Genius of the Dark Magus Family chapter 29

Dark Magus Family typically have black hair and red eyes.

Yet Alros was blonde.

Such hair rarely appear, leading to whispers about dubious blood relationship.

‘Was that too harsh?’

But provocations don’t consider fairness; they’re meant to hit hard.

“Seems my jab about your parentage struck a nerve. Are you a seed from outside, aren’t you? No wonder you don’t understand honor.”

“Arghhh!! You!!”

The effect was immediate.

Alros lost his composure and charged at Christian.

“Young master Christian!”

“Danger…!!”

The servants were shocked by the ferocity of Alros’s movements.

Blind with rage, he rushed forward recklessly.

“I’ll kill you!!!”

His murderous intent was charged with magical energy.

But Christian merely smirked.

“Is that all?”

Alros’s eyes widened at Christian’s next move.

Christian’s right foot stepped forward.

His shoulder twisted, and just like that, Alros’s attack was effortlessly avoided.

A clean dodge.

‘How could that waste do this?’

Alros realized it late that he had exaggerated his movements due to his agitation, full of openings.

That’s why Christan could dodge it.

But he wasn’t overly concerned.

After all, his opponent was Christian.

The reject from a Dark Magus.

He should be able to beat him with his power…

That thought was interrupted.

“Thinking that it will work?”

Alros felt a chill run down his spine.

Christian’s cold gaze was fixed on him.

Only then did Alros realize that Christian was within striking distance.

Christian’s arm was already extended behind him.

From this angle, at this distance, there was no way to avoid the impending strike.

A delayed realization.

‘Wait…’

Thump!

Stars exploded in Alros’s vision.

It was like being hammered.

A groan escaped his lips involuntarily.

Christian’s mocking voice followed.

“Anytime you want forgiveness for your misdeeds, just kneel and apologize.”

He said it briefly.

“I’m quite merciful.”

Just like that.

The fight… no, the beating began.

* * *

The fight didn’t last long.

Alros was carried away unconscious, battered to a pulp.

‘Well, that was easy.’

Christian thought to himself.

Alros was his age.

At best a 2-star .

Moreover, the Tiramin house specialized in ‘Maren Magic.’ Controlling low-level demon and beast.

Someone trained in Maren Magic fighting without their demon or beast was like a swordsman fighting without a sword.

Normally, one would never fight unarmed, but underestimating Christian was Alros’s mistake.

“…Are you sure this is okay, young master?”

The servants asked cautiously.

Though the fault was initially on the other side, they were nervous about the ramifications of beating the young master of House Tiramin so thoroughly.

Christian responded nonchalantly.

“I fought for my honor.”

“!!”

The servants gasped.

It was a fair point.

But the world doesn’t always work so straightforwardly.

“There’s a high chance that Count Tiramin won’t let this slide.”

Christian fell silent for a moment.

‘Probably.’

Count Tiramin had never liked Christian.

More precisely, he despised the ‘House of Kazar.’

The Kazar and Tiramin houses were bitter rivals, constantly growling at each other, and this incident wouldn’t likely be overlooked.

“It’s fine.”

“Young master?”

“I have a plan. Don’t worry.”

It wasn’t just talk.

Even Count Tiramin’s rage was part of Christian’s strategy.

[Ohoho. Our young master is indeed formidable. My heart flutters today as well at the sight of his splendid form.]

“Wha…?!”

“A ghost?!”

The sudden appearance of the banshee girl with an innocent smile caused the servants to gasp in shock.

Christian was equally surprised.

“Mary, when did you…?”

[I sneaked in with your luggage, young master. I am the maid who has promised loyalty to you. It’s my duty to care for you.]

“…I don’t need that.”

[Ohoho. Your shyness is quite adorable. I know you’ve missed my bedside care.]

Mary, exhilarated, fluttered around like a ghostly tail swirling through the air.

[You must be hungry, I’ll fetch some virgin’s blood juice.]

“…No, just get some liquor.”

[Liquor…?]

Mary tilted her head, and the servants looked equally shocked.

They had assumed Christian would stop his ruffian act after having thrashed Alros.

But they were wrong, after all for Chistian…

‘We’re not done yet.’

The ruffian plan.

And Alros’s nightmare was just beginning.

Alros’s nightmare wouldn’t end until Christian left the Tiramin domain.

[Ohoho… then, with what shall we toast?]

Mary fetched some top-shelf liquor, and everyone filled their glasses.

The cost was a whopping 1,000 gold coins, and naturally, the bill was sent to Alros.

The servants felt confused but were swept up in the mood.

However, Christian stuck to ginger ale.

Mary and the servants had opposed it.

“Young master is underage; absolutely no alcohol.”

The servant and the ghost were peculiarly principled about this.

‘Damn, I wanted some liquor too. I hate ginger.’

But he had no choice.

[A toast to young master and… the future?]

“Let it be.”

Christian raised his glass of ginger ale.

“To wealth and glory!”

The gathering deepened, and after a hearty bout of drinking (Christian sticking to ginger ale), awaited news arrived.

An invitation from the count’s mansion.

It wasn’t sent by Alros.

Count Tiramin.

The head of the House of Tiramin, the ‘Second Spear’ of the Dark Magus lineage, had personally invited Christian.

* * *

Christian formally visited the count’s mansion.

The moment he stepped through the gates, piercing gazes focused on him.

They were from Tiramin’s servants.

Their eyes full of hostile animosity, the faces of the servants accompanying Christian hardened.

But Christian spoke nonchalantly.

“Looks like I’m too handsome. They can’t stop staring. Well, I am quite good-looking.”

“……”

He was serious.

Christian’s appearance was indeed that of a princely ideal, albeit with a somewhat arrogant and irritating demeanor.

Christian smirked and said,

“Lead me to the count.”

His unflinching demeanor caught the Tiramin servants off guard.

However, they soon scoffed.

‘Let’s see how long this pretense lasts.’

‘Let’s see if he can keep his head high in front of the count.’

The Tiramin servants were convinced that today this unruly young man would learn his lesson.

Soon, Christian was face-to-face with Count Tiramin.

By his side were Tiramin’s retainers and the battered Alros from the day before.

Click.

Alros’s swollen face ground his teeth audibly.

‘His eyes are still lively.’

Christian gave a slight bow.

“Greetings, Count Tiramin.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

The count stood up, his massive stature casting a shadow like a mountain.

He was a man like a giant predator.

His eyes, sharp as a tiger’s, focused on Christian.

“I’ve heard about your fight with Alros.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Christian did not deny it.

“Why did this happen? Even if Alros made a ‘small mistake’ in how he treated you, your reaction was excessive.”

A mistake.

It was a blatant cover-up.

Christian internally sneered.

‘I heard he was like this.’

A waste of a big body.

That was how Count Kazar had described Tiramin.

“I’ll give you a chance. Apologize for yesterday’s incident and leave immediately. Then, I won’t pursue your wrongdoing further.”

Christian looked directly at Count Tiramin.

Then, with an arrogant tone dripping with condescension, he said,

“I don’t understand what you mean. I merely crushed a worm that didn’t know its place.”

“!!”

“And you speak of an apology. A strong man only owes the weak mercy and forbearance, not apologies.”

Christian wore a smug smirk.

“Alros, that wretch, should bow down and beg me for forgiveness. Bending the knee to the strong. That’s what weaklings ought to do.”

“!!”

Every person in the hall gasped at his audacious words.

The Tiramin servants glared at Christian as if they wanted to kill him.

The atmosphere was like walking on thin ice, about to crack at any moment.

The servants accompanying Christian wore faces full of worry.

Then, Count Tiramin twitched an eyebrow.

At the same time, a formidable unseen pressuring aura was unleashed towards Christian.

A lesser servant would have been forced to kneel by such overwhelming pressure.

But Christian was different.

‘Is this all you’ve got?’

Far from kneeling, Christian did not even flinch.

He had faced this kind of oppressive force countless times during the era of destruction.

He could easily withstand it with his mental strength.

Above all, Christian knew well.

Even if Count Tiramin was petty, it was unthinkable for him to truly harm Christian, a member of the same bloodline, over such a matter.

So there was no need to be afraid.

Count Tiramin was slightly surprised by Christian’s unexpected reaction.

“You’ve changed.”

“……”

“But you are arrogant. A waste without proper standing is nothing but a fleeting rebellion. Do you really think you have the right?”

Christian shrugged his shoulders and responded smoothly.

“At least, I’m more qualified than Alros here.”

“!!”

Alros, who was listening from the side, turned visibly red.

“Shut up, you! I only lost yesterday because I couldn’t use my Maren magic!”

Count Tiramin nodded.

“I agree with Alros. You know that yesterday’s duel wasn’t fair, don’t you? How about a proper rematch today?”

Christian smirked.

‘Just as I expected.’

This had been Count Tiramin’s intention for today.

To defeat Christian in front of everyone using Alros’s maren magic.

It was a way to show the audacious Christian his place while also humbling their rival, the House of Kazar.

“Of course, I understand if a duel with a beast feels overwhelming. Instead, to ensure fairness, I’ll impose a penalty on Alros.”

Maren magic involved secret techniques for controlling magical creatures.

Thus, if a duel were to happen, Christian would have to face both Alros and his beast, which would naturally put him at a disadvantage.

“No need for that. Instead, if I win the duel, I ask that you grant me one favor.”