The sound of the door opening spread uncomfortably.
His nerves were on edge at the thought of facing his son.
“He’s surely a mess.”
Count Kazar muttered under his breath.
He swung the door wide open, crushing any expectation.
“!!!”
Count Kazar’s eyes widened.
“You…?”
An unbelievable sight unfolded before him.
“You’ve come.”
His son, Christian, was seating there.
With a changed demeanor, deep gaze.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Silence ensued.
Count Kazar stared at him as if he couldn’t believe it for a long time.
“You must be surprised. Well, you couldn’t have imagined I’d come out of this unscathed.”
Christian twisted his lips.
“I told you, I’d come out changed.”
“……”
Count Kazar didn’t respond.
Contrary to his worries, there was no sign of intoxication with the dreamstone.
No, rather, what’s with that confident look?
‘Have I ever seen him look like that before?’
He couldn’t recall.
It was the first time he saw such a demeanor, after the distant past when he was full of energy.
But Count Kazar didn’t let his guard down.
Just with this appearance, he couldn’t bring himself to trust his son, as the disappointment accumulated over the years was too much.
“I still don’t trust you.”
“……”
“You might relapse into your old ways anytime. Just like before.”
In truth, it wasn’t the first time his son had shown some remorse.
But whenever there was a glimmer of improvement, it inevitably led to even greater disappointment.
“But this time feels a bit different… No, no. Why am I even trying to hope?”
Count Kazar forcibly suppressed the rising hope in his heart.
Christian shrugged.
“I have one request, Father.”
“A request?”
“Yes. Since I’ve worked hard to change, it wouldn’t hurt to grant a small favor. Please allow me to use the Black Marsh Knights’ training grounds.”
“!!”
Count Kazar’s face showed astonishment.
The Black Marsh Knights were led by one of the three Generals.
Called the Trident of Darkness, and one of them was in Count Kazar’s Black Marsh Knights.
“The Black Marsh Knights isn’t a place for someone like you to enter recklessly.”
The Black Marsh Knights belonged to both Count Kazar as a branch family and the main family.
So, even if Christian was Count Kazar’s son, he couldn’t enter the Black Marsh Knights as he pleased.
“It’s not about seeking recognition as your son. I just want to borrow the training grounds.”
“……”
“I thought witnessing the training of the Black Marsh Knights might be motivating. Is that too much to ask?”
He needed to build up his strength.
Even if he had undergone a transformation, he still needed physical training.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
He intended to learn the secrets of the Black Marsh Knights while using their training grounds.
How?
Simple.
“By watching it.”
For a rascal like him, they wouldn’t readily teach the family’s secrets, so he planned to learn by observing.
Christian had learned many skills by observing rather than formally learning from someone.
Instead of directly teaching the family’s secrets to a rascal like him, Count Kazar thought it was possible that Christian intended to gain access to the library to steal something.
He looked at Christian suspiciously for a long time before replying.
“If you show any disgraceful behavior in front of the Black Marsh Knights, be prepared.”
Christian grinned.
It was an agreement.
“I have one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Please grant me access to the Black Marsh Library.”
The Library.
Where books were stored.
However, the Black Marsh Library was different from a typical one.
‘It houses Count Kazar’s dark magic spells.’
Naturally, only those permitted could enter.
Count Kazar chuckled bitterly.
“You’re asking me to open the library for you? Are you out of your mind?”
“I have the bloodline of our family, don’t I? That should qualify me.”
“You’ve already thrown away that qualification. Don’t you remember the time when you tried selling the Library’s assistant to the black market?”
“……”
Count Kazar even harbored such suspicion.
Was Christian showing this neat appearance to gain access to the library for thievery?
It might be an excessive suspicion, but it was entirely possible for Christian, who was notorious.
“Bring a recommendation letter from Melin. Then I’ll open the library for you.”
Melin.
The Vice Commander of the Black Marsh Knights.
He was a Knight from the main family of the Dark Magus, with an extremely pragmatic personality, viewing the weak, especially incompetent rascals, with contempt.
Asking for a recommendation from him meant Count Kazar had no intention of opening the library.
However,
“Understood. I’ll do that.”
Christian nodded as if it was only natural.
“Then I’ll go. Can I start using the training grounds from today?”
“…Fine.”
Christian disappeared towards the mansion, his footsteps noticeably different from before, leaving Count Kazar in confusion.
***
Christian headed straight to the training ground after washing up and having a meal.
As he arrived, the training ground fell silent as if a mouse had died.
They stopped training and stared at him quietly.
“It feels awkward to see so many elites gathered like this.”
As befitting the knights boasted by the Dark Magus, they were all elite minds.
Not only humans but also plenty of dark-attribute races, just like the Magic Empire.
Lycantropes, vampires, dark elves, and so on.
All of them seemed to be at least of 2-star rank, with a considerable number of 3-star and rare 4-star class powerhouses.
“Just a bunch of knightly orders, and they’re only at this level. Outside, knightly orders of the kingdom should reach this level.”
As Christian shook his head, the rough voices of the minds reached his ears.
“What’s up with that guy?”
“Isn’t he the idiotic young mastet? Why is he here?”
Even though he was the son of a count, such open insults were surprising.
Out there, it might be unimaginable, but this is the Magic Empire.
Strength is everything here.
Therefore, the weak are not treated well.
Even if they have a high status.
Especially if their behavior is as messy as his.
‘I’ve never dared to misbehave in front of the knights of the Black Marsh.’
At that moment, a more aggressive voice was heard.
“Where do you think this is, for someone like you to dare? Get out of here right now.”
When he turned his head, he saw a familiar face.
His younger brother, Theren.
‘He must have been trained by the Knights of the Black Marsh. Well, since he was being treated as the de facto heir, it makes sense.’
Theren growled with eyes full of anger.
“This is not a place for scum like you to come recklessly.”
Christian crossed his arms.
It wasn’t particularly intimidating.
“It must be tiring to keep growling like that.”
“Theren, are you criticizing the Count?”
“What did you say?”
Christian twisted his lips.
Almost scornfully.
“It was the Count who allowed me to enter the training ground. But your words… seem to criticize the Count’s decision as if he made a wrong decision.”
Theren became speechless.
Even if he becomes a notorious mind later on, for now, he is just a brat, so it’s obviously impossible to deal with Christian verbally.
But then another voice was heard.
“I respect the Count’s decision, but honestly, I don’t find you trustworthy.”
“!!”
Christian was taken aback.
It felt like the others paled in comparison to the overwhelming magic of this one.
When he turned his head, he saw a beautiful and seductive woman standing there.
“Vice Commander Melin!”
She was the notorious Vice Commander of the Black Marsh Knights.
Melin had a smiling face, but her powerful magic overwhelmed Christian.
It was an attempt to suppress him with force.
It would have been intimidating if it were the original Christian.
But Christian calmed his breath and casually lowered his head.
“I greet Vice Commander.”
“……”
Vice Commander Melin’s gaze changed for a moment.
‘Did he endure this?’
Vice Commander Melin deliberately exerted pressure.
Sharing the training ground with such a troublemaker like him. Although she nodded her head reluctantly, she was determined to chase him away as soon as possible.
But Christian didn’t even flinch.
Seeing Melin’s surprised expression, Christian sighed inwardly.
‘Familiar with this kind of threat?’
Powerful people always boast of their strength whenever they meet.
During the era of destruction, he had been subjected to such boasts of power so often that he naturally developed coping skills.
“Anyway, understood. Since Vice Commander also said so, let’s make a deal. I will prove that I have the right to use this training ground.”
“If it’s proof…”
“If it’s proof for the minds, there’s one.”
Christian shrugged his shoulders.
“Right, strength.”
“!!”
“I’ll prove it right now by competing with one of the minds here.”
His words caused a stir in the hall.
People thought that idiot had lost his mind.
Melin’s face turned unpleasant.
“You’re going too far. Even though you’re a precious young master, you shouldn’t think you can insult the Black Marsh Knights and get away with it.”
She seemed to regard Christian’s duel proposal as a foolish joke.
“It’s not a joke. However, there are two conditions. The first is to let me duel using only the pure physical abilities without using magic. As you know, I’ve lost control of magic due to my previous dissolute life.”
“……”
“Oh, and preferably without using weapons. As you know, it’s been too long since I’ve held a sword.”
Melin looked bewildered.
“You ask for a lot. What’s the second condition?”
“To let me choose my opponent.”
Melin nodded.
Even if she picked the weakest among the Black Marsh Knights, they would still be several times stronger than that fool.
Christian turned to the young boy standing next to Melin with a deeply furrowed brow.
“Theren, it’s you.”
“What did you say?”
“You’re my opponent.”
Theren had a blank face.
Christian grinned.
“Let’s have a deep conversation between brothers this time.”
Of course, he meant a conversation with fists.
***
The room fell silent.
No one understood Christian’s words, they just blinked their eyes.
After a moment.
“Is that crazy guy finally going completely crazy?”
“Do these days’ scoundrels try to commit suicide like that?”
The knights murmured in bewilderment.
Everyone’s reaction was that Christian had lost it.
The one pointed out, Theren, was flushing with anger.
It was a face of extreme rage, as if feeling deeply insulted.
“How… dare you!”
***
Here is the Glossary/ Characters/ Settings of this novel!
If you have any suggestion for better names or words, feel free to share your suggestions! All the names and words chosen are all due to my own judgement, so some wording may not be to your taste.
