"Has His Highness already appointed a new commander for the Magic Battalion?"
"Sigh…"
The Grave Duchy was currently in considerable turmoil.
A series of events unfolded.
The Grave Duchy, which had been under the control of Silo, the former commander of the Magic Battalion, suddenly underwent a change.
He revealed himself to be a heretic serving a dreadful cult god, and he found the altar of the cult god within his territory.
Silo was also decisively eliminated, and his followers were also neatly organized.
All of this happened in just a few days.
Naturally, the vassal could not hide their confusion at this sudden change.
"I don't know what happened to His Highness."
"It's not like he faked his illness from the beginning to catch the heretics within the family, is it?"
"This man, how many years have we known His Highness? If he faked it, there's no way we wouldn't know!"
Some vassal welcomed Kyle's change, while others expressed anxiety.
One thing was clear.
The Grave was changing.
No one was sure whether it would be for the better or for the worse, but it was certain.
—
"Your Highness…!"
Today, as always, one of the vassal banged his head and shouted.
"The Red Wand Magic Battalion is a group with a long history and heritage that has been with the main family. It is also a place that represents the family!"
"That's right."
"Moreover, our family has been one of the most prestigious magical families for a very long time!"
"That's also true."
The Grave Duchy.
Not as obsessed with magic as other magic groups on the continent, but still one of the most prestigious magical families on the continent.
Why?
Because of their lineage.
One of the things that greatly influences a magician's future is talent. And this talent is highly likely to be inherited through lineage.
Although there are exceptions, it is a fact that having a good lineage increases the chances of producing a good magician.
The reason why the position of the main family began to shake was simple.
His father was a man who deviated slightly from that 'lineage talent'. He was excellent as a lord, but he did not excel in magic talent.
In such a situation, in recent years, the presence of the Magic Battalion in the family has inevitably increased.
The reason why the problematic Silo could make a loud noise was also for this reason.
"However, let's be frank."
I said, watching the vassal passionately talk about the tradition of the Magic Battalion.
"Is our family's status as a 'magical family' the same as before?"
"…Yes?"
"Is it the same as when the 8th-ranked Archmage of the prime used to lead the Magic Battalion, or when there were many high-ranking magicians?"
"T-That, that is…"
To be honest, no.
Since my father's sudden death, the family, which had been creaking little by little since my father's death, quickly began to decline.
Even after I became the head of the family, many magicians left due to the wind of trust in Silo.
That's the current situation.
Currently, the 'Red Wand Magic Battalion' is barely maintaining its reputation, but in reality, it is as good as bankrupt.
It has to change in some way.
Although Silo has removed the rotten blood, removing it doesn't mean that people will suddenly become healthy, right?
You have to adjust your diet, eat healthy food, and so on to get better.
"Recognize it and change it."
"H-However, Your Highness… Even if there is a problem, the behavior of the new commander of the Magic Battalion this time is a bit…"
"It's not really strange."
Yes, there's nothing really strange about it.
"Just because the main tool of the Magic Battalion has changed from a staff to a sword, and because they started physical training instead of spending time researching magic, isn't that a little unusual?"
"…"
The vassal began to shake their bodies as if to say something in response to my words.
"T-That is…"
"It's strange, Your Highness! The Magic Battalion is originally a group that deals only with 'magic'! Even if they spend all day practicing magic, it's not enough, but physical training! A-And besides…!"
Lord Chepel, who was standing next to me, interrupted him.
"A sword! A sword! I have never heard of a magician using a sword, Your Highness!"
"Well, I understand that too."
Of course, it was the expected reaction.
From the moment Alonso was appointed as the commander of the Magic Battalion, it was a predetermined course for such words to come out.
"The history of magic is not written so lightly! All the great archmages in history who left their mark used a staff…!"
"Not all of them did that."
"What?"
"Even Kaspar, who was a great archmage of the 9th rank, wouldn't have used a staff, right?"
Everyone shut their mouths.
The medium of Kaspar was none other than a spear. 'Kaspar's spear' is very high in the history of magic.
"The reason why a staff is known as the tool of a magician is because of its unique universality. But does a Magic 'Brigade' have to follow that universality?"
"T-That's…"
"The Magic Battalion is not just a group that researches and trains in magic. It is a group that must protect the family in times of crisis."
But right now, our group is ridiculously weak. And we need to strengthen that group quickly.
So we need to adopt a slightly radical and unusual method.
"Actually, it's worked out well. Since Silo has been proven to be a heretic, the Magic Corps must undergo a complete overhaul. We could even consider this an opportunity, couldn't we?
When else would we make a change?
Especially when we have to face the calamity of Vassal, such a conventional Magic Corps wouldn't be of much help.
At that moment, one of the vassal asked, 'But, Your Highness… Kaspar's spear is still a justified medium, but the proportion of black metal is too high to be suitable as a medium…'
'Suitable as what?' I asked.
'…Excuse me?'
Lord Chepel, suddenly taken aback by my words.
'What… do you mean by suitable?'
'It means, what will you do if it's proven that the Magic Corps Commander's decision is entirely appropriate?'
'Well, there shouldn't be any problem. What we're concerned about is the qualitative decline of the Magic Corps…'
'Alright then.'
The vassal looked even more bewildered at my words.
Alright? Why?
That sort of expression, I suppose.
'Come in.'
Thunk!
With a light flick of my finger, Alonso appeared in a flash with space magic.
'Ugh, uh…?! When did…!'
The vassal were all taken aback.
They must not have expected Alonso's magical level to be this high.
Seems like I've gained the upper hand, for now.
'As you know, this is Alonso Kyung, a 7th-ranked magician newly appointed as the Magic Corps Commander.'
'Nice to meet you.'
Alonso greeted the vassal politely.
But it wasn't just a formality.
Subtly, he exerted pressure with mana, intimidating the vassal.
'Ugh…!'
The vassal involuntarily bowed their heads.
'It seems you can clearly sense Alonso's magical skills. There's no need for further explanation.'
I said with a smirk. The vassal could only bow their heads in submission.
'And it's not because Alonso's skills are lacking that the knights are reacting like this. I'm aware of that.'
'Y-Yes…'
'Then, Commander Alonso.'
'Yes, Your Highness.'
Alonso stepped forward as if he had been waiting. At this moment, there was no sign of his eccentricity dreaming of becoming a knight.
I asked him, 'Has what I mentioned before been prepared?'
'Yes.'
Alonso flashed his eyes and showed something he had been holding in his arms.
Something long wrapped in cloth.
And when Alonso unwrapped it, its true form was revealed.
'That is…!'
The vassal were wide-eyed.
A longsword.
A splendidly crafted item suitable as a symbol for the knights.
'Even so, Your Highness, a sword like this is simply…!'
'Why don't you see it first?'
I said, then lightly grasped the sword and drew it from its scabbard.
'Impressive.'
Before my regression, I had never relied on the power of tools. Initially, I used staffs and such, but I realized something at some point.
I no longer needed a medium for casting spells.
But that's a story for when I've surpassed my lifespan, not now, right?
'Hmm.'
As I manipulated mana, the sword I held began to react.
'No, what is this…!'
The vassal were astonished at what they saw.
Of course, that's all they could do. Fundamentally, mana cannot be contained entirely in metal.
That's basic common sense.
But now.
Kuung.
Mana, through the metal, manifested magic.
A bright blue ring began to carve itself into the air around me, shining brightly as it began to engrave the ranking insignias.
And just as it reached the fourth insignia…
'Your Highness, it's the 4th rank…!'
'When… did this…!'
The vassal looked at me with eyes full of disbelief as the unbelievable events continued.
At this point, my original rank was 3rd.
But what I showed now was a step above, the 4th rank.
What does this mean?
'My rank remains the same. Even if I were to reach the 4th rank soon, at present, I am still at the 3rd rank.'
'…!'
'However, if I can mimic the 4th rank while holding this sword, what exactly does that mean?'
'S-Surely…'
Lord Chepel, unable to believe it, stammered.
The other vassal were the same.
Wide-eyed, they looked at the four circles engraved in the air.
'An enchanted tool that can raise one rank if the affinity is right.'
The mysterious inscriptions on the sword emitted a faint light, showcasing its existence.
No one would doubt the sword's performance.
'This enchanted tool was invented by the Magic Corps Commander himself.'"
"…!"
"And from now on, our main family's Magic Corps will use this weapon as its mainstay and demonstrate differentiated abilities from other Magic Corps."
Thud!
As if driving a nail, I thrust the sword into the ground. At the same time, a strong mana swept around us.
"Ugh, gasp…!"
First impressions must be strong.
I have to make sure of that.
Facing the vassal, who were quite surprised, I asked again.
"Any objections?"
"…!"
Of course, the answer was already decided.
After the vassal left for the battlefield, only Alonso and I remained.
I asked, waving the sword I received from Alonso around, "Commander Alonso."
"Yes."
"Is this actually a defective product?"
Alonso remained silent at my question, then hesitated as he tried to justify himself.
"Y-Your Highness… Well, it was clear during the initial design phase, but…"
"So?"
"However, as you know, creating a Magic Sword is not as easy as creating a finished product, so there are always errors…"
"I see."
I chuckled and released the sword from my hand.
But even so, the circle representing the 4th rank did not disappear.
Of course not.
I was originally at the 4th rank.
If you ask when I became the 4th rank, it just happened.
It's different if it's 6th rank or higher.
The 4th rank is a level I can reach anytime I want.
"I believe that I can create a 'perfect product'."
"Ah…"
"But this is enough for me."
At my words, Alonso nodded.
"Your Highness, although this Magic Sword does not have the effect of increasing ranks, are you going to use it?"
"Yes, this is enough."
The Magic Sword Alonso created is clearly a defective product.
Since it lacks the crucial function of rank increase, it might look like an empty shell.
However.
"I actually like it."
Alonso may not realize it, but this defective product is most suitable for me in a certain sense.
"When will mass production be possible?"
"If we give up universality, we can make it in a week, as long as we modify what Your Highness used."
"Then it's settled. This Magic Corps will be based on this standard from now on."
After giving that command, I looked at the defective product Alonso gave me.
"I never thought I'd see it here like this."
To be honest, I was surprised.
Although Alonso called it a defective product, it's not just something that can be explained as 'having a defect.'
Certainly, the function Alonso considered essential, the rank increase, is missing.
But instead.
"It has an incredibly high resistance to chaos."
The function of 'chaos resistance' is different. The higher it is, the better for me.
The probability is high that even Alonso, who created it, is not aware of this characteristic of 'chaos resistance.'
Before regression, Alonso himself said so, right?
– You got caught.
Yes, the function of chaos resistance was caught.
"Was it caught around this time?"
Yes, this was undoubtedly one of my favorite things that played a big role in facing the chaos cult before regression.
This is clearly a prototype of it.