Afterward, Axiom grew up living in the mansion with Selene.
Axiom's daily routine was simple.
During mornings when Selene was away, he spent time with Emily the maid, and in the evenings, he was with Selene who returned after finishing her daily tasks.
Spending time like this, Axiom was able to roughly figure out where this place was through conversations between Selene and Emily.
'The Endil Kingdom.. Barret Viscount family..'
Though he hadn't heard of the viscount family name before, he had heard of the kingdom's name.
'I think it was one of the kingdoms adjacent to the land of monsters.'
It was perhaps when he had been playing 'Ethereal Odyssey' for 6 years.
He had received a main scenario quest to stop the southward advancing monster army.
'I'm sure this name was among the kingdoms destroyed by the monster army. So this really is Saint Gaia.'
Although he had suspected it, hearing it directly made it feel more real.
Axiom thought carefully.
'If I remember correctly, the quest background year was 'Constantine Imperial Year 144'. They said it's Imperial Year 128 now. So there are 16 years left until that event occurs?'
That meant he had fallen into a time before the main scenario quest began.
Axiom clicked his tongue inwardly.
'So, if I don't stop it in 16 years, this place will be devastated. And on top of that, I don't know when the hidden scenario quest will come barging in?'
If time continued to flow like this, it seemed only a matter of time before things would play out like the main scenario quest in the game.
'.. There's only one way, isn't there.'
The best he could do.
That was to build up strength to overcome the quests.
So what methods were there to build strength?
Axiom started by understanding his trait, 'Demon God Palace'.
''Demon God Palace'. I haven't fully grasped what kind of ability it is, but it's clear that it's related to the tamer trait.'
His exclusive skill 'Summon Shadow Ghoul' also took the form of summoning a monster.
Since it was a trait derived from tamer, 'Demon God Palace' was likely related to monsters.
'Without a 'taming' skill to tame monsters, it's a bit ambiguous. Is it just the general method of hunting monsters?'
Would he only know by directly interacting with monsters?
But how?
"Young master, shall we go out for a walk?"
Sometimes there were occasions when he rode in a stroller led by Emily for walks around the mansion.
Thanks to that, Axiom came to know the geography of this place in detail.
The mansion seemed isolated from the main building, was always quiet, and was located close to the walls.
'It's nice that there aren't many people, but in this environment, it would be difficult to even go out, let alone hunt monsters.'
After pondering, Axiom soon revised his plan.
'First, I need to create a way to get out of here. For that, the first thing I need to do is master Summon Shadow Ghoul.'
He was currently in a newborn baby state.
Without Emily and Selene's care, he was in a position where he couldn't do anything freely.
Therefore, Axiom thought of using Shadow Ghouls.
'I need to be able to move them completely like my own hands and feet.'
If that was possible, some method would emerge.
'First, I need to examine the skill in detail.'
Axiom thought with his eyes closed in the stroller led by Emily.
***
When night came, Axiom took time to explore his exclusive skill.
'Summon Shadow Ghoul.'
Screech!..
'Be quiet. Hide your energy too.'
Axiom hurriedly restrained the Shadow Ghoul that was about to scream as soon as it was summoned.
The Shadow Ghoul hesitated for a moment, then knelt in front of the cradle where Axiom was lying and became quiet.
'Come closer and open your mouth.'
'Stretch out your hand.'
'Roll over.'
Axiom experimented with everything he could do, giving various commands to the Shadow Ghoul and trying to maintain the summon for as long as possible.
After several experiments, Axiom was able to understand 'Summon Shadow Ghoul' to some extent.
'It follows commands well but doesn't have high intelligence. Impulsive behaviors can't be controlled either.'
For example, when a command ended, the Shadow Ghoul couldn't control itself like an unbridled colt, and each time, Axiom had to quickly cancel the summon.
'Still, it's much better than the early monsters when I was a tamer. Those ones would barely listen even with good control. Anyway, let's try to improve my proficiency now.'
The level he needed to reach was to be able to make them move like a conditioned reflex.
In addition, maximum activity radius and maintenance time were important.
'I can summon a maximum of about 3. But in exchange, the maintenance time or activity radius is significantly reduced. Come to think of it, I was lucky to catch those assailants back then. If the distance had been a little greater, the summon maintenance time would have ended, and I would have lost them.'
If that had happened, Axiom would have long been dead and wouldn't be here.
That's why it was important to increase proficiency until he could perfectly control the Shadow Ghouls.
'Summon Shadow Ghoul.'
Axiom first summoned one Shadow Ghoul.
Screech..
Was it because he had become more familiar than when he first summoned it?
This time, the creature didn't try to cause a commotion as soon as it appeared.
'Good. Let's maintain it like this.'
Axiom tried giving a command to the Shadow Ghoul.
'Go out the window stealthily.'
However, perhaps detailed commands were still difficult, as the Shadow Ghoul headed towards the window without hiding its presence.
'There's a long way to go.'
Axiom clicked his tongue inwardly.
Going out like this would only result in being detected before even leaving the mansion.
'Let's practice killing presence first. Sending the Shadow Ghoul outside comes after that.'
Axiom practiced having the Shadow Ghoul move around the room stealthily.
Perhaps because it was inside the room, people outside didn't seem to sense the Shadow Ghoul's presence.
After countless practices like this.
Rustle. Rustle.
The Shadow Ghoul's movements finally began to consistently erase its presence.
[Summon Shadow Ghoul - Beginner(8.4%): Summons a low-level demon, the Shadow Ghoul.]
Thanks to that, the proficiency of Summon Shadow Ghoul also slightly increased, though minimal.
'Good. This should be enough to slip out without being detected.'
Axiom immediately tried to open the window through the Shadow Ghoul.
Creak..
As the dark hand moved, the window opened with a faint sound.
'It worked.'
Axiom nodded.
Continuing to practice control delicately like this, it seemed he would soon raise his proficiency to freely control them.
It was then.
'.....!'
He sensed someone approaching from afar.
'.. I'll have to stop here for today. Close it and return.'
At Axiom's command, the Shadow Ghoul stealthily closed the window it was holding, then vanished like smoke.
Click.
Eventually, Selene opened the door and entered.
Axiom pretended to be asleep by closing his eyes.
Selene looked around for a moment, then tilted her head.
"I thought I heard something. Maybe not?"
Then she approached Axiom lying in the cradle.
Selene quietly muttered as she raised her hand and stroked Axiom's head.
".. How can you be so beautiful even when sleeping."
Axiom thought as he felt Selene's touch.
'As I've felt every time, her hands are indeed rough.'
Selene's hands were callused and rough.
'I wonder if she has trained in swordsmanship?'
Since this viscount family was known for swordsmanship, that probability was high.
Though she didn't seem to be training now.
Perhaps knowing that her hands were rough, Selene's touch as she stroked his head was extremely careful.
Just then, another presence was heard outside the door.
"My lady?"
Eventually, Emily quietly opened the door and entered.
"You had another nightmare, I see."
"... It's been a long time, but I still can't forget. The past events are faintly coming back to me."
"My lady.."
"It's okay. At least the frequency of nightmares has decreased a lot these days. Probably thanks to this child."
Selene muttered while looking at Axiom in the cradle.
"A mysterious child. It feels like something is gradually changing since meeting this child."
Axiom thought as he felt Selene's touch.
'It's warm.'
Though rough, it was a warmth warmer than any other touch.
After a brief moment with Axiom, Selene rose from her seat.
"Let's go now. If we stay too long, Axiom might wake up."
"Yes, my lady."
Selene left the room with Emily.
Axiom opened his eyes again, feeling their presence disappear.
'This feels strange.'
When he was young, Ethan Steele's parents divorced after frequent family fights.
In the process, his mother abandoned young Ethan and left, and Ethan grew up under his father.
Ethan had also lived treating his mother as non-existent.
Was that why?
In his life, the existence of a mother always felt distant.
'... But it's not bad.'
It was just a bit awkward, like wearing a slightly ill-fitting garment.
He could feel the sincerity in Selene's heart as she treated him.
'Hmm.'
Axiom cleared his throat inwardly.
It felt like something inside was tickling.
'Perhaps choosing me for adoption wasn't solely due to the 'Mesmerize' buff.'
Axiom soon shook off his thoughts and began to move again.
'Alright. Let's start again.'
Thus, Axiom increased his proficiency by summoning Shadow Ghouls every night when no one was around.