Chapter 42

Otto's addiction symptoms were extremely severe.

The poison of Calypso was more like a magical curse than a chemical substance, making it impossible to treat with ordinary antidote potions.

"I'm doing my best... I've never seen such a virulent poison in my life."

It was so severe that even the highly skilled healers of the Kuntachi family struggled.

However, there was still hope.

"Step back. I will treat him myself."

Conrad, who had rushed over, pushed the healers aside and examined Otto's condition.

"A vicious curse, indeed."

Conrad, as an excellent swordsman, immediately recognized Otto's condition.

"Everyone, step back. I will use an antidote spell now."

Conrad personally inscribed a magic circle on Otto's body and began chanting.

About ten minutes later.

"Where am I...?"

Otto opened his eyes.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Your Highness."

"Hmm."

Conrad frowned.

"You shouldn't call your grandfather with such a formal title."

"…Yes?"

"From now on, call me 'Grandfather.'"

Otto's demeanor towards Conrad had changed significantly.

After opening the 'Sanctuary,' Conrad not only recognized Otto as a member of the Kuntachi family but also treated him like a grandson.

[Notice: Affection has increased!]

[Notice: Conrad's affection towards you has changed to 'Warm Affection'!]

Conrad was a person who pursued strength thoroughly.

He wouldn't give even a speck of attention to someone who lacked qualifications, no matter how close they were.

However, he was also considerate and warm to those he recognized.

Given that Otto had not only opened the 'Sanctuary' but also returned safely from the exploration—though he was a bit dangerous due to the poisoning—it was natural for Conrad's affection to increase.

"Yes, Grandfather."

Otto smiled at Conrad's changed attitude.

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better."

"Of course. I treated you myself, after all."

"Indeed, Grandfather. Hehe."

"Well, then... How was the inside of the Sanctuary? What did you find?"

"As I mentioned before, there were the powers of the Invincible Emperor."

"Oh! So you obtained them?"

"Not all of them yet."

"Hmm!"

"But I did obtain the Invincible Emperor's sword technique and one of his powers."

"The Invincible Emperor's sword technique...!"

Conrad's face lit up with anticipation.

While there were many excellent sword techniques in the world, none could compare to the Invincible Emperor's.

Learning this sword technique was a natural cause for Conrad's excitement.

"Did you really learn the Invincible Emperor's sword technique?"

"Yes, Grandfather."

"How could you learn the Invincible Emperor's sword technique in such a short time?"

"Well, it's like this…."

Otto briefly explained to Conrad what had happened inside.

"My goodness... You trained for five years? In just a few days?"

"Yes, Grandfather."

"How much did you train?"

"I've only just begun to lay the foundation."

"Excellent. For the Invincible Emperor's sword technique, five years to lay the foundation is not a long time at all."

Conrad was not disappointed by Otto's words.

As a swordsman and a mage, Conrad had deeply studied the sword for a long time, and he could agree that five years to lay the foundation was reasonable.

"Then, what power did you obtain?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Hmm?"

"I need time to understand this power I've obtained."

"Of course. Since you didn't learn it formally, that's to be expected. I understand. Don't rush. Take some time to rest and study the Invincible Emperor's sword technique and power. However, you must report to me whenever you make progress. Understand?"

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Rest well."

As Conrad left the room, a smile appeared on his face.

* * *

The next day.

After recovering his condition, Otto had breakfast with Camille and chatted about various things.

"You almost had a serious incident. Are you fully recovered now?"

"Yes. Grandfather treated me, and I slept well last night. I'm completely fine today."

"I'm really relieved."

"Thanks for worrying."

"Anything for you…."

"By the way, how should we deal with these guys?"

"Excuse me…?"

"I mean Javier and Kuzo."

As soon as Otto left the 'Sanctuary,' he was thinking about how to crush his enemies.

From now on, it was war.

Although Javier and Kuzo wouldn't move rashly with Conrad watching closely, they wouldn't back down.

They would use every dirty trick to eliminate Otto, and if things went wrong, they might even start a rebellion.

"Those guys are such a headache."

Just as Otto was grumbling, his mace, which was hanging at his waist, started to vibrate strongly.

- Brat! Keep your promise! You're not going to break your word with me, are you?

- Hand over your body right now!

- Can't you answer?

Kairos' voice echoed in Otto's mind.

"Ah, stop it!"

Otto frowned.

"Excuse me?"

Camille was confused.

"Ah, don't mind it. This thing keeps bothering me."

Otto pointed to the mace hanging at his waist and shouted at Kairos.

"How long have you been bothering me! We haven't even been out of the Sanctuary for 24 hours! Let me eat breakfast first! Breakfast! Are you telling me to drink on an empty stomach as soon as I wake up? And it's not even lunchtime yet! If I drink now, it's not even a midday drink! It's a hangover drink!"

- Ignorant fool. Don't you know that drinking is always right, whether in the morning or afternoon?

"Wait! I'll let you drink when it's night!"

- Is that true?

"I promise!"

- Ahem! In that case, I will show my broad-mindedness….

"Ha! You're complaining like a child and then acting superior."

Otto cut off the connection with Kairos.

"Is a ghost who couldn't drink and died attached to me? No, this is the ghost who couldn't drink and died himself."

"Excuse me? What do you mean?"

"Let me borrow my body for a drink."

"Huh?"

"I'll let you have a drink tonight."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

Camille asked, a bit worried.

"Don't worry. If he wanted to take over my body, he would have had many chances. Instead, he helped me. I promised him out of gratitude, so I have to keep it."

"I understand."

"Let's finish our breakfast first."

"Yes, Your Highness."

* * *

The news that Otto had learned the Invincible Emperor's sword technique and one of his powers from the 'Sanctuary' spread throughout the Kuntachi family in the blink of an eye.

As a result, Javier and Kuzo, who were about to take over the Kuntachi family, were in a state of shock.

Now that Otto was officially recognized as a member of the Kuntachi family and was on track to become the next head, it was only a matter of time.

Without Conrad's successor, Javier and Kuzo were on the verge of swallowing the Kuntachi family, but now their plans were completely ruined.

"Father, what do we do now? If this continues, we…."

"Who said we would sit and die?"

Javier said in a chilling voice.

"It's not too late."

"Are you planning to push through with the assassination?"

"Of course."

Javier nodded.

"What difference does it make if that damn brat dies before or after opening the Sanctuary? As long as he's dead, that's all that matters."

"But…."

Kuzo said cautiously.

"His guard will have increased now that he's returned from the Sanctuary."

"Of course, it will. But just because his guard has increased doesn't mean he can't be killed."

"…Yes?"

"There are always ways. Just trust your father. Understand?"

"Yes, Father."

Javier reassured his son Kuzo and then bared his teeth in a menacing grin.

"I don't know where you crawled from…. But you won't be able to avoid death…. You don't realize it yet… that you're already as good as dead…."

* * *

After finishing breakfast, Otto went to the training ground with Camille to check his condition.

'Let's see…'

He opened his skill window.

[Calypso's Eye]

One of the five powers of the Invincible Emperor, and the core skill system of the evil witch Calypso.

The power of each skill increases with the user's level, and the number of skills that can be used also increases.

- Penetration (Available)

- Petrifying Eye (Not Available)

- Poisonous Gaze (Not Available)

- Soul Steal (Not Available)

- Death Magic Eye (Not Available)

The Invincible Emperor's power was not just a single skill.

Each power contained a skill system with 3 to 5 skills.

[Penetration]

A skill belonging to the [Calypso's Eye] skill system.

It maximizes the user's vision, allowing them to see clearly even in extreme situations.

Note: As the character's level increases, the penetration range and mana consumption decrease.

'Will it work?'

Otto tried using the [Penetration] skill.

Swoosh!

Otto's eyes turned a dark green, and everything around him became semi-transparent.

Although his level was still low, he could see through thin objects like clothes.

"What are you looking at? Why are your eyes green?"

Camille asked.

"Camille."

"…Yes?"

"You're wearing red underwear today?"

"…What?"

"Very naughty? You pretended not to, but you're wearing such a seductive color?"

"Absolutely not."

Camille strongly denied it.

"Who said I'm wearing red underwear?"

"Can't you see?"

"…What?"

"I can see everything."

Otto drew a circle with his finger and held it up to his eye, grinning.

"Now, you can't hide anything from me…."

At that moment.

Swish!

Camille swung her wooden sword like lightning.

Clack!

Otto blocked the attack with his wooden sword.

"You're lucky."

Camille said coldly.

"It's skill, isn't it?"

Otto grinned.

"Peeping at someone's underwear is… something only dirty sex offenders do."

"Just testing to see if it works~."

"I'll correct your behavior."

Camille began to attack Otto with the intent to kill.

However….

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Otto blocked or dodged all of Camille's attacks.

"Did you really… learn swordsmanship in the Sanctuary?"

To think that Otto, who knew nothing about swordsmanship, could defend himself so easily….

"Am I lying?"

"Fine. Let's see how strong you've become."

The sparring match began.

'Incredible progress.'

Camille was shocked to see Otto sparring on equal terms with her.

To become this strong in just a few days….

However, he still couldn't defeat Camille.

He had only laid the foundation of the [Invincible Sword Technique], so he still had a long way to go.

Twenty minutes later.

Clack!

Camille's wooden sword struck Otto's head.

"Ouch!"

Otto screamed.

"You just died."

"Ugh… my head… oh no… I'm dying…."

"Never peek at my underwear again."

"Ugh…."

Camille left the training ground coldly, leaving Otto behind.

'At this rate, he'll catch up soon. I need to start training again.'

Camille was greatly stimulated by Otto's terrifying growth rate.

The skills Otto displayed in the sparring match were not ordinary, and if this continued, the roles might reverse, with Otto, the lord, protecting her, the knight.

* * *

That evening.

Kuzo went out to clear his head.

Although his father Javier had promised to eliminate Otto, his mind was still troubled, and he wanted to get some fresh air.

Then, he saw something strange.

'Why are the lord's personal guards here?'

Kuzo was puzzled to see the lord Conrad's personal guards providing security at a tavern where a drinking party was taking place.

And then….

'That guy!'

Kuzo's eyes widened when he saw a young man surrounded by people, drinking heavily.

A young man with blonde hair, guarded by the lord's personal guards?

It had to be him.

The one who opened the 'Sanctuary' and jeopardized Kuzo's position as the next heir….

'How dare this scum…!'

Enraged, Kuzo strode towards the drinking party.

He wanted to see the face of the one who had overturned his position as the next heir.