The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Welcome, Third Brother

After finishing my afternoon training and having a late dinner, I returned to my room late at night.

Was it because I tried to learn a new sword technique and got denied? Or was it the restless spirit of the Karzan that was bothering me?

The urge to wield the sword, the desire to learn a new sword technique, made my body itch.

“So when exactly is the swordsmanship instructor supposed to be sent over?”

“Wouldn’t that be too much for you? You’re already on such a grueling schedule.”

I responded to Peter’s concern.

“This is nothing. It doesn’t even register as a muscle twitch. You pathetic bastard.”

“Why are you swearing all of the sudden?”

While Karzan’s martial arts knowledge was in my head, I was stuck at a wall in that path.

I planned to walk the new path of Grunewald’s martial arts, and someday challenge that wall again.

‘Does Father still think I lack the qualifications?’

I, the prodigy who reached the 3rd tier in a week, the unparalleled genius – what more could I possibly be lacking?

If there was something I still needed to prove, it was likely not my martial prowess. That couldn’t be it.

Then the possible reasons could be a few.

Perhaps he wants to see how I would handle the scrutiny and opposition from my siblings and in-laws. After all, I had clashed with the Barclava faction and set myself against them.

‘In many ways, he is raising me to be strong.’

But even other noble houses had endured worse.

Some had even ascended to the position of the clan head despite being openly branded as patricides.

Adultery, schemes, violence, conspiracies – in some ways, the world of the nobility was even more of a den of wickedness than the underworld.

“Young Master.”

Lost in these thoughts, Olivier, who had not yet gone home, came to my room.

“Oh. Welcome.”

“Ahem.”

Olivier cleared his throat, seemingly unadapted to my casual greeting.

“A summons just arrived for you, Young Master.”

“Huh? At this hour?”

“Yes. It says that all the children and wives of the clan head will be gathering for a banquet tomorrow, and you are required to attend.”

“Eh? Really?”

Peter was even more surprised than I was.

“I had wished we could all gather once.”

“You should be tense. They’re probably planning to humiliate you or test your qualifications there.”

“Well, that’s to be expected.”

That was what I had been hoping for. I didn’t know if it was Father hosting this, but if I handled myself well here, there might be a reward for it.

“But they could have told us earlier, couldn’t they?”

I had planned to train hard with the royal guards, but now that plan was disrupted.

“That’s part of the power play, you see. The other siblings have probably already heard about it.”

“Damn, how petty.”

Thinking about that malicious intent, this gathering was likely not hosted by Father.

“Looks like it’s the doing of the Second Young Master or the Second Lady.”

The Second Young Master who had sent Barclava to provoke me.

And the Second Lady who had tried to mock me by sending the mountain tribe’s tribute as a ‘reward’.

‘Well, look at this pair of fuckers.’

Even in the underworld, there were those who played such political games, sowing discord and manipulating from behind the scenes.

Some had even died by my hand, and one of them had led to my current state.

“The biggest problem is the formal attire.”

“Is that so?”

Olivier was right.

A nobleman’s formal attire is a custom-tailored outfit.

There was no way they could have made a new one for me by tomorrow, even if they took my measurements today. It would take longer to make a dog’s outfit than that.

“They really are meticulous about these things. So, how do we handle this?”

As I rubbed my chin, I suddenly slapped my thigh.

“Ah!”

“Goodness, what’s wrong, Young Master?”

“Peter, do you remember?”

“What is it?”

“The tailor said my build was similar to Father’s when he was young, didn’t he?”

“Ah, I see!”

Peter exclaimed in realization.

“Perhaps the clan head has kept some of his old formal attire in storage?”

I looked at Peter with surprised eyes.

“Well done. Your senses have sharpened, haven’t they?”

“Hehe. Mother said if I had studied more, I would have done well.”

“Well done indeed. In any case, let’s talk to the tailor and see what can be done.”

Olivier agreed.

“That’s a reasonable idea. But the outfit might be a bit outdated.”

“So what? If someone mocks it for being old-fashioned, I’ll just say it’s one of Father’s old outfits. Who would dare criticize that?”

If a son were to wear his father’s old clothes, who would dare to say anything? Although my maternal family had suffered near-annihilation, Father had never once left my mother and me.

That meant I had a level of legitimacy beyond that of a typical bastard.

“But what if the clan head gets angry?”

“I won’t even worry about that.”

Recalling the content of the diary, Duke Geoge Grunewald seemed to be a hands-off type of patriarch. He closely observed but rarely intervened directly.

“The formal attire issue can be solved this way.”

I clapped my hands to get Peter and Olivier’s attention.

“Everyone, I know you’re concerned, but this is a gathering I must attend. I need to see for myself what kind of people my siblings are.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright, Young Master?”

Olivier asked.

“I’ll be fine. What can they do to me? At most, they’ll just subject me to some sinister persecution and disdain.”

But I was no longer the young man who would silently endure such tricks.

“…It’s different from the time with the Second Young Master.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble.”

In the past, I had been called the mad dog, but in a way, that was a carefully calculated strategy. One had to be judicious in their crazy antics.

“I should also go thank the Second Lady for the honey she so graciously provided.”

I was no longer the kind of person who would be looked down upon or hide my strength.

‘As the light grows brighter, the shadow also grows larger.’

With the power of the 3rd tier, I had the ability to nurture a small power base in the underworld. My plan was to let that shadow spread out gradually.

‘Let’s proceed as planned, step by step.’

In my past life, I had no plans to speak of. Or more accurately, I was unable to make plans.

As a child, I had only worried about where my next meal would come from and wandered about when it rained, looking for a ceiling.

‘Even after becoming involved in the underworld, nothing had changed.’

I would just set an action guideline as the situation demanded, beat up the troublemakers, and retaliate against those who provoked me. That was about it.

In other words, I had simply lived by dealing with the unexpected events as they came.

But now, it’s different.

I am no longer the young boy filled with malice and stubbornness, nor the man who lay awake at night, suffocated by the ever-increasing responsibilities.

I have experience, strength, poise, and conviction. The essence of who I am has not changed, but my future life will be completely different from the past.

“Olivier, Peter.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me the reputations, characteristics, and deeds of my siblings and stepmothers.”

I couldn’t charge into the battlefield without knowing who was on my side.

“Tomorrow, I need to confirm who will be my allies.”

Of course, who my enemies are is already clear.

Verdzig Grunewald.

The sinister Second Young Master who sent Barclava to me.

* * *

The next morning, I immediately went to find the tailor.

“Fortunately, I have a few outfits in storage that you may choose from. I’ve been regularly pressing and starching them, so they should be suitable to wear.”

“Thank you for your kind assistance. But is it really alright?”

The tailor smiled.

“What’s the problem?”

“Well, for example, someone might say ‘How dare you wear the clan head’s clothes!'”

I asked tentatively.

“Who would recognize the clan head’s formal attire from his younger days?”

“That’s true.”

Yes, that’s a good point. How many people would even remember what clothes the clan head wore just a few days ago, let alone dozens of years ago?

If anyone did recognize it, that would be more creepy than anything.

“Young Master, please be especially careful.”

The tailor cautioned me.

“It’s going to be a difficult gathering. Your siblings and stepmothers are not easy people.”

“…I see.”

He said, looking at my face.

“But I must say, you are remarkably handsome. It seems you have harmoniously inherited the beautiful traits of both your mother and father.”

“Is that so?”

“So, if possible, I’d suggest getting a haircut and grooming your face and eyebrows before attending. After all, you’re making your first appearance in seven years – you should shine brighter than anyone else there.”

He knew that for nobility, physical beauty was also a form of authority.

“Ah, yes. Olivier has already taken care of that.”

“Excellent. Olivier is a young man worthy of trust.”

“Indeed.”

I smiled slightly.

“But he can be a bit stiff, so I tease him once in a while. That’s how he’s become more comfortable around me.”

“Haha! In that regard, you don’t resemble the clan head at alll.”

The tailor chuckled.

I felt like I understood that both Ludan and this man, who had quietly looked happy on the outside but lonely on the inside.

Afterward, I called for a barber to cut my hair and groom my eyebrows. My skin didn’t require any makeup.

Once the grooming was complete, I wore the formal attire my father had worn in his youth. By then, it was already afternoon.

“How do I look?”

“Wow, amazing!”

Seeing me ready for the banquet, Peter gaped.

“Young Master, you look truly handsome.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

I responded coolly, even though I knew it.

These days, I was often hearing compliments about my appearance, which I didn’t entirely dislike.

I wondered why I had been so indifferent to my appearance in my previous life.

‘Well, whatever.’

“I thought you were some elven envoy.”

Peter praised my looks.

“I had thought the Second Young Master Verdzig was the most handsome among the siblings, but it seems that ranking may change today.”

Olivier said with no expression on his face.

“Oh, really?”

I snorted.

“Is my Second Brother really that good-looking? Is he even capable of rivaling me?”

“…”

“…”

Did I go overboard? I licked my lips and took another look in the mirror.

“Damn, I really do look absurdly handsome.”

“You’re talking about it as if you’re looking at someone else’s face.”

“Shut up. That’s how memory loss works.”

“Yes, sir.”

Compared to my emaciated appearance on the day I awoke, my complexion had improved, and healthy muscles and flesh had formed.

I felt like a lively young nobleman instead of a sickly one.

“I can’t help but feel confident.”

I squared my shoulders, like a victorious general mounted on a prized steed, wearing a fine sword and expensive armor.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“The banquet hall.”

Olivier asked in surprise.

“Young Master, are you leaving already? There’s still time until dinner…”

“I want to arrive early, settle in a seat, and greet everyone one by one.”

“Ah, in that case.”

Olivier nodded.

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Doesn’t it make sense?”

I believed it was better to either arrive early and firmly plant myself, or come in at the very end, rather than show up awkwardly in the middle.

* * *

“Ah, Young Master Allenvert?”

“Don’t mind me, just carry on with your work. You all must be so busy.”

I settled into an appropriate seat. The servants were bustling about, setting the table and preparing the food.

“Mmm, the aroma is wonderful. I wonder how lavish the cuisine will be?”

“Whole-roasted suckling pigs with spices and butter, crispy roast duck, and a hearty stew with various seafood – those would be the main dishes, I imagine.”

Olivier responded to my musings.

“How did you know?”

“The scents are familiar to me.”

“I see. Of course.”

The butler must have extensive knowledge of imperial cuisine.

“Um, Young Master, I feel so out of place here.”

Peter, who had never been to such a gathering, kept glancing around.

“Don’t act so much like a country bumpkin. How pathetic.”

I chastised Peter as I looked around the banquet hall.

On one side, a band was busily tuning their instruments, and on the other, the royal guards were adjusting their positions and formations.

“Goodness, what a commotion.”

I was truly feeling the grandeur of this gathering of distinguished guests. In this vast space that could accommodate over a hundred people, only a handful were actually dining.

In my previous life, I had attended many banquets, but those were with the vulgar nouveau riche of the underworld, not this realm of formality and dignity.

This mad dog Karzan being invited to such a place filled my chest with pride.

No, wait. Since this was essentially a gathering held because of me, I was the protagonist, wasn’t I?

“So, what am I supposed to do now?”

When Peter asked a silly question, I responded.

“What is there to do? Just stand around and carry yourself with gravitas.”

“Understood.”

Not only Olivier, but Peter also seemed to have grown up decently, standing by my side when I was getting groomed.

‘Hmm, no, not quite that well-behaved.’

I objectively reassessed Peter’s demeanor.

In any case, I dozed off for a bit, daydreamed, and exchanged a few words with the passing servants, when finally another sibling made an appearance.

“Oh, could that be the Third Brother?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

A towering figure with a strong presence. Just as I had heard yesterday. The Third Young Master, Somerset Grunewald. He was 20 years old this year.

‘Let’s go take a look.’

I waved my hand in a friendly greeting.

“Welcome, Third Brother.”

“…?”

But Somerset looked at me with a perplexed expression.

‘Hmm, is that not it?’

———