The wine tasted cheap, watered-down, and vaguely metallic—exactly what I expected from a minor noble house on the brink of irrelevance. Still, I savored every sip.
Because it tasted like victory.
Baron Ulric Nightcrest sat rigidly in his chair, still bound by the shadows. He had gone silent in that specific way proud men do when their pride has been shattered so violently that even anger can't hold the pieces together.
Lady Nightcrest trembled beside him, clutching her pearl necklace like a ward against evil. Ironically, she was clutching it wrong—pearls are good luck charms for fertility, not protection.
Not that it mattered. Nothing would protect them from me—not luck, not gods, not even their own household guards.
"Servant," I said casually.
A maid jolted like a startled rabbit. "Y–Yes, young master?"
"Bring parchment, ink, and the family seal."
Her eyes darted to the Baron for permission.
His jaw tightened. "Do as he says…"
She sprinted away faster than I expected from someone living on crumbs and fear.
I turned back to the Baron and regarded him. "You know, Father, this could have gone much more pleasantly."
"You think you can threaten your way into power forever?" he rasped. "The kingdom will notice—an inquisition will—"
"Come kill me?" I finished. "Yes, I'm counting on it."
He blinked, confused and terrified.
"Why would—?"
"More corpses for my army."
Lady Nightcrest gagged.
The eldest son, who had finally scraped the soup off his face, stared at me like I had sprouted horns. "You're mad. Absolutely mad."
"I'm ambitious," I corrected him. "There's a difference."
The youngest daughter—Lira Nightcrest—peeked at me from behind her mother. She was a timid girl of ten, always quiet, always shrinking. Unlike the others, her eyes held no hatred… only fear.
She whispered, "Azeroth… why are you doing this?"
It was the first innocent question thrown my way since reincarnation.
I softened my smile. "Because I was born to rule."
Her little shoulders shrank, but she didn't look away. Interesting. Fear, but not revulsion.
Future recruit? Possibly.
The maid returned breathlessly with the parchment, quill, and the Nightcrest crest—an iron seal shaped like a rearing hawk.
"Set it here," I ordered.
She placed them on the table with trembling hands. Gareth's looming form behind her didn't help her nerves. His hollow gaze made her knees wobble.
I pulled the parchment closer and dipped the quill in ink.
"Let us begin."
The Baron gritted his teeth. "I will not let this house fall into darkness."
"Too late," I said, writing swiftly.
The system chimed approvingly with every stroke of the quill.
[Decree of Succession: Azeroth Nightfall, First Heir][Financial Authority: Granted][Command of Private Knights: Granted][Library and Armory Access: Granted]
I finished and slid the paper toward him. "Sign."
He didn't move.
The shadows tightened around his wrists.
He exhaled shakily. "I hope the gods strike you down."
"That would be novel," I said lightly. "Though they're welcome to try."
His hand moved, painfully slowly, as though the quill weighed a thousand pounds. He signed the decree, each stroke dripping resentment.
The moment his signature landed, the system exploded with notifications.
[Quest Complete!][Shadow Evolution — Tier I Unlocked][All Shadow Skills have evolved!][Congratulations, Host. You are now officially terrifying.]
"Oh?" I murmured. "System, details."
Panels slid open like blooming flowers.
[Shadow Skills — Evolved]
Shadow Extraction → Shadow Harvest (Lv. 1)More efficient corpse conversion + increased shadow energy.
Raise Lesser Shadow → Raise Shadow Soldier (Lv. 1)Thralls gain +20% physical stats; loyalty becomes absolute.
Shadow Bind → Shadow Shackles (Lv. 1)Can restrain even trained knights.
New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Mask (Lv. 1)Allows identity concealment and aura suppression.
"Delightful," I whispered.
My magic surged like a storm awakening in my veins.
The Baron and his wife shivered, feeling the wave of power ripple across the room. Even the torches flickered violently, as if bowing to my presence.
Lira whispered softly, "Brother… you… changed…"
I turned to her. "Yes. And soon, this entire realm will change with me."
I rose from the head of the table and approached my shadow thralls.
"Your skills have evolved," I said. "Test them."
They knelt instantly.
"By your will," Gareth murmured, voice deeper and smoother than before.
The transformation enhanced him noticeably—his posture straighter, his aura heavier, and his movements sharper.
Excellent.
I turned back to the terrified noble family.
"My first command as heir…" I announced. "No more abuse. No more beatings. No more starving me or locking me in closets. I will live in the main house, in suitable quarters."
Lady Nightcrest staggered. "Over my dead—"
"Careful," I warned gently. "I can arrange that."
She froze.
The Baron glared. "You won. You have what you wanted. Why continue tormenting us?"
"Because fear," I said, "is a much more reliable tool than love. And you have given me no reason to grant you the latter."
The system chimed with mock enthusiasm.
[Villainy +1][Intimidation +1][Shadow Emperor Path: Progress 2%]
Progress. Good.
I gestured for the thralls. "Escort me to my new chambers."
Lady Nightcrest sputtered in outrage. "You can't just—!"
"I can," I replied. "And I will."
Gareth opened the dining hall doors. I walked through without a backward glance, leaving behind broken pride and fear-soaked silence.
The thralls followed like shadows given form.
We moved through the manor halls—servants whispering and cowering as we passed. The sight of Gareth, once a bully loved by the house nobles, now walking dead behind me caused panic to ripple through the estate.
As I reached the main staircase, a squad of armored household knights rushed forward.
"Halt!" their captain barked. "By order of the Baron, you are—"
He froze mid-sentence as shadow shackles burst from beneath the carpet, wrapping around his legs and yanking him into the air.
The remaining knights drew swords.
Gareth stepped forward.
A single backhanded slap from him sent one knight flying into a wall, armor denting inward.
I raised a hand.
"Stop."
The knights froze—their instincts screaming not to move.
"I am the heir now," I said calmly. "And your new commander. Attack me, and you attack the future of this house."
They hesitated—long enough.
The system chimed.
[Persuasion Check Passed][Knight Loyalty: +5%]
The captain, still dangling mid-air, finally croaked, "R–Release me… Lord… Azeroth…"
I flicked my fingers.
The shadows dropped him.
He kneeled instantly. "Your orders, my lord?"
"Clear out the east wing's master chambers," I said. "That will be my new room."
The knights exchanged nervous glances.
Then:
"Yes, my lord!"
They scattered to prepare my new quarters.
I permitted myself a satisfied breath.
A few hours ago, I had been a forgotten bastard beaten into a closet.
Now?
I owned the estate.
I commanded knights.
I had thralls.
I had a system.
And I had a throne to rise toward.
As I entered my new chambers, the system chimed again.
[New Objective: Establish Your First Shadow Base]Reward: Shadow Forge (Tier I)]
A grin stretched across my face.
"Let's begin."
The shadows crawled up the walls in anticipation.
The night had only just started.