Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 126: Rocco’s Resolve

Swallowing his nervousness, Rocco nodded his head again and decided to explain his reasoning, even if his chances were slim.

"I mean, I’m super cool and strong, but... to be honest, compared to Father and my brother, I’m still pretty weak, right? And that really frustrates me," Rocco admitted, his voice trailing off with a hint of self-doubt.

Georgio listened attentively, his expression serious at first.

But there was a slight furrow in his brow, as if he were struggling to process something.

"Cool... strong?" he seemed to be silently questioning, his confusion evident.

Rocco frowned.

Did Georgio have a problem with his self-assessment?

"I don’t want to be a burden to anyone, so I want to get stronger!" Rocco declared with a dramatic flourish, striking a pose that could have come straight out of a shonen manga.

His eyes practically sparkled with determination as he stood up from the sofa, his fists clenched and his chest puffed out.

Georgio, however, froze.

For a few seconds, he stared at Rocco in silence, his expression unreadable.

Rocco shifted nervously, unsure of what Georgio was thinking.

After a tense moment, Georgio stood up abruptly, scooped Rocco into his arms without a word, and walked out of the captain’s office.

"Uh... Georgio? Where are we going?" Rocco asked, dangling helplessly in Georgio’s grip, thrown over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

His view of Georgio’s back filled his vision, and he let his limbs go limp, confused by the sudden turn of events.

As Georgio carried him through the halls, muffled voices of the Assassin Squad reached Rocco’s ears.

His heart skipped a beat.

Was Georgio actually taking him to join their training?

Was he about to become a super-elite assassin?

Rocco grinned to himself, puffing up with pride at the thought.

However, just as he was about to revel in his imagined future glory, Georgio abruptly set him down with a soft "thud."

"Alright, Georgio!" Rocco exclaimed, ready to dive into training. "I’m all set! What do we start with firs—"

Creak... Slam!

Rocco’s triumphant declaration was cut off as Georgio, still smiling gently, turned around and shut the massive doors to the training hall behind him.

The sound of the heavy doors slamming echoed in the hall, leaving Rocco standing there, his mouth slightly open in stunned silence.

What... just happened?

"...Huh?"

Rocco froze mid-pose, still brimming with confidence, only for reality to hit him like a brick wall.

Standing alone in the silent corridor on the third basement floor, he blinked at the massive doors now closed in front of him.

From beyond the door, Georgio’s voice rang out, calm yet brutally honest.

"Sorry, Master. I hate to say this, but... you don’t have any talent for combat. Like, none. Not even a speck. Less than the odds of a cataclysmic event happening tomorrow."

"Wh-what?! No way!!" Rocco gasped in despair, his eyes wide with shock.

He dropped to his knees on the cold floor, his head hanging low.

His face contorted into a mask of heartbreak and disappointment.

Georgio’s words had gutted him so thoroughly that he couldn’t even summon the energy to retort.

All his confidence had been mercilessly drained away.

As Georgio’s footsteps grew fainter, his final words, "Take care when you heading back, okay?" lingered in the air like a mocking echo.

Rocco remained kneeling, wallowing in his misery, his tears pooling on the cold, hard ground.

"This is too much! Too cruel!" he wailed, his voice echoing down the empty corridor.

He sobbed uncontrollably, casting aside any shred of dignity or pride he might have had.

As tears and frustration poured out of him, the overwhelming despair that had gripped him began to subside just a little.

Sniffling loudly, he finally took a shaky breath, his cries growing quieter.

Still, his face was a tear-streaked mess, with snot running freely, as he trudged back to the surface.

His steps were slow and heavy, his heart weighed down by rejection.

"Sniff... hic... ughhh... bwaaahhh!"

Rocco’s crying was loud and ugly, but at least he had the solitude to let it all out.

Upon reaching the surface, he had immediately sought refuge in a shadowy, deserted corner of the estate.

Hidden from prying eyes, he let his emotions loose.

If someone happened to pass by this area right now, they’d surely be shocked to hear such an ugly, pitiful sobbing sound echoing through the quiet.

That thought alone brought a twinge of guilt and unease to Rocco’s mind.

Still, he didn’t have the emotional energy to worry about anyone else right now.

All he could do was face the harsh reality of his situation and cry his heart out.

After all, he was just a weak, whimpering side character who could only bawl like a baby.

Minutes passed—maybe even tens of minutes—as Rocco sat hunched in the shadows, tears flowing freely.

Eventually, exhaustion set in, and he found himself growing drowsy, his swollen, red eyes slowly drifting shut.

Just as he was on the verge of dozing off, a familiar sound cut through the quiet, soft yet distinct.

"Wuff~"

Rocco’s head snapped up, his drowsiness instantly forgotten.

He looked around frantically, his heart pounding with sudden hope.

That sound! He knew it!

His cheeks flushed with excitement as the sound came again, this time closer than before.

"Wuff~"

"Ah! There you are, Laxus!"

At his feet, a tiny bundle of white fur wobbled around, its movements clumsy yet endearing.

Rocco’s face lit up with joy, his eyes sparkling as he scooped the little creature into his arms.

The small, fluffy dog wagged its tail furiously and leaned in to lick Rocco’s cheek.

"Wah! Haha, that tickles!" Rocco giggled, squirming as Laxus’s tongue playfully brushed his cheek and lips, leaving his face damp but his heart lighter.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the little white furball transformed with a soft pop, taking on the shape of a human.

"Whoa!"

"Rocco, it’s been a while. How have you been?"