The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: I Never Thought You’d Understand Me

“The principle is simple: I extend my intangible Mana Sense outward like a web of threads.”

Ulbhild explained matter-of-factly.

“For example, If I imbue mana I’ve spread with color, it looks like this.”

A blue aura began to radiate from around Ulbhild, expanding far beyond the icy walls that encircled us.

‘Wow, her Mana Sense extended this far?’

The threads resembled an intricate spiderweb, making it seem impossible to approach undetected.

“In this state, even a sniper’s shot fired from outside my perception range would be unable to land on me.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

Someone capable of this feat was almost unheard of, even in my past life.

‘Sister is truly remarkable.’

Ulbhild’s confidence, likening her martial arts to a boundless ocean, was more than justified. Even I had to concede that I couldn’t rival her in this domain.

“Do you always maintain this level of Mana Sense during battle, Sister?”

“Yes. By integrating my sight, sixth sense, and intuition with my Mana, I can detect even the subtlest movements of my opponents.”

I suddenly felt a wave of futility wash over me.

“There’s no way I can win against that.”

“Did you really think you could defeat me?” Ulbhild laughed softly.

“Well, not exactly.”

I glanced down at my sword. Its joints had loosened, and it looked like it might fall apart at any moment.

“Today, I concede defeat.”

“Good. That’s the spirit.”

I resolved not to push myself any further today.

‘If I reach the 4th-tier and can shoot off sword energy, then I might find another way. But for now…’

…this is enough.

I didn’t want to reveal too much of my potential just yet, lest Ulbhild grow wary of me. Testing the surface of her martial art was sufficient for now.

“Sister, I’m deeply indebted to you today.”

I said, bowing to her as if she were my mentor.

“You’ve worked hard, Allen.”

Her expression softened as she replied with a gentle smile.

‘She’s taught me so much.’

Even if I could fully internalize the insights I gained today, my martial prowess would rise to a new level.

‘No, ‘new level’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.’

The profound power of the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique

.

The seamless integration of lightfoot, footwork, and Movement arts in the Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path

.

The method of spreading Mana like threads.

If I combined all this with Karzan’s innate talent and the potion Somerset sent…

…then even elite Swordsmen, knights, or Royal Guards who had reached the pinnacle of their craft wouldn’t stand a chance against me.

***

“Watch closely.”

Ulbhild placed her hand on the ice wall she had created.

I wondered what she was up to, but the scene that unfolded was beyond my expectations. The ice wall, so solid that even a sword couldn’t cut through it, began to melt and dissolve into nothingness almost instantly.

“Wow.”

I was stunned.

I’d seen plenty of techniques and magic for freezing things, but I’d never encountered someone who could reverse the process like this.

Before I knew it, the ice wall vanished like a mirage, leaving behind a puddle of water.

“Clean it out!”

“Yes, Commander!”

The task force members, seemingly used to this, grabbed shovels and started guiding the water into a drainage channel.

“Is this something that’s normally possible?”

“If you can infuse an object with cold, you can also withdraw it. Once you understand the principle, it’s simple.”

“It doesn’t look simple at all to me.”

I replied, marveling once more.

‘Ulbhild is a different kind of genius.’

She had an innate gift when it came to internal mana cultivation techniques, Mana Sense, and mana control. But beyond that, she must have relentlessly honed her craft through rigorous study.

‘This is inspiring—I feel challenged.’

I was also a genius in my own right. I had the confidence that once I understood the principles of a technique, I could replicate it no matter how extraordinary it was.

“You were amazing, young master!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Peter and Olivier greeted me warmly.

“Young Master, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Your skill was truly impressive.”

Harold said, acknowledging me as if his earlier jealousy had vanished.

“It’s fine. It’s my lot in life as a man to endure disdain until I prove myself.”

I said with a wry smile.

“At the very least, we’ll make sure no one disrespects you in front of us again.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“No problem. But…”

Harold leaned in to whisper.

“…Please don’t get the wrong idea and think you’ve gotten close to the Young Lady because of this.”

Ah, so this was the real point. These absurd fellows never failed to amuse me.

“Incredible. Is it normal to be this wary of one’s younger brother?”

“Whether you’re a brother or a nephew, it’s the same.”

Their devotion to Ulbhild wasn’t mere admiration—it bordered on worship. I couldn’t help but feel slightly intimidated by their fanaticism.

“Did you enjoy the show?”

I approached Barclava, who stood with a serious expression plastered across his face.

‘This kid is definitely trying to change.’

Although Barclava had been pitiful until now, I wouldn’t mock his desire to improve.

He was only fifteen. A boy his age still had plenty of time to transform.

‘Of course, it won’t be easy.’

That didn’t mean I intended to help him. Whether snake or cocoon, one must shed their skin on their own.

‘Ah, speaking of which…’

I suddenly remembered how I had instructed Marco to spread rumors about Barclava.

“I feel a bit bad about that.” I muttered.

“What for?”

“Nothing.”

Apparently, Barclava misunderstood me.

“…It’s my fault for being an idiot and breaking my hand. You don’t need to feel bad about it.”

He seemed to think I was apologizing for his injury. His softened expression only made me want to tease him.

“Don’t get it twisted. That’s not what I was talking about.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s nothing you need to know.”

I turned to Peter and whispered.

“Tell Marco to stop what I told him to do.”

“Oh, really?”

Peter asked, glancing at Barclava.

“There hasn’t been much reaction anyway, so it’s fine now.”

“Got it.”

It seemed elder brother Verdzig wasn’t as concerned with Barclava as I had initially thought.

***

“Allen, join me for dinner at my villa tonight.”

“Ah, is that all right?”

“Of course.”

At Ulbhild’s invitation, I had dinner at her villa.

“Wow, it looks several times bigger than my villa.”

“You shouldn’t say that out loud, young master.”

Peter whispered.

“Shut it. I’ll say what I want.”

Ulbhild’s villa was far more spacious and opulent than Somerset’s. It could easily rival the mansion of a mid-tier noble like a viscount.

“Our family really is wealthy.”

I muttered.

Ulbhild responded, overhearing my remark.

“We’re among the top three wealthiest in the kingdom.”

“Trade truly is the future.”

“Those who control the seas, control the continent.”

Our dinner conversation unexpectedly veered into the realm of statecraft.

“By the way, I think I understand your taste in food, sister.”

“Oh? Do you?”

“You seem to value the natural flavor of the ingredients over heavy spices. A light seasoning of salt and pepper, paired with proper aging to enhance the umami.”

“Spot on.”

“My chef typically excels at bold, flavorful dishes, but this is quite pleasant in its own way.”

“Overly rich and indulgent food is poison to a warrior.”

“That makes sense.”

It reminded me of an old saying: those who plot revenge begin by impoverishing themselves with bitterness and tasteless food.

I had no intention of living that harshly, but I could respect Ulbhild’s ascetic tendencies.

“By the way, sister.”

“Yes?”

“What’s your relationship with the hostage from the Angantyr clan?”

Ulbhild’s fork paused mid-air.

“You certainly have a talent for weaving awkward topics into casual conversation.”

“Good swordsmanship and good rhetoric share the same principles.”

Ulbhild let out a soft sigh, as delicate as a butterfly’s wing.

“She’s a comrade. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“How close are you? The kind of bond forged by crossing death’s threshold together?”

“Not quite that deep.”

She replied, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. She was every bit the noblewoman in her movements, a stark contrast to her earlier warrior-like demeanor.

“We’ve simply carried out a few operations together. Those missions gave us opportunities to consider each other’s perspectives.”

“I see.”

“And why do you ask?”

“I’ve been pondering why you’re arranging for me to meet her.”

Ulbhild countered with another question.

“What reason do you think I have?”

“Well… at the very least, you wouldn’t want us to be hostile toward each other.”

She wouldn’t go out of her way to pit her brother and her comrade against one another. Unless, of course, she was someone like Verdzig.

“Furthermore, I think I understand what you ultimately want from me.”

“You think you’ve figured that out too?”

Ulbhild looked me directly in the eye.

Meeting her piercing blue gaze, I spoke.

“You hope I’ll disrupt the current dynamics of the succession. Am I wrong?”

Ulbhild nodded slowly.

“Right now, Verdzig is leading the race for succession. But…”

“You’re not pleased with that, are you?”

“Anyone who isn’t aligned with him would feel the same.”

Verdzig is as cunning as a snake. No one could rest easy knowing a serpent lay beside their bed.

“Father will name the ultimate victor as his successor. For him, incompetence is a greater sin than a lack of virtue.”

“That is the nature of power.”

A capable head of the clan, even if lacking in virtue, is preferable to an incompetent one.

Under Verdzig’s leadership, Grunewald would likely continue to prosper.

‘But those below him would struggle even to breathe. It would become a harsher era.’

In the cracks formed by infighting and division, the layers of chains would turn people into slaves. After all, wasn’t that how the Dark King in Flanders took control of an entire kingdom?

‘Perhaps she’s grooming me to be a card that can counter such a future.’

Besides, from her perspective, today’s investment wasn’t all that significant anyway.

“Now that you mention it, it seems your goals align with mine.”

Allowing Verdzig to claim the position of Grunewald’s head is unacceptable. That position has to be mine.

“And perhaps, I’m looking far beyond what you can see.”

At my bold words, the stiffness in Ulbhild’s expression finally softened.

“I hope that’s true.”

“When that day comes, I’ll remember the kindness you’ve shown me today.”

Ulbhild gave a faint smile.

“In that case, I might as well be even more generous.”

“Well, that means you’ll get an even greater return.”

“Don’t forget those words.”

With a flick of her fingers, Ulbhild called. “Harold.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Her lieutenant approached, his face serious, carrying something in his hands.

“Take these, Allen.” she said.

“What are they?”

What she handed me was a sturdy bracelet and a tough leather pouch.

“This is a bracelet imbued with transformation magic, and the pouch contains a dimensional storage spell.”

“…!”

Even I couldn’t hide my astonishment as I asked.

“You’re giving me all of this?”

“Yes.”

Though I had no shame in extorting Somerset, even I found this overly generous.

“My lady, are you joking, aren’t you? You’ve already given me so much—”

“These are things I don’t really need anymore. I have plenty of similar items.” Ulbhild replied, her amusement evident as she watched my flustered reaction.

“The bracelet, in particular, will be quite useful. With a bit of mana, it transforms into a sword.”

A sword? This was far more valuable than any ordinary concealed weapon.

“A treasure you couldn’t buy even with a fortune.”

“It’s not that rare.”

She said with a shrug, though her perspective as a duke’s daughter made her words less convincing.

‘In the black market, something like this would be nearly impossible to find, even at an inflated price.’

Magic to reduce weight, alter form—this wasn’t far off from the Mask of Aminicrus in terms of value. For someone like me, who lives by the blade, it’s priceless.

‘What luck. This will be my trump card.’

In just a few days, I had acquired a mask to change my appearance, a bracelet that transforms into a sword, and a pouch to carry items seamlessly. It felt as though someone was nudging me towards the underworld with urgency.

“Keep that bracelet on you at all times, even when you sleep or bathe.”

I knew what she meant, yet I feigned ignorance.

“Surely that’s unnecessary, not in the safety of this castle.”

Her reply came with a cryptic smile.

“Your jokes could use some work.”

I wasn’t naïve enough to miss the warning behind her words.

“You’re really kind, Sister”

“Me? How so?”

I saw the warmth hidden behind her icy demeanor.

“It’s not because I received a gift or anything.”

“Then why?”

“I’ve been reflecting on your true intentions, sister.”

Why would she pin her hopes on me as a counter to Verdzig? What ultimate reason could she have?

“You don’t want to see brothers tearing each other apart, do you?”

“…!”

“You believe I’m not the kind of man who would act as ruthlessly as Verdzig, isn’t that right?”

“To think you would understand me so well.”

Ulbhild lightly placed her hand on my shoulder.

“You’re exactly right. So be cautious, Allen.”

“I will be.”

“For now, focus on improving yourself. Be vigilant in everything you do and refine your skills to rise as high as you can.”

…Sorry, but I can only keep half of that promise.

After all, I’m destined to walk a tightrope as both the scion of a noble house and the shadowy puppet master of the underworld.

———-