------------------
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
------------------
Chapter 51
The family head’s eyebrows twitched.
[This is a proposal for your sake.]
“I understand.”
[Are you trying to be greedy, driven by youthful ambition?]
Chris shook his head.
To be honest, he did believe in his own talent, but there was a more important reason.
“It’s not greed. Whether I succeed or fail, it’s something I must do—especially for the sake of the Dark Demonic House.”
Nordian’s face hardened.
[What do you mean by that?]
“I mean no offense, but allow me to ask you something first. It’s a different matter, but… Family Head, why do you think the Dark Demonic House has lost the strength it once had during its prime and is now considered to be in decline?”
Merian, who stood beside him, sharply inhaled.
The weakening of their power.
It was true.
In the past, the Dark Demonic House was one of the most powerful among the Twelve Demonic Houses.
Though not quite on the level of the mysterious Necromancer or the Mystic Houses, it once stood shoulder to shoulder with the Houses of Destruction, Obsidian, and Curse.
But gradually, little by little, their strength faded. And now, the house was regarded as one of the weaker ones among the Twelve.
To bring that up in front of the family head—how bold.
[Are you saying there’s a reason for that?]
Nordian’s voice turned cold as he asked.
The atmosphere froze in an instant.
Cold enough to bite into flesh.
Even so, Chris didn’t avert his gaze and spoke firmly.
“Yes. I didn’t realize it before, but after speaking with you just now, I understand the reason.”
[Speak.]
“It’s because of you, Family Head.”
[!!]
Merian’s eyes widened, as if they would tear at the corners, watching Chris with bated breath after that bombshell of a statement.
Simon was the same.
He looked at Chris like he was insane.
[What… did you just say?]
Thump—his heart pounded.
There was no pressure or overwhelming force.
It was just a calm question.
And yet, it felt as though his very soul was freezing.
But Chris didn’t back down.
‘I’m not saying anything wrong.’
More than anything, hadn’t Merian advised him?
That he needed to seize the family head’s heart with this opportunity.
So, he had to speak boldly.
To fully win over the family head’s heart.
Even if it brought anger now, eventually the truth of his words would be recognized.
“If my words have angered you, I apologize. But would you please allow me to explain myself, just for a moment?”
Nordian fell silent at the calm response.
It was a silent approval.
“The Dark Demonic House has grown far larger compared to the past. It has prospered beyond comparison. This is all thanks to your grace, Family Head. However, even so, others say the Dark Demonic House is not what it used to be.”
An ironic statement.
Nordian had led the Dark Demonic House into prosperity.
Its power had grown far beyond the past, and it had accumulated enormous material wealth.
Yet despite that, the world claimed the house had weakened.
There was only one reason for this.
“It’s due to the lack of Absolutes.”
[!!]
“Since the former family head, not a single 8-star Magus has appeared. There are only two 7-star Magi in total.”
There are many standards by which a house’s strength is measured.
Subordinate forces, wealth, influence, territory, and so on.
But there is one factor that outweighs all of these.
The Absolutes.
At least 7-star and above.
Those who can perform miracles with a human body.
They are what determine the strength of a house.
What’s the use of having a massive force?
They’ll be crushed by a single Absolute.
A perfect example is the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
When the Blood-Drenched Demon King invaded the Dark Demonic House—
At that time, Nordian had already died due to a certain incident, and the remaining forces banded together to confront her.
The Dark Demonic House deployed over ten thousand Magi.
On the other hand, the Blood-Drenched Demon King stood alone.
And then came a famous battle that spread rumors even throughout the allied nations.
Over ten thousand Magi of the Dark Demonic House charged at the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
But… not a single one of them managed to even touch her fingertip.
What followed was a horrific massacre.
The Dark Demonic House only barely avoided annihilation thanks to her mercy.
After that, they fell into the role of her hound.
‘The Dark Demonic House lacks not only 8-stars, but even the number of 7-stars is insufficient. There are only two.’
On the other hand, there are many 6-stars.
Far more than in other places.
That too was strange.
Now, the reason was clear.
“It’s because you set limits on yourselves. If you hadn’t imposed those limits, the Dark Demonic House would be very different today.”
What if, during the Sacred Darkness Ceremony, you hadn’t restricted the Sacred Darkness?
No—what if, instead of forcing a so-called fair competition, you allowed the strongest to monopolize the Sacred Darkness?
‘Honestly, does everyone really need such extraordinary power? That’s like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.’
Chris looked at the dark demonic energy swirling around his body as he thought.
This isn’t a power just anyone can handle.
When someone unworthy tried to master it, it was like swinging a weapon far too large for their frame. It only backfired.
In Chris’s view, dark demonic energy was a power meant solely for a select few with exceptional talent.
[…….]
At Chris’s words, the room fell silent.
It was shock.
The family head remained silent for a while before speaking.
[There is a flaw in your argument. What if we don’t impose limits, and people absorb more Sacred Darkness than they can handle, only to hit a wall and fall into despair? That would happen in countless cases.]
It was a valid point.
Many would fall behind.
However—
“Well, of course, that would be unfortunate. But, may I speak frankly from the house’s perspective?”
[…Speak.]
“What does it matter if the unworthy fall behind? They were never going to amount to much anyway. Even if they’re fewer in number, the absolute powerhouses who overcome trials will benefit the house far more than a bunch of pathetic fools.”
[!!]
Everyone wore shocked expressions.
But Chris remained calm.
‘It’s not wrong, is it?’
And then—
The family head let out a laugh.
[Heh heh.]
An unexpected reaction.
It wasn’t one of displeasure.
Nordian felt like he had just taken a solid hit from Chris’s words.
‘The unworthy are unnecessary, huh. Not a wrong statement.’
A cold-hearted thought, but magic was the dominion of the strong.
It was a remark that perfectly pierced through the values that magic upheld.
But that didn’t mean Nordian agreed with Christian’s words.
What Chris had just said was far too detached from reality.
Surpassing the ultimate limit and becoming a superhuman—easier said than done. Only a tiny, chosen few could manage that.
And that was precisely why Nordian had ordered no one to absorb more than 70% of the Sacred Darkness.
[I understand your point. But no matter how convincing an argument sounds, if it can’t be proven, it’s just empty nonsense. Can you prove your claim yourself?]
Chris answered without hesitation.
“Of course.”
[Hmph.]
The family head turned away.
[Don’t regret it.]
Flaash!
The scenery shifted.
An illusion had been cast.
The figures of Merian and Simon vanished. So did the family head.
Chris was now standing alone in a dense, deep forest.
[I will begin the transmission of Dark Demonic Energy. Here is your first task.]
From an unseen, far-off place, the family head’s voice echoed out.
[Survive.]
* * *
Survive.
The meaning behind those words became immediately clear.
Flaash!
A flash of light burst forth.
An ambush from the blind spot!
Chris twisted his body on instinct and narrowly avoided the attack.
A giant, rock-skinned lizard beast was flicking its tongue, eyes locked onto him.
‘A 4-star magical beast—Rock Lizard. That’s one fiery start to a lesson.’
Considering that Chris’s level was still at 2-star, this was an opponent he had absolutely no chance of defeating.
‘Using combined power is out of the question.’
Then, another chilling sound echoed.
Grrr.
This time, a bear the size of a house appeared.
And it wasn’t just large.
It had two heads. And four arms.
It was a Twin-Head Bear—also a 4-star magical beast.
The real problem was, it wasn’t just one.
Two of them appeared simultaneously.
That made three 4-star magical beasts in total.
Even with combined strength, a head-on confrontation would be utterly impossible.
‘Could it be... did I piss him off with what I said, and now he’s using this test as an excuse to kill me?’
The thought wasn’t far-fetched.
Flaash!
A venomous dart shot from the lizard.
Faster than an arrow.
Chris barely dodged it, and the tree struck by the dart began to rot away.
If he hadn’t dodged, that would’ve been his body.
‘This is no joke.’
Whatever the head’s intention was, one thing was clear.
A single mistake here meant death.
— He’s not exactly the kind to teach gently.
Now Merian’s words made sense.
Thump, thump.
The Twin-Head Bear approached Christian.
As expected of a 4-star magical beast, it was intelligent, circling around him with its two heads as if forming a trap, gradually closing the distance.
And behind them, the Rock Lizard was patiently waiting for its chance to strike.
It was a desperate, life-threatening crisis, yet Chris grinned.
‘This is kind of fun.’
A thought completely unfitting for the situation.
‘There has to be some kind of answer.’
If this were a real battle, his heart would’ve been pounding, but this was a guided training session.
Surely, the family head wouldn’t give an impossible task.
And that answer had to be connected to the Dark Demonic Art.
‘If I don’t find the answer, I’ll die though.’
Flaash!
Kwaang!
Christian barely dodged the Twin-Head Bear’s strike and began drawing up the Dark Demonic Energy.
‘Let’s give it a shot!’
* * *
Just earlier, in the training hall where Christian had spoken,
The family head and Merian were having a conversation.
“That task again?”
[Yes.]
Merian wore a fed-up expression.
‘That awful hobby again.’
Nordian.
The strongest demonic being, but frankly, not someone fit to be a teacher.
No—in fact, the worst.
His standards were absurdly high, and his methods of teaching were excessively brutal.
Not a single one of Merian’s siblings had avoided serious injury while receiving Nordian’s instruction.
It was the kind of training where a lion tosses its cubs off a cliff.
But the biggest problem was,
‘…Even then, his teaching isn’t particularly effective.’
Even after surviving those cruel ordeals, it was hard to actually gain anything.
Why?
To be honest—
‘…The family head just doesn’t have a talent for teaching.’
And that was putting it kindly, for the sake of saving face—it was downright terrible.
Being strong doesn’t necessarily make you a good teacher.
That fact was clearest in the task Christian was currently undergoing.
A trial that she and all her siblings had experienced at least once.
[When you struggle to survive in an extreme situation, you’ll come to feel the essence of the Dark Demonic Energy more deeply.]
“……”
Merian fell silent for a moment.
‘…That’s not true, my lord.’
Not a single one of her siblings had achieved anything from that task.
It didn’t make sense from the start.
They were supposed to grasp the essence of the Dark Demonic Energy while being pushed to their limits—how was that supposed to work?
[To survive against those magical beasts, you’ll have to squeeze out every last drop of Dark Demonic Energy. That’s how you naturally come face-to-face with its essence.]
A completely unconvincing explanation.
But Merian said nothing.
‘All I can hope for is that he doesn’t end up too badly hurt.’
------------------
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
------------------
