"Bastards. Is this how you treat the count's eldest son?"
After finishing the meal, I couldn't just lie there covered in sweat.
I asked a maid passing through the corridor for directions to the bath, but she looked at me like I was filth and led me to a place with nothing but a single drum barrel full of water.
'This is the bath?'
I asked her several times in disbelief, but she just replied, "Yes, it is," and vanished.
All I could do was stare blankly at her retreating back.
A meager meal, a pathetic shower room...
It was treatment I couldn't even imagine for a noble house's child. I wanted to cry, but I had to hold it in. I had to endure.
In this count's house, my existence was as good as nothing.
"Either I get out of here fast... or..."
I become strong enough that no one can touch me.
I let out a small sigh and slowly stripped off my clothes layer by layer.
No matter how pathetic it felt, I still had to shower. I couldn't stand myself like this any longer.
"Ugh... it's freezing."
As I felt the cold water all over my body, I carefully pulled out the book I'd hidden from the maid's notice on the way here.
The Dark Grimoire, still faintly emanating an eerie aura despite having calmed down, was more than enough to instill fear just by its presence.
"Hoo... alright."
Steeling my resolve, I slowly opened the book.
The moment I did.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Opening the Dark Grimoire.]
"Whoa, you scared me!"
A mechanical, chilling voice rang directly in my head.
With no warning whatsoever, I nearly dropped the book but managed to grip it tightly.
The first page of the book was pitch black, as if smeared with ink.
Ancient script or curses—I couldn't tell—seemed to writhe, but I had no idea what it said...
Even I, who prided myself on knowing The Glory inside out, couldn't decipher it.
I was at a loss on how to read it when...
"Huh?"
Blue text began floating over the black page like a hologram.
It was the familiar system window from the game.
⚔ STATUS ⚔⚡ Strength: F💨 Agility: F✨ Magic Power: F💪 Stamina: F📚 Intelligence: E🛡️ TITLE 🛡️Disgrace of the Dreadnote Family🔮 UNIQUE AUTHORITY 🔮Authority of Shadows (Lv. 1)
"...Wow, it's trash to the point of being unusable."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
All stats except Intelligence crawling at the bottom F-rank.
Intelligence being E-rank was probably thanks to me possessing him.
The original Evan would've been all F's.
"Ha, and this guy's title is crap too?"
Especially the Disgrace of the Dreadnote Family title—it was the finishing touch.
I had no idea what effect it had... but it sure wasn't anything good.
Still, it wasn't time to despair yet.
The most important part was at the end.
"Authority of Shadows..."
I swallowed hard and fixed my gaze on the last entry in the system window.
Additional details on the authority appeared.
⚙ AUTHORITY DETAILS ⚙Authority of Shadows (Lv. 1) Wielder of shadows. You are qualified to become the ruler of all darkness. Absorb negative emotions to grow the authority. Skills acquirable at current level:
[Shadow Step] - Connect your shadow to another shadow for short-distance teleportation. Consumes mana.
"...Not bad for a first skill."
A fair assessment, but honestly, it wasn't bad at all.
No, it was actually pretty good.
Through the Dark Grimoire—this dingy book I held—it wasn't just learning a few spells.
This was an authority.
A power that governed a law, like what the final boss in The Glory wielded.
Magic ended once learned—no further growth. But authorities were different.
Each growth unlocked new conditions and skills.
And the growth condition? Perfect.
Absorbing others' negative emotions?
"No better growth spot than this house."
The Dreadnote Family brimmed with malice toward me.
Even a mere maid disdained the eldest son.
The worst environment was my best.
"Kuhuhu... Kuhahaha!"
I laughed like a madman.
In this shabby drum barrel bath, full of cold water.
My future shone brighter than ever.
"Kuhaha... Pfft!"
Maybe from staying too long in the cold water, my body shivered uncontrollably.
...Damn, catching a cold would suck.
Excited as I was, I needed to calm down.
Shivering, I focused back on the Dark Grimoire.
First skill: Shadow Step.
'The game's protagonist Iris wielded the power of light as the Saintess. So I'm shadows.'
What power suited a villain more?
I stood and looked around.
The rundown space had thick shadows cast by the lamp light here and there.
"Alright, let's test it."
I alternated glances between my shadow and another drum barrel's shadow about 3 meters away.
Concentrating mana, I shouted the skill name in my mind.
'Shadow Step!'
...Nothing happened.
"Huh?"
Panicking, I tried again.
'Shadow Step!'
Still nothing.
I felt a bit of mana drain, but my body stayed put.
"Damn it. What's wrong? Why isn't it working?"
Wasn't it like the game—just shout the name?
I furrowed my brow, deep in thought.
Mana was consumed, so the authority activated.
But no change, no effect.
'So...'
I recalled the description slowly.
Connect your shadow to another for short-distance teleport.
'Connect... Not just think it—visualize the connection?'
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Okay. Visualize and try again.
I imagined my shadow stretching like a black thread, linking to the distant drum barrel's shadow.
Then, my body sucked along that thread.
'Shadow Step!'
Suddenly, a bizarre sensation hit—like sinking into cold water all over.
Vision turned monochrome, all sounds faded distant.
Swoosh.
Opening my eyes, I was right next to the drum barrel.
"...It worked!"
Success!
My heart pounded wildly.
The spot I'd been standing was just a few steps away, but it felt like crossing the world.
Is this how a mountaineer feels summiting Everest?
But the cost was high.
"Gah... I'm dying!"
Just a few uses, and I was gasping, sweat beading, legs wobbling.
F-rank Stamina's limit hit hard.
'The authority's useful, but this vessel sucks.'
Clear conclusion: Train this trash body to wield the power properly.
'Add stamina training starting tomorrow.'
Exercise I skipped in real life, now in The Glory...
Hate it, but gotta for survival.
As I wiped sweat, planning ahead—
Knock knock.
'Crap.'
I quickly hid the Dark Grimoire in my clothes and slipped into the cramped bath, replying casually.
"Who is it."
"It's me, Young Master."
'So who the hell is "me"?'
What kind of ridiculous answer to "who"?
Irritation surged at the rudeness, but what could I do?
They needed me more.
Besides, I already knew the voice.
It matched the maid who'd brought my meal.
"It's open. Come in."
Without reply, she opened the door and stepped in the moment I permitted.
I half-hoped for eye contact.
Not entirely—no, a sliver of expectation.
But as if reading it,
She approached expressionlessly and handed me a letter envelope.
High-grade parchment stamped with the royal crest—formal.
"What's this?"
"Academy enrollment notice."
Academy.
The Glory's main stage, where all events began.
Hearing that word from the maid, my heart sank.
Already? This soon?
I'd guessed time was short, but thought at least half a year!
With trembling hands, I took the letter.
Riiip.
Tearing open the envelope, I read slowly—then my eyes widened.
I checked again and again.
Was I seeing wrong?
[...the above student is hereby ordered to enroll in the spring semester next year.]
"Next year?"
If my eyes weren't hallucinating, enrollment was clearly a full year from now.
"...Hey. That's a year until enrollment."
"Yes. But the Family Head ordered it delivered so you wouldn't forget."
...These bastards?
As I glared incredulously, ready to snap— she continued first.
"What I say now is the Family Head's message."
"...What?"
"Don't bring shame to the family. Stay quiet like a dead rat until then. Excuse me."
One-sided again.
She delivered it emotionlessly, turned, and vanished down the corridor.
Her back oozed contempt, even unspoken.
No, beyond contempt—not even treating me human.
"Haa..."
The old Evan would've drowned in rage and despair, boozing away.
Servants' attitudes crushing his last pride.
"Fine. Treat me like trash all you want."
But I was different now.
I coldly stared down the empty corridor. Her lingering contempt and humiliation.
I felt it subtly fueling my authority's growth.
"Thanks to you all, I'm growing."
I smirked faintly.
One year.
A stay of execution.
Time until Iris and the heroines gruesomely kill me in the original.
Also, the golden chance to change fate.
"Shame? No."
I looked at the enrollment notice.
"I should be grateful."
This mansion overflowed with malice toward me.
A never-ending EXP source for a year.
In one year, I'd be strong enough to save my neck at least.
read at novelshub.org