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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 21
Chris headed toward the secret training ground.
Melin walked ahead, humming a tune.
Her face was full of excitement, clearly looking forward to what was to come.
"Are you fully prepared?"
"Yes."
Chris nodded.
"You can look forward to it."
Melin glanced at Chris's hand.
He was carrying the Grunade wrapped in cloth.
"Is that what you're planning to use against me?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. I don’t know what kind of weapon it is, but weapons alone can’t bridge the gap in skill."
It was a fact that a master wielding a wooden sword was stronger than an amateur with a legendary blade.
"However, an exceptional weapon can reduce the gap in power."
It was an intriguing statement.
Melin tilted her head slightly in curiosity.
Before long, they arrived at the training ground.
Though it was an unofficial duel, Count Khazar and Teren had arrived beforehand to observe.
However, there was one more person standing there—someone Chris had never seen before within the family.
‘A woman?’
She appeared to be in her early thirties.
But outward appearance was meaningless. Those who had mastered demonic energy could greatly slow their aging.
Her face looked familiar.
Chris soon realized that the woman bore a striking resemblance to Count Khazar.
The signature traits of the Dark Demonic House—jet-black hair and blood-red eyes.
‘Ah.’
Realizing who she was, Chris lowered his head and greeted her.
"I greet the Captain of the Black Shadow Knights of the main family."
Black Shadow Knights.
They were an elite order directly under the main family.
‘A major figure.’
Chris was slightly taken aback by her unexpected presence.
The Black Shadow Knights served directly under the Lord of the Dark Demonic House.
They handled covert operations, internal investigations, and family surveillance.
In other words, this woman was one of the true powerhouses of the Dark Demonic House.
And most importantly—
She smiled gently.
"It’s been a while, nephew."
Nephew.
That meant she was directly acknowledging him as a legitimate heir of the Dark Demonic House.
She was the daughter of the Lord of the Dark Demonic House and the blood-related elder sister of Marquis Langham, the acting head currently leading the house in place of the Lord.
‘Why would such a major figure suddenly appear?’
Count Khazar provided an explanation.
"Lady Merian has come for an unofficial visit regarding Butler Kox."
For reference, Count Khazar was also of the Lord’s bloodline.
He was the youngest son of the Lord, who had branched off to establish a cadet family.
Merian, the Captain of the Black Shadow Knights, added an explanation.
"The Lord has taken an interest in what you’ve been up to."
It was unexpected news.
‘But I thought the Lord had completely withdrawn from family affairs?’
Sensing his doubt, Merian clarified.
"Wouldn't you say your actions were quite audacious?"
"……."
"So the Lord gave me a special command."
"To conduct a thorough investigation on this matter?"
Chris looked slightly troubled.
If the Lord got involved, there was no telling how things with Ashid would escalate. Unexpected variables were never welcome.
But Merian shook her head.
"No, the Lord wouldn’t concern himself with the trivial affairs of you youngsters. What he commanded me to do was simply to see you in person."
"!!"
"He’s curious about you."
Chris swallowed hard.
This was something he hadn't anticipated.
But it wasn’t a bad thing.
‘This is an opportunity—to catch the Lord’s eye.’
The Lord.
Duke Nordian, a Demon Lord.
If the Demon Emperor was the ruler of the empire and the Demon Kings were sovereigns of the vassal kingdoms, then the Demon Lords were the grand dukes.
Duke Nordian was both the head of the Dark Demonic House and the overlord governing the eastern territories of the Southern Magus Empire.
An 8-star demon who had lived for over a century—an absolute monster.
Though he had relinquished full authority to his son, Marquis Langham, and no longer interfered in family matters, his presence within the Dark Demonic House remained undeniable.
"And since I heard there was a duel, I decided to observe."
Merian tilted her head slightly.
"Are you sure about this? From what I can see, you’re still only 1-star. Am I correct?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"You haven’t even reached 2-star, yet you’re dueling Melin?"
Merian continued.
"And it’s not even a spar for instruction—it’s a full-power, real battle, from what I’ve heard. There’s no way you stand a chance. On top of that, I hear you’re the one who proposed this duel?"
She clearly didn’t approve of it.
Many demons despised the weak overstepping their place and acting arrogantly against the strong.
‘Especially Merian—she was known for her authoritative nature.’
Chris looked at Merian’s face.
Outwardly, she wore a gentle expression. But he knew better.
That woman was anything but lenient.
‘She’s ruthlessly cold and calculating. That’s why she oversees the Black Shadow Knights, the ones who monitor the family from within. More than anything, once you fall out of her favor, she never looks back.’
In that sense, today was not a good day.
If Chris showed an unsightly performance in the duel, Merian would judge him harshly.
That bad impression would reach the Lord’s ears, and it could create problems for his plan to seize control of the Dark Demonic House.
"How about it? Will you call off the duel even now?"
Merian gave Chris an opportunity.
Chris smirked.
‘She’d look down on me either way.’
If he backed down now, that alone would be a mark against him.
The die had already been cast.
"No, I’ll go through with it."
Chris turned to Melin.
Srrk. The cloth in his hand slipped off.
And when the object wrapped in the cloth was revealed, everyone’s eyes widened to the extreme.
"I have my own thoughts on the matter."
The broken Holy Sword Grunade was now in full view.
* * *
"That… no way."
"Grunade?"
Everyone recognized it. Only the young Teren blinked, unaware of what Grunade was.
Merian asked,
"Boy, don’t tell me you intend to use Grunade against Melin?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"Hah."
Merian let out a hollow laugh.
"I knew you were reckless, but I didn’t expect this level. Lidan."
"…Yes, Sister."
Lidan was the name of Count Khazar.
His full name was Lidan von Baron Khazar.
"What is going on here? You’ve nearly deafened me bragging about how Christian has shed his past as a fool and become an outstanding man."
Count Khazar’s eyebrow twitched.
Unbeknownst to Chris, his father had boasted endlessly about him to his sister.
"…He has changed. Christian is no longer the same fool he once was."
"And yet he’s using a Holy Sword in a duel? Even ignorant young demons wouldn’t do something so foolish."
"……."
Count Khazar fell silent.
There was nothing to say.
What kind of demon would go around boasting about wielding a Holy Sword?
‘Why is that damn boy pulling such a stunt at a time like this?’
Count Khazar sighed inwardly.
He knew his son had changed.
He also knew just how unbelievable Chris’s talent was.
That was why he had eagerly bragged to his sister after seeing him for the first time in a long while.
But she didn’t seem convinced at all.
Sister, to the main family, Christian was nothing more than a fool.
— If only he had changed even half as much as you claimed.
Despite his sister’s sarcasm, Count Khazar remained unfazed.
He believed that once she witnessed today’s duel firsthand, she would realize just how exceptional Chris was.
Of course, that didn’t mean Count Khazar thought Chris could defeat Melin.
That was an impossible task.
However, even if he lost, he was certain that Chris would display an extraordinary performance thanks to his unbelievable talent.
But then…
‘To bring a Holy Sword… What kind of nonsense is this?’
Count Khazar’s expression twisted into a deep frown.
At that moment, Chris’s puzzled voice rang out.
"Am I not allowed to use a Holy Sword in a duel? As far as I know, there’s no rule against it."
"Are you seriously asking because you don’t know?"
Merian shook her head.
"Handling a Holy Sword is impossible. No, not just impossible—it’s dangerous."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, the sword’s divine power will burn you to ashes."
Merian clicked her tongue.
‘Challenging a 4-star demon was already reckless, and now he’s brought a Holy Sword?’
She decided there was no point in watching further.
‘I shouldn’t have come all this way.’
"Even Lord Nordian, the Duke of the Demon Lords, failed to wield that broken Holy Sword. So stop this absurdity."
That was an unexpected revelation.
Even Duke Nordian, a Demon Lord, had attempted to wield this sword?
But he had failed.
"I see. I understand what you’re saying. But then, what is this?"
Clank.
Chris released the binding that sealed the sword’s divine power.
Then, as he held the Holy Sword in his hand, everyone shouted in alarm.
"W-Wait! That’s dangerous!!"
"Drop it at once!"
The divine power was about to be unleashed.
"Christian!! You fool!!!"
Count Khazar rushed forward in a panic.
He intended to pry the sword away before it could injure his son.
But he was too far away.
‘No…!!’
As the divine power was about to manifest, Count Khazar’s face turned pale.
But then—
Nothing happened.
"……."
"……."
"……."
The arena fell into silence.
Count Khazar stood frozen in place.
By now… the divine power should have erupted… Yet, everything remained calm.
Chris swung the Holy Sword a few times.
“It feels fine to me.”
Merian was so stunned that she remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.
“That Holy Sword… is it broken?”
“I’m not sure. Want to check for yourself?”
Chris casually tossed Grunade to Merian.
As soon as she caught it, her eyes widened.
Flash!
The divine power activated.
Of course, Merian wasn’t harmed.
As a 6-star high-ranking demon, she quickly summoned demonic energy to counter the divine force.
Crackle!
Like fire meeting water, the opposing energies clashed violently. Merian hastily threw the sword to the ground.
“It doesn’t seem broken to me.”
“This is… What in the world…?”
Merian stared at Chris in disbelief.
And she wasn’t the only one.
Count Khazar, Melin, and even Teren were all staring at Chris with eyes wide as if they might tear apart.
Chris picked up the Holy Sword from the ground.
Yet, in his hand, the sword remained calm.
“How are you doing that?”
“Well? It just works for me.”
“…What? That’s ridiculous!”
“Of course, that was a lie. It’s a trade secret—I can’t just reveal it, can I? But I’ll give you one hint. Aunt, do you know why I became a fool?”
“…Was it not because you became arrogant due to your talent?”
“Bingo. Then, how do you think I’m able to wield the Holy Sword?”
Understanding his implication, Merian fell silent.
Unbelievable.
That brat was outright saying that he could wield the Holy Sword simply because he was a genius!
“…Even Lord Nordian, one of the greatest prodigies in the history of the Dark Demonic House, failed to subdue Grunade.”
It was a warning not to get cocky.
But Chris took it a step further.
“Is that so? How strange. It works for me. Perhaps… I’m an even greater genius than Lord Nordian?”
“…What?”
Chris smirked.
“In any case, there’s only one thing I can say—In the Magus Empire, I, Christian, am the only one who can wield Grunade.”
He pointed the Holy Sword at Melin.
“The introduction dragged on too long. Let’s begin.”
The duel commenced.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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