Chapter 159
“If I came across as arrogant, I apologize. But since I’m setting a goal, I intend to aim high. Opportunities to spar with a strong opponent like Your Excellency don’t come around often.”
Marquis Shupen frowned.
Yet he said nothing.
As a Main, there was no fault in having the spirit to challenge a stronger opponent.
Still, one thought nagged at him.
“I’ll have to teach that insolent brat a proper lesson. Especially to change that reckless, thunderous streak of his.”
“Very well. If you manage to land a hit on me, I will reward you as the head of the family. But only if you succeed.”
Marquis Shupen’s voice was cold and sharp.
“My schedule allows the sparring to begin a week from now. Come prepared. No matter what you imagine, the lessons will be far harsher than you expect.”
With that warning, the conversation ended.
After leaving Marquis Shupen’s chambers, Christian wore a meaningful expression.
“Everything’s going according to plan.”
Did Shupen know?
That Christian’s true goal wasn’t to receive instruction.
Quite the opposite.
“This sparring isn’t for me. It’s for Marquis Shupen.”
It was a baffling thought.
Christian imagined how others would doubt their ears if they heard it.
“Through this sparring, I’ll elevate Marquis Shupen’s level by one step.”
But Christian’s absurd idea didn’t stop there.
“I’ll make Marquis Shupen an 8-Star.”
Nonsense.
Madness.
Yet it was sincere.
“If I can break through the wall he’s currently facing, it’s possible.”
Christian lowered his gaze.
He recalled all the times he’d seen Marquis Shupen’s demeanor.
His unconventional intuition revealed what kind of barrier Shupen was up against, and why he couldn’t surpass the 8-Star threshold.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve helped others raise their levels.”
The hero party’s rapid growth in the latter days of the Age of Destruction was thanks to Christian.
He instinctively saw what walls each member faced and always offered timely solutions.
“To save Marquis Shupen, I have to pull this off.”
Shupen had been killed without even knowing who his murderer was.
That meant the culprit possessed overwhelming power.
“The culprit must have at least 8-Star strength.”
So, making Shupen stronger was the only way to increase his chances of survival.
“I can do this.”
It was time to show the ability that had made the hero party strong—the ability of a true master.
Afterward, Christian’s schedule was packed.
He simultaneously fulfilled his duties as the Fifth Captain and as the Captain of the Guard.
“Most of the trivial tasks I delegated to Saenin, but…”
He couldn’t pass off the guard captain’s responsibilities.
They had to catch the culprit.
Christian began by reaching out to the common folk.
“Is there anything troubling you?”
“N-no, Your Highness! How could you concern yourself with us lowly people…!”
“Lowly? What do you mean by that?”
Christian crossed his arms, displeased by the word.
“You are the proud people of our Dark Maga. Never say you’re lowly again.”
Hearing this, the people’s faces lit up with gratitude.
They had always taken pride in being subjects of Dark Maga.
But to hear such words directly from Christian, the heir apparent, moved them deeply.
“As the future lord of Dark Maga, it’s only natural I look after you. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“Th-thank you!”
“Lately, the movements around the Demon King’s Castle have been suspicious. If you see anyone strange, report it immediately.”
“Of course! We’ll keep that in mind!”
Christian’s approach to the people had a purpose.
Without their help, catching the culprit would be impossible.
“The culprit is most likely hiding among the streets.”
The Marquis Shupen territory was vast.
Second only to the Baron’s Castle of the main family.
It was impossible to find a culprit hiding in the streets with just the guard’s forces.
The cooperation of the people was essential.
“Well, it’s also a good chance to win their hearts. That’ll be useful for me later.”
Besides that, Christian reorganized the guard’s patrol system, strengthening surveillance in the hidden corners of the territory.
Meanwhile, Melin and Alos carried out their assigned tasks.
“Now, we’ll carry out the orders given by His Highness.”
“Yes, yes! We’ll watch carefully among the people for any suspicious individuals! But why would His Highness give such an order? Is there some intelligence behind it?”
“I don’t know either. But His Highness wouldn’t give orders without reason. Maybe a high-ranking demon from the Demon King’s Castle has infiltrated. We need to stay alert.”
“A d-demon from the Demon King’s Castle…”
Jupien, bored from staying idle, also joined the effort.
Unexpectedly, Mari was the one who shone the most.
“Oh ho ho. Kids, who do you think we are?”
“The Ghost Guard following the magnificent and wonderful Young Master Christian!”
“Exactly. If we miss even a single rat, we’ll make sure they have a long, deep, and unpleasant time with me. Remember that.”
“We won’t miss a single rat!”
Mari had subdued the countless ghosts haunting Marquis Shupen’s territory, bending them to her will as a guard force to assist Christian.
“…But why is everyone so scared of you?”
“Oh ho ho, I was just telling them how much I adore the Young Master. I can’t let anyone neglect the tasks he entrusts us with.”
“…Right.”
Christian looked dazed as he watched the ghosts wandering the streets.
In any case, they were all working meticulously to catch the culprit.
Then, something suspicious happened.
A mysterious figure slipped into Marquis Shupen’s territory.
“Phew.”
The figure entered a dark alley and exhaled deeply.
A breeze stirred, faintly pushing back the hood of their robe.
What was revealed was astonishing.
Blood-red hair, violet eyes.
An exquisitely beautiful vampire girl.
Idrinne, the Grand Princess of the Blood Sword Maga.
It was unexpected.
Idrinne had come to the enemy territory of Marquis Shupen?
“I have to warn Young Master Christian of the danger approaching soon.”
Not long ago, Idrinne had received intelligence.
That ‘they’ would really make a move.
“Christian will surely be killed.”
There was only one reason she cared.
Like the saying, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Idrinne hoped Christian would keep her enemies from the Demon King’s Castle in check.
“The best would be to form an alliance outright.”
Idrinne shook her head.
Considering the relationship between the two families, that was still impossible.
“Still, if I deliver this information, it might ease some of the Blood Sword Maga’s hostility.”
In other words, it was a gift.
For future reconciliation.
“Though the guards are unusually strict today. It won’t be easy to get in.”
As a vampire princess, she possessed unparalleled stealth abilities.
She came personally because she was confident she could enter and leave Marquis Shupen’s territory unnoticed.
But despite her confidence, the guards were excessively vigilant.
“I have to be careful.”
In the worst case, even if discovered, she could escape.
Her abilities were that exceptional.
But if that happened, she wouldn’t be able to deliver the information to Christian.
“I must hurry.”
Idrinne moved quietly through the shadows.
She remembered Christian’s scent from before and roughly knew the direction.
“It should be nearby.”
Suddenly, a low voice whispered in her ear.
Deep and dark.
Like something flowing from the abyss.
[Idrinne.]
A chill ran down her spine.
It was the voice she hated and feared most.
The voice of the ‘demon’ she had contracted with.
She could never disobey it.
“…Speak.”
[Will you meet with the human called Christian?]
Idrinne was puzzled that the demon mentioned Christian’s name directly.
But the demon had interfered in her affairs before, so it wasn’t unusual.
“Yes, that is my plan.”
[It would be best if you hide your true identity from Christian.]
Idrinne tilted her head.
She didn’t understand.
“Why?”
[For your own sake.]
“…Is there a special reason?”
[The exact reason cannot be revealed due to causality.]
Instinctively, Idrinne sensed the demon was hiding something.
But asking would be pointless.
“It probably won’t harm me.”
Though the demon wished for her ruin, it wouldn’t harm its contractor.
“Revealing my identity would indeed be dangerous.”
The Dark and Blood Sword Maga families were enemies.
The desire for reconciliation was Idrinne’s alone.
If Christian learned she was the enemy family’s grand princess, he wouldn’t treat her kindly.
Most likely, he’d try to kill her.
“I understand. I will keep my identity hidden.”
[Good. I will aid you with my power to conceal it.]
Idrinne’s appearance changed.
Her blood-red hair and violet eyes remained, but her overall aura was completely different.
‘…Why go this far?’
Idrinne frowned.
But she had no time to ponder further.
She sensed Christian nearby.
“Is he inspecting the castle? How diligent.”
Idrine studied Christian with fresh eyes.
In the royal palace, no one cared about the lives of the people.
Only absolute fear filled the air.
“There was a time when I dreamed of becoming a ruler who truly looked after their subjects,” Idrine thought bitterly.
But that dream was far too indulgent for someone struggling just to survive.
“I have to secretly get close to Prince Christian.”
Not yet.
There were too many eyes watching.
As she searched for the right moment, something unexpected happened.
“Huh?”
Idrine flinched.
Christian had vanished from the street!
“Did I lose sight of him?”
Vampires were hunters by nature.
And she was one at the very top of the hierarchy.
Losing sight of a target was unthinkable—something that should never happen. Yet, like a mirage, he had disappeared.
“No way…”
A chilling sense of danger brushed across the back of her neck.
She quickly turned her head behind her and caught a flicker of darkness.
The Black River Blade!
“!!”
Idrine gasped and jerked her head back just in time.
The Black River Blade had narrowly missed her.