6 Aptitude Test (2)

Amidst the cleaning, Kora glanced outside the window and silently beckoned her colleague.

"Hey, have you heard?"

Risa, who is wiping the window, paused and gazed at Kora.

"Hmm, what is it?

"It's about the 4th son. Look, he's swinging a wooden sword."

Risa then glanced at the handsome man outside the window, diligently swinging his sword, and looked back to Kora with a confused expression.

"What's surprising about that? Aren't his siblings doing the same thing?"

"Ah right, you're a newcomer. Anyway, the 4th son isn't typically this active. He usually skips training to fool around, you know."

Risa looked skeptical as she tilts her head.

"Eh, but he doesn't look like that to me, though."

Kora frowned as he shook her head disapprovingly.

"Aigoo, don't be fooled by his looks. Although his appearance is top-notch, the inside is rotten."

"Eh, really?"

"Hmph, I've been working in this household for decades, so I know few of its inside and out."

While the maids are busy with their conversation, the man of the topic is inwardly grumbling as he swing his sword.

'Good grief, I can never have a peaceful day, can't I?'

The rumor about my training has already spread around the household. Of course, the reactions are mixed. Some people said it's just my whim because of what happened after the Patriarch left the dining area. Some said that-

''The 4th son is finally changing for the better!''

Which is the minority, overall most of the reactions are mixed. Though, some of my siblings quietly made a bet of how long my training will last.

'Hah, restless peoples.'

I closed my eyes and stopped swinging my sword. I stood still and circulated the Qi around my body.

'It's still rough. But useable.'

Smiling out of satisfaction, I approached the nearby bench of the garden to fetch my towel. Is what I want to do but-

"Hey, there!"

My sister, Yuria, elegantly smiled and handed the towel to me.

'Sigh, good grief, she's everywhere.'

I barely managed to stop myself from spouting nonsense and quietly observed her.

"T-thank you very much."

"Oh, don't mention it. After all, You are my sweet and handsome brother."

Her lips creepily curled, which eventually return to normal.

I can't help but inwardly shrink whenever I feel her gaze. It's unclear whether she's doing this intentionally to tease me, or Creed is on the list of peoples she wants to castrate.

'Based on the novel, the Aptitude test would take place three days from now on. But, the only participants in the book are the ten heirs of Lumeria aside from Creed. Is it because of her?'

"Sister, about the previous thing."

"Hmm? Ah, the Aptitude Test?"

"Y-yes, can you explain why? Why do you want me to abstain from, participating?"

"Hmm? Are you interested?"

Yuria tilted her head and stared at me with a hint of amusement and teasing. She then stood and threw something at me.

'Hmm? A coin?'

I looked at her suspiciously.

"Creed, there are secrets that better left unsaid. But if you truly wish to know the reason-"

She then looked at me meaningfully and left. I looked at her back and firmly clenched my fist.

'I need power, huh.'

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. 'Alright, Ji-Hu, let's assess our current situation.'

The 4th son of the Patriarch, Creed, disappeared before the Potential arch transpired in the novel.

'I remember him returning after getting infected with demon seed.'

The reason for his popularity is because of specific scenes. The moment he's at his wit's end, he pulled out the seed germinating in his heart. The pain he felt from forcibly tearing the demon seed from his heart was vivid because of well-drawn illustrations. It was too realistic that some faint-hearted readers complained. The demon seed originated from the artificial alleviation of Realm and prolonged exposure to volatile flow of Qi. The accumulation of dregs from volatile Qi is quite fast, which is why a lot of people abstain from it even if they have it.

There's a saving grace, however. The second effect and the most sought out for, Talent Liberation. It was as straightforward as its title, a dramatic way of expanding potential using Noblesse blood and Demon Core. A demon core: formed from sacrificing ten thousand souls with slow yet persistent ravings of the damned. It was a cursed object deemed as taboo by the Empire.

As for the reason why he choose such a foolish choice? It's because of his family. He grew with a monster called inferiority complex inside of him. He wanted to prove his worth, but his talent is mediocre compared to his siblings. At first, he was skeptical because of the risk and the consequences of intaking it, but as the harassment from his siblings intensified, the more it drove him to corner.

Eventually, he took the risk of bearing the demon seed and lost himself in the process.

'That's right he returned with, what?'

I realized a crucial fact regarding the coin and demon seed.

'If my memory isn't failing me, Demon Seed is supposed to appear at the latter stage of the novel. The party of Mc found it at the Core of True Demon King. No, there is much more earlier appearance of it in the novel.'

My eyes narrowed as I reached for conclusion.

'Cannibal Circa, the man-eaters from Third Circle of Hell (Gluttony)'

I closed my eyes and led my Qi at the coin. The coin responded with dark red patterns of a vertical iris and-

"A snake eating its own tail, Ouroboros."

I let out a long sigh and contemplated for a while.

'The Crest of Twisted Circus, appearing this early means the future changed. Is it because of the Scripture? Hah, then I have to confront them this early!?"

I shook my head and looked outside of the window. It was already dark.

"These problems could wait. I'll rest first."