Aiden was disappointed; in his view, he had wasted his time in the dungeon twice.

  First, he had been interrupted by Circe when he met her.

  And now, even though he had apparently fulfilled his objective.

  Upon returning from the dungeon, the nine runes he brought with him simply vanished.

  Once again, he had lost the opportunity to analyze and put into practice those mysterious scrolls the system printed.

  And although Aiden and Circe kept going to the dungeon, training day after day.

  Aiden refused to show his fire manifestation in front of Circe.

  In truth, he feared losing control and being unable to manipulate those heatless flames to attack with what he called "voracious flame gloves."

  During that time, they only reached the nineteenth floor.

  Circe had said that when the last floor of a dungeon is completed, the dungeon disappears and moves to another place, making it difficult to find.

  It could be very far or very near. It was random, so they preferred not to advance further.

  Only a week had passed since Aiden died in his world... and since a piece of shit deity decided to annoy him even after death.

  Remembering that was a total headache for Aiden.

  But somehow he had ended up in this body. Son of an unknown mother... and the Demon King.

  Aiden was leaning over the balcony; he could see that, as far as the eye could reach, there were only gray and stormy clouds.

  'What gray clouds,' Aiden thought from the garden balcony.

  Even though they had completed the dungeon up to the nineteenth floor, Aiden hadn't obtained nineteen runes. In fact, he realized several things.

  The runes that vanished did so because they could not be manipulated or taken away from the dungeon. They simply lost their power and disappeared.

  Additionally, he was able to confirm that those runes do not drop if the person who kills the boss does not possess a system.

  But not only that; although the bosses reappeared after about twelve hours.

  If someone with a system defeated them before, they would not give any kind of reward.

  In the end, though they advanced to the nineteenth floor, because of doing so many tests and checking hypotheses, he had only managed to successfully collect five runes.

  By leaving them hidden in the dungeon, they did not disappear.

  So far, only one thing was left to test.

  The conversion into a scroll.

  And it was something he definitely did not want to do in front of Circe.

  'It’s funny that, being a demon, I live so high in the heavens.' Aiden thought ironically, leaning over the balcony.

  "Young Aiden." Circe approached him.

  "By order of the King, three of your... brothers have departed for the south," she informed him with a tone of disapproval toward them.

  "...Circe," he turned toward her.

  "I’d be happy if you reported that they were expelled or something tragic happened," he replied with some irony.

  "That is impossible, Young Aiden. All of them are candidates to be heirs."

  "My, you certainly are harsh with your brothers, dear Aiden. And here I was, coming to see you with enthusiasm," a fine, elegant voice interrupted as it crossed the door.

  "Igniel... I’m saying it especially because of you!" he replied, looking at him with annoyance.

  Unlike his other brothers and the castle's inhabitants, including the Demon King, the only people in the castle who didn't seem to feel contempt for Aiden were Circe and Igniel, the Demon King's third son.

  "Hahaha," Igniel laughed carefree, leaving some boots on a small table.

  "But if I came to see you, it’s because you still haven't returned the relic you stole. You're always causing trouble, aren't you?" He looked at him from the side. "This time Father is truly furious, haha."

  "Eh! But I always tell you I don't know what you're talking about, brother. I didn't take that relic."

  'That’s right... I really don't know what he's talking about.' Aiden thought, since he had only had trouble since he arrived in this world.

  Igniel came to see him day after day to ask the same thing.

  "Listen, I don't believe you, little brother." He gave him a suspicious look.

  Aiden turned his head to the side. Circe smiled at him as their gazes met.

  'Such tranquility she shows with that beautiful smile... I want a breather too, even if it's just for one day.'

  "My Lord Igniel, Young Aiden says he did not take it and I believe him. Please, I beg you to stop harrassing him," she grumbled with confidence.

  'Circe defended me. Without a doubt, she is the one who understands me most in this place.'

  "...Very well, I’ll let it be for today because I have work," he replied resignedly. "I’m glad you have a good sentinel, little brother."

  He said it while looking at Circe with a smile. She looked away, a bit embarrassed.

  "I’ll be busy for a week in Fortress Valley. The city has been very unsettled since the hero’s group killed General Gin; Father ordered me to choose a new general, haha."

  "Wow, it seems you’ll be very busy. Take care, Igniel."

  "Are you worried about me? Do you want to come?"

  "Not a chance. I heard that city is very violent; they even execute half-demons and bastards."

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Haha, you're right, though that was almost a decade ago," he replied with his carefree smile. "Anyway, it’s time for me to go, little brother. Goodbye."

  He left.

  "Young Aiden, Lord Igniel forgot those boots on the table."

  "Shit, I’ll go tell him." Aiden ran to the door; he left in a hurry, not paying attention.

  "Brother...!"

  Thud!

  His call was interrupted; he fell on his backside after colliding forcefully with someone at the door.

  "This is terrible! L-Lord Ash, are y-you all right?" a girl's voice said, exasperated.

  'Ash?' Aiden sat up, still on the floor, and looked up.

  "Wretch, how dare you touch my Lord Ash with your filthy body?" the same girl said as she crouched next to him.

  "You got away that time but now you'll pay, you despicable being," the other girl who came with him commented.

  "Katherine... Leonor," Ash straightened up after speaking in a serious tone, while patting his uniform.

  "This miserable bastard... I will turn him into ashes."

  'Ah... what a mess. Can I not have a single moment of peace?' Aiden thought while standing up resignedly, and with a look of annoyance, he apologized.

  "Sorry, brother. It wasn't my intention; I’ll accept any punishment."

  "Shut up, bastard. Your filthy presence bothers me so much." Ash raised an arm forward, pointing at him with an open palm.

  "One moment!"

  "Lord Ash, you know very well that confrontations are not allowed within the castle."

  'I just had deja vu, though this time it's different.'

  "You stay out of it, Circe. You're just a mediocre sentinel; do not speak directly to Lord Ash," Katherine replied.

  "...I know, and I’m sorry. It is not my intention to disrespect Lord Ash, but a fight will not only trouble Young Aiden, but you as well."

  "It won't be a fight. Just a divine punishment from my Lord Ash," Leonor mocked.

  "What a meddling sentinel you have, Aiden, but she is right." Ash lowered his arms and turned his back.

  "But, Lord Ash, are you going to let this despicable being get away with it?" Leonor replied.

  'Look at them, talking about meddlers. And she’s the one whose opinion no one asked for, adding fuel to the fire. How scary to be with someone like that; the poor guy will spend his life in unnecessary fights.'

  Aiden turned to look at Circe.

  'Oops, right now Circe is scarier.' He thought as he saw how she was glaring at her.

  "Yes, yes, that’s true. Let's just leave it here, Ash; would it even give you any merit to kill me?" Aiden asked him with annoyance.

  "It would certainly achieve something by killing you; Father would realize how useless you are here. And even if you don't die, as long as they send you away, that's enough for me, so..."

  'I don't want to hear it anymore; he almost sounds like the piece of shit deity that sent me here.' He sighed.

  "Yes, you're right, but as you see, we can't fight here."

  "We certainly can!" he smiled cynically. "I challenge you. We will go to a duel, bastard Aiden."

  "Magnificent. With a duel he will have the perfect excuse to finish off this wretch. Ah, my Lord Ash is a genius," Katherine murmured.

  'Duel? How would the word "duel" change "I'm going to kill you" into something legal? Surely the Demon King wouldn't allow something like that. No... he certainly would.'

  Until recently they were hounding him to hand over a lost relic. He thought that, as the days passed, the real culprit would simply appear and they would leave him alone.

  But now, suddenly, he had here the one he considered his stupid and troublesome brother, challenging him to a duel.

  'Is there no god in this world? Tsk... I forgot that piece of shit deity is the one who brought me here.'

  "Lord Ash, Young Aiden has only been recovered from his wounds for a week, and you know that he cannot use fire manifestation very well..."

  "Pathetic," Ash interrupted. "That you can't use fire manifestation without burning yourself. You almost died because of that, you should have stayed dead."

  Ash clicked his tongue.

  "You're just scum that dishonors this prestigious family."

  "At least have the decency to accept the duel and die with honor, wretch," Katherine replied.

  "But, Lord Ash, a duel between brothers can only be approved by Her Highness, the Empress, or by the Demon King." She paused.

  "And the King is too busy due to General Gin's death to dedicate time to disputes that have nothing to do with the succession duels," Circe reiterated.

  'Succession duels? Ah... what's that?'

  "I approve it!"

  A voice whose words resonated with authority echoed in the hallway.

  "Her Highness!"

  "My Queen!"

  "My Lady!"

  "Mother!"

  Hearing her voice, everyone immediately bowed, even before she finished speaking. Aiden did so too, but a bit later. Circe pulled his pants hard for not reacting in time.

  Aiden wasn't used to these etiquettes. Showing respect to a king? To a queen? Even if it were a superior deity, why should he?

  Those were Aiden's thoughts.

  Precisely his current problems in this world started because of them—deities and demons who seem to enjoy disturbing the most unfortunate ones just for fun.

  Without fail, every day he has received dirty looks and insults from his brothers or the rest of the high-caste demons.

  At one point he thought that, if he didn't draw attention, they would simply ignore him.

  'Paying so much attention to a bastard... do they not have anything better to do?'

  But this, despite everything, had been very convenient for Aiden. It is his only advantage in this world; otherwise, he would already be dead.

  That is to say, he transmigrated into the body of the Demon King's son, but they treated Aiden so badly that no one took the time to know him.

  Even though he didn't get along badly with Igniel, he was always out of the city, and that has allowed him to act so naturally without having to fake a personality of which he only has vague ideas.

  Even if someone read his mind or took a look at his memories, or even if the piece of shit deity told them that Aiden is a soul from another world that entered this body, no one could believe it.

  They would take him for a madman and a waste of time and kill him.

  And it’s obvious, because no one in this castle took an interest in Aiden. Being the son of some woman outside the lineage covenant and delivered to the castle when he was only five years old.

  Aiden felt some pity for Aiden. All he received was hatred, and the one who hates him most, without a doubt, is this intimidating woman standing before them.

  'Maybe I should try to do something. After all, this is my home now.'

  "Mo... Mother, what are you doing around here?" Ash spoke nervously.

  "As I said, I approve this duel," she said firmly. As she spoke, she touched her chin with a finger; she had two guards behind her.

  They showed such tranquility that, surely, to them this environment was only a stage for children playing in the garden.

  "And you will have it tomorrow, so get ready, Ash," she ordered.

  "Of course, Mother. I don't need to prepare to finish off this bastard."

  'The Empress, legal wife of the Demon King, supporting this nonsense. No doubt she wants to get rid of me.'

  "I’ll get to see Lord Ash fight, even if it’s only to finish off that despicable being," Leonor murmured.

  "I really like seeing Lord Ash's fire; I'm excited," Katherine said while crossing her arms and making gestures with her eyes closed.

  'Is that arrogant woman imagining my death?'

  Circe stepped forward.

  "Your Highness, I do not think that would be prudent..."

  [Warning]

  [Hostility confirmed]

  [Threat Level: Demon King]

  [Primary Elemental Affinity: Fire]

  [Secondary Elemental Affinity: Darkness]

  A burst of fire came out of nowhere, cutting her words and sending her flying into a garden column, which cracked from the impact.

  "Know your place, child." The Empress replied after attacking Circe, with such speed that it gave them no time to react.

  "Circe!" Aiden shouted and stood up. He ran to her and took her hand while she spat blood.

  "Why did you do that, damn it!" He directed his gaze at the Empress.

  "How dare you speak to her like that, you cursed despicable being. For that, I should execute you right here."

  "Leonor is right, we have to kill him."

  "Enough, you two. Tomorrow I will take care of finishing off that bastard."

  "No... don't worry, Young Aiden. This... is nothing."

  "Don't push yourself, just rest here for a moment." Aiden smiled at her as best he could. He tried to sound calm, but this time he was truly angry.

  The atmosphere was very tense. Leonor broke the silence.

  "Poor Circe, she will die just for taking a miserable being's side."

  "Shut up, you really have no manners. Tsk, Ash, you should educate your sentinels better."

  Aiden planted an intense gaze on Leonor, who seemed to catch a sense of danger by instinct that forced her to shut up.

  'Dammit. Keep calm, stay composed.'

  "Wretched bastard..." Ash replied, staring at him with a smile of pleasure upon noticing Aiden's expression.

  Normally, in this world, even if they insulted him, he didn't care. He isn't a child; in his world, he was used to all kinds of treatment.

  Perhaps it hurt them not to see him react. In fact, it's possible that irritated them even more.

  Aiden, standing before them, stared fixedly in the Empress's direction. He walked near her without looking away.

  Her guards took a step forward that was stopped with the Empress's gesture.

  Aiden, noticing they wouldn't attack him.

  He advanced further and planted himself only a couple of meters away from the Empress.

  "Fine, I accept. This stupid duel."

  He paused and took a deep breath.

  "But I will have two conditions."

  The air was tense, everyone present waiting for the Empress's response.

  "And tell me. What is that condition?"