Chapter 427 - Excessive Good Health
After the procedure at the Beltoria Central Church, the discomfort in my left eye disappeared in about two days.
It’s functioning perfectly, and I’m no longer bothered by the eye patch. Best of all, I feel fantastic and my magic is in top shape. I can cast even the most advanced and complex spells without any issues.
In fact, thanks to the strict limitations I was under, my abilities seem to have improved in every way. I’m not just saying that—it’s evident. Using magic is a joy now, and I feel a sense of freedom I haven’t experienced before. Just feeling the flow of mana through my fists is incredibly satisfying. Right now, I don’t think I’d lose a fight to anyone.
"Are you even listening? Hey, Yukari."
"Oops, sorry."
I’ve been a bit distracted, feeling a bit too much power surging through me. This attitude might have caused some misunderstandings, especially since Gradena still seems uneasy about the curse.
Today, we’ve been discussing our plans for the return to Exembra after lunch.
"Are you really sure you’re okay? That left eye of yours—hasn’t it been tampered with or something?"
"Who do you think I am? I know my body inside and out. I wouldn’t miss even the slightest change."
I’ve secretly conducted experiments while a reliable Exorcist Priest was nearby. I’ve figured out the extent of injuries that would break the seal and confirmed that healing potions work just fine.
While I haven’t fully understood every aspect of my new eye’s function and abilities, I can confidently say there’s no malevolent tampering.
The magical artifact is now a part of my body, and it’s working flawlessly. Everything is in perfect order.
"Yeah, maybe. But it’s still worrying, isn’t it? What do you think, Layla?"
"Yes, it is concerning. I feel the need to check on the President, even though it’s not right."
"See? It’s natural to be suspicious, wouldn’t you agree?"
"But doesn’t it look really cool, though?"
"I think it looks beautiful."
"Well, maybe it does, but…"
I can understand why they’re worried.
Over time, the color of my left eye has changed. It used to match my right eye, which is brown, but now it has a reddish tint, almost like a dark, blood-colored hue.
If you look closely, you can see a faint pattern, like intertwined thorns, which I find fitting for me, though it’s a strange-looking eye. I didn’t notice this immediately after the procedure.
However, the Exorcist Priest did warn me about potential changes, so this is within expectations. There’s no need to overreact.
The color change isn’t dramatic, and the pattern is barely noticeable unless you look closely. Passersby probably wouldn’t even notice a difference between my two eyes.
"Really, there’s nothing wrong. The eye is a magical artifact, so this is normal. When we get back to Exembra, I’ll tell everyone. I don’t want to deal with unnecessary fuss."
"Well, I’ll say it, but people are bound to worry, you know."
I’ll probably have to live with this curse for a long time. Since I’ve had top-tier experts treat me, the stage for worry has already passed.
"What are you talking about? The curse has actually given me a higher level of magical skill. Instead of worrying, we should be celebrating."
There’s no room for doubt when I’m brimming with confidence and power. I can’t possibly be mistaken about this. It’s a clear improvement from my recent struggles. Further discussion is unnecessary.
If I want to, I could easily prove my strength by taking down everyone here.
"Anyway, everyone has done a great job. Since then, there’ve been no special updates from the Intelligence Department. Things seem to have calmed down as expected."
"It’s been unusually quiet. The undead outbreak on Keibushiburu Island is still causing a stir, but apart from that, everything seems normal. The Information Department has done a good job of keeping things under wraps."
"Yes. The appearance of the undead here in Beltoria, where the Royal Palace is located, has been nearly perfectly concealed. The dismantling of organizations related to the Empire by Anastasia Union has also been kept out of the public eye."
Everything we’ve been involved in, including the battle in Gulgandi, remains hidden from the general public. As Layla and Heidi mentioned, the ongoing conflict with the Empire has remained a covert operation. The main topic in Berliza is the large number of undead on the remote island. The containment efforts have been successful so far, and the knights are reporting victories regularly.
Everything is under control. Public unrest only brings harm and no benefit. It’s better for society to function as if nothing happened.
While other countries might be in dire straits, the great nation of Berliza remains stable.
"Since everything’s settled, we shouldn’t have any issues returning. Layla, how’s the ship situation?"
With the situation stabilizing, most of the additional support members, including Gradena, are set to return to Exembra. We plan to use the captured enemy ship as our transport.
"We’ve secured the personnel and supplies, but it will still take a few more days before we can set sail. We’re pushing to expedite the process, but we’re looking at about five more days."
"That’s still quite a while. I’m bored with the local activities. What should we do?"
Humans tend to get into trouble when they’re idle. I should find something to keep us busy.
"Gradena, if you’re bored, try acquiring some goods that might sell well. The ship will be mostly empty except for our vehicles and trophy items. It would be a waste of space."
The ship’s cargo capacity is over three hundred vehicles. Our belongings would probably take up only a fraction of that space.
While the ship isn’t designed for cargo, it would be a shame to waste the extra space. We should try to make the most of it.
"I don’t mind, but what should we get? It’s not like we can just fill up the space. What could we sell on the other side? Stolen vehicles, maybe?"
"Hold on a minute. Actually, I—"
Layla stopped me, and I listened to her explanation.
"—So, we won’t have much space for additional cargo, then."
"Yes. In exchange for securing the crew at short notice, we’ve agreed to let the Commerce Guild use the extra cargo space. They’re transporting goods that require discretion, with no questions asked."
"No questions asked? I see, quite suspicious. What’s in the cargo, then?"
"I don’t have all the details, but I have an idea. It’s likely that some nobles and the Commerce Guild are moving a portion of their assets. They’re probably storing some resources in the Kingdom of Brenark as a contingency plan. This isn’t a new strategy; it’s just a good opportunity for them to act. The preparations on the Brenark side have likely been expedited."
This is essentially smuggling, not legitimate transport. Our ship is carrying war trophies obtained through a secret mission for the Intelligence Department. We’ve been promised a smooth passage without any inspections to ensure the secrecy of our mission.
If our cargo were inspected, it could lead to complications, as we’re carrying various trophies, armed equipment, magical artifacts, and treasures. Complete freedom of passage is a fair reward for our success and aligns with the interests of Berliza’s upper echelons and the Intelligence Department.
By piggybacking on this arrangement, there’s no risk of being caught. The receiving port in Rigaheim is controlled by the Kikyo Society, so there won’t be any issues.
Additionally, since our members are on the ship, there’s no need for separate security arrangements, and the number of people in the know is minimal. It’s airtight.
While our relationship with Beltoria’s Commerce Guild is still new, their bold decision-making is impressive. They’ve likely secured minimal support from the Intelligence Department and the involved nobles, if not been directly involved.
"Fine, the cargo is settled, but that means the Commerce Guild people will be on the ship too, right?"
"It’s not confirmed yet, but they might send a group of up to several dozen people. They’ll probably want to inspect the expanded kingdom of Brenark. However, we can still negotiate and adjust according to our needs. What do you think?"
"Layla, you have free rein. The Commerce Guild is a useful ally to have. If they plan to visit Exembra, we could offer them accommodations at our hotel."
"Sure. The arrangements are up to you, Yukari. I have no complaints. By the way, the ship’s capacity is over five hundred people, so a few dozen more guests won’t make a difference. Still, being idle is no good."
Being idle is indeed toxic. Even with my newfound power, I have a few days until the academy starts, and I have nothing significant to do.
The academy students are practicing with magic dolls at their sister’s request, but I have no intention of joining them, especially with my current violent urges.
Yeah, idleness is no good. I need to do something.
"Why don’t we leave town for a bit and go monster hunting? If we can find a suitable location, that is."
"Not a bad idea. Layla, do you know any good spots?"
"Well, the vigilance against the undead is high right now, so even in remote areas, knights and mercenaries are patrolling more frequently. I doubt we’ll find many monsters around Beltoria. Heidi, do you have any leads?"
"If we’re looking for decent monsters, we might need to go deep into the wilderness or even cross the border. In the nearby areas, we’d end up dealing with humans, but there are some targets that wouldn’t mind being taken down."
Interesting. This sounds promising. The combat enthusiasts are now paying attention.
"So, who and where?"
"It’s a satellite city about a three-hour drive south of Beltoria. The target is a criminal organization from a neighboring country, primarily involved in underground trade."
"Underground trade? Even outside the capital, it’s surprising they can operate so openly. They must be a fairly powerful group."
"While the country appears peaceful, especially regarding the undead, we are technically in a state of war. There’s some disorder, especially in the provinces. Despite Berliza’s wealth, the concentration of resources in this city has led to shortages elsewhere. They’re exploiting these conditions."
When resources are scarce, it’s natural for black market prices to rise. However, this neighboring country’s criminal organization is not just profiting from high prices; they’re allegedly engaging in fraudulent practices.
"They’re selling low-quality weapons and magical artifacts at high prices, and the worst part is the magical potions. They’re diluting healing potions and even passing off plain water as holy water. It’s a massive scam."
Even for an underground organization, it’s a poor strategy to provoke the Healer Guild and the Church. Selling subpar goods and fake items is not only unethical but also short-sighted.
"They’re probably planning to run and hide once they’ve caused enough trouble. We have no obligation to help the local authorities, but if we take them down, no one will complain."
We have no intention of supporting local organizations. If we offered to help, they would likely refuse out of pride.
However, if we get scammed by these fraudsters, we’ll have a valid reason to confront them. They’ll be the ones to blame for starting the conflict, not us.
We’re just looking for a fight to pass the time, nothing more. We don’t care about making allies.
Worst-case scenario, we might face retaliation from local organizations, but we’ll deal with that when it happens. We’ll take the fight head-on, and no one can fault us for it.
"There’s a slight risk that local organizations or the Bluecoats might be involved in the fraud."
"We’ll deal with any details as they come. If they try to scam us, it’s as good as starting a fight. Whoever they are, what’s wrong with beating them up? In any case, it’s settled."
"Alright, let’s head out now."
Quick decision-making and swift action are our strengths. Even those watching us wouldn’t predict such impulsive behavior. They’ll have a tough job.
Well, well, it’s finally fight time. We get to fight.
Ha-ha! My arms are itching for action.
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In the next chapter, we’ll get to use some of our newly acquired power.