After Dovion stopped whining pitifully, he only quieted down after getting hit on the crown of his head.

[Conscience +1]

Could it be that he went crazy because I helped nurture his conscience?

“What do you mean by taking responsibility?”

“E-ever since you forcefully made me drink that memory-erasing potion, I’ve been acting strange!”

“Ah, you mean that potion you tried to make me drink? You tried to force it on me first, how shameless.”

“That’s exactly it!”

“…?”

Dovion, who had barely calmed down, started rambling again.

“Look, I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I didn’t particularly care. I had to make a living, and I couldn’t achieve my dreams, so why should I care about others?”

“……”

“But… ever since you taught me a lesson, whenever I try to do what the organization tells me to, memories of my innocent childhood keep haunting me. In short, I can’t work anymore!”

Dovion shed clear tears from his violet eyes.

It was quite a beautiful sight, but Dovion’s true value lay elsewhere.

‘An eccentric the magic tower missed.’

A merchant who sells unusual items not found in regular shops.

That meant he was the only merchant who sold items that couldn’t be obtained even from the magic tower.

‘I figured I’d meet him early as a merchant since I helped nurture his conscience.’

I didn’t expect him to come looking for me right away, defying expectations.

I deliberately feigned disinterest as I asked.

“Your conscience troubles you? You seemed quite proud of your modified magical beast control tools.”

“I was back then. But looking at it now, I was such a fool. Being proud of merely removing safety features! That’s not even an invention!”

He says he disposed of everything he had modified so far. Without permission from above, of course.

“…If that’s the case, the organization won’t just let you go when you can’t work anymore.”

“That’s right… They’re after me even now. I’ll be a fugitive for life unless those bastards go down.”

Dovion, who had been muttering gloomily, glared at me reproachfully.

“I can’t take other jobs in this state. If I can’t work, I can’t research, and if I can’t research, I can’t create… ah, it’s terrible!”

Dovion cried out, almost pleading.

“Take responsibility!”

“Why should I?”

“You defiled me……”

Clank! The sturdy maid’s hand trembled greatly as she set down the teacup.

Ignoring her gaze that seemed to ask ‘My lady…?’, I pretended to contemplate to buy time.

And when Dovion was about to give up, I answered.

“Fine. I’ll take responsibility.”

“…!”

Dovion’s eyes widened, then he laughed dejectedly.

“How could you possibly? Actually, I know. This is just me venting……”

“What if I eliminate that illegal organization for you?”

“Th-that would be wonderful, but… how?”

“That’s a trade secret.”

Since it would sound like empty words if I said it now, I changed the subject while pretending to have something up my sleeve.

“Until then, stay hidden. Of course, I’ll sponsor all necessary research and living expenses during that time.”

“…!?”

Dovion was dumbfounded, doubting his own ears.

“Even if I sponsor you, I won’t force you to work. You just need to sell me the items you make. How about it?”

“A-are you serious? It seems like you’re getting the short end of the deal.”

“Not at all.”

I’ll be using all of Dietrich’s money anyway.

By the time the party ends, his ability’s effect will wear off, and then I can extort money from him.

Hiding these thoughts, I smiled benevolently at the eccentric genius who had lost his way.

“From what I can see, you have extraordinary and bold creativity. No one has recognized that yet.”

“…!”

“You’ll become a magical tool artisan… no, an even broader alchemical artisan. You might even open your own shop.”

Dovion’s beautiful violet eyes grew rounder and his face turned red.

“Th-that’s my dream… becoming an artisan and opening my own shop……”

“Yes, yes. I know everything. I’ll help you.”

I handed a document to him, who was so excited he seemed to have slight difficulty breathing.

“So let’s sign an exclusive contract.”

Because I have no intention whatsoever of sharing the secret merchant I’ve nurtured with others.

And so Dovion, who became my exclusive merchant, handed me a useful item while insisting not to back out of the contract.

“What’s this diamond earring?”

“If you rub and turn it, you can summon this Dovion anytime. Impressive, right?”

“Indeed useful.”

I put on the earring right away. And before Dovion could leave, I squeezed one more necessary item out of him.

‘Five bottles of highest-grade potion.’

To be precise, they’re imitations. They’re Dovion’s modified versions of the magic tower’s highest-grade potions with enhanced effects.

‘Even using the magic tower’s special containers. People who don’t know would think they’re genuine.’

I was actually going to pay for them, but he just gave them for free.

‘Does he really think I’m getting the short end of the deal?’

Maybe it’s because he’s only worked in the shadows where people take advantage of each other.

“Anyway, this completes the party preparations. Though I still have the filial piety quest left……”

I opened the system window I had momentarily forgotten about.

[Filial Piety Quest!]

[Share a reconciliatory embrace with Duke Ortega (0/1)

Reward: Filial Piety 3]

I decided to ignore it for now. The silver-haired man is what’s important right now.

* * *

Clang!

Every time the swords clashed, there was a chilling sound of air being cut and metal striking metal.

The one with the upper hand was clearly the black-haired man.

With each movement, his sweat-soaked hair swayed, and the firm muscles connecting his back, chest, and arms rippled.

The thin shirt already clinging to his upper body emphasized his sensual physique.

It was a curve that captured even his sparring partner’s gaze.

Ching!

The sword that simply deflected a decisive strike touched beneath Raul’s chin.

Raul exhaled a long, ragged breath.

“I lost. That makes 99 losses out of 99 matches.”

Lynen, withdrawing his sword while brushing back his wet hair, said.

“I told you you could use aura.”

“How could I dare when my lord doesn’t use it? It would damage my clan’s pride.”

“Using what you have isn’t a matter of pride.”

“Still. If my lord doesn’t use it, I don’t want to either.”

Lynen turned toward the mansion while wiping his face with the towel Raul respectfully handed him.

“Are you suggesting I should use aura and suffer from mana thirst?”

“N-no, not at all! That’s absolutely not what I meant.”

“I know. I’m joking.”

“When suffering from mana thirst, my lord becomes much more sensitive to mana detection than usual. And you cling desperately to any trace of mana.”

Raul’s tanned face turned red.

“It was truly a beast-like sense and obsession. So rough and clingy, unlike my lord’s usual self……”

“…That’s enough.”

I should have bought more rye bread. It was useful for shutting mouths.

Thinking this, Lynen continued walking.

“I plan to attend Baron Rotten’s party, so you guard the mansion.”

“That guy has a bad reputation even among the imperials. Wouldn’t it be better to attend another noble’s party?”

“Making one effort is better than having to make multiple appearances at smaller gatherings.”

Having only been in the North before coming to the Capital, he needed to show his face in social circles at least once to avoid troublesome rumors.

Besides, there was another reason to attend the party.

“I need to verify that information too.”

“You mean the information leaked by the illegal dealer.”

The information that Dietrich Rotten had purchased several illegally modified magical tools.

“Do you plan to divert the magical tools for your use, my lord?”

“If the opportunity arises. But even if not, we need to acquire and investigate them.”

Remembering his lord’s purpose for coming to the Capital, Raul nodded with a stern expression.

Then, suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly added.

“My lord. You must not exchange even a word with Lady Offensa when you go.”

“Unnecessary worry.”

“Is it really? I wondered if the reason you came back later than expected that day might have been because of Lady Offensa.”

“…That’s not it.”

“I apologize. Of course my lord wouldn’t return late because you were worried about that woman and watched until she entered her house.”

“…Right.”

At this ambiguous response, Raul’s eyes widened.

“My lord, your response is suspiciously slow?”

“It’s not.”

“It is!”

“It’s not like that.”

“I apologize, but my clan’s intuition is like a dog’s. No, even better than a dog’s.”

Raul’s nose tip and the dog ears protruding from his head twitched. He was a dog beastkin, also known as the hunting dog clan.

“Raul Croc.”

Raul flinched at the strict use of his full name.

“If people could be called water and oil, that would be me and Calliphe Offensa. I’ve told you this many times.”

“I apologize, my lord.”

Whine…

An involuntary whimper escaped from Raul’s throat.

Shaking his head, Lynen started walking again.

“Disgusting.”

Whine.

Raul followed his master while covering his mouth that was whimpering on its own.

* * *

Several days later.

Baron Rotten’s party was held at the Imperial Hall.