Episode 5
Clack.
The sound of the door sliding open echoed sharply, grating on the Count of Kazaar’s nerves.
His senses were on edge, bracing himself for the sight of his son.
‘He’s bound to be a complete mess.’
Kazaar clenched his teeth, crushing even the smallest flicker of hope as he pushed the door wide open.
“!!!”
His eyes snapped open in disbelief.
“You…?”
Before him was a sight he could hardly believe.
“Welcome,” said his son, Christian, seated calmly in the room.
Gone was the reckless youth; instead, a composed demeanor and deep, steady gaze met his father’s.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Silence hung heavy in the air.
Kazaar stared at him, unable to believe what he was seeing.
‘No wonder he’s surprised. He probably never imagined I’d come through this unscathed.’
Christian twisted his lips and spoke.
“Didn’t I tell you? I’d come back changed.”
“……”
Kazaar had no reply.
Contrary to his fears, there was no trace of the delirium he’d expected from the Dreamstone’s influence.
In fact, that confident look in his eyes—what was that about?
‘Have I ever seen him look like that before?’
He couldn’t recall.
It was the first time since Christian’s reckless childhood days that he’d seen this side of him.
Still, Kazaar’s face remained stern.
One glimpse like this wasn’t enough to trust his son after all the disappointments piled up over the years.
“You must have endured well. Or maybe the curse of the Punishment Dungeon suited your constitution.”
“That’s supposed to be a compliment, right?”
“Don’t get cocky.”
Kazaar’s voice was cold as ever.
“I still don’t trust you.”
“……”
“You could fall back into your old reckless ways at any moment. Just like before.”
In truth, this wasn’t the first time Christian had shown signs of remorse.
But every time he seemed to improve, the disappointment that followed was always several times worse.
‘But maybe this time is different… No, no. What am I thinking? I shouldn’t get my hopes up.’
Kazaar forced down the rising hope in his chest.
Christian shrugged.
“Father, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying my best, so surely a small request isn’t too much. Please allow me to use the training grounds of the Black Marsh Knights.”
“!!”
Kazaar’s eyes widened in surprise.
The Dark Maga commanded three branch knight orders.
Known as the Trident of Darkness, one of those was the Black Marsh Knights, under the Kazaar family’s banner.
“The Black Marsh Knights aren’t a place for someone like you to enter at will.”
Though the Black Marsh Knights belonged to the Kazaar branch, they were also under the main family’s control.
Even as Kazaar’s son, Christian couldn’t just stroll in.
Permission from the Dark Maga main family was required—and they would never grant it to a notorious troublemaker like him.
“I’m not asking to be accepted as a squire. I only want to borrow the training grounds.”
“……”
“I think seeing the valor of the Black Marsh Knights will motivate me. Isn’t that reasonable?”
First, he needed to build his strength.
Even if he’d been reborn, he still had to train his body.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
He planned to learn the secret techniques of the Black Marsh Knights by sharing their training grounds.
How?
Simple.
‘By stealing what I can.’
No one would willingly teach a rogue like him the family’s secret arts, so he intended to pick up the basics by watching from the sidelines.
Christian had always learned skills this way—by sneaking glances and copying, rather than formal lessons.
Kazaar stared at him for a long moment before answering.
“If you disgrace yourself in front of the Black Marsh Knights, be prepared for the consequences.”
Christian grinned.
That was a yes.
“One more thing.”
“What now?”
“Please grant me access to the Black Marsh Library.”
The library.
A place where books were kept.
But the Black Marsh Library was no ordinary collection.
‘It held the Kazaar family’s dark magic secrets.’
Only those with permission could enter.
Kazaar let out a bitter laugh.
“You want me to open the library to you? Are you mad?”
“I’m still a bloodline of the family. Doesn’t that qualify me?”
“You threw away that right yourself. Don’t you remember trying to sell the library’s secretary on the black market?”
“……”
Kazaar even suspected that Christian’s current composed appearance was a ploy to gain access and steal from the library.
It might be paranoia, but with Christian, anything was possible.
“Bring me a recommendation from Melin. Then I’ll open the library to you.”
Melin.
The deputy commander of the Black Marsh Knights.
A cold, ruthless Dark Maga from the main family, who looked down on the weak—especially worthless brats like Christian.
Asking for her recommendation was basically a way of saying the library would never be opened to him.
Still,
“Understood. I’ll do that.”
Christian nodded as if it was no big deal.
“Then I’ll be off. I assume I can start using the training grounds today?”
“…Fine.”
Christian turned and disappeared toward the mansion, his stride noticeably different from before.
Kazaar was left bewildered.
After washing up and eating, Christian headed straight to the training grounds.
As he arrived, the place fell deathly silent.
Training halted as all eyes turned to him.
‘It feels strange seeing so many Dark Magas gathered here.’
True to the reputation of the Dark Maga’s knight order, all were elite warriors.
Not just humans, but many Ain—dark-elemental beings typical of the Magic Empire—were present.
Lycanthropes, vampires, dark elves.
All appeared at least two-star rank, with many three-star and even a few four-star veterans.
‘For a mere branch order, this is impressive. Outside, only the kingdom’s top knight orders reach this level.’
As Christian shook his head in disbelief, rough voices broke the silence.
“What’s that bastard doing here?”
“Isn’t that the idiot young master? What’s he doing here?”
Despite being the count’s son, such insults were openly thrown at him.
Unthinkable outside, but this was the Magic Empire.
Power was law.
The weak were treated with contempt, no matter their status.
Especially someone as disgraceful as him.
‘I heard even the Black Marsh Knights wouldn’t dare mess with me.’
Then a sharp voice cut through.
“Who do you think you are, calling your elder brother that? Get lost.”
Turning his head, Christian saw a familiar face.
His younger brother, Tern.
‘Training with the Black Marsh Knights, huh? Makes sense—he’s treated like the real heir.’
Tern growled with eyes blazing in anger.
“This isn’t a place for scum like you to come barging in.”
Christian crossed his arms.
Not particularly intimidated.
‘It’s tiring to keep dealing with his growling.’
“Tern, are you criticizing the Count?”
“…What?”
Christian twisted his lips in a mocking smile.
“The one who allowed me to use the training grounds is the Count. But your words… they sound like you’re slandering him for making a bad decision.”
Tern was left speechless.
Though he might become a notorious Dark Maga someday, for now he was just a kid—no match for Christian’s words.
Then another voice spoke up.
“I respect the Count’s decision, but honestly, I don’t find you trustworthy.”
“!!”
Christian flinched.
He sensed a powerful magical aura unlike any other.
Turning, he saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing there.
‘Deputy Commander Melin!’
The infamous deputy commander of the Black Marsh Knights.
Melin smiled faintly, her intense magical presence pressing down on Christian.
She was trying to intimidate him.
The old Christian would have been terrified.
But Christian took a steady breath and bowed calmly.
“Deputy Commander.”
“……”
Melin’s eyes flickered with surprise.
‘He endured that?’
She unleashed her full presence, determined to make the troublemaker young master pee his pants and run.
But Christian didn’t flinch.
Seeing her shocked expression, he smirked inwardly.
‘I’m used to threats like this.’
Strong warriors always tried to assert dominance with their presence.
After enduring so many power plays during the Age of Ruin, he’d naturally learned how to handle them.
“Very well. Since you insist, Deputy Commander, I’ll set a condition. I’ll prove I’m worthy of using these training grounds.”
“Prove it?”
“To a Dark Maga, proof means one thing.”
Christian shrugged.
“Strength.”
“!!”
“I’ll fight one of the Dark Magas here right now—and win.”
The room stirred.
Everyone thought the brat had lost his mind.
Melin’s face darkened.
“You’re taking this too lightly. Even if you’re a noble young master, don’t think you can insult the Black Marsh Knights and get away with it.”
She clearly saw Christian’s challenge as a reckless prank.
“This isn’t a joke. But I have two conditions. First, the duel must be fought using only pure physical ability—no magic. As you know, I lost my capacity for magic due to my reckless lifestyle.”
“…”
“Oh, and no weapons either. Ideally, it should be bare-handed. You see, it’s been so long since I last held a sword.”
Melin looked utterly baffled.
“You have quite a list of demands. What’s the second condition?”
“Let me choose my opponent.”
Melin nodded thoughtfully.
Even if he picked the weakest member of the Black Swamp Knights, that guy would still be several times stronger than this wild brat.
Chris turned to the young boy beside Melin, who was scowling deeply.
“Tern, it’s you.”
“…What?”
“You’re my opponent.”
Tern stared blankly.
Chris grinned.
“Let’s have a deep conversation between brothers this time.”
Of course, he meant a conversation with fists.
The hall fell silent.
No one understood what Chris meant; they just blinked in confusion.
After a moment, whispers spread.
“That crazy noble has finally lost it for real.”
“Are these brats trying to commit suicide now?”
The knights’ minds buzzed with disbelief.
Everyone thought Chris had gone mad.
Meanwhile, Tern’s face flushed bright red.
He looked furious, as if deeply insulted.
“How… dare he.”