Chapter 29: A New Plan and Brewing Darkness
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 29: A New Plan and Brewing Darkness
Lorne Campbell.
The current head of the Campbell family, one of the four Great Ducal houses of the Empire.
He was also a Coronation-level powerhouse who had earned the prestigious title of the "Lion King"!
Who could possibly be a better teacher than a man right at his fingertips? An experienced, powerful father who required no payment and would selflessly impart all his knowledge to his son.
There was no one better!
"Muen Campbell, oh Muen... you really deserved that miserable end in the original story. You were sitting on a gold mine and didn't even realize it."
Muen looked at the name on the paper with glee, feeling once again that his future was bright.
With the personal guidance of a top-tier powerhouse like his "convenient father," combined with the Black Book that allowed him to practice at any time, wouldn't his strength just skyrocket?
"And then there's the second point."
Muen lifted his pen and continued writing:
1. Safety.
Compared to having a good teacher, safety was actually the top priority because it concerned Muen’s very life.
The only reason he placed it second was that he suddenly realized this problem wasn't as urgent as he’d thought.
Why?
"Because of Father, of course!"
Until now, Muen had been stuck in a blind spot, believing that safety depended entirely on his own strength. That was why he had been so anxious to grow powerful.
But after recalling his father’s reassuring name, it hit him...
Why was he in such a rush? His father was so strong. As long as he stayed tucked away safely behind the man's back, who could possibly hurt him?
The assassination attempt on Celicia had nearly cost Muen his life, but because of that, the Duke’s estate was now so heavily guarded that not even a mosquito could fly in!
Hmph, you want to subject me to death by a thousand cuts? My father will snap your blades in half!
"It's decided. From now on, I’m becoming a shut-in!"
The more Muen thought about it, the more excited he became. He felt like a broke loser who had been driven to a dead end by debt, only to suddenly discover that his old man had left him five luxury apartments in the capital's prime district. Life truly was full of surprises.
"Yes, based on these two fundamentals, this plan should be perfect."
Muen looked at the new plan he had drafted on the paper and nodded in satisfaction.
→ Become a shut-in. (School? What school? Does school have cute maid sisters?)
→ Learn martial techniques from Father.
→ Cultivate, then hone myself through the Black Book.
→ Don't leave the estate until I'm at least a Fifth-Tier expert. Shock everyone!
"With this plan, no matter how cruel or unpredictable fate may be, I shall respond by laying low!"
"Hahaha! I can't wait to see the look of terror on the protagonist's face in a few years when she finds me in the Duke's estate and realizes I'm no longer that trashy blonde villain she can bully at will!"
...
Just as Muen was losing himself in the excitement of his perfect plan, An’s voice came from outside the door.
"Young Master, are you awake?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes, I'm awake. Is something wrong?"
"The Master is looking for you."
"Eh? Father wants to see me at this hour?"
Muen glanced at the time and saw it was early morning; he hadn't even had breakfast yet.
"Looking for me this early... is it something urgent?"
"Whatever. Even if it's urgent, it probably isn't anything huge. It's likely about Celicia’s assassination attempt."
Muen didn't overthink it. He gave An a quick reply, washed up hastily, and stepped out of the room.
An was already waiting outside.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
After greeting An, Muen began walking toward the study he remembered. According to his father's usual habits, the man would be there every morning reading the latest Imperial gazettes.
However, An suddenly stopped him. "Young Master, the Master is not in the study."
"Oh? Then where is he?"
"At the main gate of the estate."
"The main gate? What's he doing there so early in the morning?"
Muen was a bit puzzled, but he followed An toward the front of the mansion anyway.
"Good morning, Young Master Muen. Good morning, Head Maid."
Along the way, maids bowed respectfully to Muen, and he nodded in return.
But he immediately sensed something was off.
"Head Maid?"
Muen looked at An in surprise. "Are they calling you?"
"Yes, Young Master."
An bowed slightly.
"Not long ago, the Master appointed me as the new Head Maid."
"The new Head Maid... what about the previous one?"
"She resigned to take responsibility for the recent incident."
"I see."
Muen suddenly understood.
The staffing for the coming-of-age ceremony had been arranged by the Head Maid. After such a disaster occurred, the former Head Maid naturally couldn't escape responsibility.
"I'm really sorry. It was because of my orders, after all."
"You shouldn't blame yourself, Young Master. It wasn't your fault."
An comforted him softly.
"Besides, even without this incident, the Head Maid was getting on in years and planned to retire in two years anyway. This just allowed her to start her rest a bit early."
"Father must be very sad," Muen sighed.
Just as the current Head Maid was his personal maid, An, the previous Head Maid had naturally been his father's personal maid. Unlike An, who was roughly Muen's age and had been raised alongside him, the previous Head Maid was more than ten years older than his father. To a man who had lost his parents early in life, she was a mother-like figure.
His father must have been very reluctant to let her go.
"But I should still congratulate you, An," Muen said with a smile.
"It's nothing to be congratulated for."
An remained humble, appearing less happy than Muen expected.
"Being the Head Maid is too busy. The time I can spend by your side has decreased significantly."
"That's a good thing. We aren't children anymore; we have to grow up on our own eventually, don't we?"
"Grow up... on our own?"
An suddenly lowered her head, her expression hidden.
For some reason, Muen felt that An's tone had turned somewhat cold.
However, he didn't pay it much mind.
"Do you mean, Young Master... that we will eventually be separated?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Muen turned around, clasping his hands behind his head as he looked up at the clear blue sky and white clouds outside the window.
The weather was quite nice today.
"We all have to have our own lives, An. You shouldn't be bound by your status as a maid forever."
As a youth of the new era influenced by modern values, Muen felt that being a maid was just a profession. An shouldn't call him "Master" forever, nor should she tie her fate to a blonde villain like him who might kick the bucket at any moment.
He didn't want her to end up like she did in the original book—hanged in the Great Purge.
"So, An."
Muen looked back. His standard smile, combined with the handsome features inherited from his mother, was exceptionally dazzling, like the morning sun rising outside the window.
"If you ever find someone you like, just tell me. I'll let you go."
"Go bravely and pursue your own happiness. That's the version of you I want to see, and it's my way of thanking you for helping me so much all this time."
...
"Separated?"
Staring at Muen’s back, a thick, trembling darkness suddenly surged within An’s eyes.
"How could you say such a thing, Young Master Muen?"
"We cannot be separated."
"Cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot..."
"Never."
An bit her nail, her lips suddenly curling into a terrifying, chilling grin.
"We will... be together forever, Young Master Muen."