Chapter 30: Depressed

After what felt like an age, I opened my eyes to find myself looking up at the canopy of my bed in my beloved room.

I feel as though I’ve forgotten something, but I don’t know what it is.

And why does my whole body ache as if every single bone in my body had been broken?

And why does my head feel as if the blood itself is flowing in the wrong direction?

I slowly sat up and sat there absent-mindedly, staring into space; I felt strangely sluggish in both mind and body.

Ugh, I feel sick.

’You’re finally awake?’

I looked at this idiot asking the obvious and realised he was side Character No. 1 acting like a side character!

Although I wanted to answer him, I felt that if I opened my mouth I’d throw up, so wisely I kept my mouth shut

"Why didn’t you say you had a fever? Do you know the telling-off I got from His Grace because of that? I’ve been forced to sit here for four days."

A fever?

...His Grace?

What on earth is he on about?

I stared at him blankly because I didn’t understand what he was saying.

" ...I can see you haven’t fully regained consciousness yet, but since the situation no longer requires my supervision, I’ll be leaving. In any case, I’ll leave my servant here. Send me the training results later—when you are able to do."

Then he got up from the chair by the bed and left, clearly annoyed.

What’s wrong with him? Is he a woman on her period?

Why was he here?

Was he really waiting for me here whilst I was asleep?

Ugh, I’m going to be sick...

Never mind him...

So I lay back quietly in bed when Vilen came in; it seems uncle Radmir had told him I’d woken up.

I feel dizzy...

Fortunately, he didn’t bother me as he usually does; he went about his business in silence, whatever it was he was doing, whilst at the same time I began to recall fragments of what had happened. It seems I pushed myself too hard and ended up passing out.

Huh... That’s why I hate this line of work.

Why on earth did I even agree to this nonsense? I mean, going on that expedition might be a fun adventure, but that’s all it is – it’s not worth this much torment

Huh

I must be losing my mind!

I lay there for a while longer before finally forcing myself to sit up, once my mind had started working again, even if it was protesting and creaking like rusty cogs

"Bring me the Domain Analyzer,"

"Right away, young master,"

he replied as he came over to me with a cup of herbal tea in one hand and a plain white book in the other.

He placed the book carefully on my lap and then handed me the herbal tea.

"Please drink this; you’ll feel better."

I looked at him strangely for a moment, because I felt that the way he walked was odd, so I felt a sense of indignation and anger... Damn them, this is my servant; who dares?

"Have you been punished?"

"...Yes, young master. Please, the next time you have a fever, let me know."

"...." I said nothing and took the herbal tea from his hand.

Not because I didn’t care, but because I really had a headache and pain all over my body—so much so that my mind was unable to process information properly!

Simply because this isn’t the first time my servants have been punished or even killed for trivial reasons; fortunately, he wasn’t killed...

"Young master, you’re going to burn yourself. Please concentrate."

I blinked several times... Never mind, we’ll go and have a row with the Grand Duke later.

I took a sip of tea whilst resting my hand on the book; mentally, I summoned my domain key and targeted the book.

The book’s cover transformed into something strange; all I could make out were the dominant colours, such as black, purple and gold.

Just looking at it made my headache worse, so I ignored the cover entirely and opened the first page, which displayed what I understood of the Realm—and that was nothing more than two abilities... Wait a moment, it seems I’ve gained a new ability.

[[The Calamity - The Collapse of the Stars: Everything is in ruins]]

⚜️ The place ages until it reaches its end, but it is not death that claims it—rather, madness devours itself to put an end to the madness.

[[The Core - The Law of Chaos: Everything is reversed]]

⚜️ The inside is the outside and the outside is the inside; the right is the left and the left is the right; the top is the bottom and the bottom is the top; knowledge is ignorance and ignorance is knowledge EVERYTHING IS REVERSED

[[ The Victory - The Unkillable Prey x Passive: The prey is no longer prey]]

⚜️ An enemy who considers you inferior will be unable to kill you

Amazing! Have I gained immunity against the fools who might look down on me?!

Did it grant it to me after failing to kill me thousands of times?.... Never mind.... Well, honestly, it might seem daft, especially given the condition that my enemy must underestimate me, but it’s still a good thing, provides an extra layer of protection. Then again, who in the world would underestimate the son of the Grand Duke of Korvekar?

But once again, it really is a good thing, considering it’s a passive ability – the most hated kind of ability, at least – and even if it’s useless, it does no harm, unlike poor little Rosa’s tragedy, where each of her abilities is more dreadful than the last.

Let’s get to the point. I went to the next page, which would normally display what I’d managed to understand about my domain weapon, but what was shown to me was a blinding white that made me feel sick.

Nothing...

So I threw the book aside in frustration, then flung my teacup after it as I returned to bed, dejected.

"Don’t bother me."

I hate this...

I’m starting to feel depressed. It’d be best if Side Character No. 1 could convince the Grand Duke, otherwise I really wouldn’t mind turning this house upside down after they’ve forced me to put up with all this shit

What a tragic life