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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 27
“You’ve heard the story, right?”
“Yes. Should I observe the young master, Christian?”
“That’s right. Watch how he prepares for the Dark Baptism.”
“Understood. I will follow your orders.”
The man bowed respectfully.
Then, as if something came to mind, he smirked mischievously.
“Oh, while I’m at it, would it be alright to play a little prank?”
“A prank? What kind?”
“Just observing would be too dull. For a proper assessment… let’s call it a test.”
The estate lord frowned.
“Nothing excessive.”
That meant as long as it wasn’t too much, it was fine.
The man’s grin deepened before he disappeared into the shadows as if melting away.
At the sudden vanishing presence, Merian let out a quiet sigh.
‘Chris… I can only hope that kid does well.’
* * *
House of Count Khazar.
Chris was preparing to set out for the Black Pill Hunt.
‘I need to be ready if I want to get my hands on the Black Pill.’
This time, he intended to prove his worth and claim the Black Pill for himself.
Of course, some might find it strange—since the Black Pill already had a designated owner.
‘I’ll just take it for myself.’
Chris whistled, thinking to himself.
‘It just so happens that this batch of Black Pill was assigned to that bastard Roine, the one who opposed me? Perfect. I’ll kill two birds with one stone and mess with him, too.’
Roine was a competitor in this Dark Baptism.
He was also the one who had led public opinion against Chris’ participation. If Chris snatched the Black Pill meant for him, it would be all the more satisfying.
‘A perfect crime requires proper preparation.’
With that thought, Chris headed toward the castle.
His destination was already decided.
The mansion of Grantel, the merchant lord who had stolen the Holy Sword Grunade.
“Y-Young master! Welcome!!”
Merchant Lord Grantel turned pale as he greeted Chris.
“It’s been a while.”
“W-What brings you here…?”
“You don’t seem too happy to see me. Do you not like my visit?”
Merchant Lord Grantel gritted his teeth inwardly.
‘What do you think, you bastard?!’
Inside, he cursed in ways that couldn’t be put into words. But on the surface, he maintained a servile smile.
“Not at all. It is a great honor to see you again, young master. I was simply overwhelmed by the honor.”
“Hm.”
“P-Please, don’t just stand there—come in! Servants, bring out the table! I know it’s lacking, but please grant me the honor of serving you, young master.”
Chris didn’t refuse.
Soon, an array of lavish dishes was brought out.
They were delicacies no less splendid than those served in the House of Count Khazar.
“D-Do they suit your taste?”
“Yes, not bad.”
As the mood seemed decent, the merchant lord discreetly signaled to his subordinate.
The servant left the room and soon returned with a silk pouch.
“What’s this?”
“I-It’s a token of my sincerity for you, young master.”
When Chris opened the pouch, a golden cat figurine lay inside.
In other words, it was a bribe.
‘Of course he came to squeeze money out of me again. Damn bastard.’
The merchant lord swallowed tears internally.
But he decided to think positively.
Nothing in this world comes free.
Once a bribe is accepted, something must be returned in kind—that’s how the world works.
‘A dirty connection, sure, but still a chance! If someone with Dark Demonic House blood watches my back, I can soar to the top!’
With his bloated face, Merchant Lord Grantel forced his most servile expression and bowed his head.
“Hehe, please accept it. It’s nothing much.”
“Yeah, it really is nothing.”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re offering this cheap thing as a gift? What a disappointment.”
Clatter!
Chris dropped the pouch on the floor.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
The merchant lord hastily bowed again and again.
“M-My deepest apologies! I merely wanted to express my heart…!! It seems it didn’t meet your standards, young master.”
‘Damn bastard! Even when I give him a gift, he says something! Being powerless really is a sin.’
Chris crossed his arms.
“Such a cheap gift. You clearly don’t understand your own situation.”
“Pardon…?”
“Because of what happened last time, I had you looked into. Seems like you’ve been involved in quite a few illegal dealings.”
“T-That’s…”
“Of course, in business, some level of illegality is expected. I get it. If we nitpicked over every little thing, there wouldn’t be a single merchant left in this world. But still.”
Chris gave a light smile.
“There are limits. And you’ve crossed the line on more than one occasion. I’m sure you know exactly what I’m referring to.”
The merchant lord gulped hard.
He was a corrupt merchant.
True, he hadn’t committed crimes as grave as murder.
But it was also true that he’d done more than his share of dirty deeds.
Some of those sins were things that absolutely couldn’t be exposed.
Chris tapped the merchant lord’s shoulder lightly with his finger.
“Greed always invites disaster.”
“M-My apologies. P-Please, have mercy….”
Merchant Lord Grantel trembled uncontrollably.
Chris let out a short laugh.
“But since there’s still the matter from last time, I’ll make an exception and help you out. I’ll give you a deadline—clean up all the affairs where you crossed the line. And make proper restitution to everyone who suffered because of you.”
Restitution.
Grantel’s face turned pale.
It meant he’d have to dip into the merchant guild’s assets again.
But even that was an incredible mercy.
Grantel hurriedly bowed his head.
“Th-Thank you!”
“And there’s a condition.”
Chris got to the point.
“Get me Grey Pill.”
“!!”
“You have three days.”
Grantel’s complexion turned ghostly white.
Grey Pill.
A rare medicinal essence produced from the body of the Karazov, a type of magical beast.
‘The composition is the same as Black Pill.’
If the Karazov is processed using a special refinement method, it produces the raw essence used to make genuine Black Pill.
However, if the beast is simply killed without following that secret process, it yields a lesser substitute—Grey Pill.
In short, Chris planned to use the Grey Pill to swap out the real Black Pill.
“B-But… that’s….”
The merchant lord looked completely cornered.
“G-Grey Pill… isn’t something easily obtained….”
Chris may have called it a knockoff, but Grey Pill was still incredibly rare and valuable.
“I hear you have ties to the Dark Auction.”
“!!”
“Use that connection. Arrange a direct deal.”
“B-But to get something meant for auction in a private deal… the cost would skyrocket….”
“That’s your problem to solve. Do I look like someone who cares about your wallet?”
Chris spoke indifferently.
“Seems like you don’t need my help all that much. If you’re not interested, fine by me. Forget everything I said earlier. Prepare to pay for your crimes.”
Chris was openly threatening him now.
If Grantel didn’t bring him the Grey Pill, Chris would expose all his past illegal dealings and bring his merchant guild to ruin.
“N-No! Please!”
The merchant lord desperately clung to Chris.
‘Damn it, you bastard! You devil!’
Tears welled up, but he had no choice.
Once again, he would have to dig into the merchant guild’s fortune to secure the Grey Pill.
“I’ll get the Grey Pill you asked for, no matter what.”
“Three days.”
The merchant lord’s face turned pale.
It was an absurdly short deadline.
But he had no choice but to hurriedly bow his head.
“Y-Yes. I’ll bring it within three days.”
“Oh, and also get a small dagger. One sharp enough to cut through armor would be nice.”
A dagger sharp enough to slice through armor.
It would fall under the category of a short sword.
The price would no doubt be outrageous, but the merchant lord couldn’t even squeak a complaint.
Chris looked satisfied.
“I’ll be waiting. Oh, and may I say one last thing—for your own sake?”
“P-Please do.”
“From now on, try living an honest life.”
“!!”
Chris gave a slow, amused smile.
“That way, you won’t have to meet another crusader of justice like me, right?”
After leaving the merchant lord’s estate, Chris stopped by a bustling district and bought all sorts of miscellaneous goods.
[Young Master… why are you buying things like that?]
“I need them for something.”
[…Do you mean the aphrodisiac?]
“……”
Chris fell silent.
An aphrodisiac.
A blessing in pill form for men who hang their heads in shame before their wives at night.
[Oh ho ho… Young Master… could it be, already?]
“No, it’s not.”
[It’s fine… I understand completely… Oh ho ho.]
“I said it’s not!”
Even the shopkeeper looked at him with a curious expression.
Chris cleared his throat.
“It’s not for me. It’s for something else.”
[Then… could it be for the Count?]
“…Right. I’m a good son, aren’t I? With Father’s age and all, I thought I should look out for him. He’s been looking rather troubled lately.”
To keep things under wraps, Chris shamelessly made Count Khazar the scapegoat—implying he was the man with bedroom troubles.
“For the Count’s honor, you mustn’t tell anyone I bought an aphrodisiac.”
“Understood! I’ll keep it secret!”
The shopkeeper responded with a determined look.
After purchasing a few more items, Chris shut himself in his room.
A few days later—
“It’s done.”
Chris grinned.
A clear liquid swirled inside the glass beaker he held.
It was his secret weapon, created by mixing aphrodisiac and various reagents.
Just in time, Merchant Lord Grantel had also delivered the Grey Pill. Preparations were complete.
Chris, fully prepared, headed down beneath the estate.
A horse was already waiting.
It was time to depart.
“I’ll be back.”
Count Khazar gave a nod.
Then he looked Chris straight in the eye.
“Make sure to give them a solid blow.”
Count Khazar added one more thing.
“You’re my proud son.”
A small smile tugged at Chris’s lips.
He wasn’t Count Khazar’s real son.
But he didn’t dislike the man.
If his real father had even resembled Count Khazar in the slightest, his previous life—his fate—might’ve turned out very differently.
“Please wait for me.”
So Chris said,
“I’ll return with news that’ll make you proud.”
Next came Teren.
“…Brother.”
“Address.”
“…Honorable King Emperor Majesty Brother.”
Teren clenched his fists in frustration.
Chris chuckled and said,
“Take good care of Father while I’m gone.”
“!!”
Why?
Teren tightly shut his mouth.
A flicker of complicated emotion passed over his face, and he said,
“…When you return, please duel me.”
“Hm? Didn’t we already do that last time? I seem to remember you getting your butt kicked.”
“Not like that! A proper duel!”
Teren huffed.
“I’ll definitely defeat you this time.”
“Sure. Well, if getting beaten up again is your wish, then go for it.”
“Brother!!”
Chris chuckled and extended his fist toward Teren.
“I’ll be off.”
Teren hesitated at the offered fist for a moment, then let out a snort and bumped his own fist against it.
“I hear Black Pill hunting is dangerous. Don’t get yourself hurt for nothing.”
“Oh? That worry I hear?”
“I just don’t want to miss out on a proper duel!”
“Right. You want me back in one piece so you can lose fair and square. I didn’t know you were into that sort of thing…”
“Ugh, come on!”
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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