We were on the way to the family treasury.
Father asked in a subtle voice, “Are you sure that’s all you need?”
“Yes.” I nodded nonchalantly.
For others, perhaps not, but for , Demonkin blood was a treasure I had to obtain even if it cost a fortune.
To make this damned body at least functional enough to act like a human, I need sothing like the Divine Archer’s Elixir, after all.
My current body, at best, possessed the potential to reach the beginning of Aura Expert.
But if I created and consud the Divine Archer’s Elixir—that supre dicinal potion—my body would transform to reach the level of Master in the future, and the amount of Aura I could command would increase imdiately.
It would be foolish not to make and consu such a supre elixir when I knew how.
Father interrupted my thoughts with a note of surprise. “I didn’t know you were interested in Demonkin.”
“They say Demonkin blood is good for virility.”
“…It’s not for research purposes?”
“No?”
He gave a long, searching look, then let out a quiet sigh as we reached the entrance to the treasury.
“…Well, I suppose you’re capable of thinking for yourself. Go on in,” he muttered.
Berg County’s treasury was larger than those of other noble families. While not as lavish as the imperial palace or a ducal family’s treasury, it still had a profound atmosphere, making it clear even to outsiders that it belonged to a knightly family.
Spears and shields, various elixirs and ingredients for elixirs. Occasionally, luxury items were visible inside the treasury, but most things were related to martial power.
Wow… I’m finally getting to see this place.
I looked around, my head swiveling in wonder. Entry to the treasury was restricted to the family head and their successor, so I had never been inside even before my regression.
Of course, other children could enter if accompanied by the family head, like now.
But in my previous life, I was a profligate, after all.
My father wasn’t benevolent enough to show my profligate forr self the treasury. In fact, the of that ti would have already stolen everything he could and more—and he would have taken it directly to Hera Artezia.
I really was the dumbest fool of all.
A small, bitter laugh escaped my lips as past mories flashed by.
Just then, Father ca out of the treasury with the Demonkin blood.
“Take it.” He handed a glass bottle containing Demonkin blood. Inside the bottle, a purplish liquid shimred.
I smiled brightly and put the bottle into the inner pocket of my coat. Then, I bowed to my father and said softly, “Thank you, Father.”
“…Alright, just don’t overdo it. It’ll wear you out.”
With that said, Father shook his head and walked off toward his office. I watched his retreating back.
Whatever he was imagining, my father’s expression seed a bit troubled.
Argh… I think it’s because I said it was good for virility.
I pursed my lips, wondering if I had said sothing unnecessary.
But what could I do? There was no way to explain. It wasn’t as if I could reveal the fact that I had regressed.
“Well, it’s fine. Guess there’s no need to correct him.”
I pushed aside that troubling thought and shrugged. Then, I imdiately had an attendant buy the other ingredients needed for the elixir.
A short while later. I was resting in my room when the attendants brought the elixir ingredients.
“Well done.”
Clink. I handed them an amount higher than the average market price for the errand, and the attendants left with broad smiles.
They muttered to themselves about why the profligate Young Master was acting so strangely, as if I couldn’t hear them. I chuckled quietly at that.
In the past, I would have imdiately grabbed them, demanding they be punished, but not anymore. Given my age before the regression, it was about ti I matured.
Anyway. I turned my eyes to look at the ingredients spread out before .
These items could create sothing that only I and my master in my previous life knew about—the Divine Archer’s Elixir.
“Who knew I’d get this so soon.”
To be honest, I thought it would take a long ti to obtain the Divine Archer’s Elixir.
Putting everything else aside, the Demonkin blood was an ingredient that was hard to find even in the more disreputable black markets.
Of course, I knew it was in the family treasury, so if push ca to shove, I had planned to steal it.
This is a total win, then.
If I didn’t have to take risks, why would I need to steal it?
“Well, it’s good when things work out.”
I shrugged and gathered the ingredients in one place. Then, using Aura, I began to compress the ingredients, creating condensed droplets.
Drip… Drip…
The droplets began to gather inside the glass bottle placed below.
After a long ti…
“Hoo… Finally finished.”
The Divine Archer’s Elixir was complete. I curled the corners of my mouth, looking at the red liquid swirling inside the glass bottle.
I imdiately picked up the bottle and poured the contents into my mouth.
Gulp. As the Divine Archer’s Elixir flowed down my throat, a searing pain erupted throughout my body.
“Hrrrgh!”
I writhed, barely managing to catch my breath. It felt like shards of glass were embedded in my lungs and moving, and like molten lava was flowing through my veins.
“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaagh!”
I crawled to my bed, buried my face in a pillow, and scread. If any sound leaked out, others would co looking. Then the existence of the Divine Archer’s Elixir would be exposed.
I couldn’t let that happen.
I bit down on my forearm to suppress my screams and endured the pain.
CRUNCH!
“Frrrrgh!”
I lost track of ti.
“Huff…! Huff…!”
I finally caught my breath and collapsed to the floor. Every impurity had been expelled from my body, clinging to my skin in a foul, black sludge that reeked horribly.
I reached for the towel I’d set aside earlier and began wiping myself down. The white fabric turned pitch black in monts. Without hesitation, I tossed the soiled, damp towel into the fireplace.
WHOOSH. The fireplace roared, burning the towel.
“…I seriously almost died,” I muttered, leaning against the bedpost.
If I ever do this again? I’m a son of a bitch, not a human.
Anyway, I felt like sothing was missing, and realized I was naked. Just as I thought, No wonder it felt so airy, and started to get dressed, there were two knocks on the door.
“Young Master, a letter has arrived from the Duchy of Artezia.”
Ah, so it had finally arrived.
Hearing the head butler’s gentle announcent, I nodded and began mumbling to myself in thought.
The letter from the Duchy would likely state they wished to postpone the annulnt for a while. Or, it would announce Hera Artezia herself would visit.
“Co in.”
“Yes.” The head butler opened the door and handed the letter.
Just like I thought, the letter stated that Hera Artezia would personally visit.
Scheduling an appointnt for the sa day was not courteous among nobles, but the Duchy apparently didn’t care.
The implication being, what could we, a re County, possibly do about it?
Recalling the ill-fated connection from my previous life, I crumpled the letter and threw it into the fireplace.
WHOOSH. The fireplace flared, and the letter turned to black ash.
Turning away from the flas, I spoke to the head butler. “Where is Father?”
“His Lordship has left to inspect the gold mine in the County’s territory. He should have arrived at the mine by now.”
“I’m going to Father. Prepare the carriage.”
“Yes, I will have a coat brought.” The head butler bowed his head and instructed the attendants to prepare a coat.
As I put on the coat brought by the attendants, I thought to myself: the ti had co to end this persistent, ill-fated connection with Artezia.
* * *
anwhile, inside a carriage heading toward Berg County…
“Are we still far?!”
Hera Artezia complained repeatedly to the coachman. On top of the annoyance of having to visit the County herself, the carriage kept rattling, driving her to the edge of exploding with frustration.
“W-we’ll arrive soon, milady.”
“Sure. Just drive gently, alright? Are you trying to bruise my backside or sothing?”
“Y-yes, milady.” The coachman repeatedly bowed his head from the window of the carriage as he replied.
Hera clicked her tongue at the coachman and slamd the window on the coachman’s side shut.
Seriously, there’s no one decent around , she thought.
Hera leaned back against the seat, looking irritated.
“Ugh, this is annoying. Why do I have to co all the way here?!”
It was all Louis Berg’s fault, that idiot. Had that imbecile just gone through with the marriage obediently, she wouldn’t have had to make this trip.
To think a re county would dare speak of annulnt to a duchy! And that the one behind it was Louis Berg—that imbecile—was sothing she simply couldn’t fathom.
Hera didn’t know what confidence a man with no ability and no reputation had to speak of annulnt. But so long as she personally persuaded him, he would surely change his mind.
After all, she was beautiful.
Hera pulled out a hand mirror and looked at her reflection. While not a peerless beauty capable of toppling nations, her looks were still within the top ten in the Empire. What man could overlook such fairness?
“Hmm… not bad.” Hera put the hand mirror away, murmuring. Seeing her own face, the rising annoyance subsided to so extent.
“Anyway, just wait till you marry . I’ll make you live like a groveling pet.”
Hera gnashed her teeth, thinking of Louis Berg—but not for long.
Rattle.
“My Lady, we have arrived.”
The carriage arrived at Berg County.
* * *
“Please wait a mont,” the Berg County’s head butler said to Hera, bowing his head.
The interior of the reception room was luxurious. It was on par with a Duchy’s reception room. That sight further irritated Hera.
Hah, indulging in luxury.
What did a re County need such a lavish reception room for? This was all indulgence and presumption.
Hera set her teacup down hard and replied, “Alright, just bring Louis quickly.”
“Yes.” The head butler bowed his head deeply and left.
A short while later, a man entered the reception room.
“Have you been waiting long?” he asked.
“Hah, are you actually asking the obvious?” Hera lifted her head, her voice laden with annoyance. But she found an unexpected person standing there.
“…Lord Count?”
“It seems you were waiting for Louis.”
Hera Artezia quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. No matter that she was a Ducal daughter, she was not a Duke herself. Even if she looked down on him inwardly, she couldn’t openly show disrespect to the Count.
“I greet the Empire’s renowned Spear.”
“And I, the Duke’s Rose. Please, sit.” After Hera Artezia greeted him with proper etiquette, the Count offered a seat.
Once Hera was seated, the Count began, “So, what brings you here without prior notice?”
“…I did send a letter, though.”
“A letter. Ahh, yes… I may have received one. I seem to have forgotten, as it was the first ti receiving a sa-day appointnt.” The Count spoke as if he had just rembered.
Hera frowned at that. Wasn’t he implying that she had breached etiquette? How dare a re Count humiliate her, a Ducal daughter!
Annoyance began to surge within her.
“Ahaha… I see.” Hera forced a smile, biting back her irritation. After a mont, she got to the point, speaking to the Count. “So… when will Louis be here?”
“That profligate bastard is no longer my son, so do not ask for his whereabouts.”
“…What?” Hera grew bewildered.
The reason she wanted to marry Louis Berg was to gain the power of the Berg family and the support of the Aura Master knight, Count Berg. And the person he cherished most was his youngest son, Louis Berg.
But who knew events would suddenly unfold in this manner?
Sothing felt off.
“Louis, that wastrel, should be at the brothel district by now. Carousing with won and drinking, no doubt. If you ca looking for Louis, go there. I have no desire to speak about that vermin.”
The Count proceeded to bid Hera goodbye and stood up from his seat.
Left alone in the reception room, Hera stared blankly at her teacup for a mont, then rose and spoke to her attendant.
“…Let’s go to the brothel district.”
She deed it necessary to find out what had happened herself.
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