Chapter 8: Showdown
After spending almost the entire day hard at work, Josh felt like he had made significant progress.
Although the void element he had absorbed into his body accounted for only around five percent, he still felt as though he was on the verge of breaking through to Tier Three — a terrifyingly fast advancement.
After all, for any mage, progression wasn't just about accumulating mana; strengthening one's mental power was equally vital. And thanks to his status as a transmigrator, Josh's mental strength had always been off the charts. At just six years old, his mental prowess was already exceptional, which was why it wasn't surprising that he had reached his current level of power by the age of sixteen.
Most people his age were still holed up in magic academies, while Josh, who had been trained in magic from a young age, had no intention of enrolling. There was also another reason: his mana had always been unusable — completely incompatible with any element. Josh didn't feel like going to an academy just to embarrass himself.
Coming out of his meditative state, Josh felt fantastic. Both his mental and magical powers were at their peak — a state he found exhilarating.
But his high didn't last long before a headache kicked in. He almost forgot — tonight, he was hosting a noble banquet.
While he had attended many similar banquets in the imperial capital as a child, his impression of them was that they were just matchmaking events — opportunities for nobles to eye up each other's sons and daughters to arrange future marriages or forge alliances. Josh had never liked the atmosphere, though he had grown used to it. Back then, he was never the main character — that role always belonged to his father, Emperor Augustus IV. Josh had just been a child, valued only because of his bloodline.
"Now I'm the host… feels kind of weird," Josh muttered to himself.
With the help of his maid, he washed up and put on his formal noble robes. He used to feel awkward having women help him bathe, but after all these years, it had become second nature — part of the lifestyle.
"Is this what they call corruption?" he wondered, staring at his reflection in a basin of water.
But he quickly dismissed the thought. Every noble lived this way. If he'd been reborn as a slave instead, he'd probably be lamenting why he wasn't a noble. So, really, there was nothing to feel guilty about.
"Lord Josh, are you ready?"
A quiet voice broke his train of thought. It was Frank, who had once again appeared silently behind him. Josh was startled.
Why does this guy always pop up like a ghost?
"Because I'm your steward," Frank replied matter-of-factly. "As your steward and your most loyal subordinate, it is my duty to always know where you are, await your orders, and remind you of your responsibilities."
Josh couldn't argue with that. He studied Frank — handsome, capable, and holding a noble title. In Constantinople, aside from himself, Frank actually had the highest noble status. A shame, really — for such a promising young man to end up serving a so-called failure like him.
Of course, Josh was being self-deprecating. Maybe that was true before, but now...
"Hey Frank, with all your qualifications, why follow me?" Josh asked.
"Do I have to answer that?" Frank looked visibly uncomfortable.
But seeing that Josh wasn't going to let it go, he finally said — half-truthfully — "Because you've treated me well, my lord. And… I believe you're capable of great things. That's why I chose to follow you."
Josh chuckled. Treated him well? As if Frank wouldn't be well-treated anywhere else. And believing in his potential? Not even he would have believed that until recently.
"Be honest with me, Frank," Josh said with a sigh. "It's just the two of us. Didn't you say you were my most loyal subordinate? I want to know how others see me — helps me understand what I need to do."
"You're serious?" Frank's face turned grim.
Josh nodded. Obviously.
"Well… I was pretty devastated when I found out I'd be coming here with you," Frank admitted. "You know the rumors — despite being a prodigy in theory, you couldn't connect with any magic element. Essentially… you were crippled."
Thanks for emphasizing it again, Josh thought, eyes twitching.
"After your sixteenth birthday, the Emperor sent you here. If you ever showed any elemental affinity, you'd be recalled to the capital. If not, this was your final stop. But even then, His Majesty was generous. You'd live out your life comfortably as a regional lord."
"That's pretty accurate," Josh admitted.
Frank had cleverly avoided speaking about himself the entire time, but Josh wasn't going to let that slide. He pointed at Frank and asked, "What about you? You didn't have to follow me, did you?"
"No, I didn't," Frank replied, wincing. "But I also couldn't say no to the Emperor. I figured I'd do my best here — help turn Constantinople into a prosperous region. That way, even if I leave one day, I'll have something to show for it. A stepping stone."
He continued earnestly, "I'm not a high noble. I'm from a cadet branch of a noble family. I need accomplishments to climb the ladder. That's why I'm here. But, honestly? The theory you mentioned today… it gave me hope. It showed me you have ambition. That alone makes me feel better — at least you're not just coasting. If we work together, I believe we can make Constantinople a land of wealth and splendor."
Josh sighed. So in the end, Frank just didn't see a future with him. Still, the guy was trying to make something of the place before eventually leaving. Josh respected that.
But Josh wasn't the same useless noble anymore. He started thinking about how to tell Frank the truth — that everything had changed — when he noticed the unease in Frank's expression.
Ah, so he's worried I'll throw him in prison for his honesty.
The thought made Josh laugh. The monarchy really did control power through fear.
"Relax, Frank," Josh said lightly. "I'm not going to throw you in jail. I appreciate your honesty. But there's something important you overlooked. There are no high-ranking nobles here, are there? Do you know what that means?"
Frank blinked, confused.
"It means all this land is mine," Josh said, eyes gleaming. "And that gives me one very powerful privilege — the right to grant noble titles."
Frank was dumbfounded. That privilege… was huge. For minor nobles like him, without a powerful patron or a royal marriage, there was no path to promotion. Titles couldn't be passed down. But if Josh could create new nobility…
He started to panic. Why had he been so honest?! He wanted to slap himself.
And then he remembered something else — the morning's "assassin." Strong, skilled, more like a warrior than a killer. And Josh had no known enemies. Could it be…
"Work hard, Frank," Josh said with a smile. "The future is bright."
With a knowing grin, Josh activated the Shield of the Void. A faint silver glow enveloped him for just a moment before vanishing like it had never appeared. Frank stared in stunned silence.
The game had changed.
(Note: If you want me to continue this, comment that yes please continue.)