Chapter 74
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Grand Contest
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‘What is this?’
It was a vision of Nordian in his youth.
A scene of him confronting the enemies swarming toward the Dark Magic House.
And a scene of victory.
The majin of the Dark Magic House roaring in unison?
Followed by a vision of the Dark Magic House prospering.
The flag of House Baron, flying high in the skies of the Magitech Empire.
It was an illusion depicting the glory of the Dark Magic House he had pursued his entire life.
“!!”
The short vision ended, and Nordian’s eyes snapped open.
“…My Lord?”
Merian asked cautiously.
“I apologize if you were greatly displeased. I was thoughtless. When that child said he would make a chocolate that was both rustic and luxurious to suit your tastes, I should have guided him properly.”
“…No.”
“Pardon?”
“It was magnificent.”
Merian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The Old Lord let out a chuckle.
‘This audacious brat.’
He had mixed an illusion into a chocolate, of all things.
This was not a skill a mere 3-Star could display.
Christian was sending a message that he hadn't been idle.
And what about the content of the illusion?
‘He’s seen right through me.’
The iron strength of the Dark Magic House.
A rugged coarseness.
Furthermore, the splendid taste of the chocolate symbolized the prosperity of the Dark Magic House.
He had expressed what Nordian had desired his entire life by combining an illusion with the flavor of the chocolate.
And on top of that.
‘The nerve of him. To show such a final scene.’
In the last scene, Nordian was surrounded by his family.
He had long since become a man of iron and forgotten such things as familial love, but Nordian hadn't always been that way.
There was a time when he, too, had held his children in a warm embrace.
‘Is he asking me to look upon it favorably, as a gift from a grandson?’
Another audacious message.
‘…Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve received such a gift from my children or grandchildren.’
It wasn't that he suddenly longed for familial affection, but the feeling wasn't unpleasant.
This time, he ate another piece of chocolate with a lighter heart.
The illusion didn't appear again, likely set to activate only on the first bite.
He could now appreciate its genuine flavor more clearly.
‘…It is an extraordinary taste. Better than anything I've ever eaten. To think he'd spend time making this when he could have been refining his magi.’
He was grumbling lightly to himself.
Just then, Nordian froze.
Faintly.
He felt a peculiar sensation.
It was a sense of refreshment.
One that stimulated his life force.
“My Lord?”
“…Did you say Christian made this?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Nordian fell silent.
‘…Isn’t this the Vitality Pill of the Divine Doctor Noble Family? The one said to extend one’s lifespan.’
An elixir from the Divine Doctor Noble Family, said to exist in extremely small quantities due to the difficulty of its creation and the rarity of its ingredients.
It was a supreme elixir, with the cost of ingredients for a single pill rumored to exceed three million Rupee.
‘…No, it’s different.’
The Vitality Pill of the Divine Doctor Noble Family was characterized by an explosive expansion of vitality.
In contrast, the effect of this chocolate was incredibly subtle.
So subtle, one might not notice it without concentrating.
But for that very reason, it was better suited for Nordian.
Nordian’s life force had already reached its limit. He was in a state where the shattered vessel of his life was being forcibly held together by a heaven-defying secret art.
Therefore, an excessive activation of life force would be nothing but poison.
This gentle permeation was far more beneficial to Nordian’s condition.
The Old Lord then realized that the chocolate Christian had given him was divided into more than fifty small pieces.
It was meant to be taken in portions over a period of time.
‘How on earth did Christian get his hands on such a medicine?’
Just as the Old Lord frowned, a voice spoke.
“Um… My Lord. A letter from Christian.”
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
He had been instructed to deliver this letter if Nordian’s reaction to the gift was not unfavorable.
The contents were written in a polite script.
-If you were by any chance displeased with my gift, I apologize.
As your grandson, I prepared this gift with a grateful heart, using a secret technique of my own. I would be thankful if you would look upon it with generosity.
I am striving to meet your expectations. I will be sure to show results at the Grand Contest and make you proud as your grandson.
Nordian couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Though written in a roundabout way, Christian's letter contained several intentions.
First, the phrase ‘secret technique.’
-This medicine is my secret. Please do not inquire about its origins.
And an even more important line.
-I will be sure to show results at the Grand Contest.
Nordian understood what Christian wanted in return for the gift.
“Did Christian say this was a gift from him as a grandson?”
“What? Yes, he did.”
“In that case, it is only proper that I, as a grandfather, return the favor.”
“My Lord?”
Merian and Simon wore expressions of surprise.
A return of favor meant he would help Christian.
But hadn't the Old Lord declared he would no longer interfere in the family's affairs?
“Keke, I’m not saying I will take the boy’s side. I cannot interfere in family matters. Above all, if I were to help him, it would hinder his growth, so I cannot do that.”
“Then?”
“Did I not say? I will return the favor not as the Duke, but as a grandfather.”
The Old Lord said, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
“I shall also observe this year’s Grand Contest.”
“!!”
“It would be good for a grandfather to see for himself how well his grandchildren have grown.”
The true intention behind Christian’s letter.
He was asking the Old Lord to come to the Grand Contest and watch him.
And Nordian, as a grandfather, had decided to grant that request.
And so.
A decision was made that would turn the family upside down.
* * *
*Clang!*
Fresia dropped her teacup.
“What? The Duke is attending in person?”
It was something she had never imagined.
Fresia bit her nails anxiously.
‘What possessed that old monster to suddenly show up?’
She did not like the Old Lord.
He was the one who had prevented her husband, Marquis Langham, from ascending to the position of Duke.
But the Old Lord’s influence was absolute.
With a single flick of Nordian’s finger, everything she had built could crumble in an instant.
‘No. There’s no need to think of this as entirely bad.’
Fresia’s expression hardened.
‘On the contrary, this is a chance to crush Christian and showcase Maisac's excellence right in front of the Duke.’
It was for the best.
As it happened, she had already made thorough preparations for this Grand Contest.
Preparations to elevate Maisac and bring about Christian’s downfall.
Before the Old Lord, Maisac would soar on wings.
With Christian as the sacrificial lamb.
* * *
The day of the Grand Contest arrived.
The venue was the grand training ground of the estate.
It was bustling with countless majin.
Not only the elders and key figures of the family but also ordinary majin had gathered in droves. It was no exaggeration to say that most of the majin from the main house were present.
It was because of the Old Lord, Nordian.
‘To think the Duke himself will be observing.’
‘If not for an opportunity like this, who knows when we’ll be able to see him again.’
Nordian commanded the respect of every majin in the Dark Magic House.
So, when news of his attendance spread, a crowd of this size was bound to gather.
And this was exactly what Chris had intended.
‘I’m glad the Old Lord understood my intentions.’
Chris secretly smirked.
‘If I’m going to put on an amazing show, I need a large audience.’
Among those gathered here now, almost no one was paying attention to Christian.
But Chris was certain.
He was certain that after today’s Grand Contest, no one gathered here would be able to forget his name.
“…So you’ve come. You damn bastard.”
Just then, Maisac approached Chris, a sneer on his face.
“Brace yourself. You will suffer the greatest humiliation in front of the Duke today. I’ve already made all the preparations…”
“Shut up, you mama’s boy.”
“…What?”
“It just means you’ve had your mommy pull some strings for you. I don’t know why you’re bragging about it and stinking up the place. Are you such a mama’s boy you don’t even know to be ashamed?”
“You…!!”
“Want to make a bet?”
“…What?”
“About which one of us will be humiliated at this Grand Contest. If you win, mama’s boy, I’ll quietly leave the family. But, if you lose.”
Chris curled his lips into the most obnoxious smirk he could manage.
“You will address me as your older brother. No, I wouldn’t want a moron like you as my brother. If you lose, you’ll be my servant. I was just thinking I needed a human servant, so I’ll make a special exception and work you to the bone. Even a halfwit like you should be able to handle cleaning. How about it?”
Maisac’s fists trembled with rage.
“You… I’ll kill you for sure.”
If looks could kill, Chris’s body would have been torn into ten, no, twenty pieces.
That’s how fiercely Maisac’s eyes blazed.
Chris merely shrugged, and Maisac ground his teeth before stalking away.
Then, another voice was heard.
“You’re so rude.”
It was Jupien.
She spoke with her doll-like face.
“But you did well this time.”
“Did well?”
“Yeah, that guy is a jerk.”
Jupien frowned as she watched Maisac in the distance, unable to contain his temper and lashing out at those around him.
Then she said something unexpected.
“Do you want my help in your fight against Maisac?”
Chris looked puzzled.
“…You, help me? Why? Didn’t you hate me?”
Jupien’s brow furrowed again.
“I just don’t want you to lose to some other guy. Because you’re the one I’m supposed to defeat.”
“Ah, is that so? But I think your dream of defeating me will forever remain just that.”
Chris had already surpassed Jupien’s level.
‘Or have I?’
Chris narrowed his eyes.
For the past three months.
It seemed Jupien hadn't been idle either.
Her presence had grown considerably compared to before.
Jupien was originally at the peak of 3-Star.
But now, he could feel that she had grown significantly and was on the verge of 4-Star.
“You’re so annoying. Anyway, be careful, and be prepared. I’m going to crush you.”
With those words, which could be taken as either a warning or a curse, Jupien disappeared.
Finally, from a distance, the First Princess Yurian spotted Chris and waved with a bright smile.
She looked as if she were genuinely happy to see him.
‘I can’t figure out the First Princess at all.’
Chris had a strange expression.
Her attitude didn't seem fake.
He had encountered countless types of people and could intuitively see through whether someone’s demeanor was a facade or not.
But he couldn't tell with Yurian.
It didn't seem like a facade. That’s what made it all the more confusing.
That warm demeanor wasn’t a mask, but her true self?
‘Anyway, it seems everyone who’s going to show up is here. The Second Prince, Eshid, probably hasn’t recovered from the damage to his core, and the First Prince is a no-show again.’
The First Prince, Sherard the Madman.
He had heard news of his return to the family, but he hadn't seen his face even once.
‘I need to check on the First Prince, too.’
He knew nothing about the First Prince, Sherard.
Even the Chatterbox of Darkness didn't know about him.
-There was a crazy prince in the Dark Magic House called the Madman, but I don’t know the details. He ran away from home and disappeared before the chaos erupted.
He needed to find out whether he was someone who could be ignored, as the story suggested, or someone to be wary of.
‘I’ll have to go find him myself after the Grand Contest.’
Just then, a loud cry echoed.
“His Grace, the Duke, is arriving!”
“!!”