[WN] I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan Chapter 68

 Chapter 68

Though he absolutely hated it, Chris had a mischievous thought and grinned.

“Does that mean you'll treat me like a younger brother from now on?”

“What?”

“Nice to meet you, Sister Jupien. I'm so happy to have a cute older sister like you.”

“!!”

Jupien's expression twisted, as if she had heard the whisper of an insect.

“You, don't.”

“Why? Don't be shy. I know how you feel. You're pretending to hate it, but actually, you like having me as your younger brother, don't you?”

“No way! Don't talk nonsense.” Jupien, her face red, spun around and disappeared.

Meanwhile, people watched them, their faces filled with surprise. They didn't know what conversation had transpired, but the two seemed to get along surprisingly well.

Young Lady Jupien doesn't usually associate with others.

Did she acknowledge that ruffian because of this incident?

It was unexpected. Third Young Master Myisac, looking slightly surprised, spoke to Jupien, who had approached him.

“Jupien, to talk with such a lowly fellow. Don't do things that lower your dignity.”

“...”

“Your older brother is advising you for your own good. That fellow is fundamentally different from us. Even if he became a Young Master, he's still just a collateral branch.” Myisac spoke with a deliberate, lecturing tone. “He's just an insect that will be trampled under our feet anyway, so bothering with him will only degrade your own standing.”

However, Jupien showed an unexpected reaction.

“I wasn't talking to you.”

“...What?”

“You're noisy, so don't open your dirty, smelly mouth at me. It smells like a sewer.”

Myisac's face went blank for a moment. Of course, he and Jupien weren't usually on good terms. On the contrary, they usually despised each other and snarled, but this kind of reaction?

“You... you, are you siding with that guy?”

“Siding? No. I hate him.”

“Then?”

“It's just that your mouth really does smell. You always talk about disgusting things.”

“...”

“It's like my ears are rotting, so get lost.” Jupien left with a cold expression.

Myisac, belatedly regaining his composure, gritted his teeth. That damned bitch.

But Jupien was an opponent not easily provoked. Her father was a war hero who had sacrificed his life for the Dark Demon Family, so many respected her. Instead, Myisac's anger turned elsewhere. Toward Christian.

That insect-like bastard. I won't let him off.

Myisac took a deep breath. And after calming his expression, he walked toward Christian. As Myisac approached Christian, a chilly tension flowed through the banquet hall. The atmosphere felt as if trouble would erupt at any moment.

“Hey.”

Chris stared blankly at Myisac for a moment. Myisac's eyebrow twitched. But Myisac didn't immediately lose his temper. He considered himself a noble, so he believed it was beneath him to get angry at someone as insignificant as Christian.

“Didn't I just call you? Can't you hear me?”

But again, no response. Not only that, Chris brought the glass of ginger ale to his lips, as if ignoring him.

“You...! How dare you...!!”

Finally, the moment Myisac burst into anger. Christian calmly looked at Myisac.

“Were you calling me?”

“...What?”

“You just abruptly called out as if addressing a subordinate, so I didn't realize you were calling me.” Chris curled the corner of his lips. “You seem to be mistaken. I'm not your servant. Or perhaps, you don't know basic etiquette toward a fellow Young Master? If you're of such noble blood, you should at least show minimal courtesy befitting it.”

“!!”

Myisac's face turned beet red.

“Who would consider a wretch like you a Young Master...?”

“Does that mean I can take it as you disrespecting the authority of His Excellency Marquis Langham, the acting Family Head, who acknowledged me as a Young Master? No, the acting Family Head's decision is the same as the Family Head's decision. Are you disrespecting His Excellency Patriarch Nordian?”

Myisac's mouth clamped shut. If he mispoke here, it would be seen as disrespecting the Family Head's authority.

“You... you...”

“It's not 'you,' it's Young Master Christian.” Christian articulated clearly. “Your proper title for me is Young Master Christian. Unless you intend to disrespect the Family Head's authority, that is.”

“...”

Myisac, his face beet red, was speechless, and Chris chuckled.

Oh please. How many years have I lived through?

A pampered young master like Myisac was nothing but an easy meal for Chris.

I need to piss him off as much as possible.

Chris's goal was to make Myisac lose his temper. Why? To make him overplay his hand. Myisac's blunder would be a huge opportunity for him. An opportunity to win the hearts of the ordinary demons of the Dark Demon Family.

“It's truly strange. For Young Master Myisac, who is born of the noblest bloodline, to not even know such basic etiquette.” Christian tilted his head, acting innocent. It made him doubly obnoxious. Then he whispered softly, so only Myisac could hear. “Perhaps, Young Master Myisac didn't receive a proper education from his parents?”

“!!”

Bingo. Myisac completely lost it.

“You... you...”

Flash!

An ominous aura surged from Myisac. Black and red energy. It was destructive demonic energy mixed with dark demonic energy. Influenced by his mother, who was a direct descendant of the Destruction Demon Family's head, Myisac had mastered destructive dark magic to a very high level—even higher than dark demonic energy. He was a 4-star Lower demon. A skill level completely befitting the name of a Young Master. If Chris fought without the Alliance's power, he would currently have difficulty dealing with him.

However, Myisac didn't directly lay a hand on him. Instead, he gritted his teeth and said,

“You arrogant wretch. All you have is your mouth. Your achievements in this relic exploration must have been manipulated with some trick.”

“...”

“I cannot acknowledge the achievements you've made this time. More than that, for a wretch like you to have defeated a 5-star demon? It's utterly ridiculous.”

“So, what are you trying to say?” Myisac smiled thinly.

“Prove right here that you are truly worthy of becoming a Young Master. Over there... Sir Usran seems suitable.”

“!!”

A commotion broke out in the hall. Usran. A 5-star demon, no less. A captain-level demon of the combat force.

“If it's true that you defeated a 5-star demon of the Extreme Poison Demon Family, you should be able to face Sir Usran. Prove it here.”

It was absurd. Absolutely impossible. A 3-star defeating a 4-star was possible, though with a slim chance. The power gap wasn't absolutely enormous, so an upset could occur due to various variables. But from 5-star onwards, it was different. A lower realm could never contend with a higher realm. Moreover, Chris wasn't even 4-star, but 3-star, and had only become 3-star less than a month ago.

“You seem to misunderstand something. The reason I was able to contend with the 5-star demon of the Extreme Poison Demon Family was thanks to the combined efforts of various comrades. I didn't achieve it alone.”

“So, you're running away?”

“That's not it. It's an honor as a demon to cross swords with a great individual like Sir Usran, so there's no reason to avoid it regardless of victory or defeat. However,” Chris shrugged. “I'm concerned about making such an important figure of the family as Sir Usran participate in such a mere clown show, rather than a true duel where a demon's honor is at stake.”

“!!”

A clown show. Silence descended upon the hall. He was accurate. This duel was not a true demon's duel. It was a duel being held due to the arrogant whim of a high-ranking Young Master—Myisac, to be precise. Although they would reluctantly comply, any proud demon, especially a strong 5-star demon, would not be pleased in such a situation.

But Myisac didn't realize this problem at all. It was due to his habit of being constantly fawned over and treating the family's demons like his personal servants.

“You talk too much. Are you perhaps scared that your pathetic, low-born nature will be exposed?”

Christian sighed softly. “Since you put it that way, I have no choice. However, I have a condition.”

“What is it?”

Chris looked at Sir Usran, who was frowning intently in a corner of the banquet hall. Then he respectfully bowed his head.

“I will make this duel a request for guidance from Sir Usran. Sir Usran, please, bestow your guidance upon me.”

A request that elevated Usran's honor. A glimmer of unusual light flashed in Usran's eyes. With Chris's request, this duel was no longer a clown show but a guidance duel, where a Young Master was being mentored.

Thank you, Usran thought to himself. Myisac had made Usran perform such humiliating acts multiple times before. Although he had no choice but to obey, how could he possibly feel good about it? Compared to Myisac, Usran naturally felt a liking for Chris. And it wasn't just Usran who felt that way.

...They called him a ruffian, but to see him like this.

He's different from the rumors.

A demon's honor wasn't a matter of faction or lineage. Any demon would naturally view Chris's display just now favorably. In other words, Chris had succeeded in implanting a good impression on all the demons gathered there with just a few words.

This isn't the end yet.

Christian stepped onto the dueling ground. Banquet halls for demons always had dueling grounds prepared, in case such duels occurred.

I need to leave a clear mark.

Ultimately, the most important thing for demons was power. He had to show that he was worthy of being a Young Master. No, he had to show that he was superior to any other Young Master.

Winning is impossible.

Sir Usran's realm was 5-star Middle. At that time, he was a higher realm than the masked woman of the Extreme Poison Demon Family. As the realm of a star increases, the gap between lower, middle, and upper also widens, so it would take two masked women to defeat Sir Usran.

But I don't necessarily have to win. I have a plan.

That's right. Chris had anticipated Myisac's move. So, he had thoroughly investigated the combat tendencies of the high-ranking demons attending the banquet.

“Thank you for this precious opportunity for guidance.” Before the duel, Chris's respectful greeting was met with a softened voice from Sir Usran.

“I thank you for your consideration, Young Master. Since this is a guidance duel, I will concede 10 seconds.”

“I won't decline.”

Flash!

Chris charged forward. In his hand was not a holy sword, but an ordinary longsword. Dark demonic energy surged.

Clang!

Usran's sword and Chris's sword clashed.

“A clean sword strike. Excellent.”

“Thank you. I'll keep coming.”

Ten quick attacks passed. Those watching were impressed.

“Young Master Christian's movements are extraordinary. I heard he's only 3-star Lower.”

“No, didn't they say he only recently regained his senses, just a few months ago?”

With his remarkably excellent movements, far exceeding expectations, a thought flashed through everyone's minds for a moment.

—If only Christian had come to his senses a little sooner.

Perhaps, he might have had the potential to surpass even Young Master Ashid.

Christian's movements were so impressive that such a thought arose. But at the same time, it also meant he had limitations.