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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 36
The Blood-Drenched Demon King who caused the Age of Ruins!
Now, the Grand Duchess of the Blood Sword Demonic House.
Simon was the blood relative of that enormous being.
To be exact, he was the older brother.
With an endlessly cold and beautiful face, the Blood-Drenched Demon King and Simon’s faces overlapped. They looked strikingly similar.
“Hm? Why do you look at me like that? Am I too handsome?”
“…I am more handsome.”
Chris changed his expression and answered.
This was as far as his embarrassment would go.
Thinking about it, perhaps this was an opportunity.
Simon was a person who was connected to many giants of the Age of Ruins, so if Chris could use Simon well, he might be able to change the tides in his favor.
‘The problem is, he doesn’t seem like an easy person to deal with.’
Not easy at all.
As Simon quietly smiled, an ominous energy emanated strongly from his smile.
Blood followed him.
He was definitely a dangerous being that should never be approached under normal circumstances.
“Hehe, indeed. You’re really handsome, young master. I never expected the young master of the Khazar family to be such a charming gentleman. Not to mention…”
Simon smoothly continued speaking.
“You’re also someone who can ‘eradicate’ the demons.”
“!!”
Chris’s face stiffened.
His heart raced, but this time for a completely different reason.
It was tension.
‘How does he know?’
Just like Count Tyramin had said, everyone thought that Chris had only endured until the demons were summoned back.
But Simon knew the truth exactly.
This was troublesome.
If it was found out that he used the Holy Sword—or rather, the Radiant Mana—it would be a serious problem.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t know?”
Simon looked at Chris with a smiling gaze.
His eyes were gently curved, but they were sharp.
It was the look of someone who knew everything for certain.
It was useless to deny it.
“Honestly, I don’t believe it either. No matter how outstanding you are, young master, you’re still only at the 2-star rank, and yet you managed to eradicate the hellspawn. A miracle!”
“......”
“What kind of miracle did you perform, I wonder?”
Simon asked with a face full of interest.
In truth, he was feeling an intense curiosity about Chris.
‘Eradicate the demons?’
By the time Simon reached Chris’s pupil, everything had already ended.
He could only tell that the demon contracted with him had been eradicated.
It was an impossible feat—how? How could it have been possible?
One thing was certain: this reckless young master was someone who surpassed his expectations.
In any case, admiration was admiration, but he had an obligation to uncover the truth.
“Now, please explain what happened. What great method did you use, young master?”
Chris kept his mouth shut.
He couldn’t speak the truth.
It was also difficult to make up a lie.
Eradicating demons with the power of the 2nd star rank couldn’t be explained by any lie.
“As a reference, what you’re saying right now will be conveyed to Lord Nordian. You could think of it as an evaluation…”
It was pressure.
In the end, Chris made his decision.
Speaking the truth or making up a lie was impossible.
So, the only answer was one.
“I don’t want to say.”
“…What?”
“I don’t see why I should reveal my trump card.”
Simon’s face showed surprise.
“But young master? My question is the same as what Lord Nordian would ask.”
“Just because Lord Nordian asked, does that mean I must answer?”
“!!”
“Even Lord Nordian can’t force a demon to reveal their hidden trump card.”
Chris lifted the corner of his mouth.
As arrogantly and hopelessly as he could.
“You said evaluation, right? If I were Lord Nordian, I’d think it’s better to keep your claws hidden until the end rather than act like a fool who reveals their trump card just because someone asks.”
Simon let out a snort, but it was a response with nothing more to say.
What could he say when someone didn’t want to reveal something?
It wasn’t wrong. No demon would reveal their trump card to others.
In fact, demanding such a thing was an enormous disrespect.
“…I understand, young master. I won’t ask again.”
“Is that all?”
“Pardon?”
“It seems you haven’t said the one thing you should.”
Chris lifted his chin.
“Aren’t you going to apologize to me for this incident?”
“!!”
Simon’s face hardened instantly.
But soon, he gave a soft smile again.
“Please forgive my rudeness in forcing you to reveal your hidden trump card, young master.”
“No, not that.”
His words became shorter.
“I’m talking about summoning the hellspawn.”
“!!”
“Was it your doing?”
Simon took a deep breath.
“What do you mean by that...?”
“Don’t know what I’m talking about?”
Chris stared directly into Simon’s eyes.
Chris’ gaze was cold and sharp.
“I’ll ask again. Do you really not know what I’m talking about?”
His voice was filled with conviction.
At first, Chris didn’t know.
But once he realized the bat hiding in the cave was Simon, all the pieces of the puzzle clicked together.
The demon that appeared even though there were no issues with the sealing magic circle.
Simon had summoned the demon using blood summoning magic.
“......”
Simon bit his lip.
‘Impressive.’
Simon realized that Christian had figured everything out from just a small clue and admired him. The more he saw, the more impressive the young master was.
Anyway, this was a troublesome situation.
Just as Simon was about to admit his mistake.
Chris said something unexpected.
“Forget it.”
“…What?”
“I’ll let it go.”
Simon looked confused.
“In exchange, remember this. You owe me one.”
“…A deal?”
“That’s how you should understand it.”
If Chris were to make this matter public, Simon would be in a difficult position.
The Dark Demonic House forbids anything related to hellspawns.
But since Simon had summoned the hellspawn, even with the protection of Nordian, he couldn’t escape punishment.
He would probably face quite a severe penalty.
‘This is better.’
Chris thought to himself.
Simon was close to the greatest figures of the Age of Ruin.
So, it was essential to establish a connection with him.
By doing so, it was possible to twist the future in his favor.
The problem was that Simon was not someone who could be easily swayed to his side.
Gaining his trust seemed impossible.
A snake biting its closest ally’s neck.
At least with someone like Nordian, he could use overwhelming power to keep him in line.
It was best to maintain a distance and control him through a transactional relationship, getting him to act according to his will.
“Kuk kuk, I understand. I won’t forget the mercy you’ve shown, young master.”
Simon exaggeratedly lowered his head.
“It was a pleasure meeting you today. I look forward to seeing you again soon. I eagerly await your visit to the family estate. As the chief butler, I’ll make sure to give you a fitting reception.”
Ssssshh.
Simon’s body transformed into a blood-red mist and vanished, and Chris frowned.
* * *
After briefly composing himself, Chris decided to leave for the Khazar family estate again.
On the day of his departure, an unexpected visitor arrived.
It was Alros.
“……??”
When Chris looked at him with a puzzled expression, Alros timidly approached with a face as red as a tomato.
“…Christian.”
“Address me properly.”
“…What?”
“You should call me ‘older brother.’”
“Y-You crazy bastard…! I’m two years older than you!”
Alros snapped angrily, and Chris chuckled lightly.
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, what’s going on?”
“Hmph.”
Alros turned his head and spoke in a small voice, like a crawling swallow.
“Thank you.”
“…….”
Chris stared silently at Alros and then spoke with an annoying tone.
“Your voice is too quiet, I can’t hear it well. Is there an ant passing by? Try saying it louder.”
“Ah, seriously! I said thank you, you bastard!!”
Alros’s face turned even redder, like a ripe carrot.
After a long while of grumbling, Alros spoke again.
“…Be careful.”
“Hm?”
“You probably already suspect this, but the reason I opposed your attendance at the Dark Baptism wasn’t just my own decision. It was the orders of the family’s elderly young master.”
The elderly young master.
It was a familiar name.
The sixth son of the Dark Demonic House, who would become the next heir, and the main figure of this Dark Baptism.
“He is different from me. Even though we’re both 2-star, you should know that we’re not the same, especially when it comes to the direct family members.”
All those attending the Dark Baptism were young 2-star mages from the Dark Demonic House.
But even within the 2-star, the difference between the main and branch families was significant.
It was due to the support they received from childhood.
The best elixirs.
The improvement of physical strength granted only to the direct bloodline.
The blessing of dark magic.
The superior vision of the main family.
And so on.
Such factors created an insurmountable difference.
“The elderly young master despises you. During the Dark Baptism, you’ll be thoroughly humiliated.”
Humiliation.
It was a softened expression.
The Dark Baptism was a place of thorough competition.
Loin was planning to give Chris the greatest humiliation.
“When you go to the main family, you should try not to offend Loin’s temper too much…”
“Little brother.”
Chris smiled faintly.
“I appreciate the concern, but can I give you some advice, too?”
“…What?”
“How about not attending the Dark Baptism this time?”
“!!”
Chris twisted the corner of his mouth.
“On that day, I won’t show any mercy either. Whoever the opponent is. Everyone who attends the Dark Baptism will regret meeting me.”
“!!”
He was serious.
The Dark Baptism was a ritual to obtain the ‘Dark Demonic Energy.’
The necessary power to master the Dark Demonic House's vision.
The problem was that the Dark Demonic Energy were given strictly according to the principle of survival of the fittest.
The more you show superiority over your competitors, the more Dark Demonic Energy you can obtain.
And… Chris wasn’t willing to give up even a single grain of Dark Demonic Energy.
The competitors who attended with him would experience nightmares.
“…Crazy bastard.”
Though he cursed, Alros shuddered.
For a moment, he wondered if he should postpone attending the Dark Baptism until the next time.
“Think carefully. Don’t regret it later.”
Chris patted Alros on the shoulder and mounted his horse.
Before attending the Dark Baptism.
It was time to become stronger.
There was less than a month until the Dark Baptism, but it was enough.
* * *
After returning to the Khazar family estate, Chris requested seclusion training.
“You want to train alone?”
Count Khazar tilted his head.
“Wouldn’t it be better to receive more guidance from me?”
Chris hadn’t yet learned everything from Count Khazar.
But Chris shook his head.
“I think it’s better to train alone for now.”
Count Khazar nodded.
“If you say so, then do as you wish. But…”
Count Khazar’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Do you think you can strike back at the main family?”
Hearing that Loin was the one who opposed Chris’s attendance at the Dark Baptism, Count Khazar was furious.
Not only Ashid but also Loin.
They were continuing their vile schemes against Chris.
“One blow? What do you mean?”
Chris shrugged his shoulders.
“My goal is to make the Dark Demonic House to kneel.”
“!!”
When Count Khazar tightly closed his mouth, Chris chuckled.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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