FANSiA Originals and KakaoPage
I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan
[Author/Original: Yuin]
[TL: Dekor]
[PR: Spades]
Episode 38
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Tern's thoughts were razor-sharp.
His realm was now 2-star mid.
A surprising leap.
Spurred by Chris's change, he'd trained like a madman to achieve it.
'Big brother's probably 2-star low, so I can do this.'
Beating him senseless would ease this irritation.
Then, creak.
The training chamber's door opened.
Seeing Chris, Tern's eyes widened.
"!!"
Something was different.
Chris always seemed imposing, but now it was beyond that.
Like a massive shadow looming.
"Tern?"
Chris tilted his head.
His face, somehow handsomer and even smugger.
"Here to get thrashed by your big brother?"
Tern swallowed hard.
Tension gripped him.
"…Keep our duel promise."
Chris yawned.
"Fine, if getting beat by your big brother is your wish, I'll grant it."
Tern felt uneasy at Chris's casual tone.
But logically, he had the edge.
Tern was 2-star mid.
Chris, 2-star low.
Half a month of seclusion couldn't yield major gains.
Sure, Chris had shown incredible fight against Melin despite being 2-star low.
Still, Tern was confident. He'd grown too.
Yet facing Chris, all that confidence dissolved like bubbles.
As Chris said, this felt less like a duel and more like a beating waiting to happen.
"…On one condition."
"What?"
"No holy sword."
"Hm?"
"No holy sword or other magic tools. Only the family's practice sword."
Tern, anxious, piled on restrictions.
He recalled Chris using tools to gain an edge against Melin.
"…"
Chris studied Tern quietly.
Tern's face flushed.
"…Like some Light Faction coward."
"Not scared of losing to you, big brother!"
Chris chuckled.
Tern's face reddened further as Chris laughed.
'Why's he so cute?'
Chris thought briefly.
'What to do with him?'
Tern was originally 'Christian's' enemy.
Was he still?
That flushed, huffing face.
Filled with resentment and rivalry toward his brother.
The exact look of a sibling eyeing their elder.
'Reminds me of old times.'
A pang of nostalgia hit.
In his past life, he'd had siblings.
A rotten family, but one younger sibling had been kind to him.
'Hope they're doing alright.'
Different gender, but the cuteness was like Tern's.
'Since 'Chris' is gone from that world, they're not suffering because of me.'
He'd checked once.
After regressing, he looked into his original self.
His old family was prominent, so it wasn't hard.
His original body had died.
Right when he entered this one, suggesting regression's influence.
'Good thing.'
The original 'Chris'… was better off never born.
Anyway, not important.
Memories of his sibling stirred sentimentality.
'No need to treat Tern as an enemy.'
He could treat him like a proper brother.
With that, he spoke.
"Alright, I'll follow your terms. But I've got a condition too."
"What?"
"The loser skips this Black Sanctification."
"!!"
Tern's face stiffened.
Chris smirked.
"It's a competition. The weaker one should sit it out, right?"
"…"
"For your sake. You're my brother; I don't want to crush you there."
Genuine care.
If they both attended, they'd compete.
Chris planned to crush all rivals.
For Tern's sake, better to join the next one.
But instead of gratitude, Tern gritted his teeth.
"Shut up and grab a sword."
Chris shrugged.
"If you won't appreciate your brother's heart."
He picked up a wooden sword by the training ground.
"I'll beat it into you."
The duel began.
The result… as expected.
Tern learned his brother's greatness(?).
---
"…That was harsh."
Count Kazar frowned.
Tern was bedridden from the duel's aftermath.
"Sorry."
"The healer says he'll need half a month. He can't attend the Black Sanctification."
Count Kazar clicked his tongue.
Exactly Chris's intent.
He'd deliberately put Tern out to block his attendance.
'He wouldn't listen otherwise.'
For Tern's future, he shouldn't join this time.
He'd only be Chris's sacrificial lamb, so this was brotherly care(?).
"Can I talk to Tern?"
"…He's upset, so smooth it over."
Inside, Tern lay in bed.
"Brother's here."
"…"
No reply.
Tern turned his head.
A gesture of refusal.
Chris chuckled and sat beside him.
"Pouting? Like some Light Faction brat. Why not join them?"
"How dare you!"
Tern, childishly provoked, snapped.
He huffed.
"Why'd you do it?"
"What? You wanted a beating, so I obliged. Why're you mad?"
"Not that. You did it to keep me from the Black Sanctification, didn't you?!"
Chris didn't deny it.
Tern, still fuming, glared with reddened eyes.
'Might cry if this goes on.'
Chris got Tern's side. The Black Sanctification was vital to Dark Mana Clan members.
Missing it by force naturally sparked this reaction.
Time to soothe him.
"It was for you."
"That's your excuse?!"
"I want you to be my strength."
"…"
Tern fell silent.
"What nonsense…"
"You heard my goal?"
"…Becoming a lord?"
"Right, I aim to seize the Dark Mana Clan. But I can't do it alone."
True.
No matter how exceptional, he couldn't achieve it solo.
His aim was the Dark Mana Clan and the Magic Empire's peak.
A lone wolf couldn't manage.
He needed allies.
"I want you to be my strength. As my brother. But if you joined me at the Black Sanctification, you'd lose out on Dark Mana Essence."
"…"
Tern couldn't argue.
Facing Chris in the duel.
Overwhelming.
Could he have competed and won?
"Besides, you don't really need Dark Mana Essence."
"…What?"
"It doesn't suit you. What fits you is 'Ash Mana.'"
"!!"
Tern's eyes widened.
Like light mana's branches, dark mana had types.
Up to 2-star, you trained general attributes; crossing to 3-star set your mana type.
That's why the Black Sanctification was held at 2-star.
At 3-star, your attribute locked, limiting Dark Mana Essence absorption.
"Dark Mana Essence is supreme among mana types. But only if it suits you. If not, it's worse than nothing. Ash Mana's your fit."
Ash Mana.
Specialized for curse dark magic.
"…How do you know?"
Tern growled, resisting.
Chris thought inwardly.
'Saw it in the future.'
In the era of ruin, Tern was famed for potent curse magic.
But he plateaued, due to his mana type.
High-level curse magic required Ash Mana.
"Learning curses comes easier than swordplay, right?"
"…True."
"Your aptitude. I'm not forcing you. Just think about what's best for your future. Learning Ash Mana doesn't block Dark Mana Essence."
As a Dark Mana Clan member, abandoning Dark Mana Essence was tough.
Luckily, as a superior mana type, it could coexist.
But learning another mana first reduced Dark Mana Essence efficiency.
"I'd like you to master Ash Mana first, then take Dark Mana Essence. Brotherly advice."
"…"
Tern fell silent.
Deep in thought.
Chris shrugged.
"Think it over. Oh, and a gift."
He tossed a small pouch.
"Gray Pill."
Tern's eyes widened.
"Found it on the road, so eat it."
"Why give me such a treasure…?"
Chris thought.
'I ate better.'
The Black Pill made the lesser Gray Pill inefficient.
If it wouldn't help, better to gift it and gain favor.
"You're my brother. No other reason."
"!!"
Tern's eyes trembled. He bit his lip.
"Why… why…"
He disliked his brother.
Found him infuriating.
That hadn't changed.
- You're my brother. No other reason.
More than that.
He knew Tern's curse aptitude.
Something only someone watching closely would notice.
'Thinks this'll soften me.'
Tern shut his eyes.
But he felt it.
His old resentment fading.
"…Apologize."
"For what?"
"…For living like a disgrace. For Mother's heartache because of you. Apologize for it all."
Chris looked surprised.
He hadn't known Tern felt this way.
"No apology."
"!!"
"But I'll promise."
Chris grinned.
"I'll show Father, you, and… Mother something that'll make her eyes shine."