I've been realizing these past few days that sleeping in an overly fluffy bed hurts my back.
Moreover, for some reason, my whole body is drenched in cold sweat and aches to the point of soreness.
"Ugh..."
But too lazy to care, I've been leaving it be for days now. The moment I woke up, I grabbed a bottle of liquor and poured the harsh stuff down my throat, exhaling a stale breath.
"Phew..."
I immediately lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
"..."
Having a body that possesses and can wield mana is truly convenient.
Even though my talent is less than a speck of dust, limiting me to 9th-circle spells and below, it's still incomparably tougher than a regular person's.
Just look at how I have no hangover right now.
I clearly chugged booze until I blacked out last night, yet my head doesn't hurt—in fact, I'm overflowing with energy.
With this body, no matter how much I drink or smoke, the negative effects must be minimal.
Oh, by the way, magic circles range from 9th to 1st circle—the lower the number, the more difficult and powerful the spell.
I have no idea why knights follow traditional fantasy tropes dividing users into mana users or aura users, while mages use this circle system.
Knock knock!
"U-um... It's breakfast time..."
At that moment, a brown-haired young maid peeked her head in with the knock.
She's the diligent maid who's been waking me up and cleaning my room these past few days.
"Is that so. Uh, your name was...?"
"It's Everil... Please remember it..."
"Ah, right. Everil... No need to clean too thoroughly."
"I-I couldn't do that. It's my job..."
"Fine then. Do as you like."
Staggering to my feet, I stretched with a big yawn and wobbled toward the door.
"Ah, ack! Ack! U-um...! Lord Alzen!"
"Hm? What?"
She rarely ever called out to me, so I turned back curiously. She was trembling all over, eyes squeezed shut, holding out a uniform to me.
Where the hell did she pull that outfit from, and when?
It looked suffocating just to look at.
"P-put on, on, on the clothes...! You need to, to have some decorum...!"
"I'm already wearing clothes."
I scowled and pointed at what I had on. Her face drained of color.
What I wore was a wrinkled, baggy shirt paired with cut-off shorts I'd hacked the bottoms off of myself—personally, I thought it was perfect for a wastrel's style.
"Th-that...! If you, if you wear these clothes...!"
"...Who told you to bring it?"
"E-eek!?"
She jumped in shock at my words and her eyes welled up with tears.
What did I even do to make her cry?
This felt unfair.
"That outfit—you didn't prepare it thinking of me. Who ordered you to dress me up?"
"T-truthfully... Duchess Pitra...!"
"Ah~ Mother, huh..."
I sighed, recalling the woman with red hair and red eyes, yet a soft and gentle impression.
She obviously knew I wouldn't listen if she told me directly, so for the past few days, she'd been trying to correct me indirectly through this innocent young maid who was still unscathed.
What can I say... It didn't sit well with me.
"...I'm not wearing it. Just toss it somewhere."
"Ah...!"
She fidgeted anxiously, not knowing what to do, but I patted her shoulder to calm her down.
"Everil. You've had it rough."
"Y-yes!? N-no, I, it's nothing!"
"What do you mean nothing?"
"Eek!? N-no, I mean... I'm sorry!"
"Sorry for what?"
"Uh...? Ah, uh, e...?"
She looked like she'd burst into tears if I teased her any more, so I chuckled, waved as I left the room.
With her mentality, I wondered if she could even handle maid duties properly.
Gulp!
Slurp, whoo...!
Bottle in one hand, cigarette in the other, I sauntered toward the dining hall where everyone gathered.
Even I could tell I looked like a total thug, which made me laugh involuntarily.
"..."
"..."
The two knights guarding the dining hall entrance seemed to share the sentiment, scowling fiercely at the sight of me.
"Ugh? What? You guys?"
There'd never been guards at the dining hall before, so I asked. They stepped forward with stern expressions.
"Lord Starnassila Alzen. You may not join breakfast."
"...Hah."
Their blunt, direct words left me speechless.
"...By whose order?"
"Vice Commander Quino's directive."
"Ah~ Heh heh. So our esteemed brother issued that command? How petty. Don't you think? He really doesn't seem fit for the duke's role~"
I sneered mockingly, and a flicker of anger crossed the stoic knight's face.
"Hmm, but I have business inside, so I need to go in. You gonna stop me?"
"Yes. Even if we must use force."
"Hah hah... What a talent. So loyal. Quino, my brother's faithful adjutant. Makes me proud just watching."
"...Thank you."
Surprised that I knew his name, he raised his eyes slightly before bowing his head curtly.
"Your mother, who raised you alone, would be so proud of you now! Right?"
"...!?"
For the first time, bewilderment showed on his face.
"Hahaha! From a nameless backwater village punk to a devoted member of the duke's knight order—what greater honor and fame? Arrogant hunter Lutz would bow in respect, cranky old Hasuke would boast of you as the village pride, and Mary, the village beauty and your childhood friend, would blush and gaze shyly!"
"H-how do you...!"
Gulp!
I took a swig, savoring his flustered face for a moment before lowering my voice seriously.
"But your beloved hometown will burn soon. The people you cherish will become mere chunks of meat in monsters' bellies, and even the mother who raised you alone won't escape that disaster."
"Gasp...!?"
Shocked, Quino gasped and widened his eyes.
I slowly exhaled cigarette smoke, waiting for his reaction.
"...A-are you threatening me?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"You have ears—you must've heard my loud ravings these past few days. You should know what I'm talking about."
"...The story that the duke's family will be destroyed by demons?"
"Why, can't believe it?"
"I cannot. It's just the delusions of a drunken, insane Lord Alzen."
"Oho, coming on strong."
In this class-ridden world, saying that to someone of vastly higher status was as good as offering your neck.
"I'll specially forgive that rudeness. In return, step aside. I have much to say today."
"I cannot..."
"Argh, just move!"
Crash!
"!?"
Frustrated by his stubbornness, I unwittingly smashed the bottle in my hand down on him.
Caught off guard, liquor poured down Quino's helmet, which he'd never expected.
"You bastard! I'm the duke's third son! Starnassila Alzen! And some lowly knight dares block my way!? Do you want to die? Want me to kill you right now!!"
"Lord Alzen. Please calm down. If you rampage further, we'll use force..."
Quino began emanating aura but suddenly froze.
Duchess Starnassila Pitra had emerged from the dining hall, sighing with a troubled look.
"We greet the Duchess!"
"Haa... Yes. Good work. Alzen, no more commotion—come inside."
"Ooh. As expected, only Mother thinks of me. Heh heh..."
Slurp, whew~
With the booze gone, I took a deep drag on the cigarette and sauntered over. She sighed again.
Inside the dining hall, as expected, sharp glares from the eldest son and second daughter flew like daggers.
The youngest, Vivian, alternated glances between me and them, unsure what to do.
Oh, by the way, Vivian had come to me mid-efforts to prevent the duke's downfall just a day or two ago.
She'd hesitantly asked if everything I said was a lie.
I'd told her it was all true, but doubt must have sprouted in her.
Since then, instead of acting boldly, she'd been cautiously observing the mood.
"Starnassila Alzen. You've been noisy every morning, so we mobilized forces to verify your claims."
"Hm?"
At that, eldest son Berga started interrogating as if it were perfect timing.
"The result? The duchy is utter peace. No monsters disguised as villagers, no magic circles found. Explain this."
"Same here. I thought black mana was swirling around the duchy, making you hysterical? Hah, ridiculous! Verified by every method—no trace of black mana in the duchy!"
Second daughter Weller joined in, making it seem like I was cornered, but I just leisurely curled my lips into a smile.
"You're both idiots. Got rotten onions instead of brains in those thick skulls?"
"...What?"
"Y-you dare call me an idiot...!? This is the first insult of my life! You damned...!"
Savoring their twisted faces, I grinned even wider.
"If demons and black mages are dead set on destroying the duke's family, wouldn't it be weird if you could find it easily? Huh? If a quick scan revealed it, reports would've come ages ago. Right?"
As their auras turned murderous, the silent Family Head spoke.
His busy visits to the church these past days had paid off—a silver rosary hung around his neck.
A holy relic even I couldn't identify precisely, but its pure, sacred aura suggested it was quite useful.
Not as effective as hoped, maybe... but better than nothing.
"Then how do we find it? Speak."
"Oho, finally listening to your son properly? What joy!"
"..."
He fell silent.
Well, this was probably a big effort on his part.
Mobilizing knights and mages on a wastrel's zero-credibility word only to come up empty would dent his prestige... and a high demon's curse wouldn't be overcome by a relic alone, leaving no room for other concerns.
Even now, he was probably struggling privately against impulsive, intense desires and temptations.
I couldn't imagine his feelings, but the setting book detailed the psychology of Cambello's high demon Pit of Souls in vivid depth.
Something about resisting the temptation to head toward the sole brilliant beam of light in ominous, thick fog.
"Father?"
"Father!? Why on earth..."
"...Quiet."
His strained voice hushed the dining hall.
Maybe he needed someone to resolve this crisis in his stead, ensnared by heart demons.
If so, giving a chance to wastrel trash Starnassila Alzen made his words and actions make sense.
"Heh heh..."
Grinning, I launched an impromptu lecture, picking out the key points.
"Hahaha! So it is! Grateful for our great duke's consideration, I'll impart wisdom—so eldest son and second daughter, open your ears wide!"
"You scum...!"
"So full of yourself!"
Ignoring their fury, I raised my voice.
"Demons' and black mages' magic circles can't be found by ordinary means! Why? Demons have eons of experience in concealment, black mages centuries of persecution honing theirs! But! Depending on the circle's purpose, you can force it to reveal itself! For the duke's family—it's blood!"
"Blood...?"
"I'll name the locations of the magic circles now. Sprinkle chicken and pig blood there to check reactions—that'll verify my words! But not just any sprinkle! In specific patterns! Distinguishing disguised monster villagers is easier—wound them to check blood color or see if fresh hair writhes!"
Then, second daughter Weller, who'd been listening quietly, asked sharply.
"What about black mana? If it's floating in the air, why couldn't I detect it?"
"What nonsense! Sis, you've already detected black mana! The curse just made you ignore it consciously!"
"Wh-what...? You think that makes sense?"
"No reason it shouldn't!"
"If such nonsense were possible, detecting circles would be pointless! They'd just curse everyone to ignore them consciously!"
"Curses aren't omnipotent! Nor spammable! The bastard's probably strained just cursing key figures and the castle! Sacrifices for more would be short too! Once the castle and capital Terabaon are fully swallowed, it'll change... but fortunately, we have time—hurry now!"
Clink.
The moment I finished, the Family Head set down his utensils noisily, drawing eyes, and looked at eldest son Berga.
"Berga. Right after breakfast, dispatch knights for chicken and pig blood."
"Father! You believe that liar!?"
"...Try it. If nothing, Alzen gets punished."
"I can't comprehend. Why heed such a worthless child...!"
Grind!
Berga ground his teeth murderously, his glare piercing.
But I just smirked and shrugged.
That afternoon, the castle and capital Terabaon erupted in chaos.
Dozens of sinister, impure magic circles spewing dark red light had been found.