Episode 71
“If she’d had the guts of a wild beast from the start, she wouldn’t have joined the Dark Maga in the first place.”
Presia married Marquis Langham and came to the Dark Maga out of sheer ambition.
She hoped to become the wife of the next head of the family, securing control over the Dark Maga.
But her dream was shattered.
The current head, Nordian, refused to pass the title to Marquis Langham, declaring that the next head would be chosen from the following generation.
Langham would never become the head—only a proxy, a caretaker of the position.
Frustrated, Presia’s next target became her son, Maysak.
Even knowing he wasn’t fit for the role, she refused to give up and still struggled to make Maysak the head.
A person who’d lost the will of a demon, driven solely by greed.
Chris wasn’t afraid of her.
In fact, he said something that would turn her world upside down.
“As family by blood, may I have a word?”
“What is it?”
“I’m offering a chance. For both you and Maysak.”
Chris shot her a crooked look.
A gaze that stirred emotions in the worst way—annoying and unsettling.
“Have that Maysak kneel before me as his elder brother, even now. If he does, then when I become head in the future, I’ll spare his life. I’ll let him live quietly, managing some stable or something.”
“You—!!”
Crash! Smash! Bang!
Every piece of furniture in the room shattered into fragments, as if pulverized.
The force was overwhelming.
A thin trickle of blood ran from Chris’s nose.
Unlike the powerful auras he’d faced before, Presia’s now was laced with a deadly intent to kill him.
Naturally, it was unbearable.
But Chris didn’t back down.
He stood tall and met Presia’s gaze head-on.
He knew.
Even if this murderous intent was real.
Even if she truly intended to kill him.
Still, she would never be able to.
Why?
Because she couldn’t cross the line.
That was the limit of someone driven only by greed.
As expected, Presia’s hand froze just inches from Chris’s throat.
She could have ended his life with a single move, but she didn’t. Or rather, she couldn’t.
She ground her teeth and said, “Leave. You’ll regret this day.”
Her voice and eyes were chilling.
Chris shrugged and bowed his head.
“Have a good night.”
As he stepped out, an unexpected figure awaited him.
A familiar face.
His aunt, Merian.
“What on earth have you been up to now…?”
Merian frowned deeply.
Chris blinked in surprise, then smiled.
“Did you come to protect me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I was just passing by.”
Merian snorted.
‘There’s nothing here worth stopping for.’
The marquis’s wife’s quarters were deep within the mansion—Merian had no reason to be nearby.
She must have sensed Presia’s rising energy and hurried over.
“Thank you. Next time, I’ll make you some delicious cookies.”
“I told you, I’m not here to help.”
“But it’s just my way of showing you my feelings.”
“Hmph. You’re all talk. You haven’t brought cookies even once since you came to the main house.”
“…This time, I really will.”
Merian shook her head.
“You’re reckless. You know what I mean, right?”
Presia was the mistress of the Dark Maga.
The third most powerful person after the head and Marquis Langham.
Chris had made a powerful enemy.
“Yes, I understand perfectly.”
“This isn’t something to answer lightly. Don’t underestimate Presia’s power. From now on, the entire family will be against you.”
He knew.
Exactly what kind of situation he was in.
But Chris simply replied,
“Thank you for your concern.”
Merian raised an eyebrow.
There wasn’t a trace of worry on Chris’s face.
It meant he was confident.
In the end, Merian sighed.
“You’re such a reckless fool.”
“……”
“Do whatever foolish thing you want, but remember this: the head is watching you.”
Chris’s eyes widened slightly.
“That’s unexpected. I never thought the head would be paying attention to me.”
“There’s nothing to be happy about. If you slip up even once, he’ll immediately lose interest. So treat every moment as an evaluation of you, and be careful.”
A sincere warning.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
Just as Merian turned to leave, Chris suddenly asked,
“How is the head doing?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well… no particular reason. Just concerned as his grandson.”
“You’re such a worrywart for a pup who might lose his head tomorrow.”
Merian almost laughed, but Chris was serious.
‘The head is getting weak.’
He’d long passed his natural lifespan.
It wasn’t a secret that the head was extending his life with forbidden techniques.
No one knew when he’d reach his limit.
‘At least I stopped the Twilight Emulet from falling into Marquis Langham’s hands. That’s one hurdle cleared.’
For the future, the head needed to stay healthy as long as possible.
After some thought, Chris asked,
“Does the head have any favorite treats?”
“Hm?”
“I mean, like cookies or something. No special reason—I just want to give a gift out of filial piety.”
Of course, that wasn’t the real reason.
Chris planned to give a gift that would greatly help the head.
Using the ‘Elixir Technique’ from the Uiseon family.
He quickly added,
“The head helped me understand the Dark Magic before. I want to show my gratitude.”
Merian was silent for a moment.
She looked at Chris as if he were an oddity.
‘A gift out of filial piety for the head? Is he crazy?’
If it was just to curry favor, it would backfire completely.
This smart kid surely knew that.
Still, since he wanted to give a gift as a grandson, she had no reason to scold him.
“He likes chocolate.”
“…What?”
An unexpected preference.
It was hard to imagine the imposing Dark Lord of Magic eating chocolate.
“But no matter how skilled you are, it won’t be easy to satisfy his taste. He’s very particular. He prefers chocolate that’s simple, unpretentious, yet refined.”
“…I see.”
Chris looked dazed.
A strange taste, like hot ice or a ship moving both fast and slow.
After talking with Merian, he returned to his room.
Lying down on the soft, luxurious bed, he closed his eyes.
‘The dice have been cast. My life as a pampered young master is over for now.’
Sure enough, the next day, the notice came.
He was being kicked out of the mansion.
“This will be your new residence, sir.”
The servant’s face was full of apprehension.
It was a shabby building, more like a stable.
On the outskirts of the estate, abandoned and unused by the staff.
“I’m sorry. The order came down like this.”
The servant looked flustered.
He seemed worried Chris might blow up.
But Chris calmly said,
“Understood. Could you at least clean the inside? That much you can do, right?”
“…I’m sorry. We were ordered not to offer any assistance.”
Chris almost laughed.
‘They’re really playing dirty.’
This wasn’t just revenge.
They wanted to isolate him completely.
At the same time, it was a warning to others.
Anyone siding with Chris would be turning against the family’s power.
‘I don’t like being manipulated by such petty schemes.’
Chris grinned.
‘Good. I was already thinking about how to leave the main mansion.’
There were too many eyes on him.
No allies, surrounded entirely by enemies.
Better to have his own place, even if shabby.
‘And the way I’m being kicked out looks good too.’
Being unjustly expelled would sway public opinion in his favor.
Though no one would dare say it openly, fearing Presia.
The only problem was the lack of servants to attend him.
But there was a solution.
“Marie. Clean up.”
[Oh ho ho… Understood, my friends?]
Ooooh.
A chilling, eerie melody echoed as the ghosts haunting the mansion gathered.
[This is the young master’s sweet home… Not a speck of dust will be tolerated.]
[At your command…]
[At your command…]
[At your command…]
The ghosts stirred up all sorts of supernatural phenomena, sweeping, dusting, and tidying the building.
[Please, come in.]
[Please, come in.]
[Please, come in.]
Welcomed by the ghosts, Chris fell silent for a moment.
‘…When will I be able to have human servants again?’
Come to think of it, since his return, he’d never had human attendants.
And now, he’d have to live with ghost maids for a while.
‘Once I settle in, I’ll definitely have pure-blooded human servants.’
With firm resolve, Chris stepped into the freshly cleaned building.
[Oh ho ho… It’s shabby, but a suite house just for you and me, young master—how charming. Shall I serve you a virgin’s blood juice to commemorate the occasion?]
“No, forget that. Keep an eye outside and see if anyone’s approaching.”
[Young master?]
There was something he needed to do away from prying eyes.
‘I have to get stronger.’
That was Chris’s task.
To build up his strength.
Because, in the end, the most important thing was his own power.
But for now, there were limits.
No matter how much of a genius Chris was, gaining strength took time.
Advancing in the realm of mastery wasn’t just about sudden insight—it required accumulating magical energy, expanding one’s capacity, training the body, mastering the relevant magic techniques, and so on. All of that demanded time.
Of course, compared to others, Chris could advance in far less time, but some time was still necessary.
So Chris devised a plan.
To gain power that surpassed the realm of mastery while avoiding the eyes of others.
‘Black Steel Technique.’
The power Chris longed for.
Of course, it was absurd.
Chris was currently at rank 3.
But the Black Steel Technique was a rank 5 power.
No matter what, it was impossible for Chris to manifest the Black Steel Technique at rank 3.
But—
‘What if I imbue my will into the Black Sword to give it the nature of the Black Steel Technique? Would that be impossible too?’
Anyone else would think he was crazy.
It was a concept that completely disregarded the established system of mastery.
More than that, the Black Sword was merely a physical manifestation of magical energy. Imbuing it with will? That made no sense.
Still—
‘Somehow, it doesn’t feel impossible.’
A baseless confidence.
Because it was Chris.