Next Morning...
The sun has risen above the baron's estate.
And the entire city of Nodara draws in the morning's reddish light along with the pleasant sound of birds chirping, as the city itself is quite close to the forest.
Throughout the entire night, Cyrus found sleep to be elusive after the strange event he had witnessed; it stirred tumultuous emotions within him.
And so, His mind was filled with too many thoughts, making it hard for him to sleep.
He spent the whole night tossing and turning in bed and pacing around his room.
Last night, he held his mighty wand and chanted many spells until white magic sprinkled across the bedsheet.
It was the first time he had ever done such a thing in this world, as he usually isn't that much of a pervert.
Now...
Seeking respite from his restless night, he relies on his mana to completely alleviate his fatigue and tiredness. His blonde hair shines even brighter, and his green eyes have newfound liveliness.
He is strolling in the estate as he wants to breathe some fresh morning air.
But,
Suddenly, a pungent stench penetrated his nostrils, causing him to grimace.
'Yuck... is someone taking a dump out here?'
He ponders...
Soon, his thoughts are being interrupted by the sight of two men struggling to assist Lord Robert towardΒ the residence, barely concealing their frustration.
"M-My... Lord, this way,"
"Now you're gonna tell me what to do? I can walk on my own, stay away,"
"But... my lord, it's my duty as your servant to assist you in all things,"
"Hahah... you're only doing it because it's your duty, not because I need your help,"
"Yes, absolutely, my lord,"
The most unpleasant thing is that this guy is approaching him, and the major issue is that he's the cause of the foul odor.
Seeing his dirty clothes smeared with mud resembling feces, it's obvious he must have fallen while drunk last night.
Although Cyrus wants to torture him, hurt him, and even dissect him, he doesn't want to do it in this situation.
As currently even he feels disgusted by the man's condition.
'If you're really want to torture someone, the other person should suffer, not you'
On the other hand, the baron, clearly still in the grips of a hangover, eagerly approaches Cyrus, who halts his advance.
Oblivious to his own foul odor, the baron seems to have forgotten everything he did the previous day. The only thing he remembers is beating his wife, which he thinks is his right as the husband.
"Oh my goodness... Sir wizard, did you enjoy Dorthy? That Bitch... Hahaha, she's one of my masterpieces... my best work... I wonder how you felt-"
~π―πππ βπππππππππππ~
Without a moment's hesitation, Cyrus casts a spell, and instantly, a swirling circle of purple and red mana forms beneath the servant and the baron.
From it, dark flames shoot up from the ground, reaching about two feet high in the sky. It looks as if Robert is surrounded by fire,Β sweat dripping down his face profusely as he wears a terrifying expression.
Due to this blazing clearance, Robert's hangover dissipates.
But His fear intensified.
AsΒ he comprehends that offending a dark mage is inevitably an act of courting death. Moreover, this guy is not just an archmage but also affiliated with the notorious guild, Tower of Raven.
And worst of all, as a noble, he has lost face in front of his guest, which certainly is more shameful for him than death.
Next moment, even the two servants have left their lord as they too plummeted to the ground.
As a result, Robert falls to the ground. Taking a step forward, Cyrus breaks the silence.
"Human body is a fragile thing, Baron. So fragile that all it needs is a little push to break it p... Don't forget, I am the Wizard of Death, and I'm not here to witness you causing ruckus all the time. Do whatever you want when I'm gone..."
Cyrus's eyes are turning even crueller as he continues,
"In the future, those flames can become real, your flesh can be burnt. If you think I can't kill you, a NOBLE ...then you're mistaken, Baron."
Hearing this threat, Robert shudders as he tries to clarify things.
"I apologize for showing you my ugly side, my lord. As a noble, I shouldn't ha-"
Thud!
Thud!
Before he can complete his sentence, he falls to the ground, hitting the rocky dirt field below.
"My lord..."
"Quickly, help the lord baron stand up."
Two servants anxiously run to support the baron, but their lingering fear makes them glance towards Cyrus.
To this,
In a firm voice, Cyrus declares,
"Take him to the room. I will talk with him when he sobers up."
The servants bow, saying,
"Thank you, sir wizard."
Without delay, the servants clear the way, swiftly picking up the baron to carry him to his room.
Of course, the threat isn't real, as Cyrus himself had no intention of harming him.
As For now, maintaining his honor score was his top priority. Instead, he casted a purification spell, capable of cleansing one's state of mind, erasing minor curses, and even alleviating hangovers caused by excessive drinking.
After the incident with Robert, Cyrus roams around the baron's castle throughout the morning, from the garden to the stables, and finally to the knight order where the baron's knights are training for an upcoming expedition.
Despite his disdain for living beings, he can't help but feel a soft spot for these loyal knights, who seem more loyal to him than to the baron.
Recognizing their potential as future meat shields in the portal, Cyrus imparts some knowledge about dungeons and the imperial capital to them.
Anyway, he would have to kill them if the situation calls for it, showing humility to your sacrificial lamb is what humanity is all about.
After spending his morning in leisure, Cyrus returns to his room where he notices the freshly changed bedsheet.
He sits at the edge of the bed, sipping leftover wine from yesterday.
'That fool wasn't lying; this wine is truly addictive... I need to bring some of it to my master... who knows, if that asshole becomes emotional, and might even give me another treasure.'
Knock!
Knock!
Suddenly, a servant calls for him, seeking permission to enter the room.
"You may enter."
She is none other than Dorothy, the promiscuous maid, at least in his eyes. She bows before stating the reason for her visit.
"Sir, Lady Genevieve requests your presence for lunch... if you would honor-."
It's already afternoon, and Cyrus had skipped breakfast due to his interactions with the knights, so he agrees.
"Very well... lead the way."
Besides, he also hungers to feast his eyes on the woman once more, as he still feels an insatiable lust to make her wholly his, in every sense, physical and emotional, and for that, making a good first impression is crucial.