in the abyss, space and time become irrelevant as one joins the darkness in brethren.
This was something I heard when I was a child, but I never understood what it meant until I experienced the abyss for myself.
Maybe this is a stupid thought. Perhaps, it's because I never received a formal education, but,
What if this was a second chance granted to me by the abyss?
What if this is not hell, and I have in fact gone back in time to when I was a child.
I've never heard of such a thing, but maybe it's possible.
I'm standing in front of the door to my father's meeting room before the butler opens the door for me and allows me inside.
"Ah, look who it is. My son, Cassius," Father points an arm at me while looking at his vassals proudly. He is sitting at the head of a long rectangular table, and his vassals are seated evenly on each side.
I forgot what it was like to be summoned to his meeting room just for him to brag about me to his vassals.
I suppose this was a common occurrence at this time.
"Oh, what a handsome young boy," one vassal says.
"Ah, I bet he will grow up to be big and strong like his father," another vassal comments.
I listen to all the Vassal's flattery, who are clearly trying to get on my father's good side, until I get to the last one who seems different.
"Isn't he an illegitimate child though?" an old man says. He has a point. I am an illegitimate child; legally speaking, I'm not his son.
If it wasn't for the fact that my mother was the master of the magic tower, father would have thrown me away like his other illegitimate children.
I was so surprised when I showed up to 'The Trial' only to see countless red-eyed bastards who looked like my father standing next to one another.
Who knew he had so many children? One would think he was trying to build an army.
The other vassals look at him with shock and fear, as if to ask, 'How could you say that after the Duke introduced him as his son?'
I have to admit, that was a really stupid move.
Nonetheless, I'm glad he's not two-faced like the rest of them. He noticed something he didn't approve of, and he pointed it out.
Father stands up, slamming his hands on the table, "Nonsense! We are tied by blood! A paper matters not in the face of blood."
Blood, my ass.
Where was this blood when I failed? Where was this blood when you threw away your other illegitimate children?
Looking at him makes my blood boil. I want to see him fall. I hate people like him. People who only believe in something when it benefits them.
Oh, what I'd do to see the look on his face if all his power and wealth slipped away. The way sand slips through a child's fingers when playing on the beach.
Would he cry? Would he be angry? Would he be too stunned to say anything?
Would he beg?
I read that my ancestor, Char Blackwood, was also an illegitimate child. Though you won't find that in any public history book, of course.
Yet, he became the head of a duchy and set the foundations for what our dukedom is today.
All because he was an S-rank.
It's amazing what an S-rank could do. If this really is a second chance, then, perhaps, I can be an S-rank in this life.
If so, then, can I become the head of the house like him?
Or better yet,
The emperor?
No, what am I thinking? I never even craved such power in my past life. All I ever wanted was to live a peaceful, quiet life undisturbed.
I will do just that.
But first, I must see the look on my father's face once all his power slips away.
I put on a proud bravado and say, "It is true, I am his son. And you will have no choice but to acknowledge that once I awaken with his power tomorrow."
I have no idea whether I can change the future, or if I was sent here just to suffer all over again.
Nonetheless, it doesn't matter. I will do what I've always done, and look out for my own interests.
Father looks at me and smiles, then looks back at the vassal, "That's right! My son here will awaken as an S-rank! Mark my words. He will be the genius of the century."
I can't help but smile mischievously, thankfully, no one seems to notice that.
I will embarrass you, Duke Blackwood.
But not until I can get all I can out of you,
"Father, can I ask you for a favor?"
I pout childishly at him and tug on his sleeve, putting myself in the shoes of a 10-year-old son who is convinced he will awaken as an S-rank. Putting myself in the shoes of my younger self.
"Of course, anything for my one and only son," he smiles, placing his hands on my shoulders while quite obviously being conscious of the vassals' eyes.
One and only son?
What about Nathan, who is your son from Lady Vanessa, your second wife?
What about Andrei, your son from your first wife, Lady Ralia?
What about all those illegitimate children you threw away?
They would not be happy to hear that. Good thing they aren't here to hear your harsh words, father.
Slam
I hear something fall on the floor outside the door.
"Ooow," I hear the sound of a child groaning outside the door. The door is slightly open, so I tilt my head to see who is outside.
What's Nathan doing here?
"Who's there?" Father turns around, and the door opens wide, showing Nathan on the floor rubbing his head.
"It's me, father," Nathan stands up, quivering like a little boy.
Well, actually, he is a little boy. But I don't think I've ever seen Nathan like that before. He always seemed so tough when he bullied me in my past life.
Especially when he killed me.
It's interesting to see this side of him. So he can quiver too, huh? So even Nathan was scared of father?
"How dare you eavesdrop, you brat!" Father yells at him.
"I'm sorry, father," Nathan apologizes as he bows.
"Ha, don't 'father' me. You're no son of mine. Why can't you be more like Cassius?" Father scoffs.
Nathan glares at me and grits his teeth.
I think I'm starting to understand why Nathan went out of his way to kill me when it was completely unnecessary.
Frankly speaking, at this age, I was basically a potato. A luxurious potato who wore fancy clothes with the Blackwood crest on them.
Nathan was much more successful than me, but I received better treatment because of my rare bloodline.
Not to mention, I'm not even a legitimate child. But he is.
Nathan must have felt it was unjust that I, a potato, was treated so much better than him. Perhaps he held a grudge all these years.
Of course, I couldn't care less what his reason is. It doesn't change the fact he killed me.
Nathan scurries away, and I can see a trail of water droplets being left behind him. Is he crying? I've never seen him cry either. Wow, two new Nathan-ic emotions in one day.
Poor Nathan.
"Anyway, as you were saying, my Dear Cassius," Father says.
Dear Cassius
How disturbing. But I'll ignore it for now.
"Father, can you give me 5 billion gold, so I can get myself S-rank equipment worthy of my rank?" I smile.
"Ah, I like how you think ahead, Cassius. I will give it to you after your awakening ceremony as a gift,"
Father chuckles, patting my shoulder before facing the vassals, a signal that he wants to end the conversation here.
Shit, no.
"Father, can't you give it to me now? After my awakening ceremony, everyone will be busy celebrating me, I'm scared that all the weapon shops will be closed for the holiday," I plead innocently, tugging on his sleeve.
Father laughs, which causes the rest of the vassals to laugh after him. They always do whatever father does.
They're like a bunch of dogs trying to please their master.
Also, where's the old man from earlier? I can't see him anywhere. Did he leave? That's kind of rude. Wait - why are the servants taking his chair? Where will he sit next time?
"Quite confident, aren't you, my boy?" Father replies, patting my head.
"Of course, I am your son, after all," I say, giving my father some lip service, making him look pleased.
"Ah, that is so. Alright, I can give you 5 billion coins," he signals to the butler to transfer 5 billion gold coins to me.
I would estimate that the total net worth of the Blackwood estate is around 150 billion gold coins, and he just agreed to give a 10-year-old 5 billion. Crazy.