Chapter 126
“You’ve gotten stronger.”
Chris looked slightly surprised.
Jupien’s expression remained as stoic and doll-like as ever, but the aura he gave off had changed completely.
Four stars.
And not just that—he had reached the mid-level of that rank.
“So that’s why you disappeared for a while. Looks like you went into seclusion training.”
Of course, it wasn’t just seclusion training alone that brought Jupien this breakthrough.
It was the combination of the timely advice Chris had given him and the hard work Jupien had put in all along that led to this explosive growth.
Chris especially noticed that Jupien had fully mastered the essence of the Phantom Sword Technique.
Even at the same rank, this meant not only a stronger power output but also a much easier path to higher levels in the future.
“The advice I gave you back then—I came to repay it. Let’s go together.”
“…No.”
“Why not?”
“We’re heading into the den of the Union scum. You’re a noble lady; you know it’s too dangerous for you. I can’t protect you.”
Jupien frowned.
“You’re arrogant.”
“……”
“I never asked you to protect me. I’ll take care of my own life.”
Jupien continued.
“And if I go, it’ll actually help us resolve this matter.”
“How so?”
“Because two heirs of the Dark Mage Clan are going, the delegation will carry more weight. They won’t dare act recklessly against us.”
A precise observation.
“Surprising. I thought you weren’t the type to think things through.”
“…One day, I’m going to crush you under my feet.”
Chris chuckled softly and extended his hand.
“Alright then. I’m counting on you.”
“Hmph.”
Jupien clapped his hands coldly in response, then turned and disappeared to prepare for joining the delegation.
[Oh ho ho. I must prepare as well. The thought of a darling trip with the young master makes my heart flutter with excitement.]
By the way, since Mari was a ghost, she didn’t count toward the headcount limit and was secretly brought along.
“I-I’m still not ready…! I should stay behind and train with Sir Merlin…! Hngh!”
Alos babbled nervously but fell silent when Merlin shot him a fierce glare.
The deadly look said plainly: if you can’t properly support Chris, I’ll make you regret it. Chris chuckled again.
And so, the day to depart for Gold Cross arrived in the blink of an eye.
That night.
Perhaps because it was the night before leaving for Gold Cross, Chris dreamed.
An old dream.
From a past life, his childhood.
—My child. My beloved child. A blessing sent from the heavens. My everything.
A bright smile looking down at him.
It was his mother.
Chris could vividly recall even the earliest moments of his childhood, remembering how warmly she smiled at him.
She loved him.
She was happy just to see him.
The whole world blessed Chris.
He was a treasure born from the union of the most noble bloodlines in the world.
The Law King of the Law Kingdom.
The princess of the Karn Empire.
These two were his parents.
The entire world celebrated Chris’s birth, and his future seemed destined to be filled with light.
But that shining happiness was short-lived.
Not long after giving birth to him, his mother was branded a servant of demons.
It was a false accusation.
—Why?! No! Please believe my story!
But her protests fell on deaf ears.
Because the one who orchestrated the conspiracy was the most noble figure in the world—the Law King himself.
In other words, the Law King accused his own wife and child of being demon servants.
The reason was petty.
The Law King had another woman he favored and wanted to make her his official wife.
Chris’s mother, a princess of the Karn Empire, stood in the way, so he branded her a demon servant and sentenced her to the stake.
In the end, his mother had no choice but to accept all charges.
To save Chris.
—I’ll admit to the crimes, but please… spare this child.
Her sacrifice was accepted.
Not out of mercy from the Law King, but because the Karn Empire—the strongest nation in the Crusade Alliance—intervened.
Though the Karn royal family covered up the charges of demonic involvement, they would not tolerate the death of young Chris.
‘It was a salvation worse than death.’
He barely survived, but was treated as a child born from the seed of demons, locked away in a tower and subjected to unspeakable horrors.
Torture disguised as purification rituals.
Abuse meant to kill him.
Yet, by some cruel twist of fate, he did not die.
He survived, but only barely—living without any light, hoping only for death.
Then, for the first time, he found light.
His half-sister, Olivia.
‘At first, I didn’t like her.’
The Law King had framed Chris’s mother to make way for Olivia’s mother to become his official wife.
Naturally, feelings were strained.
‘But if it weren’t for Olivia, I would have been completely broken.’
Unlike their father, Olivia was kind.
Thanks to her, Chris escaped the horrific tortures disguised as purification, and for the first time, he was given enough food to stave off hunger.
More than anything, her genuine care slowly unlocked the bars around Chris’s shattered heart, allowing him to heal.
Olivia was his savior.
So.
‘This time, it’s my turn.’
If he failed to stop what was coming, Olivia would be destroyed.
He had to stop it.
Flash!
Chris and his party passed through the warp gate.
It was the gate connecting the main estate to the border area.
From here, they had to ride horses down toward Gold Cross.
“Greetings, young master!”
The mine workers guarding the gate saluted Chris.
The atmosphere was tense.
This meant Chris’s journey to Gold Cross was fraught with danger.
They were already bitter enemies, and now the two sides were on the brink of war.
Alos’s face was pale, and even Jupien’s expression stiffened upon reaching the border.
Just before setting off on horseback, a mine captain approached.
“And you are?”
“I’m the commander responsible for security in this area. I came to wish you good fortune, young master.”
“Thank you.”
The commander bowed respectfully.
“Please give those Gold Cross bastards a proper lesson. We look forward to the day you become the Grand Master.”
An unexpected statement.
A commander Chris had never met before was openly supporting him.
“You’re not alone. Many frontline soldiers support you as well.”
“Why is that?”
“You’ve proven your worth through strength all this time.”
Simple, but undeniable.
For the mine workers, strength was everything.
“Especially since you never shy away from any dirty challenge and overcome everything with your own power. Many have come to respect you for that.”
Even ordinary mine workers had eyes and ears.
They had heard whispers of the unfair treatment Chris had endured.
Especially the recent actions of Eshed had crossed all lines.
But Chris had smashed through every obstacle and risen to this point.
It was impossible not to be impressed.
‘Of course, I think the succession trial is a stretch. To make a mere four-star young master face it…’
The first succession trial:
Achieve a feat worthy of the family head’s name against the Union scum.
An impossible condition.
But what was even more astonishing was that Chris had confidently accepted it.
As if he could do it without breaking a sweat.
His boldness didn’t stop there.
‘He’s even decided to handle the Gold Cross matter alone as part of the succession trial.’
Among the mine workers, rumors stirred.
Most thought Chris had made a reckless decision just to pass the trial.
Understandable, since it was an impossible task.
Many said he had become arrogant, blinded by recent success.
But some thought differently.
—If it’s Young Master Christian, maybe he’ll pull off another crazy miracle.
The commander was among those believers.
“If you pull this off, no one will oppose your passing the succession trial. We await your victory report.”
The succession trial had two stages.
But it was rare for someone to pass the first and fail the second.
Of course, Chris was a collateral branch and still had rivals, so passing the first trial didn’t guarantee he’d become Grand Master—but it would bring him close.
“Good. It’s a promise.”
Chris smiled broadly.
“The Dark Mage Clan, no—the entire Southern Mage Kingdom, even the Mage Empire and the whole continent will be shaken by this news. You can look forward to it.”
He wasn’t just saying that.
When this was over, Christian’s name would spread across the continent.
As Chris’s party mounted their horses, the mine workers lined up.
“Everyone, attention! Salute the young master!”
“May fortune be with you!”
Receiving heartfelt, thunderous salutes, the party set off toward the border.
Perhaps because of the grand send-off.
Or because they were heading into enemy territory.
Jupien and Alos’s faces grew increasingly tense.
Only Chris remained calm.
Upon reaching the border, Chris thought to himself.
‘It’s about time.’
In the distance, a cloud of dust rose from the Gold Cross side.
Looking closer, he saw the banners of the Union knights.
“Huff, huff! Y-You’re here to capture us?! L-Lord Gong, Lady Gong! For your safety, we need to retreat immediately…!”
“Don’t make such a fuss. Since they came to meet us, let’s just wait here.”
Chris stopped his horse exactly at the border between the two sides.
Soon, the opposing group drew near.
They were armored knights, and judging by their sharp presence, they seemed to be an elite order.
At least second to third rank.
There were even some fourth-rank or higher among them, but the most striking figure was the one leading the group.
“Are you the envoys of the Dark Mage? A bunch of wet-behind-the-ears kids.”
His gaze was intense.
Even Chris felt a chill from the sheer force of his presence.
This was a sixth-rank Master-class knight who had come to confront them.
Yet Chris remained unfazed, arms crossed, refusing to meet the knight’s eyes.
The knight’s eyebrows twitched.
“Can’t you hear me?”
“Annoying.”
“…What?”
“I represent the Dark Mage. A guard dog like you, who just watches over a house, isn’t someone I’d waste words on.”
“!!”
The knight’s face flushed red with anger.
But Chris ignored him and turned his gaze elsewhere.
Toward a pale-faced young man standing behind—the face was somehow familiar.
“Isn’t that right, Viscount Roy?”
That’s right.
The ones who had come to meet them were the knights of the Bursen County and the next heir, Viscount Roy.
The same young man Chris had saved before.
And the reason they had come was simple.
Because Chris had ‘ordered’ Viscount Roy to do so.
For reference, Viscount Roy’s soul was still completely bound to Chris, unable to resist any command.
Chris planned to keep Roy by his side throughout this mission, using him as his puppet.
This was the beginning of the ‘operation’ that would overturn the Gold Cross.