Chapter 5 New Contracts and Conspiracy with the Demon
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A day after the duel, the Grimlock mansion was wrapped in a strange silence.
The morning light spilling into the great hall found almost no trace of human presence.
It seemed Father had taken nearly all the household staff, along with his entire stock of combat slaves, and departed for the Margrave territory.
I could feel in my skin that this vast estate had been completely emptied.
”An item unnecessary for one who possesses no magic.” Father had sneered.
That was the reason so few servants remained.
The only sound echoing through the huge, empty house was the scraping of dust by the handful of servants left behind. Father truly believes my mana is zero.
But, it isn’t that I lack mana.
The “Magic Seal” (a seal that hides magical power) simply causes the mana released from my body to disperse into mist; the mana itself exists perfectly well. According to my knowledge of the game from my past life, the original Xenos boasted an immense reservoir of magical power. That setting remains reflected in me.
However, I have kept this secret hidden from Father.
That is why I quietly accepted this treatment.
As long as I am labeled as a useless second son, no one will be on their guard.
——This isn’t half bad.
The current situation is, if anything, convenient for me.
The house had become an empty shell.
It was as if it perfectly mirrored my own empty mind.
Every time I walked through the quiet hallways, the sound of my footsteps rang out far too loudly.
In the midst of this, a sharp-eared slave trader arrived at the mansion without delay. The heavy front door opened, and a sickly sweet perfume wafted into the dim entrance hall.
”Well, well, Xenos-sama. I have heard so much about you.” Lazarus crooned.1
The man who appeared was Lazarus Seitz.
With sallow, earthy skin and lips tinged with an unhealthy, dark blood color, the thin man with slicked-back black hair wore a constant, oily smirk.
His dark green eyes held the sharp glint of one looking at prey. His shining gaze licked over my entire body.
This man is a merchant who has done business with our family for years.
For a military house like the Grimlocks, slaves—especially magic-wielding slaves—are necessary assets. Lazarus is the one who has managed their supply.
”To think that you, Young Master, would… I am truly impressed.” Lazarus remarked, his tone dripping with false respect.
With a tone of polite rudeness, Lazarus offered praise for my duel victory that felt more like a probe.
Beneath his words, I could clearly see the curious question asking: “Despite having zero magic, what kind of trick did you use?”
As expected, this man is not to be underestimated.
His bottomless gaze grated on my nerves.
”Send me the servants necessary to maintain the estate. Do not send me anyone strange.” I commanded.
I informed him shortly.
Still keeping his mouth curled into that thin smile, Lazarus grinned as he brought forward the indentured servant slaves. From their tired expressions, one could see the traces of a long journey.
True to his reputation as a long-time partner of this family, the slaves he sent were all excellent. Kitchen staff, a gardener, guards, and several maids.
Their orderly presence seemed to blow a fresh wind through the empty mansion.
Unlike the combat slaves Father had taken, these were purely for household chores and protection. Most were commoners with no mana, or at most, a tiny amount.
I selected an appropriate number and paid the price.
Seeing the bundle of banknotes, Lazarus accepted them with a broad grin and bowed deeply.
Yet, deep within his eyes, an unreadable darkness still spread.
It was a gaze as if he were judging my worth——
Honestly, it was unpleasant, but I didn’t care; I leaned back and stared right back at him.
I acted like a big shot, refusing to be intimidated.
With the slave trader Lazarus gone and the newly purchased butler and maids added to the roster, the mansion regained a bit of life.
The hurried footsteps of the servants and their quiet instructions broke the previous silence. However, these are not the only slaves in this house, strictly speaking.
There is one other who has become a “special slave” to me.
Lilia, who loved me and became deeply connected to me on the night before the duel.
My slave contract with her was quite strange.
The moment I touched her chest that day, I felt the slave crest (a magical brand of ownership) that should have been etched into her skin vanish as if it were smoke.
This suggested that my “Magic Seal” ability does not merely cancel out others’ magic; it can even break existing magic contracts.
But then, after our lovemaking, an entirely new pattern was etched into her abdomen. What floated up on her fevered skin was an unfamiliar magic crest.
It seems I have an ability that automatically increases my number of slaves. I had without thinking made her my “exclusive slave” without even using a contract document.
It comes with the limited condition of “a woman who truly loves me from her heart,” but I can increase my slaves naturally. It was as if I were marking a “cleared heroine”….
Since this game had “romance elements” where the prince developed romantic relationships with multiple female characters, I was surprised, but not exactly shocked.
It wouldn’t be strange for such an ability to be put into the game.
Lilia continues to serve as my maid just as she always has.
Her devotion seemed to have increased even more than before.
From the back of her as she prepared breakfast, I could feel no hesitation or anxiety. In her eyes, there lived only absolute loyalty and deep affection.
It was like a small light, shining even in the darkness.
While I view her as a “pawn,” it is also true that I hold special feelings for her as the only person who supports me without condition.
”Now then, what shall I do first?” I muttered to myself.
Sinking deeply into the heavy chair in my room, bathing in the soft afternoon light spilling through the window, I fell into thought.
The scent of the tea rising from the cup in my hand faintly tickles my nose.
My goal is to achieve victory in the world war that will break out in three years.
My mission, having reincarnated as the final boss character of this world’s game, Xenos Grimlock, is to lead this war to victory as the figurehead of the rebel army.
To that end, I must strengthen my own side while at the same time weakening the enemy’s.
To run the war to my advantage, I will lay the groundwork starting now.
Prince Liam, the main character of the game, feels a sense of crisis due to the high mana level displayed by the son of Grimlock (the original Xenos)—a member of the war faction who opposes the royal family—and begins preparations to fight, viewing “Xenos” as a virtual enemy.
He tries to face the crisis by increasing his allies and strengthening himself.
Considering that, the current situation where everyone believes my mana is zero is not bad at all.
From the prince’s perspective, the Grimlock family has lost its heir, and the second son is a useless person with zero mana. I will likely not be seen as a threat.
I can prepare for war beneath the surface without the prince feeling any sense of crisis.
——However, there are concerns.
If I am thought to have zero mana, my own allies will look down on me.
This is no good.
The reason the original “Xenos” became the figurehead of the rebel army in the game was because he possessed immense mana.
With zero mana, I cannot attract the nobles who sympathize with the Grimlock camp and increase my allies.
They value real ability.
”Well, I’ll manage that with a bluff.” I whispered with a smirk.
I set down the cup and gave a fearless smile.
That smile was a mixture of thin confidence and slight impatience.
I have a cheat ability called “Magic Seal.”
And I have game knowledge.
It should work out somehow.
The plan is decided.
First, following Father’s plan——
I suppose I will act as a bridge between the comrades of the rebellion against the royal family….
”Ensure the relationship with the Vermillions is solid. Assist with the preparations, Ashraf.” I ordered.
The Duke house of Vermillion.
It is a prestigious family possessing some of the greatest power and wealth in the kingdom. And it is also the home of Cecilia, Xenos’s fiancée. In Father’s rebellion plan, the cooperation of the Vermillion family is indispensable.
”As you command, my lord, Xenos-sama.” Ashraf replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
The demon of teleportation (a creature who can move instantly across distances) bows respectfully.
I still cannot read any emotion on that face, even as he bows deeply.
Perhaps it is because he is a demon.
There is just something suspicious about this guy….
I cannot tell if he has noticed my mana-nullification ability or not; his expression is too difficult to read. Even that respectful attitude feels like an act.
It is like peering into a bottomless abyss….
Even if I think that, right now, I have absolutely no pawns other than Lilia and this guy.
I have to use whatever I can.
Ashraf’s teleportation ability is perfect for a liaison.
First, I will walk the path laid out by Father.
But, I have no intention of following his orders forever.
Further down that road, I will carve out my own path.
—
Summary:
Xenos navigates the silence of his hollowed-out mansion while maintaining the facade of being magically incompetent. He procures new servants through the merchant Lazarus and contemplates his strategy to lead the rebel army while manipulating the game’s protagonist. He formalizes a working relationship with the demon Ashraf to facilitate his rebellion plans.
—
Trivia:
- Xenos inadvertently gains the ability to acquire new “exclusive slaves” based on the condition of mutual love.
- Xenos is secretly building his political power by leveraging the Vermillion family’s influence.
- The demon Ashraf’s true feelings and knowledge of Xenos’s hidden abilities remain a mystery.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Grimlock – The military noble family to which Xenos and Gaius (his father) belongs.
• Xenos – A reincarnated individual with zero magic power who has taken the role of a final boss. He is cunning, pragmatic, and currently surviving in a hostile noble environment by utilizing a mysterious ability called Magic Seal. A reincarnated protagonist who possesses the ability to neutralize magic with a internal seal. He is lean and physically unassuming, acting as the second son of the Grimlock family while secretly plotting to control the war. A second son of the Grimlock family with shoulder-length hair. He is a reincarnated individual from modern Japan who realizes he is the final boss of a game he previously played. He currently possesses zero magical power and faces exile. A young man who has retained the memories of his past life. He finds himself in a desperate situation as a villain with no magic, sentenced to a duel he cannot win. He is driven by a primal instinct for survival and possesses an unknown, abnormal ability. The younger brother and protagonist who lacks mana but possesses a hidden ability called Magic Seal. He is a reincarnated individual with knowledge of the original game script.
• Lazarus – A thin, sallow-skinned slave trader with slicked-back black hair and deep green eyes. He has maintained a long-standing business relationship with the Grimlock family, supplying them with various slaves.
• Yui – An Earth-born Sage alongside Sato, Ibuki’s wife is a composed yet sharp-witted woman who fiercely protects her husband and aids his Knight Order circle in info-war strategy. Vital for political legitimacy, she deeply resents humanity and Dole, assertively teasing Yamada and lecturing Senior. Excluded during the princesses’ visit, she later playfully interrogates Ibuki in their bedroom.
• Lilia – A maid serving the Grimlock house who possesses a bountiful, well-proportioned physique. She is a Slave crested with an intricate, jet-black tattoo on her chest, though she shows a quiet and firm resolve. A maid with absolute loyalty and deep affection for Xenos. She bears a mysterious new magic crest on her abdomen, marking her as his exclusive slave. A person with whom the protagonist spent the previous night; she is associated with a Slave crest that was erased. A servant whose slave contract was mysteriously nullified by Xenos.
• Liam – A prince and the protagonist of the game, who views the Grimlock house as a virtual enemy due to their war-continuation stance. A prince who is a protagonist in the game world, actively gathering allies at the academy to oppose the Grimlock faction.
• Vermillion – A prestigious, wealthy Duke house in the kingdom allied with the Grimlock family.
• Ashraf – A demon capable of teleportation who serves Xenos. His emotions are unreadable, and his true loyalty remains a subject of suspicion. A devil of teleportation who manifests in a butler’s uniform with pitch-black sclera and golden pupils. He is exceptionally stoic, polite, and possessive of supernatural mobility, though his ultimate loyalty remains questionable.
• Cecilia – A daughter of the Vermillion Duchy and Xenos’s former fiancée. She is described as having flaming red hair and an intense, disdainful personality, favoring power and status. The daughter of the Vermillion family and the official fiancée of Xenos.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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