Episode 28
Tern stomped off in a huff, and the retainers assigned to escort them all the way to the Tyramin Marquisate approached Chris.
“Shall we depart?”
“Yeah.”
Chris spurred his horse forward.
A few days later, they arrived at the Tyramin Marquisate.
“This place is quite lively.”
Chris glanced up at the marquisate’s castle and remarked.
The castle was even larger than the one in the Kazar Marquisate.
‘Judging by the influence of the collateral branches, the Tyramin family is definitely a cut above.’
There were three collateral branches in total.
Among them, the Kazar family was the newest, having only recently gained independence.
The other two branches had long histories and traditions behind them.
“So, do we just wait here like this?”
“Well… we were supposed to be met by someone from the Tyramin family.”
The retainers accompanying Chris looked uneasy.
It was customary for a noble family to send someone out to greet a visiting noble.
But no one had appeared, and they were left standing awkwardly at the castle gates.
Time passed.
Still, no one came.
The retainers’ faces flushed with growing anger.
This was clearly a deliberate insult aimed at Chris.
“How dare they be so rude.”
“Probably just ignoring me because I’m a troublemaker. Whatever.”
Chris yawned, brushing it off casually.
‘How predictable. Well, that actually works in my favor.’
He thought to himself with a knowing smile.
‘For my plan, it’s better if the Tyramin family treats me badly.’
This wasn’t just a visit to show off his skills.
He needed to prove his eligibility to participate in the Black Ceremony—and smuggle out the Black Order.
‘Not an easy task.’
He had devised a plan.
And the more the Tyramin family mistreated him, the better it served his purpose.
After a long wait, someone finally appeared to greet them.
Snuffling, a scruffy little figure with a horribly crooked nose stepped forward.
A hobgoblin!
“Are you perhaps Christian, the young master of the Kazar family?”
“And you are?”
“I’m a servant of the Tyramin family. I’ve come to greet you, young master.”
The retainers accompanying Chris scowled in disgust.
The Mage Empire didn’t discriminate against demi-humans; they even trained monsters to serve as workers.
But hobgoblins were still considered the lowest caste, even within the empire.
Sending a hobgoblin to greet a noble guest was an enormous insult.
“This is…”
“How dare they.”
The retainers’ faces burned with indignation.
Chris had already won their loyalty, so they felt this insult as if it were their own.
And the Tyramin family’s rudeness didn’t stop there.
“Allow me to escort you to the marquis’ residence.”
“Snuffle, there’s no need to come all the way to the residence.”
“What?”
“You can find your own lodgings within the castle. I just came to let you know so you wouldn’t be waiting around unnecessarily.”
The retainers’ faces turned red with fury.
Even though he was a visiting guest, they were being told to fend for themselves.
This was beyond disrespectful.
“How dare they!”
“This is outrageous!”
Chris raised his hand.
“Calm down.”
“But, young master! We can’t just let this insult slide!”
“First, I’ll deal with this hobgoblin.”
The retainers were barely able to contain their anger, but Chris spoke quietly.
“Didn’t I tell you to calm down?”
“!!”
They fell silent.
Though his voice was calm and even, there was something about it that made them freeze in place.
Unconsciously, they felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from Chris.
The retainers stared at him in surprise.
‘How does the young master have such presence?’
‘No, it’s not just presence. It’s… intimidation.’
Strong retainers could project their energy to intimidate others, materializing their magical energy.
That required at least a fourth-rank skill.
But the aura Chris gave off was different.
It wasn’t magical energy—it was an oppressive presence radiating from his very being.
The hall fell silent.
Chris looked at the hobgoblin with an indifferent expression.
The hobgoblin stiffened.
Under Chris’s crushing gaze, the hobgoblin’s face paled.
Then Chris smiled slyly.
The oppressive aura vanished as if it had never been.
“So, you’re saying I should find my own lodgings?”
“Yes? Yes! That’s right!”
Still trembling from the lingering chill of that presence, the hobgoblin stammered.
“Is this the marquis’ decision?”
“N-no! The marquis is absent. It was the third young master who gave the order.”
Chris nodded.
The third son of the Tyramin family.
The very person spearheading the Black Order hunt—and the one who opposed Chris’s participation in the Black Ceremony.
He had resorted to the same petty tactics again.
‘Just as I expected. How charming. Perfect.’
Chris smiled quietly to himself.
The hobgoblin spoke cautiously.
“I-if it’s inconvenient, I can escort you to the marquis’ residence.”
“No, that’s fine. I can’t be so rude as to impose. But the lodging fees will be paid by the Tyramin family, right?”
“Yes, yes! Of course! Please bill it to the Tyramin family!”
Chris shrugged.
“Understood. I’ll be going then.”
As Chris left without protest, the hobgoblin sighed in relief.
He cast a somewhat surprised glance at Chris’s back.
‘I thought he’d throw a tantrum like a true troublemaker, but he’s not what the rumors say.’
Not just different from the rumors—completely different.
The hobgoblin shivered, still feeling the chill of that earlier presence.
In truth, he wasn’t an ordinary hobgoblin.
He was a hobgoblin lord.
A superior goblin species with exceptional intelligence and strength.
Even within the Tyramin family’s “Beast Unit,” he held a high rank.
Yet he had been subdued by the gaze of a boy who looked no older than fifteen.
‘Has he changed?’
The hobgoblin tilted his head.
Maybe Christian was nothing like the infamous troublemaker he was rumored to be.
But then, late that afternoon, Chris caused a commotion.
The Tyramin family was thrown into an uproar.
Chris’s bill for lodging had arrived.
One hundred thousand rupees.
For reference, 100,000 rupees was enough to buy a small hotel in the countryside.
The reason for such an exorbitant lodging fee was simple.
Chris had purchased the finest newly built mansion inside the castle as his lodging—and billed the cost to the Tyramin family.
This was the beginning of Chris’s “Troublemaker” plan.
Chris relaxed comfortably in the newly acquired luxury mansion.
The retainers who came with him stammered in disbelief.
“Y-young master.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Is this really okay?”
“What’s wrong with it? They told us to find our own lodgings.”
Chris grinned.
“As the eldest son of the great Kazar family, I can’t just stay in some run-of-the-mill hotel. At least a mansion of this caliber is necessary to stretch out and relax.”
“……”
“Don’t just stand there—go rest comfortably. Actually, I’m thirsty. Go into town and get some drinks.”
“D-drinks? But young master, you’re still too young—”
“It’s not my home, so what does it matter? Just keep your mouth shut. And get the best liquor you can find. If possible, some Belute whiskey would be great. You know to bill it to the Tyramin family, right?”
Belute whiskey.
A bottle cost at least a thousand rupees—a ridiculously expensive brand.
“Get some for yourselves too. Since the Tyramin family is footing the bill, don’t hold back. Go all out.”
Chris’s voice was cheerful.
He was genuinely excited.
‘Opportunities to spend other people’s money like this don’t come often. Time to enjoy myself.’
The Tyramin Marquisate was already famous for its indulgence and luxury.
Chris was determined to drain the Tyramin family’s coffers.
Bang!
The mansion’s door burst open roughly.
“Who’s there?!”
The retainers went on high alert.
“Heh. Who do you think?”
A boy appeared.
About Chris’s age.
Blond hair, red eyes, and a sharp, irritable expression.
“I am Alos van Barren Tyramin, the third son of the Tyramin family.”
Alos!
The very person leading the Black Order hunt and scheming behind Chris’s back.
“Christian, where is that troublemaker?”
“Your words are harsh.”
“Harsh?”
Alos growled fiercely.
“Harsh? After blowing 100,000 rupees on lodging?”
For reference, the mansion Chris had purchased was billed to Alos.
Receiving a sudden bill for 100,000 rupees, Alos’s voice was full of anger.
“Christian, that troublemaker, get him here at once—”
“I’m right here.”
Christian descended the stairs from the upper floor where his bedroom was.
“You little—”
Chris’s eyes briefly swept over Alos.
‘He really hates me.’
Alos glared at Chris with a look of pure loathing and contempt.
‘Good. That means I can trample on him without mercy.’
For now, Chris greeted him.
“How long has it been? It’s good to see you again after all this time.”
The Kazar and Tyramin families were both collateral branches of the Dark Mage Clan.
In other words, they shared the same bloodline.
Assuming they must have known each other from before, Chris deliberately spoke in a friendly tone.
“Glad to see me? Is that what you’re calling it now?!”
“Hmm, you’re family after all, but you don’t look very glad to see me. I’m glad, though. Could it be you’re just sulking over some petty money?”
“What? What did you say?”
“I never imagined the honorable Tiramin Count family would get so petty and angry over a few coins. Especially turning away their own kin without even offering a place to stay.”
Alos was momentarily at a loss for words.
Chris was a guest visiting the Tiramin estate—and family, no less.
To refuse him entry and send him away was a clear insult from the Tiramin household. No matter how notorious Chris’s reputation was.
Having been the first to offend, Alos found himself with no solid ground to argue.
“You don’t even know how to treat a guest? The Tiramin family’s upbringing must be terrible.”
“You—you…”
“Is that so? No matter how much I disliked someone, I’d never stoop to such disgraceful behavior. I wonder what kind of education you had growing up.”
Alos clenched his teeth tightly.
His pale skin flushed a deep, angry red.
“…Shut your mouth before you regret it.”
The air thickened, tension crackling like a powder keg ready to explode.
It felt like a fight could break out at any moment.
But Chris didn’t back down.
Instead, he let out a short, mocking laugh, crossed his arms, and spoke in a deliberately irritating tone.