Ten years have passed since I was born as Absolute Ark.
Since my birth, I've done nothing but train myself relentlessly. As for academics, I had the knowledge from my previous life, and I learned everything the teachers could offer, earning their praise as a genius.
I joined the Ark House Knights Order, participating in training and expeditions, and raised my level while interacting with the retainers. At first, thanks to my skill, 【Absolute Evil】, my reputation was the worst without even trying, but as I crossed swords with them, the knights' perception of me changed. We're not exactly best friends, but I think they respect me normally now.
Until the story begins, my plan to simply train myself and increase my comrades has been progressing quite smoothly.
It was at such a time that I was summoned by my father.
By the way, my father is the boss of the kingdom's dark organization, but my relationship with him is good. At first, I thought he would be a scary person, but he is a kind man to his family.
(Though he's merciless to enemies. I saw him torturing a dark organization from another country that had entered the kingdom, and it was so gruesome I froze up. I'm so glad I don't get abused.)
While thinking about this and that, I arrived at my father's study and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
"This is Absolute. May I enter?"
"Enter."
I entered the study and faced my father. He has a stern face, but I'm used to it now, and I even think he's a little cool. He's glaring at me, but it's the usual, so I don't mind. I look him straight in the eye and stare back. Only my father, the butler, and I are in the room. I'm urged by my father to sit in the chair opposite him.
"I have heard reports regarding your studies and training. As expected of the next head of the Ark House. Never forget to continue honing your skills."
(It feels like it's been a while since I was praised. I'm a little happy.)
"Thank you. I will devote myself to further improvement."
"Hmm. Then let's cut the preamble and get to the main topic. Next month, there will be Prince Michael's tenth birthday party. It's a party hosted by the royal family, and many of your peers will be gathering this time. Absolute, I want you to attend as well."
(Prince Michael, huh? If I recall correctly, he was on the protagonist's side in the original story. The protagonist gets the backing of a Marquis family and enters the academy, so there's no connection at this point, but I wonder what kind of person he was.)
"Understood."
"Hmm. I don't want to say it, but you are prone to being misunderstood because of your skill. Behave yourself at the party."
(*Well, it's true that because of my skill, my reputation is the worst, and even the children of the subordinate nobles are afraid to approach me. If someone like me goes to a party, won't it be a scene of wailing and screaming?
It's depressing, but at the very least, I have to bridge the gap with the children of the subordinate nobles at the party. I don't know why they betrayed me in the original story, but I have to strengthen our relationship and draw them over to our side.*)
"Understood. Is that all? If so, I will return to training, so if you'll excuse me."
I left the room and returned to training, thinking about countermeasures for the party.
Father's Side
"To think he would stare back without being intimidated by my pressure."
The current head of the Ark House, Villain Ark, laughed cheerfully.
"I have received reports that his level is currently over 40, but I felt something suspicious. He may be even higher."
Suhai, the butler and intelligence officer, replied.
"As expected. Not only can he endure the Knights Order's training at such a young age, but he also watched my torture the other day without changing his expression. I have no complaints about his mental fortitude either."
"...That's not something you should show a ten-year-old child. Also, regarding the Ark House's servants and resident knights, Absolute-sama's impression is gradually improving, but it's not very good for others."
"Will it take a considerable amount of time to lead the dark organization's forces in the future? Well, by the time Absolute inherits, he'll probably be among the strongest in the kingdom, so at worst, he can just force them into submission. That's what I did."
"Thanks to that, they obey, but you have absolutely no popularity."
"Eh? I have no popularity?"
"Well, anyway, in order to gain the support of the subordinate nobles in the future, we must improve Absolute-sama's impression. Otherwise, there is a possibility that we will collapse from the inside."
The fact that he can't gain popularity due to Absolute's bad reputation is the reason for his defeat in the original story, and whether he can improve this will greatly change the future.
This party will be a turning point.
Absolute Ark
10 years old
Skills
・Charisma v5… Charm is corrected
・King's Rule v5… Increases own stats
Lowers enemy stats
・Absolute Evil v10… Stats are easier to grow
Worsens the impression of the other party
Special correction for the holy
Stats
Level: 47
Physical Ability: 50
Magical Power: 500
Intellect: 70
Acquired Magic
Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Recovery, Darkness
Techniques
Swordsmanship, Torture, 【Gore Resistance】