The Duke’s Madness

Upon confirming Frakil’s death, Arthur immediately aroused his lineage abilities.

At that moment, the whole body was covered with a black skin, and the tired body returned to life again.

Arthur, enjoying the strange feeling, jumped lightly from his seat.

A sensation similar to when he strengthened his body using mana was felt throughout his body.

“oh… Does it not just harden the skin, but also enhances physical abilities?”

This was a much more usable lineage than expected.

So it was also sad.

With this lineage ability, the future Frakil very easily blocked the swordsmanship of the knights and the magic of the wizards.

However, Frakil’s lineage abilities were not up to that level.

‘The proof is that my chest was pierced by my sword. It seems that the lineage ability has not fully grown yet.’

Arthur lost his appetite with regret, but decided to be satisfied at this point.

In fact, this work was successful thanks to a lot of luck.

Frakil’s carelessness.

Undine’s ability that was hidden until the end.

many other variables.

Had it not been for any of these, the battle would have been quite intense and the outcome might have been different.

‘It would be right to be satisfied at this point.’

After finishing his thoughts, Arthur left Frakil’s corpse behind and headed to his cabin.

As I opened the door, I heard the scratching sound of hinges.

In it, Arthur awakened tension.

A ‘trap’ that you don’t know.

It was because there could have been so-called trap magic.

However, the worries were in vain.

The scenery inside the house was quite ordinary, contrary to expectations.

A blazing bonfire.

Bed and desk near the campfire.

The bookshelf was full of books.

Arthur shook his head as he looked around as he cleared them away.

“hmm···. I heard that there are many interesting things in the warlock’s dungeon, isn’t there anything special?”

It was time for Arthur to take a closer look at his surroundings with a murmur.

Something rattled in my sensitive senses.

In response to that sensation, Arthur bent down and tapped the outer wall of the cabin lightly.

At that moment, the outer wall cracked with a rattling sound, revealing a hidden space.

It was a spiral staircase.

“As expected, a black magician.”

Arthur nodded and headed down the stairs to the basement.

I wondered how this little cabin could have such space, but I didn’t give it a second thought.

It was because the existence of a wizard was incomprehensible with common sense.

After walking for a while, my vision suddenly widened.

And what came into that wide field of vision was a huge altar and corpses with their heads and arms severed.

“It looks like the ceremony was held here.”

Looking at the mummified corpses that had been completely drained of blood, Arthur pulled out a meteorite sword.

wickedness-!

The hanging corpses fell with the sound of the wind crackling.

Arthur carefully puts them on the floor and puts his hands together.

“I hope everyone goes to a good place.”

After praying, Arthur got up again and ran around the warlock’s dungeon.

However, except for the altar, which was larger than the hut, there was no singularity to be seen.

Because of that, Arthur’s steps headed towards the desk, which was not suitable for this space.

There are several sheets of papers and a book on the desk.

And there were some odds and ends.

Because of that, by the time the expectation turned to disappointment, I suddenly felt magical power.

“uh? This?”

Arthur took out a ring from among the clutter and held it up.

As if responding to the touch, the ring vibrated slightly.

“Could it be an artifact?”

After thinking for a moment, Arthur put the ring on his finger.

At that moment, the vibration of the ring became a little stronger, and a light magic power radiated out and covered Arthur’s entire body.

Feeling the change, Arthur looked at the mirror placed on the desk.

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Nothing was visible.

“oh···. Isn’t this invisible magic?”

Arthur’s eyes lit up with admiration.

According to my little knowledge, invisibility magic was a fairly difficult magic.

So, in the case of these artifacts, it was not easy to obtain them no matter how much money they had.

‘It was a windfall. I never thought I would get something like this.’

understood at the same time.

How did future Frakil become the worst killer?

‘You hid yourself with this ring and attacked. I’m glad I didn’t use it when fighting with me.’

Arthur raised his eyebrows in thought as he rummaged through the desk again.

However, other than the ring, nothing of note came out.

Because of that, the moment he turned around and was about to leave the altar, a book placed among the papers caught Arthur’s attention.

“… .”

Thoughtful, Arthur picked up the book and opened the first page.

The first word that started with a neat handwriting was an abusive word called ‘X’.

“Is it a diary?”

With a murmur, Arthur quickly flipped through the pages.

Frakil’s feelings, plans, and daily life.

Various other personal matters came into Arthur’s head as text messages.

[I ran away from Master. If things go on like this, it was obvious that I would live as a slave for the rest of my life and die.]

[Successfully escaped. Master’s things were also stolen. It was a ring enchanted with invisibility.]

[They will definitely come in pursuit. Master will never let traitors live.]

[In order to survive, I had to increase my strength.]

[The fastest way to increase strength is to pay the price. Because all magic is equivalent exchange.]

[Aimed at the beggars. If no one is interested, they will not be found out.]

[However, considering the future, more clean blood was needed. for example···. A very unique blood. The blood called lineage.]

After examining the contents of the book, Arthur nodded.

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Now I have a rough idea of why Frakil hid in the capital and why he kidnapped the beggars.

“This person has a lot of stories too.”

Arthur closed the diary with a murmur and left the cabin.

And huts and dungeons using blazing campfires.

Even Frakil’s corpse was burned.

Fire-!

After staring at the acrid smoke rising for a moment, Arthur turned around.

All business in Harlem is over.

It was now time to return home.

* * *

After returning, Arthur did not go out for a while and stayed only in the Bavarian mansion.

It was only before that they had to go out forcibly to obtain a new lineage, but now there was no reason to go outside.

Because of that, through the remaining time, he devoted himself to further training.

In order to build up mana a little faster, he trained without rest and increased his physical strength.

‘Come to think of it, I was lucky. The time when he came back was 15 years old… When you’re 17, it’s time to enter a period of growth.’

The future Arthur Bayern’s physique wasn’t too bad.

However, it was undeniable that it was damaged by the constant intake of poison.

However, at the age of 17, the poison was completely cured and systematic training was performed every day, and the growth was explosive.

To put it a little exaggeratedly, I was getting the feeling that I was getting taller every morning.

‘The weight class doesn’t matter. Especially in a fight using mana.’

Between those small changes, time continued to pass.

One day when summer was more humid than usual.

Arthur finished his early morning training as usual and headed for breakfast.

The servants he encountered every day greeted Arthur.

Arthur greeted the attendants in the same way and entered the restaurant.

I could see Irene and Yonel, who had been waiting for the first time, clinging to each other and whispering.

Arthur, who had come in without pretending to be present, tilted his head at the unusual appearance of the two.

Irene and Yonel, who were talking at that time, found Arthur belatedly and were very embarrassed.

“uh… son?”

“Oh, brother?”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

At the same time, a slight curiosity rose from the depths of his heart.

However, I didn’t bother to open my mouth to ask.

Because my talkative sister would know why.

And this prediction was correct.

While eating, Irene asked a question out of context.

“Brother, what do you want to receive?”

“What do you want to receive?”

“Yep! What do you want!?”

Arthur burst into laughter.

Apparently, this was the topic of conversation between Yonel and Irene a while ago.

In the meantime, Yonel let out a sigh and bruised Irene.

“Irene···. You quickly promised to keep it a secret, how could you ask such a question?”

“yes yes? But mom… I didn’t say anything…”

“Isn’t it as if you’ve revealed everything in the question a moment ago?”

Irene couldn’t answer and pouted her lips.

Arthur raised a smirk at how cute his little sister was.

Then Yonel, who put down the spoon, looked at Arthur and asked a question.

“I don’t know if it would be better to ask directly what happened. Arthur. Do you have any presents you would like to receive?”

“A gift, mother?”

“okay. Just a little bit now… Isn’t it your 17th birthday?”

Arthur’s eyebrows went up slightly at Yonel’s words.

‘It’s my birthday?’

Since he grew up, he had never taken care of his birthday, so he had completely forgotten that such a day was approaching.

Because of that, I couldn’t answer, so Yonel asked the question again.

“This mother will bring you anything you want. This birthday… It is a very meaningful day for both you and me.”

Arthur’s eyebrows narrowed slightly at Yonel’s words.

‘It’s a gift… It’s difficult.’

In the dictionary sense, to give someone something. or that stuff.

Arthur, it was the word most unrelated to his life.

So it was difficult.

‘I don’t really want anything… What should I ask for?’

It’s not that I can’t remember anything, but it’s a little difficult to say.

The neck of the 2nd prince, or the blood of a person with very good talent or lineage.

I didn’t know if Yonel would pass out if I said this.

‘hmm… yes this is not I have to put up with this.’

So Arthur’s silence got longer, and Yonel understood the silence.

“Take some more time and think about it. This mother will do anything.”

Breakfast ended with Yonel’s declaration.

The three families broke up for a while to live their daily lives, and Arthur, who was walking to his room with Anna, suddenly asked a question.

“Anna. What kind of present should I give my mother to like?”

“… yes?”

“What gift should I give my mother so she won’t be disappointed?”

Anna narrowed her eyes.

And he replied in a very bewildered manner.

“uh… Confucius? When it comes to ordinary gifts, isn’t the recipient’s mood more important than the giver’s?”

“What if the recipient doesn’t want anything?”

“… Confucius, don’t you want anything?”

Arthur nodded confidently.

Because of this, Anna was embarrassed once again.

The owner of the one and only duchy in the empire didn’t want anything to give you a gift?

However, like a skilled butler, he did not show embarrassment.

Instead, I thought from Arthur’s point of view and came up with the most plausible answer.

“Then how about thinking the other way around?”

“… on the other way?”

“Imagine that Confucius gives a present to His Excellency the Duke.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

Arthur entered the room he had arrived in the meantime and fell into trouble again.

‘What can I do for my mother to make her happy? I’d like to say that as a gift.’

It was when the next day came along with worries.

The Bavarian mansion was very noisy.

Because of that, Arthur, who finished training much earlier than usual, asked the reason through his butler, Anna.

At that moment, Anna’s expression darkened noticeably.

“that is···. He is back.”

“who?”

“He… Count Dormund.”

Arthur’s eyes go up.

“Count Kane Dormund. He returned to the capital. And he said that he would visit the duke’s house at 3:00 pm tomorrow.”