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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 70
Chris turned his gaze and widened his eyes in surprise.
The other demons nearby were just as stunned.
Like a gentle breeze....
She was a woman with a clear and graceful impression.
Despite possessing the distinct dark black hair and blood-red eyes characteristic of the Dark Demonic House, her aura felt refreshing rather than ominous.
It was the First Princess, Yulian.
‘She has an elven kind of aura.’
Chris was slightly surprised and thought to himself.
He had vaguely thought so even when he saw her from a distance before, but her atmosphere was truly unique.
It was similar to the elves, a race of the forest.
“I greet the First Princess.”
“Mm, nice to meet you. I became your sister, but I’m sorry for greeting you only now. Ah, is it okay if I speak informally?”
Yulian asked with her round eyes widened.
Chris shook his head.
“Not at all. Prince Mysak was hostile from the start, so that was different. But it’s not the same with you, First Princess. If you’re willing to consider me your younger brother, please feel free to speak comfortably.”
If not, then keep your distance.
She surely understood the undertone in his words, but Yulian simply smiled softly.
“Then I’ll speak comfortably. I’m happy to have a new little brother. You can also talk to me casually when you see me. Let’s have tea next time. I’ll prepare a sweet cake that a child would like.”
A child.
It wasn’t meant as provocation.
The gentle curve of Yulian’s eyes truly held the warmth of someone looking at a younger sibling.
“I’m not a child, though.”
“If you’re underage, you’re a child. Or would you prefer I prepare ginger ale?”
“…I don’t like ginger ale.”
They exchanged a brief, lighthearted conversation, and Yulian laughed brightly.
“Well then, we’ll be seeing each other often, so let’s get along.”
With that, Yulian disappeared.
Chris crossed his arms and watched her back for a moment.
‘Hmm.’
Among all the princes and princesses, the First Princess Yulian had the best reputation.
Not only was she beautiful and talented, but her personality was gentle and full of consideration.
A princess beloved by everyone in the Dark Demonic House.
It was an encounter that matched her reputation, yet Chris slowly furrowed his brows.
....Be wary of the First Princess Yulian.
A warning given by his aunt, Merian.
And Chris now understood why Merian had cautioned him.
That faint sensation he had felt from Yulian....
Had he not lived through the Age of Ruins,
Had he not been one of the Hero’s companions,
He would never have noticed it.
It was the lingering trace of a Devil.
In other words, the First Princess Yulian was a Devil contractor.
Devil contractor.
One who has pledged their soul in a pact with a Devil.
‘No way, the First Princess Yulian is someone who made a pact with a Devil?’
After the banquet ended, Chris fell into deep thought.
‘I never expected this.’
In truth, Chris was no stranger to Devil contractors.
After all, even the Blood-Drenched Demon King was a Devil contractor.
During the Age of Ruins, all kinds of people formed pacts with Devils and ran rampant across the world.
But now was different.
Unless there were extremely special circumstances, Devil contractors were rare.
‘The others probably don’t know.’
Most likely.
The Dark Demonic House forbids dealings with Devils.
If her contract had been exposed, she would have been expelled from the family long ago.
‘Aunt Merian must’ve only sensed that something was off. Still, what should I do?’
Though it was a brief encounter, he had recognized it instantly.
The strongest rival for the position of heir wasn’t Second Prince Ashid, but First Princess Yulian.
Yulian was a monster hiding her claws.
‘She seems to be in the 4-star realm, but she’s clearly concealing her true power.’
The problem was that he had no idea how much power she was hiding.
That was the terrifying thing about Devil contractors.
In exchange for offering their soul and being condemned to eternal suffering, they gain powers that defy common sense.
‘Of course, the power gained this way usually comes with clear limits. But at my current level, she’s too much to handle.’
The simplest method would be to expose Yulian as a Devil contractor.
Then, her mana core would be sealed, and she’d be cast out of the family.
‘But that would be the worst choice.’
First of all, it would be difficult to present proof that she was a Devil contractor.
Devil contractors hide themselves thoroughly. Due to the Devil’s power of concealment, no matter how advanced one’s level, it’s nearly impossible to detect.
Chris would never have noticed if not for the experience he gained during the Age of Ruins.
‘First, I need to find out why the First Princess made a pact with a Devil.’
The most important thing when identifying a Devil contractor is the reason why they made the contract.
If it was just out of simple greed, then there wouldn’t be much to worry about.
They’d receive a limited amount of power, and that would be it. In these cases, the limits are clear.
But if there was a special reason....
More precisely, if the contractor had a “circumstance” that enticed the Devil....
There are times when the Devil bestows a special “blessing.”
Contractors who receive such blessings can end up with unimaginable power.
The most representative example was the Blood-Drenched Demon King.
She had merely been the Grand Princess of the Bloodsword Demonic House, but through the special blessing she received by forming a contract with a Devil, she gained the destructive power to become a demon king.
‘Even the “Ghost-Eater” ability that the leader of the Bloodshade Corps received from a Devil was horrific.’
That’s why Chris had to figure out what kind of contract Yulian had formed with the Devil.
“Marie?”
[Ohoho… Shall I bring out some virgin blood juice?]
“…No, that’s not it. I have a favor to ask.”
Marie tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
“Do you happen to have any ghosts from the main house you're close with?”
In the mansions of long-standing families in the Magus Empire, ghosts were commonly known to dwell.
[Rather than being close… there are a few who’ve knelt before me.]
“…Knelt?”
[They were babbling all sorts of nonsense about you… so I gave them a little taste of my affection, and they volunteered to serve me as their master.]
Chris fell silent for a moment.
‘…So she’s become a Banshee Queen.’
A monster that subjugates surrounding creatures and forms its own faction is called a “Lord.”
In the case of banshees, it’s a Banshee Queen.
It meant Marie had subjugated all the ghost-type beings in the vicinity of this mansion.
‘Just how powerful is Marie really?’
He couldn’t begin to gauge it.
A sudden question came to mind.
‘What kind of story does Marie carry?’
Ghosts gained power in proportion to the depth of their lingering resentment.
Marie no doubt carried a horrific tale far beyond imagination.
“Anyway, look into First Princess Yulian. I want to know what kind of past she has.”
[Ohoho… Understood. I shall obey your command, my Lord.]
Only after completing the investigation into the First Princess would he be able to decide on a proper course of action.
Once Marie disappeared, Chris closed his eyes for a moment.
‘More urgent than that....now that I’ve become a prince, I have to establish my position properly.’
It wouldn’t be an easy task.
He had somewhat repaired his image during the banquet earlier, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
He needed to build a “faction” powerful enough to overwhelm the other princes.
As a collateral descendant, it was nearly impossible.
‘Tricks won’t work.’
No matter how hard he tried to gather support little by little, he would never catch up to the direct lineage.
Instead, Chris thought of a different approach.
‘I just have to show something overwhelming.’
Something that left others in the dust.
A display of excellence so incomparable that the other princes wouldn’t even stand a chance.
That way, he could instill in people the belief that Chris was the rightful next head of the family.
Then people would naturally begin to gather under him.
It was a simple yet fundamental method.
‘I need a brilliant stage that captures everyone’s attention at once.’
He had to deliver a tremendous shock to everyone.
‘Fortunately, I have someone who can help me.’
Just as he was thinking that....
A voice called from outside.
“Prince Christian, Marchioness Presia requests your presence.”
Chris raised the corners of his lips.
In the Dark Demonic House, there was only one Marchioness.
Scarlet Snowflower, Presia.
She was the mother of Mysak, who had been humiliated by Chris during the banquet, and the mistress managing the internal affairs of the Dark Demonic House.
And....
She was someone who would be a great help to him in building his reputation.
* * *
“I greet the Marchioness.”
“Yes, it’s been a while. Is your father, Count Khazar, doing well?”
“Yes, he is doing well.”
“Though it’s late, congratulations on becoming a prince. I worried back when you seemed lost as a child, but you’ve grown splendidly.”
True to her title of “Scarlet Snowflower,” Presia was a woman of striking beauty. Even in middle age, she had not lost her brilliance....she was a dazzling flower.
But she was not simply a radiant flower.
The “scarlet” in Scarlet Snowflower symbolized blood and destruction.
‘Her cultivation… a solid 5-star.’
Despite her gentle greeting, a subtle pressure radiated from her, weighing heavily on Chris.
His skin tingled with a sharp ache, but he showed no sign of discomfort.
“Your praise is too generous. Thank you for your kind words.”
“It’s not too generous. I heard what happened at the banquet. Impressive. If only our Mysak had grown up like you, I’d have nothing to regret.”
Chris let out a faint scoff.
It was unexpected praise, but it clearly wasn’t meant as a compliment.
“Still, I can’t say I’m pleased about the quarrel between you two. You may be cousins, but you share the same blood. I hope you, as the younger, can get along with Mysak.”
Chris nearly burst into laughter.
She had said, “as the younger.”
Presia was trying to persuade him to place himself beneath Mysak, to serve and support him.
No, it wasn’t persuasion.
It was a threat.
The look in Presia’s eyes rippled darkly.
They were not the blood-red eyes of the Dark Demonic House....
They were the destructive crimson eyes of the Destruction Demonic House.
A mark of a lineage that sought to collapse and annihilate all living things, now fixed sharply on him.
The message was clear: disobey, and you will face a retribution you cannot endure.
But....
Chris raised the corners of his lips again.
“Yes, I will follow your words. I’ll get along with Prince Mysak like brothers.”
“Truly?”
“On one condition....if that bastard Mysak becomes my little brother.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t it only natural for the dumber one to be the younger? Between us, wouldn’t I suit the role of elder brother better than some idiot who runs crying to his mommy just because of a little fight?”
“!!”
Presia’s face turned fierce.
A vicious energy surged up from her.
The force she unleashed caused the nearby furniture to tremble.
A supreme destructive aura.
If Presia even moved a finger, Chris would be wiped out without being able to resist. Not even a corpse would remain.
Even so....
‘I’m not afraid.’
Chris met Presia’s gaze directly.
He could see it.
What flickered in those red eyes wasn’t the will to destroy everything.
It was nothing but greed.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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