Chapter 114
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: An Impossible Condition
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Even with his power restricted, who here would dare to even touch the hem of Nordian's clothes?
It was, for all intents and purposes, an impossible condition.
Chris had a strange thought.
‘…I think I can manage that.’
It was a baseless confidence.
But for some reason, he truly felt he could do it.
Why?
Because he was a genius.
‘If anything, this is an opportunity.’
A chance to once again leave a strong impression on Nordian.
And a chance to get what he wanted.
Chris decided to take the gamble.
“Could we change the terms?”
[What?]
“Have the Lord of the House use the same 4-Star Magi as I do. In return, if I win, in addition to lifting the ban, could you grant me one more request?”
[…]
Everyone around them fell silent for a moment.
They hadn’t quite processed Christian’s words.
The moment Count Cazar and Merian belatedly realized the insanity of Christian's proposal, their faces turned deathly pale.
Nordian’s icy voice cut through the air.
[You must be mad.]
“...”
[Has your paltry talent blinded you with arrogance?]
His voice was filled with genuine anger.
But it was the reaction he had expected.
Chris gave his pre-planned response.
“It's a misunderstanding. I did not speak out of arrogance.”
[Then what is it?]
“First, it was a request born from my desire to witness my lord's greatness more vividly. To spar with you, my lord, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any Majin, regardless of the outcome.”
Nordian fell silent.
He was frowning, but the sharp edge of his presence seemed to have dulled slightly.
[And the other reason?]
“Second, it was out of a grandson's desire to show his grandfather an even more impressive side of himself.”
[…]
“To be honest, whether you use the power of a 2-Star or a 4-Star, it will be equally difficult for me to handle, wouldn't it? So, I wanted to show you my best effort under the most challenging conditions possible. After all, you wouldn't kill me in this duel.”
Chris bowed his head respectfully.
“I apologize if I seemed presumptuous. I beg your forgiveness for my disrespect, my lord.”
Nordian remained silent.
His brow was deeply furrowed.
Merian and Count Cazar were on pins and needles, worried that a disaster was about to unfold.
But Nordian felt his anger subsiding.
‘…Insolent brat.’
It was a reckless explanation, but he didn't find it entirely disagreeable.
Certainly, this duel was not a fight to the death.
Even in the worst-case scenario, Nordian had no intention of killing Christian.
So, how could he fault a Majin for wanting to take on the most difficult challenge possible?
Besides.
‘…This is the second time. The second time that insolent brat has brought up being my grandson.’
The last time was when Christian had given him the chocolate-shaped activation pills as a gift.
Strangely, it wasn't an unpleasant feeling.
However.
[A grandson? Do you dare think of me, the Lord of the House, in such personal terms?]
“That is not my intention at all. However.”
Christian met Nordian’s gaze directly and said.
“It is a fact that I am your flesh and blood. I see no reason to tiptoe around a simple truth.”
[!!]
Such audacity.
Nordian let out a dry laugh.
But again, he didn't dislike it.
Honestly, he even felt a little proud.
To dare say such a thing to him, whom everyone else feared.
Shouldn't a Majin possess at least that much spirit?
[Enough idle talk. I am curious if your skills are as long as your tongue.]
“...”
[The condition remains unchanged. I will use only the power of a 2-Star. That alone will be more than you can handle.]
Nordian’s eyes narrowed.
[If you so much as touch my collar, I will not only lift the ban but also grant your additional request. Though it's an impossible feat, of course.]
“!!”
And so.
Like throwing an egg against a rock.
The duel with Nordian began.
* * *
It would be impossible.
That wasn't just an empty phrase.
The 8-Star ‘Almighty’ class is also known as the Absolute Realm.
That is because they have reached the station of an absolute being.
As the term ‘almighty’ suggests, 8-Star absolutes completely dominate their surrounding domain, making it their own.
They bend even the laws of nature to their will, forcing their opponent's very mind and body to kneel before them.
Thus, those who face an 8-Star absolute cannot even properly manifest their own power.
It was a dimension of authority entirely different from the realms below it.
‘Nordian won't use that kind of power on me, but still.’
Chris forced the corners of his mouth into a smile.
‘This is certainly tough. More than I expected.’
Up ahead, Nordian, in the body of a small boy, was watching him silently.
He wasn't employing any special powers, not even raising his Magi, yet he showed no openings whatsoever.
The moment Chris tried to close the distance, it was obvious what would happen.
He would be subdued without being able to lift a finger.
[What are you standing around gawking for? The sun will set at this rate.]
Nordian said listlessly.
And in that instant.
[If you have no intention of moving, then I shall.]
“!!”
Chris twisted his body instinctively.
*Crack!*
The ground where Chris had been standing collapsed.
The problem was that he couldn't figure out what Nordian had done.
Nordian was still standing there with a bored expression, his arms crossed.
‘Destruction-type black magic? No. I didn't feel any magic being cast. A simple emission of Magi?’
But he had no more time to think.
Nordian had launched his next attack.
[Merian, the sword.]
“...Here you are.”
[Why the scabbard?]
“If you were to wield a real sword, my lord, the boy would die.”
[Heh.]
Nordian said no more and took the scabbard.
He raised it over his shoulder and then, *swoosh*, swung it horizontally.
It was a motion devoid of any swordsmanship or finesse.
The distance was far too great for it to connect.
And yet.
“!!”
Chris snapped his head back.
In that moment, his bangs were neatly sliced off.
Incredibly, Nordian's strike had crossed the distance and reached Chris.
It was an incomprehensible phenomenon.
Chris realized the true nature of this event.
‘He twisted the laws.’
It was the unique power of an 8-Star: the ‘Absolute Realm’.
Within one's domain, one could manipulate the laws as they saw fit.
But Chris still looked puzzled.
‘But he didn't deploy his domain. How did he twist the laws?’
Nordian hadn't activated his power.
As promised, he was only using a speck of 2-Star Magi.
And yet, he was still manipulating the laws to his will.
‘Could it be... he imbued the principles of his domain into the attack itself?’
That seemed to be it!
To artificially twist the laws, one first had to deploy a domain to dominate the world.
Nordian was clearly imbuing each and every attack with the principles of his domain to twist the laws of nature.
‘To think such a thing is possible. As expected of Nordian, one of the strongest even among the 8-Star Demonic Lords.’
However, one question remained.
‘Why use such an inefficient method of attack?’
Honestly, if Nordian wanted to subdue him, he wouldn't need to use such a high-level technique; basic methods would suffice.
It was as if he were showing off his high-level mastery.
‘Surely, his intention isn't something as petty as showing off.’
Suddenly, a realization struck Chris.
‘Could it be... he's trying to teach me something? Guiding me under the guise of a duel?’
It was possible!
After all, Nordian had wanted to teach him from the beginning.
‘The Lord of the House wants me to attain enlightenment, so he's demonstrating such a high-level technique.’
Chris readjusted his stance.
He recalled the time he had been taught the Dark Demonic Arts by Nordian.
It had been a series of incomprehensibly difficult trials, but upon careful inspection, Nordian's deep intentions were always hidden within.
‘It must be the same this time. There's definitely a purpose behind it. I just have to find the answer.’
The answer was probably not far off.
‘The principle of imbuing each attack with the essence of a domain. I need to figure out the true nature of that principle.’
To put it bluntly, it was a ridiculous misunderstanding.
Nordian had no such thoughts.
He was simply planning to use his high-level powers to put Christian in his place and break his arrogance, but Chris had misunderstood all on his own.
‘...Look at this brat.’
Nordian furrowed his brow.
‘Is he observing my attacks?’
He thought he might be mistaken, but he wasn't.
While narrowly dodging, Chris was studying his attacks as if he were a student.
It was an utterly dumbfounding sight.
What was even more baffling was that his movements were gradually improving, as if he were truly realizing something.
To be precise, his evasions were becoming more accurate.
‘...Is he reading my attacks?’
Nordian felt a sense of bewilderment.
Considering the ‘type’ of power he was currently wielding, it was an impossible feat.
Finally, Nordian lowered his hand and asked.
[How did you do it?]
“Pardon?”
[You read my attacks, did you not?]
Christian scratched his head.
“I didn't read them. I simply felt them.”
[Felt them?]
“Yes. You are manifesting your will to produce the effect of a domain, twisting the laws to dominate the area, are you not? Therefore, I simply detected the manifestation of your will and predicted the resulting distortion of reality to evade.”
[…]
Nordian was speechless.
What in the world was this brat talking about?
To get straight to the point, what Chris said was accurate.
But how could he have figured that out?
And Christian’s insane analysis didn't stop there.
“I know you chose this method on purpose. You must have intended to show me the various ways will can be manifested, to grant me enlightenment. However, due to my own shortcomings, I was only able to vaguely sense that your will was interfering with the phenomenal world itself.”
[...Speak plainly.]
“Well.”
Chris thought for a moment.
Using will as a power of domination was, in fact, an impossible method.
It was a shortcut made possible only because Nordian had reached an unfathomable level of mastery.
Since it was a concept that shouldn't be possible, it was impossible to define clearly, but...
“You've imbued your will with the 'stature' of your existence, have you not?”
[…]
“However, will is merely a manifestation of intent. It's impossible to imbue it with the stature of one's existence through will alone, so you must have elevated your will to a higher dimension of power, correct?”
Nordian fell silent.
It was a silence born of astonishment.
He was correct.
‘How does he know this?’
He couldn't have seen or heard it from somewhere.
This was a method Nordian had devised himself.
And yet, Chris had grasped the principle after seeing it only a few times.
‘...Insane.’
A curse unfitting for the supreme lord of the house escaped Nordian's inner thoughts.
Meanwhile, unaware of Nordian’s true feelings, Christian bowed his head.
“Thank you for demonstrating such a sublime level of mastery. You must have been showing me the path I am to walk.”
…It was an absurd misunderstanding, but.
Chris genuinely believed it.