Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Scoundrel's Secret Weapon
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Chris headed to the secret training ground.
Melin was humming as she walked ahead.
Her face was full of excitement, clearly anticipating it.
“Are you sufficiently prepared?”
“Yes.”
Chris nodded.
“You can look forward to it.”
Melin glanced at Chris's hands.
Chris was carrying Grunade, wrapped in cloth.
“Is that what you've prepared to face me, Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. I don't know what kind of weapon it is, but a weapon can't bridge a gap in skill.”
It was true that a master with a wooden sword was stronger than a novice with a famed blade.
“But an exceptional weapon can bridge a gap in power.”
It was a strange thing to say.
Melin tilted her head.
They soon arrived at the training ground.
Although it was an unofficial duel, Count Cazar and TERN were already there to observe.
But there was another person standing there, someone he hadn't seen in the family before.
‘A woman?’
She looked to be in her early thirties.
But her apparent age was meaningless. Mastering demonic energy suppressed aging.
A face that seemed familiar.
Chris realized the woman's face was a mirror image of Count Cazar's.
The black hair and blood-red eyes characteristic of the Dark Magic House.
‘Ah.’
Realizing the woman's identity, Chris bowed his head in greeting.
“Greetings to the Commander of the Main House's Black Shadow Knights.”
The Black Shadow Knights.
The knights directly under the Main House!
‘A big shot.’
Chris was slightly flustered by the unexpected appearance.
The Black Shadow Knights were the order that directly served the Old Lord, the master of the Dark Magic House.
They handled special secret missions, family inspections, and investigations.
In other words, that woman was one of the true powerhouses of the Dark Magic House.
And most importantly.
The woman smiled gently.
“Yes, it's been a while, nephew.”
Nephew.
It meant he was of the direct bloodline of the Dark Magic House.
She was the Old Lord's daughter, and the older sister of Marquis Langham, the Acting Head who currently led the Dark Magic House in the Old Lord's stead.
‘Why would such a big shot show up so suddenly?’
Count Cazar explained.
“My sister, Lady Merian, is here on an unofficial visit regarding Cox the butler.”
For reference, Count Cazar was also of the Old Lord's bloodline.
As the Old Lord's youngest son, he had branched off to establish his own collateral family.
Merian, the Commander of the Black Shadow Knights, added to the explanation.
“The Old Lord has shown interest in the incident you caused.”
This was unexpected.
‘I thought the Old Lord had completely stepped away from family affairs?’
As if sensing his question, Merian explained.
“What you did was quite audacious, wasn't it?”
“…”
“That's why the Old Lord gave me a special order.”
“To investigate this incident properly?”
Chris looked slightly troubled.
If the Old Lord got involved, there was no telling how things with Eshid would escalate. Unforeseen variables were unwelcome.
But Merian shook her head.
“No, the Old Lord wouldn't concern himself with the trivial matters of you little chicks. His order to me was to come and see you.”
“!!”
“He was curious about you.”
Chris swallowed hard.
It was something he had never imagined.
But it wasn't a bad thing.
‘This is a chance. A chance to get on the Old Lord's good side.’
The Old Lord.
The Demonic Lord, Duke Nordian.
If the Demon Emperor was the emperor of the empire, and the Demon Kings were the rulers of the kingdoms under him, then the Demonic Lords were the grand feudal lords.
Duke Nordian was not only the head of the Dark Magic House but also the great sovereign who ruled the eastern region of the Southern Magic Kingdom.
An 8-Star Majin, a monster who had lived for over a hundred years.
He had currently handed over all authority to his son, Marquis Langham, and no longer involved himself in family affairs, but his presence in the Dark Magic House was as strong as ever.
“So, when I heard there was a duel, I decided to observe.”
Merian tilted her head.
“Are you sure about this? From what I can see, you're still a 1-Star. Is that right?”
“Yes, that's correct.”
“Dueling Melin when you haven't even reached 2-Star.”
Merian continued.
“It's not a duel to ask for guidance, either. I heard it's a full-power, practical duel. It doesn't seem like you stand a chance. Moreover, I hear you were the one who proposed this duel?”
Merian didn't seem too pleased with this duel.
After all, the weak acting arrogantly and not knowing their place toward the strong was a trait many Majin despised.
‘Especially since Merian is said to have an authoritarian personality.’
Chris looked at Merian's face.
On the surface, she had a gentle face, but that wasn't the case.
This woman was by no means an easy person to deal with.
‘On the contrary, she's extremely cold and calculating. That must be why she's in charge of the Black Shadow Knights, who inspect the family's internal affairs. Above all, she's the type who, once you're on her bad side, will never look your way again.’
In that sense, today was not a good day.
If he were to make a disgraceful showing in today's duel, Merian would surely evaluate him very poorly.
A bad report would reach the Old Lord's ears, and it could cause problems for his plan to take over the Dark Magic House.
“What do you say? How about calling off the duel now?”
Merian gave Chris a chance.
Chris let out a smirk.
‘She'd look down on me even if I did call it off.’
If he were to back down here, that in itself would be a demerit.
The die had already been cast.
“No, I'll do it.”
Chris turned to look at Melin.
The cloth in his hand slipped to the ground.
And the eyes of everyone who saw the object wrapped in the cloth widened as if they would tear.
“I have my own plans, you see.”
The broken holy sword, Grunade, was revealed.
* * *
“Is that… could it be?”
“Grunade?”
Everyone recognized Grunade. Only young TERN, who didn't know what Grunade was, blinked his eyes.
Merian asked.
“Boy, you can't be serious about using Grunade to fight Melin, are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Ha.”
Merian let out a scoff.
“I was well aware you were a reckless fool, but I never thought it was to this extent. Ridan.”
“…Yes, sister.”
Ridan was Count Cazar's name.
Ridan van Baron Cazar was his full name.
“What is the meaning of this? Didn't you boast to me until my ears hurt that Christian had shed his scoundrel ways and changed for the better?”
Count Cazar's eyebrow twitched.
Unbeknownst to Chris, the Count had been bragging endlessly about his son to his sister.
“…He has changed. Christian is not the scoundrel he once was.”
“And yet he says he'll use a holy sword in a duel? Even young, ignorant Majin wouldn't do something like that.”
“…”
Count Cazar fell silent.
There was nothing he could say.
What Majin in their right mind would go around claiming they would use a holy sword?
‘Christian, that boy. Why pull such a stunt now of all times?’
Count Cazar sighed inwardly.
He now knew that his son had changed.
Furthermore, he was well aware of what unbelievable talent Chris possessed.
That was why he had bragged so much about his son to his sister, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, but she hadn't seemed to believe him much.
In the memories of his sister and the people from the Main House, Christian was nothing more than a scoundrel.
Despite his sister's cynicism, Count Cazar hadn't been fazed.
He believed that if his sister witnessed today's duel, she would understand just how exceptional Chris was.
Of course, Count Cazar didn't think Chris would actually beat Melin.
That was impossible, after all.
But he believed that even in defeat, Chris would display his own brand of excellence with that incredible talent of his.
And yet…
‘To do something as absurd as bringing a holy sword.’
Count Cazar's face crumpled into a deep frown.
Just then, Chris's puzzled voice was heard.
“Am I not allowed to use a holy sword in a duel? I was under the impression it wasn't explicitly forbidden.”
“Are you really asking because you don't know?”
Merian shook her head.
“Isn't it impossible to wield a holy sword? No, it's not just impossible, it's dangerous.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The holy power of the sword will burn you to a crisp.”
Merian clicked her tongue.
‘It wasn't enough to challenge an Upper 4-Star Majin without knowing his place, but to bring a holy sword on top of it.’
She thought there was nothing more to see.
‘I came all this way for nothing.’
“Even the Old Lord failed to wield that broken holy sword. So stop this nonsense.”
That was unexpected news.
The Demonic Lord, Duke Nordian, had also challenged this holy sword?
But he had apparently failed.
“I see. I understand. But then, what is this?”
*Clack.*
Chris undid the restraints sealing the holy sword's power.
He then took the holy sword in his hand, and everyone cried out in alarm.
“Dan-danger!!”
“Let go of it, quickly!”
Now, its holy power would be unleashed.
“Christian!! You fool!!!”
Count Cazar rushed forward frantically.
He intended to pry it from his son's hands before the holy sword could harm him.
But the distance was too great.
‘No!!’
Count Cazar's face turned white as snow at the thought of the holy power about to erupt.
But.
Nothing happened.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The training ground fell into silence.
Count Cazar stood frozen in place.
The holy power… should have exploded by now… but it remained quiet.
Chris lifted the holy sword and gave it a few swings.
“Seems fine to me?”
Merian was stunned into silence for a long moment before she asked.
“That holy sword… is it broken?”
“I wonder? Would you like to see for yourself?”
Chris casually tossed Grunade to Merian.
Merian caught the holy sword, and her eyes shot wide open.
*Fwaaa!*
Its holy power manifested.
Of course, Merian wasn't harmed.
Like the high-ranking 6-Star Majin she was, she hastily summoned her demonic energy to counter the holy power.
*Zzzzt!*
Like fire and water, the opposing forces clashed, and Merian hastily threw the holy sword to the ground.
“Doesn't seem to be broken, does it?”
“What… in the world?”
Merian stared at Chris in disbelief.
It wasn't just Merian.
Count Cazar, Melin, and even TERN were staring at Chris, their eyes wide enough to tear.
Chris picked up the holy sword lying on the ground.
In Chris's hands, the holy sword remained quiet.
“How did you do it?”
“I'm not sure? It just worked?”
“…What? That's impossible!”
“Of course, that's a lie. It's a trade secret, I can't just tell you, can I? Instead, I'll give you a hint. Aunt, do you know why I became a scoundrel?”
“…Wasn't it because you grew arrogant from your talent?”
“Bingo. So then, how do you think I'm able to wield a holy sword?”
Understanding Chris's implication, Merian fell silent.
Absurdly, that brat was telling her he could wield the holy sword because he was a genius!
“…Even the Old Lord, said to be one of the greatest geniuses in the history of the Dark Magic House, could not subdue Grunade.”
It was a warning not to be arrogant.
But Chris went a step further.
“Is that so? That's strange. It works for me. Perhaps… I'm an even greater genius than the Old Lord?”
“…What?”
Chris grinned.
“In any case, there's only one thing I can tell you. In the entire Magitech Empire, the only one who can wield Grunade is me, Christian.”
He pointed the holy sword at Melin.
“The prelude was long. Let's begin.”
The duel began.