Episode 17. What a Jackpot (1)
Those damn Eshuas.
Though I said that, they're still great nobles through and through.
The Skeleton King—no, Isaac Eshua, now destined to become a Saint and devour the Holy Empire—stared up at a mansion.
His infant face contorted in an expression utterly unfit for a nursing babe.
It was as if someone had plopped an entire village atop a lake.
The joke of towering blue roofs ran deeper than the sky’s azure, while the sprawling waterways blurred the line between aquatic realm and settlement.
The marble carvings, the stained glass—goddamn, how much had this all cost? No, even the sheer sanctity oozing from the architecture itself—shit, is this their idea of "modest faith"? Just looking at it screamed millennia of history…
Damn it. In other words, it was disgustingly impressive.
‘Goddamn Holy Empire!’
So after gnashing their teeth at demons, they’d poured everything into real estate?
The former (and current) Demon King trembled with rage as he glared at the mansion.
Of course he’d known the Holy Empire was wealthy. While other nations flourished too, the Empire’s prestige alone shook the continent—all thanks to demons.
Do you have any idea how much the human factions had lobbied—no, how much blood and treasure they’d spilled—to drive out demons through the Holy Empire?
Meanwhile, the demon faction were paupers in comparison!
There’d been prosperous eras, but not when the Skeleton King first arrived.
When he’d crash-landed here, demons teetered on extinction. So starved that even a fleshless skeleton like him had been chased by mangy magical beasts.
He hadn’t blocked preemptive strikes with taboos and pushed for self-sufficiency for nothing.
Crossing into human territory back then would’ve meant a beating. Naturally, every scrap of resources went to demon infrastructure.
Thanks to that, though he’d worn rags in a crumbling, windowless castle… he had no regrets.
[By the skies, Master! This is leagues beyond our shabby fortress!]
No regrets…
[Look! That sacred stone on the outer wall! Just one could buy this mansion—no, the entire plot!]
…Shit. Maybe I should sell this place and flee overseas.
Isaac side-eyed the azure mansion.
Well, to paupers, this might seem lavish—but it’s actually modest. The Azure Faith was the most austere of the five great houses, after all.
The imperial shrine where he’d met bishops had been far gaudier. He couldn’t begin to imagine the Pope’s family’s gold-plated excess.
Still, not bad for a future home.
No, excellent—save for one detail.
“Look, Isaac! You must grow up to be like those children.”
The uncle cradling Isaac smiled warmly at the training grounds. Young cadets, not yet initiated into adulthood, drilled with swords.
“Death to the Skeleton King! Die! Die!”
“Even dismembering you won’t satisfy us! Our hatred outlasts sunrises and sunsets—perish, Skeleton King!”
“Shittier than shit Skeleton King, rot in hell!”
What the hell are they teaching these kids?
Isaac’s eyes narrowed at cadets viciously kicking Skeleton King-shaped dummies before cowardly stabbing their eyes and groins.
“Their swordsmanship improves daily. How proud I am.”
That’s not swordsmanship!
It’s dirty street fighting!
“Haha, Isaac should aspire to this too.”
They’re raising gangster nobles, not paladins!
What exactly are you ingraining in these holy knights?!
Isaac shot a furious glare at the training ground—though admittedly, they were just children. Short attention spans required… engaging methods. A wise choice, but—
“Bullseye! I win!”
Isaac shuddered at boys urinating on a Skeleton King doll in the corner.
“Let’s ask the commander for a new dummy!”
“Then we’ll use his skull for soccer!”
Little brats. I’ll sue you for human rights violations.
Isaac’s cheek twitched. Still, he understood. These Eshua cadets likely bore personal grudges against the Skeleton King—orphaned by “tragic accidents,” perhaps…
“My parents are visiting soon!”
“Then clean up this filthy skeleton before break ends!”
“No! It’s gross!”
Maybe I should give them fresh reasons to hate me.
Isaac’s eyes blazed. ‘Well, I see why Eshua teaches this.’
Soldiers couldn’t survive war with ordinary resolve. Hatred was the best motivator—and childhood indoctrination bred perfect fanatics. Those rabid paladins fixated on destroying him? Probably all Azure Faith adherents…
Isaac grimaced but shrugged. Born an Eshua now, these people would become his faction. Useful against the Pope’s forces and those adorable zealots who trembled at the . Annoying, but future subordinates weren’t worth hating.
Soon, he’d reclaim the Skeleton King’s flesh, devour its spirit, become Saint, and seize the papacy. Their culture of mockery? Pissing on dolls? Irrelevant. Once he roasted the Emperor and rebranded the Holy Empire as the Isaac Empire, everything would—
“Oh? Isaac likes the training ground, does he?”
Yeah. Later, I’ll replace all skeleton dolls with the gods’ bastards.
“Sir Yard. Give Isaac that cursed Skeleton King doll. He should learn to curse properly.”
One uncle-faced dummy couldn’t hurt.
But first, growing up took priority—assassins still lurked. The fake nanny’s conspirators remained at large, likely family insiders.
Isaac needed power, and that required magic cores.
‘Good. I sense them.’
As expected of the premier exorcist family. Their estate undoubtedly stored thousands amassed over millennia. Enough to unleash advanced magic.
Choosing this over the imperial palace paid off.
Now, he just needed a competent nanny to thwart assassins while he trained—
“Young Master Lillai!”
A beauty in knightly attire rushed from the mansion—late teens, likely Eshua’s knight corps.
“Thank heavens you’re safe! But the child…?”
“My sister-in-law—no, the Saintess’s son. Isaac.”
The knight gaped at the Skeleton King. “Heavens… her son?!”
Her gaze held both reverence for the Saintess and genuine relief at Isaac’s survival.
Lillai turned to his childhood friend—daughter of his wet nurse, now a knight.
“Asili. I need you to care for him. You’re the only one I trust.”
Understanding flashed in her eyes. She untied her training braid and bowed deeply.
“I pledge my life to serve and protect Lord Isaac.”
The Skeleton King approved.
So she’s my nanny. Given her aura, she wasn’t low-ranked. Assassins would regret targeting him.
Perfect. Now he could focus on growth.
Eshua members swarmed in with news:
“We heard! Demons attacked Lord Isaac?!”
“But he annihilated them all!”
“Swift news indeed!”
“To be targeted by demons—he’s no ordinary child!”
“He’ll become Eshua’s sword!”
Lillai smiled through the crowd. “Your warmth is noted, but let the child breathe. Where shall we house him?”
“A vacant room—”
“Preparations are complete.”
The butler and maids bowed behind them.
“The elder prepared the annex upon hearing of Lord Isaac’s arrival.”
…Annex?
The Skeleton King frowned. The term sounded pleasant but carried ominous weight.
His uncle scowled. “Elder’s meddling again. We proceed to the main residence.”
Cheap. So cheap.
Isaac’s brows climbed as suspicion crystallized.
“The main residence?! You’d take Lord Isaac to the direct lineage’s quarters?!”
Exactly. Servants shut their eyes; the butler eyed Lillai nervously.
“Young Master… the madam ordered he reside solely in the annex.”
“Ridiculous! That cursed, death-ridden place?!”
“He’s Eshua’s direct lineage—the eldest son’s child! Exiling him to the annex is absurd. Prepare my eldest brother’s chambers. I’ll inform the family head myself.”
“At once!”
Maids scattered, but the butler’s worried expression made Isaac’s brows twitch.
Wait—why exile me? Typical noble infighting? But I’m legitimate!
[Master! The annex holds more magic cores! A jackpot!]
Isaac grinned. He’d sensed it too. Send me already!
“Isaac stays with me tonight. I won’t abandon him.”
No, Uncle! Let me go!
“There, there. I’ll sing lullabies from the Saintesses’ scriptures about battling the Skeleton King.”
No thanks! That’s exorcism material—it’ll purify me to death!
“Finish the scriptures, and you’ll learn specialized exorcism.”
He’s trying to kill me!
Damn it—wait till he sleeps? Knock him out?
As the uncle moved, a chilling voice cut through:
“The child belongs in the annex.”
Isaac’s eyes widened.
