“I’ve been watching you closely these past days…”
“How did I do?”
“You were impressive. Honestly, I was amazed.”
Melin nodded approvingly.
Over the past month.
There was nothing that wasn’t impressive.
Not only his remarkable achievements in such a short time, but what was particularly striking was how he had handled catching Cox.
Christian had not only demonstrated his exceptional talent as a warrior, but he had also proven his profound strategic depth.
“I’m glad you think so. Do I pass?”
Melin had decided to observe him for a month before deciding whether to align herself with him.
“No, not yet.”
Melin shook her head.
“The most important thing hasn’t been confirmed yet. That is, strength.”
Melin’s blue eyes glowed in the darkness.
“After all, as a mage, I cannot kneel to someone weaker than myself.”
Melin’s aura intensified.
Indeed, an upper 4-star.
Approaching the 5-star, her full power wasn’t even revealed, yet Christian felt his body tense instinctively.
It was a natural physical response.
“I believe the promised month hasn’t fully passed yet.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
She licked her lips as if disappointed.
“I’ve been eagerly waiting for the appointed time. I have high expectations.”
Melin recalled the day she had dueled with Christian.
Despite being completely outmatched, Christian had seized a momentary lapse to win. The thrill she felt when she was caught off guard was still vivid in her memory.
What would he show this time?
The anticipation was electrifying.
“If you fail to meet my expectations, I won’t have to kneel to you.”
Christian nodded.
“Understood. May I set one condition, though?”
“What is it? Are you going to suggest we limit the power again?”
Melin asked with a slight look of disappointment.
But Christian was talking about something entirely different.
“No. On the day of our duel, let’s fight without any restrictions at all.”
“!!”
“Not just freeing up the use of magic, but like a real battle.”
Melin’s eyes widened.
Like a real battle.
Using every means available.
Although this was a welcome condition for her, who preferred the thrill of a real fight to a structured friendly duel, she tilted her head in confusion.
“I have no reason to oppose. But that would put you at a greater disadvantage.”
“Don’t worry about that. So, you agree?”
Melin frowned, unable to understand Christian’s true intentions, and then smirked slightly.
It seemed he was scheming something, but it didn’t really matter to her.
The difference in their power was absolute, and no cunning plan could bridge that gap.
“Do as you wish. I won’t care what you try. Just one piece of advice, though,” she said with a sly grin.
It was the smile of a predator eyeing its prey.
“Make sure you fight hard and entertain me.”
With those words, Melin disappeared, and Christian muttered to himself.
“Such an unreasonable woman.”
Christian glanced at his forearm.
His body was still instinctively tense from Melin’s intimidating presence.
The absolute difference in power was clear.
It was doubtful whether he could even hold his ground, let alone fight effectively.
But Christian made an unexpected declaration.
“Just fighting hard… I don’t like that.”
Although Melin was hoping for Christian to struggle valiantly to entertain her, Christian had entirely different plans.
Instead.
‘I’ll win.’
An absurd thought.
Defeat a mage nearly at the 5-star?
For Christian, even as a genius, it seemed an impossible task.
The disparity in power between the two was as vast as that between a rabbit and a lion.
Even if he employed his hidden powers of light, defeating Melin was impossible.
“But there is a way.” Christian thought, smirking as he conceived a plan.
“If not by ability, then by the power of items.”
‘Item power’ referred to enhancing one’s abilities with weapons.
However, this was a curious thought because there were limits to how much a weapon could enhance one’s abilities.
But that was a general case.
Christian had a way.
A method that could enable a rabbit to defeat a lion.
A method only Christian could employ.
He immediately began to prepare.
—
“Going out?”
“Yes, Father.”
Count Kazar tilted his head and then nodded.
“Do as you wish.”
“Aren’t you going to stop me?”
“Why would I?”
“Because… you know what I might do out.”
“I trust you.”
Count Kazar answered succinctly.
Over time, he had come to recognize that his son had indeed changed.
And not just that.
The time spent with Christian had been a continuous marvel.
“Unbelievable talent.”
He was amazed several times a day.
How could one describe Christian’s talent?
A sponge that absorbs everything? Teach him one thing, and he knows ten? It was beyond even that.
Madness.
Count Kazar had thought this countless times to himself each day.
Despite seeing it with his own eyes, the feats Christian performed were so unbelievable that it seemed like a dream.
“…It’s awe-inspiring.”
Count Kazar was startled by the thought that suddenly came to him.
Awe.
But it was true.
His son was indeed like a monster.
Did he dislike that?
Of course not.
“He’s my son.”
Count Kazar thought to himself, secretly proud.
He was a father, after all.
What father wouldn’t be happy to see his son excel?
His son, who had once been a wastrel, now brought him great joy every day.
Of course, he didn’t show it outwardly.
Instead, Count Kazar said,
“If you need anything, charge it to my name.”
“Really?”
“Yes, anything.”
Christian looked slightly surprised, then smiled.
“A blank check of allowance. He’ll regret this.”
Just when he was worrying about how to gather funds secretly, maybe even taking something from the family treasures, it had worked out perfectly.
“I’ll be back soon then.”
“Alright.”
Christian headed to his room with light steps to prepare for going out.
[Master… your preparation… is complete.]
Banshee, wearing radiant outdoor clothing on her transparent form, smiled innocently.
[It’s our first outing together… I tried to dress up nicely.]
Banshee, don’t dress up!
The problem was that she actually looked pretty.
If it weren’t for her being a ghost, she was quite cute and pure.
“…I didn’t say you were coming with me?”
[Ho ho… you’re worried I might be a bother. How exciting. But… serving you, Master, is my joy… do not worry.]
Christian scowled.
“That’s not it. When can I get a human servant anyway?!”
Just as he had started to shake off the reputation of a wastrel, he had received astonishing news from Count Kazar.
– A human servant? That’s not possible.
– What?
– Didn’t you form a master-servant contract with that banshee, Christian?
Indeed, it was a story from before Christian had been inhabited by this spirit.
It was impossible to have a maid perform tasks without cause, so they made a master-servant contract with the superior ghost, Banshee.
“So with Banshee around, no human would come to serve. Ugh! How is this happening! Why was I born with a silver spoon only to be served by a ghost!”
Fortunately, it was a fixed-term contract, so it could be terminated once the agreed time was up.
Five more years?
Christian had no intention of waiting that long.
“I’ll terminate the contract by force once my dark magic is strong enough.”
Although he had somewhat gotten used to living with the banshee, he couldn’t give up the dream of being served by human attendants.
[I’ve… already prepared everything… Shall we not go? I was looking forward to it.]
Banshee spoke with a disheartened expression.
‘Banshee making a cute face, really?’
Christian grimaced.
Still, Banshee had feelings, and seeing her genuinely upset face, he coughed awkwardly.
“You’re not allowed to show yourself in front of regular people.”
[Master…?]
“And absolutely no emitting of spirit energy. Understood?”
[Thank you…! As expected, Master… you are amazing!]
Banshee, evidently overjoyed, fluttered energetically through the air.
It seemed she had longed for an outing.
‘How many years has she been in the mansion? I heard it’s been at least several decades.’
Certainly, after that long, one would crave the outside.
“Anyway, let’s go now… Why are you here?”
Christian frowned at the unexpected visitor.
It was Theren.
“What are you planning to do out?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you going there to indulge in reckless behaviors again?”
Theren challenged him.
Christian crossed his arms and pondered.
‘Why is this kid so cute?’
Christian teasingly smiled at Theren.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Worried? Why would I worry about you, brother?”
Theren reacted as if he was caught in the act.
“I’m just…!! Concerned you might bring shame to our family again!! You seem improved now, but who knows when you’ll revert!”
“You’re right.”
“What?”
“I’m actually going gambling.”
Tern looked baffled.
“Gam… what?”
“Gambling.”
Christian grinned cheekily.
“I even got betting money from father… Do you want to come along?”
Of course, Count Kazar couldn’t have imagined that Christian would really go gambling when he provided the money. But what did it matter?
Christian wasn’t purely going to gamble.
He had a specific goal in mind for exploiting the gambling setup.
‘Perfect timing. I needed someone to use as bait. This naive guy fits the bill.’
Christian enticingly baited Theren.
“As a mage, you ought to know how to handle liquor and gambling, right? Legal gambling is a healthy pastime even encouraged by the Emperor.”
“……”
“Oh, you’re a saint, so gambling must be out of the question for you. A nerd who knows nothing but training. Gambling is similar to card games. You haven’t played those either, right?”
“I’ve played card games… I’m better than you.”
“Really? That’s impressive. But real gambling with money might be too much for you, so I’ll go to the gambling den alone.”
You stick to child’s play like card games.
Gambling is an adult’s game.
Provoked by Christian’s taunts, Theren, a thirteen-year-old boy with a strong competitive spirit, bristled.
“No, I will go.”
Theren took the bait.
“I need to see for myself that you don’t cause any trouble. And while I’m at it… I might as well humble you a bit. Gambling, such a trivial thing! It’s just like a card game, isn’t it?”
Christian chuckled.
The emotion in Theren’s eyes was competitive spirit.
A competitive spirit towards his brother.
And… unlike before, his eyes had become somewhat genuinely brotherly.
