C7. 1 Year

"Always keep an eye on your defenses." A sudden voice broke my focus as the slash of a sword came to a halt an inch from my neck.

I let out a small sigh as I raised my hands in surrender.

"You managed to last 5 minutes longer than yesterday." My opponent wiped his sweat with his sleeve, lowering his sparring sword and nodding at me slowly.

I gave a small smile in reply as I patted the dust off my training outfit, glancing over at a maid on standby.

Seeing my glance, the maid instantly walks over with a cup of water, slightly bowing her head as she handed it over.

"Unfortunately, our time is up for today so I'll see you again tomorrow." My instructor glanced at his watch and gave a slight bow.

"Alright." I nodded, allowing him to leave as I took a handkerchief to wipe my sweat.

"My Lord." A sudden voice called out from beside the training ground entrance.

"What is it, Xavier?" I turned my head over to see the Grand Duke's head butler patiently standing there with a perfect posture.

"The Master awaits you in his study," He delivered his message.

"I'll head over in a minute." I acknowledged, waving my hand to dismiss him. "You all may leave as well," I muttered to all the maids around me, instantly dispersing them back into the building.

Making sure there was nobody near me, I grabbed the sword again and closed my eyes.

'[Corruption],' I cast, directing the spell on the sword.

Instantly, the blade began to glow dimly, a thin black transparent layer coating it.

I slowly raised the sword in front of me and let out a slash, creating a loud swish to erupt before me leaving behind a trail of dense fog and a black afterimage to appear in its previous location.

"Status" I muttered, putting the sword back onto the allocated sword rack.

[Name: Sen

Level: 10

Age: 20

Species: Werewolf (Demonic)

Class: Noble (Duke)

HP: 3000/3000

MP: 880/900

Strength: 120

Intelligence: 90

Constitution:30

Dexterity: 120

Charisma: 100

Proficiency:-

Sword: 55.8%

Dagger: 21.6%

Bow: 1%

Noble Etiquette: 97%

Common Language: 89%

Wolf Tongue: 100%

Skills:-

Passive:

Night Vision

Persuasion

Active:

Transform (partial/full)

Howl (unavailable)

Corruption (20MP)]

I was finally satisfied with my one year of stat grinding. One year of not only meticulously practicing the art of sword fighting, but also a whole year of carefully analyzing the behavior and social normality of high society.

Well, after finding out Count Leroy Alms, the one assigned to be my instructor was one of the country's best swordsmen, who wouldn't want to waste the opportunity to grind some experience.

And also finding out learning social etiquette and the history of Suin not only gave me bountiful charisma stats but also intelligence stats was most definitely the main driving force of my past year of hard work.

However, the one year spent as the Grand Duke's son also allowed me to finally fully analyze my skills and true capabilities.

After a few dozen experiments, I had discovered that the main weakness of my full werewolf transformation skill was the after-effects. From first-hand experience, it increases the depletion of my hunger depending on how long I keep the transformation on. The hunger which causes me to gain an irresistible craving for flesh. Mainly raw. Preferably human. Quickly skimming past that detail, it also turns out the 'demonic' part of the species simply allowed me to utilize demonic spells such as corruption. While speaking of Corruption, the spell allows me to corrupt and decay any surface I come into contact with, dealing lasting damage to the target in hand.

A few weeks ago, I had managed to sneak into the personal dungeon of the estate and tested the skill onto a few prisoners within. Due to the extreme graphical experience. I'll just say they died in pain. A lot of pain. A lot of screaming.

Additionally, the spell can't be broken by any normal means. Only via the caster itself or Middle to High ranked Holy cure magic.

Taking myself out of my thoughts, I made my way back inside the unnecessarily oversized mansion. The giant hallways and arching frames of the doorways never cease to amaze me as I wander under them. The countless portraits portraying the lineage of previous heads of the Grand Duke family hang majestically across the main hallway, creepily staring at each visitor as they walk by.

"My lord. The task has been completed." I heard a hushed voice speaking from within.

"All traces gone?" The Grand Duke's voice replied,

"Yes, Sir. Not a single trace left of the village." The voice confirmed quietly.

"Father," I call out, knocking on the giant white double doors of the main study.

The voices turned silent as I waited for a reply.

"Come in."

Within the room sat the Grand Duke in an extremely well-kept office. Decorated with white, blue, and gold presented itself before me as not a single speck of dust was in view, the other voice he was speaking to was also not in sight.

"Lenso," my 'father' looked up from his desk with a smile. "How have you been my child?"

"I've been well," I replied, sitting myself down on the blue couch in front of his desk as a maid instantly came in with a cup of tea.

"I see you've been doing well with your studies." He ruffles a pile of paper on his desk, straightening them and putting them aside, while simultaneously taking out another pile from within the draws of the desk.

"You've not only managed to complete your etiquette studies in a year but also greatly improved your swordsmanship skills beyond the required level." He happily read out the reports written by my instructors, looking up at me with pride. "As expected of my son. The blood of Einsoi runs in you." He praised.

To be honest, since the day I was 'rescued' from the broken carriage and found to have 'lost my memories'. The Grand Duke never did anything to confirm if I was really the true Young Duke of Einsoi. In fact, he seemed to have done the opposite and avoided any conversation regarding the village at all, even to the point of plainly wiping the village from existence it seems.

I had theorized it was all to discourage my memory from ever returning, and for me to forever pledge my loyalty to the Einsoi name, but little does he know I don't give a shit about any of this.

"Thank you, father." I smiled, putting down my cup. "But, that's not the only reason you call me here, right?"

After living with the Grand Duke for a year, I knew the man inside out. There would be no way for him to simply call me in here to praise me for my efforts.

"That's correct." He nodded, holding out a bright purple envelope, a color which only the ruler of a country could use, "Seems the rest of the family has become curious about you."

Summarizing the unnecessarily long letter. The royal family has planned a hunting banquet in a week and was inviting us to join. The winner is given one wish. One wish that is acceptable and grantable by the royal family.

"What do you think?" He asked me, looking at my reaction as I read.

"Why not," I replied, folding the letter and handed it back.

"It'll be your first-ever public appearance." He took back the letter and placed it on his desk.

"I'll have to do that eventually." I shrugged, standing up.

The Grand Duke carefully thought of my answer and nodded. "I'll send them a reply then."

"One more thing," I suddenly stopped in front of the door and looked back. "I need to head to Reuston tomorrow. I have some business to attend there."

"Reuston?" The Grand Duke looked up with a frown. "That's a 2-hour carriage ride."

"I'll take the warps," I answered, not bothered explaining too much.

"Alright. Bring Serin and Ryen with you." He slowly nodded after giving it a thought.

"Understood," I nodded walking out as a maid helped open the door.