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A few days later, I removed the bandages from my eyes.

“My handiwork, but it’s really seamless…”

Albert carefully examined my eyes and nodded.

“Count. How is it? Can you see well?”

“Hmm.”

As Albert said, my eyes had regenerated seamlessly.

The ointment I made probably helped, but thanks to Albert’s magic formula, there were no side effects at all.

Truly, he was a genius craftsman of magic formulas.

“By the way, has the Count’s bodyguard knight already removed her bandages?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. That’s strange… It shouldn’t have been a wound that could heal so quickly…”

Indeed. Helga removing her bandages in just one day was thanks to her superhuman physical abilities.

Her ability to enhance her body using magic power is something few in this world can match.

“I also added a magic formula to stabilize her magic power during the eye surgery, so I should check on that later. The magic power shouldn’t keep leaking out, but just in case.”

“Do as you see fit.”

“Ah, the things you requested last time are finished. Vanessa!”

When Albert called his granddaughter, Vanessa grumbled as she brought something over.

“Ugh, seriously. Can’t you just take it yourself, Grandpa?”

“Yonseok. Are you trying to make this old man do your work?”

“You love working.”

“I don’t love doing chores.”

“Tch.”

On the tray Vanessa brought was a single black ring.

“I’ve applied all the properties you requested, Count.”

I picked up the black ring.

The texture was clearly metallic, but it didn’t shine, instead holding a deep blackness.

Albert proudly explained.

“It’s a ring that absorbs magic power from its surroundings without needing additional input. The black color is entirely due to the magic formula.”

Indeed, upon closer inspection, the ring was densely covered with tiny magic formulas, just as Albert said.

“I engraved the formulas meticulously. It was an interesting request, but it gave me some trouble. If it weren’t for the mithril you provided, the formulas would have shattered.”

So, he used the mithril from the treasure vault.

I had previously told Albert to freely use materials from the vault.

When I asked him to make a ring with magic formulas, he must have searched for and used the appropriate material. Even mithril is just a lump of stone if it sits unused in the vault. It’s fortunate it was used this way.

However, the ring looked a bit small.

Albert chuckled.

“Hoho. Try putting it on your finger.”

Following his words, I brought the ring to my finger, and like magic, it adjusted to fit my finger size.

“While I was at it, I added a formula so anyone can wear it.”

Like magic… no, it really was magic.

I put the ring on.

The mithril, which should have shone with a rainbow hue, was instead dull, as if dipped in ink.

Seeing this, Vanessa shook her head.

“Ugh… It’s all good, but the color is so ugly, isn’t it?”

“I like it.”

“Really? That?”

My body still struggled to handle large amounts of magic power. It was because I wasn’t accustomed to it.

Tristan’s body had only recently started accepting magic power through learning Moon Magic. Thus, the amount of magic power I could handle was small and inconsistent.

Thanks to daily magic practice, the amount was gradually increasing, but it wasn’t easy.

Even Helga, with her abilities, couldn’t perfectly control the magic power within her, often sustaining minor injuries.

For someone like me, who had never dealt with magic power before possessing this body, it was an incredibly difficult task.

Handling large amounts of magic power felt like running at full speed while holding a cup filled to the brim with water.

With the story’s progression completely changed from the original, no one knows what will happen next.

So, I must prepare as much as possible.

“Of course, I should like it. It’s a bit awkward to say this myself, but in terms of value, this ring is at least unique-grade.”

“Unique-grade? It doesn’t seem that special.”

“Tsk tsk… That’s why you’re not called a master craftsman yet. Count. Point the ring that way and flick your finger.”

Albert suddenly said something strange.

I obediently followed his instructions and flicked my finger toward an empty space, like any otherworldly magician casting a spell.

And then, magic really happened.

Whoosh.

“?!”

A flame longer than my height shot out from the ring like a flamethrower.

Vanessa, startled, opened her mouth wide.

“Whoa?!”

“Hmm?! Did I set the output wrong?”

Albert was also surprised by the unexpected result.

“Since there was some space left, I added a simple fire magic formula. Just enough to light a fire in an emergency. But it seems I set the output wrong… I’ll need to adjust it.”

“It’s fine.”

Albert probably set the formula correctly.

I must have unconsciously used Moon Magic, failing to control the power.

“But isn’t it too dangerous?”

“I’ll just be careful. I’ll use it well.”

“Well, if you say so… Hmm.”

It was an unexpected gain.

Albert still thought I couldn’t use magic. Out of consideration for me, he had kindly added such a formula.

With that, I left the workshop satisfied.

After wearing the ring, I definitely felt an increase in magic power. It felt like attaching an extra battery.

Coming out of the basement, the morning sunlight was shining brightly.

It was time to head to school.

I got into the carriage waiting outside.

There, Helga was half-sitting on the seat, dozing off.

She looked tired, so I didn’t want to wake her, but sensing my presence, she opened her eyes.

“…Are you here?”

“You can sleep more.”

“I woke up because of your scent.”

“……”

What kind of creepy talk is this…

I pressed my fingers to my forehead and spoke.

“Stop with the unnecessary jokes.”

“It’s not a joke. You have a thick, sweet scent.”

A thick, sweet scent?

I sniffed my clothes to see if it was true. And indeed, there was some kind of scent.

After a moment of thought, I realized what it was.

“This is laundry fragrance.”

“…Huh?”

In reality, it’s fabric softener.

In this world, it’s quite a luxury item, not commonly found, but the wealthy Ruelberta family had easy access to it.

However, the current fragrance didn’t seem to be to my taste.

“Tell the maid doing the laundry to stop using fragrance from now on.”

“Then can I leave my scent on you instead?!”

“Do you want to walk to school?”

“Hmph…”

Helga pouted and lowered her head.

If she had a tail, it would probably be drooping.

Seeing her cute expression, I opened my mouth.

“What happened to that man?”

“Ah…”

Helga cleared her throat and began her report.

“Ahem… He confessed, but he didn’t know much. Still, we found out he’s not a thief but a recently discharged navy soldier.”

Earlier, Helga had captured a suspicious man claiming to be from Aslan. She had detained him in Aslan’s interrogation room for investigation.

“Anyway… If we interrogated him further, he might have confessed to things that didn’t happen, so it was really troublesome.”

“…Is the man alive?”

“Yes. You didn’t order me to kill him. I checked this morning, and he was still breathing fine. Hehe…”

Not just alive but breathing fine… It sounded too gruesome, so I decided not to ask for details.

“It seems the navy is behind this. The man said he was ordered by his superior to impersonate Aslan. Moreover…”

Helga’s expression darkened a bit.

“Upon further investigation, the rumors about Aslan among the empire’s citizens have worsened. It wasn’t great before, but now it’s serious. People are wary just seeing Aslan’s uniform.”

“Hmm.”

I stroked my chin in thought.

In the original story, some Aslan members were rough, but they never caused problems.

I don’t know everything about this world, but perhaps…

“Helga.”

“Yes?”

“When did the man receive the order to impersonate Aslan?”

“Hmm… About three weeks ago.”

Around the time the Seven Stars Union ended.

This incident happening right after I became a member of the Seven Stars suggests it was that man’s doing.

“Patrick, huh…”

“Yes. I think so too. Father wouldn’t do something like this. Judging by the method, it must be my brother’s doing.”

In the original story, Tristan and Patrick never clashed.

But after I broke off the engagement with Bella, he began fervently pursuing her. At the same time, he seems to consider me a rival in love.

I didn’t expect him to go as far as mobilizing the Imperial Army for behind-the-scenes schemes…

“It’s inconvenient, but for now, tell Wylie to have the members wear civilian clothes when going out.”

“Yes. But… Count.”

“Speak.”

“If I go to Wolfbert and confront them directly-”

“Of course not.”

I firmly rejected Helga’s suggestion.

Given her hot-headed nature, I couldn’t predict what she might do.

Moreover, even if I went to confront them, they could just claim it was the independent actions of a discharged soldier.

“Then… what should we do?”

Helga looked a bit frustrated.

Aslan was a place she had been part of for a long time.

It’s only natural she’d be upset if it gained a reputation as a den of thugs.

And I felt the same.

Although they were originally Tristan’s soldiers, they now follow me.

It would be a lie to say it didn’t bother me.

Even now, my traits were urging me to seek revenge.

I quietly gazed at the scenery passing by outside the carriage.

It was the same view I always saw when riding the carriage.

Helga sat quietly, waiting for my answer.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“…If it were the old me, I would have chosen an all-out war. After all, the fate of those who opposed Ruelberta was always the same.”

That’s why Tristan’s path was always drenched in blood.

He uprooted his enemies and made examples of them as warnings.

It was the most certain method.

“But I won’t do anything undignified.”

The strong have the dignity of the strong.

Compared to future trials, this opponent is laughably weak.

There’s no need for dirty fights.

“It’s ridiculous to cast a net for mere minnows. But if we leave them alone, they’ll keep bothering us. So, the minnows… yes.”

I smiled with ‘pride’ and said.

“Let’s leave them to the seagulls.”

“Huh?”

“Those impersonating us will be handled by the Public Safety Bureau.”

“The Public Safety Bureau…? Ah…!”

Finally, Helga seemed to understand my intent and gasped.

The Public Safety Bureau, responsible for the empire’s security, was also under Ruelberta’s influence.

No, it wasn’t just influence. The bureau’s key figures were already filled with those who supported the Ruelberta family.

Just a hint from us, and they would be eager to prove their worth.

“I’ll contact the Public Safety Bureau chief tomorrow.”

“Yes… Yes.”

Helga nodded repeatedly.

But strangely, I felt like I was forgetting something.

So, I asked her.

“Helga. What’s my schedule for today?”

“Uh… Nothing much today. You just need to oversee the practical exam in place of the Chancellor who’s on a business trip.”

I see.

Today is already the exam day.

 

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