Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

In his past life, this very same shopkeeper had scammed him countless times.

Whenever he had needed medicine, this bastard had charged him insane prices.

Once, when he had been seriously injured, the cost of herbs alone had taken three months' worth of wages.

Now, it was time for a little payback.

"I-I apologize! That was an ignorant thing to say!"

"Oh, it was more than just ignorant. But whatever, just shut your mouth and bring me the herbs."

"Y-Yes, my lord! I will bring out my entire stock! What exactly are you looking for…?"

"Moonlight Herb, Crimson Thorns, Winged Lantern, and Stemflower. Bring out every last Moonlight Herb you have. If I find out later that you've been hiding stock to sell at a higher price, you'd best be ready to put your neck on the line."

The sharp warning sent the shopkeeper scrambling toward the storeroom.

Perhaps it was because of his guilty conscience, but the moment William listed the herbs he needed, the man frantically dug through his inventory, piling up bundles of Moonlight Herb on the counter.

As expected, due to its high value, the quantity was limited.

Still, for a single apothecary, it was a respectable amount.

"This is all the Moonlight Herb we have, my lord!"

William inspected the pile with a critical gaze.

"The quality is questionable. Is this really the best you have?"

"S-Sorry! I swear, this is everything! Please, have mercy…!"

"Tch. Whatever. I'll pay for them."

He had no intention of stealing the herbs by abusing his authority.

His reputation was already poor, and he didn't need any additional rumors about a noble exploiting a small business.

William handed over exactly the market price for the herbs.

The shopkeeper, however, looked oddly dissatisfied.

It was obvious—he had been hoping that a noble would pay extra out of generosity.

William couldn't help but chuckle mockingly.

Hadn't this man just vowed to give him everything a few seconds ago?

"Not enough?" he asked with a smirk. "I can add more. Of course, I'll also add a punishment for your insolence earlier."

"Ah! No, my lord! I was being foolish! Thank you for your generosity!"

The shopkeeper repeatedly banged his forehead against the counter in apology.

William only stepped outside once he was satisfied.

Seeing the shopkeeper's tear-streaked, snot-covered face brought him a deep sense of satisfaction.

So this… is the power of authority.

Watching everything unfold, Hans muttered absentmindedly,

"Young Master… you've changed."

William raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

"You never used to speak harshly to anyone. But now…"

"How am I now?"

"There's… a sense of confidence. And authority, even."

William's heart skipped a beat.

Had Hans noticed something off?

"Is that… strange?"

"Strange? Not at all! It's amazing! Now I won't have to walk around with my head down when talking to the other servants."

Fortunately, Hans was just happy about his master's newfound strength.

William smirked, tossing the bundle of Moonlight Herb into Hans's arms.

"Don't worry. Soon, it won't be you looking away from others—it'll be them lowering their eyes in your presence."

"I'll look forward to it, my lord."

"I'm serious."

William understood one simple truth—a servant's reputation is a reflection of their master's status.

Hans had likely been looked down on because his master was a weak, pathetic noble.

But things were different now.

Because William himself was different.

Before heading back, William made a stop at a general store to pick up a few extra supplies.

They were basic tools—the kind that commoners used when making homemade remedies.

The Alchemist Guild wouldn't even consider using such primitive equipment, but for William, it was perfect.

After all, this was all he knew how to use.

In his past life, when he was too poor to afford proper alchemical tools, he had relied on cheap, commoner methods.

Now, even if he bought high-end equipment, he wouldn't know how to use it properly.

With everything prepared, William turned to Hans with a serious expression.

"Stand guard outside my room. No one is to enter. If anyone tries to come in, stop them physically. If you can't stop them, at least shout. I'll handle any consequences."

"…Even if another Young Master comes?"

"Even if my father comes."

Hans paled but, upon seeing William's unwavering gaze, nodded with determination.

Once alone, William pushed aside the clutter of books on his desk and began working.

His "alchemy" was rudimentary—he simply ground the herbs into a pulp, extracted the juice, and mixed them in precise ratios.

Even this half-complete method could change history if it leaked.

That was why he had blocked the entrance despite knowing no one would come.

Even the smallest hint could lead to disastrous consequences.

As William heated the herbal mixture with a lamp, a pungent smell filled the air.

As time passed, the acrid stench intensified, making his eyes water.

Warriors, how did I ever drink this in my past life?

A normal person would have thought this was poison, not medicine.

William couldn't imagine drinking this unless he was absolutely desperate.

After what felt like an eternity, the liquid shifted to a deep crimson.

That was the signal.

William snuffed out the flame and waited for the potion to cool.

Once the stench faded, only the thick, red liquid remained.

Taking a deep breath, he drank it all in one go.

Gulp.

"Hahh—!"

A burning sensation tore through his throat and coiled in his stomach.

And then—A pulse of raw energy surged from his core.

Mana!

The power drawn from nature itself, converted into a source of strength for the human body.

If properly harnessed, it could elevate a man into a superhuman.

This is the moment.

William forced himself to focus and began guiding the flow of mana through his body.

As his old instincts resurfaced, the mana slowly descended toward his pelvis.

The first step was successful—he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But it wasn't over yet.

I can't relax now. I still have to complete the circulation.

Mana had to be distributed throughout the body and recovered in a continuous cycle.

This process was essential for becoming a knight, as it allowed the body to adapt to mana.

Normally, a potion like this would only slightly widen the mana pathways, enhancing a person's natural talent.

But Nectar was different.

It didn't just widen the pathways—it fortified muscles, reinforced bones, and even opened previously blocked channels.

The downside?

The more untrained the body, the more excruciating the process.

Once the first circulation was completed, it would become much easier in the future.

But the first time…

It was pure agony—as if someone was digging through his body with a burning scalpel.

This is going to hurt like hell.

William braced himself, squeezing his eyes shut as he pushed the mana forward.

And then…

Nothing.

No pain.

No discomfort.

…Nothing at all.

William's eyes snapped open in shock.

What? Why aren't there any blockages?