FANSiA Originals and KakaoPage
I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan
[Author/Original: Yuin]
[TL: Dekor]
[PR: Spades]
Episode 47
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"What's the purity of Christian's Dark Mana Essence?"
"Given the core's issues, it's likely not high."
Then.
Marquis Langham nodded and decided.
"Can he move?"
"Yes. It's mere exhaustion, no major physical issues."
"Then bring Christian to the Dark Hall tomorrow."
"Your Excellency?"
Langham returned to his documents.
"I'll decide his punishment before the vassals."
A public sentencing.
Heavy punishment.
---
The Dark Hall.
Used for major clan events.
Despite its name, it was brightly lit.
After Christian took his place, a figure appeared.
Marquis Langham.
Followed by key vassals supporting the main house. Even Ashd, the heir apparent, was there.
Too grand for just Christian.
'They're dead set.'
Christian smirked inwardly.
Obvious why such figures gathered.
To punish him publicly.
No favorable judgment awaited.
But.
'Perfect. Playing right into my hands.'
He suppressed a grin.
Did they know?
This was the stage he wanted.
Langham spoke.
"Christian, do you know your wrongs in the Black Sanctification?"
"Yes, I do."
His ready admission surprised Langham.
But.
"I failed to properly discipline those lacking siblings unworthy of the clan's prestige. My mistake."
"You…!"
The vassals bristled at his audacity, but Christian didn't flinch.
"Surely you're not saying defeating competitors was wrong? Like those hypocritical Light Faction dogs."
Provocative words and gaze.
Langham met his eyes calmly.
Despite the insolence, no anger showed.
Was the gap between them too vast for such words to faze him?
His gaze was merely indifferent.
A glimpse of the clan's second-in-command's formidable presence.
"Of course, that's not why you're blamed. The losers were lacking. Your fault lies elsewhere."
"What is it?"
"You stole your siblings' chances and failed to achieve worthy results."
"!!"
Langham continued coldly.
"Sacred Darkness is a precious clan resource. You greedily monopolized it. But did you achieve enough?"
"…"
"Answer. If you failed, wasting the clan's resource through greed, you'll pay the price."
Christian laughed inwardly.
"What counts as sufficient achievement?"
"At least 70% purity."
The hall murmured.
Typically, clan members absorbed under 30% in the ritual.
Competition limited amounts, and ordinary vessels struggled with 30%.
Main line: around 50%.
Exceptional main line: 60%.
Genius-level: 70%.
Among current lords, many achieved 60% due to talent.
But only one reached 70%.
Ashd.
'Langham's set on crushing this trash.'
'No way that disgrace reached 70%.'
Vassals glanced at Christian's haggard state.
Barely alive, his core muddled with issues.
From a distance, unclear, but 70% was impossible.
"What's the punishment if I didn't reach 70%?"
"No Dark Mana Arts will be taught to you."
Dark Mana Arts weren't mere techniques. They enabled adept handling of Dark Mana Essence.
Without them, wielding Dark Mana Essence across disciplines was limited.
"Further, you'll be banned from the main house and barred from succeeding House Kazar. Wasting a vital resource demands such a price."
Social death in the clan.
Defying expectations, Christian asked.
"And if I achieved enough?"
"What?"
"If I gained over 70%, enough to greatly benefit the clan, shouldn't there be a reward?"
Vassals looked incredulous.
A half-dead wretch spouting nonsense?
Unfazed, Christian pressed boldly.
"If I gained Sacred Darkness worthy of everyone's recognition, Your Excellency should recommend me for the 'Lord's Trial.'"
"!!"
The hall buzzed.
A lord was an heir candidate.
Branch lines lacked succession rights.
But exceptional talent allowed exceptions.
With a main-line elder's recommendation, one could take the Lord's Trial.
Rare.
Almost unprecedented.
Yet he demanded such a privilege.
"Do you understand what you're saying?"
Langham asked, chuckling.
Still emotionless.
Did he think this impudent wretch needed a warning?
Though less than Nordian's, his overwhelming aura pressed Christian.
But Christian, who'd withstood Nordian, inhaled, dispelling it, and stood firm.
"I understand perfectly. I'm merely requesting per clan law, which allows exceptional branch members to become lords."
"You claim to be such an exceptional figure?"
"Of course."
Christian smirked.
Intended as confident, his naturally smug face made it arrogant.
"If I absorbed more Sacred Darkness than Lord Ashd, the heir apparent, isn't that qualification enough?"
"!!"
"Why shouldn't I be a lord if I outshine the others?"
Gasps at his madness.
Too bold before such a crowd?
He shook his head.
Humility wasn't his nature.
Moreover.
'Boldness trumps false humility. Especially among mages.'
Backed by skill, arrogance became authority.
Their scornful gazes would turn to awe.
Meanwhile, Langham frowned.
'What's this?'
Christian's audacity sparked not anger but unease.
He knew Christian was a mad disgrace.
But this was excessive.
His face radiated unshakable confidence.
'Did he really surpass Ashd?'
Such confidence seemed impossible otherwise.
He examined Christian's core, gauging his Sacred Darkness.
Even Langham's keen eyes struggled with the muddled core.
Christian thought smugly.
'Look all you want. See anything?'
His disguise was a reaper's technique from a swordsmanship house.
Enhanced by hero Evan, a genius of that house.
Among the Light Faction's finest stealth arts, no one could pierce it with a mere glance.
An unexpected voice rang out.
"I agree with Christian."
"!!"
Ashd!
He smiled kindly, addressing the crowd.
"Branch or main line, what does it matter for a lord? The strong rule—that's the way of magic."
"Lord."
Vassals hesitated, wary of Ashd.
His kind face belied a ruthless nature.
As talented as he was cruel.
His smile wasn't goodwill but a predator's gaze, they sensed.
Indeed.
"But on one condition. I'll personally test Christian's Dark Mana Essence. Through mana clash."
Ashd revealed his intent.
Mana clash.
A pure contest of mana superiority.
Occasionally seen in combat.
'Dark Mana Essence always dominates in mana clashes.'
With equal mana, its wielder prevailed.
If both had Dark Mana Essence?
Higher purity won.
Ashd's proposed method.
"Christian's core is muddled, making purity hard to gauge. This is the most accurate way."
Half-true, half-false.
Other methods existed.
Ashd chose mana clash to crush Christian.
Specifically, to ruin his core.
Mana clash losers often suffered core damage.
Everyone saw through it, but who'd oppose Ashd?
Langham didn't.
He already intended Christian's punishment.
Ashd asserting dominance as a lord wasn't bad.
"No issue wielding mana, right? I'll limit mine to your level—2-star low."