Chapter 16
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Sacred Black Ceremony
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Chris spoke in a composed tone.
"Let me repeat myself. I intend to bring the Dark Magic Houses to their knees."
“!!”
Count Cazar was flustered by the sudden declaration.
"Wh-what are you…."
"You still don't understand. It's not that complicated. I, Christian, will become the master of the Dark Magic Houses."
Count Cazar stared at him, his eyes wide with disbelief.
*‘He’s so shocked. If he heard my real goal, he’d faint on the spot.’*
Taking control of the Dark Magic Houses was merely the first step.
His true goal was the pinnacle of the demonic world.
To become the Demon King.
*‘And not just any Demon King, but one of high rank. Only then can I prevent the Great War from breaking out.’*
The Magitech Empire had more than one Demon King.
At the top was the Demon Emperor, the number one Demon King, followed by several others.
For reference, the 'Demon King of Bloodletting' who started the Great War was ranked fourth.
Therefore, Chris had to become a top-ranking Demon King, at least third in rank or higher.
*‘At that level, I’ll be able to enjoy the ultimate wealth and glory.’*
Just then, Count Cazar slowly opened his mouth.
"Do you think it's possible... for you to become the master of the Dark Magic Houses? We are a collateral branch."
"I was under the impression that even a collateral branch can have their succession rights recognized, as long as they have the ability."
"That's just a rule on paper. And more importantly, aren't you the furthest behind among your peers?"
He knew his son had changed.
But the past years spent in debauchery hadn't vanished.
While Christian was wasting his time away, the other young pillars of the main house were soaring.
And the one soaring highest among them was Eshid.
"I'll catch up to those who are ahead. Let me ask you something. Father, why do you think Eshid framed me?"
"......"
Count Cazar fell silent for a moment.
It was certainly a puzzling matter.
Eshid was an incomparably noble existence compared to Christian, so why go to such lengths?
"...I don't know for sure. But I have a guess. It must be because of your talent."
"Yes, that's right."
Chris nodded.
"He was jealous of me for possessing a talent greater than his own."
Originally, Eshid had been praised as the most talented of the next generation of the Dark Magic Houses.
That was, until Christian was born.
The title of the greatest genius shifted to Christian.
It was clear he had tried to ruin him out of jealousy.
*‘Now that I think about it, what a ridiculous guy. To do something like this for such a petty reason? And with a considerable age gap between us?’*
Eshid was in his mid-twenties. He had committed this act out of jealousy for his cousin, who was nearly ten years younger.
In any case, Christian had been called a genius before he was broken.
And the one who now inhabited Christian's body possessed a talent incomparable even to the Christian who had been called a genius.
"I am superior to them. Overwhelmingly so."
He had never met and compared himself to the young lords of the Dark Magic Houses, but it was likely true.
After all, during the Great War that would later break out, there was no genius among the figures of the Dark Magic Houses who could compare to his talent.
No, there was no one in the entire Magitech Empire.
It wasn't for nothing that the Hero had said the outcome of the war would have been different if Chris had learned swordsmanship or magic.
"Though I may be behind now, I will eventually stand at the very top. So high that they won't even compare. They won't even dare to look me in the eye."
Mere young heirs were not his goal. Frankly, they weren't even on his radar.
To stand at the pinnacle of the Magitech Empire.
That was his goal.
Count Cazar swallowed a groan at Chris's arrogant words.
*‘What in the world.’*
It was an impossibly absurd story.
But what was with that unwavering gaze?
It wasn't an expression of determination to succeed at all costs.
It was the look of someone who considered it a matter of course.
*‘Should I see this as confidence, or as the delusion of someone who can't judge reality?’*
Of course, it had to be a delusion.
The claim was just that preposterous.
But was it because he was his father?
Or was it because of the firmness in Christian's eyes?
Perhaps it was because of the astonishing things Christian had shown recently.
The thought that Christian's words might not be just empty delusions flickered through Count Cazar's mind.
"In that regard, there is something I must ask of you, Father."
"A request?"
"Yes. Do you remember I said I would ask for a favor once I stopped being a scoundrel?"
Chris said.
"Please use your authority to recommend me for the main house's Sacred Black Ceremony in two months."
“!!”
Count Cazar looked taken aback.
"The Sacred Black Ceremony? But that's...?"
The Sacred Black Ceremony.
A ritual where those of the Dark Magic Houses' bloodline receive the blessing of their unique power, 'Dark Magi'.
But it wasn't a simple blessing; participants had to compete against each other, and according to the strict principle of survival of the fittest, the winners received a greater blessing.
The more one outshone their competitors, the greater the blessing, but those who fell behind received no blessing at all.
*‘It's also the most important event for selecting the young lords.’*
Chris thought to himself.
Young Lord.
A title for the heir candidates of the great demonic houses.
Only by distinguishing oneself during this blessing ceremony could one earn the title of 'Young Lord'.
"Since I too have the blood of the Dark Magic Houses, don't I have the right to participate?"
"Of course, based on bloodline alone. But you know, don't you?"
Count Cazar shook his head.
"To participate in the Sacred Black Ceremony, one's magi attainment must reach the 2-Star level."
This is because learning Dark Magi is only possible from the 2-Star level.
That's why the Sacred Black Ceremony is held once every three years, with the young blood relatives from both direct and collateral lines who have reached the 2-Star level participating each time.
"It's impossible for you, who have just reached the 1-Star level, to challenge this year's ceremony. You'll have no choice but to participate in three years."
That was the logical conclusion.
After all, the time it takes to go from 1-Star to 2-Star is three years at the very fastest, and usually more than five.
For those without talent, it could take much longer.
The scions of the Dark Magic Houses were all born with exceptional talent, and many reached the 2-Star level by the age of fifteen.
"I cannot wait three years."
"But there's no other way, is there?"
"No, there is a way. I just have to reach the 2-Star realm within the next two months."
“!!”
Count Cazar's eyes widened.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Reaching 2-Star in just two months?
He had heard his son say countless absurd things until now, but nothing was as preposterous as this.
"Even the Old Lord, who was called one of the greatest geniuses in the history of the Dark Magic Houses, took over a year and a half to reach the 2-Star realm. And you're saying you'll do it in two months? There's a limit to how much nonsense I can listen to."
Count Cazar said, frowning.
Chris understood Count Cazar's reaction.
*‘After all, even the Hero, the greatest genius of the Light Faction, took over a year to reach 2-Star.’*
It was said to have taken him just over a year, and that astounding speed had turned the world upside down at the time.
So, reaching 2-Star in two months was indeed an absurd notion, but.
Chris grinned.
"Would you mind watching what I'm about to do for a moment?"
Chris drew his sword.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Please watch my demonstration. It's the Mud Sword Style."
"...You've never learned the Mud Sword Style, have you?"
The Mud Sword Style was the swordsmanship of the Black Swamp Knights. Count Cazar had never taught any of the Black Swamp Knights' secret techniques to the scoundrel Christian had become.
"I saw it being practiced in the training grounds. I got the gist of how it's performed."
"What? That's ridiculous!"
Count Cazar looked incredulous.
"You'll understand when you see it, so just watch."
"...Fine."
Count Cazar nodded.
Christian took his stance and began to perform the Mud Sword Style.
And as he watched the swordsmanship, Count Cazar's eyes began to widen.
An unbelievable, impossible sight began to unfold at Christian's hands.
***
*‘Copying a basic sword style like this is simple.’*
As seen with Melin, the Black Swamp Knights were an order of magic swordsmen.
A knight order that used both swordsmanship and black magic.
This was true not only for the Black Swamp Knights but for the entirety of the Dark Magic Houses.
So, a question.
Why were the Black Swamp Knights called the Black Swamp Knights?
It was because their specialty was subduing opponents by weakening them with curse-based black magic, as if dragging them into a swamp.
Therefore, their swordsmanship was often used more for checking or weakening an opponent rather than for raw power.
The Mud Sword Style was a technique specialized for that very purpose of restraint.
Knowing the essence of the sword style made copying it much easier.
*Fwaat!*
The first form, Earth Scatter, unfolded from Chris's hand.
It was perfect.
Not just the swing of the sword, but the movement of his arms, his posture, his footwork, and even the flow of his magi.
It wasn't just the first form.
The second and third forms, too.
His movements were utterly flawless.
*‘H-how?’*
As someone who had perfectly mastered the Mud Sword Style, Count Cazar could tell.
He could see just how precise the Mud Sword Style Chris was performing was.
*‘Did Vice-Commander Melin teach him separately? No, given her personality, that's impossible.’*
Even if she had, it would still be unbelievable.
How many days had it been since Christian stopped being a scoundrel?
Even if he had been taught 24/7, achieving such proficiency was impossible.
Watching Count Cazar's astonished expression, Chris grinned inwardly.
*‘Heh, over something like this? It’s not even that difficult.’*
It was just a basic sword style.
All he had to do was copy what he saw.
The members of the knight order, who shed blood and sweat for years to properly learn the Mud Sword Style, would be furious if they heard this, but for Chris, it was a simple matter.
So, Chris decided to surprise Count Cazar a little more.
*‘It would be too bland to just end it with a simple copy.’*
After finishing one demonstration of the Mud Sword Style, Chris moved again.
And as Count Cazar watched Chris perform a new version of the Mud Sword Style, his eyes widened even further, as if they would tear.
*‘It's different? But...?’*
The first form Chris performed was an offensive move meant to check the opponent's lower body and bind their feet.
But this was slightly different.
Subtly.
So subtly that only a master of the Mud Sword Style would notice.
The path of the sword's extension was the same.
But the stance of his legs.
The twist of his upper body had changed.
And because of that, the sword's movement became lighter and faster.
Perfectly aligning with the Mud Sword Style's essence of restraining the opponent.
It was a subtle difference, but one that would make a huge impact in a real fight.
It wasn't just Earth Cleave, either.
The second and third forms, too.
Chris had made slight alterations to each.
Making them more efficient to perform without breaking the fundamental framework of the Mud Sword Style.
"......"
Finally, the demonstration ended.
Count Cazar could say nothing, his expression blank.
"What do you think?"
"You... you..."
Seeing Count Cazar's astonished face, Chris grinned.
"Please contact the main house. Tell them I will attend the Sacred Black Ceremony in two months."
His voice was infuriatingly calm.
"Two months is more than enough. For me to reach the 2-Star realm."
In truth, he didn't even need two months.
For reference, in the past, it had taken Chris a month and a half to reach 2-Star when he was with the Light Faction.