Episode 50

If the Marquis of Langham said it was that difficult, it was definitely no ordinary challenge.

Just how hard could it be?

“Sometimes, it’s the tough ones that make things interesting.”

Above all, Chris knew this well.

The harder the task, the greater the reward.

No, it was the other way around.

The reward was unimaginably immense precisely because achieving it was so difficult.

It was worth enduring.

And more than anything—

“Somehow, I don’t think it’ll be that hard.”

It was a gut feeling.

Difficulty was measured by the culprit’s standards.

Of course, even that culprit would be considered a genius by ordinary eyes, but by Chris’s standards, geniuses and culprits were all the same. Somehow, this time too, it felt doable.

“…Three months. If you’re even a day late, you forfeit your status as a noble.”

“Yes, understood. Though… somehow, I don’t think it’ll take that long.”

Chris smirked.

Did that confidence annoy the Marquis?

Langham furrowed his brow, glared at Chris for a moment, then said,

“Enough talk. Go out. I’ll tell you about the second trial only if you succeed in achieving a three-star accomplishment within three months.”

His tone made it clear he didn’t expect success within the deadline.

Chris gave a light bow and left the room.

Almost immediately, a problem struck him.

“But… who will teach me the dark magic?”

The secret dark magic of the Dark Mage family.

Naturally, it was passed down orally.

No matter how much of a genius Chris was, he needed a teacher.

“The elders of the family will all refuse.”

Originally, the collateral branches had their own teachers for dark magic.

But it was different from the direct line’s teachings.

They learned a version missing the most crucial secret formula.

“I can’t settle for that trash.”

He had to learn the perfect dark magic of the direct line. The problem was, there was no one to teach him.

“Steal it? No, that’s impossible.”

Of course, stealing top-tier magic wasn’t unheard of.

In the past, Chris had stolen the highest-level sword techniques from the hero Evan’s family by repeatedly watching and copying them.

But the hero’s party was always together, making it possible to sneak peeks. This time, it was impossible.

“Hmm, I’ll have to come up with a plan. If all else fails, I’ll learn the collateral branch’s version first, then try to deduce the direct line’s secret formula myself…”

He folded his arms, deep in thought.

Then, unexpectedly, a voice spoke.

“You’re still running around like a thunderclap, causing trouble.”

“!!”

Turning his gaze, Chris found an unexpected figure glaring at him with displeasure.

A calm demeanor.

But eyes that radiated a strong inner resolve.

It was Marian!

“Aunt Marian,” Chris bowed his head.

‘Why is she here?’

Marian had never come to see him before.

She seemed to have some business.

“Is there… something you need?”

“……”

Marian said nothing, simply staring at him intently.

Chris looked puzzled.

“Aunt Marian?”

“Have you found a teacher to learn dark magic from?”

“…Could it be you?”

Chris’s eyes widened.

Unexpected help!

As a six-star mage and one of the family’s strongest, she would be more than qualified to teach him.

But Marian shook her head.

“It’s not me.”

“Then who?”

Marian sealed her lips again.

For a moment, a complex emotion flickered in her eyes.

Then she uttered a name Chris never expected.

“The head of the family.”

“…What?”

Chris couldn’t help but stare blankly.

Marian repeated, as if to confirm he heard correctly.

“The family head has decided to personally teach you dark magic.”

---

Direct instruction from Lord Nordian himself!

Completely unexpected.

“Follow me.”

Marian said coldly and turned away.

But the direction was odd.

The opposite way.

“Aren’t we going to the annex where the family head is?”

“Why go to the annex just to hear rumors? The family head’s teaching you is an unofficial matter.”

Chris nodded.

The family had been buzzing just from seeing the family head once.

But the family head personally teaching dark magic? That was no small matter.

“It’s been a very long time since the family head personally taught anyone. Not a single one of your generation has had that honor.”

Even Ashd, called a genius, had never received direct instruction from the family head.

“To receive such a privilege… it’s unexpected.”

“Privilege?”

Marian frowned.

“I’m not sure it’s something to call a privilege.”

“Huh?”

Marian hesitated for a moment.

“You’ll understand once you experience it. He’s not exactly a kind teacher.”

Creak.

They entered a building on the outskirts of the estate and descended a staircase leading underground.

As they went down, Marian spoke, her tone somewhere between advice and warning.

“By the way, none of our siblings ever properly followed Father’s teachings.”

The siblings.

Chris’s father, Count Kazar, Marian herself, even the Marquis of Langham, who had reached the seven-star level, had all failed to fully embrace the family head’s teachings.

‘How harsh could those teachings be?’

Marian looked at Chris with a strange expression.

“But you might be a little different.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? That you’re a genius.”

Marian’s words carried a sharp edge.

“Show me you’re worthy. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

Chris understood Marian’s meaning.

To be personally taught by the family head.

It wasn’t just about meeting the best teacher.

It was a chance to catch the family head’s eye.

Despite everything, Chris smiled and bowed to Marian, grateful.

“Thank you, Aunt Marian. You’re the only one I can count on. I’ll make sure to live up to your expectations.”

“Hmph. You talk well.”

“Not just talk—I’ll bake you some delicious cookies next time.”

Marian scoffed but didn’t refuse.

Then, descending the stairs, Chris was met with an unexpected sight.

A vast training hall stretched out underground.

Under magical lighting stood a familiar face—Simon, the head butler.

Next to him sat a figure Chris had never seen before, eyes narrowed in a chair.

Chris tilted his head.

‘A kid?’

Maybe seven years old?

A small boy.

Black hair typical of the Dark Mage family.

Eyes half-closed, bloodshot and wild.

His vacant gaze made him seem asleep.

Though young, he didn’t look cute; rather, there was an eerie chill about him.

‘Did the main family have a kid like that? Wait, could it be…?’

Chris’s sense of familiarity grew, and when Marian confirmed it, his eyes widened.

“Greet him. This is the family head’s avatar.”

“!!”

“When he can’t move freely outside, he uses this avatar body. The child form minimizes unnecessary magical energy consumption.”

Chris was stunned.

‘Avatar manifestation is a seven-star illusion dark magic. The family head has reached seven-star mastery in illusions too?’

When illusion magic reaches its peak, part of it can be made real.

Avatar manifestation is the highest-level seven-star illusion dark magic.

What was shocking was that the family head had mastered not only dark magic but also illusions at the seven-star level.

At that moment, the boy who had been half-asleep suddenly opened his eyes.

The empty pupils flared with a crimson glow.

Though small like a doll, his presence was that of a giant.

The family head’s consciousness had descended into the avatar.

Just opening his eyes made the entire training hall feel weighed down by a heavy gravity.

Chris bowed deeply.

“Family head, I have come at your summons.”

The boy—family head—moved his arms and legs, as if adjusting to the avatar body.

Then he turned his gaze to Chris.

[So, have you heard from Marian why I called you?]

“Yes, I heard you will teach me. I am grateful for your kindness.”

[Kindness, huh. I suppose you could call it that. I was quite surprised when I heard your story. To have obtained dark magic with over 90% purity—that’s an incredible feat. Perhaps I underestimated your potential.]

Unexpected praise.

But it made sense.

It was the first time since the ancestors.

‘But even the family head can’t precisely measure the purity of my dark magic.’

Everyone only vaguely knew it was over 90%, never a perfect 100%.

That was due to the strange nature of Chris’s dark magic.

At 100% purity, its properties changed slightly.

It was still dark magic, but different from before.

Chris himself hadn’t fully grasped the change.

Because of that difference, others didn’t recognize it as a perfect 100%.

[However.]

The family head’s expression shifted.

Cold.

Normally, his true face was gentle.

Though his heart was like a venomous snake, his outward appearance was soft as water. The wrinkles on his face gave a kindly impression.

But in the child’s form, that kindness vanished, replaced by an icy chill.

[I cannot simply praise what you have done. You understand why, don’t you?]

“Yes, I understand.”

That was the reason the Marquis Langham had given.

The purer the dark magic, the harder it was to advance in mastery.

[To be honest, it was a foolish choice. Even though my purity was less than 80%, I faced a far more daunting barrier than others. In the end, I did achieve greatness, but it came much later than it should have.]

Nordian reached the eighth level only after his seventies.

Compared to other demon lords, it was an exceptionally late accomplishment.

[That was also thanks to luck. Without a stroke of divine fortune, I would have never reached that level and would have died in vain. Absorbing too much pure dark magic became a poison.]

“…”

[That’s why I commanded my bloodline: never absorb more than 70% purity of dark magic, for anything beyond that is toxic.]

This unspoken rule passed down among his direct descendants was Nordian’s decree.

[But you’re saying over 90% purity? No, judging by the quality, it might even surpass that of our ancestors.]

Nordian let out a bitter chuckle.

[Even our forebears wouldn’t have reached mastery without the grace of the Demon Emperor. I can’t even begin to imagine the insurmountable wall you’re facing.]

After saying that, Nordian made an unexpected offer.

[So here’s my proposal: if you want, I can lower the purity of your dark magic.]

“…What do you mean?”

[Exactly what I said. With my power, I can convert part of your dark magic into void energy and replace it with magic of another attribute. Since you haven’t been absorbing dark magic for long, it’s still possible. I can reduce the purity to about 80%.]

Changing the nature of one’s magic?

Was that even possible?

It was such an astonishing ability that it was hard to believe.

Nordian was reputed to be one of the strongest among the demon lords, and his reputation was well deserved.

[Of course, it’s a difficult and complicated process. But I’m making this offer because I hold you in high regard. You clearly possess a rare potential that appears once in a millennium.]

In other words,

he was offering to prevent a promising scion of the family from wasting away, blocked by an impossible barrier.

It was a proposal born from a high estimation of Chris.

[An 80% purity is still high, but given the talent you’ve shown so far, you should be able to handle it.]

Nordian believed that 80% purity was the golden ratio best suited for Christian.

Anything beyond that would be greed.

[You don’t need to overreach. Even without that, you can become a demon lord-level powerhouse to succeed me.]

Merian, who had been listening nearby, looked surprised at Nordian’s high praise.

But then—

“I’m sorry. I have to decline.”