“What on earth?”
Theren’s movements were not bad.
No, that wasn’t quite it—they were excellent.
It was hard to believe his age given how well he mastered the fundamentals of combat.
One could guess the grueling practice he had undergone just from his actions.
On the other hand, that reckless man’s movements were a mess.
“Clumsy, like he didn’t know the basics of fighting.”
Yet, despite that.
“He was strong. Overwhelmingly so.”
Melin was shocked to realize why.
“He completely saw through the flow of the fight.”
Theren’s attacks were strong and fast.
But they did not connect.
On the other hand, Christian ‘s attacks were sloppy.
Yet they struck Theren without fail.
It was because Christian had predicted every one of Theren’s moves.
Whether by intellect or intuition.
“Such an ability would be impossible without a natural talent for combat.”
But the true reason for her shock was something else.
“At the last moment. He struck the weakest point of the magic and disrupted it.”
It was unthinkable.
It was theoretically possible.
Keen observation, a reaction speed that could respond in an instant, a sense not to miss that vulnerability.
All of these factors combined made it possible.
Essentially, it was as close to impossible as it gets.
“That this uncultured fool, who hadn’t even properly accumulated his magic, could do such a thing?”
It was hard to believe.
She even doubted whether she was seeing things.
In a moment, Melin thought of one word.
“A genius… perhaps?”
It wasn’t strange.
Descendants of the Dark Magus lineage were all born with exceptional talents.
That’s why they were one of the twelve pillars that supported the Magic Empire.
“Now that I think about it, this fool was also called a genius in his childhood. Hard to believe now, though.”
In a prestigious Magus Family, being called a genius really meant something.
“But, even for a genius, is such a thing possible?”
Melin was confused.
She couldn’t guess how extraordinary a genius would have to be to do this.
“Perhaps he might even surpass Prince Ashed de Balran.”
Ashed de Balran!
As his middle name indicated, he was a legitimate heir of the Dark Magus main house.
Called the greatest genius among the Dark Magus’s next generation and effectively the successor.
“No, I am just overthinking. What comparison could there be with him?”
Even if Christian was such a genius, it was too late.
While Christian wasted his time in debauchery, other peers were soaring ahead.
An insurmountable gap had already formed.
“It seems he’s come to his senses, although late.”
Melin glanced at Christian .
He was earnestly running laps in the training ground.
How many rounds now?
Twenty? No, maybe over thirty. He had been running nonstop for quite some time.
Surprisingly tenacious.
Melin shook her head.
“Pity. It’s already too late.”
The time when you started training was a critical factor in achieving success.
The later you start, the more rigid your core and blood vessels become.
There were limits to what he could achieve.
Christian was fifteen years old, a significantly late age to start.
“At best, he might reach the level of a 3 or 4-star.”
Melin thought to herself.
“How long will it take to reach one star? At least a year, right? No, since he started late, it might take well over two years. Moreover, there are handicaps.”
Handicaps.
In the past, Christian had learned magic.
At that time, he had reached the level of two stars.
This unprecedented rapid achievement even stirred the main house of the Dark Magus, but the genius became arrogant and disrupted all the magic he had accumulated through his dissolute lifestyle.
Once magic is lost, rebuilding it becomes many times harder.
“Such a waste of talent.”
Melin ‘tsk’ her tongue as she looked at Christian .
* * *
And a few days later.
“Now, am I at 1-star?”
Christian took a deep breath in his room.
A new vessel had formed in his core of darkness.
He had also reached the level of 1-star in the path of magic.
“Not being used to magic, it took a long time.”
It took a long time.
Others would have been shocked and cursed at hearing this.
Even for those with talent, reaching 1-star usually takes at least six months.
“The remnants of the magic I previously learned lingered, which took longer. Without them, I would have reached this point faster.”
Christian concentrated magic in his hand.
“This feels awkward.”
Faint black energy gathered and then dispersed.
“Can’t they be used together?”
Christian tried manifesting both the light’s ‘mana’ and the darkness’s ‘magi’ in each hand.
It worked.
On one side, a bright aura of light gathered, and on the other, a dark energy swirled.
“The strain on my blood vessels makes it too difficult to use both powers in combat right now. I’ll need to advance further before I can use both simultaneously.”
Christian leaned back in his chair and pressed the buzzer.
Then, a spooky voice responded.
[Did you call me, young master?]
A faint figure, almost like a ghost.
No, not ‘like’—it was a real ghost.
It was a banshee, a notorious spirit!
Christian inwardly swore.
“Crazy, using a banshee as a maid. Even for a Magus Family, that’s too much.”
He had gotten used to it now, but he was terrified when a banshee appeared as a maid at first.
Even more disturbing, the banshee wore a maid outfit and had a deceptively pure and pretty appearance.
“I’ll definitely change it later. To a human servant.”
Even in the Magic Empire, employing a ghost as a servant was not common.
Originally, his maid was human.
But after the previous Christian repeatedly harassed his servants and maids, an enraged Count Kazar appointed the banshee as Christian ‘s personal maid.
[Young… master… What… do you need?]
“Bring me some juice.”
[Would you like… virgin’s blood… juice?]
“…Strawberry juice.”
[Virgin’s blood… juice is quite tasty, right?]
“…Just bring me strawberry.”
No one drinks virgin’s blood juice.
Although the banshee was joking, it didn’t feel like a joke coming from a ghost.
The banshee cackled and disappeared, soon returning with strawberry juice.
“Still, this is nice.”
Christian sipped his strawberry juice through a straw and thought.
“This prosperity. It’s what I’ve desired.”
Everything he wanted just appeared.
Clothes, bed, food—all were splendid.
Except for having a banshee as a maid, it was indeed the life he had longed for in his previous life.
“I can’t be satisfied with just this. I’ll ascend to the top of the Magic Empire and enjoy the ultimate wealth and glory.”
Christian rose from his seat with that thought in mind.
He planned to head to the training grounds.
In truth, as a naturally lazy genius, he didn’t enjoy such strenuous training, but he had goals to achieve.
“Wealth and glory, fight on!”
He mentally cheered himself and made his way to the training grounds.
However, just as he was about to leave the mansion, he heard someone call out to him.
“Are you heading to the training grounds again, young master?”
A chillingly pale complexion.
Sharp fangs.
It was Cox, the half-vampire butler of the Count Kazar family.
Typically vampiric in appearance with sharp features, but a gentle smile softened his overall expression.
“Yes, I’m about to go now.”
“I worry that you might be overexerting yourself.”
Cox quickly shook his head.
“Oh, of course, I’m overjoyed and proud that you are diligent, young master. I, Cox, have never stopped believing in you, even when others pointed fingers at you.”
Christian simply smiled at those words.
“Look at this guy?”
The tone was quite arrogant.
His gaze… seemed to care for Christian but what really was in his heart?
“What do you believe?”
“Pardon?”
“I never asked you to believe in me. Who are you to believe in me and talk about giving up or whatever?”
“!!”
Cox gasped.
Only then did he truly see Christian in a new perspective.
A completely different aura.
The disheveled waste appearance was nowhere to be seen.
His eyes were confident, and a noble dignity, previously forgotten, now emanated from him.
A prideful look fell on Cox.
“Be careful next time.”
“My, my apologies.”
The butler hastily turned his back and disappeared, and Chris’s gaze deepened as he watched him leave.
“That guy… something stinks about him.”
Deciding to keep an eye on him, Christian continued to the training grounds.
Upon his arrival, the grounds quieted down.
Glances were stealthily directed at him.
“The stares have become much softer than before.”
As time passed and he refrained from any outbursts, training quietly in a corner, the others began to look at him differently.
Some even harbored friendly feelings.
“Could it be, has that waste really changed?”
“Something’s different now, isn’t it?”
But not everyone felt the same.
“He’s just shining for now.”
“Just wait and see. He’ll slack off again before long.”
It hadn’t even been a week.
It was too short a time for people’s minds to change.
The knights still openly sneered at Christian .
“If it weren’t for his status, I’d have half-killed that scum by now.”
A knight laughed harshly when he said this.
A different response came back this time.
“Are you done talking?”
“!!”
It was Christian .
The knight who had just been bad-mouthing him inhaled sharply.
“You, what’s your name?”
“…Canin. I’m a squire of the Black Marsh Knights.”
Squire, a term used for a knight in training.
Christian nodded.
“Alright, Canin. Repeat what you just said to me.”
“……”
Canin’s face stiffened.
Christian grinned mockingly.
“What? Hard to say to my face? Squire Canin, do you know what they call people like you?”
“……”
“A cowardly wretch.”
“!!”
Canin’s face flushed with anger.
“That’s harsh.”
“Harsh? You, who slander behind backs, think you have the right to say that?”
Christian shrugged.
“Pick up a wooden sword.”
“…Pardon?”
“You and I, both our honors are at stake, aren’t they? There’s only one way to resolve this.”
Christian twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Let’s settle it through strength. As befits a knight.”
It was time to start winning over the knights.
Through strength.
* * *
The impromptu duel stirred the hall into commotion.
“Vice Captain, look at that.”
“Leave it be.”
“But?”
The knight who tried to intervene was flustered.
This duel was different from the last.
Although it was with wooden swords, there were no restrictions on magic use.
Christian could seriously get hurt.
But Melin spoke coldly.
“If he’s staked his knight’s honor, he’ll manage. If he has the strength, he’ll protect his honor.”
Melin watched Christian intently.
“If not, he’ll pay the appropriate price.”
In fact, Melin wanted to see.
What kind of battle Christian would show.
“I really do have vain hopes,” she thought to herself, shaking her head.
Despite his outstanding talent shown in the last duel, what kind of unrealistic expectations was she holding?
No, she even doubted whether what she had seen before was accurate.
It had been too unbelievable.
***
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.
