Episode 7
“What on earth…?”
Tern’s movements weren’t just decent—they were exceptional.
For someone so young, his mastery of basic combat techniques was undeniable.
Just by watching, one could tell how grueling his training must have been.
In contrast, that delinquent’s moves were a mess.
“Completely unrefined. Like he doesn’t even know the basics of fighting.”
And yet.
“He was strong. Overwhelmingly so.”
Melin’s eyes widened as she realized why.
“He saw right through the flow of the battle.”
Tern’s attacks were powerful and fast—but they never landed.
Meanwhile, Christian’s strikes were sloppy, but they hit Tern every time.
That was because Christian anticipated every single one of Tern’s moves.
Whether by intellect or instinct.
“Without a natural talent for combat, that’s impossible.”
But what truly shocked her was something else.
“At the very last moment, he struck the weakest point of Tern’s magic, disrupting it.”
It was unbelievable.
Theoretically possible, yes.
With extraordinary perception, lightning-fast reflexes, and pinpoint accuracy to exploit that vulnerability—all combined.
But in practice, it was nearly impossible.
“Yet that reckless brat, who hasn’t even properly built his magic, managed to pull it off?”
Melin couldn’t believe it.
She even wondered if she’d imagined it.
A single word flashed through her mind.
“A genius…?”
It wasn’t so strange.
The bloodline of the Dark Mage clan was known for exceptional talent.
That’s why they were one of the twelve pillars supporting the Mage Empire.
“Come to think of it, I heard that brat was called a genius when he was younger. Hard to believe now, though.”
In a prestigious mage family, being called a genius meant you truly were exceptional.
“But even so, is something like that really possible?”
Melin was confused.
She couldn’t even guess how gifted one had to be to pull that off.
“Maybe he even surpasses Prince Eshed de Barron.”
Eshed de Barron!
As the “de” in his name suggested, he was the legitimate heir of the Dark Mage main family.
Known as the greatest prodigy among the next generation of dark mages, he was practically the designated successor.
“No, that’s going too far. Comparing him to that nobleman is ridiculous.”
Even if Christian was that talented, it was too late.
While Christian wasted time in debauchery, his peers were soaring ahead.
The gap had already become impossible to close.
“He seems to have finally woken up, though.”
Melin glanced over at Chris.
He was jogging steadily in the training grounds.
How many laps had he done?
Twenty? Maybe over thirty. He’d been running nonstop for quite a while.
Surprisingly persistent.
Melin shook her head.
“Too bad. It’s already too late.”
When you start learning matters a great deal for achievement.
The later you begin, the less pure your core is, and your blood veins harden.
There’s a limit to how far you can go.
At fifteen, Chris was already far behind.
“At best, he might reach mid-level magic of rank three or four.”
That’s what Melin thought.
“How long will it take him to reach rank one? At least a year, probably more since he started late. And with his handicap…”
Handicap.
Christian had once mastered magic before.
He had reached rank two—a record-breaking speed that even shook the Dark Mage main family.
But the genius had grown arrogant and, through his reckless lifestyle, lost all the magic he had built.
Once magic is lost like that, rebuilding it is several times harder.
“What a waste of talent.”
Melin clicked her tongue, watching Chris.
A few days later.
“Finally rank one.”
Chris took a deep breath inside his room.
A new vessel had formed in his dark core.
He had reached rank one in the path of magic.
“It took longer than I thought.”
Long, indeed.
Anyone else would be shocked to hear it.
Even the most talented took at least half a year to reach rank one.
“The remnants of the magic I’d learned before lingered, so it took longer. Without that, I could have gotten here faster.”
Chris gathered magic in his hands.
“Feels awkward.”
A faint black aura gathered, then dispersed.
“Can’t combine them yet?”
He tried manifesting light’s mana in one hand and dark’s magic in the other.
It worked.
One hand glowed with bright light, the other with pitch-black darkness.
“But it strains my veins. Using both at once in battle will have to wait until I’m stronger.”
Chris leaned back in his chair and pressed the buzzer.
A chilling voice answered.
[You called, young master?]
A faint, ghostly figure appeared.
No, not just like a ghost—it was a real ghost.
The infamous wraith, a banshee!
Chris swallowed a curse.
“Damn it, using a banshee as a maid. Even for the Mage family, that’s too much.”
He’d gotten used to it now, but the first time the banshee appeared as his maid, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
She even wore a cute maid outfit, which made it all the more unsettling.
“I’ll have to replace her later. With a human servant.”
Even in the Mage Empire, having a ghost as a servant was rare.
His previous maid was human.
But since the delinquent kept mistreating his servants, the furious Count Kazar assigned the banshee as Christian’s personal maid.
[Young master… what can I do for you?]
“Bring me some juice.”
[Virgin’s blood… juice… shall I prepare that?]
“…Strawberry juice.”
[Virgin’s blood juice is delicious, you know?]
“…Just strawberry, please.”
No mage drinks virgin’s blood juice.
The banshee was teasing, but as a ghost, it didn’t feel like a joke.
She giggled and vanished, soon returning with strawberry juice.
“Well, this is better.”
Chris sipped the juice through a straw, thinking.
“This luxury… exactly what I wanted.”
Everything he desired was here—clothes, bed, food—all excellent.
If only the banshee maid wasn’t part of the package, this was the life he’d dreamed of in his past life.
“But I can’t settle for this. I’ll rise to the top of the Mage Empire and enjoy the greatest wealth and glory.”
And save the world while I’m at it.
With that resolve, Chris stood up.
He was heading to the training grounds.
Though he was naturally a lazy genius and didn’t enjoy hard training, he had a goal now.
“Here’s to wealth and glory! Let’s go!”
He cheered silently and left.
But just before stepping out, a voice called after him.
“Off to the training grounds again, young master?”
Pale as a ghost, with sharp fangs.
Cox, the half-vampire butler of the Kazar family.
True to his vampire bloodline, he looked sharp, but a gentle smile softened his expression.
“Yeah, I’m heading there now.”
“I worry you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
Cox shook his head anxiously.
“Of course, I’m proud and happy to see you so dedicated. I’ve believed in you even when everyone else pointed fingers.”
Chris smiled quietly at that.
‘What a cheeky bastard.’
His words were arrogant.
His eyes seemed to care for Chris, but what was he really thinking?
“What do you mean, ‘believe in me’?”
“Huh?”
“I never asked you to believe in me. Who are you to talk about believing or giving up on me?”
“!!”
Cox inhaled sharply.
Only then did he really see Chris.
A completely different aura.
The delinquent was gone.
His gaze was confident, and a noble dignity shone through.
His lofty, almost condescending stare fixed on Cox.
“Watch your words next time.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
The butler hurriedly turned and left.
Chris’s eyes darkened as he watched him go.
“That guy smells fishy.”
He decided to keep an eye on him and headed to the training grounds.
When he arrived, the place fell silent.
Everyone glanced at him.
‘At least the looks are softer than before.’
After all, he hadn’t caused any trouble and quietly trained in the corner.
Slowly, some began to look at him differently.
Some even felt a bit of goodwill.
“Could it be that delinquent really changed?”
“He’s different from before.”
But not everyone thought so.
“He’s just a flash in the pan.”
“Wait and see. He’ll slack off again soon enough.”
It hadn’t even been a week.
Too soon for opinions to change.
The mages in the knights’ order still sneered openly at Chris.
“If he weren’t noble, I’d have half-killed that brat by now.”
As one mage laughed roughly, a different reaction came.
“Hey, have you finished talking?”
“!!”
It was Chris.
The Maen who had just been badmouthing him suddenly drew a sharp breath.
“What’s your name?”
“…Canin. I’m a squire of the Black Swamp Knights.”
A squire—a mere apprentice.
Chris nodded slowly.
“Alright, Canin. Say again what you told me earlier.”
“……”
Canin’s expression stiffened.
Chris smirked.
“What’s the matter? Too hard to say it to my face? Do you know what someone like you is called?”
“……”
“A coward.”
“!!”
Canin’s face flushed bright red.
“That’s harsh.”
“Harsh? And you’re the one who’s been talking trash behind my back? Who gave you the right to say that?”
Chris shrugged and said, “Draw your wooden sword.”
“…What?”
“Since both our honor’s been insulted, there’s only one way to settle this, isn’t there?”
Chris twisted the corner of his mouth into a grin.
“We’ll settle it with strength. Like a true Maen.”
It was about time to win over the Maen’s respect.
With strength.
The sudden challenge stirred up a commotion in the hall.
“Vice Commander, what’s going on?”
“Let it be.”
“Sir? But—”
The Maen who tried to intervene was taken aback.
This was different from the last duel.
Though it was a wooden sword, weapons were drawn, and there were no restrictions on magic.
Chris could get seriously hurt if things went wrong.
But Merlin spoke coldly.
“He’s staking the honor of a Maen. He’ll handle it himself. If he has the strength, he’ll protect his honor.”
Merlin fixed his gaze on Chris.
“If he doesn’t, he’ll pay the price.”
In truth, Merlin wanted to see for himself.
What kind of hidden power Chris might reveal.
‘I really am holding onto foolish hopes.’
Merlin shook his head at his own thoughts.
No matter how impressive Chris’s talent was in the last duel, it was ridiculous to expect anything more.
Or rather, Merlin wasn’t even sure if what he saw last time was real.
It was just too unbelievable.