* * *
Was this what they called turning misfortune into a blessing?
As it happened, I had gained a great deal from this incident.
First was the manifestation of my ‘Hyper-Senses.’
When it suddenly activated during my fight with Walter, I had not been certain what had happened. However, after activating it several more times afterward, I came to understand it clearly.
‘Reaction speed pushed to its absolute limit….’
In a different sense from Hyper-Regeneration, this ability was outrageously powerful.
On a battlefield where life and death were decided in a fleeting instant, it gave me far more time than others to take in information and think.
Its maximum duration was approximately three minutes.
As for how to activate it… I had to rotate the two mana circulation rings inside my heart.
‘Seriously… just what kind of body is this?’
No matter how hard I tried to understand the principle behind it, I could not.
The one thing I knew for certain was that both Hyper-Regeneration and Hyper-Senses were connected to the mana within my heart.
Then why had Hyper-Senses activated this time when it had never manifested in previous life-threatening situations?
‘If it simply manifests whenever my concentration rises during a crisis, it should have appeared when I fought Bun-geezer in the Mana-Herb Field before.’
Back then and now.
What has changed?
‘Ah! Could it be… the difference in Circles?’
At the time, I had been at the First Circle. Now, I was at the Second Circle.
‘Then will another ability manifest when I reach the Third Circle?’
It was a plausible hypothesis, but I had no way to confirm it immediately.
Still, I assumed that I would naturally find out once I reached the Third Circle.
The second thing I gained was ‘standing within Verdin.’
It was not as though I had possessed no influence before, since the marquis had always favored me greatly. However, once it was revealed that Walter, who had been the Marchioness’s knight, was the culprit behind the incident, her standing fell considerably.
Conversely, my own standing rose sharply. The story that I had risked my life for commoners with whom I merely had a contract also spread among the territory’s residents, greatly improving my public reputation.
‘I never expected the marquis to side with me this openly….’
It was certainly beneficial, but I still found it strange.
This was a conflict between the lawful wife, backed by a powerful count’s family, and a penniless illegitimate child with nothing to his name. Under ordinary circumstances, most nobles would have sided with the wife….
Yet the marquis had sided with me so openly that there could be no mistaking it.
‘Of course, the incident was officially treated as something Walter carried out independently after being driven from the castle….’
― Shh! Young Master Evan, this is a secret.
― What is it?
― The marquis cut off that bastard Walter’s head and showed it to the Marchioness.
― Wh-what? Is that really true?!
― Of course! Apparently, the marquis told her that if she tried anything against you again, he would not let her off. Heh heh!
Haver had secretly told me about it while I was still confined to bed and ordered to rest completely.
The story had already become an open secret. Everyone was making a tremendous fuss, declaring that the marquis’s affection for me was ‘genuine.’
― Wahahaha! That is why he ignored House Freya entirely and cut Walter down with a single stroke!
― …What? What are you talking about?
― What do you mean?
― No, Father… What did he do?
― Ah! You may not remember that part, Young Master Evan.
According to the official account, it was the marquis who had killed Walter.
‘That is strange. I definitely delivered the finishing blow….’
When I later asked the marquis about it, he explained that he had deliberately told everyone that he was the one who had killed Walter.
― Ahem! I do not know how you managed it, but defeating a knight of battalion-commander rank by yourself was undoubtedly remarkable. However… your father would prefer that you not attract too much attention just yet.
― Ah… I understand what you mean, Father.
It was certainly unwise to draw unnecessary attention before I had become sufficiently powerful.
But the fact that the marquis had considered even that for my sake….
To be honest, I was somewhat moved.
― Ahem! Are you truly all right with this? You are not upset that it might seem as though I am stealing credit for your accomplishment?
― What? Of course not. I am merely grateful that you have taken such care of me, Father.
― A-ahem! …I see.
The marquis cleared his throat rather forcefully in his characteristic manner.
It was a habit of his whenever he felt embarrassed.
For some reason, he also appeared deeply moved―
In any case, it was truly ironic.
My real father, that damned emperor, was unquestionably someone who deserved to die. Yet after entering another boy’s body, I had come to experience paternal affection from the marquis.
‘This tender affection of his… should have belonged not to me, but to the boy who originally owned this body.’
However, the boy’s soul had likely died in the explosion and departed for the Netherworld.
My soul must then have entered the empty body that had suddenly lost its owner.
Of course, that might not have been what happened. However, it was the hypothesis I had formed based on everything I knew thus far.
What would the marquis do if he discovered that the person inside this body was not his son, but someone else entirely?
‘…At the very least, he would not treat me as he does now.’
He might even become hostile, believing that some wicked ghost had taken possession of his son’s body.
Perhaps I would have to reveal the truth someday, but….
‘At least, not now.’
Thinking about it left a bitter taste in my mouth, so I turned my thoughts elsewhere.
The third benefit I gained from this incident.
It was ‘Flüde’s trust.’
* * *
The moment Flüde heard that Evan had awakened, he went to visit him.
“Young Master Evan, are you… feeling better?”
“I am fine. What about you and your father?”
“We are well too…. The marquis arranged for us to receive treatment from the temple priests, so we recovered quickly.”
“That is a relief.”
The boy’s gaze met Flüde’s mysterious eyes.
For some reason, the shaggy bangs that had once covered his eyes had been cut short, leaving his Odd Eyes fully exposed.
“Ah! Th-this… They had to treat the injury on my forehead, so I had no choice but to cut my bangs.”
SWISH―
Seemingly self-conscious, Flüde raised a hand to cover his eyes.
It appeared that he had developed a deep-seated fear because of his appearance, which differed from that of others.
People generally rejected anything strange or different from themselves.
Evan, however, paid it no mind and asked him a question.
“Why are you covering your eyes?”
“What?”
“I asked why you are covering your eyes.”
“Ah…….”
Flüde hesitated awkwardly.
Evan found the sight exceedingly unfamiliar.
Although Flüde was younger, he looked exactly like the Crazy Merchant Evan remembered from the past. Seeing him react so timidly was almost surreal.
“As you can see, Young Master Evan… my eyes are rather unusual. Many people find them strange…….”
‘This is troublesome.’
Evan did not want Flüde to become the same uncontrollable, arrogant madman he had been in the past.
However, neither did he want to see someone on his side cowering in this manner.
Thus, he spoke clearly.
“There is nothing strange about them.”
“…What?”
Although Evan wore an indifferent expression, as though the matter were hardly worth discussing, he repeated himself clearly.
“Your eyes are incredibly distinctive and impressive. There is nothing strange about them.”
“…!”
The differently colored eyes widened.
It was the first time in Flüde’s life that anyone had ever said such a thing to him.
“D-do you truly mean that?”
“Yes. From now on, I would prefer that you stop hiding them and keep them visible.”
As Flüde stared blankly, still unable to collect himself, the boy continued speaking with a confident smile.
“You may be the only person in this vast empire who possesses eyes like those. Would it not be a waste to hide such special eyes instead of displaying them proudly?”
“Y-Young Master Evan, do you truly not find my eyes strange?”
“Being different from others is not a flaw. It is what makes you special and a weapon that can make you stand out among countless people.”
“Ah……!”
Flüde remained frozen for some time, his mouth hanging open as though he had received a tremendous shock.
‘Of course… Young Master Evan must also have endured countless hardships because his birth was different from everyone else’s. Yet he refused to yield and carries himself with such confidence…!’
Flüde had somehow arrived at a profound misunderstanding of Evan.
He was deeply moved by the heavily idealized image of the boy that he had constructed in his own mind.
Whether or not Evan understood Flüde’s inner turmoil, he continued delivering one stirring line after another.
“Until now, many people may have envied both your unusual eyes and your talent. From now on, show them openly and with pride.”
Evan smiled broadly.
He tapped his chest twice with his right hand and declared that from now on, he would take responsibility and support Flüde to the fullest.
On the surface, Evan was a beautiful boy who resembled a cold, almost artificial sculpture.
Yet in the smile before him, Flüde felt an indescribable humanity and vitality.
“Y-you… just who are you…….”
His voice trembled slightly.
He had been about to ask how Evan could remain so confident despite all the contempt and scorn he must have suffered as an illegitimate child―
However, he could not bring himself to ask and swallowed the words.
‘Perhaps… he has endured hardships far beyond anything someone like me could imagine. Yet a star that shines by its own light only burns more brilliantly in the darkness…!’
Before he knew it, Flüde was composing an entire heroic saga about Evan inside his head.
As emotion swelled within him, a sudden question came to mind.
“May I ask… why you saved my father and me?”
“Hmm?”
“There is not a single noble in this world who would willingly place himself in danger to rescue commoners.”
“Ah, I suppose that is generally true.”
What kind of answer would Evan give?
Flüde waited for the boy to speak, his heart beating slightly faster.
After considering the matter for a moment, Evan gave his answer.
“I possessed the ability to save you, and I judged that you and your father were worth the risk. That is all.”
“Ah…!”
It was a simple and straightforward answer.
Evan could easily have boasted about what he had done, but he chose not to.
‘Knowing Flüde’s personality… grandiose claims that he cannot accept might only provoke resentment.’
Evan’s prediction proved perfectly accurate.
Flüde’s eyes trembled.
“Then… what will you do if you fail to obtain the result you desire through me?”
“What else could I do? I would simply have to blame my own idiotic judgment.”
“Hahahaha!”
Flüde suddenly burst into laughter.
Then he grinned.
“I cannot allow the man who saved my life to become an idiot. I will make certain that never happens.”
“Heh heh. That is most reassuring.”
After that day.
The two of them immediately signed a contract.
Flüde then moved swiftly to advance Verdin’s new business venture.
House Verdin supplied the capital, and he founded his own Merchant Company.
He immediately drew up a product list and began researching prototypes. He also designed a distribution system and started recruiting the employees required to operate it.
Thus, the legend of the ‘Crazy Merchant’ began once more.
Unlike in the past….
It began anew in an entirely different form.