Chapter 149

“…What’s going on?”

“…Although these are the rules set by His Majesty the Ma-Hwang, I suppose there’s some room for flexibility depending on the situation.”

Chris continued speaking.

“Especially since I’ve just been assigned to the Dark Demon Army today, I’m now under your command, Your Excellency. They say that on the battlefield, a commander’s orders take precedence over even the monarch’s. So, I don’t think it’s a crime if I accept a drink from you.”

“…You sure know how to talk. I don’t like people who just run their mouths, though.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not just good at talking—I’m good at drinking, too.”

Marquis Shupen frowned, then clapped his hands.

“Good. Bring out the liquor I prepared!”

Standing quietly beside the marquis was a Ma-in who appeared to be his adjutant. He asked cautiously,

“…Is it all liquor?”

“Yes.”

The adjutant stepped outside and soon returned, carrying a large earthenware jug.

“Wait, isn’t that Black Star Demon Wine?”

“You brought that precious liquor? And in such quantity?”

Chris’s eyes widened.

He’d heard of that wine before.

‘The very essence of the Dark Demon Clan’s own brew!’

Noble families usually have their own traditional liquors, but these are rarely distributed outside, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to taste them.

‘Even cheap wine would have been enough, but this rare liquor too… I’m so grateful.’

To Chris, it was as if a halo shone behind Marquis Shupen’s back.

Of course, Shupen hadn’t brought the liquor just for Chris.

Being a true-blooded Ma-in, his intention was probably to get Chris drunk and see his true nature.

But that didn’t matter.

There was liquor right in front of him.

That was all that mattered to Chris.

‘Alcohol! Alcohol! How many years has it been?’

Suppressing the urge to lose his mind, Chris waited patiently for Marquis Shupen to pour the drink.

“Here. It’s a long-standing tradition for the commander to welcome a newly assigned Ma-in to the Dark Demon Army with a drink.”

Finally, Shupen poured the liquor in a steady stream.

Not into a cup, but a bowl.

“Today, the two of us will finish this entire jug.”

“!!”

“Think you can handle it?”

The jug was obviously huge.

Chris swallowed hard.

Was it nerves? No—it was joy.

‘I was worried they’d just give me one drink and call it a day.’

“Thank you. I’ll drink it with gratitude.”

With trembling hands, Chris brought the bowl to his lips.

He could feel Shupen’s cold gaze on him.

‘He wants me to drink it all at once? What a real old-school hardass.’

But strangely, that was fine.

The intoxicating aroma teased his nose.

Even if it were cheap alcohol, it would have been fine, but the scent of this fine brew was irresistible.

He gulped down the entire bowl.

The texture he’d longed for—the taste on his tongue, the smoothness going down his throat—was nothing short of fantastic.

“Ahh! This is the taste. One more glass!”

Just as he was about to shout that without realizing it, something strange happened.

‘Huh? What’s this?’

Marquis Shupen’s face seemed to split into two.

No, it wasn’t just that.

The world itself twisted and spun.

‘…Could it be poison in the drink?’

He checked his body in alarm but felt no sign of poison.

‘…What’s going on?’

That was the last thing he remembered.

Chris collapsed forward like a puppet with its strings cut, his head hitting the table with a thud.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence fell over the room.

One Ma-in spoke hesitantly.

“…Is he drunk? From just one drink?”

“…No way. Black Star Demon Wine isn’t even that strong.”

But then, a faint snore was heard.

He really was drunk and asleep!

“…What kind of tolerance is that, barely able to hold his liquor?”

“…Maybe because he’s still underage?”

“Even the perfect Prince Christian can’t do everything.”

Meanwhile, Marquis Shupen took a long drink of his own liquor and clicked his tongue at Chris.

“You’re still a rookie, after all.”

*    *    *

“!!”

Chris snapped awake, clutching his head.

“Ugh… why does my head hurt so much? Could this be a hangover?”

He made a face as if it were ridiculous.

‘I only had one drink.’

And it wasn’t even a strong one.

Chris looked as if he’d just received a thunderclap.

‘No way… am I just bad with alcohol?’

It seemed so!

Alcohol tolerance is heavily influenced by one’s constitution.

‘But I’ve undergone a complete transformation—why am I still weak to alcohol? That can’t be right.’

But thinking it over, even a transformation wouldn’t necessarily make him stronger if his body lacked the enzymes to break down alcohol.

‘No, no way. It can’t be. Maybe it’s because I haven’t fully matured yet. Once I become an adult, it’ll be different for sure.’

Chris stubbornly denied his own weakness.

At that moment, a pure-looking ghostly maiden named Mari appeared from the wall.

[You’re awake, young master. A hangover? How adorable. You look so lovely when you’re drunk, I almost couldn’t resist giving you a kiss to wake the sleeping prince.]

“…If your head hurts, don’t make distracting jokes.”

[Oh ho ho. Should I prepare some virgin’s blood juice for your hangover? Or maybe the forbidden bachelor’s blood juice to give you strength?]

“Enough already. By the way, was there anything unusual?”

Mari tilted her head.

[Ah, a visitor came by earlier.]

“Who?”

[A grumpy-looking middle-aged man… I think he said he was Marquis Shupen.]

Chris frowned.

‘Why would Marquis Shupen come here?’

He must have had business.

[He said he’d leave first through the barrier and told me to tell you to follow as soon as you wake up.]

“!!”

Chris’s expression hardened.

It was a test.

“How long has it been since Marquis Shupen left?”

[About half a day. Actually, I kept trying to wake you up in the meantime, but you just wouldn’t get up.]

Chris swallowed a curse.

Now that he thought about it, Mari had whispered to him through spiritual means to wake up.

‘Why am I so weak to alcohol?’

Either way, this was serious.

Half a day meant the distance between them had already grown vast.

‘Damn old man. Why does he keep testing me like this?’

But there was nothing he could do.

He was in the middle of his second succession trial, and Marquis Shupen was effectively the supervisor.

This kind of test would continue until the succession trial was over.

“Alright, I’ll leave first. Tell Alos and Melin to follow behind! Oh, and have them prepare the item I mentioned and bring it along.”

[An item?]

“Yes, I’ll write it down here. Please deliver it.”

Chris stomped his foot on the floor.

Suppressing the nausea from his hangover, he thought,

‘Marquis Shupen, you annoying old coot. I’ll make you bow before me, mark my words!’

*    *    *

Only after running at full speed for half a day was Chris able to catch up to Marquis Shupen.

His stomach churned from the forced march.

‘Damn it, endurance isn’t exactly my strong suit.’

It had only been a year and a half since Chris’s reincarnation.

Though he’d achieved rapid progress thanks to his genius, he still lacked stamina and endurance.

He simply hadn’t spent enough time training.

But he couldn’t show weakness, so he composed himself and approached Shupen.

“I’ve come as ordered.”

Marquis Shupen was sitting by a campfire, grilling meat with his adjutant.

Next to him was the Black Star Demon Wine that Chris had passed out from after just one drink.

‘Hmph. Looks delicious. I wish I could have another glass.’

Shupen glanced up at Chris and said,

“Sit beside me. Dix, bring this one a cup… no, he’s still a rookie. Bring him some ginger ale instead.”

Chris bristled but couldn’t argue, given his recent collapse.

‘Damn it. Once I’m an adult, my tolerance will increase. Just wait. Then I’ll drink you under the table.’

Shupen drank alone for a while, then suddenly said,

“If you’d arrived any later, I would have canceled your assignment.”

“!!”

Chris’s heart sank.

It wasn’t an empty threat.

“Are you serious?”

“Do I look like the joking type? Of course I’m serious. Succession trials or not, the personnel decisions of the Dark Demon Army are entirely in my hands.”

Shupen took another drink.

“This isn’t the only time. I’ll keep looking for reasons to kick you out, and if I find one, I’ll dismiss you immediately.”

“That’s hard to accept. Aren’t you being overly hostile toward me?”

Chris had expected a cold reception, but this was extreme.

But Shupen shook his head and said something unexpected.

“Hostile? Not at all. I’m doing this for the opposite reason.”

“What do you mean?”

Shupen spoke quietly.

“I’m doing this because I recognize you as a capable man.”

Chris didn’t understand.

Shupen continued in a low voice.

“If you become the Grand Duke as you are, you’ll be doomed.”

“!!”

“I saw at first glance that you’re a remarkable talent. But you’re not ready to be the Grand Duke. If you become one now, you won’t survive the coming calamity—you’ll meet a pointless death.”

Chris understood what Shupen meant.

‘Shupen also suspects the disaster the Dark Demon Clan will soon face.’

Soon enough,

The Southern Magic Kingdom will be swept into a storm of upheaval.

Darkness, extreme poison, destruction—none will be spared, and everything will be left in ruins.

“Whatever’s coming will happen within the next year or two. Because of that, when the war with the Sawa Kingdom broke out afterward, the Southern Mage Nation couldn’t even put up a proper fight—they just collapsed.”

If Chris were to become the Grand Duke, he’d have to face that catastrophe head-on.

Chances were, he’d lose his life.

“The situation’s turning dangerous. A rookie like you becoming Grand Duke? You’d just be a meaningless sacrifice.”

Marquis Shupen, having finished his meal, pulled a cigar from his pocket and lit it.

“The challenges ahead aren’t for greenhorns like you—they’re for us, the adults.”

Chris shook his head.

He knew the words weren’t meant with ill intent.

Despite his gruff demeanor, the marquis showed an unexpected concern for the young blood of the family.

‘In fact, I should probably be grateful.’

But it didn’t apply to Chris.

He had to become Grand Duke.

If only to face the coming disaster.

No one else could stop it but him.

Even Marquis Shupen, who was so full of himself now, wouldn’t live much longer.

With that in mind, Chris spoke up.

“You sound like an old fogey.”

“What does age matter when fighting the enemy as a mage? That’s the kind of thinking only the Alliance would have.”

His bold words made the officer beside him gasp.

But to everyone’s surprise, Marquis Shupen didn’t look offended at all.

As expected, he wasn’t the type to fuss over petty formalities.

“You speak like a true mage, I’ll give you that.”

“……”

“But words mean nothing without power. Right now, you’re no help to the Dark Mage Nation.”

Chris’s power was equivalent to a five-star rank, yet the marquis said he was useless.

Still, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

A five-star mage usually commands a small combat unit or holds a mid-level position in the knight order.

In the Dark Mage Army, that’s about the rank of an adjutant.

An indispensable asset, yes—but not enough to sway the fate of a nation.

To take on a truly critical role in the Dark Mage Nation, one had to reach at least the six-star Master Class.

“You’re nothing more than a nobody, with or without you…”

“Is that really what you believe?”

“What?”

“I think differently.”

And then—

Something unbelievable happened.

In an instant, a strange sensation brushed past Marquis Shupen’s consciousness.