In the evening, Commando was lying comfortably on his bed when Fred came to call him for dinner, gently knocking on the door.
"Young master, dinner is ready."
Commando quickly opened his eyes and replied calmly, "Alright, I'm coming."
It was a family tradition in the Cuadrado household to maintain strong bonds by dining together.
Commando got up quickly, took a shower, changed his clothes, and stood in front of the mirror.
He looked at himself, seeing the reflection of a young man with short, shiny black hair and sky-blue eyes. But Commando paid no attention to his handsome appearance; this was how he had looked at the age of 23.
He sighed heavily, staring into the mirror.
"You scoundrel, how I wish I could crush this version of myself," he said bitterly, recalling how his recklessness had led to his family's downfall and how his childish actions had caused it all.
He smiled faintly and said, "This time, it will be different."
As he descended the stairs, he saw his father and mother seated at a large table with eight chairs. His father sat at the head of the table, and his mother was beside him.
Commando froze upon seeing his father, his body trembling as he struggled to hold himself back from rushing to him.
He took his seat, feeling the sharp gaze of his father and the worried look from his mother.
Leonard Cuadrado spoke calmly, though his voice carried immense authority.
"Tell me, young man, when do you plan to take responsibility as the heir to this family?"
"You refused to attend the academy, and we didn't object. You even rejected the marriage arrangements your mother tried to secure, and I didn't object. Don't blame anyone but yourself for your weakness. Your mentor is not at fault," Leonard said with slight anger, as he despised seeing his heir weak while enemies circled the family like vultures.
Commando remained silent, lost in his memories.
He had declined to join the Storm Academy out of fear of confrontations, as the academy's system thrived on competition and a clear hierarchical structure.
What a cowardly and pathetic person I was, Commando thought angrily.
He looked directly into his father's eyes, a surprising act for Leonard, who was used to his son being too frightened to even meet his gaze.
"I apologize. I was wrong," Commando said clearly, referring to his dispute with his mentor. But deep down, it was a heartfelt apology for his past mistakes and his failure to protect his family.
Leonard stared at Commando for a moment before responding calmly, "Fine. But from now on, I will be your trainer."
"Hey, you idiot, stop scaring the boy with your gloomy expressions and intense stares!" a voice interrupted.
It was a man in a black robe with a red cloak, white hair, and a long beard. His face exuded wisdom.
It was Christopher Cuadrado, the true head of the family, Leonard's father, and Commando's grandfather.
"Damn it, I don't even know how I fathered such a grouch," Christopher remarked as he suddenly appeared in the seat opposite Leonard's.
Christopher was an SS+ ranked mage with mastery over nine magical circles, distinguished by his unique command of spatial magic.
"I understand, Father," Leonard said, sighing deeply. "But the boy must feel the weight of his role in this family."
Christopher glanced at Leonard, then turned his gaze to Commando.
"Well, boy, the grouch is right. Stop being lazy and start training with your father," Christopher said, his tone calm but firm.
Commando replied with equal calmness, "I have no objections. I've truly decided to stop shirking my responsibilities and to earn the right to be the heir."
Christopher looked deeply into Commando's eyes, recognizing his determination and sincerity.
"It seems you're honest, boy. But don't pick up your father's brooding habits; I've had enough sorrow from you all after my death," Christopher said, laughing loudly, causing the table to shake.
Leonard immediately released his aura to prevent the mana from breaking the table.
Commando stifled a laugh, unable to respond under his father's stern gaze.
Christopher eventually calmed the mana around him, and Leonard retracted his aura.
"Tsk, damn you! You always activate your aura immediately, hand on your sword. You'll die young at this rate," Christopher said with a smile, though his words carried an unspoken warning. Leonard understood his father's concern, as Christopher hated seeing how distrustful and joyless Leonard had become since their family had fallen from middle-ranked nobility to one of the lower-ranked families due to various conspiracies.
"Don't worry. I won't kill anyone out of mere suspicion," Leonard replied calmly, acknowledging his father's concern.
Finally, the family began eating quietly. Commando's mother, Selene, looked at her son with a mix of sadness and anger.
Commando's cowardice had stemmed from an incident when he accompanied his father to an auction in Dawn City on the continent of Kayon.
They were ambushed, surrounded by artifacts designed to block communication, cutting off any contact with Christopher.
Trapped in an isolated forest, they took refuge in a cave. Leonard fought relentlessly for ten days straight against numerous S and SS-ranked hunters. Many of their escorts had perished in the surprise attack.
In the end, only Commando, Leonard, and 20 Shadow Guards remained, battling dozens of enemies daily. The enemy numbers grew until Leonard finally broke the barrier, allowing Christopher and the hunters of Kayon to locate them. The remaining attackers were annihilated, but their leader destroyed the portal to conceal who was behind the assault.
Only Commando, Leonard, and four Shadow Guards survived. It was a devastating blow to the Cuadrado family, as the Shadow Guards were elite bodyguards raised from childhood to protect the family.
This traumatic event turned Commando into a coward. He had witnessed countless allies slaughtered before his eyes, even seeing his father lose an arm. The sheer terror he experienced was unimaginable.
Selene sighed softly, continuing her meal while smiling at her son.
Commando looked into his mother's crimson eyes, recalling how she had sacrificed herself in the past to save him.
He clenched his fists tightly, fury rising as he remembered the day his family was destroyed.
You bastards, just wait a little longer. I'll eradicate you before the monsters do, he thought with seething anger.