[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 556: The Aesthetics of the Circle (7)

Miras.

A cosmic noble house rooted in the Galactic Tito system.

Within the interstellar military, few powers could rival them, their name alone was known to every educated being.

The house crest bore four short vertical lines, symbolizing the four arms characteristic of Miras bloodlines.

Coincidentally, the house’s future rested upon four heirs.

The current head, Ejeta Miras, had four children, three sons and one daughter.

And the one now crossing blades with Yeongwoo in the Aesthetics of the Circle was none other than the youngest of them: Alden Miras, the last of the Miras heirs still undertaking his Pilgrimage.

Once Alden completed his journey safely, every child of Miras would have earned full legitimacy and claim to the family inheritance.

But—

KA-AANG!

Alden’s greatsword, swung with all the desperation of his will, was blocked effortlessly by Yeongwoo’s Bastard.

—Ugh…!

“Grew up too comfortably, huh? Your sword’s got no weight to it.”

From behind the crimson edge of his weapon, Yeongwoo mocked him.

Alden’s single visible eye widened in fury.

—Die…!

His azure greatsword disengaged, then slashed again.

SHWAAA!

The strike was surprisingly fast—impressive even—but not nearly enough to pierce Yeongwoo’s perception.

「Ominous Eye」 – Void Eyeball

【Insight ability increased by 50%.】

【Sensory stats increased by 40%.】

【Ashen Gaze】

KA-AANG!

Yeongwoo deflected the second attack just as easily.

Terror flickered in Alden’s eyes—not fear of death, but of disgrace.

If he failed to defeat his opponent, he would lose not only his limbs but also the weapon granted to him by his house.

Even if he survived the dungeon, his Pilgrimage would be incomplete.

To be stripped of his arms and family weapon by some nameless lord—how could that be called a completed journey?

“Kyakak, starting to get it now? This is the fear of the cosmos!”

Yeongwoo’s grin was pure villainy, his tongue, soaked in toxic blood, flicking out mockingly.

Alden, in panic, grabbed his sword with three of his four arms.

CRRRK!

But as Yeongwoo finally put real strength into Bastard, Alden’s blade began to slide backward.

—D-Damn it!

All three of his arms trembled violently.

Then came the executioner’s words.

“Alden Miras! Your pilgrimage ends here! Remember this name—mine is…”

Just then—

SMACK!

Unable to watch any longer, Lady Kanaph slapped the back of Yeongwoo’s head.

SMACK!

—Y-you insolent brat! Even evil must know its bounds!

“Ow—what the hell, frog lady? You got a death wish?”

—You ignorant fool! To those born of noble lineage, this journey is sacred—an oath bound to blood!

“Rite of passage, right? He’s just unlucky to have hit too big a wall, that’s all.”

To Yeongwoo, Alden’s failure was natural.

But Kanaph knew how much weight a “Pilgrimage of the House” carried—and tried desperately to reason with him.

—Mercy!

“…What?”

—Even monsters can show mercy at times, can’t they?

“He’s the one from a galactic powerhouse! What mercy could I possibly give? There’s no mercy in the world of the strong.”

So Kanaph changed tactics.

—If this journey fails, the entire Miras house will be shamed. Unless you kill him here, they’ll come for you eventually.

But Yeongwoo, who’d long since left his guts outside his body, merely shrugged.

“Plenty of families are already sharpening knives for me.”

—Then think what you might gain from showing mercy!

Her third attempt—a desperate one.

—Show mercy here, and you’ll have the gratitude of the future heir of Miras!

The wealth and equipment of such a galactic dynasty would be beyond measure.

“Hmm.”

Yeongwoo eased the pressure on Bastard.

Alden’s shaking arms steadied.

“That makes a bit of sense. So—what’s my payment?”

At that, Alden clenched his teeth beneath the metal band over his face.

CRRCH.

—Then kill me! I’d rather die than bear such humiliation!

CLANG!

Alden’s sword pulled back again, readying another suicidal strike.

“Knew it.”

Predicting this, Yeongwoo launched a blinding knee kick.

WHAM!

It slammed into Alden’s abdomen—his bronze armor caving in with a brutal crack as his scream echoed through the chamber.

—KRAAAAGH!

And over that wail, Yeongwoo spoke calmly.

“Sorry, dying’s not an option. You’re walking out alive.”

—W-what…?

“I’ve got my own reasons. Besides, someone’s gotta go out there and glorify your family name, right?”

Alden straightened, clutching his sword again.

—Honor? That’s long gone. All that’s left is to show my resolve through death.

Noble words indeed—but Yeongwoo silenced them with the convict technique, Rohm’s Bottom Punch: a precise liver shot.

THUD!

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Apparently Miras livers were on the right side too—Alden dropped instantly.

—Gah…!

“What? You lose a fight and think your honor’s gone? Then maybe you never had any to begin with.”

—You dare speak of honor, barbarian?!

Yeongwoo simply punched him in the head.

SMACK!

“You’re not without honor—you just don’t have a choice. The real problem’s this sword, right? I’ll let you keep it—for now.”

He pressed his foot on the fallen blade.

Alden hastily grasped the hilt again.

THMP!

But his gaze was conflicted.

—…What scheme is this?

“Becoming a creditor of a cosmic noble house.”

Then Yeongwoo did the unthinkable—

WHOOSH!

He lifted Bastard high—

SCRAAATCH!

—and carved the Renaissance crest into Alden’s sword.

—W-what…?

Alden froze; even Kanaph gasped, realizing this was both a grave insult and something nearly impossible.

—W-what have you done?!

“Just as I thought. Not myth-class—otherwise I couldn’t have scratched it.”

He touched the blade, and a weapon tooltip appeared:

「Blessing of Frost」 – Legendary Greatsword

【Reduces incoming frost damage by 20%】

【Gains 10% Prestige Reduction】

【Frost Domain】

【Mark of Miras】

Frost Domain:

|All nearby enemies’ movement speed reduced by 15%.

Mark of Miras:

|This greatsword bears the sigil of the Miras house.

“Oh—Prestige Reduction?”

An unexpected perk.

Alden hugged the sword to his chest.

—You’re not entirely ignorant, I see. But what use is Prestige reduction to you? The universe is vast; there are countless stronger than you.

“Exactly. Which is why I need it—I’m tired of getting beaten up by them all.”

A fortunate find.

He had expected a strong weapon, but not this attribute.

“I’d love to take it now, but fine. I’ll let you go, as promised.”

—Truly? Then this…

Alden looked at the cannon crest engraved into the blade.

“Oh, that? It’s my mark—means I’m lending you the sword.”

—Lending…?

“You’ll keep it till your journey ends. When you become the heir, bring the sword—and a proper payment.”

Yeongwoo conjured a glowing contract scroll in his palm.

FWOOSH!

“I’m learning market rates, see.”

—…What is this?

“A debt contract. It activates the moment you inherit the estate.”

The agreement demanded the Legendary Greatsword of Frost and 10 billion Karma once Alden became heir.

—Vulgar proposal.

“Flexible alternative. The path to power’s never clean.”

Yeongwoo extended his hand impatiently.

Alden blinked, pride warring with reason.

Then the devil whispered in his ear—

“No one will ever know what happened here. As long as me and the frog lady stay quiet.”

—……

“Die here, and you’ll be remembered as a weakling who failed a trivial dungeon. Crawl out empty-handed, and you’re a dropout.”

No choice was good.

—…Tch.

“But if you owe me a little, only the record-keepers will know. Once you pay, we forget everything.”

Kanaph hadn’t agreed to any “paid amnesia,” but she stayed silent—better this than ruin the Pilgrimage.

“Humiliation fades in a moment. Glory lasts across galaxies. Take my hand and finish your journey—become the Miras heir!”

Yeongwoo raised a finger toward the heavens, preaching like a prophet.

—P-please, shut that insane mouth before I lose my mind.

Still, Alden clasped Yeongwoo’s hand.

THMP!

—So now I’m the family’s disgrace.

“No, the one who met the Lord of Renaissance and lived to tell of it.”

Yeongwoo pointed at the crest on the sword.

“When you meet your siblings and father, say you crossed blades with a mighty swordsman and barely fought to a draw. That mark’s your proof.”

—That’s humiliating. Every duel must have an end.

“Then add this line.”

—What line?

“That your opponent was…”

But before Yeongwoo could finish, Alden’s aura flickered violently.

—W-wait! Hold on!

A sharp tone rang out.

BEEP!

And in Alden’s vision, an unbelievable notification appeared,

「Duel with Planetary-Ship Owner: +4.2 Prestige Level Gain」

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]