The Regressed Illegitimate Child is a Genius Dark Magician

Chapter 9

Anya Hilton. The head of the Hilton Trading Company, one of the three major trading firms in the empire, and the host of the Arnesian ballroom cruise. She is also someone Damian must meet, as the Hilton family possesses two volumes of the Tome of Hell among their collection. In his previous life, the Hilton Trading Company collapsed due to a series of events, causing Anya to disappear, and her collection was all put up for auction.

Since the other collectibles were overwhelmingly valuable, two old, worn-out books failed to attract attention. Thanks to that, he was able to purchase them at a considerably low price. But now, things are different. Regardless of the item’s nature, the Hilton family never lets go of anything that has once entered their collection. Waiting for their downfall would take far too much time. Furthermore, it is necessary for both Anya and the Hilton Trading Company to remain intact.

“Damian Renekht is entering.”

With the loud proclamation of the guards, the eyes of those aboard the cruise ship focused on Damian. Among the imperial bloodline, he was the only one attending today’s ball. One of Damian’s many nicknames. “The Lowliest of the Noble.” Though he was looked down upon in the imperial palace, that wasn’t the case in settings like this. Not just any noble would dare treat him lightly, certainly not a household of Count Clarent’s level, where Rubia belonged. Even if he was an illegitimate child, he was still a direct descendant of the Emperor. While some might harbor different thoughts inwardly, they had no choice but to maintain formal decorum on the surface.

The Arnesian ballroom cruise was mainly attended by the children of minor and middle-ranking nobles near the capital. Of course, the Hilton Trading Company also sent invitations to prestigious noble families across the continent, but their attendance was rare. Since the event was hosted by a merchant company, it lacked a long-standing tradition. High-ranking nobles didn’t want to tarnish their prestige by participating in such a gathering.

That was precisely why Arkin frequently attended this ball. When surrounded by his brothers or the offspring of other great noble houses, he couldn’t act as freely. He wouldn’t be able to stand out. But in a ballroom of this level, things were different. Here, he could play the role of a leader and receive the treatment he desired.

“It is an honor to meet you, Lord Damian.”

“I was thrilled when I heard the rumors that you would be attending.”

“Tonight’s ball shines even brighter thanks to you, Lord Damian.”

Most of them masked their true feelings behind polite façades. They were probably thinking, Why must I bow my head to the spawn of some lowly dancer?

“The rumors certainly don’t do you justice.”

“Would you remember my name?”

“Oh my, I feel like I’m going to faint. May I lean on you for a moment?”

Some, however, showed genuine interest. Most of them were young noble ladies, covering their faces with fans as they cast flirtatious glances his way, occasionally licking their lips slightly. Damian’s appearance was already a widely discussed topic within the empire. Was he not the son of the dancer who had once captivated the Emperor’s heart. Even Rubia, the Amethyst Lightning, continued to send him letters of courtship despite being betrothed to the First Prince, Mikhail. Previously, he had the fragile look of a glass doll that would break at the slightest touch, but now, Damian’s complexion was healthier, and his physique had become sturdier.

While establishing an official relationship with him was politically troublesome, having him as a lover, at least once, was the kind of fantasy that many noble young women secretly entertained.

“The spell you used on Prince Arkin…”

“Was it, perhaps, a technique from The hermit, Ezekiel?”

“If I get the chance, may I have a glimpse…?”

“When did you awaken your Unique Color?”

The other group intrigued by Damian consisted of mages, not those who learned magic merely as a noble pastime, but those who pursued it seriously. The Green Flame that Damian wielded was distinctly different from ordinary fire magic. For mages, it was only natural to be curious about such a phenomenon. Damian casually brushed off those approaching him as he made his way deeper into the ballroom. He had not come here to mingle with his peers among the nobility. His priority was drawing Anya’s attention.

He found a way. At a small table, two young men were engrossed in a game. One of them rolled two dice and—

“Yes! I won! I won, it’s my victory!!”

He shot up from his seat, cheering enthusiastically. His opponent clutched his head, groaning in distress.

“That makes five consecutive wins. It seems no one at this ball can outmatch my wit, hahaha!”

Anyatic. A game combining chess, cards, and dice. As its name suggests, it was invented by Anya herself.

“Oh, would you like to give it a try, Lord Damian?”

As the defeated young man vacated his seat, Damian naturally took his place.

“I’m not sure if you’re familiar with this game, but it’s called Anyatic…”

The young man, who introduced himself as Colhen, proudly explained the rules in great detail. Damian remained silent, listening without asking any questions. To Colhen, this seemed to indicate that he didn’t understand.

“Well, Lord Damian, this might be a little difficult for someone like you. A person of your artistic sensibilities is surely more suited to creative pastimes rather than logical games.”

Colhen raised an eyebrow as he spoke. A few nearby individuals covered their mouths and giggled. Even within the arts, there was a hierarchy. Painting, sculpture, and orchestral music were noble pursuits, while street performances and lewd songs were for commoners. And among those, street dancers like Damian’s mother were regarded as the lowest of the low. Most of them wandered without a permanent home, and some didn’t just dance, they also sold their bodies. While the audience was watching the dancers perform, they cheered and admired their beauty, but no one truly wished to share a sincere love with them. Damian’s biological father, the current emperor who secluded himself in the imperial palace and never showed himself, was one of those peculiar types.

It seemed that by speaking in this roundabout way, Kolhen thought Damian wouldn’t understand. But that was a misconception. People’s thoughts are not so original. Damian had already met too many people who thought similarly to Kolhen. He could have scrutinized Kolhen’s words one by one and made him pay the price, but he chose not to. There was no need to unnecessarily escalate the situation here.

“I’d rather learn by doing than by listening to an explanation.”

“Haha. Of course, Damian. I’ll let you go first.”

Kolhen smiled with his eyes and handed the dice to Damian. And so, after dozens of minutes—

“Ah… That…”

Kolhen rubbed his chin with a sour expression. His once-confident smile was nowhere to be seen.

“This makes it ten rounds in total. Shouldn’t we give others a chance now?”

Damian tapped the table as he spoke. 10 to 0. Damian had won every game. And by an overwhelming margin. At first, some thought his victories in the first couple of rounds were due to beginner’s luck. But when it kept happening, they couldn’t hide their astonishment.

‘It’ has been a while since I had this much fun.’

Regardless of the reactions around him, Damian was simply pleased to be able to play Anyatic again. Before his regression, it had been one of the few enjoyments he had. For months after its official release, he spent all his time playing Anyatic, except for eating and sleeping. When he could no longer find a proper match among the people in the imperial palace, he even went outside in disguise to find worthy opponents. The difference in experience and skill level between Damian and Kolhen was vast. More importantly, Damian knew a fatal flaw in this game.

Anyatic was not just a simple board game. Each piece was a small magical device, interconnected and reacting in various ways based on each move. Ordinarily, the results should have been random, but by fulfilling specific conditions, one could manipulate the game to produce only predetermined outcomes. While it was obvious that Damian would win, the reason he could dominate so thoroughly was because he exploited this flaw.

In the past, when Damian first discovered this flaw, he had sent a letter to Anya. But instead of gratitude, he received a reply filled with anger. She claimed that no such flaw existed in her perfectly designed game, which was named after her. That Damian must be mistaken. However, before long, Hilton Trading Company officially announced the flaw in Anyatic, and all existing copies were recalled.

‘Anya Hilton. Where are you watching from?’

Since this ball was hosted by Hilton Trading Company, it was likely that Anya herself had secretly attended or at least sent someone to observe. She would never stand idly by if she saw her beloved game being ridiculed like this. Damian didn’t mind if an incident occurred during the ball, but if possible, it would be better to meet Anya beforehand and prevent it from happening altogether. By doing so, he could prevent Hilton Trading Company’s downfall, and in return, he would demand the Book of Hell from Anya’s vault.

“Damian.”

A woman’s voice called from behind. He thought it might be Anya or someone she had sent, but judging by the reactions of those around him, it wasn’t. Everyone cautiously stepped aside, opening a path as if Damian and this woman were meant to meet.

“At last, we meet.”

Damian blinked for a few seconds, looking at the young woman before him.

“Ah.”

When he had mentioned attending the Arnesian ballroom on the ship, Anna’s strange reaction now made sense. Agnese Schubert. His fiancée smiled softly at him.

“I apologize. I was focused on training and could only send a few letters.”

Damian remembered. But at the time, Agnese had been in training, so he hadn’t expected a reply. Moreover, since Rubia frequently sent letters, he had been more preoccupied with those, making Agnese’s occasional letters less memorable. Before his regression, Agnese had not been involved in the incident that occurred at the Arnesian ballroom. Her presence here now must have been the result of Damian’s choices. Damian and Agnese moved to a quieter section at the stern of the ship. Her short black hair barely reached below her ears, and though her features were delicate, they weren’t entirely feminine. While the elegant dress she wore suited her well, she would have looked even better in a more active outfit, wielding a sword. Agnese held out a glass filled with champagne. The rising bubbles added to the soft clink of their glasses meeting.

“You’ve changed… quite a lot.”

The last time Agnese had seen Damian was three years ago. Apart from his face remaining the same, he had become a completely different person. Agnese had always been tall for a woman, but now she had to tilt her head upward just to meet Damian’s eyes. Even though Damian had trained in magic rather than aura, his broad shoulders and solid muscles rivaled those of any knight.

“I also heard about your duel with Prince Arkin. As expected of someone who carries the imperial bloodline. I always believed you had such talent.”

Agnese beamed as she spoke. Her pride in her fiancé was evident in her expression. She continued the conversation, carefully observing Damian’s mood. The lighthearted yet engaging topics flowed smoothly. She also subtly adjusted the subject whenever she noticed a shift in Damian’s expression, ensuring that she aligned with him as much as possible while suppressing her own presence. Faced with such an ideal performance, Damian couldn’t help but sigh.

“Did I… do something wrong?”

Agnese tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes gleaming. But Damian knew, he wasn’t truly reflected in them.

“There’s no need to keep up the act. Not here.”

Looking down at Agnese, who would announce their breakup a few years later, Damian said those words.