Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 146: The Gala and the Wolf’s Crest

"Father! Thank you so much! I love you!"

"Urgh..." His father made a strangled sound, clearly overwhelmed by his tight hug.

"Oh no, Rocco, please! Go easy on him," Strasbourg pleaded, "or the master might just die of joy!"

...

"Why, exactly, is Rocco attending the gala that was filled with those conniving foxes?"

Sylas was glaring at their father with sharp looks.

Observing the tension, Rocco began trembling, his wide, tearful eyes betraying his sense of guilt.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that he was, in fact, the reason behind this confrontation.

This was his first gala, and he had no idea what to expect.

However, the excitement had spurred him to dress up for the occasion.

Rocco looked every bit like a child bursting with anticipation, from his carefully styled pompadour to the cheerful yellow flower clip holding back his bangs.

Yet, the anxiety made his pompadour tremble ever so slightly, and even the flower clip seemed to lose some of its color, as if mirroring his nerves.

"Calm yourself," his father said firmly. "As a father, I simply chose to generously grant my child’s wish."

"Excuse me?" Sylas’s voice dripped with skepticism. "Normally, you’d never allow something like this. Are you seriously claiming that, of all things, you just happened to feel indulgent about a request involving the Del Fiores? If senility has taken hold, perhaps it’s time to step down as head of the family."

"Mind your tongue, Sylas. Think this through. If only the eldest son attends, what does that say about Rocco’s standing as the second son? The Di Malventos already have a reputation for neglecting Rocco in the past. Do you really want to reinforce that perception?"

Sylas froze at the words, inhaling sharply.

Rocco glanced sideways at his father, squinting in suspicion.

He definitely made that excuse up on the spot, Rocco thought, recalling their earlier conversation.

However, his father ignored the pointed look with masterful nonchalance.

If he’d really been considering that all along, Rocco mused, then why was I always left behind during previous meetings and events?

Although such thoughts bubbled to the surface, Rocco decided to keep them to himself.

"...Very well," Sylas said at last, exhaling deeply. He extended a hand toward Rocco. "Come, Rocco. You’ll ride with your big brother in the carriage."

"Hold on," their father interjected. "I’ll be riding in the same carriage."

Sylas huffed, turning his back on their father in a show of defiance.

Still, he held Rocco’s hand firmly as they climbed into the carriage.

Once inside, Sylas promptly closed the door behind them.

Moments later, the door swung open again as their father stepped inside without hesitation.

There was only one carriage to begin with, of course, so it was clear that all three of them were meant to ride the carriage together.

Sylas was the meticulous type, he was unlikely to forget such a basic arrangement.

Rocco could only assume his older brother was still sulking about the earlier argument with their father.

With a faint sigh, he sat quietly, the tension in the carriage palpable.

Thus, the evening of the Del Fiore family’s gala arrived.

Rocco had only read descriptions of the Del Fiore estate in the novel—there were no illustrations—so tonight marked his first chance to see the grand residence in person.

The Del Fiore manor stood surrounded by an expansive garden, almost like a fortress.

In fact, "castle" might have been a more fitting term than "manor."

Unlike the Di Malvento residence, which was shrouded in dark tones and carried the ominous air of a demon king’s lair, the Del Fiore estate gleamed in pure white, exuding a mystical elegance.

The path from the front gate to the entrance was long and lined with ornate features, including a magnificent fountain.

The fountain’s centerpiece was a statue shaped like an animal, and Rocco tilted his head in curiosity as he gazed up at it.

"Why an animal statue?" Rocco wondered aloud, blinking in confusion.

Noticing his interest, Sylas reached out to gently pat Rocco’s head and spoke in a low voice.

"That’s a wolf statue. Rocco, have you ever seen the Del Fiore family crest?"

"Wolf? Crest?"

Rocco shook his head, looking puzzled.

What’s that?

The Del Fiore family crest hadn’t been described in the novel, which probably meant it wasn’t a critical detail to the story.

Shrugging it off as unimportant, Rocco gave a blank blink and prepared to let the topic slide.

"The Del Fiore family crest features a wolf and chains prominently. Look over there—you can see it on the flag."

Sylas pointed to a flag fluttering in the distance.

Wolf and chains?

That sounds like something out of a creepy obsession trope, Rocco thought, his inner reader’s perspective coloring his impression.

He followed Sylas’s gesture to the flag.

Sure enough, a single wolf with bared fangs was depicted, encircled by chains.

Upon closer inspection, there were also images of guns and swords, further adding to the grim and obsessive aura the design seemed to radiate.

"Ugh, it’s scary... My Mr. Bunny thinks so too," Rocco murmured while clutching his Mr. Bunny tightly.

He shivered slightly, as if even the crest’s image could send chills down his spine.

"I’m sorry if it frightened you," Sylas said softly. "You don’t need to look at that flag again. Just keep your eyes on me."

As Rocco trembled, clutching his Mr. Bunny tightly, the memory of Laxus’s obsessive behavior from the original story crept back into his mind and sending chills down his spine.

Sylas noticing Rocco’s fearful state, immediately blocked his line of sight to the flag and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

It was hard for Rocco to reconcile the strong, reliable Sylas standing before him with the image of a man who would someday fall victim to Laxus’s possessive obsession.

The Sylas he knew wasn’t the type to be overpowered—he exuded the calm authority of someone who would normally take control in any situation.