FANSiA Originals and KakaoPage
I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan
[Author/Original: Yuin]
[TL: Dekor]
[PR: Spades]
Episode 49
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"Yes, he's in secluded treatment for a core injury. It's severe. At least a year of complete rest for recovery."
A year.
Higher realms enhanced core resilience.
At 4-star high, Ashd could heal minor core injuries quickly.
With the clan's full support, his recovery should be faster than most, yet a year meant Christian inflicted grave damage.
"How? Even with high-purity Dark Mana Essence, isn't Christian 2-star? How could he critically wound a 4-star like Lord Ashd?"
"I heard from a colleague at House Kazar. Christian's mana control is exceptional. He even defeated Vice-Captain Melin in a duel with a broken sword."
"Vice-Captain Melin? Really?"
"Yes, and since regaining his senses, he's only shown remarkable feats."
Rumors about Christian weren't new.
Many at Houses Kazar and Tyramine witnessed his deeds, and whispers reached the main house.
But the main house ignored them.
Their mistake, dismissing Christian.
"…Has he really changed?"
"Who knows."
The mages trailed off.
One thing was certain.
Christian was no longer someone they could casually disparage.
---
Christian lounged in bed, hearing the rumors.
Grinning, he thought.
'A year for Ashd's recovery? Probably longer.'
His final move ensured it.
The resonance he induced targeted the core's critical parts, making healing complex.
'At least one and a half years, maybe two.'
Enough time.
In a year, Christian would be transformed.
In skill and clan standing.
Ready to face Ashd.
[Ohoho… Young Master. Truly splendid. So magnificent, charming, my heart races.]
Banshee maid Marie fawned, her ghostly tail swaying.
Her usual nonsense.
[Waiting for you, I realized my true feelings. Each day felt eternal…]
Christian gazed at her.
Her ethereal beauty made it feel like a lovestruck ghost clung to him.
"Thanks."
[…Huh?]
"For waiting. Really."
Sincere words.
Her stunned expression showed surprise.
'I'm weak to this.'
In his past life, bonds were scarce.
A harsh environment.
His childhood.
Wandering streets after escaping his hellish clan.
The apocalyptic era as an adult.
Enemies outnumbered allies; deep connections were few.
The hero's party was his closest bond.
In his childhood clan, all wished him dead.
Someone worrying for him was unfamiliar, making Marie's care touching.
[Oho… you finally see my heart… but… staring so passionately… my heart races too much. I might burst.]
"Not like that. And you don't have a heart."
[Don't worry… I'm ready to be with you forever.]
"Enough."
He glared, ordering juice. Laughing, she left to make 'virgin's blood' juice.
'My past, huh.'
He mused.
One person cared like Marie.
His sister.
'Miss her. Wonder how she's doing.'
A fleeting thought.
She was likely fine.
Without 'Chris' in this life, better off.
'Not far from here.'
His sister's location—his past clan—wasn't distant from the Magic Empire's southern state.
Part of the 'Gold Cross' federation, opposing the southern state.
Following the river by Duke Barron's estate led to his old clan.
'Stop it. Can't act familiar anyway. Focus on my tasks.'
The Gold Cross fell early in the empire's invasion.
Preventing that catastrophe was better than nostalgia.
'First, become a lord.'
The awaited summons arrived.
"Young Master Christian, Marquis Langham requests you."
Time to secure his Lord's Trial recommendation.
---
"I greet Your Excellency."
Christian visited the main house's top-floor office.
A branch member needed a trial to become a lord.
Not easy.
First, a recommender—elder rank or higher.
Would prideful main-house figures easily recommend a branch youth? Never.
But that was resolved.
Langham agreed to recommend him, per their bet with Ashd.
'He's not thrilled.'
Christian smirked inwardly.
Langham aimed to crush him but now had to recommend him—hardly pleasant.
Yet Langham showed no inner turmoil.
"A promise is a promise. As agreed, I'll be your recommender. You'll take the Lord's Trial under my endorsement."
His tone remained businesslike, face impassive.
His true feelings?
'Whatever he thinks, no need to cower.'
Within the clan, Langham, as acting patriarch, couldn't openly harm him.
But that didn't mean safety.
As acting patriarch, Langham had countless subtle ways to trouble him.
Like the upcoming trial.
"No set format exists for a branch Lord's Trial, given its rarity. I'll decide arbitrarily."
Christian nodded.
As expected.
'He'll set an near-impossible task.'
Branch Lord Trials weren't unprecedented.
Rare, but none succeeded.
Deliberately brutal trials.
Failure wasn't the issue; many died.
'Likely the same. He might use this to push me to death.'
Curious about the ordeal, Langham surprised him.
"The trial has two parts. First, testing your potential. Second, achieving a feat worthy of a lord."
"Testing my potential?"
Langham's gaze met Christian's, cold behind steel glasses.
"Reach 3-star in three months."
Christian looked surprised.
'That's it?'
Not easy.
Near impossible.
Typically, 2-star to 3-star took three years at best.
Advancing within a realm was easier than crossing to the next star, which demanded immense difficulty.
Three months was absurd.
"…That's enough?"
Langham frowned.
"Enough, you say?"
"I mean… it doesn't seem too hard."
Not hard.
For Christian, sincere.
"Didn't you notice, Your Excellency? I'm no ordinary genius."
"…"
Langham paused, then spoke.
"Branch ignorance. Do you know why no main-line heir absorbs over 70% in the ritual?"
News to Christian.
"Common knowledge is obscure. Branch kin struggle with 30-40%. Main line, rigorously trained, easily absorb over 50%, some even 70%."
He continued.
"Ashd could've exceeded 70% but stopped there. Excess Sacred Darkness becomes poison."
Unexpected.
"High-purity Dark Mana Essence exponentially hinders realm advancement. The threshold is 70%."
"…"
"I stopped at 70% for that reason."
Langham said coldly.
"You absorbed over 90%. Reckless."
Main-line heirs avoided over 70%, even if capable.
It made realm advancement nearly impossible.
Slightly over 70% was bad; Christian's was over 90%.
No, others assumed over 90%, but it was 100%.
An unimaginable hurdle.
But.
"Understood. I'll do it."
Christian grinned.
Langham twitched an eyebrow at his confidence.
"You didn't understand. You'll face…"
"I understood. An immense wall to advancing."
His smile didn't fade.
"That's why I'm smiling. I've never faced a wall. Honestly, I'm excited."
"!!"
Everything came easy to Christian.
Learning felt boring. Too simple.