Chapter 2: Viscount Gauvain
After meditating for a while, Abium inhaled deeply and gripped his sword tighter.
A second later, a thin layer of transparent aura emerged around the sword's edges and gave an ethereal glow!
Abium's lips curled upward as he saw the change.
He then took a battle stance and swung the sword a few times like cut, stab, and slash.
He repeated those movements for a few minutes and slowly gained some control over his young body.
'Shall I go and visit the old man?' As he ended the practice, Abium thought inwardly and nodded his head.
He got a little excited when he thought of meeting his first Teacher once again.
He walked out of his old shabby room with a soft smile and glanced at the warriors, who stood on guard at the courtyard.
'Hmm, where is the kitchen again? I think it should be on the other side of this yard.' Abium furrowed his brows and then walked out of the Servants' quarters. In truth, most of his past life memories were hazy and unclear. If not for him seeing the familiar atmosphere, he wouldn't have recognized most of the guards' faces at all.
'I first need to cast away this servant identity.' He grumbled as he walked on the grassy yard.
Although servants received a few silvers as monthly payments and even had separate rooms to stay in, they still couldn't go out of this mansion.
'We are just half-slaves in Viscount's eyes. If not for Peral Kingdom's strict rules, the Viscount might have already put collars on most of the servants and sold us as slaves.' He couldn't help but sigh deeply.
The Servants' quarters were located on the right side of the Lawbarth mansion, while the kitchen building was on the left.
He walked past the many ornamental plants, arrived near the fountain, and hastened his footsteps towards the kitchen building.
All those soldiers conversing in the courtyard stopped for a moment and looked at him in surprise and curiosity. With a single glance, anyone could tell that they were indeed surprised.
Abium quietly fastened his footsteps towards the single-storied kitchen building without minding their gazes.
It was more than 500 meters away from the servants' quarters, and he had to cross the lawn, a small pond, and the guards' residence to get there.
While walking, he glanced at the guards from time to time, probed their strength, and soon furrowed.
'Four people have a strong aura around their bodies while the others have a medium-level aura.'
'Hmm, they are strong. It's nearly impossible for me to escape here. Four third-tier warriors and twelve second-tier warriors... Not a chance.' Abium sighed in disappointment.
He knew that these soldiers' main duty was to prevent the enslaved people and servants from escaping.
If he dared to escape now, they would surround him in a few seconds and throw him into the dungeon prison cell. The reason for that was the Viscount was conspiring with some dangerous people and doing unlawful tasks in this mansion.
For example, blood sacrifices, colluding with shady people, funding criminal organizations, and so on. Abium even heard that this guy conspired with the necromancers and was involved in the first prince's banquet incident.
If this news spread to others and reached academic mages' ears, he knew that the whole household might be crumbled to dust in seconds.
'Well, I don't want to anger this viscount for now.' In truth, he didn't even consider him an enemy now.
Abium knew Viscount Gauvain's real strength. He was not only an advanced swordsman but also a 4th tier warrior.
In this cruel world, power and title determine one's future.
He was well aware of Viscount Gauvain's character. He was a selfish, greedy, and sly fox and would go to any length to achieve his goal.
If a demon reached out to him and asked for the people's souls in exchange for power, he wouldn't show any hesitation and agree to it.
Abium didn't want to offend this enemy with his current strength.
'If I somehow offended this type of character, then I have to eliminate him thoroughly before he comes back and bites me one day.' Abium took note in his mind.
He also knew that even an ordinary fourth-tier warrior would find it harder to battle against Viscount because of his sword skills.
Viscount Gauvain had three kids. Elder son Andrew and second a girl named Madeline, then the youngest son Robert. His elder son and his daughter were studying at the Royal Knight institute.
Meanwhile, Robert was waiting for the next magic affinity test and planning to join the magic academy.
'Robert joining the magic academy is not a simple matter. Once Robert enrolls in the Kaummiths institute, this family would act boldly. Because of their actions, the viscount's household and this city are bound to suffer in the future. After the Grand Nobles' gathering, things will get messy all over.' He grinned as he thought of the Lawbarth household's unavoidable fate.
Viscount had great ambition. He wants to become a high-class noble and own a large part of the kingdom's land.
But he chose the wrong side to get that.
'For now, I should mind my own business. I hope Helena is doing well.' He suddenly thought of his close friend and a trusted ally in the past. If not for her support, he would have died much earlier and wouldn't have entered the Dungeon to get that mysterious bracelet artifact.
Even though Abium went back in time, he was still a servant boy and knew his limits.
If he made one wrong move, those soldiers would become suspicious of him and might arrest him.
Even the slightest misstep could get him killed.
'First, I have to increase mana in my body.'
'There are many ways to increase one's mana. If I practice the Warrior cultivation technique, I can indeed improve my strength at a fast pace. But that's not a good idea.' Abium firmly shook his head at that very thought.
He had already made up his mind that he would never choose the warrior path.
It was a broken path.
He learned from his experience.
Warriors were cannon fodders in large-scale battles.
As for mages, they were powerful and mysterious people.
Even first-tier mages were honored with titles in many kingdoms.
If he becomes a second-tier mage in the future, he might also get a chance to work as a court mage in the Peral kingdom!
'But I should aim for a higher level. This kingdom is just a small area in the Easica continent. But this kingdom is also my home, and I've to protect it.' He muttered inwardly.