Chapter 2: The First Sin of a Disgraced Noble
The First Sin of a Disgraced Noble
The room was silent.
Kael Veyron stood before the mirror, staring at the strange window floating in front of him.
[Unique Ability: The Abyss That Hates the World]
He focused his eyes on the description.
Unique Legendary Ability
The Abyss That Hates the World
An ability born from the hatred, resentment, and rejection of the world itself.
- Absorbs negative emotions directed toward the user.
- Converts accumulated hatred into Abyss Energy.
- Allows the user to evolve beyond normal human limitations.
- Unlocks hidden abilities through extreme circumstances.
Warning: Excessive Abyss Energy may corrupt the user's soul.
Kael slowly lowered his hand.
“So, the more people hate me, the stronger I become?”
A strange smile appeared on his face.
“That is certainly convenient.”
But before he could examine the ability further, a loud knock interrupted him.
“Master Kael!”
The servant from earlier entered without waiting for permission.
“Your father is waiting. You must come immediately.”
Kael glanced at him.
“What is your name?”
The servant froze.
For a moment, he looked genuinely confused.
“Y-You don't remember, young master?”
“I asked you a question.”
“Marcus, young master. My name is Marcus.”
Kael nodded.
“Very well, Marcus. Lead the way.”
The servant stared at him as though he had witnessed a miracle.
Normally, Kael would have thrown something at him for entering without permission.
But today, the young master had spoken calmly.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The Veyron Family
The Veyron estate was one of the oldest noble residences in the Empire of Asteria.
Its black marble pillars stretched toward the ceiling, while enormous paintings of former family heads decorated the walls.
At the end of the main hall sat Duke Alaric Veyron.
A man whose presence alone could silence an entire battlefield.
His silver hair was neatly combed backward. His dark eyes carried the coldness of someone who had spent his entire life commanding others.
Beside him stood two individuals.
The first was an elegant woman wearing a white dress. She was Kael's older sister, Seraphina Veyron.
The second was a young man with golden hair and blue eyes.
His name was Lucien Veyron.
Kael's younger half-brother.
And according to the original novel, Lucien was destined to become one of the seven heroes.
The moment Kael entered, Seraphina's expression turned cold.
“Finally. The disgrace of our family has arrived.”
Kael ignored her and looked at his father.
“You summoned me?”
Duke Alaric's eyes narrowed.
“Do you understand why I called you here?”
“No.”
“Yesterday, you assaulted a commoner boy in the academy district. You destroyed a merchant's stall, injured two guards, and threatened to have an innocent family imprisoned.”
Kael remained silent.
He remembered this incident.
It was one of the reasons the original Kael became hated throughout the capital.
His father slammed his hand against the table.
“You are seventeen years old! Yet you behave like a spoiled child who has never experienced consequences!”
Seraphina folded her arms.
“Father, there is no point wasting your breath. He will never change.”
Lucien stepped forward.
“Please, Father. Don't be too harsh on Brother Kael. Perhaps he simply had a difficult day.”
A perfect smile.
A gentle voice.
A beautiful mask.
Kael recognized this scene.
Lucien was pretending to defend him, but his actual intention was to make him look even worse.
In the original story, Kael would have lost his temper and attacked Lucien.
That single action would have caused his father to strip him of his allowance and send him to the academy under strict supervision.
But this time…
Kael smiled.
“Lucien.”
“Yes, Brother?”
“Do you always speak so kindly when you are trying to stab someone in the back?”
The hall went silent.
Lucien's smile disappeared for a fraction of a second.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
Kael walked toward the table and pulled out a chair.
“Since everyone is discussing my behavior, perhaps we should also discuss the people who have been spreading rumors about me.”
Duke Alaric frowned.
“What are you suggesting?”
Kael looked directly at Lucien.
“Perhaps my dear younger brother knows something about it.”
Lucien's expression stiffened.
The First Crack in Fate
The original Kael was an idiot.
He had never questioned anyone.
He had never investigated the accusations against him.
He simply reacted to every insult with violence.
But the man currently occupying his body was different.
He knew the original story.
He knew that Lucien had secretly manipulated several incidents to damage Kael's reputation.
He also knew that Lucien was far more dangerous than he appeared.
“Brother,” Lucien said softly, “I don't understand why you're accusing me.”
“I'm not accusing you.”
Kael leaned back.
“I'm simply curious.”
“Enough!” Duke Alaric interrupted.
His voice shook the room.
“Kael, you have embarrassed this family enough. Starting tomorrow, your allowance will be suspended. You will also report to the Royal Academy under supervision.”
Kael shrugged.
“As you wish.”
His father looked surprised.
“What?”
“I said, as you wish.”
“You're not going to argue?”
“No.”
Kael stood up.
“I have no interest in wasting my time arguing with people who have already decided what they think of me.”
He turned toward the exit.
But just before leaving, he stopped.
“One more thing, Father.”
“What now?”
Kael looked over his shoulder.
“Someday, you will regret treating me like a worthless son.”
Then he left.
Behind him, Lucien slowly clenched his fist.
For the first time, his older brother had not reacted according to expectations.
And that frightened him.
The Abyss Awakens
Kael returned to his bedroom and locked the door.
The moment he sat down, the system appeared.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Quest Completed
[Survive the Family Judgment]
Objective: Survive the meeting with Duke Alaric Veyron.
Reward:
- 100 Abyss Experience
- 1 Random Skill Fragment
[New Quest Available]
The Forgotten Heir
Objective: Discover the secret hidden within the Veyron estate.
Reward:
- Unknown
- Bloodline Awakening Progress +10%
Failure Penalty: Permanent loss of a hidden attribute.
Kael stared at the new quest.
“Secret hidden within the estate?”
He remembered something.
In the original novel, the Veyron family possessed a forbidden underground chamber.
It was sealed hundreds of years ago after the death of the first Duke.
The family records claimed that something evil lived beneath the mansion.
But the original story never explained what it was.
Kael stood and approached the window.
The sun was beginning to set.
A strange sensation crawled across his skin.
He could feel something calling him.
Not from outside.
From beneath the floor.
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
The entire room shook.
The mirror shattered.
A black mist emerged from the cracks in the marble floor, twisting like countless living snakes.
Kael stepped backward.
“What the hell?”
A voice echoed inside his mind.
Finally…
The blood of the Veyron family has returned.
The black mist gathered into a human shape.
Two enormous crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
Child of the rejected bloodline…
Do you wish to know why your family abandoned you?
Kael's heart stopped.
“What are you?”
The creature laughed.
I am the sin your ancestors buried.
A new notification appeared.
Hidden Event Triggered
[The Prisoner Beneath the Estate]
An ancient existence has recognized your bloodline.
WARNING: Target's power exceeds your current level by an immeasurable margin.
Special Choice:
- Accept the creature's offer.
- Reject the creature's offer.
- Attempt to devour its power.
Kael stared at the three choices.
He knew better than to trust something that had been sealed beneath an ancient noble estate.
But he also knew something else.
In this world, strength determined everything.
The weak were manipulated.
The powerless were discarded.
And those who couldn't protect themselves were eventually erased.
Kael slowly raised his head.
“Tell me something, monster.”
The crimson eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Kael smiled.
“If I accept your offer…”
He took one step toward the darkness.
“Will I become strong enough to destroy the people who look down on me?”
For several seconds, the creature remained silent.
Then it laughed.
A terrifying, ancient laugh that made the walls tremble.
Ah…
You really are the child of our bloodline.
Very well, little monster.
Let us turn this world upside down.
[Contract Available: The First Sin]
[Do you accept?]
Kael extended his hand.
“I accept.”
And beneath the Veyron estate, something that had slept for three hundred years finally opened its eyes.