Chapter 41

"Sir, I apologize for the intrusion."

A few minutes after the argument between Zeros and Dyon.

The heavy door of the study opened, and Edgar quietly entered.

Duke sat at his desk, reviewing documents while waiting for the butler's report.

Edgar calmly explained the sequence of events.

Dyon's rude attitude, the dispute over Schna, and the agreement to a duel.

After listening to the entire report, Duke held his head in one hand and sighed deeply.

"A duel? How could this happen with you right there..."

"I apologize, sir. Dyon's remarks were out of line, and just as I was about to intervene, Zeros beat me to it..."

"I phrased that poorly. Edgar, I don't blame you. The responsibility lies with the individuals involved."

Duke stood up and slowly walked to the window.

As he gazed outside, he began to reflect on the relationship between his two sons.

Dyon was born to the first lady, and Zeros was born to the second lady about half a year later.

Perhaps because of their close age, the two had been competitive since childhood, but in most cases, the younger Zeros had better results.

Even though it was only half a year, Dyon, who was aware that he was older, felt anger and frustration, which he still clearly remembers.

The change began six months ago.

It was the timing of Dyon's "Crest Granting." The crest given to Dyon was the [Crest of All], which had excellent compatibility with many weapons and magic and the ability to use multiple skills.

After that, Dyon gradually became more confident.

His speech became more aggressive, and he began to treat those around him harshly.

He continued to make the minimum effort, but after reaching level 40, his progress slowed, and he gradually distanced himself from dungeon exploration.

The situation worsened about a week ago.

After Zeros was given the [Crest of Nothing], Dyon completely stopped making any effort.

He must have thought that the ranking with Zeros was settled and lost his motivation.

Duke was also concerned about Dyon's lazy attitude, but he hoped that the challenge of finding a servant and the entrance exam for the Royal Academy would help change his mindset.

—But in reality, not only did he become arrogant about his position, but he also tried to steal someone else's servant.

It was a foolish act, and Duke would have disciplined him himself, but with Zeros accepting the duel, that became difficult.

The Silphied family valued strength above all, and it was common to settle disputes through duels. According to tradition, no one could question the outcome of a duel.

Therefore, once Zeros accepted the duel, everything would depend on the outcome of the duel.

However, there was one point that Duke couldn't understand.

Duke returned to his seat and sank into his chair.

"Why did Zeros accept the duel in the first place?"

The [Crest of Nothing] given to Zeros was a crest that only a select few could manifest and had no effects.

Moreover, there was a significant level difference between Dyon and Zeros because they received their crests six months apart.

Even if Zeros had been leveling up in dungeons over the past few days, it would be impossible to reach level 10, no matter how hard he tried.

It was impossible for Zeros to win, no matter how much he struggled.

Considering Zeros' rational nature, it seemed unlikely that he would accept a duel just because of a few harsh words.

If he accepted the challenge, there must be some secret strategy to win, but Duke couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought about it.

"Perhaps, if I have doubts, I should consider why Zeros manifested the [Crest of Nothing] in the first place."

"Sir, what do you mean by that?"

Tilting his head, Edgar asked.

"As you know, Edgar, the crest one manifests is said to be greatly influenced by their aptitude, strength, and the training they have accumulated up to that point. Zeros, up until he received his crest, was a diligent and talented individual. Is it really possible for such a person to be given a crest that proves their incompetence?"

"Indeed, I have had the same doubt. However, there are no known cases of someone with the [Crest of Nothing] achieving great success. Without the ability to gain skills, it seems inevitable..."

"That is a reasonable observation."

Edgar asked another question.

"Do you think it's not the case, sir?"

"I don't have any certainty. After all, there are very few examples of the [Crest of Nothing] manifesting. Regardless, what I look for is not talent or effort but the results achieved. That's how the Silphied family rose to the rank of marquess."

Indeed, even if one is not blessed with talent or a good crest, if they are genuine, they can use any means necessary to reach the top.

That is Duke's belief, and that is why he said this when Zeros received his crest:

"I have nothing to tell you."

In other words, 'Whether you can reach the heights is up to you. I have no intention of interfering.'

"Let's not dwell too much on the past."

Since the duel has been decided, a witness is needed.

In this situation, he is the only one suitable for the role.

Duke straightened his clothes, stood up, and opened the study door.

"In any case, I will only observe the outcome of the duel."

Thus, the moment of the duel was approaching.

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