Chapter 209
On the day of the Ranking Duel, early in the morning.
The top floor of the Dark Demonic House’s estate.
In the Family Head's office, Marquis Langham was looking over documents.
“My lord Marquis, may I enter?”
It was Viscount Macfield, Marquis Langham's most trusted subordinate.
“Preparations for the Ranking Duel are complete.”
“Yes.”
“However, there is a problem….”
Macfield wore a troubled expression.
“Lady Yulian is still missing. We have dispatched the House’s Magi to search for her, but…”
“It's fine.”
“Pardon?”
“You don't need to worry about it, so just leave it be. Focus on today's Ranking Duel.”
Viscount Macfield looked puzzled, but he soon bowed his head.
“Understood.”
Afterwards, left alone, Marquis Langham put down the documents and gazed out the window.
The vast landscape of the Dark Demonic House's domain.
Marquis Langham’s gaze settled heavily.
“So, it's finally time.”
It was an inscrutable murmur.
Noon.
Finally, the Ranking Duel began.
“Wooooah!!”
The fervent cheers of the Magi echoed all around.
The Ranking Duel, where position and bloodline were set aside and only pure strength was contested, was the greatest festival that made the Magi's hearts pound.
As it was an important event, most of the Magi who could attend had gathered.
There wasn't enough space, to the point that a special venue had to be set up outdoors, outside the estate.
The Magi chatted with excited faces.
As expected, the greatest point of interest was which of the 6-star High-Rank Magi would be the final victor.
“So, who among the five do you think will win?”
“Well, this time it’ll probably be Viscount Macfield or Viscount Marek, who follow Lord Marquis Langham, right? I heard the others fell into Heart Demon Syndrome after receiving Grand Duke Christian’s instruction.”
“That’s true.”
“I wonder why Grand Duke Christian, who has always been so perfect, did something so reckless this time.”
“He's only human, after all.”
Everyone reacted as if Christian had made a mistake this time.
Marquis Langham’s faction, in particular, raised their voices and openly slandered Christian.
“If it’s true that they fell into Heart Demon Syndrome because of Grand Duke Christian, shouldn’t he be held responsible?”
“That's right. He's caused tremendous harm to the House.”
“Anyway, with everyone praising him as a genius, he must have lost sight of his own place.”
“His reputation as a genius made him fall into arrogance.”
“Aren't his achievements up until now just exaggerated?”
And so, from here and there, the voices of Marquis Langham’s faction criticizing Christian could be heard.
But then, an unexpected voice cut through.
“Have you dared to say your piece?”
“What? …Huh?!”
Those who turned around looked as if they had seen a ghost.
It was the Family Head, Nordian!
Without anyone noticing, he had appeared at the event venue.
“We greet you, Lord Family Head!!”
Everyone scrambled to their knees, and the venue fell silent in an instant.
Nordian frowned deeply as he surveyed his surroundings.
His expression was clearly displeased.
In truth, Nordian was furious.
‘To think that scum like this are the Magi of the Main House.’
In fact.
Nordian had not planned on attending the Ranking Duel in person due to his poor health.
He had intended to just send a thought-form to discreetly check the atmosphere, but the voices slandering Christian angered him so much that he had come himself.
‘It’s not enough that they’re blind; their tongues are rotten too.’
A murderous aura flowed from Nordian.
The faces of the Magi turned white with terror.
If this had been the hot-blooded Nordian of the past, he would have plucked out the eyes and tongues of those pig-like bastards.
‘But even scum like them are necessary for the Dark Demonic House.’
Nordian barely suppressed his killing intent and instead took a different measure.
“Fine. I will do as you say. I shall decide the Grand Duke’s reward or punishment based on the results of this Ranking Duel.”
“!!”
“If those who received the Grand Duke’s instruction produce results that fall short of expectations, I will hold him responsible. Conversely, if it is confirmed that his instruction was effective, I will grant the Grand Duke a fitting reward.”
A chilling voice echoed through the venue.
“And if the Grand Duke’s instruction proves to be correct, I will mete out a fitting punishment to those who insulted him with baseless slander. However, the punishment will be carried out according to the Grand Duke’s will.”
The faces of the Magi who had been bad-mouthing Christian turned white. Most of them were from Marquis Langham’s faction.
The others had, at most, cautiously voiced their doubts.
In other words, this was no different from handing Christian a justification to strike at Marquis Langham’s faction.
‘It’s fine. There’s no way such strange instruction could be effective.’
The members of Marquis Langham’s faction tried to calm their pounding hearts.
In just one month.
And from Christian, a man of lower achievement, to those of higher achievement.
How could such unbelievably bizarre instruction possibly have any effect?
‘The Family Head always favored the Grand Duke anyway, so his judgment must be clouded.’
Eventually, Nordian took his seat of honor, and the Family Head’s representative, Marquis Langham, rose from his seat.
He was about to declare the start of the Ranking Duel.
But Nordian found fault once again.
“Why is the Marquis rising?”
“…Pardon?”
“Is the Grand Duke not present? Grand Duke, announce the opening of the Ranking Duel.”
Marquis Langham’s face hardened stiffly.
This was him declaring to everyone that Christian stood above Marquis Langham.
Marquis Langham's pride had been dragged through the mud.
‘Whew. Family Head Nordian is seriously angry,’ Christian thought.
Normally, Nordian wouldn't have gone this far.
But he was acting this way because his anger had flared up after hearing the voices slandering Christian.
After all, the voices bad-mouthing Christian were ultimately Marquis Langham’s doing.
‘It’s not bad for me. If anything, I need to expand my influence in the Dark Demonic House anyway.’
Although he had the support of the general low-ranking Magi, it was difficult to say he held real power within the House with just that.
‘In that respect, this Ranking Duel is an important opportunity.’
Any Magus who sought power would surely lose their minds seeing the miracle Christian would create in today’s duel.
However, Lady Yulian was the problem.
‘I still haven’t been able to find Lady Yulian’s whereabouts.’
Perhaps it wasn't something to be overly worried about.
Just as his aunt Merian had said, no matter if Yulian had made a contract with a devil, what great thing could she possibly do on her own?
Especially here at the Ranking Duel venue, countless formidable Magi of the Dark Demonic House were gathered.
Even if Yulian tried to pull something, the chance of a major problem arising was slim, but…
‘Still, I have a bad feeling. It’s best to stay sharp. Until ‘the signal’ comes.’
Christian’s gaze settled.
The fortunate thing was that he had prepared a countermeasure by engraving a mark on her.
However, since it couldn't be discovered, it wasn't a mark with a major effect, but it could still be useful in the worst-case scenario.
Having thought that far, Christian rose from his seat and stepped forward.
For now, he had to focus on the Ranking Duel.
“The Ranking Duel will now begin. The challenger may come up to the duel stage and name their opponent.”
A moment of silence passed.
Soon, one figure stepped forward.
It was the captain of the Black Wolf Knights, Viscount Marek.
A 6-star High-Rank Magus, and a member of Marquis Langham’s faction.
“I nominate the captain of the Black Lion Knights, Count Berkel.”
“!!”
It was a crucial match.
One that would confirm the effectiveness of Christian’s instruction.
As Viscount Marek ascended the stage with a menacing aura, a sense of tension filled the venue.
For reference, the three great knight orders of the Dark Demonic House were as follows.
The Black Lion Knights.
The Black Wolf Knights.
The Black Shadow Knights.
Here, the Black Shadow Knights could be discounted as they performed special missions like surveillance, intelligence, and covert operations. The strongest in terms of martial power were the Black Lion Knights and the Black Wolf Knights.
As such, the Black Lion and Black Wolf Knights had a long-standing rivalry, and their two captains were also bitter enemies.
‘Though Viscount Marek has never won before.’
‘But I wonder how it will go this time. Count Berkel isn't in a perfect state because of Grand Duke Christian’s instruction.’
Indeed, Viscount Marek’s eyes were triumphant, as if he had already won.
“Come on out, Count Berkel! This time, I’ll show you who is truly the stronger one!”
His voice grew louder.
“What, are you scared?! Get out here now!”
“…How noisy.”
At last.
Count Berkel ascended the stage.
But at his unexpected appearance, everyone's eyes widened.
‘What’s that?’
‘Why does he look like that?’
Count Berkel's entire body was covered in wounds.
He looked as if he had just returned from a battlefield.
“You, what’s with that appearance?”
Count Berkel's eyebrow twitched.
“…I had some business.”
Of course, it was because of Christian.
‘Damn that Grand Duke. Giving me a crazy assignment right up until the morning of the Ranking Duel.’
Viscount Marek scowled.
“Are you insane? Showing up to the Ranking Duel in such a state. Or are you looking down on me?”
Count Berkel looked utterly exhausted.
It was clear he wouldn't be able to display his full skills with his energy so depleted.
And yet.
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
“…What?”
“Because I can handle the likes of you well enough even in this state.”
“!!”
Viscount Marek's face turned red.
“How dare you…!! For someone who’s fallen into Heart Demon Syndrome! Have you lost your mind too?”
“Heart Demon Syndrome?”
Count Berkel tilted his head.
At the same time, a change occurred.
Fwoosh!
Magical energy spread out from around Count Berkel.
And Viscount Marek's eyes widened as he felt that magical energy.
‘What…? This is Count Berkel’s magical energy?’
Viscount Marek knew the extent of Count Berkel's skills inside and out.
After all, as his rival, it was his life's ambition to surpass him.
But the magical energy now was completely different from what Viscount Marek had known.
Before, Count Berkel's magical energy was like a rampaging flame.
It seemed like it could destroy anything, but it was unrefined.
In contrast, now it was like a well-honed blade.
Like a trained beast.
That wasn't to say its intensity had weakened.
On the contrary, it was even more intense.
It felt as if chilling destruction was aimed right at the nape of his neck.
Count Berkel recited the enlightenment he had gained over the past month, thanks to Christian.
“Since darkness has dominated destruction, it is only natural for destruction to be born anew.”
“!!”
“Under the dominion of darkness, destruction can become more complete, and thus, a more intense annihilation shall reside within.”
Viscount Marek gritted his teeth.
“What nonsense is this? Have you gone mad?”
“Ah.”
Count Berkel grinned, baring his teeth.
Perhaps being dominated by Christian for the past month had made him a little similar?
A smug tone, similar to Christian's, slipped out.
“It means I can crush the likes of you with ease.”
“!!”
Viscount Marek’s face turned red.
He was furious with humiliation, but he couldn't bring himself to readily extend his sword.
He was overwhelmed by his presence.
No, to be precise.
‘…I don’t think I can win. This is impossible.’
It hadn't been like this before.
Count Berkel had stood on slightly higher ground, but it had been a small enough gap that he could have reversed it at any time with a little effort.
But it wasn't like that now.
He felt no confidence at all.
“Are you scared?”
“!!”
Viscount Marek clenched his fist tightly and swung his sword.
“Haaap!!”
Viscount Marek unleashed his Will Technique, the ‘Art of the Cursed Wave’.
A pack of wolves surged toward Count Berkel.
It was a pack of wolves formed from Black Steel Energy, curses, and illusion arts.
It was a powerful Will Technique where one would fall into a state of hallucination upon meeting the wolves' eyes, have their reactions dulled by the curse in their howls, and finally be torn to shreds by fangs made of Black Steel Energy.
But Count Berkel’s response was unexpected.
As the pack of wolves rushed him, he showed no particular reaction. He just stood there.
“Wh-what?”
Everyone let out cries of confusion, just as he was about to be engulfed by the raging tide of wolves.
Count Berkel raised his sword.
And then.
Everyone in the venue stared wide-eyed.
Something unbelievable had happened.