"It's about time they showed up."
Lying on the creaky bed, I muttered while staring blankly at the stained ceiling.
"You look super bored, Master."
"Looks can be deceiving. I'm busy."
"...Is lying around considered busy?"
I glanced over at her in response to her incredulous retort.
The maid uniform, tailored for an average build, clearly couldn't handle her figure.
The buttons across her chest were stretched taut, on the verge of popping with every breath.
Her thighs were almost fully exposed beneath the shortened skirt.
Sitting on the edge of the bed and swinging her legs, the pale skin above her black stockings demanded attention.
The curves of her warrior-trained body somehow meshed with the ascetic design of the maid outfit, exuding a strange allure.
...Just imagining her striding through the halls like that, I figured plenty of knights would lose sleep over it.
"So why are you holed up here? Is the training done for the day?"
"...They said that's it for today?"
She averted her gaze subtly as I stared at her blankly.
She was obviously lying.
"You're not pulling one over on me, are you?"
"O-of course not."
...Fine. I'll let it slide today.
I was busy enough as it was.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[My lord. The Count is leading the knights and starting to move.]
Not just her—several voices were speaking to me at once.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Kieeeek!] [He's in bad shape. He just spat up a bowlful of blood a moment ago.]⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Those maggot-like bastards are scared shitless. They don't want to run into you? Kee hee hee!]
Right now, dozens of spirits haunting the estate were feeding me real-time information straight into my ears.
'Of course. There's no way he'd just let it slide.'
Thinking back to his furious outburst, this was actually later than expected.
After gaining the Black King's power, my existing authority evolved into Black Authority.
Thanks to absorbing countless negative emotions, it grew once more, and recently I unlocked a new skill.
⚔ STATUS ⚔[Authority: Black Authority has risen to Lv. 3.][A new skill has been unlocked.]
Black Authority (Lv. 3)
- One who has obtained the Black King's power. You are qualified to become the ruler of all things.
- Absorb negative emotions to grow your authority.
- Skills acquirable at current level:
[Shadow Step] - Connect your shadow to another shadow for short-distance teleportation. Consumes mana.
[Curtain of Fear] - Infuse shadows with faint fear energy. Focus to amplify on a specific target. Consumes mana.
[Soul's Eye] - See souls bound to this land and communicate with them. No mana cost.
Dozens of spirits drifting through the estate.
Those who died working here in life, or vengeful spirits wronged by the Dreadnote family.
All of them now served as my eyes and ears, patrolling the estate and relaying info moment by moment.
'Taming these bastards was a real ordeal.'
They weren't friendly from the start, naturally.
They were vengeful spirits to begin with.
On the first day my authority unlocked.
The loathing and hatred they instinctively held toward the living—now visible to me—were primal emotions that refused subjugation.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Ki ki ki ki. This guy's looking at us!] [Evan Dreadnote. You're Dreadnote blood too! We'll kill you and avenge ourselves!]
Sleepless vengeful spirits would approach day and night, showering me with curses as a daily routine.
'I could use the Black King's power...'
The Black King was well-versed in necromancy.
Tundra and Borin under my command now were revived by that power.
Vengeful spirits shouldn't be any different. But...
'No, that won't work.'
I shook my head after some thought. It was the surest method, but I had to hold back inside the estate.
Inflicting pain or binding vengeful spirits inevitably left traces.
Celine, exceptional at handling mana, would notice immediately.
And even if unlikely, Inquisitors hunting necromancy could track it here.
If they came, she'd follow inevitably.
'Not yet.'
No need to invite trouble.
'...For now, silence is the answer.'
No good solutions for dealing with these intangible spirits yet.
All I could do was stay quiet.
Of course, I didn't expect that to solve anything.
It was just a stopgap.
A faint hope that they'd tire themselves out if I showed no reaction.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Ki ki ki ki. We'll kill you for sure!] [Kraaaaaah!]
...Yeah, no way these pests would give up easily.
Like kids with a new toy. They'd cling till the end.
'I can hold out a day or two, but this has no end.'
At least they couldn't inflict physical harm—that was the silver lining.
Once they realized I could perceive them, they swarmed daily, whispering curses nonstop in my ears.
Any normal person would've gone mad from the torment.
Finally, after days of this, my patience snapped.
I decided to use my authority on them.
Work or not, if this continued, whether Celine noticed or Inquisitors came, I'd tear them all apart in my current mood.
"Curtain of Fear."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡Curtain of Fear⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Kieeeek!] [Reaper! It's the Reaper! He's no human—he's the Reaper!]
When I realized this method— which I hadn't expected much from—actually struck them hard...
I unleashed the words I'd truly wanted to say at the vengeful spirits filling the room.
"Shut up."
At my single command, the dozens of spirits packed into the room fell silent as if by magic.
Their faint forms trembled in terror.
"I'll give you a choice."
As dozens of eyes fixed on me, I declared softly to the group.
"Become my eyes and ears. Do that, and I might give you a chance to avenge yourselves."
"Refuse, and I'll erase every last trace of you from this land forever."
The choice was theirs, but the answer was predetermined.
And from that day on, the cursing vengeful spirits became my most loyal informants.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[They're here! Here! The old man's leading with that pansy!] [You can see their legs shaking from here. Ki ki ki ki!]
"Master. Someone's coming?"
"I know."
"...Did you piss someone off? Makes sense, considering how you treat us."
Imir, now rolling around beside me on the bed, propped herself up and glanced at the door.
Her wild instincts had picked up the intruders' killing intent first, prompting her needless chatter.
"Quiet."
I slowly rose from the bed.
Time to greet the guests.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps climbed the creaky stairs of the annex, drawing closer.
At the same time, I sensed dozens of knights filling the hallway, surrounding my room.
I cracked my neck lightly, letting the spirits' excited banter fade into the background.
"Imir."
"Yeah?"
"Stay put. No interfering."
"Tch. Fine."
The moment she pouted in response...
Bang!
The sturdy door was kicked in, hinges nearly shattering.
Dust billowed as the Count—face flushed crimson with rage—stormed in, followed by dozens of knights.
"Drag that ungrateful wretch out here now!"
His bellow, body still unwell, sounded utterly pathetic.
The knights flinched reflexively at the family head's command, but none dared step forward.
The memory of Captain Galen crumpled like paper was burned into their minds.
No fools among them to rush in blindly.
I rose slowly from the bed toward them.
Like a homeowner facing intruders in his own bedroom.
"What a racket, Your Excellency. The annex might collapse."
My calm tone twisted the Count's face even more viciously.
"You bastard... *cough cough*!"
"Your health isn't recovered. Why not rest? What brings you to my annex?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Pathetic. Rage has completely devoured his reason.]
I smirked at the spirit's helpful commentary.
I don't know how my sneer appeared to the family head, but it snapped his last thread of reason.
"What are you waiting for?! Drag him out and hack off his limbs to hang in the square!"
Shing.
"...We only follow the family head's orders."
At the Count's furious command, Galen and the knights reluctantly drew swords, tightening the encirclement.
Fear was thick in their eyes as they closed in.
Imir had risen beside me, eyeing them predatorily.
"Master. Should I just kill them all? Some of these are the ones we missed last time."
"Stay still. No moving a finger without my say-so."
"Aww. Lame."
She cracked her knuckles, raring to go if I just gave the word.
"If you surrender quietly even now..."
"Stop!"
A desperate cry cut through the hall.
All eyes turned instinctively toward the voice.
There, Celine approached, pale-faced, supporting Heron.
"Young Lady!"
"Sheathe your swords. Now."
Her voice trembled, but the weight of command was undeniable.
It directly defied the family head's order.
"Celine! Who are you protecting right now? That bastard..."
"Father, do you even realize what you're doing?!"
Celine was confronting her father head-on for the first time.
"This is getting fun, Master?"
"Be quiet."
Honestly, I hadn't imagined her stepping in like this.
I watched the scene with arms crossed, silently.
"He's a hero who stopped the barbarians. Is drawing steel on him the Dreadnote way?"
"Hero? He's the family's disgrace!"
"That 'disgrace' is why everyone here is still alive. Say we capture him. Have you forgotten who Imir follows now?"
The Count faltered at her logical thrust. Why?
Because he knew she was right.
Suppose we imprisoned Evan right now.
What about controlling Imir at his side?
Worse, this wasn't the mountains—it was Dreadnote territory. Her minions were loose too.
Without a leash, what couldn't she do if she wanted?
The Count, a seasoned commander, rationally agreed with her.
His trampled pride just wouldn't admit it.
"Father. We can't stop him."
"Nonsense...!"
Heron spoke up cautiously, and the Count denied reality, but his eyes shook violently.
The knights felt strength drain from their sword grips.
Celine's words laid bare the uncomfortable truth they'd ignored.
Even if they subdued Evan, the monster beside him—Imir. How to handle her?
The estate turning into a bloodbath the moment she moved was obvious.
In the silent hall, she took a breath to drive the final nail.
Hiding her trembling hands behind her, she stared down her father with a bloodless face.
"The academy admission notice. It's still valid."
"..."
"Brother will leave soon. Until then... please. Think of the family's safety."
It was a desperate plea and a practical compromise.
If he wanted Evan gone, time would handle it without bloodshed.
The Count glared at Celine and me alternately, breathing raggedly.
Emotion and reason clashed visibly in him.
How much time passed?
"...We're leaving."
Finally, he rasped the order like it was squeezed from him.
The helplessness and rage in that one phrase filled the room.
Galen and the knights hesitated briefly before silently sheathing swords and filing out after the Count with stiff expressions.
Once the heavy footsteps faded completely beyond the hall...
I turned to see only Celine and Heron remained.
"Brother..."
Celine gazed at me with a sigh of relief and a complicated expression.
I already knew from the spirits how hard she'd worked to keep the family head away.
"Good work."
I patted her shoulder indifferently.
"But remember. This is the last time."
"...What?"
"You stepping up for me ends here."
Her eyes shook, uncomprehending.
"You didn't need to help me."
Her face paled and stiffened at my cold rejection, like pushing her away.
Her pupils trembled, wounded.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Absorbing negative emotion 'Loss'.] [Absorbing negative emotion 'Sorrow'.]
"Go. You too, Heron."
"B-brother..."
Ignoring their reactions, I turned and reentered the room.
"Master, she's gonna cry."
"...Shut up."
Slam.
The door shut, leaving them alone in the hall.
She stared blankly at the closed door for a long while before collapsing weakly to the floor.
"S-sis!"