Episode 94
A voice dripping with bitter resentment toward the Swordmaster.
This time, Noga-ju looked at Christian with somewhat softened eyes.
“Christian, you did well. You’ve achieved something remarkable. I will personally see to it that you are rewarded.”
“…Would it be possible to grant me the reward I desire?”
“A desire? Speak it.”
Christian took a moment to steady his breath.
‘I have to get this right.’
Evan’s life hung in the balance at this very moment.
“Please postpone beheading the Swordmaster’s son.”
“What?”
Noga-ju’s gaze turned icy.
“Why? Are you trying to show unnecessary mercy?”
There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
It was forbidden for a demon to show mercy to an enemy.
But Christian shook his head.
“Not at all. Why would I show mercy to those despicable union scum? I simply believe that beheading him is too crude a punishment, so I ask for this.”
“Hmm? Then what do you propose?”
“Give him to me as spoils of war.”
“!!”
Christian curled his lips into a sinister smile—one that anyone would recognize as wicked.
“If I can subjugate the Swordmaster’s son as my slave and command him like an extension of my own body, wouldn’t that be the ultimate revenge against those loathsome union bastards?”
Noga-ju accepted Christian’s request.
He even laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Yes, you’re right. Just chopping off his head would be too bland. But…”
Noga-ju’s tone turned subtle.
“Do you really think that’s possible? If he’s the Swordmaster’s son, he won’t be an easy catch.”
Christian answered firmly.
“If he obeys too easily, it wouldn’t be any fun. Watch closely with a joyful heart. You’ll see the Swordmaster’s son kneeling before me.”
“Very well, I look forward to it. But…”
Noga-ju’s eyes pierced Christian like a dagger.
“If you fail, you will personally be the one to cut off the Swordmaster’s son’s head. Understand?”
“…I will remember.”
Christian recalled the conversation with a gloomy expression.
‘Ugh! What kind of training is this? Why do I have to go through this hell? This damn hero is no help to my life!’
His fury toward Evan surged.
Christian sighed deeply.
‘No choice. At this point, I have to make that hero my pawn.’
He wasn’t talking about turning him into a slave like he did with the Nordians.
What Christian hoped for this time was for the hero to become an ally—someone on his side who would help carry out his plans.
‘The problem is how to win over Evan’s heart.’
Talk?
That was impossible.
No matter what he said, Evan wouldn’t accept it.
‘It’s a relief if he doesn’t try to stab me.’
The difficulty was enormous.
As Christian pondered his options, a servant rushed in with a panicked face.
“Master! There’s a serious problem! The shadow from the Swordmaster’s family…!!”
“…What is it? Has his condition worsened?”
“No, thanks to your orders for intensive treatment, his condition has improved significantly.”
“Then?”
Christian looked puzzled.
If he’s better, what’s the problem?
“Is he causing trouble in the prison? If it’s minor, just leave him be.”
But—
“He’s not making a fuss.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“His… attitude is strange. He’s kneeling.”
“……??”
The servant looked flustered and struggled to explain.
“You really need to come see for yourself.”
Christian went to the prison with a puzzled expression.
And what he saw made him curse under his breath.
“…You’re here.”
Evan, the hero, was kneeling.
Not forced.
Of his own will.
As if showing the utmost respect.
More precisely, like a vassal serving his master.
Like a defeated slave.
He bowed his head.
“My lord.”
The Swordmaster’s son knelt before Christian!
This news set the Dark Mage’s Guild ablaze with excitement.
“Ha, Christian is incredible. How did he manage to subdue that guy?”
“I heard he engraved a blood seal on him when he collapsed. Truly impressive. He said he hadn’t studied blood magic for long.”
“But didn’t he say it was a lowly blood seal? It shouldn’t include runes to control someone with mana.”
“Who knows? He probably modified the ritual in some strange way. Christian’s done things like this before. It’s certain the guy has a soul seal on him.”
The demons admired Christian once again.
But Christian couldn’t enjoy their praise.
Because he knew the truth.
‘That crazy hero bastard.’
Swallowing his curse, Christian looked at Evan, who was kneeling beside him with pure eyes.
“What is it, master?”
“…Nothing.”
“Please, command me anything.”
“……”
Christian’s face twisted with discomfort.
Was it because he felt uneasy about turning a former comrade and hero into a slave?
No.
‘…You’re just acting.’
That’s right.
The “lowly blood seal” Christian had engraved did not include the runes for loyalty or obedience.
Because the principle was to forcibly control someone who had lost their mana after death, it didn’t require such advanced and complex magic.
But Evan still obeyed Christian’s orders despite having his full mana.
It was an act.
‘He’s pretending to survive. Calculating that if he becomes my slave, he won’t be executed immediately.’
No, it was more than that.
Christian caught a glimpse of a cold murderous intent flickering in Evan’s eyes.
‘He might be waiting for a chance to kill me.’
Christian decided to test it.
While cutting steak, he deliberately dropped a knife near Evan’s feet.
Clang!
“Pick it up.”
“!!”
In an instant, Evan’s eyes locked onto the knife.
Its blade gleamed menacingly in the sunlight.
A tool sharp enough to sever someone’s throat without hesitation.
With Evan’s skill, it would take less than a blink for that knife to reach Christian’s neck.
‘Will he?’
Evan slowly knelt.
After a barely noticeable pause, he moved his hand.
“…Here it is.”
Christian swallowed hard.
That twitch of his fingers matched perfectly with Evan’s old habit of hesitating before launching a surprise attack.
It was clear Evan was watching for an opportunity to strike.
‘I’m losing my mind. I can’t reveal this.’
If he did, Evan would die.
He had to pretend not to notice, but the problem was Evan was no easy opponent.
As the last fight showed, Evan possessed innate, extraordinary senses.
Even Christian could lose his head in a moment of carelessness.
‘Still, I can’t just confess that I’m actually on your side.’
Even if he said that out of nowhere, Evan would only grow more suspicious and refuse to believe him.
‘Unless Evan has awakened his third eye. But he hasn’t yet.’
That was one of the blessings Evan would receive from the constellation in the future.
If his third eye were awakened, he could see through people’s true intentions and easily recognize Christian’s sincerity—but that was unlikely now.
‘Not to mention, his eyes…’
Christian looked into Evan’s gaze.
Unlike during his hero days, they were dark and sunken, like a corpse’s.
His heart must be just as dead.
Suddenly, a thought struck Christian.
‘Maybe Evan plans to kill me and die with me. After all, there’s no hope left for him alive.’
He recalled something Evan said once while drunk.
Christian frowned.
It was certain.
‘This damn guy.’
Christian made up his mind.
What to do with Evan.
‘First, I have to snap him out of it.’
Unfortunately, there was only one way to do that.
A drastic remedy was needed.
“What’s with that look in your eyes?”
“Huh?”
Smack!
Evan’s cheek was slapped.
“Even as a slave, you still haven’t abandoned the pride left in your soul?”
“N-no, I’m sorry.”
Evan hurriedly knelt.
Christian wore the most arrogant expression he could muster.
“You’ve disobeyed, so you must be punished. Merlin.”
“Yes, master.”
“Take him to the prison and starve him. Make sure he never dares to act so insolently again.”
Merlin tilted his head.
It seemed unusual for Christian, but he didn’t question it and dragged Evan away.
A few days later.
Christian visited the prison.
Evan was chained and hanging.
He had barely survived a mortal wound, and now he was starving and chained, looking in poor condition.
‘…Who beat him? I never ordered that. Still, his eyes…’
Dark.
Empty pupils stared at Christian.
“Are you alright?”
“…I am.”
A delayed response.
“Thank you for teaching me a lesson for my mistakes.”
There was a faint undercurrent of hostility in his voice.
No, it wasn’t anger toward Christian.
It was anger at those who put him in this state.
And despair directed at himself.
It was clear Evan was still thinking of killing Christian and dying alongside him.
Christian sighed and said,
“Are you angry?”
“Huh? No.”
“No?”
Christian quietly stared into Evan’s eyes.
As if seeing right through his innermost thoughts.
“I don’t tolerate lies. Be honest.”
“…”
“Aren’t you angry? No, let me ask again.”
Chris changed his question.
“Don’t you feel anger toward those who put you in this situation?”
For a moment, a faint light flickered in Evan’s eyes.
A chilling glint of murderous intent.
It was brief, barely noticeable, but unmistakable.
“…What do you mean?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
“…”
“You say you’ve surrendered to me, but your anger still burns inside. Or maybe…”
Chris smirked, almost mockingly.
“You never truly surrendered in the first place.”
“!!”
Evan drew in a sharp breath.
Meeting Chris’s steady gaze, he stiffened his expression.
“…How long have you known?”
“Who knows? Maybe from the very beginning?”
“…If you suspected, why did you keep me alive?”
Evan ground his teeth.
“Were you secretly mocking me, enjoying my pathetic state?”
Chris shrugged.
“No, it wasn’t some petty reason like that.”
“Then what?”
“Because I hoped you wouldn’t die.”
“!!”
Evan’s face twisted in disbelief.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“It’s true. Well, um…”
Chris hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
‘The best move here would be to win Evan’s trust, but that’s impossible.’
‘Showing half-hearted sincerity would only backfire.’
‘Ugh. If only Evan had awakened his insight, convincing him of my true feelings would be easy. But no choice now.’
He needed to make Evan understand.
And more importantly, make him follow.
There was only one way.
To provoke Evan’s anger.
“Because a slave as useful as you isn’t easy to come by.”