reborn as lazy lord destined to doom

The tea in this world is surprisingly rich—perhaps because everything here is naturally grown, untouched by mass production that requires adding preservatives or aroma-enhancing chemicals.

As I savor each sip, my focus drifts back to the book I borrowed from the library yesterday. This time, it’s geography.

Yesterday was productive. I not only studied but also confirmed how my Inspect skill works. Controlling the blue status windows popping up describing details abount everything within a ten-meter radius has become a hassle. My low Mana Control—a mere 19%—is likely to blame.

Poor control makes it harder to enhance physical abilities, sharpen perception, or even hide one’s presence. Mana is both a gift and a curse—without mastery, it’s like carrying a beacon that reveals your location to anyone perceptive enough.

Still, I did learn something useful—I can dismiss inspection windows at will. The problem? They keep reactivating when a new object enters my range. This makes crowded places unbearable, forcing me to close pop-ups constantly.

But what truly kept me up all night wasn’t Inspect. It was this world’s history. I haven't had a wink of sleep because the textbook aligns disturbingly well with what I already know—Light triumphing over Darkness, the Demon Tribe’s supposed extinction, the rise of a new civilization.

Elves flourishing around the mana-rich flora blessed by their deity Goddess of Nature, acting as the proof for the great war that brought the peace.

Beasts carving their own empire in the mountains with a throne adorned with the statue of the God of Combat, resembling the exact posture he took after massacring the eight Demon Lords.

Humans settling in the central plains, armed with artifacts granted by the God of Light and His towering statue stood with its sword planted firmly into the ground, a silent vow that his divine protection watched over the empire..

Harmony among the three races existed for centuries, only to be divided by borders now.

And yet—nowhere in these books is there any mention of demons nor their settlements, infact asper the recorded history, it was an extinct race. Hence it has no mention, Neither here nor in the four others I spent my time studying till dawn.

Why did I lose sleep over this? Because Inspect has never lied. And it probably didn’t when I checked my father’s butler, Sebastian, at the other day's breakfast meet-up.

It said he is a demon, The anomaly isn’t that he’s a demon. The anomaly is that his Inspect window showed the same deviations as mine.

Deviations that never appeared in everyone else’s. Like my pass- DING

Holy fuck, that startled me.

Seems like Seraphina has just entered my ten-meter radar. Ofcourse I can't sense her arriving, who the fuck do you think I am!

A 19% mana control stat fodder? Yes, exactly!

...............

Strange, 12 minutes and she neither called out nor the blue window dissappeared. I have a general idea of why she is here, but isn't it disrespectful to spy on her master?

"My mother is being too lenient, is that it?" I said, my voice cold as ice.

...........

...................

I took a sip of my tea and—BANG!—slammed the cup to the ground, shattering it with a sharp, echoing crack.

There goes my tea.

I got up from my seat, deliberately stepping onto the shattered pieces. Each step left a trail of blood as I walked towards the door.

"Hauh!" gasped..."Young Master, forgive my insolence... I overstepped my bounds and will accept any punishment you see fit, but please, let me tend to your wounds first," she said, her voice laced with confusion and a genuine concern. Appearing before me from the ceiling.

How the fuck did she stick to ceiling this long! ...Dealing with this woman is no easy task. She’s not just the head maid and my mother’s personal attendant—she’s also one of the five powerhouses of the Falcon Duchy. Also, she is around the same age group as my past self, around 26 or 27. She has command over all servants, even servants whose experience is higher than her age ofcourse, Sebastian is an exception; he doesn't operate under a hierarchy. Hmm... let's see..

I let out a slow, exaggerated sigh, shaking my head with a smirk.

"Oh no, Madam Head Maid, you don’t have to trouble yourself with such a heinous task as tending to my wounds," I said, my voice dripping with mock sympathy. "And responding when I call? No, no, I wouldn’t dare impose on you like that."

I took a step closer, my smirk deepening. "It’s probably best if I just let my mother handle this instead. After all, there is a hierarchy, right?"

My crimson gaze sharpened. "And I’m sure she’d love to remind you exactly where you stand in it."

I know I might have gone a bit overboard, but it’s necessary—understanding the mindset of Seraphina Winthrop' is crucial.

"Young Master, I will gladly accept any punishment you see fit, in whatever manner you wish to reprimand me. But please, allow me to tend to your wounds first." She said, looking straight into my crimson eyes—no hesitation, no fear, only unwavering responsibility.

Hmm... she’s a tough nut to crack. My instincts tell me her concern is genuine—she truly prioritizes my wound over her own fate. But her loyalty is only at 24%.

If she were doing this purely for my mother’s sake, she would have fumbled by my threat which is designed exactly for that. So, is my instinct wrong? No, that has never been the case. That leaves only one possibility—one that drastically changes her significance to me.

She can manipulate her own mind.

Yes... People like her are very rare and far more dangerous than seasoned negotiators. If she’s altering her own thoughts, convincing herself that tending to my wound and keeping me worry-free is more important than her own future, then she wouldn’t hesitate. She wouldn’t doubt. That explains the unwavering look in her eyes, the steady tone in her voice.

A self-programmed mindset... now, that’s terrifying. My natural nemesis.

"Well then, get to it. Tend to my wound quickly—wouldn’t want to keep my father waiting, now would we?" I said with a tone far from a noble's but I made sure to sound sarcastic.

"How di-.... No, at once, young master," she said, walking quickly to get the required items.

How do I know? Actually, it would be weird for my father not to summon me. I mean, he even went out of his way to arrange breakfast thrice a week, effective next week, just to observe now changed Hugo more closely.

Also, the insignia I used to get the whole 2nd floor of the duchy's only library must have caught his attention. Hugo never used his insignia exactly because he would incur his father's attention. And Serephina takes orders directly from the duke and duchess. That last piece alone eliminates most of the variables. And precisely for this situation to arise, I went ahead and used insignia's authority to reserve the most important floor for the whole day, further ensuring it wouldn't go out of his notice.

I am quite sure he understood my intentions to meet him under the pretense that he summoned me. I appreciate his 'go ahead and entertain me' stance.

"Young Master, the treatment is complete. Please let me know if there’s any pain." She said in a calm, professional tone.

"Pain? Of course not! The moment you put the medicine on the freshly formed wound...wow, it felt so soothing!...also, walking around like this is truly a luxury; I won't have it the other way around". I said, sounding sarcastic.

".....my apologies...." she said almost mumbling hesitantly.

i felt like shit for making her apologise for something i done to myself...but it was necessary, I need to keep these power houses around me binding with them in whatever possible, guilt seems to be the way for now with Seraphina.

Loyalty for clara, guit temperorily for Seraphina, Everard will be dying soon, so not necessary. The librarian's support is for the duke, irrespective of the person in that position, and the last one, Sebastain', I wanted this meeting with my father partly to observe Sebastian up close.

"Lead the way, tardiness won't leave a desirable impression," I said, my tone firm and commanding, devoid of all the sarcasm it had until a second ago.

"Of course, Young Master. Please follow me," she said with a graceful bow before stepping forward to lead the way.

My father, Duke Everard, is no ordinary man. He masks his expressions flawlessly, and his words carry hidden messages only the worthy can understand. As the first lord of the Falcon Duchy—a land with no recorded history yet ranked among the top three—his achievements are staggering. This man is unlike any human I’ve ever met.

I have a feeling things will change drastically from now on. It's do or die from here on... Gotta lock in.