Damien, who was singing with the 'Song of Madness,' was led away by a servant who suddenly appeared from somewhere. It seemed like a surveillance measure set up by Kamog. Even amidst this, Damien was still asking what 'Song of Madness' meant.
It is one of the highest positions a non-blood relative can achieve in a noble family.
Yet, to refuse such a position.
'Ah.'
It was around this time that Alfredo realized something.
'Well, that could be it.'
Look at the boy in front of him.
Born as a penniless vagrant in the Black and White Zone, he learned magic on his own through innate talent.
Whether he obtained a grimoire or had a stroke of luck, learning magic without a teacher is a remarkable feat.
'He must be aware of his own talent.'
I understand.
I was once like that too.
Not exactly a vagrant in the Black and White Zone, but I was born in an ordinary family and learned magic.
Back then, I was really ignorant of the world and acted rebelliously.
'Umm, hmm.'
Suddenly, the boy's appearance reminded him of his past self.
His already prominent nose, a face that could make women cry when he grows up, and rebellious eyes.
He was a perfect replica of himself.
It even made him wonder if the boy could be his hidden son, but unfortunately, that was not the case.
...I have never met a woman.
"..."
Feeling like he might cry, Alfredo lifted his head to look at the ceiling.
He smiled slightly to prevent tears from falling, then took a deep breath.
He then looked at the boy.
"Boy, the world is vast."
"It's not narrow, is it?"
"You must feel like you can do anything and put the world at your feet right now."
"Not really."
Instantly, a vein popped on Alfredo's forehead.
'I must hold back, I must hold back.'
I want to punch him in the head, but I can't ruin things with rash actions.
There will be plenty of opportunities once he becomes the successor.
Butlers are the protectors of the family. They must safeguard the mansion and the bloodline from the shadows, acting as troubleshooters for the noble family.
How could such training be easy?
'...I'll see you then, boy.'
Alfredo barely suppressed his anger. But his patience didn't last long.
"Do you know about the goblins in the gorge? The boy is in a similar state. He has only grown up in the gorge and doesn't know what dangers lie outside..."
"I think I'm more like a wyvern."
"..."
Thud.
A Y-shaped vein popped on his forehead.
His barely suppressed anger flared up again.
'Hold... back. I must hold back.'
The boy is young.
He grew up in the Black and White Zone and doesn't know the vastness of the world. Ignorance is not a sin. It's not a sin. It's not a sin...
Suddenly, he thought:
'Telling him about the vastness of the world... is also the role of an adult, isn't it?'
Alfredo's patience flickered and died.
"Let me be clear."
Alfredo stood up from his seat.
Bang!
The chair flew into the wall and shattered, and the table collapsed helplessly.
"The boy, does not know."
His face turned red, and his body swelled as if about to burst. The tuxedo, which was once spacious, now barely contained his bulging muscles.
Aster frowned slightly at the intimidating sight, and Alfredo said:
"So, I, the butler, will personally show you how vast and terrifying this world can be."
Alfredo was confident.
He would teach this boy the bitter taste of the world and make him the successor of the butler.
'Teacher!'
Imagining the day when that arrogant brat would look at him with bright, eager eyes, Alfredo felt his enthusiasm boil over.
* * *
Alfredo, crossing the corridor, led Aster to one of the Blando family's training rooms.
Creak.
As the stone door opened, the children in training came into view.
They were all in their early to mid-teens, around Aster's age. Upon seeing Alfredo, they stopped their training.
"Salute the butler!"
"Salute the butler!"
With a loud voice, the children lined up in perfect unison. Their actions were so synchronized that it was hard to believe they were so young.
Alfredo couldn't hide his proud expression.
"What do you think, boy?"
"What about what?"
"Each of these children has proven their talent to the Blando family. They are all around your age. You must feel something."
"Hmm."
Aster tilted his head.
"It's not just them. There are many such training rooms in Blando. Think about the entire continent."
"..."
"What do you think? Do you feel it now?"
He didn't specify what to feel.
But Aster understood his meaning.
'Blando is indeed impressive.'
The children, despite being in their teens, were highly refined. Their aura filled the space.
However, Alfredo's point was not that they were outstanding.
'These outstanding individuals are not rare when you consider the entire continent.'
Aster understood. But then he thought:
Is the one who doesn't know the vastness of the world really me, or the children in front of me?
The children's aura was indeed fierce, but the intent behind it was quite ridiculous.
They couldn't openly express it with Alfredo and the instructors present, but they were trying to intimidate him. The concentrated malicious aura was evident.
Especially their eyes. The subtle sense of superiority was clear and unhidden.
Aster smiled because of this.
But he didn't feel the need to react.
"Yes, it's quite vast."
Trying to let it pass, but Alfredo's desire was persistent.
"Then will you accept my offer? If you become the next butler, you can shine like these children. No, you have the talent to shine more than anyone."
Alfredo's burning eyes.
Aster shook his head.
"I don't like the spotlight..."
"Boy, why..."
It was a ridiculous scene with dozens of trainees present.
The butler of the Blando family was enthusiastically scouting a vagrant from the Black and White Zone, while the vagrant was repeatedly refusing with a cold look.
At that moment,
"Butler."
A trainee raised his hand and called Alfredo.
Alfredo turned his head, puzzled.
"Winston, do you have something to say?"
"We have heard your words about the vastness of the world. We felt it deeply, but it made me think."
"What did you think?"
Winston focused on Aster.
The emotion in his eyes was clear: hostility, envy, and jealousy.
He didn't hide his feelings and smiled at Aster.
"If I were that boy and understood your words, I would never refuse the opportunity. Just a thought, you know?"
"Hmm."
Alfredo nodded.
'Indeed...'
It made sense.
If he truly understood the vastness of the world by seeing these children, he wouldn't refuse the offer.
Then Winston spoke.
"If you give me the opportunity, I want to show that boy the vastness of the world..."
"Do you want to duel?"
"Well, not necessarily a duel. Just a taste of what magic is like."
Alfredo looked at Winston.
It was quite presumptuous for a trainee to challenge him. The instructors were pale with shock, but he didn't notice.
His intentions were not entirely pure.
But...
'Leaving all that aside...'
Alfredo thought it wasn't a bad idea.
"Boy, what do you think? A simple duel with this friend?"
Alfredo asked cautiously, and the trainees' eyes turned to Aster.
They were curious about his response.
In fact, the trainees' feelings towards Aster were already at their worst.
The young master's runaway incident was no longer a secret once he returned. Consequently, rumors about Aster spread.
Their perception was...
'What a lucky vagrant.'
'He is favored by the young master? How dare a dirty vagrant like him...'
'He should roll in the sewers where he belongs. Why is he following the young master...'
Roughly to this extent.
As everyone's eyes turned to Aster,
"Hmm."
Aster's head tilted even more.
"You don't have to push yourself, boy."
Alfredo also felt the hostility and tried to dissuade him.
Aster smiled.
"Can I choose my opponent?"
"..."
Alfredo thought for a moment.
'Indeed...'
Winston is an excellent trainee. He is already being scouted by one of Blando's top mage groups, 'Dawn'.
He lacks manners, but his skills are exceptional.
So, dueling other trainees wouldn't be bad.
"Choose one."
When Alfredo answered,
Aster spoke.
But it wasn't just one.
"You, you, you, you. And... yeah, you too."
"..."
Winston and four other trainees.
They looked at each other in confusion as Aster's voice echoed.
"Five of you, all at once."
"..."
Alfredo was silent.
The trainees were silent.
Only Aster spoke.
"If you're scared, just die."
The five trainees looked at Alfredo.
Their eyes were burning.
Not only hostility towards Aster, but also a fierce determination.
They looked at Alfredo with pleading eyes.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
A loud laugh echoed through the room.
Alfredo laughed as if he had gone mad.
'This is what it takes to be my successor.'
This scene reminded him of his own youth.
A spirit that wouldn't bend, a pride that wouldn't be lost even in defeat.
He already coveted this talent, and now he couldn't control his desire.
"Boy, can you take responsibility for your words? What you said could be seen as an insult to Blando..."
Aster shrugged.
"Hmm, I can take responsibility. Fine. Then let's do this. Exactly one minute. If you can last one minute, I'll consider you responsible for your words. But..."
Alfredo's eyes gleamed.
"If you can't last one minute, I will hold you accountable. However, if you do last one minute, I will give you a gift."
It sounded ominous.
With the name of a noble family, 'insult,' and 'responsibility' mentioned together.
But Aster thought differently.
'Ha, this old man...'
Trying to manipulate him.
What he means by 'responsibility' is making him the next butler.
"Fine. Let's do it."
At this point, Aster had no intention of backing down.