Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Scoundrel's Gamble
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What is the purity of the Dark Magi that Christian absorbed?”
“Judging by the problems with his core, it doesn't seem to be a high level.”
Then.
Marquis Langham nodded and made his decision.
“So, is he able to move?”
“Yes, he is. It's simple exhaustion. There are no other major physical issues.”
“Then, bring Christian to the Dark Hall tomorrow.”
“Your Excellency?”
Marquis Langham's gaze returned to his documents as he spoke.
“I will decide Christian's punishment in front of the vassals.”
In front of the vassals.
It meant a severe punishment would be handed down.
* * *
The Dark Hall.
It was a hall used for major events at the Main House.
Contrary to its name, the hall was brightly lit.
Not long after Christian took his place, a figure appeared.
It was Marquis Langham.
He was not alone.
The vassals who supported the Main House followed behind him. Even Eshid, known as the next heir, was among them.
A group far too grand to have gathered for one person, Chris.
‘They’re really determined.’
Chris scoffed inwardly.
The reason such prominent figures had gathered was obvious.
They intended to punish Chris properly in front of everyone.
He knew the verdict would be anything but favorable.
However.
‘Perfect. They’re moving exactly as I wished.’
Chris smiled to himself.
Did they even know?
That a stage like this was exactly what Chris had been hoping for.
Just then, Marquis Langham spoke.
“Christian, are you aware of the wrong you committed during the Sacred Black Ceremony?”
“Yes, I am.”
As Christian readily agreed, Marquis Langham's eyes showed surprise.
But.
“I truly did wrong. I should have dealt more thoroughly with my pathetic, moronic brothers who are unworthy of the Dark Magic House's reputation, but I failed to do so.”
“That...!”
The vassals bristled and murmured at his insolent words, but Christian remained unfazed.
“Surely you won't say that defeating my rivals was wrong? Not like those detestable Alliance bastards.”
Provocative words, a challenging gaze.
Marquis Langham met Christian's stare.
Despite hearing such audacity, he surprisingly showed no sign of anger.
Was the gap between them simply too vast for him to be swayed by such remarks?
His eyes, as he looked at Christian, were merely indifferent.
Chris could sense that, as befitting the second-in-command of the Dark Magic House, he was no easy man to deal with.
“Of course, I don't intend to blame you for that. Their defeat in the competition was due to their own inadequacy. Your fault lies elsewhere.”
“And what is that?”
“It is the fact that you stole the opportunities of your other brothers, yet failed to achieve a result worthy of it.”
“!!”
Marquis Langham continued coldly.
“The Sacred Black is a precious resource of the Dark Magic House. Yet you were greedy and tried to monopolize it. But did you achieve a worthy result?”
“...”
“Answer me. If you did not achieve enough, if your greed caused you to waste the Main House's precious resource, the Sacred Black, you will pay a fitting price.”
Chris laughed inwardly.
“If you mean a sufficient achievement, what exactly are you referring to?”
“A purity of at least seventy percent.”
The hall buzzed at Marquis Langham's words.
Normally, a typical bloodline of the Dark Magic House obtains less than thirty percent of the Sacred Black during the ceremony.
This was partly because the amount they could absorb was limited by having to share it through competition, and for an ordinary talent, even absorbing thirty percent was a struggle.
For the direct line, it was around fifty percent.
For the outstanding members of the direct line, sixty percent.
Those called geniuses could sometimes absorb seventy percent.
Among the current generation of Princes, there were many talented individuals, and many had absorbed around sixty percent.
However, only one of the current Princes had absorbed seventy percent.
Eshid.
He alone had absorbed seventy percent.
‘The Marquis is determined to cut that scoundrel Christian down.’
‘There’s no way that scoundrel could manage seventy percent.’
The vassals glanced at Christian's haggard appearance.
The state of a wreck who had barely returned alive.
Furthermore, a quick glance at his core revealed it was incredibly murky, as if something had gone wrong.
They couldn't determine its exact state from a distance, but there was no way he could have absorbed seventy percent.
“And if I failed to absorb seventy percent, what punishment will I receive?”
“You will not be taught any of the Dark Demonic Arts.”
The Dark Demonic Arts were not mere demonic arts. They were arts that helped one masterfully wield Dark Magi.
Without the Dark Demonic Arts, even with Dark Magi, there was a limit to easily handling powers from various fields as if they were one's own element.
“In addition, you will be permanently banned from the Main House, and your succession to the County of Cazar will be forbidden. You wasted the Main House's important resources out of greed, so you must pay at least that price.”
Within the Dark Magic House, it was tantamount to a social death sentence.
But, defying everyone's expectations, Chris asked.
“And if I have achieved a sufficient result, what then?”
“What?”
“If I have obtained more than seventy percent. If I have acquired enough Dark Magi to be a great asset to the Main House, shouldn't there be a corresponding reward?”
The vassals looked dumbfounded.
What kind of nonsense was he spouting, looking like he'd barely escaped with his life?
But Chris, heedless of their gazes, boldly continued.
“If I have obtained a sufficient level of the Sacred Black to be acknowledged by everyone here, then I ask Your Excellency the Marquis to recommend me so that I may take the 'Prince's Trial'.”
“!!”
The hall erupted in murmurs.
A Prince was a candidate for succession.
Therefore, a member of a branch family with no succession rights could not become a Prince.
However, an exception was made for those with exceptionally outstanding talent.
They could take a trial to become a Prince with the recommendation of an elder from the Main House's direct line.
It was not a common occurrence.
In fact, it had almost never happened in history.
Yet he was asking for such a special exception to be made for him.
“Do you even know the meaning of the words you just uttered?”
Marquis Langham asked with a dry laugh.
His voice still held no particular emotion.
But perhaps he felt the need to warn this insolent, reckless brat?
While not as strong as the Old Lord's, an overwhelming pressure bore down on Chris.
As expected of the second-in-command of the Dark Magic House.
But this was the same Chris who had withstood the Old Lord's pressure.
He took a breath, dispelled the pressure, and spoke upright.
“I know full well. I am merely making a request in accordance with the family law that states even a member of a branch family can become a Prince if they show exceptionally outstanding merit.”
“And you claim to be someone outstanding enough to fit that law?”
“Of course.”
Chris's lips curled upwards.
He had meant it as a dignified and confident smile, but thanks to his naturally unpleasant features, it came out as a supremely arrogant smirk.
“If I have absorbed a significantly higher percentage of the Sacred Black than Prince Eshid, who is considered the next heir, wouldn't that be qualification enough?”
“!!”
“It would be strange if I were better than the other Princes, yet couldn't become one, wouldn't it?”
The vassals gasped in shock at his insane declaration.
Weren't his words too much, especially in front of everyone?
But Chris shook his head.
Humility was never part of his character in the first place.
Above all.
‘Being bold is far better than showing clumsy humility. Especially among demonic people.’
Arrogance backed by skill is no longer arrogance.
The gazes that now looked at him like a crazed colt would eventually turn to shock and awe.
Meanwhile, Marquis Langham narrowed his eyes slightly.
‘What is this?’
Rather than anger, Marquis Langham felt a strange sense of dissonance at Christian's arrogant words.
He had heard that Christian was a crazed scoundrel.
But this was too much.
Above all, his face was overflowing with firm confidence.
‘Did he really absorb more of the Sacred Black than Eshid?’
A confidence that couldn't exist otherwise.
He raised his eyes and examined Christian's core, trying to gauge exactly how much of the Sacred Black he had absorbed.
But even with Marquis Langham's eyes, it was difficult to assess the state of Christian's chaotically murky core.
Chris thought with leisurely confidence.
‘Look all you want. Can you see anything?’
What Christian had used was a secret technique used by the shadows of a renowned sword house.
On top of that, it had been further improved by the Hero Evan, who was called the greatest genius of that sword house.
Since he had applied one of the Alliance's best concealment techniques, no one could break through the disguise by simply observing from a distance.
But then, an unexpected voice rang out.
“I agree with Christian's opinion.”
“!!”
It was Eshid!
He spoke to the crowd with a benevolent smile.
“What does it matter if one is from a branch or direct family to ascend to the position of a Prince? It is the way of the Demonic Path for the strong to reign supreme.”
“My Prince.”
The vassals hesitated, warily watching Eshid's expression.
Though he wore a kind face, everyone present knew that Eshid was no kind man.
A cruel, merciless personality that matched his outstanding talent.
Everyone instinctively knew that the smile he wore now was not one of goodwill, but rather the smile of a predator eyeing its prey.
And indeed.
“However, there is a condition. I will personally verify Christian's Dark Magi. Through a Magi Clash.”
Eshid revealed his true intentions.
A Magi Clash.
It was a contest of pure magi superiority.
It sometimes occurred in actual combat situations.
‘Due to its nature, Dark Magi holds an absolute advantage in such clashes.’
With the same amount of magi, the owner of Dark Magi would always overwhelm their opponent.
So what if both possessed Dark Magi?
The one with the higher purity of Dark Magi would have the upper hand.
This was why Eshid proposed using a Magi Clash as a means of verification.
“Christian's core is murky, making it difficult to ascertain the exact purity of his Dark Magi, so I believe this is the most accurate method for now.”
That was half right and half wrong.
There were many other ways to check the purity of Dark Magi.
The reason he insisted on a Magi Clash was that Eshid intended to use this opportunity to crush Christian.
To be precise, he planned to destroy Christian's core.
The loser of a Magi Clash often suffered great damage to their core.
Everyone noticed this, but who would dare oppose Eshid's opinion?
Marquis Langham didn't object either.
After all, the Marquis had already decided that Christian needed to be punished.
It wouldn't be a bad thing for Eshid, as a Prince, to teach this reckless scoundrel a lesson and display his authority in the process.
“You shouldn't have a problem wielding your magi, right? I'll only use as much as you can handle. I'll limit it to the level of a 2-Star Lower.”