[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Chapter 35:The Mask of Aminicrus
‘A mistake? Nonsense.’
I blocked my soul's ears to the whispers of my terror-stricken body. How dare it utter such weak words.
"Why do you look at that way, little brother?"
"Barclava—"
I ntioned the na of the bastard who started all this.
"He seed terribly afraid of you, brother."
"Is that what you noticed?"
Verdzig smiled. His expression seed to ask if I wasn't afraid of him.
“I saw today that it wasn't because Barclava is a particularly pathetic coward.”
Verdzig leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"Why do you think so?"
"I observed the attitudes of the servants toward you, and the look in our other siblings' eyes."
"Ah, I see. And what did you notice?"
"They either revered you or feared you. Generally one of the two."
"Hmm."
Verdzig simply stared at without confirming or denying, maintaining his composure. His calmness sent chills down my spine. I knew why.
'From the mont I entered, he had already spread his killing intent throughout the room.'
Like a dispersed mist, it was subtle yet gradually paralyzed my body like poison.
His mana control was truly astonishing. It was impossible to gauge this man's true level.
'He's openly intimidating people. No wonder Barclava would have wet himself by now.'
However, I'm a man who knows how to maintain his nerve even when terrified. That's why I've always been better at gambling than Ivan.
'Dear brother... The more I learn about you, the more you remind of the Dark King.'
That one was a cruel and persistent hypocrite. He was also a demon lord who devoured a nation by ruling through fear and blackmail.
Here lies that sa seed. Verdzig Grunewald, a devil with an angel's face.
"Impressive."
Verdzig's eyes changed as he watched quietly endure all his pressure. As if I'd finally earned the right to converse with him.
"Now then, shall we hear what calculations led our little brother to request this private audience?"
"You're not asking because you don't know."
When I smirked, Verdzig's eyebrow twitched. Was my smile that surprising?
'Well, it would be.'
After all, this wasn't pressure that could be endured with my power, having only reached the fifth level of the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique.
'This is just presence, just presence. If you grit your teeth and endure, it's nothing.'
How many death lines have I crossed in my life? I am Karzan, the mad dog of the underworld.
"My, I must have been too mischievous."
Verdzig instantly dissolved his killing intent. Like a collapsed dam, a sigh unconsciously escaped .
"Haha. Seems I overdid it."
Only then did Verdzig smile at . His eyes looked down at as if saying, 'Your struggle was quite desperate, comndable effort.'
'How arrogant.'
Still, I didn't snap back at him. I'm a man who knows well how excessive boldness can ruin situations.
And now was the ti to take a step back. The strong one had already shown rcy.
"It's not easy to keep my head high before you, brother."
I spoke showing my feigning weakness.
"I hope you found this little brother's bravado endearing."
"Well now, truly admirable."
Even as he spoke words of praise, I felt a chill like a snake licking my skin.
'He's skilled at deception. He took advantage of my montary lapse.'
The chill likely ca from him scanning my body with his energy.
I knew this but didn't resist.
"Good. I like your attitude more and more."
Verdzig nodded.
Was he reading the situation at the sa level as ? I decided to assu so. It didn't matter – I was used to taking the weaker position.
"Now let this brother settle accounts. Let's see, what would be suitable..."
Verdzig rose from his seat and retrieved sothing from a drawer.
It was a white mask.
"What is that?"
"The Mask of Aminicrus. An artifact that changes the appearance of its wearer."
Verdzig put on the mask himself.
"Whoa!"
His height decreased and his face changed, and suddenly there stood Verdzig transford into Barclava's appearance, laughing heartily.
"Surprised? This is generally what it can do. It does consu quite a bit of mana though."
As soon as he removed the mask, he returned to his original form.
"No... why give such a precious item? It must be priceless."
"After tornting my cute little brother, I should pay an appropriate price, shouldn't I?"
Verdzig stepped close and whispered.
“Allen, every noble needs secrets and shadows.”
Those words were truly aningful.
"If my gaze was so suffocating, now this brother will give you the freedom to keep secrets."
Look at this. I was dumbfounded by such an excessive reward being suddenly presented.
'Is he saying I should try whatever I can? How arrogant. Or is even this just bait to test my reaction?'
I leaned more toward the latter interpretation.
"What's wrong? Not to your liking?"
"Your younger brother feels guilty, receiving sothing so excessive for such a minor matter."
Even receiving an item of such high value requires courage.
'It's a superior item. The craftsmanship, the mana signature, everything.'
Only soone like the Second Young Master of Grunewald, where all treasures of the continent gather, could acquire such an item.
In my previous life, such rare items occasionally appeared in black markets, but their prices were truly astronomical.
"You're welco to decline."
I looked straight into Verdzig's eyes.
"I will not decline."
"Ah, is that so?"
The corners of Verdzig's mouth curved upward.
Of course, this was still an artifact beyond my current ability to handle. But—
'A mask that can change appearance at will?'
How could I pass this up? This was exactly what I needed to build my own power base while moving between the underworld and the noble houses.
'Turns out he's actually a nice person.'
I felt a newfound appreciation for him. Almost enough to make regret if I'd spoken too impudently earlier.
"Brother, I've learned that receiving sothing beyond one's worth often leads to misfortune."
"Generally true."
An owner who cannot handle their possession usually ends up dying because of it.
The Dark King had the power to handle it, which is why I ended up dying instead.
"I'll work hard to ensure that doesn't happen."
"That would be good then."
I am a man who once road through the massive shadows covering this entire continent. It would be shaful not to be able to swallow this level of poison.
"By the way, I feel guilty receiving gifts twice already."
"Don't worry about that honey or this mask. Neither is particularly special."
"If you say so, I won't worry about it."
Verdzig laughed again, seeming to have grown accustod to my way of speaking.
"How interesting."
...And at this mont, I realized sothing. Surely this man had extended his reach into the underworld long before I had.
Why wouldn't he? This bastard has eyes that show he could kill and dispose of even his siblings if necessary. In both the underworld and noble society, these types are the most dangerous.
"Brother, I shall take my leave now."
"Leaving already?"
Verdzig asked.
"Without even having tea?"
"That's quite alright."
"I haven't poisoned it."
Too savage to be a joke. But what was even more savage was that it wasn't a joke at all.
* * *
"Young Master!"
"Young Lord!"
When I returned, Peter and Olivier made a huge fuss as if seeing soone return from the dead.
"Why are you like this? Anyone would think I'd just gotten out of prison."
"Were... were you unhard?"
Even Olivier asked in a panic. It was another indication of Verdzig's reputation.
"Well, to be fair nothing happened..."
"Did... did you perhaps consu poison...?"
"Almost did."
"Urk!"
Peter's legs gave out and he collapsed. Good grief, what a pathetic fellow.
"Don't worry. I got paid handsoly for the trouble."
"Pardon?"
"Look at this."
I took out the Mask of Aminicrus.
"Olivier. Can you tell what this is?"
"...It's a mask with transformation abilities."
"As expected, you know your stuff."
So nobles enjoy masquerade balls with completely changed appearances, builds, and voices. This was an item made for such nobles.
But in my hands, it would be different.
"It seems quite precious."
"Right?"
"Yes. Low-quality masks are easily detected, but better ones guarantee perfect polymorphing. The finest ones can even change gender, they say."
"That's impressive."
I handed the mask to Peter.
"Keep it safe."
"Oh, safekeeping?"
"It's not sothing we can use right away."
"Why not?"
"With things like this, it's right to assu there are traps."
Olivier agreed with my words.
"Soone of Second Young Master's caliber would have no trouble having high-ranking mages embed trap spells in artifacts."
As expected of Olivier. He understood noble affairs well. Natural, having learned under the Head Butler.
"Ah, I see."
Peter nodded with a shocked expression.
It wasn't strange.
This information was beyond soone like Peter, who ca from fallen nobility and worked as a servant-like attendant to support his family.
'In my experience, they usually embed functions like eavesdropping, tracking, and self-destruction.'
It reminded of the jewel box I stole from the Dark King's vault. It had protective magic made by an archmage, and when broken, it exploded.
'That was a double trap.'
Moreover, it was an item filled with malice – if it fell into the hands of soone strong enough to break it, it would rather be destroyed while wounding them.
'Vicious bastard. Sheesh.'
By the way, what was inside that made him so paranoid? Can't know. It's already exploded and gone.
'Even Verdzig demonstrating the mask in front of might be another trap, psychological warfare.'
It's harmless. Try it yourself. Don't nobles need their secrets—
These sweet baits might be trying to lure in. What kind of poison was painted on that bait?
"When lacking information, deciding whether to be cautious or bold is also wisdom."
I saw this as a ti for caution.
"Then I'll keep this in the vault."
"Please do."
This was the best option for now.
It would be suspicious to imdiately have soone analyze its magic. That action itself would raise too many questions. I wanted to pretend I 'couldn't use' the mask.
'Still, how thankful.'
Despite all of Verdzig's sches, this gift was a blessing to .
When I make this mask truly mine, I'll be able to extend my reach into both the underworld and noble society simultaneously.
'Went to collect damages and ca back with a deed to a house.'
Sure, it's a deed filled with traps and poison clauses, but that's fine. Once I unlock it, it's mine, right?
'...But before that.'
There was sothing I wanted to do.
"Olivier."
"Yes, sir."
"I'd like to inspect outside the castle soon. Would that be possible?"
"...!"
I planned to carefully examine the city, port, and back alleys. As the 'Fourth Prince of Grunewald' of course.
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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