Chapter 35

2 hours ago.

"Your Highness, Duke. A young man has come to the gate and is showing this necklace, requesting to meet you."

Duke Conrad was presented with the necklace Otto had sent while he was attending to his usual business.

"This necklace is…."

Duke Conrad's face stiffened.

"Does this young man say he wants to meet me outside the gate?"

"Yes, that's what he says."

"I will go now."

Duke Conrad immediately stopped his work and stood up.

In his hand, he tightly gripped the necklace Otto had sent.

It was the necklace he had given to his only daughter decades ago….

* * *

Otto de Scuderi's mother was actually the only daughter of Duke Conrad, the head of the Kuntach family.

To explain, in the past, Selena von Kuntach had fallen in love with the Lord of Oryx by chance.

However, it was impossible for their love to bear fruit.

Would a family with the most noble bloodline in the entire continent ever marry their daughter to the lord of a mere rural fief?

Therefore, Selena had no choice but to take drastic measures.

She destroyed her mana core and severed the tendons in her right wrist, which she used to hold a sword, thus completely severing ties with her family.

There was no other way for her to be with the Lord of Oryx.

"Such a wretched thing! Now you are not my daughter, and you are no longer a member of the Kuntach family! I would like to kill you with my own hands, but I will show mercy for the sake of your dead mother. So get lost! I don't even want to see you!"

Enraged, Duke Conrad expelled his daughter Selena from the Kuntach family, and their forbidden love eventually bore fruit.

This hidden backstory could be found in the diary of Otto's father, "Oryx's Diary," and was a secret known only to Kim Dojin.

It was a very valuable piece of information he discovered while clearing the game as Otto de Scuderi, not caring about the means or methods.

"Grandfather."

A cold smile appeared on Duke Conrad's face.

"Who are you to dare call me grandfather?"

...But in fact, Conrad recognized Otto at first glance.

'Selena, that girl, you look just like her.'

He saw the face of his daughter Selena, whom he had expelled 30 years ago, in Otto's face.

"Since Your Highness is my grandfather, I called you grandfather."

"But I have no daughter. Therefore, I cannot have a grandson who calls me grandfather."

"Even though my mother was disowned, that doesn't mean she isn't your daughter."

"Are you daring to mention a traitor of the family in front of me?"

At the moment Conrad revealed his anger.

"I have only come to deliver the news of her death."

Otto said quietly.

"News of her death...?"

"My mother has passed away."

"……!"

"It's not recent. She passed away a long time ago, but the situation did not allow me to deliver the news."

Conrad fell silent, completely taken aback by the unexpected news.

It had been 30 years since they had cut off all contact.

However, the sudden news of his daughter's death was enough to shake Duke Conrad's heart.

"Is that... so."

Duke Conrad said with a stiff face.

"Selena, that girl, is no longer in this world...?"

"It has been a long time."

"The place to talk about this... is not here. I will move to a different location."

Thus, Otto followed Duke Conrad into the castle.

"I told you, didn't I? That I would enter openly?"

Otto whispered in Camille's ear.

"……"

Camille, who had never expected such a method, was speechless.

To think that Otto had inherited the noble bloodline of the Kuntach family….

* * *

Otto and Camille were led to a garden deep within the castle.

'I need to stay alert.'

Otto was tense.

Conrad was not evil, but he was not someone to be underestimated.

As the head of the Kuntach family, one of the five most noble families on the continent, he was not an easy person to deal with.

"How did your mother die?"

Conrad asked Otto.

"She passed away after giving birth to me."

"Just for that reason…."

"More precisely, she passed away due to a curse."

"What?"

"An unfortunate incident occurred."

Otto told Conrad about the events that had transpired.

"You foolish girl... to die like that, to betray your father and your family…."

A voice filled with anger came from Conrad.

'I have aged. If it were 10 years ago, I wouldn't have batted an eye.'

Otto thought and waited silently.

"I understand. You may leave now. Since you have delivered the news, your role is over."

Conrad did not recognize Otto as his grandson.

"My business is not finished yet."

"If you have delivered the news of your mother's death, what more do you have to do? Did you think I would recognize you as my grandson?"

"That's not it."

Otto shook his head.

"Grandfather…."

"I told you not to call me that."

"I know that Your Highness is merciless to those without ability."

"So?"

"I have come to prove my worth."

"Worth…."

A derisive expression appeared on Conrad's face.

"How will you prove your worth? My standards are high. A mediocre skill will not satisfy me; it will only disappoint me."

"I am confident I will not disappoint you."

"Then what? What means do you have to prove your worth?"

"Sanctuary."

Otto said with a smile.

"I will open the Sanctuary."

At that moment.

'What is this guy talking about?'

Conrad doubted his own ears.

* * *

The Kuntach family, with a history of 1,000 years, had a very secret space called the "Sanctuary."

However, even the Kuntach family members did not know what exactly was inside the Sanctuary.

Only the legend that it contained an incredible sword technique or magic was passed down.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I will open the Sanctuary."

"Are you saying you will open a place that no one has been able to open in the past 1,000 years since our family settled here?"

"Yes."

"Wow!"

Conrad frowned.

"What do you mean by 'safety'…."

"If I cannot open the Sanctuary, I will give my life."

"Is that true?"

"There is not a single lie."

Conrad was skeptical of Otto's words but decided to believe him when he said he would give his life.

"If you open the Sanctuary… I will recognize you. Opening the Sanctuary is a great contribution to our family."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"By the way, do you know what is inside the Sanctuary?"

"Yes, I do."

"What is inside?"

"The five powers of the Invincible Emperor are sealed there."

"Invincible Emperor?!"

Conrad was startled.

The Invincible Emperor.

He was an absolute ruler who lived 1,500 years ago, a figure so legendary that he was almost a myth.

"What did you just say? The Invincible Emperor?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Are the powers of the Invincible Emperor… five of them, sealed inside the Sanctuary?"

"Yes."

"My goodness…."

The Invincible Emperor was said to have shown the power of a god in a human body, and his powers were undoubtedly terrifying.

If Otto could open the Sanctuary and bring out the sealed powers of the Invincible Emperor….

'Our Kuntach family could become the greatest family on the continent. No, unifying the continent would not be impossible.'

The story of the Invincible Emperor's powers was so attractive that even the cold and calculating Conrad was moved.

No matter how absurd it might seem….

"You have already made me expect something. If you disappoint me, you will pay a severe price."

Conrad said to Otto in a slightly threatening tone.

"Your Highness will not be disappointed. I promise."

"Then when will you open the Sanctuary?"

"I am tired from the long journey, so I will rest for three days and then open it."

"Three days… Our family has waited 1,000 years for the Sanctuary to open. Three days is nothing compared to that long wait. Fine. Stay here and rest well."

"Thank you."

Thus, Otto was allowed to stay within the Kuntach family's castle.

* * *

That night.

Otto and Camille were treated with the utmost hospitality.

Conrad had ordered that they be treated with the utmost care, so they received treatment no less than