Chapter 174

“From now on, if you come to someone else’s home, you’d better show some manners.”

“…Understood.”

“Take this one with you.”

Bam!

Chris delivered a swift kick to Gongja’s lower abdomen.

“Ugh!!”

The man coughed up blood and was flung backward, collapsing limply.

He had been knocked out cold by a direct hit to his core.

The two—Gui-geom Maga and Hwan-yeong Maga—bit their lips in frustration, gathered the fallen man, and disappeared.

‘Well, I held back on the strength, so he should be up by tomorrow.’

There was a reason Chris hadn’t dealt a fatal blow.

‘He’s meant to be the shining sacrifice for tomorrow.’

Exactly.

Chris had no intention of letting them off with just an apology.

Tomorrow was the day of the main ceremony.

They would taste humiliation far worse than today.

Thus, the visitors from the Triangular Alliance slunk away like drenched rats, and the crowd began to look at Chris with eyes that were markedly different from before.

‘So the rumors weren’t just hot air after all?’

‘We can’t take him lightly.’

People started to sense that there was something extraordinary about Chris that couldn’t be explained by mere achievements.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall shifted.

Those who had been eyeing him with a hint of disdain now began to approach him one by one.

And those who spoke with him directly were impressed in a different way.

“Wasn’t your earlier treatment a bit excessive?”

“Excessive? Sparing their lives was an act of mercy. The Triangular Alliance values the honor of the Ma clan. If they learn that their own Gongja behaved so rudely, they won’t blame me.”

A clever remark.

Hearing that, no one from the Triangular Alliance could find fault with Chris’s actions.

People realized that Chris had a keen political sense.

While many Ma clan members focus solely on power, this was a skill every Grand Duke must possess.

‘The more I see him, the more impressive he is.’

‘If only he’d been born five years earlier… no, even three years earlier, he might have rivaled Osinseong.’

Admiration mixed with regret.

If only he had enough time.

If this were an era of peace, Chris would surely grow into a formidable figure like no other.

But those in the know were aware.

The Ma Empire was on the brink of bloody turmoil.

‘I wonder what he’ll show when that storm hits.’

At that moment, an unexpected figure approached Chris.

“Haha. As the rumors say, you’re quite remarkable. I’m Hubert, Grand Duke of the Geukdok Maga.”

“!!”

Chris’s eyes flickered.

The Grand Duke of Geukdok Maga.

‘He’s famous. The so-called “ugly” Grand Duke.’

A painfully embarrassing nickname.

But it was true.

Hubert had only reached a 4-star achievement.

He became Grand Duke as the sole heir of Duke Huam, but his skills hadn’t improved much since, and he was overshadowed by more capable relatives.

Though he still held the title, rumors said he would soon be stripped of it.

Yet Hubert approached with a face free of any shadow.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’ve been wanting to see Grand Duke Chris for some time.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Marisa has told me a lot about you. She wanted to come too, but something came up at the last minute.”

“Something serious, I take it?”

“Yes. There was an accident at the Mandok Institute, which Marisa oversees. It’s the family’s poison research facility. Marisa is exceptionally talented and became its director at a young age.”

His voice carried a hint of pride for his sister.

But Chris’s gaze darkened.

‘An accident at the Mandok Institute… just as I expected.’

The Poison Rock dispute was about to erupt.

It seemed things were already moving behind the scenes.

Perhaps mistaking Chris’s expression for concern over Marisa, Hubert shook his head.

“Oh, don’t worry too much. She’s smart and will handle it well. I just got word that it’s already under control and nearing resolution.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Though he replied calmly, Chris knew the truth.

Marisa would never be able to resolve this incident.

In his previous life, thousands of innocent lives were lost, and the two families nearly went to all-out war over it.

‘Of course, I won’t let it slide this time.’

Chris planned to use this incident to his advantage.

The mastermind behind it would come to deeply regret their choice.

‘But for now, I’ll focus on finishing this investiture ceremony perfectly.’

Afterward, there was a brief break during the banquet.

Chris deliberately moved to a quiet corner of the hall.

He was planning to catch another sacrifice to make him shine.

‘Philip of the Destruction Maga. He’s the real deal.’

A very famous figure.

The genuine prodigy of the Destruction Maga.

‘And a cute little pest trying to trample me down.’

Thanks to a letter from Kashmir, Chris had learned that Philip was targeting him during the ceremony.

‘A prodigy from the Destruction Maga is a perfect sacrifice to decorate my investiture.’

First, he had to bait him.

If he waited patiently, the bite would come soon enough.

As he stood there, Mari approached with a playful sway.

“Oh hoho, you’re especially dazzling today. Shall I bring you a refreshing and invigorating virgin’s blood juice?”

For reference, Mari’s “virgin’s blood juice” was strawberry juice. The “bachelor’s blood juice” was a strawberry-carrot mix.

Chris chuckled and nodded.

“Alright, bring it on.”

“Oh hoho, just a moment. I’ll bring you a sweet juice filled with my love in no time.”

With a flourish, Mari disappeared, but an unexpected voice spoke up.

“…Surely, Gongja, you don’t actually drink virgin’s blood?”

Chris turned, eyes widening slightly.

It was an unexpected visitor.

‘The true bloodline vampire of the Blood Sword Maga I met recently!’

Idrinne.

Of course, disguised by demonic power.

‘Her name was Ria, right? She said she’d attend as an envoy.’

“What’s the matter?”

“What do you mean, what’s the matter? I’m hurt. I came as an envoy, so naturally I wanted to greet you. But why are you drinking virgin’s blood? That’s filthy.”

“…Sounds like something a vampire shouldn’t say.”

“Not all vampires drink human blood. Personally, I find human blood too murky, fishy, and unpleasant. I prefer cow’s blood.”

Idrinne pouted and crossed her arms.

“I never thought you’d believe such a barbaric superstition that virgin’s blood is good for health. I had a good impression of you, but now I’m disappointed.”

Chris looked bewildered.

That was an un-vampire-like scolding.

‘It’s just strawberry juice.’

He grinned.

Seeing her stern expression, a mischievous urge welled up inside him.

‘She looks like someone I just want to tease for no reason.’

“What’s so bad about virgin’s blood juice?”

“Bad? How could you not know? Only crazy old perverts among vampires drink that! I never imagined you’d be such a mad pervert!”

“But I’m not drinking virgin’s blood juice.”

“…You’re not?”

“Nope. It was just a maid’s prank. I didn’t expect to be called a mad pervert over it.”

“……”

Idrinne stammered.

“I… I didn’t realize it was a joke…”

“Doesn’t knowing it’s a joke mean you can’t just call someone a mad pervert out of the blue? I’m the one disappointed in you.”

“W-well…”

She looked flustered, eyes darting around.

Chris chuckled quietly to himself.

She seemed as rigid and awkward as her first impression suggested.

‘It’s refreshing to see someone like this after a while.’

Not very vampire-like, or Ma clan-like, in personality.

‘This kind of character deserves even more teasing.’

“Didn’t you say before you wanted to be friends with me? I had some hope, but now I’m disappointed.”

Idrinne asked cautiously.

“…Did you just say you had hope?”

“Hmm?”

“You said you were hoping to be friends with me, didn’t you?”

Chris shook his head with a smirk.

“No, I was just joking. There’s no way I’d want to be friends with a vampire from the Blood Sword Maga.”

“……”

She deflated rapidly.

Chris fought to suppress his laughter.

She was a worthy target.

‘Even if not friends, I think I can at least make her a pushover.’

Chris said casually as if passing by.

“Still, it must have been tough coming all this way.”

“……”

“You came all this way as an envoy to congratulate me, right?”

“That’s right!”

Idrinne nodded vigorously and extended her hand.

“I want to be friends with you. That’s why I came all this way!”

“…I’m not really into handshakes. We’re not exactly that kind of relationship.”

“…Ah, ah. Sorry for being rude again.”

Her face flushed with embarrassment.

Though she looked cold and sharp on the outside, she was surprisingly clumsy.

‘It’d be a shame to let the Blood King kill her.’

But judging by her earlier reaction, warnings wouldn’t work.

‘I’ll think about that later. For now, I’ll just put her to use.’

It wasn’t part of the original plan, but since they’d met, it might be good to make use of this girl.

“By the way, you really want to be friends with me?”

“Yes.”

“But you called me a pervert without even getting to know me.”

“S-sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, you should make it up, right?”

“…What do you mean?”

Idrinne blinked her eyes.

Chris grinned slyly.

“Wanna play a little prank?”

*    *    *

After a brief explanation, Idrene blinked in surprise.

“You sure this is okay?”

“Of course it is. The Blood Sword Maga and the Destruction Maga aren’t exactly enemies, but they’re not exactly friends either.”

Surprisingly, the Four Kings Castle, home to both the Destruction Maga and the Blood Sword Maga, wasn’t directly hostile territory.

Even though they all belonged to the Southern Mage Kingdom, the Destruction Maga was geographically quite distant from the Four Kings Castle.

“The ones actually hostile to the Four Kings Castle are our Dark Maga and the Venomous Maga, plus the Karn Empire to the east.”

In other words, the Four Kings Castle was fighting the Dark and Venomous Maga to the south, and the Karn Empire to the east.

For reference, the Destruction Maga’s main enemies were the Holy Empire to the west and the prestigious alliance known as the “Round Table.”

“And you’re sure you’re okay with this? The Destruction Maga and the Dark Maga are supposed to be close allies, right?”

“Close allies? Not a chance.”

Chris cut her off sharply.

The three great houses of the Southern Mage Kingdom—Destruction, Venomous, and Dark—were anything but friendly.

They only joined forces when absolutely necessary.

“If anything, they’re more like bitter rivals. Always snarling at each other at the slightest opportunity.”

Especially the Destruction Maga, who had long sought to dominate the Southern Mage Kingdom by subjugating the Venomous and Dark Maga.

“This is the perfect chance to knock the Destruction Maga down a peg.”