Chapter 18: A joke in poor taste

Words : 1099 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 18 of "Return of the Youngest Son with SSS-Rank Talent" opens with: Chapter 18: A joke in poor taste Moments after Kael arrived in the dining room, the... Find out what happens!

Chapter 18: A joke in poor taste Moments after Kael arrived in the dining room, the servants began to parade with silver trays, one after the other, in a meticulous procession. Roasted milk-horned beef, slow-cooked spiny-haired wild boar, thick soup of dragon duck meat, three-colored cod fried in black sunflower oil, green snapper broth with bitter seaweed, rice flavored with star anise, warm rice wine, blue monkey skirt liqueur fermented in dark oak barrels... The table was filled with all kinds of exquisite dishes. With the table overflowing with food, no one dared to take the first bite. Only after Zephyr tasted the dragon duck meat soup did the others begin to eat. But without losing the etiquette of the nobles, everyone used the corresponding cutlery for each type of dish. As time passed, the food on the table became less and less, until only empty plates with bones and bones and empty wine bottles remained. Once everyone had finished eating, everyone present went their separate ways. Kael headed straight to his room. The next day, he planned to leave the mansion to recruit the person who would accompany him to the dungeon. ... The sun had not yet finished rising, but its first rays were already scratching the horizon. The remaining firmament was still dominated by a bluish black, dense and cold, dotted with the last stars that refused to disappear. The air was crisp, laden with the icy humidity of winter. The birds had been awake for some time: the Singing Condor was uttering its low, resonant cry; the Golden-furred Sparrows trilled in short, almost metallic bursts. Below, near the bushes, the Blue-breasted Nightingale repeated its melody. The city itself seemed sleepy. The cobblestone streets, damp from the night frost, reflected the distant glow in a diffuse manner. The few people who circulated did so with quick steps, wrapped in thick woolen ponchos and woven blankets. Some carried tools on their shoulders: hoes, sickles, and wicker baskets. They were the peasants, those who worked the Andean tuber and cereal crops, hardened by the cold that burned their cheeks. Others, more robust, wielded axes or bows. They were the woodcutters and hunters. The sun finished rising, illuminating the entire mountain with its golden rays. The streets were full of activity. In his room, Kael was finishing fixing his black Taoist robe to leave the mansion. Today, he planned to recruit only one person, who would help him with his dungeon raid. He took the coin sword and the gold coin mask. He fixed his gaze on Lydia and his mother, Alessia. "Son, are you sure? You don’t want me to accompany you, it’s your first time out of the mansion." Alessia was worried. She was afraid it would happen again, that her son would be kidnapped. And the chances were much greater knowing that he was an S-rank talent. She feared for his safety. "Don’t worry, Mother. Lydia is going with me." Kael told her mother calmly. She was only going to an orphanage to recruit one person. At the mention of Lydia, Alessia calmed down a bit. She knew that the personal maids of the young masters were highly trained people; they were more bodyguards than maids. "Lydia, let’s go." Kael left the room, followed by Lydia. They passed through the corridors of the mansion, shrouded in solemn silence. Kael, in his black Taoist robe, walked with a calm step. At his side, Lydia followed him. Just around a corner, they came upon the fourth young master. Jasper Medici. Surrounded by a group of knights in gleaming armor, his figure gleamed in the first rays of sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows. His red hair fell like silk across his forehead, and his smile... as calculatedly charming as ever. "Good morning, brother," greeted Jasper with a serene smile, so captivating that the maids passing by could not help but blush. He possessed exceptional beauty, a stark contrast to Kael, whose face was ordinary, with no features that stood out in the crowd. "Good morning, dear older brother," Kael replied, also sketching a smile before asking, "Tell me, are these gentlemen who will accompany you to the dungeon?" Jasper gently denied. "No, of course not. They’re just helping me train." Then he cocked his head gently. "What about you, little brother, where are you off to in such a hurry?" "Oh, I’ll just go out and explore the city," Kael replied, as his black eyes sparkled with a spark of excitement. Jasper arched an eyebrow, feigning concern. "Explore the city? So soon? What if someone tries to kidnap you again? Maybe I should assign you a knight to protect you." How generous. Kael thought. Inwardly, he laughed. Not at the offer, but at the poorly disguised hunger. Jasper wanted a spy. A leash disguised as an escort. Maintaining a warm smile, he said, "No need to bother you. I would feel guilty for distracting your men from your training. Besides, Lydia will accompany me." Before Jasper could reply, Kael turned gracefully, waving his hand in a gesture of farewell. "See you later, brother. I don’t want to take up any more of your time." Watching Kael’s figure fade down the hall, Jasper’s eyes glowed with a venomous light, as if a dark shadow slowly seeped into his heart. His expression hardened, and for an instant, the air around him seemed to freeze. That dirty-blooded bastard... does he really think he can look down on me just because he has an S-rank talent? His jaw tensed, and a dry grind echoed between his clenched teeth. If I already found him unbearable before, when he was nothing more than a useless parasite... Now I loathe him. No... I loathe it. For years, he prepared to inherit this clan. Everyone knew it, everyone expected it. But now, because of that lucky accident in human form, the board has turned against him. Just because his talent is A-rank. A joke in poor taste. "Young master, are you all right?" asked one of the gentlemen, cautiously. Jasper came instantly to himself, and an elegant, almost affable smile curved his lips. His voice sounded soft, with no trace of emotion. "It’s all right. I was just chatting with my dear brother- didn’t you see?" The gentlemen exchanged glances, not daring to respond. Jasper continued walking, and they followed him in silence. But deep down, as his footsteps echoed on the marble, a single certainty burned in his chest: Brother Kael will not take what belongs to me. Not as long as I breathe.

Chapter 18: A joke in poor taste

Comments (0)