Chapter 197

The hall, which was used for banquets, was covered in dust. Since my parents passed away, there had been no parties, so it was only natural that dust settled in the hall, much like the dust in my heart.

At exactly midnight, as promised, the family members began to gather in the hall.

“Hmph, how insolent. A child ordering adults around.”

“If it weren’t for the discussion about the distribution of the family inheritance and the position of the head, I would have severely reprimanded your rudeness.”

“By the way, why is it so dark here? At least light some candles.”

Normally, most of them would ignore me, but the mention of inheritance distribution and succession to the headship brought them running, even bringing their offspring. It was truly laughable. But it’s fine, it’s only until today.

“The reason I called you all here today is about the abilities of the family head. I have realized something. Until now, I have been too soft as the head.”

“Well, it’s true that compared to your father, you are young and lack ability. Moreover, the position of the head is not something a child can handle.”

“…I have been too soft. I have allowed parasites who leech off the family and waste resources to live for too long.”

Just because they were relatives of my mother, or relatives of Lady Airi and Lady Glacia, I had been too lenient. I should have done this sooner. This is my mistake, and I must bear the consequences of this action alone, using it as a lesson to reflect on my failures.

“Are you calling us parasites now?”

“You are like flies gnawing at the family’s prestige. No, more like cockroaches from the sewers. If you had only targeted my life, I wouldn’t have gone this far. But since you’ve touched my younger siblings, I can no longer be lenient. It’s not like I can just cut off the legs of cockroaches… Today, I will exterminate all the pests.”

“Do you think you can defeat everyone here just because you have a little talent in magic and martial arts? How foolish.”

Everyone began to release their magical energy and draw their weapons. Indeed, with just my magic and martial arts, I wouldn’t be able to kill them all.

“That’s why I’ve prepared something.”

I pulled out the magic book Enok, left by my father, from my pocket.

“That’s… How dare you take out that treasure without knowing its value! Do you think you can even use the magic written in it?”

“Indeed, the magic written here is still beyond my reach. But that’s not the only means.”

[Unseal the chapter, Enok. It’s time for a deal. We will give a part of our souls in exchange for power. Give us the strength to defeat them.]

“You’ve gone mad, dabbling in black magic. Selling your soul to a demon…”

“What a disgrace to the family…! But this magical energy…”

“And by ‘we,’ you mean…”

At that moment, lightning struck, illuminating the dark hall. And the relatives could see them—my comrades, my friends who followed me. We all sold our souls to the demon. We sacrificed a part of our lifespan to endure the pain. We swore never to sell our personalities to the demon, no matter what.

“Hahaha…! Damian! This power is always exhilarating when I receive it! I feel so alive, so refreshed, and my heart is racing!”

“Well, since they messed with Damian, aside from the request, I really wanted to kill them.”

“…Well, since we trained in a rush, there might be some shortcomings, but I don’t feel like we’ll lose at all. Is this black magic?”

“As an older brother, I couldn’t ignore my younger brother’s request.”

They were all grateful people who made a deal with the demon for my sake.

“Madmen…! You’ve all sold your souls to the demon! Knowing the fate of black sorcerers, how could you cooperate with him!”

As my uncle Rudfel shouted, Captain Neil laughed heartily and replied.

“Of course we know. But no matter how horrifying it is… Damian asked us. We’ll sell our souls, bodies, and pride for him. Life is about prioritizing! For us, Damian, our younger brother and friend, comes before our lives or bodies!”

“Consorting with lowly blood, and now you’ve become brothers with him!”

Of course, there was no need to respond to that outcry anymore.

What followed was a one-sided massacre. Blood spurted like fountains, flesh flew like birds, and entrails scattered like decorations.

That’s how powerful black magic was. My parents had said that whether I wielded a sword or practiced magic, I had the talent to reach the top… But this was the power I gained after abandoning that future. To achieve that level of skill with a sword or magic would have taken a long time.

So, I abandoned my future. I chose the present over the future. No, I abandoned my future and chose a path to secure my younger sisters’ future. My father had told me to protect my younger sisters. It was the only atonement left for me, who had caused my parents’ suffering with a meaningless promise.

Finally, I grabbed the neck of my last remaining uncle, Rudfel.

“Do you think you’ll be forgiven for this! Do you think His Majesty the Emperor will tolerate black sorcerers!”

“Fortunately, given the current state of the nation, His Majesty has agreed. To quell the chaos outside the country, even the power of black sorcerers is needed.”

“You don’t mean…!”

“Yes, we are still young, but from now on, we will go to the battlefield. Of course, we can’t reveal black sorcerers to the public, so our achievements will be attributed to others… But if we had wanted honor, we wouldn’t have chosen black magic. Thanks to that, we’ve been promised the right to kill without being held accountable and many other things.”

Of course, His Majesty had been taught by our father in the past. I could have asked for his help, but it would have been a nuisance to ask him to purge so many powerful people while the nation was in chaos. So, I promised him a price equivalent to what he would lose.

“We will remain as those who sold our souls to the demon for selfish reasons. But it doesn’t matter. It’s not patriotism for the nation, but a deal born of selfishness.”

Uncle Rudfel laughed mockingly at my situation.

“Well, even if the Emperor knows, what about others? Your younger sister? Other nobles and citizens? Do you think they’ll understand your sacrifice? Can you bear their gaze?”

“…Even if my younger sisters don’t love me, I won’t care at all.”

“What did you say…”

“If normal siblings give and receive 50 units of love each, making a total of 100… Even if that child sends me 100 units of hatred, I will send 200, no, 300, or even more units of love. That’s how sibling bonds are maintained. Even if they hate me, I will love and protect them even more. And…”

With my right hand transformed into a grotesque blade, I pierced Uncle Rudfel’s abdomen.

“If I didn’t have the courage to be hated, I wouldn’t have started this. The meaning of my existence as a human has long disappeared within me. The only value I have left is to fulfill my father’s words to protect my younger sisters.”

If only the threats to my younger sisters are eliminated, if only their safety is guaranteed, I can throw away my insignificant life without hesitation. That’s why I’m alive.

“Well, I’ll leisurely watch your parents’ faces as you crumble in the afterlife.”

“You won’t be going to the same place as my parents.”

I threw the limp corpse aside.

Then, I saw Rachel watching me from behind the door before running away. For a moment, I thought I should explain everything to Rachel. If I ran out and explained now, she would surely understand.

But I didn’t do that. If I told her that the relatives who seemed kind to her were actually targeting her and her siblings’ lives… She would rely on me too much and lose trust in others.

Black sorcerers don’t live long. If Rachel, who has to live a long life without me, loses trust in others, she will surely become unhappy.

Captain Neil approached me and asked.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go and explain?”

“That child’s life is more important than my feelings. You said it yourself. Life is about prioritizing. I just prioritized her life over mine.”

Then, Neil reached out and touched my head. I thought he was going to hit me, but he gently stroked my head.

“Poor kid… But don’t be too heartbroken. We’re here for you.”