FANSiA Originals and KakaoPage
I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan
[Author/Original: Yuin]
[TL: Dekor]
[PR: Spades]
Episode 36
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The Blood Demon King, who triggered the era of ruin!
Currently the grand lady of the Bloodsword Clan.
Simon was the blood kin of that colossal figure.
Specifically, her elder brother.
The cold, beautiful face of the Blood Demon King, drenched in blood, overlapped with Simon's. Their features were strikingly similar.
"Hm? Why the stare? Am I too handsome?"
"…I'm better looking."
Chris replied, masking his shock.
That was enough surprise.
On second thought, this could be an opportunity.
Simon was tied to many titans of the era of ruin. If used well, he could tilt the scales in Chris's favor.
'The problem is he doesn't seem easy to handle.'
Hardly.
Even as he smiled, a sinister aura oozed from him.
Blood-drenched.
The kind of dangerous figure you'd normally steer clear of.
"Heh, true. You're quite the looker, young master. I never imagined the Kazar family's heir would be such a dashing noble. And more."
Simon continued smoothly.
"You're remarkable enough to obliterate a demonkin."
"!!"
Chris's face stiffened.
His heart raced, but for a different reason now.
Tension.
'How does he know?'
As Count Tyramine had said, everyone assumed Chris had merely held out until the demonkin was reverse-summoned.
Yet Simon knew the exact truth.
Trouble.
The fact he'd used the holy sword, specifically radiant mana, couldn't get out.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't know?"
Simon's gaze locked onto Chris, his smile sharp.
Gentle eyes, but piercing.
A look that knew everything.
Denial was pointless.
"Honestly, I can't believe it myself. No matter how talented, you're only 2-star, yet you annihilated a demonkin. A miracle!"
"…"
"How'd you pull off such a feat?"
Simon asked, brimming with curiosity.
He was genuinely fascinated by Chris.
'Obliterating a demonkin?'
By the time Simon reached the chamber, it was over.
He only knew his contracted demonkin had been erased.
Impossible, so how? How was it done?
One thing was clear: this audacious young master exceeded all expectations.
Admiration aside, he had a duty to uncover the truth.
"Come on, tell me. What incredible method did you use?"
Chris stayed silent.
He couldn't reveal the truth.
Lying was tough too.
No lie could explain a 2-star defeating a demonkin.
"For reference, your answer will reach Patriarch Nordian. Think of it as… an evaluation."
Pressure.
Finally, Chris made his choice.
Neither truth nor lies were viable.
That left one option.
"I don't feel like saying."
"…Pardon?"
"Why should I reveal my trump card?"
Simon looked flustered.
"But, young master? My question carries the patriarch's weight."
"Does that mean I'm obligated to answer?"
"!!"
"Not even the patriarch can force a mage to expose their hidden ace."
Chris smirked.
As arrogant and cheeky as possible.
"You said evaluation? If I were the patriarch, I'd value someone who keeps their claws hidden over a fool who spills their secrets like an idiot."
Simon let out a dry laugh.
But he had no comeback.
What could he say to someone refusing to share?
It wasn't wrong. No mage revealed their trump card.
Demanding it was a grave breach of etiquette.
"…I understand. I won't press further."
"That's it?"
"Hm?"
"Feels like you've got something else to say."
Chris tilted his chin up.
"Aren't you going to apologize?"
"!!"
Simon's face froze.
But he quickly softened into a smile.
"For demanding you reveal your secret, I beg your pardon."
"Not that."
His tone sharpened.
"I'm talking about summoning the demonkin."
"!!"
"Your doing, right?"
Simon inhaled sharply.
"What do you mean…"
"Don't know?"
Chris stared straight into Simon's eyes.
His crimson gaze glinted coldly.
"I'll ask again. You really don't know what I'm talking about?"
A voice full of certainty.
At first, Chris hadn't known.
But realizing the bat in the cave was Simon connected the dots.
The demonkin appeared despite no flaw in the sealing array.
Simon had summoned it with his blood technique.
"…"
Simon bit his lip.
'Impressive.'
He marveled that Christian pieced it together from scant clues. The more he saw, the more remarkable the young master was.
Still, this was trouble.
As he braced to admit fault, Chris said something unexpected.
"Forget it."
"…What?"
"I'll let it slide."
Simon looked puzzled.
"In return, remember. You owe me one."
"…A deal?"
"Think of it that way."
If Chris exposed this, Simon would be in deep trouble.
The Dark Mana Clan strictly forbade anything demonic.
Summoning a demonkin, even with the patriarch's favor, wouldn't go unpunished.
He might face severe consequences.
'This is better.'
Chris thought inwardly.
Simon was close to the era of ruin's biggest players.
He needed to forge a connection.
That could tilt the future in his favor.
The catch: Simon wasn't easily won over.
Gaining his loyalty was near impossible.
A snake that'd bite its closest allies.
Only someone like the patriarch could leash him with overwhelming power.
Keeping distance and using him through deals was the best approach.
"Heh, understood. I won't forget your mercy, young master."
Simon bowed exaggeratedly.
"Today was a pleasure. We'll meet again soon. I look forward to your visit to the main house. As Chief Steward, I'll ensure proper hospitality."
With a rustle, Simon dissolved into crimson mist and vanished.
Chris grimaced.
---
After recovering, Chris prepared to return to the Kazar family.
On departure day, an unexpected visitor arrived.
Alos.
"…??"
Chris gave a curious look. Alos, face flushed, approached hesitantly.
"…Christian."
"Title."
"…What?"
"Call me big brother."
"You… crazy jerk…! I'm two years older!"
Alos snapped, and Chris chuckled.
"Fine, what's up?"
"Hmph."
Alos turned his head, mumbling softly, like a crawling sparrow.
"Thanks."
"…"
Chris stared, then teased.
"Too quiet, didn't catch that. Ants marching? Speak up."
"Ugh, fine! Thanks, you damn jerk!!"
Alos's face turned beet red.
After huffing for a bit, he added.
"…Be careful."
"Hm?"
"You probably guessed, but I didn't oppose your Black Sanctification attendance on my own. It was Young Master Roin's orders."
Roin.
A familiar name.
The sixth lord of the Dark Mana Clan and the star of this Black Sanctification.
"He's not like me. Even at 2-star, we're not equal, you know that? Especially main house folks."
All attendees were 2-star young mages.
But main house and branch mages were worlds apart.
Due to support from childhood.
Top elixirs.
Bone restructuring exclusive to direct heirs.
Dark magic blessings.
Superior main house secrets.
Such factors created an insurmountable gap.
"Roin despises you. At the Black Sanctification, you'll face major humiliation."
Humiliation.
A polite way to put it.
The Black Sanctification was a ruthless competition.
Roin planned to crush Chris with maximum disgrace.
"When you reach the main house, try not to provoke him…"
"Little brother."
Chris grinned.
"Thanks for the concern, but can I offer some advice in return?"
"…What?"
"How about skipping this Black Sanctification?"
"!!"
Chris's lips twisted.
"That day, I won't show mercy. To anyone. Everyone there will regret crossing me."
"!!"
He meant it.
The Black Sanctification was a ritual to gain 'Dark Mana Essence.'
Essential for mastering the Dark Mana Clan's secrets.
The catch: it followed a brutal survival-of-the-fittest rule.
The stronger you proved, the more essence you gained.
And… Chris had no intention of yielding even a speck.
His rivals would face nightmares.
"…Lunatic."
Despite the curse, Alos shivered.
For a moment, he considered delaying his attendance to the next one.
"Think it over. Don't regret it later."
Chris patted Alos's shoulder and mounted his horse.
Before the Black Sanctification.
Time to get stronger.
Less than a month remained, but it was enough.
---
Back at the Kazar family, Chris requested secluded training.
"Training alone?"
Count Kazar tilted his head.
"Wouldn't learning more from me be better?"
Chris hadn't yet absorbed all his teachings.
But he shook his head.
"I think solo training is best for now."
Count Kazar nodded.
"If you say so, do as you wish. But."
His eyes gleamed sharply.
"Are you confident you'll land a blow on the main house?"
Hearing Roin had opposed Chris's attendance, Count Kazar was furious.
Not just Ashd, but Roin too.
They kept pulling dirty tricks.
"Just one blow? What are you talking about?"
Chris shrugged.
"My goal's to bring the Dark Mana Clan to its knees."
"!!"
As Count Kazar stood speechless, Chris smirked.
"I'll be back."