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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 29
“You're the one who should apologize if you want forgiveness.”
“…What?”
“The discourtesy you showed me—if you kneel and apologize, I’ll consider forgiving you.”
The guy didn’t get angry; instead, he looked dazed.
As if he was questioning whether he heard correctly.
Chris twisted his lips and delivered the finishing blow.
“Oh, right. I guess a blond bastard born of stolen seed wouldn’t even know what honor is? Oops, was I not supposed to say that?”
“You son of a bitch!!!”
The Dark Demonic House is characterized by black hair and bloodshot eyes.
In contrast, that guy had blond hair.
Occasionally, kids were born with different hair colors like that, and people would point fingers, asking if they came from an outsider’s seed.
‘Was that jab too much?’
Still, provocation is meant to be harsh and without mercy.
“Getting all riled up like that—so you really are a seed thief? Brought in from outside, huh? No wonder you know nothing about honor.”
“GRAAAAHH!! YOU BASTARD!!”
The effect was immediate.
The guy lost all reason and charged at him.
“Master Chris!”
“Watch out…!!”
Even the demons flinched at Alros’s ferocity.
A blind charge, consumed by rage.
“I’LL KILL YOU!!!”
His murderous intent was laced with demonic energy.
But Chris just smirked.
“Pathetic.”
Chris stepped forward with his right foot.
His shoulder twisted, and with just that, Alros’s attack completely missed.
A clean dodge.
‘How did that bastard manage to—?’
Alros belatedly realized he’d moved too wildly in his excitement. He was full of openings.
That’s why that bastard was able to dodge.
But he wasn’t too worried.
His opponent was Chris, after all.
The disgrace of the Dark Demonic House.
A piece of trash he could beat down anytime with his own strength…
That’s when it hit him.
“You think that'll work?”
A cold chill ran down Alros’s spine.
Chris’s icy gaze was locked on him.
Only then did Alros realize—Chris had already closed the distance.
Chris’s arm was already drawn back.
At this angle, at this distance—no matter what he tried, he wouldn’t be able to dodge the attack.
It was a late realization.
‘W-wait…?’
Thud!!
Stars exploded in Alros’s vision.
It felt like getting smashed in the head with a hammer.
A groan escaped from him instinctively.
Chris’s chilling voice followed.
“The offense you committed against me—if you want forgiveness, just kneel and apologize anytime.”
He spoke curtly.
“I’m generous, after all.”
And with that—
It wasn’t a duel… it was a beating that began.
* * *
The so-called duel ended quickly.
Alros, beaten to a pulp, was carried away unconscious.
‘Well, that was easy enough.’
Chris thought to himself.
Alros was around his age.
At best, a 2-star demon.
What’s more, the Tyramin Count Family’s specialty was the Beast Manipulation Art, a magic that controlled demonic beasts.
For a demon who trained in Beast Manipulation to fight barehanded was like a swordsman fighting with fists instead of a sword.
Normally, he would never get into a fistfight—but he underestimated Chris and made a mistake.
“…Will you be alright, sir?”
The demons asked cautiously.
Though the other side was clearly at fault first, they still looked concerned. After all, Chris had thoroughly beaten up the young master of Count Tyramin’s household.
Chris answered calmly.
“I only fought for my honor.”
“!!”
The demons inhaled sharply.
It was a righteous statement.
But life rarely worked in such a straightforward way.
“There’s a high chance Count Tyramin won’t take this lightly.”
Chris fell silent for a moment.
‘He probably won’t.’
In truth, Count Tyramin never liked Chris to begin with.
More precisely, he despised the Khazar family.
The Khazar and Tyramin Counts were long-standing rivals.
It was routine for them to snap at each other whenever they crossed paths—this incident wouldn’t be brushed off easily.
“It’s fine.”
“Young master?”
“I have it all planned. Don’t worry.”
It wasn’t just an empty reassurance.
Even Count Tyramin’s fury was already within Chris’s calculations.
[Ohoho. As expected, our young master is truly amazing. This girl’s heart is fluttering once again today at the sight of your dazzling presence.]
“Wha—?!”
“A g-ghost?!”
The sudden appearance of a graceful, smiling ghost girl—clearly a banshee—startled the demons.
Chris was just as surprised.
“Marie, when did you—?”
[I snuck in with your luggage, my lord. I’m your maid who vowed eternity with you. I must attend to your needs.]
“…I don’t need that.”
[Ohoho. Your bashfulness is absolutely adorable. I know you’ve been longing for a girl to keep your bed warm.]
Marie gleefully swished her ghost tail as she floated around in the air.
[You must be hungry. I’ll fetch some virgin’s blood juice.]
“…Forget it. Alcohol.”
[Alcohol… you say?]
Marie tilted her head, and the demons also looked shocked.
They’d assumed that now that Chris had properly put Alros in his place, he’d drop the whole delinquent act.
But Chris thought to himself—
‘It’s still far from over.’
The Great Delinquent Plan.
And for Alros, the nightmare was only just beginning.
Until the day Chris left Count Tyramin’s territory, Alros’s torment would not end.
[Ohoho… then what shall we toast to?]
Marie fetched top-grade liquor, and everyone filled their glasses.
It cost a whopping 1,000 Rupees, and naturally, it was charged to Alros.
The demons looked a little unsure about whether this was really okay, but got swept up in the mood.
Except, Chris had ginger ale.
Marie and the demons had protested.
“Young master is underage. Absolutely no alcohol.”
Demons and ghosts, yet oddly strict in unexpected areas.
‘Damn it, I want to drink too. I hate ginger.’
But there was no helping it.
[Shall we toast… to our future together, master?]
“Pass.”
Chris lifted his ginger ale.
“To wealth and glory!”
And so, the gathering grew livelier, and after a long night of drinking (Chris with ginger ale), the news he’d been waiting for arrived.
An invitation had come from the Count’s estate.
But the sender was not Alros.
It was Count Tyramin himself.
The head of the Tyramin family—and the “Second Spear” of the Dark Demonic House’s branch family—had directly invited Chris.
* * *
Chris formally visited the Count’s estate.
The moment he stepped through the front gates, piercing stares zeroed in on him.
They were demons of the Tyramin family.
Under the fierce, hostile gazes, the demons accompanying Chris stiffened.
But Chris spoke nonchalantly.
“Must be because I’m too handsome. The way they’re staring, it’s like I’m a masterpiece. Well, I am good-looking.”
“……”
He meant it.
Christian’s appearance was the very picture of a noble-born young master. The only flaw was his haughty, smug impression.
With a slight chuckle, Chris said,
“Lead me to the Count.”
His unshaken demeanor left the demons of the Tyramin family looking slightly surprised.
But then, smirks crept onto their faces.
‘All bluster.’
‘Let’s see if he can keep his head held high in front of the Count.’
The demons of the Tyramin family were certain—this arrogant brat was about to get what he deserved.
Eventually, Chris stood before Count Tyramin.
Alongside him were the Count’s retainers—and the still bruised and swollen Alros from the day before.
Grit.
Alros ground his teeth, his puffy face twitching with rage.
‘Still got that fire in your eyes, huh.’
Chris gave a quiet laugh, then bowed his head.
“I greet Count Tyramin.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Count Tyramin rose from his seat.
His massive frame cast a towering shadow.
A man like a giant beast.
Tiger-like, piercing eyes locked onto Chris.
“I heard what happened. You fought with Alros?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Chris didn’t deny it.
“And why did it come to that? Even if Alros made a slight ‘mistake’ in receiving you, your response was excessive.”
A mistake.
Blatant favoritism.
Chris quietly chuckled to himself.
‘He’s known for being like this.’
A petty man in a big body.
That was Count Khazar’s assessment of Count Tyramin.
“I’ll give you a chance. Apologize for what happened yesterday and leave this place immediately. If you do, I won’t press the matter further.”
Chris looked straight at Count Tyramin.
Then he spoke, voice full of arrogant energy.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean. All I did was crush a bug that didn’t know its place.”
“!!”
“And apology? The only thing the strong owe the weak is tolerance and mercy. Why should I apologize? Rather—”
Chris let out a thick, mocking laugh.
“Alros—he's the one who should be bowing his head and begging for forgiveness. Bowing to the strong—that's the proper duty of the weak, isn’t it?”
“!!”
At those arrogant words, everyone in the hall drew in a sharp breath.
The demons of the Tyramin family glared at Chris like they were ready to kill him.
A hair-trigger tension filled the air, like thin ice ready to shatter.
The demons who had come with Chris looked deeply worried.
At that moment, Count Tyramin’s brow twitched.
At the same time, a fierce, formless pressure surged toward Chris. He had released his demonic energy.
It was a heavy force that no low-level demon could endure without falling to their knees.
But Chris was different.
‘This? Pathetic.’
He didn’t so much as flinch, let alone kneel.
Back in the Age of Ruins, he’d experienced countless pressures like this.
His willpower alone was more than enough to withstand it.
More importantly, Chris knew well—
Count Tyramin might be petty, but he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on a fellow blood relative over something so trivial.
So there was no need to be afraid.
Surprised by Chris’s unexpected reaction, Count Tyramin’s eyes slightly widened.
“You’ve changed.”
“…….”
“But you’re arrogant. The arrogance of a demon without qualifications is a disgrace. Do you have the qualifications to act like this?”
Chris shrugged his shoulders and replied casually.
“At the very least, I’d say I’m more qualified than Alros.”
“!!”
Alros, who had been listening nearby, flushed bright red.
“Shut up, you bastard! I only lost yesterday because I couldn’t use my Beast Art!”
Count Tyramin also nodded in agreement.
“I agree with Alros. You know as well as I do that yesterday’s duel wasn’t fair, don’t you? How about settling this properly today?”
Chris let out a dry chuckle.
‘Just as expected.’
This was Count Tyramin’s aim all along.
To defeat Chris using Alros’s Beast Art in front of everyone.
A way to put the arrogant Chris in his place, and at the same time, humiliate Count Khazar—his rival.
“Of course, I understand that dueling a demonic beast might seem burdensome. So, to keep things fair, I’ll give Alros a penalty.”
The Beast Art was a secret technique for controlling demonic beasts.
So in a duel, one would have to face both the demon and their beast at once—an inherently unfair fight.
“No need for that. Instead, if I win the duel, I’d like you to grant me a request.”
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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