Episode 13
He focused intently, his eyes scanning the numbers on the document.
After reading it twice, he had memorized every single figure—down to the last decimal point—across the countless entries.
“One piece of evidence secured.”
But this alone wasn’t enough.
He needed a knockout blow.
“It’s about time the trap snapped shut.”
Just then, the butler hurried back in, slightly out of breath.
“Here’s the wine you requested.”
“Thanks. You’re not upset with me, are you?”
“Not at all! How could I ever feel that way about you?”
“Good. Even though I treat you like this, I actually like you a lot.”
“Th-thank you! I’m loyal to you, my lord!”
After exchanging such ridiculous pleasantries, the butler rolled his eyes and finally spoke.
“Um… my lord, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Hm?”
“There are some friends looking for you. They’re… people you used to be close with. They want to meet you secretly. At that place you always used to go.”
Chris stared at the butler intently.
Though the butler smiled as if friendly, Chris could sense the emotion lurking behind his eyes.
Hostility.
“Ah, I’d prefer if you didn’t get too close to those friends. Their reputation isn’t exactly good.”
Chris chuckled.
If the butler were truly worried, he wouldn’t have said that.
“I’ll meet them.”
“My lord?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I said I’ll meet them. Tell them that.”
The butler’s eyes widened, then he bowed deeply.
“As you command.”
Chris smirked.
“Gotcha.”
He could feel it—this rat had just stepped right into the trap he’d set.
It was time to catch the rat.
What kind of people were the ruffian’s friends?
Naturally, they were the same kind of scum.
Children of moderately powerful noble families, spoiled brats through and through.
They were the friends of Chris’s original self, Christian.
“Long time no see, friend!”
“I heard you changed. It’s hilarious.”
Chris merely nodded as those who pretended to be close approached him.
“Children of the count’s retainers, right?”
The Mage Empire, a world of demons, had a social system similar to the outside world.
There were territories and subjects.
The difference was that instead of knights and nobles ruling over the people, it was demons skilled in magic who reigned.
The House of Count Kazar, a branch of the Dark Magic clan, held a vast territory, and these were the children of lower-ranking officials managing the land on behalf of the count.
“Still insulting the daughter of the Poison Magic clan? Classic Christian, the biggest troublemaker among us!”
“Yeah, Christian’s the biggest dog of the bunch.”
Listening to their so-called jokes, Chris chuckled softly.
His friends tilted their heads, puzzled by his unusual reaction.
Something was different.
“Not much to say after all this time? Don’t you miss us?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Chris smiled quietly.
“Shall we head inside?”
They were in the busiest district of the Count Kazar’s largest city.
Entering a building down a narrow alley, a scene unfolded that was unimaginable from outside.
A dimly lit tavern.
Not just a bar, but a place dealing in various illegal activities.
“Welcome back, my lord!”
A slick-looking manager appeared, bowing.
“How shall I serve you?”
“As we discussed earlier.”
“Yes, right away! Please come in!”
One of the friends spoke, and the manager responded promptly.
Inside a spacious room, a lavish spread of side dishes and strong liquor was soon brought in.
‘Isn’t this whiskey from the Karn Empire? Even nobles there have trouble getting their hands on this.’
Chris clicked his tongue.
But that wasn’t the only surprise.
“This is a special attendant prepared just for you, my lord.”
A girl in her late teens, with a delicate appearance, trembled as she entered.
She was here to serve drinks.
‘What a joke.’
Chris frowned.
By the way, his current body was only fifteen years old.
Yet here he was, not only drinking but being served alcohol.
Judging by the looks exchanged, this was a familiar scene.
Truly a remarkable troublemaker.
‘And these guys are no different.’
Chris narrowed his eyes, watching his so-called ‘friends.’
“What’s with that face? Did the count scold you that much?”
“Or don’t you like the girl?”
Chris shook his head.
“No, just drink.”
“Alright, I’ll pour you a drink. Here!”
One friend poured the drink.
Chris brought the glass to his lips.
He had no intention of drinking—just wanted to smell it.
Sure enough, there was a scent in the liquor.
A scent others wouldn’t notice.
But Chris, having spent time in the back alleys dealing with illegal business, immediately recognized it.
‘Poison.’
‘So that’s what this is.’
He’d known from the start this meeting was a trap set by that rat, Butler Cox.
He was curious about the plot, and now he understood—they wanted to get him addicted to the poison.
‘Not just to get me drunk, but to make me commit a huge mistake while under its influence.’
He had a hunch about that.
Chris glanced at the trembling girl.
“What are you waiting for? Drink up.”
The friend who poured the drink urged him again, voice tinged with unease.
Chris handed the glass back.
“Not feeling it. You drink it.”
“What? Th-that’s…”
He faltered.
“Chris—this is the drink I poured for you, so naturally you should drink it…”
“Afraid of the poison inside?”
“!!”
Their faces hardened.
Chris snapped his fingers.
A first-rank black magic, ‘Descend into Sleep,’ was cast, and the trembling girl gently fell asleep.
The natural magic display left the friends wide-eyed.
“Christian? Since when do you know black magic?”
“Shut up.”
“What?”
“Both of you, shut up. You’re disgusting.”
Grabbing each of their heads with one hand, Chris slammed them down onto the table.
“Ugh!!”
“Gahhh!!”
He didn’t stop there.
He repeatedly smashed their faces into the table.
Their faces quickly turned into bloody messes.
What was surprising was that despite the loud commotion inside, no one outside seemed to hear a thing.
Chris had cast a ‘Silence’ spell.
“St-stop…”
“W-why are you doing this…?”
Chris shrugged.
“You don’t know why? Then you deserve more.”
Bam!!
Their heads were slammed down again.
They tried to resist, but it was futile.
After subduing them, Chris bound their hands and feet with another first-rank black magic, ‘Ropes of Darkness.’
“St-stop! I-I’m sorry… The poison was just… to make you enjoy yourself more, Christian.”
“Bullshit.”
Bam!!
He kept going.
Until they cried out in pain, confessing their sins.
“P-please… s-stop… I-I’m going to d-die…”
“Short on words, huh?”
Bam!
“Ahhh! I’m sorry! We—we were just following orders. Christian, you… no, you were the one they wanted to poison.”
“What were they planning to do after poisoning me?”
They hesitated.
Chris slammed their faces down again.
Bam! Bang!
“Ahhh!! They wanted to kill that girl and frame you.”
Chris let out a bitter laugh.
Even in the Mage Empire, murder was a grave crime.
‘Accidental’ deaths during demon fights were often overlooked, but killing civilians without cause was strictly forbidden.
In other words, they had set a perfect trap to ruin him.
“Who hired you?”
“T-that…”
“Was it Butler Cox?”
Their eyes widened.
Realizing Chris knew everything, they hung their heads.
“Y-yes. That half-vampire held our weakness over us and blackmailed us. We had no choice.”
As expected.
Now that Chris knew the rat’s true identity, he pondered.
‘Why?’
Why was Butler Cox trying to bring Christian down?
There was no personal grudge, was there?
‘Well, I’ll find out once I catch him.’
Chris thought simply.
He drew a dagger and pressed it to their throats.
“You did something worthy of death. You have no right to complain.”
“P-please… spare us!”
“Why should I?”
Chris asked coldly.
Realizing he was serious, they trembled.
“Please spare us! We’ll do anything!”
“I’ll be your slave, Christian!”
Desperate words spoken to save their lives.
Surprisingly, Chris responded.
“Can you swear you’ll do anything I say?”
“Y-yes! Anything! Even if you make me a dog!”
“Can you really swear that?”
“Y-yes! I swear it!”
Chris lifted the corner of his mouth.
“I accept your ‘oath.’”
Sizzle.
With a terrible sound like a branding iron, a mark appeared on their foreheads and vanished.
It was the dreadful black magic ‘Mark of Binding,’ which allowed the caster to control the marked as slaves under certain conditions.
“From now on, listen carefully and obey my every command.”
The two who had received the ‘order’ widened their eyes as big as lanterns.
Now was the time to strike—like a rat caught in a trap—the neck of Butler Cox.
The count’s study in the Count Kazaar household.
Count Kazaar stared out the window, his face heavy with gloom.
“So, Christian went out into the city?”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
Butler Cox bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I should have done something to stop him.”
“No, it’s not your fault.”
Count Kazaar let out a long sigh.
Cox had reported that Christian had gone to an illegal tavern with his rowdy friends.
What they might be up to… he didn’t even want to imagine.
‘If only I hadn’t held out hope, I wouldn’t be this disappointed.’
He’d thought this time would be different, but it was the same old story.
Just as Count Kazaar’s expression turned bitter, a sudden commotion erupted outside the study.
“What’s going on?!”
Before he could frown fully, the door slammed open.
One of the maids burst in, her face pale as she raised her voice.
“It’s serious!!”
“…What is it?”
A knot of unease tightened in Count Kazaar’s chest.
“They say the young master has committed murder inside the city!”
The entire Count Kazaar household was thrown into chaos!
“What… what do you mean? Murder?”
Count Kazaar’s hand trembled uncontrollably.
“The young master’s friends rushed to the castle to inform us!”
“Bring them in at once!”
The friends who had been with Christian earlier appeared.
Their faces were downcast, disheveled, and broken, causing Count Kazaar’s brow to furrow in concern.