'It… happens?' the old man continued staring at me like he was looking at a monster.
I forced a smile and said,
"It seems I won't find what I'm searching for. I'll take my leave now."
"Oh." The old man finally regained some semblance of composure and gestured toward the door not too far away.
I thanked him before rushing out, feeling his gaze linger on my back.
He was still wondering how normal it was for someone to increase in strength without beginning the process of cultivation.
It was simply impossible!
In all his more than two hundred years of life, he had never seen or heard of such a thing.
It was like increasing the contents of a bottle of water without a source. Such a thing was not only magical but miraculous…
'There's also the fact that he was asking about those ancient monsters…'
The old man stared in the direction of the door, his eyes narrowing.
'There's something oddly suspicious about this kid.'
He didn't plan to lie to Aristarkh about the ancient monsters, but information about them was one of the clan's highest secrets. As such, it couldn't be shared so casually with the public.
'I need to consult her to know her thoughts on this…'
The old man muttered internally, referring to Elizabeth, before tapping his finger gently on the table.
A gust of wind blew, and the old man was nowhere to be seen.
…
I left feeling a distinct happiness in my heart at having broken through to the second stage of Rank 1 Cursed Warrior.
Pleased, I pondered what to do next. Glancing around, I noted that there was no one in sight.
I decided to return to my room. If my guess wasn't wrong, dinner should be ready.
Taking brisk steps, I passed through passages and corridors, finally approaching my room.
The moment I arrived, I noticed a young maid already there, standing nervously at the door.
As she turned to me, she sighed in relief.
"Young master." She greeted with a respectful bow. "The matriarch asked me to call you for dinner."
"Oh." I nodded, then said, "Lead the way."
The maid raised her eyes nervously and turned around before walking lightly deeper into the inner chambers of the clan.
We walked for about four minutes before she gestured toward a grand door ahead.
Knowing that maids and servants weren't allowed inside aside from kitchen staff, I nodded and waved her off.
Tapping the massive door lightly, I stepped inside after taking a nervous breath.
'My first reunion with my family after coming to this world.' I didn't think it'd be so soon.
As I gently pushed the door open, it let out a groan before scraping softly against the ground and revealing the scene inside.
Three pairs of eyes landed on me.
I calmed my racing heart and walked toward them.
'I just need to act perfectly enough that they find no flaws in my actions.'
Since my predecessor had always behaved in a similarly cold manner, I hardened my expression and walked toward the dining table.
My mother, with silvery hair similar to mine and silver eyes, raised her gaze to meet mine.
Her hands rested atop the table, tapping rhythmically as though she had been waiting.
She stared at me without a change of expression, just watching me with that emotionless look, like I was some sort of tool or puppet.
My father sat opposite her at the head seat.
He was a clean, laid-back man, lacking much of the domineering aura expected of a ruler.
He carried a quiet, respectable grace, but his eyes held a trace of warmth as he looked at me.
His golden-brown hair framed moonlight-blue eyes that watched me approach like a calm lake.
Finally, there she was… seated opposite an empty chair. My seat.
My sister.
Her hair was a mix of my father's golden brown and my mother's silver, intersecting in loose strands that gave her a unique appearance.
Her eyes were as cold as my mother's, and she didn't even spare me a glance. Instead, her hands moved with practiced efficiency as she ate like it was merely a task to complete.
There was elegance in her movements, and only when she noticed me approach did she raise her silver eyes to meet mine.
In that moment, it felt like the world froze, and chills ran down my spine.
I almost stepped back subconsciously, but I returned her stare.
A faint smile formed at the corner of my lips as I imagined becoming as strong as her before long.
"Interesting. Finally got some balls," my sister muttered under her breath before shifting her gaze away and returning to her meal.
"Son." My father smiled warmly at me, ignoring her rude remark.
"Sit down. Let's eat as a family."
Hearing his words, I returned the smile and sat opposite my sister.
There were only four seats in the dining room, an array of dishes spread across the table.
To my left was my father, while my mother sat beside him at the head of the table.
Directly in front of me was my sister.
On the dining table were all kinds of cursed monster meats.
Because they were cursed monsters, their bones and flesh had been nourished countless times by cursed energy from birth. As a result, they were exceptionally delicious and could also supplement one's cursed energy during cultivation.
I reached for a pair of chopsticks and, taking a steady breath, picked up a piece of meat.
My father watched as I ate before picking up his own chopsticks and beginning his meal as well.
Unlike me, however, he simply grabbed a slab of meat and devoured it directly.
My mother was the complete opposite. She took only small, measured bites.
Her eyes remained on the food, yet I could tell her thoughts were elsewhere… wondering, calculating, perhaps even plotting something.
Suddenly, "Mother?" I called, interrupting her meal.
Elizabeth paused mid-bite and turned to glance at me, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
The thought of pressing my mother against the table and fucking her from behind, dominating her while she begged for mercy, clouded my mind the moment her ice-cold look met my gaze.