He was different from Askan. There was no remaining emotion for liking someone else in him.

It seemed that witnessing the deaths of the laboratory children a long time ago had dried up all his emotions.

“I’m fine. I only need you.”

Only Askan understood Bill’s pain in the world. The same was true in the opposite case.

Having experienced the harsh life in the laboratory and unable to talk about the past to anyone other than Askan, they couldn’t open up to anyone else emotionally.

Askan, unable to hold back, opened his mouth with a somewhat warning expression.

“You might regret it someday.”

“I’m okay.”
Bill could finally smile as usual. After receiving a clear answer from Askan, the uneasiness he had felt for a while seemed to lessen.

I requested a meeting to reject Helsion’s proposal. I must have negotiated with Seruna a while ago. With this much time passed, it seemed like I had prepared enough courtesy for the Emperor’s proposal.

As soon as Helsion heard my request, he immediately sent a messenger. He said to come to the palace anytime on the desired day and time.

Perhaps he anticipated that I would talk about the proposal.

To seize the opportunity, I expressed my intention to enter the palace tomorrow evening.

After setting an appointment to meet Helsion, I completely finished the final stages of the Kalspelliver exterior work in the workshop.

Anyone could confidently say that no one would associate the current sword with Kalspelliver.

Eager to show it to Askan as soon as possible, I put the completely changed Kalspelliver in a box and hurried back to the mansion.

When I was in the workshop, the sun was clearly in the zenith, but by the time I noticed, it had gotten dark.

As soon as I entered the mansion, I ran into Bishop, the butler.

“Where is Askan?”

“In the master’s room…”

“Thank you.”

“Ah, Miss!”

Bishop tried to say something more, but in my haste, I didn’t listen to the end and headed straight to Askan’s room.

Ascending the stairs, I swung open Askan’s room door.

“Askan!”

It was the moment I was about to say that I had just finished the Kalspelliver exterior work.

I saw Askan in the midst of changing clothes. He looked at me with a puzzled face.

“What’s going on?”

“Oops!”

I quickly turned my body holding the box containing Kalspelliver.

It was a brief moment, but I saw Askan’s robust figure clearly.

His upper body, full of well-defined muscles, was perfect without a trace of fat. It seemed like an embodiment of women’s ideals.

Even the old scars remaining on his body were not flaws. Rather, they added a masculine charm.

Shaking my head to dispel the lingering image of his body, I apologized.

“S-sorry, I didn’t know you were changing. I didn’t realize that’s what Bishop was trying to say earlier.”

Unlike my embarrassment, Askan answered in a nonchalant voice.

“If I knew you were coming to see me while I was changing, I might have tried to inform you, knowing that I went to change clothes.”

I wondered if other people knew about the current situation. It felt more awkward because no employees were passing by Askan’s room today.

I cleared my throat nervously and adjusted my voice.

“Hehe, I came because I have something to show you.”

“What is it?”

Thud, the sound of footsteps approaching me as I turned away.
Inadvertently turning my head, I saw Askan approaching, wearing only a white shirt. The problem was that he hadn’t buttoned it up completely, revealing his muscular abs through the open shirt. Shocked by the unexpectedly sexy sight, I quickly turned my head again. Askan asked with a puzzled expression, “What’s wrong?” Wanting to say that his attire was a bit too informal, I bit my tongue. He came hurriedly with only the shirt on, not knowing why I had visited. It was awkward to see him being overly conscious of my presence.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing,” I said, turning my head while holding out a box containing Kalspelliver to Askan.

Still looking at me with a puzzled look, Askan asked, “What is this?”

“Just take a look for now.”

Askan casually accepted the large box I brought with both hands and opened it. I felt the difference in strength once again.

After confirming the Kalspelliver inside the box, he looked at me with bright eyes and said, “Is it complete?”

“Yeah, I rushed here because I wanted to show it to you.”

I wanted to see Askan’s happy expression when he saw Kalspelliver and give him the sword he needed.

Swoosh─

Askan drew the sword. While the original Kalspelliver was mostly red, it was now completely black. The design, originally vibrant like a legendary sword, now had a noble and clean feel to it. The sharp blade of Kalspelliver shimmered with a subtle light.

Although I changed all the magic formulas that were originally visible, I couldn’t hide the distinctive aura of Kalspelliver.

Askan, looking satisfied, gazed at Kalspelliver and said, “It’s great. It turned out even better than I expected.”

“Of course. After all, who touched it?”

At my confident words, Askan smiled with his characteristic deep smile.