Chapter 15 : What’s wrong with living off your parents ?

Haugen von Eisenhardt was not born a hereditary viscount.
That’s right, Schiller’s father climbed from commoner to viscount step by step.

In a sense, Haugen was an extraordinary figure, bestowed with a hereditary noble title for his immense contributions to the empire.

At the same time, he was also an extraordinary-level powerhouse known as [The Unbeaten], and even his personal maid, the Viscounty’s head maid, had already entered the extraordinary stage halfway.

‘His father is a top-tier extraordinary-level powerhouse!’

‘In the world, one must first rely on their parents!’ But Schiller seemed to have no mother, so he would just rely on his father.

With such a figure, and his own father at that, he had no need to become stronger at all—the original Schiller certainly thought this way.

“What’s wrong with living off my parents?! Can’t I?”

However, it was as if this world was against him; he never even met his cheap old man.

Forget about secretly learning from his father or hiding in the viscount’s mansion to grow. Right now, the opponent is already pushing high ground, while the Miracle Walker is still farming in the wild.

“Dad! When are you coming back?!” Schiller couldn’t help but sigh towards the heavens.

If his father could stay in the viscount’s manor, his strength could at least go up another level.

Moreover, there would be no need to worry about shadows lurking in the dark, after all, his father was that strong.

Not to mention the developing Sheryl, he probably even had the ability to fight the Demon God’s familiars.

“This feeling… this feeling…” He frantically scratched his hair.

It was like preparing for demolition, only for the plan to be canceled at the last minute.

Just as Schiller was praying for his father’s early return, Celia’s voice came from the door.

“Young master, are you there?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“The master has just arrived; please go see him.”

“!” Speaking of the devil, his mouth was really like an open door.

“Hahaha, my plan, my plan is about to succeed, isn’t it?!”

Schiller was ecstatic. First, he would diligently train for a year or two, then he would not make a sound, only to astound everyone with a single roar!

While those geniuses were still engrossed in their school romance comedies, he would already have become an extraordinary-level powerhouse!

Then he would shock the still-weak villains with his immense power.

He looked out the window; the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. It was probably nine o’clock at night.

‘So late?’

“What urgent matter does Father have, calling me so late?”

“It must be about the kidnapping incident earlier…” Schiller didn’t think much of it and opened his room door.

Celia was waiting outside the door. Seeing Schiller appear, she bowed slightly.

“Lead the way.”

“Yes.”

The two headed towards the study deep within the viscount’s manor. According to Schiller’s memory, whenever his father summoned him to the study, there was always something important.

Upon reaching their destination, Celia suddenly pulled on Schiller’s sleeve.

“Young master, what are your thoughts on Lady Sheryl?” Her sincere eyes looked at Schiller, as if not wanting to miss the slightest wavering deep within his heart.

“Sheryl? Hmm… a pitiful child.” He met her gaze directly.

“I think she’s hiding something,” Celia continued, as if offering advice. “It would be best for Young Master not to get too close to her, otherwise, something might happen.” She emphasized the words “something might happen,” as if absolutely certain.

“No, even if something happens, I won’t let go.” Schiller gave her a big smile in return.

After all, that concerned his own life and death.

“And, I’ll also rely on Celia.”

“Is that so…” She released Schiller’s sleeve, lowering her head deeply, not letting Schiller see her expression.

“Phew.” He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

“Father, you called for me?”

Inside the door, he saw Haugen von Eisenhardt for the first time, the father given to him by fate.

Head maid Selena was gently watching him.

As the Head Maid of the Viscount’s manor, she had witnessed Schiller’s entire life.

And Schiller’s mother, after giving birth to him, fell seriously ill and passed away when he was six years old.

One could say that Selena filled the role of a mother in his life, and perhaps, her excessive doting might have contributed to his twisted personality.

As for Haugen, stern and commanding respect without anger—that was his first impression.

Schiller couldn’t help but shrink his shoulders; even he felt timid in front of such a person.

“Schiller, I’ve heard about the matter. Well done.”

It seemed his father had probably grasped the general situation.

“Y-yes!” Schiller’s voice was a bit strained, but he managed to maintain his composure.

“How could something like this happen when I was away? Did Celia not notice?”

Selena’s slightly reproachful voice came through.

“No, it’s not her fault. I was too careless.” Schiller quickly stepped in to defend his personal maid.

“But, you are indeed my son!” Haugen clapped him heavily on the back.

The strong force made him stagger.

“I thought you’d be called a ‘pervert’ your whole life, but perhaps that’s not so bad. Men should be a bit lustful…” Before he could finish his sentence, a throwing knife flew from the shadows straight towards his neck.

In a flash of lightning, the aura that had spread around him forcibly blocked the knife.

“Master, please do not say things that are detrimental to Young Master’s education.” Selena said calmly, from making her move to stopping, her actions completely escaped Schiller’s gaze.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

‘Extraordinary powerhouse, terrifying!’

“Haha,” Haugen quickly chuckled, “I heard you learned swordsmanship from the Hohenzollern girl?”

His eyes showed interest.

‘Phew, I was waiting for that! From now on, hand over all your skills!’

“Although I am called [The Unbeaten], I have never fought against the Hohenzollern style before…”

The implication was that he wanted Schiller to spar with him.

“But Father, my level…”

“No matter, I will suppress my own level.”

“Just as I intended!”

Haugen led Schiller to the courtyard as if ushering him out.

In conclusion, it was an utterly one-sided slaughter.

It was something completely different from Sheryl’s swordsmanship; it was a sword born only to “kill.”

Schiller couldn’t last two seconds under that pure violence.

And naturally, Schiller had his father transfer magic to him.

‘Damn, my own father is a cheat too, why am I the only one who isn’t?!’

But, all the conditions should have been met.

When Schiller joyfully prepared to check his status in front of the mirror, he found no change from the afternoon.

In other words, no skills had been added.

That’s right, Schiller could see his own status sheet; he had discovered it inadvertently while looking in a mirror.

Just like Sheryl’s status sheet, it meticulously recorded his status down to the smallest detail.

Skills: [Hohenzollern-style Swordsmanship – Intermediate], [Physical Combat – LV1]

Companion Magic: [Replication]

“Ah!” Immediately after, he saw the fine print at the very bottom of [Replication], just like the “image for reference only” on a snack package.

“The target of this magic’s activation is limited to the opposite s*x.”

“No! Damn! It! Bastard!”

At this moment, all his cultivation plans turned to dust.

Those plans were based on him being able to “steal” his father’s skills.

And now, clearly, that wouldn’t work.

‘Heh, what “I Level Up Alone,” now it’s “I Embarrass Myself Alone.”’

“Where are my plans?! Why did they all amount to nothing again?!” His wails echoed throughout the mansion.

…

…

As Schiller and Haugen went to spar, inside the study.

“Did you see?” Selena asked the person hidden in the shadows.

“Yes.” The person slowly emerged from the shadows, their golden hair shimmering in the moonlight.

“I really didn’t expect…” Her golden pupils fixed on the spot where Schiller had just stood, no, to be precise, on his “head.”

Indeed, her appearance was just like Schiller’s when he was looking at the favorability.

Her fingertips unconsciously stroked a small crucifix pendant emitting a faint, holy glow, her red lips slightly parted as she whispered silently:

‘Fate, Schiller von Eisenhardt… where will you lead this twisted fate?’