Theren walked away in a huff, and the Servants together with some knights, who were assigned to escort Christian to Count Tiramin’s territory, approached him.
“Let’s set off.”
“Yes.”
Christian spurred his horse.
A few days later, they arrived at Count Tiramin’s territory.
* * *
“It’s quite lively here.”
Christian remarked upon seeing the castle of Count Tiramin.
The castle was even larger than that of Count Kazar.
“Honestly, the Tiramin house does have a superior standing among the branch families.”
There were three branch noble families.
Among them, the Kazar family was the recently established.
It was a house that had gained independence in the recent generation.
In contrast, the other two families had been independent for a long time and had a long history and tradition.
“But are we just supposed to wait here?”
“Well… someone from Count Tiramin’s house was supposed to meet us.”
The accompanying servants looked confused.
It was customary for someone to greet them, especially when they already arranged a visit.
However, no one was present, and they were left waiting at the gate.
Time passed.
But still no one came.
The servants’ faces grew increasingly red.
This was clearly an intentional act to insult Christian.
“How dare they do this.”
“They must be ignoring me because I’m a waste in their eyes. Stay calm.”
Christian yawned, staying nonchalant in this situation.
‘Just as I thought. Well, this works out.”
He thought meaningfully.
“It’s advantageous for my plan if the Tiramin house behaves this way.”
The plan.
He wasn’t here merely to show off his skills.
Not only did he need to prove his eligibility to participate in the Holy Black Ritual, but he also had to get the Karazov.
“It won’t be easy.”
He had devised a plan for this purpose.
The more disrespectful the Tiramin house was towards him, the better it was for his plan.
Finally, someone came out to meet them.
“Sniff sniff, might you be Christian of the Kazar house?”
A repulsive-faced dwarf with a grotesquely crooked nose came.
A goblin!
“And you are?”
“Sniff sniff, I am a servant of Count Tiramin. Sniff sniff, I’ve come to greet you.”
The servants who came with Christian furrowed their brows.
The Magic Empire did not discriminate against non-humans. Even monsters were trained to work as laborers.
However, goblins were considered the lowest class even within the empire.
Sending a goblin was a tremendous insult.
“This…”
“…How dare.”
The faces of the servants who followed Christian reddened.
By now, Christian had already won over the hearts of the Kazar house’s servants.
They felt the insult to Christian as if it were their own, fueling their anger.
The disrespect from the Tiramin house did not stop there.
“Lead us to the count’s residence.”
“Sniff sniff, there’s no need to go to the residence.”
“What?”
“Just find lodgings in the city. I thought you might be waiting, so I came to tell you.”
“!!”
The faces of the servants looked as if they were about to burst.
Even though they were guests, being told to fend for themselves was an extreme snub.
“How dare!!”
“This rudeness!!”
Christian raised his hand.
“Calm down.”
“But young master! We can’t just let this rudeness slide!”
“Let me handle that goblin first!!”
As his men struggled to control their anger, Christian spoke softly.
“Haven’t I told you to calm down!”
“!!”
His men fell silent.
His voice was flat and unemotional, yet somehow, it carried an undeniable authority.
The servants couldn’t utter a word, frozen by the unspoken pressure emanating from Christian.
They looked at him in shock.
‘How can our young master command such a presence?’
‘No, it’s not just a presence. It’s… an aura of authority?’
Strong servants could emit an aura usually only possible for those at least 4-star. (not the aura as another form of energy but like the atmosphere around a person that emmits pressure because of their overwhelming power.)
But what they felt from Christian was different. It wasn’t Magi being emitted.
It was an overwhelming pressure just from him being himself.
“……”
The area fell silent, and Christian then looked casually at the goblin.
The goblin stiffened as well.
As if crushed by his gaze, the goblin’s face paled in fear.
Christian then smirked.
“So, you’re telling us to find our own lodgings?”
“Yes? Yes? YES!!! That’s right!!!”
The residual pressure Christian emitted left the goblin hurrying to respond.
“Is this Count Tiramin’s decision?”
“No, it’s not! The Count is away. It was the third young master who ordered this.”
Christian nodded.
The third young master of the Tiramin family, the main figure in this Karazov hunt, and the one who opposed Christian’s participation in the Holy Black Ritual.
Once again, he had resorted to petty actions.
‘As expected, they are really acting rude. Good.’
He was sincerely pleased.
Christian inwardly smirked.
The goblin spoke cautiously.
“If… if it’s inconvenient for you, I can guide you to the count’s residence.”
“No, that’s fine. It would be tactless to insist. Instead, the accommodation costs will be covered by Count Tiramin’s house, right?”
“Yes, yes!! Of course, you can bill Count Tiramin’s house!!!”
Christian shrugged his shoulders.
“Understood. I’ll be on my way.”
As Christian walked away nonchalantly, the goblin breathed a sigh of relief.
The goblin watched Christian’s departing back with an unexpected look.
‘I thought he might cause a ruckus, given his reputation, but he’s different from the rumors?’
It wasn’t just a slight difference.
The goblin thought to himself.
‘That oppressive aura earlier.’
Still feeling the remnants of it like goosebumps, the goblin shuddered.
In fact, he was not an ordinary goblin.
He was a goblin Lord.
A superior goblin type with exceptional intelligence and strength.
He held a significant position within Count Tiramin’s ‘Beast Brigade.’
Yet here he was, subdued by the gaze of a boy who seemed barely fifteen.
‘Has something changed?’
The goblin tilted his head, wondering if Christian might indeed show a side very different from his notorious reputation.
But.
That late afternoon.
Christian caused an immediate uproar.
Count Tiramin’s house was in chaos.
The ‘accommodation costs’ Christian had claimed had arrived.
It was 100,000 gold coins.
…For context, 100,000 gold coins could buy a small hotel in the countryside.
The reason for such an astronomical amount being billed as accommodation costs was simple.
Christian had bought an entire high-end mansion within the castle and billed the expense to Count Tiramin’s house.
This was the beginning of Christian’s ‘ruffian’ plan.
* * *
Christian relaxed leisurely in the newly purchased high-end mansion.
The servants who accompanied him stammered in confusion.
“Young master.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Is this really okay?”
“What’s wrong with it? They told us to find our own place to stay.”
Christian grinned.
“As the eldest son of Count Kazar, how could I possibly stay in a mere hotel? At the very least, I need a high-end mansion like this to stretch out comfortably.”
“……”
“Don’t just stand there; relax. Actually, I’m thirsty—go to town and get some alcohol.”
“Alcohol, young master? But you’re still underage?”
“It’s not like we’re at home, what does it matter? Just keep it quiet. When you get it, buy the best. Velrut Mountain whiskey would be nice. Bill it to Count Tiramin’s house, you know that, right?”
Velrut Mountain whiskey.
A bottle of this exorbitantly priced whiskey that could be bought at a minimum of 1,000 gold coins.
“Get something for yourselves to drink too. Since Count Tiramin’s house is footing the bill, don’t hold back this time.”
Christian’s voice was excited.
He truly was enjoying himself.
‘How often do you get the chance to freely spend someone else’s money? Might as well enjoy it.’
Count Tiramin’s territory was already famous for its indulgence.
At that moment, Christian resolved to thoroughly exploit Count Tiramin’s money.
Crash!!!
The mansion door was flung open violently.
“Who is it?!”
The servants went on alert.
“Ha. Who do you think?”
The figure who appeared was a young man.
He looked to be about the same age as Christian.
Blonde hair, red eyes, and an irritable demeanor.
“I am Alros van Balran Tiramin, the third son of Count Tiramin.”
Alros!
The main character of this Karazov hunt and the one who had schemed against Christian from behind the scenes.
“Where is Christian, that ruffian bastard?”
“Watch your language.”
“Watch it?”
Alros growled fiercely.
“Your young master spent 100,000 gold coins under the excuse of ‘accommodation costs’ and you say watch my words?”
For the record, the bill for the mansion Christian had purchased was sent to Alros.
Suddenly faced with a bill of 100,000 gold coins, Alros’s voice was thick with anger.
“Christian, that ruffian bastard, bring him to me right now…”
“I’m right here.”
Christian came down the stairs from the upstairs bedroom, calmly responding.
“You, you bastard….”
Christian’s eyes briefly scanned Alros.
‘He clearly despises me.’
The look in Alros’s eyes was fierce, a gaze filled not just with dislike but with loathing and contempt.
‘Good. I can trample him with ease then.’
First, Christian greeted him.
“It’s been years, hasn’t it? Good to see you after such a long time.”
House of Kazar.
House of Tiramin.
Both were family branches of the Dark Magus lineage, sharing the same blood.
Naturally, they would have known each other from before, so Christian spoke with feigned familiarity.
“Happy to see me? You call this a welcome?!”
“Hmm, we are blood-relatives after all, but you don’t seem too pleased. I’m glad, though. Are you upset over just a bit of money?”
“What? What?”
“I never imagined the honorable House of Tiramin would get so pettily upset over a few coins. Especially not when refusing to shelter a relative, practically shoving him out the door.”
Alros was momentarily lost for words.
Christian was a guest and a blood relative visiting the Tiramin domain.
The fact that Christian was not welcomed into the mansion but rather turned away was a clear discourtesy on the part of House Tiramin, regardless of Christian’s notorious reputation.
Having made the initial error, Alros found himself lacking a solid stance to argue from.
“To not know how to treat a guest. It seems the family education at House Tiramin is quite lacking.”
“You, you…”
“Am I wrong? Even if I hated someone, I would never stoop to such petty behavior. I really wonder what kind of upbringing you had.”
Alros clenched his teeth.
His pale skin turned a visible shade of red.
“Shut your mouth before you regret it.”
The atmosphere became tense, charged with an imminent threat.
It seemed as if a confrontation could erupt at any moment.
Yet, Christian did not stop.
Instead, he smirked derisively, crossed his arms, and spoke in an irritating tone.
“You should be the one apologizing.”
“…What?”
“For the discourtesy you’ve shown me. Kneel and apologize, and I might just forgive you.”
Alros looked more stunned than angry, as if questioning whether he’d heard correctly.
Christian twisted his lips into a smirk and delivered the final blow.
“Ah, the golden-haired thief. Don’t you know any honor? Oops, was that something I shouldn’t have mentioned?”
“You son of a…!”
