Chapter 26
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Black Dan Hunt
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Everyone in the family expected Roin de Baron to monopolize the blessings of this Sacred Black Ceremony.
The blessings of the Sacred Black Ceremony strictly followed the principle of survival of the fittest; the strongest among the attendees would receive the most blessings.
‘He's scheduled to become the Sixth Young Lord right after receiving the ceremony's blessing.’
In other words, Roin de Baron would be his enemy at the Sacred Black Ceremony.
“Yes. I was told Roin opposed your participation. He said something like…”
“It’s fine. Please tell me exactly what he said.”
“…Chris, he said he couldn't possibly attend the Sacred Black Ceremony with an utter scoundrel like you. The other branch family members attending the ceremony agreed with him.”
“Hmm.”
Chris crossed his arms.
Count Cazar shook his head, looking troubled.
“I will speak to the main house again. You are not the failure you once were, so a proper conversation should resolve this. If that doesn't work, I'll even ask my sister.”
His sister, Merian.
She had a favorable impression of Chris, so she would surely help.
But Chris shook his head.
‘I can’t ask for help over something so trivial.’
“No, please don't. I will handle this matter myself.”
“Chris?”
“By the way, is the Tiramin family among the branch families attending the ceremony this time?”
The County of Tiramin.
Like the County of Cazar, they were one of the three branch families supporting the Dark Magic House.
“Yes, the third son of Count Tiramin is scheduled to participate. I heard he was the most vocal, alongside Roin. The damn brat.”
Count Cazar spoke in a feigned angry tone.
Despite his stoicism, Count Cazar had a soft spot for his son.
“Please don’t be angry.”
“How can I not be! For a family like the Tiramin, who do nothing but play tricks with demonic beasts, to be so arrogant and not know their place. Their name is as tasteless as that Tiramisu dessert.”
As Count Cazar’s reaction showed, the branch families were rivals.
The Cazar family specialized in curses.
The Tiramin family specialized in 'Demonic Training,' a form of black magic used to control demonic beasts.
‘Hmm, Tiramisu is definitely not my taste. When it comes to cake, it has to be strawberry shortcake. Just like with beef, it has to be sirloin.’
After a brief digression, Chris shook his head.
“It’s fine. Please don’t worry about it.”
“What do you mean, don’t worry? You might not be able to participate in the Sacred Black Ceremony.”
“That won’t happen. I have a way.”
“What do you mean?”
“If they condemn me as unqualified, the method is simple. I just have to show them. Show them that I am qualified.”
“!!”
Chris grinned.
“I believe it's about time for the Tiramin family to hunt for the raw ingredients for ‘Black Dan.’ Is that correct?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Black Dan.
One of the celebrated spirit pills of the Dark Magic House.
It was an annual event for the Tiramin family called the 'Black Dan Hunt,' where they hunted a demonic beast known as a 'Karazov' using a special method passed down only within their family to obtain the raw ingredients.
One peculiar thing was that this hunt was conducted by the young heirs of the family.
It was a kind of coming-of-age ceremony.
“Please contact the Tiramin family. Ask them to permit my participation in the Black Dan Hunt as a ‘beater.’”
“!!”
“The ‘beaters’ who drive the demonic beasts don't have to be members of the Tiramin family, do they?”
Count Cazar looked puzzled.
“That's true. They usually entrust it to their subordinate Majin. But why would you want to do that?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m going to prove my qualifications. It just so happens that the one leading the hunt this time is the third son who opposed my participation in the Sacred Black Ceremony, so it works out perfectly.”
The corners of Chris’s mouth lifted.
“I’m going to teach that punk a lesson.”
And there was another reason.
Chris intended to obtain Black Dan on this occasion.
How? Through a secret technique only he could use.
It was going to be a truly terrible hunt for that nameless third son.
* * *
The Magitech Empire, situated in the north-central part of the continent.
In its southern region lay the Southern Magitech Nation.
The magitech nation ruled by the 7th-ranked Majin, the 'Demon King of the Clear Stream.'
And to the east of this Southern Magitech Nation stood a colossal family.
An endlessly sprawling estate.
A grand mansion, its splendor rivaling that of any royal palace.
The Dark Magic House.
A prestigious family, famous not just in the Magitech Empire, but throughout the entire continent.
Deep within its grounds lay a secluded place where others dared not tread.
The Lion’s Den.
The residence of the Old Lord.
Was it just a feeling?
Though it was an ordinary-looking annex, just looking at it from the outside seemed to convey a majestic aura.
“Lord Head.”
A woman stepped into that place.
It was Chris's aunt, whom he had met recently, Merian, the Knight Commander of the Black Shadow Knights.
“May I enter?”
“Yes, come in.”
A surprisingly gentle voice came from within.
Merian took a short breath.
She was the Head's most favored blood relative. But she couldn't help but feel nervous every time she met him.
Steeling herself, Merian opened the door.
“I greet the Lord Head.”
Merian bowed her head.
Inside, an old man with graying hair was seated.
Wrinkled skin.
Age spots dotted his flesh.
He was a decrepit old man who looked like he could be in a coffin at any moment, but Merian dared not underestimate him.
Demonic Lord Nordian.
A Majin who had reached the staggering 8-Star level.
That was the old man's true identity.
She couldn't even begin to imagine what an ocean of power was contained within that gaunt body.
“Well, have you seen him?”
Nordian asked with a gentle smile.
“Yes, Lord Head. As you commanded, I have seen Christian.”
“How was he, in your opinion? Did he seem decent enough?”
“No.”
Merian shook her head.
As the Old Lord's face fell in disappointment, Merian continued.
“He wasn't just decent; he was beyond imagination.”
“!!”
“A genius. No, more than that.”
The Old Lord looked slightly surprised.
This was the first time Merian had ever described someone in such a way.
“Is that really true? How does he compare to the other young ones?”
“There is no comparison.”
Merian stated flatly.
The young lords of the main house were all exceptional.
But the talent she had seen in Christian far surpassed even them.
‘The problem is that it blossomed too late.’
Merian wore a regretful expression.
The gap had grown too wide.
However.
— I, for one, don’t think I’d lose to them.
What Christian had said.
Merian gave a faint smile.
His words didn't sound like a bluff.
The Christian she saw that day seemed fully capable of it.
“Hmm.”
The Old Lord rested his chin on the back of his hand, tilting his head.
“I find that hard to believe. The Christian I saw before was just a fool who thought he was a genius.”
Although he had branched off to become independent, Christian was still a blood relative who carried Nordian's blood.
To be precise, they were grandfather and grandson. Count Cazar was Duke Nordian's youngest son.
Naturally, they had met.
‘He was a pathetic brat. Arrogant and convinced of his own greatness despite his meager innate talents.’
The Old Lord thought coldly.
His gentle impression was merely a facade.
He possessed a colder disposition than anyone.
Even if they were blood, he wouldn't spare a second glance if he deemed them worthless.
“I thought so too. But I was wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“Yes, he was completely different from before.”
Nordian looked puzzled.
He trusted Merian’s judgment.
If Merian was saying this much, then that little troublemaker must have changed in some way.
“Then do you believe that child can fulfill my long-cherished wish?”
“……”
Merian could not answer that question.
The Old Lord's wish.
The reason he continued to live, defying even death through a heaven-defying demonic path.
“…That, I do not know.”
Merian answered without confidence.
The Old Lord's wish was not something that could be achieved simply by possessing outstanding talent.
However.
“I believe he could be the one closest to fulfilling your wish, Lord Head.”
At those words, the Old Lord fell silent for a moment.
Then he let out a chuckle.
It was a low, chilling laugh.
A sharp pressure emanated from him. The surrounding air seemed to scream in terror.
“I see. If you put it that way, I suppose I should keep an eye on him. But I hear he won't be able to participate in the Sacred Black Ceremony this time?”
“That is the prevailing opinion within the family, for now.”
“Hmm.”
The Old Lord crossed his arms.
“Will you intervene?”
“No, that would be against the rules. I cannot step in for such a trivial matter.”
The Old Lord had handed over all authority to his son, Marquis Langham.
For now, he was merely an observer.
“Besides, if he can't even overcome a hurdle like this, he's not the child I'm looking for.”
Merian nodded.
A single cough from the Old Lord would not only allow Christian to participate in the Sacred Black Ceremony but also grant him treatment on par with the other young lords.
But that would be meaningless.
“What I desire is not a greenhouse flower raised with everyone's adoration, but a natural-born predator who can reign above all by its own strength alone.”
Mere talent was not enough.
Only one who could overcome any obstacle and bring the entire Dark Magic House to its knees by himself could fulfill the Old Lord's wish.
“But if he cannot participate in the Sacred Black Ceremony, he won’t even get a chance. Receiving the blessing at the ceremony is essential to properly learn the main house’s Dark Magi.”
Perhaps Chris’s cookie tribute had been effective?
She was subtly hinting that she hoped for his help.
In truth, the strength of the 'blessing' received at the Sacred Black Ceremony greatly influenced the power of one's Dark Magi.
If one failed to participate and received no blessing at all, they could never properly master Dark Magi, no matter how talented they were.
Merian wanted to give Chris at least a minimal chance.
“Hmm. It seems that child has taken quite a liking to you.”
“…My apologies.”
Nordian said in a playful tone.
“I suppose I'll have to watch closely how that boy, Christian, handles this situation. If he's as you say, he won't meekly kneel before such a minor obstacle.”
Instead of helping, it meant he would 'evaluate' how Christian confronted this challenge.
Merian could not say anything more.
‘That’s just how he is.’
The more the Old Lord favored someone…
The more promising their future seemed…
The more harshly he would treat them.
Like a lion pushing its cub off a cliff, he wanted them to overcome adversity and bloom even stronger.
If they overcame all obstacles, they would earn the Old Lord's favor, but if they fell behind midway, he wouldn't look back.
“Bloodsucker.”
At the Old Lord’s call, a figure appeared abruptly.
He emerged as if rising from the shadows, without any presence.
A handsome man with a dignified air paid his respects.
“You called, Lord Head.”
“Keke, yes.”
“It has been a while, Lady Merian.”
Merian wore an uncomfortable expression.
As the man smiled, she saw beast-like canines flash.
He was a high-ranking vampire of the True Blood Clan, with a blood-red sword tattooed on his temple.
It was the symbol that appeared upon mastering the secret 'Blood Art' of the 'Blood Sword House' to a high degree.