Episode 2
“What should I do from now on?”

After his return, Chris found himself deep in thought.

His goal was clear.

To rise to the very top of the Dark Mage family, achieving both wealth and glory, and at the same time, save the world.

But how?

“I need to get my hands on the Dark Mage family first.”

Fortunately, the Dark Mage family—his host body’s clan—was one of the twelve noble houses that stood as pillars of the Magic Empire.

If he could bring the Dark Mage family under his control, he’d be one big step closer to his goal.

“The problem is, I’m not the main heir. I’m from a collateral branch.”

The name of the body he inhabited was “Christiang van Barren Kazaar.”

By coincidence or fate, it was similar to his original name, Chris.

What really mattered was the middle name: “van.”

It marked him as a member of a collateral branch.

In other words, he was the son of the Kazaar Count family, a collateral branch of the Barren Dukes of the Dark Mage family.

“But that doesn’t matter. The Magic Empire recognizes succession rights even for collateral branches.”

That meant it was possible to take over the main family, even as a collateral heir.

Of course, there was a catch.

—If you have the ability.

To put it bluntly:

—If you’re overwhelmingly stronger than the legitimate heirs.

He had to prove himself far superior to countless legitimate rivals.

The one saving grace was that the Magic Empire was a ruthless survival-of-the-fittest society.

A bunch of power-obsessed fiends.

Because they were demons.

He just had to get stronger.

“First, I need to stop being a reckless punk.”

With that resolve, he went to see his father.

The Kazaar Count.

Head of the Kazaar Count family, a collateral branch of the Dark Mage family.

“What do you want?”

His father, the Kazaar Count, greeted him.

A chilling aura of dark magic radiated from him.

“A high-ranking six-star demon.”

A formidable figure, rarely seen even in his previous life.

His father’s eyes were full of contempt.

Understandable.

“Because I’m a worthless punk.”

More precisely, the original owner of this body was a hopeless delinquent.

Chris sighed but knew he had to face this.

“How long has it been since you caused that mess? And yet you shamelessly show your face here? Didn’t I tell you to keep your head down? Or have you already gone and caused more trouble?”

“…That’s not the case.”

“Then what? If you’re here to pull some nonsense, get lost. I’m this close to cutting your throat.”

The Kazaar Count clearly didn’t want to talk any further.

Chris hurriedly spoke.

“I came to apologize for all the mistakes I’ve made.”

“…What?”

“I’m truly sorry for everything I’ve done.”

Chris bowed his head.

The Kazaar Count stiffened for a moment, then exploded with rage.

“You call that an apology? After the terrible mess you caused recently? Are you mocking me?”

The intensity of his anger sent chills down Chris’s spine.

It was exactly what he expected.

Chris calmly continued.

“I understand you don’t believe me. As you know, I’ve lost part of my memories since inhabiting this body.”

He was covering up the fact that some memories were missing.

“That’s why I’ve been able to objectively reflect on my past mistakes and deeply regret them.”

“…”

“Once again, I apologize.”

The Kazaar Count stood tall, glaring fiercely at Chris.

Of course, there was no sign of belief.

Only distrust and anger.

Understandable.

Chris wasn’t expecting a single apology to win his father over.

There was another purpose behind it.

A setup.

“Just saying sorry means nothing. I will reflect on my mistakes properly. Please send me to the punishment chamber.”

“!!”

“For one month. I will spend that time reflecting on my wrongdoings and come back changed.”

For the first time, the Kazaar Count’s expression shifted.

“Do you even know what the punishment chamber is?”

“Yes.”

Chris knew the demon world well.

One of the heroes’ party members was a demon.

The “Chatterbox of Darkness.”

True to her nickname, she endlessly talked about the demon world, even when no one asked.

“There was talk about the punishment chamber.”

It was a place where high-ranking demons were sent for punishment—a pitch-black cell where all senses were cut off.

Even a few days inside would break a person’s mind.

“But right now, that’s exactly what I need. A place to be alone, away from prying eyes.”

The Kazaar Count sneered.

“You want to spend a whole month in the punishment chamber? You won’t last half a day.”

“I know it’s harsh. But I have to endure it.”

“Endure?”

“Yes. Only by doing that can I change.”

“!!”

Chris looked his father straight in the eye.

“I won’t live like this anymore. I will change.”

“…”

Did the Kazaar Count sense something different in his son’s spirit?

He fell silent.

“You say you’ll change? You?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

But the Kazaar Count let out a bitter laugh.

“How many times have you said that to me? Every time you mess up big, you say the same thing: ‘I’ll change, please watch me.’ I can count at least ten times. And every time, you’ve only disappointed me.”

“…”

“Fine. I’ll open the family’s punishment chamber for you. No matter how much you beg inside, the door won’t open until the month is up. If you can’t endure it, then die in there.”

“Die in there, huh.”

Harsh words from a father to his son, but considering this was the demon empire, the Kazaar Count’s reaction was actually quite mild.

“Understood.”

“And one more thing.”

The Kazaar Count fixed Chris with a piercing gaze.

“This is the last time I’ll overlook your nonsense. If you don’t change as you say, I will disown you.”

Disownment.

That meant death.

There were plenty of demons eager to tear him apart.

The moment he lost the family’s protection, he would be torn to shreds.

“Understood. But if I do change as promised, please grant me one favor.”

“A favor?”

The Kazaar Count looked incredulous.

Then said sharply:

“Fine. If you truly change, I’ll grant any favor. But remember this: if you disappoint me again, I won’t just disown you—I’ll throw you alive into the lion’s den.”

Cold words.

Their conversation ended there, and Chris prepared to enter the punishment chamber.

The family’s servants whispered among themselves, careful not to be overheard.

“I heard the punk is going into the punishment chamber.”

“What scheme is he trying now?”

“Well, the last mess he caused was so bad, maybe he’s just trying to dodge the Count’s wrath for a while.”

“True. He insulted the heiress of the Gukdok family. And she’s from the main line.”

The Gukdok family.

Like the Dark Mage family, one of the twelve pillars supporting the Magic Empire.

No matter how much of a punk, insulting the legitimate heiress of such a family was madness.

“Apparently, the Count personally apologized to the Gukdok family to smooth things over.”

“Hah, the Count is surprisingly merciful. If that were my son, I’d have cut off an arm or a leg by now.”

“I heard the main family’s higher-ups are furious over this. He embarrassed them in front of their rival, the Gukdok family.”

“No wonder the punk wants to hide in the punishment chamber. Though I doubt he’ll last long.”

The servants smirked.

“How long do you think he’ll last?”

“At most two days.”

“I give him one day.”

“Half a day, tops.”

They were betting on how long Chris would survive inside.

The longest guess was two days.

Most thought he’d be begging for mercy within hours.

But no matter what others said, Chris steadily prepared to enter the punishment chamber.

“All set.”

He looked over the supplies he’d gathered with a satisfied smile.

“Noble families do have their perks. Getting all these magic stones so easily, and in every type.”

Just saying the word was enough for the underlings to bring exactly what he needed.

Something he could never have imagined in his previous life.

“These magic stones are really rare, aren’t they? I remember how much trouble I went through with that hero to get them.”

Chris clicked his tongue and stood up.

He headed straight for the punishment chamber.

A Death Knight, summoned by necromancy, stood guard at the entrance.

“Using a Death Knight as a jailer. Typical Magic Empire. I hope it doesn’t move on its own.”

Chris eyed the Death Knight warily.

Fortunately, it didn’t budge.

Just as he was about to enter, an unexpected voice stopped him.

“Brother.”

He turned to see a boy who looked exactly like him.

A familiar face.

Chris called out his name.

“Tern.”

Tern van Barren Kazaar.

As the name suggested, his younger brother.

Unlike the notorious punk that Chris was, Tern was a diligent model student.

And…

“In two years, he’ll play a key role in this body’s death.”

The “Chatterbox of Darkness,” his demon companion, had told him countless stories about the demon world, including the tragic fate of Christiang.

She explained how Christiang’s reckless behavior led to a brutal end—and at the center of it all was Tern.

“What do you want?”

Though it was a future event, knowing that this boy would be responsible for his host’s death made Chris’s tone sharp.

“Besides, it seems you two don’t get along anyway.”

Even now, just looking at him, it’s obvious he came looking for trouble.

“Judging by your expression, I don’t think you came here out of concern for me.”

Tern twitched his eyebrows.

“…Of course, that’s not why I came.”

He answered coldly and took a step forward.

With each step, the distance between them shrank.

And with that shrinking space, a biting tension filled the air.

“I came to warn you.”

“!!”

Tern’s red eyes burned with contempt as he stared at Chris.

“You must be well aware that you’re a disgrace to the family. I don’t know what scheme you’re planning this time, but—”

Flash!

A chilling blade pressed against Chris’s neck.

“If you stain the family’s honor again, I swear, I will kill you myself.”

“……”

Chris glanced sideways.

The skin where the blade touched stung sharply, and blood trickled down.

‘Damn, that hurts.’

He swallowed a curse.

More than fear, he felt irritation.

‘I’ve been through hell and back—there’s no way some empty threat like this will scare me.’

Chris had lived through the Age of Ruin, accomplishing countless feats along the way.

There was no way he’d be intimidated by a threat like this.

“Move it.”

“…What?”

“I said, move it.”