The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld - Chapter 29
Chapter 29: A Midnight Invitation
“Indeed, there couldn’t be a more certain proof than that.”
I said while looking around.
“However, I don’t have a sword right now.”
“That’s fine.”
Aiden snapped his fingers, and his attending butler brought a sword.
“You’re thoroughly prepared.”
“It’s simply a butler’s duty.”
I drew the sword. It moved smoothly without resistance.
“This is a fine blade.”
It was clearly superior to the practice sword I had used yesterday.
“It’s fitting for the young master of Grunewald. We couldn’t offer just any sword.”
I channeled mana into the sword using the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique. True to the technique’s name, a clear blue sword energy emerged.
“…Hmm.”
Aiden let out a low murmur.
Having seen it with his own eyes, there was no room for doubt, but I understand. This clearly defies common sense.
“I had only just begun learning the techniques of mana cultivation a few days ago. It’s only natural for you to be able to confirm that, isn’t it? ”
“That’s correct.”
Aiden replied.
“This is something only geniuses who have left their names across the continent could achieve.”
“No need to praise me too much. Just because someone learns quickly doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily reach the heights of mastery.”
“You’ve already mastered the virtue of humility as well, so this old man has nothing more to add.”
Aiden’s voice lowered.
“Young Master.”
“Speak.”
“On the day you awoke from your fever, I saw the seed of brilliant talent.”
“And now?”
“It has already sprouted magnificently. I look forward to seeing how grandly this seed will bloom in the future.”
This must be the highest praise he could offer me.
“I will continue to strive forward.”
“How is your training going?”
“No obstacles yet, but it’s frustrating that I can’t train in swordsmanship.”
I replied.
“I heard you personally delivered those orders.”
“It was the Master’s command. He believed it would be dangerous to be too eager before awakening your sword energy.”
“I see that was the reason.”
“However, things are different now. Would you like me to assign you a sword instructor?”
“If Father hasn’t given permission, I shouldn’t force the issue. Did he perhaps send you with the intention of allowing it?”
Aiden nodded as he was impressed by my quick understanding.
“That’s correct.”
“Please tell Father I will follow his decision. If patience is needed, I shall wait.”
My response seemed somewhat unexpected, as Aiden remarked.
“I thought you would accept immediately.”
“If Father sent you earlier concerned about my hastiness, I figured now would be the time to exercise caution with my eagerness.”
“I understand.”
Judging by his pleased expression, this seemed to be the right answer.
“Ah, and-”
“Yes?”
“Olivier seems like he’ll become an excellent butler. Thank you.”
This seemed to please him most of all, judging by the unmistakable smile that appeared on his face.
“Well then.”
“Take care.”
I pondered Aiden’s retreating figure with his smiling face.
‘He’s more doting than I expected.’
If Aiden held goodwill and expectations toward me, it would positively influence Father’s evaluation as well.
Everything was going according to plan so far.
‘But a sword instructor, hm?’
In martial arts, having a proper master is far more crucial than in academics. For someone teaching a young master of Grunewald, they would have to be a martial artist of considerable skill.
In my previous life, I was a man who learned martial arts through observation alone, without any master.
If someone like me could obtain proper martial arts manuals and the teacher, it would be like carp leaping over the dragon gate.
‘I look forward to it.’
I intended to absorb everything he had to offer.
* * *
After seeing off Aiden, Olivier bowed to me.
“Thank you, Young Master. I heard you spoke well of me to my uncle.”
“I only spoke the truth.”
I said casually while drinking the cooled tea.
“I found out we had a connection when we were young.”
“!”
Seeing surprise and confusion appear on Olivier’s face for the first time, I laughed.
“So you can make such expressions too.”
“Did my uncle perhaps…?”
“No. I read an old diary I had hidden away.”
“Ah, I see.”
Olivier cleared his throat and composed himself.
“I thought it wasn’t necessary to mention. I apologize.”
I found it amusing that even this ice-like man had secretly cried from hardship and loneliness when he was young.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing, just thinking how you were once as pure as Peter when you were young.”
“While I might have been somewhat weak when I was young, compared to Young Peter…”
Olivier drew the line.
“Peter would be hurt if he heard that.”
“Ahem.”
I decided to stop teasing him here. It would take more time before this man and I could interact as casually as with Peter.
“By the way, how is the hiring of new staff progressing?”
“Yes. We’re carefully examining reputations before hiring.”
“Don’t scrutinize too closely.”
“Even if spies infiltrate, we just need to track their movements properly.”
“Understood.”
I suspected the Second Young Master would make some move.
Reading Allenvert’s diary, among the siblings, he was the most cunning and inscrutable figure.
Here’s how I read the situation:
Verdzig Grunewald was Barclava’s elder brother and the second son among five sons and one daughter.
Not only he wasn’t just the most martially talented among the siblings but he was also known as the most cunning and renowned.
That was the assessment from seven years ago, so by now, he was likely the closest to becoming the heir.
I suspected the First Young Master’s abilities were inferior to the Second Young Master’s. If the firstborn’s legitimacy had been backed by comparable skill, no matter how capable the younger brother was, he wouldn’t have dared to challenge him.
‘They wouldn’t have tolerated it from the start.’
However, the most capable person isn’t necessarily appointed heir.
The victor can wear many faces – whether they’re more cunning, better-backed, luckier, or more humble…
‘I wish we could all gather for a meal.’
In my opinion, just by observing everyone’s hierarchy, relationships, and psychological warfare at the dinner table, you can get a decent read on the succession battle. Won’t someone send an invitation?
“Ah.”
At this point, I realized something important I hadn’t considered.
“What’s wrong?”
“Come to think of it, I’ll need proper formal attire.”
I couldn’t exactly attend a banquet wearing the formal clothes I wore when I was ten.
“If so, I’ll call the court’s exclusive tailor.”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“I should visit in person.”
I’m not like Barclava, a young master who rudely orders people around.
‘While I’m at it, it would be nice to look around the palace.’
It would be even better if someone picked a fight with me. Though that probably wouldn’t happen.
* * *
“That was definitely the sword energy of someone who trained in the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique.”
Duke Georg Grunewald kept one ear open while reviewing documents in his office.
“I would believe it if you said that he even reached the sixth or seventh level, not just the fifth.”
The Duke disagreed with that assessment.
“Well, the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique becomes progressively slower to advance in its later stages, so it wouldn’t be that easy to reach.”
“Yes. However, the sword energy appeared pure and refined.”
“I see.”
The Duke nodded without much enthusiasm.
“Achievements gained through self-study without a master, you say.”
“Indeed.”
It was certainly an extraordinary talent.
However,
“It’s decent, but still lacking.”
The clan head drew a stern line.
“If a Grunewald young master at age 17 has only managed to manifest sword energy, it’s still pathetically insufficient.”
Allenvert was approaching adulthood. Thinking of it that way, his achievement was worse than even his fifteen-year-old brother Barclava. For instance, his brothers at the same age had already…
“That’s enough about martial prowess. How did you find Allen’s character?”
“I still cannot fully gauge it.”
The Duke asked expressionlessly.
“Due to lack of information?”
“That’s part of the reason. However…”
Aiden spoke as if he never expected to say such words about Allenvert.
“I felt a depth that I still cannot fathom. The only ones who gave me similar impressions were Young Master Verdzig, and perhaps Young Lady Ulbhild.”
“With your judgement, that must be true.”
The Duke said.
“I will continue to observe.”
He was truly a man who understood implications well.
The Duke was about to dismissively send him away when he remembered something.
“There’s a banquet in two days?”
“Yes. The Second Lady said since Young Master Allenvert has recovered from his fever, it would be good to gather everyone…”
The intention was obvious. Either to humiliate him or to assess what kind of person he was.
“…”
What would unfold there was clear without seeing it.
Though he would attend if necessary, he wasn’t really the type to enjoy such things.
“I won’t need to attend.”
“You’ll be absent this time as well?”
“Yes.”
Since it would be rather tiresome to be involved, the Duke hadn’t participated in these banquets for a long time.
“I should schedule some external appointments.”
“Ahem. I’ll prepare a good excuse.”
The two men understood each other perfectly.
* * *
“Welcome, my son.”
“Mother. You look even more beautiful today.”
“Even empty flattery brings me joy.”
Verdzig Grunewald, the Second Son, kissed his mother Emengarde Grunewald’s hand with a smile as perfectly sculpted as a statue.
“I hear Allenvert manifested sword energy after receiving mother’s gift?”
It was a story everyone in the ducal castle knew.
His changed behavior was the biggest topic of discussion in the castle lately.
“So I heard.”
Emengarde smiled dryly behind her fan.
“They say he asked if it wasn’t meant as mockery, being a gift from his mother’s enemies.”
“He maintained his composure even then. Above all, with just a few words, he turned the ‘compensation for Barclava’s actions’ into an even greater debt.”
Verdzig highly evaluated this method.
“This is no shallow cunning.”
“Do you think he intended all of that?”
“To some extent, yes.”
Verdzig answered.
“Yet he gladly accepted the elixir and manifested sword energy because of it, so mother gained only unnecessary stigma despite giving the gift.”
“How sharp.”
Emengarde merely smiled at her son’s cutting words. It was clearly a completely different smile from when she dealt with Barclava.
“That child is no longer the fragile boy from his youth. I plan to assess his capacity in person.”
“I look forward to it as well.”
Verdzig smiled coldly.
“That day, you must be the most brilliant and beautiful of all.”
“As you wish.”
“I’ll send invitations to the other ladies and your siblings at daybreak.”
“When do you plan to send it to Allenvert?”
Emengarde’s sneer closely resembled her son’s.
“Send it late at night. I wonder if he’ll even be able to find proper formal attire.”
Though it was a petty action, Verdzig rather liked it.
“That day, Allenvert will look like mother’s attending servant.”
He was curious about his brother’s response. In aristocratic society, one could avoid humiliation only to the extent of their knowledge.
———-