Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Preparations for the Hunt
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“You heard the story, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I am to observe the young pup, Christian?”
“Indeed. Observe how that child acts as the Sacred Black Ceremony approaches.”
“Understood. I shall follow your command.”
The man bowed his head respectfully.
Then, as if a thought struck him, he grinned with a mischievous smile.
“Ah, while I’m at it, would it be alright if I played a little prank?”
“A prank? What kind?”
“Just observing would be bland, so this is for a proper evaluation. A test, you could say?”
The Old Lord frowned.
“Don’t take it too far.”
Which meant it was fine as long as it wasn’t excessive.
The man’s lips curled into a deep smile before he vanished, melting back into the shadows.
As his presence disappeared without a trace, Merian let out a low sigh.
*I can only hope that child, Chris, manages to do well.*
* * *
The County of Cazar.
Chris was preparing to leave for the Black Dan Hunt.
*I need to prepare if I want to get my hands on the Black Dan.*
This time, he intended not only to prove his qualifications but also to make the Black Dan his own.
Of course, one might find that strange.
The owner of the Black Dan was already decided.
*I’ll just swipe it.*
Chris whistled, thinking to himself simply.
*I heard this Black Dan was slated for that Roin fellow who opposed me, right? Perfect. I can screw him over while I’m at it.*
Roin was a competitor in the upcoming Sacred Black Ceremony.
He had also been the one to lead public opinion against Chris’s participation. Snatching the Black Dan meant for him would be a delightful bonus.
*A perfect crime requires preparation.*
Chris headed for the castle.
His destination was set.
It was the residence of Grantel, the merchant lord from whom he had stolen the holy sword Grunade.
“Gr-greetings, Young Master!!”
Grantel, his face pale, greeted Chris.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
“Wh-what brings you here?”
“You don’t look very happy to see me. Do you dislike my visit?”
Grantel inwardly ground his teeth.
*You think I’d like that? You bastard!*
In his mind, Grantel let out a string of curses too foul to print. Outwardly, however, he maintained a servile smile.
“Not at all. It is a great honor to see you again, Young Master. I was merely taken aback by the immense honor.”
“Hmm.”
“P-please, don’t just stand there, come in! You there, bring out the table! A-although it is humble, please allow me the honor of hosting the Young Master.”
Chris did not refuse.
Soon, a spread of extravagant food appeared.
They were exquisite delicacies, rivaling even the food of the Cazar estate.
“I-is it to your liking?”
“Yes, it’s not bad.”
Seeing that the mood wasn’t too tense, the merchant lord gave a subtle nod to his subordinate.
The subordinate left the room and soon returned with a silk pouch.
“What’s this?”
“I-it is a token of my esteem for you, Young Master.”
Opening the pouch revealed a golden cat.
In other words, a bribe.
*He must have come back to squeeze more money out of me. That bastard.*
The merchant lord swallowed his tears.
But he decided to think positively.
Nothing in the world is free.
It was the way of the world that if one accepted a bribe, one was expected to repay it in some way.
*It’s a dirty connection, but in a way, this is an opportunity! If a scion of a Dark Magic House has my back, I could be wildly successful!*
Grantel, his face pudgy, put on the most servile expression he could muster and bowed his head.
“Hehe, please accept it. It is nothing much.”
“You’re right, it is nothing much.”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re giving me this trash as a gift? I’m disappointed.”
Clang!
Chris dropped the pouch to the floor.
The atmosphere suddenly turned frigid.
The merchant lord hurriedly bowed his head.
“I-I apologize! I was merely trying to express my feelings…!! It seems it was not to the Young Master’s liking.”
*You bastard! You complain even when I give you a gift! It’s a crime to be powerless.* Chris crossed his arms.
“To think you’d offer such a measly gift. You don’t seem to understand your position.”
“Pardon?”
“I looked into you after our last encounter. It seems you’ve dabbled in all sorts of illegal activities.”
“…Th-that is…”
“Of course, a certain amount of illegality is natural in business. I understand. If I were to nitpick every little thing, there wouldn’t be a single merchant left in the world. However.”
Chris flashed a grin.
“There’s a limit to everything. I saw a few things that looked like they were teetering precariously over the line. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”
The merchant lord gulped.
He was a corrupt merchant.
Of course, he hadn’t committed the worst sins, like murder.
But it was true he had done his fair share of wicked deeds.
Among them were misdeeds that must never see the light of day.
Chris tapped the merchant lord’s shoulder with his finger.
“Greed is the root of all misfortune.”
“I-I’m sorry. P-please, have mercy…”
Grantel trembled.
Chris chuckled.
“But since we have our history, I’ll pull some strings for you. I’ll give you a deadline to clean up everything that crossed the line. And properly compensate everyone who was wronged by you.”
Compensation.
Grantel’s face grew haggard.
It meant he would have to dip into his guild’s assets again.
But even this was a great mercy.
Grantel hurriedly bowed his head.
“Th-thank you!”
“And there are conditions.”
Chris stated his business.
“Get me a Gray Dan.”
“!!”
“I’ll give you three days.”
Grantel’s face turned white.
A Gray Dan.
It was an elixir that came from the body of a demonic beast called a Karazov.
*It has the same components as a Black Dan.*
If a Karazov was processed using a special method according to the Demonic Training arts, it would yield the elixir that served as the raw material for a Black Dan.
On the other hand, if a Karazov was killed without that special technique, it produced a counterfeit elixir, a Gray Dan.
In short, Chris planned to use this Gray Dan to switch out the real Black Dan.
“B-but… that’s…”
The merchant lord looked deeply troubled.
“A-a Gray Dan… is not easy to acquire…”
Though Chris called it a counterfeit, a Gray Dan was still an incredibly rare item.
“I believe you have ties to the dark auction house?”
“!!”
“Connect with them and arrange a direct transaction.”
“B-but to buy an auction item directly, I’d have to pay an exorbitant price…”
“That’s your problem. Do I need to worry about the state of your wallet?”
Chris said dismissively.
“It seems you don’t need my help that badly. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. Let’s just forget what I said. You can pay for your sins.”
Chris was blackmailing him.
If he didn’t bring the Gray Dan, Chris would ruin his merchant guild with all the illegal activities he had committed.
“N-no, sir!”
The merchant lord desperately clung to Chris.
*Sniffle, you bastard! You devil!*
Tears welled up, but he had no choice.
He would have to drain his guild’s assets again to acquire the Gray Dan.
“I will procure the Gray Dan you requested, one way or another.”
“Three days.”
The merchant lord’s face grew even paler.
It was an impossibly short deadline.
But he had no choice but to bow his head frantically.
“Yes, yes. I will present it to you within three days.”
“Ah, and get me a small dagger as well. One sharp enough to cut through armor would be good.”
A dagger sharp enough to cut through armor.
It would undoubtedly be a treasure-class blade.
The price would be astronomical, but the merchant lord couldn’t even squeak in protest.
Chris looked satisfied.
“I’ll be waiting. Oh, and may I offer a word of advice for your sake?”
“P-please, speak.”
“Live a good life from now on.”
“!!”
Chris grinned.
“That way, you won’t have to meet another champion of justice like me again, right?”
* * *
After leaving the merchant lord’s residence, Chris stopped by the main street and bought a few miscellaneous items.
[Young Master… why are you buying such things?]
“I have a use for them.”
[…You mean the aphrodisiac?]
“……”
Chris remained silent.
An aphrodisiac.
It was a blessed medicine for men who found themselves humbled before their wives at night.
[Ohoho… Young Master… Are you already, perhaps?]
“It’s not like that.”
[It’s alright… I understand completely… Ohoho.]
“I said no!”
The shopkeeper also had a curious look on his face.
Chris cleared his throat.
“It’s not for me. I have another use for it.”
[Then… is it perhaps for the Count?]
“…Yes. I’m a filial son, you know. My father is getting on in years, so I have to look after him. He seemed to have a lot on his mind.”
To maintain secrecy, Chris had just turned the poor Count Cazar into a humbled man.
“For the sake of the Count’s honor, you are not to tell anyone that I purchased an aphrodisiac.”
“Yes, I’ll take it to my grave!”
The shopkeeper replied with a determined expression.
After acquiring a few more items, Chris shut himself in his room.
A few days later.
“Done.”
Chris grinned.
A clear liquid sloshed in the glass beaker he held.
It was his secret weapon, a concoction of the aphrodisiac and various other reagents.
Just in time, Grantel delivered the Gray Dan, completing his preparations.
With everything ready, Chris went down from his room.
A horse was waiting for him.
It was time to depart.
“I’ll be going now.”
Count Cazar nodded.
Then he looked Chris straight in the eye.
“Make sure you give them a taste of their own medicine.”
Count Cazar added another word.
“You are my proud son.”
The corners of Chris’s mouth lifted.
He wasn’t Count Cazar’s real son.
But he didn’t dislike the Count.
If his original father had been even a fraction like Count Cazar, his fate in his past life would have been vastly different.
“Please wait for me.”
So Chris said.
“I’ll return with thrilling news that will make you happy, Father.”
Next was TERN.
“…Brother.”
“The title.”
“…Respected King Emperor Majesty Older Brother.”
TERN clenched his fists, looking mortified.
Chris chuckled and said.
“Look after Father while I’m gone.”
“!!”
Why was it?
TERN clamped his mouth shut.
A complex emotion flickered across his face, and then TERN spoke.
“…When you return, you must duel me.”
“Hmm? Didn’t we do that last time? I seem to recall you getting beaten up by me.”
“Not like that! I mean a proper duel!”
TERN huffed.
“I will defeat you for sure, brother.”
“Sure. Well, if getting beaten up again is what you wish for.”
“Brother!!”
Chris chuckled and held out his fist to TERN.
“I’m off.”
TERN hesitated for a moment at Chris’s outstretched fist, then huffed and bumped it with his own.
“They say the Black Dan Hunt is dangerous. Be careful not to get hurt for no reason.”
“Is that… worry?”
“I’m just saying it because I won’t be able to have a proper duel with you!”
“Right. You want me to come back in one piece so I can beat you up properly? I didn’t know you had such tastes…”
“Ugh, come on!”