The Duke fell silent, overcome with a wave of complex emotions. This wasn't the first time he had sent a child off, but this departure felt different. Eros was the child in whom he—and the entire clan—had placed their highest hopes.

  Watching Eros surrounded by the elderly members of the council, the Duke’s eyes shimmered with expectation. It felt wrong to heap the weight of an entire family’s future onto a young man’s shoulders, yet the North clan was currently walking a razor-thin tightrope. One slip meant a plunge into the abyss—extinction, their bloodline severed forever.

  The clan had entrusted their flickering hope to this one youth, praying he would bring a turn of fortune and grow quickly. That way, even if they were eventually exposed, some "sparks" of the family might be preserved.

  Meanwhile, Eros was listening, somewhat helplessly, to the nagging of the white-bearded elders.

  "Little Eros, listen to your Grand-Uncle," one said firmly. "If something happens, don't you dare be reckless. Your survival is the center of everything."

  "Mhm, I get it! I'll act with the utmost caution," Eros promised.

  "Exactly! Caution above all else! Remember, safety is priority number one. If you see danger, run. Forget about noble poise—staying alive isn't a shameful thing."

  "Yes, yes, I’ve got it. I will strictly follow your advice. No recklessness. If I can't win, I’ll bolt. Poise is the last thing on my mind."

  Under Eros’s repeated guarantees, the elders finally—and reluctantly—let go of his hands.

  At last, Eros stepped onto the deck of the airship. With a low hum, the propellers began to accelerate. The hull vibrated as it slowly detached from the ground, soaring toward the sky.

  Undine had already tossed her earlier confusion to the wind. She leaned excitedly over the railing, shouting, "Look! We’re really flying!"

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Eros gave her a flat look and a disinterested "Oh." Undine didn't care about his lack of enthusiasm; she continued to lean over the edge, marveling at the world below. As the airship climbed higher, the figures on the ground shrank to dots, and the sprawling Ducal manor became a miniature model in the distance.

  Right then, Barbara’s crisp, melodic voice rang out in his mind: "They’re coming!"

  Eros froze. In the next second, two streaks of profound, black light shot out from the manor like meteors. They pierced the air and vanished into Eros’s body without any resistance.

  Eros was stunned. What was that?

  As the lights merged with him, he felt a mysterious, ethereal connection form between himself and two powerful entities. Inside his consciousness, the black streaks didn't stop—they charged straight toward his skill spheres.

  One light merged into the sphere for [Servant of Secrecy], while the other dove into [Divine Art: Eternal Night Judgment].

  He watched as the two spheres expanded. One slowly morphed into a tome with an obsidian-black cover, while the other transformed into a pitch-black, crescent-shaped moon ring.

  The book’s design looked familiar. Isn't that the Book of Night? And the other one... the Moon of Eternal Slumber?

  Why did they all follow me?

  Confused, he extended a thread of consciousness toward the book. To his surprise, the name had changed. It was no longer the [Book of Night], but a skill called [Divine Art: Lord of Secrecy].

  A promotion from 'Servant' to 'Lord'? It was obvious which one was higher. The other skill remained [Divine Art: Eternal Night Judgment], but its aura felt significantly more potent.

  "What's the situation here?" he asked Barbara internally.

  "They wanted to go with you too," Barbara replied, her tone sounding a bit muffled and annoyed. "But for certain reasons, they cannot leave the Shadow Realm for long. So, they signed a contract with you, using the bond to fuse a portion of their power with your bloodline inheritance. Their main bodies stay behind, but a part of their consciousness can travel with you."

  Barbara sounded like someone who had painstakingly grown a prize-winning watermelon, only to have two "stray dogs" swoop in to demand a slice before she could even take a bite. She was clearly unhappy—and perhaps a bit threatened.

  Eros’s mind whirred. Does this mean... I just 'white-hauled' two more Divine Artifacts?

  Well, "white-haul" wasn't technically correct since they belonged to his family anyway. But the gist was the same. He felt a surge of relief. While others might leave home with nothing but an iron sword, he was heading out with the equivalent of a full set of legendary late-game gear. His sense of security was through the roof.