You Have Acquired Characteristics

When a scion of a noble family holds their coming-of-age ceremony, not only the servants under their command but also the lord’s people are excited and in a festive mood.

However, unlike the reputation of the Artiel Count’s family, Serion’s coming-of-age ceremony was prepared too quietly.

Even on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, the castle was silent.

As if holding a funeral for the dead.

No one talked, no one laughed, and no one expected anything.

“Please remain still, Young Master. It will be over soon.”

The head maid, Bertina, carefully fastened the buttons of the ceremonial robe embroidered with gold thread.

Serion smiled, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

“Doesn’t it look quite plausible?”

“… Young Master has always been the face of the Artiel family.”

“You’re good at flattery, Bertina. And your hands are very soft for your age.”

Bertina didn’t reply, just focused on buttoning up.

However, her slightly trembling fingertips could not be hidden, no matter how hard she tried to suppress them.

Then, Serion’s hand wrapped around her waist as if caressing it.

“If I become the head of the family, should I take you as a concubine? Huh?”

Bertina forced a smile and gently took his hand, returning it to its original place.

“I am grateful for your words, but I already have a spouse.”

“It’s a joke, don’t be so serious. Would I take you, so worn out, as a concubine?”

Bertina gritted her teeth and didn’t reply, fastening the last button.

A trumpet sounded.

Petals fluttered down from the castle walls surrounding the plaza.

Everyone in Delbrun was gathered in the plaza.

But they had only gathered to fill the space.

No one even brought gifts for the celebration.

Their expressionless faces lined up in a row gave the feeling of going to war.

Serion, with a smile on his face, fluttered his luxurious cloak and stepped onto the platform.

In the coming-of-age ceremony, the head of the family gives words of wisdom to the child who is coming of age and leads the ceremony.

But if there is no head of the family, the most senior chief butler is supposed to conduct the ceremony.

However, Evan, who was the chief butler, had already been beheaded by Serion.

Reluctantly, the head maid Bertina had the captain of the guard proceed with the ceremony.

The captain of the guard approached Serion on the platform.

Serion’s heart was pounding with the thought that he was finally coming of age and with the joy of becoming the true head of the family.

The captain of the guard, who had climbed onto the platform, stopped two steps in front of him.

Serion hadn’t been told what to do next, so he looked towards the head maid.

But Bertina avoided Serion’s eyes and turned her head away.

Clang-

The sound of someone drawing a sword was heard.

Clang clang-

Following that, a chain reaction of metallic friction echoed.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Serion looked at the captain of the guard holding a sword with a bewildered expression.

Behind him, everyone gathered in the plaza could be seen holding weapons, including swords and axes.

“Is this how the coming-of-age ceremony is… supposed to be done? Still, daring to point a sword at me is crossing the line.”

The captain of the guard took a step towards Serion.

“Serion de Artiel, you are not qualified to be the head of the family. We do not recognize you.”

“Huh? You’re crazy.”

Serion scoffed and sneered.

“Black Sword!”

A black shadow descended beside Serion.

No one dared to breathe at the appearance of the black shadow.

The Guardian Deity who protects the Artiel family through generations.

The family’s Esoteric Swordsmanship, which contained magic power, had even been summoned by the Emperor.

But they had always remained in the shadows of the Artiel family.

“Kill them all.”

But even after hearing Serion’s command, Black Sword remained motionless.

“Black Sword, kill all of these guys here.”

Black Sword shook his head instead of answering.

“Only the head of the family can give orders.”

Serion shouted in disbelief.

“You’ve been doing as I say until now, and what? Only the head of the family? I’m the head of the family as of today, got it?”

“Today is the coming-of-age ceremony, not the head of the family succession ceremony.”

“Then what was it that you followed my orders until now? Are you playing word games with me now?”

Black Sword turned his head and looked through the crowd.

Lily was standing there.

Lily, looking perfectly fine, was staring at Serion with cold eyes.

She was holding a small kitchen knife in her hand.

“You disobeyed my orders…? How dare you!!!”

Black Sword gave Serion the same answer once again.

“Only the head of the family can give orders.”

At that moment, a guard rushed at Serion.

Serion struggled and resisted, but he was no match for them in physical strength.

With both arms restrained, he saw the servants dragging something towards the entrance of the plaza.

At the very top of the wooden structure was a sharp piece of metal.

Serion knew it very well.

“No one wanted to dirty their sword with your blood. Shouldn’t you praise the servants who worked hard to make the guillotine?”

The captain of the guard continued calmly.

“The devil isn’t in hell. How could a monster like you come from the bloodline of the noble Count Kairon? He is a pitiful man. Kairon-nim.”

The captain of the guard whispered the last words into Serion’s ear.

“That day… you should have died instead of your brothers.”

Serion struggled as he was dragged to the guillotine set up below the platform.

He shouted, resisted, and pleaded.

But no one listened to his words.

“Do you think you’ll be safe after doing this? This is treason! I am Artiel! This castle is—”

Crack.

Thud. Roll roll.

Blood spread under the guillotine.

The plaza became silent.

Serion’s mouth no longer made a sound.

Serion opened his eyes in an infinite space with no sky and no land.

A white space where there was no sound, no smell, nothing.

Serion unknowingly groped his neck with his hand.

He stroked his neck with his hand and looked around.

“Where is this? Hey, is anyone there!”

At that moment, a woman was approaching Serion in the white space.

It was definitely a human form.

But there was a sense of incongruity that didn’t feel like a human.

It wasn’t even easy to think about talking to her.

The existence felt so sacred that it seemed like just looking at her would make you kneel.

Like a goddess.

Serion tried to ignore his senses and scanned her up and down.

“Hmm, quite beautiful. Where are you from? You have an exotic face. Not from the Imperial Capital.”

The woman smiled gently.

It was a smile that could make any man, no, any human, sell their soul.

“Serion de Artiel, unfortunately, the stairs to heaven are closed.”

“What?”

“They say they don’t welcome you in heaven.”

Serion’s brow furrowed.

“What heaven? Stop talking nonsense. How dare you spout such nonsense in front of me….”

Then, the last memory of his head falling off on the guillotine suddenly came to mind.

His chest tightened and he felt suffocated.

Serion instinctively felt that the woman in front of him was not human.

“… What are you? Are you even a god?”

Serion gritted his teeth at the goddess’s teasing words.

“No, shut up. Do you even know who I am? I am Serion de Artiel, the head of the Artiel family.”

“Hehe, I know very well. Ah, fortunately, hell says they welcome you.”

As soon as the goddess finished speaking, the void tore open and a blood-red staircase appeared.

It looked like the mouth of a demon was opening.

“Do you think I would go into such a pit? I see now. You are not a goddess. You are a witch. How dare this evil thing try to deceive me with such shallow tricks? Put me back where I was.”

“That is your choice. You won’t regret it, will you?”

“Put me back. Then I’ll overlook your rude attitude.”

Suddenly, Serion’s vision began to be filled with white light.

In the intense light, the goddess’s last voice lingered in his ears.

-I’ll give you a special gift. Then, I’ll see you next time.

Serion gasped for breath and opened his eyes.

The surroundings were a familiar space.

Bookshelves filled with books, wooden beams on the ceiling.

It was the study where he spent a lot of time.

Serion unconsciously touched his neck.

His skin was intact without a single wound.

Was it a dream?

That ridiculous guillotine and the goddess or whatever, all that nonsense.

Serion breathed a sigh of relief.

But… something was strange.

The shirt he was wearing felt strangely loose.

The clothes slipped off his wrists and shoulders, and he felt a strange pressure on his chest.

He stood up to fasten his collar.

At that moment, the hair that fell down on both sides blocked his vision.

It was very long hair.

“What, what is this?”

His voice was strange too.

It was a frail woman’s voice.

He grabbed his hair as if pulling it.

It was definitely his hair.

His gaze went down to the soft sensation he felt as he moved his arm.

Breasts that couldn’t fit in one hand came into view.

Serion staggered and ran to the mirror.

In the mirror…

Shining blonde hair,

Sculpted, delicate features,

A figure that he thought was dazzlingly beautiful,

Resembling that goddess, was standing there.

Serion stroked his cheek.

The sensation was clearly felt.

Then, everything that had happened so far flashed through his mind.

The murderous expressions of the crowd,

The sensation of his head being cut off.

Even the goddess’s smile.

He realized that it was reality.

“That crazy bitch… calls this a gift? Bullshit.”

Just as the curse was about to escape his throat,

Knock knock.

A cautious knock was heard from beyond the study door.

“Young Master, I’ve brought you tea.”

It was a voice that remained clearly in his mind.

“W-wait a moment!”

You have acquired a trait.

▷ Trait Lv.1: Pleasure (快樂)

“Ha…. What is this now.”