manifested through the medium. Even without divination, as a Sequence 5 'Mentor of Confusion,' Byrd Mastang had a very strong grasp of his own spirituality.
"By the time I quietly returned to Backlund, Mason was already at his limit. He had overtaxed his body in his youth, and after becoming a Beyonder, his mental instability added to the physical burden. Combined with his desperate work habits, Mason was like a candle burnt to the wick, liable to go out at any moment."
"Originally, I planned to have Mason take the Sequence 8 'Barbarian' potion to strengthen his body. As for the side effects of the potion, we would have dealt with those later. But Mason refused to take it, so I could only have him drink some healing potions I brought. Even then, it only bought him a little more time."
The "Viscount of Fear," Byrd Mastang, sat in his chair. As if in prayer, he crossed his hands and rested his forehead against them.
Rolls watched silently; it was all he could do.
After a long while, Byrd Mastang straightened up, let out a long breath, and looked at Rolls. "Did you know your father didn't want you to become a Beyonder?"
How could that be? Wasn't it Mason who invited Byrd Mastang back specifically so his predecessor could become a Beyonder?
No, wait. Mason should have known the recipe for the 'Lawyer' potion. If he didn't want Rolls to interact with Byrd Mastang or the Beyonder world, he shouldn't have let him return.
Seeing Rolls's shocked expression, the "Viscount of Fear's" mood improved slightly, but sadness quickly returned. "Your father didn't want you to become a Beyonder. He didn't want you stepping into the Beyonder world; he even wanted me to never contact you again!"
"Why?" Rolls asked. He truly couldn't fathom Mason's reasoning.
"Are you asking why Mason didn't want you to become a Beyonder, or why I ignored his entrustment and made you one anyway?"
"Both."
"Mason said that even if your relationship wasn't good, he believed you could live well without becoming a Beyonder. With Edmund there, the firm wouldn't collapse. Combined with the inheritance he left you, you would never have to live the life we used to lead!"
Rolls didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was this trust or a lack thereof?
"Mason told me that becoming a Beyonder changed his fate, but being a Beyonder also made him what he became. He didn't regret becoming one, but he didn't want you to become one—to become a pathetic wretch who couldn't even interact normally with his own child."
Rolls finally truly understood that saying: We are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wretches constantly fighting against danger and madness. Although Mason wasn't a Nighthawk, once one became a Beyonder, there was no turning back. It was either death or madness.
What a mad and chaotic world!
"I originally intended to follow Mason's wishes. After taking his Beyonder characteristic, I was going to leave Backlund and never return. But I couldn't set my mind at ease. Mason was my last friend in this world, and you are his only child. So I stayed and hid in this secret room."
"I planned to leave once you returned from Tingen and officially took over the firm. But before you could return, Edmund suffered a heart attack upon hearing the news of your father's death. If I hadn't had some leftover potions, Edmund might have died before you even got back."
No wonder Uncle Robert looked so frail and unwell during the funeral in the predecessor's memories.
"I had doubts about Mason's arrangements. After thinking for a night, I decided to make you a Beyonder. Only when power resides within yourself do you have the right to choose."
"So, on the second night after I arrived, you broke in, put on the act of a ferocious pirate, and forced me to become your intelligence scout in Backlund."
Rolls found it quite ironic. His predecessor had been scared to death when forced to become a pirate's informant, only for the truth to be this.
"What do you mean 'put on an act'? I am a pirate! A great pirate worth 18,000 pounds!"
Rolls almost forgot. If Byrd Mastang weren't the second mate of the Black Emperor, his own strength would be enough to make him a Pirate Admiral. After all, "Admiral of Gales" Qilangos was only a Sequence 6 "Wind-Blessed," yet he ranked among the Pirate Admirals thanks to "Creeping Hunger."
"Your relationship with your father was already strained, and I was afraid you'd misunderstand Mason, so I concealed everything about him, thinking I'd explain later. You are different from your father. Now that you've taken the potion, I've told you about the 'Acting Method' so you won't end up like that."
After saying this, the "Viscount of Fear" fell silent, likely thinking of Mason Adrian.
Rolls comforted him, "Father won't blame you. If I hadn't become a Beyonder, I might not be the person I am today."
"Sigh. I stayed here for a week back then. Seeing how much you resisted the Beyonder knowledge I taught you, I had no choice but to leave first, hoping you'd study on your own later. But when I returned a year later, I found this secret room exactly as it was. The books on mysticism I left you were covered in dust."
Byrd Mastang pointed to the books on the desk. The dust had already been cleared away by him using his "Ring of Hurricanes."
"I was a bit resistant to those things at the time because I felt coerced." Rolls felt helpless—he didn't know whether to blame Byrd Mastang's crude methods or his predecessor's stubbornness.