'Aren't my guardian supposed to detest this kid and look down on him? Why is she answering me so calmly and even smiling?' Eldred found the situation weird. For a second, he even thought that he saw a different thing in his memories, but after a second and third check, he was sure that he wasn't mistaken.
'Is it related to the sudden summon?' He knew he wasn't supposed to receive a summon, so he peacefully waited for the magic awakening ceremony to end till he was officially kicked without disturbance. Yet he was suddenly called back to his household.
'Also,' As he thought about that, he couldn't help but look down at the book on top of his lap.
He had already confirmed that no one could see it except him, and worse, he had confirmed that this book was not sentient, at least for now. All he could use was the first page. As for how to awaken it, Eldred still had no information whatsoever about it.
Suddenly, the aura around Eldred changed, and a feeling of majesty was displayed on the surface.
Gasp!
Suddenly, Sera felt goosebumps run over her body as she instinctively ran her magic to defend herself.
"Sera, leave the cabin and sit next to Han. I have things to think about, and I would like not to be disturbed." Eldred's voice, although childish, still displayed a sense of authority.
For a second, Sera almost mistook her young master with the patriarch, but she quickly rubbed her eyes.
Phew!
'I was overthinking; there is no way young master could display such majesty with that weak personality and non-existent talent for magic,' Sera breathed a sigh of relief as the image of that mighty man disappeared after she looked at Eldred again.
"As per your order, young master."
As Sera opened the wooden door and left the cabin, she swore that she would get a lot of sleep when she got home; she felt that overcoming her personality and displaying such rude behavior towards Eldred for years made her mentally exhausted over time.
Eldred was left inside the cabin with an ugly expression on his face,' Even if this kid is supposed to be pathetic and looked down upon, isn't this a bit too much?'
He recalled his guardian's reaction and thought it was a bit exaggerated. After all, he was still the heir of the Arnold Household and the first son of the patriarch, so it was only natural that his aura was supposed to be that majestic.
Yet, Sera acted like she mistook her senses and eyes; if it were in his former body and world, Eldred would have slapped her back into reality.
'I didn't want to get in touch with this kid's family, especially since they were under the direct control of a Duke's Household! But it seems like I'll have to use their resources in order to get stronger!'
He could tell that this book needed his utmost attention. If he genuinely wanted power and, most importantly, Immortality, he would have to awaken it. And the fastest way to do this is to become stronger.
The problem in front of Eldred right now was cultivation.
He had to increase the level of his foundation as quickly as possible. If he were slow, like in his previous life, he might end up dying in whatever conflicts existed in the future.
It should be known that noble households never had their lives easy, especially when it came to proving themselves in front of the masses, their families, and the royal family!
'To cultivate as fast as possible, I would have to borrow the resources from the clan. With the state I am in right now, I have no power or ability to travel back and forth across the dangerous mountains and forests. Even an ordinary mountain boar can take my life. If I can reach the cultivation of a Third-level martial artist or magician, I'd have the means to protect myself and leave my household to search for clues on how to awaken the book of immortality.'
Thinking this much, Eldred opened the book and got ready to follow the instructions to undo the seal on his brain.
***
Three days ago, Heavenly Gate Imperial Family, Southern Region.
Hundreds of kilometers away from the hidden cave, tall trees formed a huge umbrella above a small river where a horse could be seen drinking water and carrying several bags.
Ten strong, tall mages were dining and discussing their adventures near the river. Behind the horse, a group of malnourished 10th-tier demons were crouching and having a coarse meal to keep them alive. They were all wearing chains, their eyes dim.
A poker-faced, thin old man was sitting motionlessly in a sedan chair on the horse. He wore a black robe embroidered with three white wings on his chest. He kept staring at the mages and the chained demons. Feeling the old man looking at them viciously, every mage was frightened and turned silent once, not daring to utter a single word.
"Are you done? Then move your ass and walk!" Tanya showed up from the bush with a rigid face, lifting a demon in a pathetic state with a body full of injuries in her hand.
The mages wrapped up their unfinished meal and were embarrassed, "Yeah, we're done. We're done."
Tanya approached the old man and showed an unwilling smile, "Master Derik, have you finished your meal?"
The old man nodded coldly and murmured, "Miss Tanya, it will still take 3 months to get to the Merchant Union and sell these demons. However, we have only captured 16 so far. I'm afraid we won't make it..."
"Do not worry, Master Derik. We will catch more demons for you." Tanya threw a beaten-up demon onto the ground and laughed, "Look, a new one to sell!"
"Hmm." Derik nodded as he examined the horned man with his evil eyes. "Too skinny! He won't fetch a good price!" He frowned.
"Yes, I know. But his rank is the same as the others, and even his form is more human than the rest of them; I even think this might be a leader among 10th-tier demons.." Tanya explained as she displayed the full human form of the demon with his tiny red horns coming out of his forehead.
"He is a leader?" When Tanya said these words, Derik's interest was piqued, and his eyes lit up as he scrutinized the demon again.