That not so important character turned out to be important

"Please… I'll never come here again! I'll do anything you want! Just let me go!" Eldric begged, his voice cracking with fear.

Shaun tilted his head, his fiery ember-like eyes narrowing in amusement. "Fear not, Baron. I'm not going to put you through any more physical pain."

Eldric looked up, his hope fleeting as Shaun raised a hand. With a flick of his aura, a strange, metallic object materialized in midair. It was no larger than a fist, shaped like a robotic face with hollow eyes, and its surface gleamed unnaturally. A compartment opened, revealing rows of small, ominous chips, each engraved with intricate runes.

Eldric's eyes widened in terror as he stumbled backward. "W-What is that? What are you planning now?!"

Shaun held up one of the chips, inspecting it with a detached curiosity before glancing at the Baron. "This, my dear Baron, is a byproduct of a technique I've been developing. You're quite lucky, actually—you'll be the first to experience its wonders."

Eldric's lip trembled, his mind racing. "W-Why are you doing this?! You've already humiliated me! Tortured me! Over something so petty! What are you… a demon?!"

Shaun smirked, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, Baron, don't be dramatic. I promised you wouldn't feel a thing. I'm nothing so fanciful as a demon—just a kid with some hobbies."

He knelt before the Baron, holding the chip between his fingers. "These little beauties are quite versatile. They can carry commands, set conditions, dispense rewards—or punishments, if needed. Once implanted, it'll ensure you… stay on your best behavior."

Eldric recoiled, his face pale as he stammered, "W-What do you mean… implanted?"

Shaun's smirk widened as he tapped the side of his head. "Near your brain, of course. Don't worry, it won't harm you—as long as you follow the conditions I set."

Inwardly, Shaun reflected on the chip's true potential. This isn't just about controlling him. The chip will also relay his location, monitor his aura and mana, and even allow me to restrict his abilities if necessary. A perfect leash for a wild dog.

Eldric's voice cracked with dread. "What conditions?!"

Shaun's lips curled into a cold smirk as he twirled the chip between his fingers. "Ah, so you can be cooperative when fear takes over. Listen closely, Baron, because I won't repeat myself."

Shaun stepped closer, holding the chip just out of reach of the panicked noble.

"Condition one: Whatever happened here, any information—be it small or large—about what transpires on this floor does not leave it. No whispering, no writing, no hinting. Not to your guards, not to your allies, and definitely not to your superiors. Understand?"

The Baron nodded frantically, sweat pouring down his temple.

"Condition two: You will not, under any circumstances, try to cause trouble for me—whether legally, socially, or through revenge. You won't aid anyone with harmful motives toward me or anything connected to me. This includes your scheming little peers in the noble circle."

The Baron's mouth opened to protest, but Shaun silenced him with a flick of aura that sent a jolt through the air.

"Condition three: If I command you, you will obey. No exceptions. Unless I tell you to do something you're physically incapable of doing or something your twisted sense of pride won't let you handle. Even then, tread carefully."

The Baron swallowed hard, eyes darting toward the door, which remained firmly shut.

"Condition four: You cannot lie to me. Ever. If I ask you something, you'll answer with the truth. No omissions, no 'technicalities,' no clever twists. Every word must be as clear and unadulterated as if it were carved in stone."

Shaun's expression darkened as he leaned down, his ember-like eyes locking with the Baron's. "Fail to follow any of these conditions, and the chip will take care of you in ways that would make you wish for the mercy of death"

The Baron whimpered, his voice cracking. "Why...why are you doing this?"

Shaun straightened up, giving a lazy shrug as he spoke. "Why? Because I can. And honestly, people like you could use a reminder that the universe doesn't revolve around your ego. You're overdue for a little reality check."

Shaun placed the chip against the Baron's temple, a faint glow emanating as it embedded itself. The Baron let out a weak cry as the device activated.

The Baron, his voice trembling, could only utter, "You're a monster."

Shaun: "Hey, now, don't be so upset, Baron. I might've gone a little overboard with the... treatment, but believe me, if you accept this chip and follow the conditions, I'll reward you. What do you say?"

Baron, his body still trembling with pain, gazed up at Shaun, fear and desperation filling his eyes. Doubt gnawed at him, unsure whether he could trust the boy. But the promise of even a brief respite was too tempting to ignore. "What could you possibly offer me after everything?"

Shaun's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight as he spoke, his words laced with an eerie promise. " How about this: as a reward for your obedience, I'll make those tattoos disappear from your body. No more humiliation in bed. I'll heal you, make it like none of this ever happened."

Baron's breath caught in his throat at the thought. The tattoos, marks of the cruel torture he had endured today, would be his shame if anyone discovered them. He could already hear the whispers, the ridicule. His reputation was in tatters—he had come here hoping to win favor with the countess, especially after hearing that Baron Darrow had been removed, hoping to win this region under him. To have these tattoos erased would be a blessing, but it felt almost too good to be true.

His eyes fluttered, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity clouding his mind. Could this really be possible? Could he actually do it? Doubts gnawed at him, uncertainty creeping in. Should I trust him? The very person who had caused me all this agony in the first place?

Shaun's eyes remained fixed on Baron as he stood motionless, the tension in the air thickening. His hand moved forward, and the Baron instinctively flinched, expecting more pain. Instead, Shaun's voice rang out with calm authority.

Shaun: "It seems you're still doubting me. In that case... let me show you."

Shaun's fingers flicked lightly toward the Baron, a surge of concentrated energy flowing from the chip he had implanted. Instantly, the Baron's body began to glow, his aura expanding around him like a shimmering cocoon. The faint hum of magic filled the air as the Baron's skin and muscles were rapidly healed, the tattoos vanishing in an instant, leaving no trace of the torment Shaun had inflicted. The pain, the humiliation, the physical and mental scars—all were gone as if they had never been.

Baron's breath caught in his throat as he looked down at his body. His wounds, the marks of his punishment, were completely healed. Even the tattoos that had once plagued him with shame were now gone, leaving his skin smooth and unmarred. The sense of vitality surged through him, a newfound strength radiating from every inch of his being. His muscles felt firmer, his mind clearer, and an overwhelming surge of energy filled his veins.

Baron eldric: "What... What have you done? My wounds... my body... I... I feel stronger... this is—this is incredible."

He examined his arms, his chest, his legs, flexing them with newfound power. His eyes were wide, reflecting an almost childlike wonder, as he marveled at the transformation. The physical pain were gone, replaced by an exhilarating vitality.

Baron's voice trembled with disbelief as he took in the sight of his transformed body. "W-what... what is this...? How... how did you do this? This can't be real... this—this isn't possible!" His eyes widened in shock, struggling to process what had just happened. In a world where magic was a known force, he had never imagined that a mere child—especially one as young as Shaun—could wield such power. It was incomprehensible. "You... you did this? A ten-year-old... how could you have such strength?"

A deep, gut-wrenching fear started to claw at him, rising in his chest like a tidal wave. He had heard of powerful nobles, of sorcerers who could wield unimaginable magic, but what Shaun had just done... This was no mere magic. This was something else. Something far beyond what he had ever encountered.

Without thinking, the Baron dropped to his knees. His breath was shallow, his chest tight with fear. He bowed his head, not daring to look up at the boy who had just remade him into something unrecognizable.

Baron eldric(begging, eyes filled with terror): "Please... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Please, I'll never disrespect anyone again. I swear, I'll follow every condition, every command. I will never break them, not once. Please, just... please don't hurt me anymore..."

He pressed his forehead to the floor, groveling, his hands trembling as they touched the cold ground. He had no pride left, no dignity. He was nothing more than a broken man in front of someone who wielded a power that could undo him in an instant.

Shaun watched the Baron grovel, his gaze cold and calculating. The sight of the once proud and arrogant noble now reduced to a trembling wreck amused him. But Shaun's voice remained steady, even detached.

Shaun : "like you have a choice, Baron. Hey dont you can keep crawling around like this, wear some clothes. I don't want to look at you like this."

The Baron, still trembling with fear, glanced up at Shaun with wide, fearful eyes. He immediately scrambled to stand. Without hesitation, he pulled on his pants and shirt,

Shaun's voice was calm, yet there was a hint of amusement in his words. "I'll give you another reward. Aside from that, I'll grant you the ability of your choosing. Ask for anything—just don't be too greedy." His gaze lingered on Baron, as if weighing his words carefully, before adding, "But remember, there are limits. Don't push your luck."

The Baron, still in disbelief, stood there, unsure of what to ask for. His mind raced with possibilities, but the weight of Shaun's power and the price of disobedience weighed heavily on him. He had been given a second chance, but he knew all too well that it came with strings attached.

Baron eldric: "I— I don't know what to ask for... I never thought I'd be in a position like this. But... if I could have anything... I want the strength to never be vulnerable again. To never be humiliated like this... to never be weak. I don't know what kind of monster you are... but I need to tell you... My family... They've always made me feel less than nothing."

He paused, his gaze falling to the floor for a moment as the weight of his own words sank in. He was baring his soul, and his shame was now the only thing left to hold onto.

Baron eldric: "I come from a count family in the East. I was supposed to inherit the title... to rule. But then... my mother remarried. She married a man who was a wizard. And their child... that child..."

His voice faltered, frustration and bitterness coloring his words. He clenched his fists at his sides, as if the very memory of his family's betrayal filled him with a sense of helpless rage.

Baron eldric(more to himself than to Shaun, struggling with the weight of his past): "That child... he was born with intense mana. He outshone me in every way, every single aspect—magic, skill, talent. To the point where they stripped me of my birthright. I was dethroned and left with nothing. Just a baron... a title without any real power, no land to govern, nothing to call my own."

His eyes narrowed as if the pain of his past still burned. He took a deep breath, his next words coming out in a whisper of barely contained frustration.

Baron eldric: "I still had some land and business in the capital, but they made sure to bury me in humiliation. Every day, I walked the streets and felt their eyes on me, their whispers. They laughed at me, mocked me. I couldn't stand it, couldn't bear to face them anymore, so I secluded myself here... far away from all of them... from my family... from the people who always made me feel small."

He finally met Shaun's gaze, the fear still present, but now mingled with a deep, raw desperation.

Baron eldric : "I've hidden away from them, from the world, because of how insignificant they've made me feel. But now... now I realize I'm just... insecure, aren't I? I'm weak. And that's why I insulted you without a second thought."

There was a pause, and for a moment, it seemed as though the Baron was lost in his own self-loathing, his hands shaking. He looked down again, trying to gather the courage to speak the words he was about to say.

Baron eldric: "If you can grant me power... or some ability... something to make me stronger... I beg you. Help me... Help me crush my family. Help me destroy the ones who humiliated me and made me into nothing. I will do anything you ask, anything at all. Please, just give me a way to make them pay for what they've done to me."

Shaun's voice remained cold, "Again, you speak as if you have any choice, Baron Eldric. You've got your tragic tale, sure, but frankly, I don't care for it. I didn't ask. However, since I promised you a reward, I'll grant you one. But heed this—no matter how fine the weapon, no matter how powerful the tool, it's meaningless unless you understand its true value. Knowledge, strategy, the art of knowing when to strike, how to outwit your opponent, how to deliver the most effective blow—that's what makes the weapon dangerous. Without that, it's nothing but a heavy burden." He paused, his gaze sharpening. "Power is useless if you don't know how to wield it, just as life is wasted if you don't understand how to live it."