The Kaitos family had been a very important family in the past; they were one of the five principal duchies of Avalon.
Their bloodline specialized in necromancy, an art that, while frowned upon, wasn't forbidden as long as certain rules were followed.
However, the Kaitos family lost much of their land and power after a civil war. Their mistake had been choosing the losing side, supporting Prince Charles Regulus instead of the supposed rightful heir.
The only reason the family wasn't completely annihilated was that not everyone in the house had supported the prince. The house was split into two factions, and thanks to the faction that supported the princess, the punishment was lighter.
Still, the Kaitos family was branded as traitors from that point on. Their rank was lowered to Count, and most of their lands were seized.
Additionally, it became the Count's obligation to send an heir to administer territories near dangerous chasms, tasked with conquering them so that another house could easily claim the area.
In the novel, this was depicted as an injustice and a motive for some members of the house to do whatever they could to regain their former glory, while others merely lamented their fate.
The turning point came with Baltazar Kaitos, the deranged necromancer.
Although a secondary villain designed to give depth to one of the house's supporting characters, he was well-developed and extremely powerful.
What worried Lloyd most was that Baltazar annihilated nearly all members of his family, meaning that if he was in the same world as the novel, he would face one of the most dangerous secondary bosses.
It wasn't the only problem—Baltazar also had formidable allies.
"If I'm right, then I'm in danger. I guess that's another reason I need to get stronger."
Lloyd sighed. He had to get back in shape quickly to start making real progress, and as if reading his thoughts, a notification appeared.
[Main Mission: Restore Your Health] [Part One: Strengthen your body enough to walk and perform basic tasks independently] [Time Limit: 7 days] [Reward: 650 V.P] [Penalty: Instant Death]
The boy sighed. Chaos Record was a strong incentive, though its penalties were extreme. Still, a week should be enough to walk again—or so he hoped.
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Days passed, and Lloyd felt increasingly better. He was still quite weak, but his physical condition was improving significantly.
He didn't wait for all seven days to pass. As soon as he received the mission, he began performing basic exercises, almost like a rehabilitation routine.
It wasn't just about eating well; he also had to get his body used to walking and moving again.
Another key improvement was in his diet; he could now eat solid food without it having to be in soup. He could also feed himself.
Lloyd theorized that his Gluttonous Stomach skill was working well, as each meal gave him enough energy to last the rest of the day.
He completed the mission before the deadline. When he finally left his room, he received the reward.
He was surprised not to receive the second part of the mission, but he figured it might arrive later, so he didn't mind.
Just then, a voice echoed from the end of the hallway.
"Young master! How delighted I am to see you again!" said a voice, tinged with distress. "I cannot express how sorry I am for leaving you alone and unprotected for so long; please forgive my incredible inefficiency."
The speaker was an older man, elegantly dressed in a black suit reminiscent of a butler's uniform.
Lloyd quickly recognized him: it was the mansion's butler, Sebastian Morfeus, the closest thing he had to a father figure.
"I deeply regret the events that occurred in my absence!" the butler exclaimed, practically running to the boy before kneeling and bowing his head to the floor. "I know my apologies cannot undo the harm my incompetence has caused, but I am glad the young master's health has improved."
Lloyd almost laughed at the statement—not only for Sebastian's exaggerated gestures but also for the mention of his "improved health." It was amusing that simply being able to walk again was considered progress.
"Oh! I mustn't keep you waiting, young master; every second counts," the man rose swiftly, surprising Lloyd with his agility. "Here you are."
Sebastian pulled a small black wooden box from his pocket. Instead of handing it to Lloyd, he snapped his fingers.
In the blink of an eye, one of the maids had retrieved the box's contents: a black ring with a purple gemstone set into it.
Without hesitation, the maid knelt and carefully placed the ring on Lloyd's finger. Had it not been for his frail condition, Lloyd would have blushed.
The maid positioned herself just behind Sebastian, to his left, while he continued speaking.
"I couldn't find the exact model you lost, but this artifact is of higher quality. It generates a more stable Touki; moreover, it can restore your health without relying on that… unpleasant sacred energy," Sebastian spoke with fluid professionalism, his demeanor impeccable. "I have been informed of what happened in my absence, but do not worry: now that I have returned, I will protect you, and I swear I will uncover the culprit."
Hearing those words, Lloyd's suspicions about the river incident grew. Someone had attempted to kill him, and it wasn't a random accident.
[Urgent Mission: Uncover the Truth Behind the Attempted Assassination of Lloyd Kaitos] [Time Limit: 12 days] [Rewards: 4,500 V.P — Trait Awakening — New Demon Transcendence Path] [Penalty: Death by Assassination]