Chapter 112
“What?”
“Are you seriously thinking of pulling some trick in a strict judgment duel where even the use of magical tools is forbidden? If you try something like that, you’ll be disqualified for cheating. You have no choice but to fight fairly, relying solely on your skills.”
Merian frowned.
“So then? Are you saying you can beat Eshed with skill alone?”
“No, that’s impossible too. I’m a 4-star, how could I possibly defeat a 5-star like Eshed?”
Christian shook his head calmly.
Unless I could use the power of the Star Radiance together with mine…
No matter what, relying only on the power of the demon beast meant certain defeat.
The gap between 4-star and 5-star was that huge.
“What on earth?!”
“…I’m going to cancel the duel and leave, sister.”
Just as Merian snapped in anger and Count Kazar rose with a serious expression, Christian interrupted.
“Not now.”
“…What?”
“I said it’s impossible to win right now.”
A strange statement.
People’s expressions shifted.
“Are you saying it’ll be possible a month from now?”
“Yes.”
Christian nodded, still sipping his juice.
Count Kazar looked incredulous.
“…That’s nonsense. It’s only a month. What could possibly change in just a month…?”
“It’s not ‘only’ a month, but ‘a whole’ month,” Christian added. “A month is by no means a short time.”
“For a genius like me, anyway.”
Count Kazar fell silent, stunned.
It was an absurd claim by any standard.
But…
“…If it’s my son…”
The crazy display Christian had shown recently at the Liberi estate flashed through his mind, and an impossible thought took root.
If it was Christian, who knew what kind of miracle he might pull off in a month.
Everyone was momentarily speechless, staring at Christian, until Merian spoke first.
“Then I’ll help you train.”
“Aunt?”
“No matter how talented you are, there are limits to self-study. I’ll assist you.”
An unexpected offer.
At that moment, Count Kazar stepped forward.
“Sister, that won’t be necessary. Christian is my son. I will be the one to guide him.”
“Shouldn’t you return to the county then?”
“Tern can handle it.”
“Tern? That little brat? You’re out of your mind. No matter how much you want to train your son, that’s reckless.”
“You’re just as reckless, aren’t you? You should focus on your duties as Captain of the Black Shadow Knights.”
The two began an unexpected back-and-forth, and Christian looked bewildered.
‘…I don’t need either of you.’
As he pondered how to refuse, an unexpected knock came at the door.
A pale-faced, handsome vampire butler named Simon appeared.
“Why is the chief steward here?”
Merian frowned.
Simon smiled, revealing his sharp fangs.
“I came because of the judgment duel. It seems you’ll need guidance for the next month.”
“!!”
Count Kazar and Merian stiffened.
“I’m the one who will teach Christian, steward.”
“No, it’s my role as his aunt. Steward, don’t get any foolish ideas and leave. Ridan, you should return to the county as well.”
Both were clearly eager to take charge of Christian’s training.
Simon chuckled.
“I think there’s some misunderstanding. Honestly, I’m interested too, but I’m not the one who will be instructing him. There is someone else designated to teach the young master.”
“Who? Could it be…?”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Simon nodded.
“Yes, the head of the family will personally provide the instruction.”
“!!”
No one had expected that.
Merian and Count Kazar fell silent.
If Nordian himself was going to teach, there was no room for them to interfere.
More importantly, it was an incredible opportunity.
Of course, Nordian’s teaching was notorious. But that didn’t apply to Christian.
With his genius combined with Nordian’s guidance, explosive progress could be made in just a month.
“Then, young master, please go. The head of the family is waiting for you in the secret training grounds.”
This must be the same training ground used when Christian first learned dark magic from Nordian.
‘That helped me a lot back then.’
Christian recalled the lessons he had received.
Without Nordian’s excellent (if harsh) teaching, even he wouldn’t have grasped dark magic so easily.
‘This will definitely help me again.’
But then, Christian gave an answer no one expected.
“I’m sorry, but I must decline the head of the family’s instruction.”
“!!!”
Everyone gasped in shock.
Even Simon, usually poker-faced, looked surprised.
“Young master? This is the head of the family’s teaching.”
“Yes, I know. But I must refuse.”
“!!!”
Despite their growing astonishment at his refusal, Christian was firm.
‘This next month is extremely important to me.’
Now, a question.
What must Christian do during this month?
Become a 5-star demon beast?
No.
Even for Christian, reaching 5-star in a month was impossible.
Sure, if he pushed himself, he might barely touch the threshold of 5-star enlightenment, but that would be meaningless.
Then what?
‘I need to lay the foundation to rise higher.’
Christian was currently a 4-star ‘Prime’ class.
‘Prime’ meant he had reached the pinnacle of technique.
Up to 4-star was mastery of skill.
But 5-star was different.
5-star was mastery of will.
What mattered was not when you reached 5-star, but how.
The strength and even the limits of future growth depended on the will you set.
‘I have to build a solid foundation now.’
This was a critical time.
Of course, he wasn’t just going to focus on basics.
‘I have to amplify my power as much as possible.’
There was the upcoming battle with Eshed, but an even more important reason loomed.
The disaster of the Gold Cross was fast approaching.
To prevent that terrible tragedy, his current strength was insufficient.
He had to become much stronger.
Nordian’s teaching alone wouldn’t be enough.
“I’m sorry.”
“This is troublesome.”
Simon looked troubled.
He recalled Nordian’s hopeful expression when he said he would teach Christian.
Though it was hard to imagine from Nordian’s usual demeanor, he was secretly looking forward to this training.
He was probably already at the training grounds, waiting for Christian.
But now, he had been flatly rejected.
‘I wonder how the head of the family will react.’
Simon cleared his throat.
“Then what kind of training do you plan to do?”
“Practical combat training. I’ll fight alone against demonic beasts to hone my skills.”
Everyone looked puzzled.
It might be effective, but it didn’t seem like the right training method for the current situation.
Then Christian added:
“The training location… I want to go to the family’s forbidden grounds.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Could you please ask the head of the family to allow me to use the spot?”
“!!”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“You… are you crazy? Do you want to die?”
Count Kazar voiced what everyone was thinking.
Of course.
The ‘spot’ was a gateway to the domain of Gehenna.
In other words, Christian planned to train in actual combat on the border of Gehenna itself.
Meanwhile, far to the south of the Dark Mage’s territory, at Gold Cross.
At the heart of the kingdom of Arjen, the royal palace.
A girl stood expressionless.
Emerald green hair and sapphire eyes like precious gems.
She looked like a fairy from a fairy tale, endlessly beautiful—but her complexion was poor.
She looked gaunt, as if ill.
“Your Highness, have you skipped another meal?”
A maid spoke with concern.
The girl glanced at the food, then slowly shook her head.
Her movements were like a broken puppet.
“I have no appetite.”
“But Your Highness, this is the third meal you’ve missed.”
“……”
“As the future Little Law King who will inherit the kingdom’s will, you must take care of your health…”
It was a shocking statement.
Gold Cross was a coalition of countless small nations.
But it was not without structure.
They revered the kingdom of Arjen as the supreme nation, their spiritual anchor.
The Law King of Arjen was respected as equal to the emperor of the empire, coordinating the many allied nations.
This girl was Princess Olivia, the next heir to that great kingdom.
But Olivia’s eyes were hollow.
The brilliance of her intellect, which had spread even to the Holy Empire, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, her voice was dead and hollow.
“…It’s fine. I just don’t have an appetite.”
“But Your Highness—”
“I said I don’t want to eat!!”
The maids flinched.
This harsh outburst was nothing like the angelic rumors about Olivia.
She had changed long ago.
About a year ago, to be exact.
Because of one person’s death.
‘The cursed prince.’
A scandal of the kingdom.
Someone who should have died long ago.
After his death, Princess Olivia changed.
“…When my brother was dying in secret, I wasn’t even there. All because of some stupid delegation.”
Tears streamed down Olivia’s cheeks.
“What’s the use of being the Law King or the kingdom? I couldn’t even protect the one person I cared about most.”
The maids swallowed hard.
Speaking of the cursed prince was taboo in the kingdom.
Because he was the seed of a demon whose existence must never be acknowledged.
Even now, Olivia’s lament was something that shouldn’t have happened in the first place—but she wasn’t in any state to argue about that.
“…Please leave.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Left alone, Olivia buried her face in her knees.
Sobs escaped her lips.
“…Brother.”
Chris headed toward the castle’s bustling district.
‘First, I need to get everything ready in advance.’
He was about to cross into the borderlands of Gehenna.
A place where a single misstep could cost him his life.
He had to prepare thoroughly, so he made his way to the Rudolph Guild’s gambling hall.
“Are you here to see the guildmaster?”
The branch manager wore a troubled expression.
“The guildmaster isn’t here. He’s notoriously elusive.”
Chris nodded.
‘He’s probably at Gold Cross by now.’
Ruina was likely carrying out the tasks Chris had assigned her with diligence.
‘This is tricky. I need to see Ruina, but…’
If Ruina used the artifact she had, she could instantly cross space and come straight here. The problem was how to contact her.
Ruina hadn’t set up a direct line with Christian.
Considering their relationship, it was a strange omission.
Most likely, it was intentional.
Ruina regarded Chris as nothing more than a nuisance—like a bothersome spirit.
Meeting him would only mean getting extorted, so she was probably trying to avoid him as much as possible.
‘Still, it’s not like there’s no way.’