The Duke’s Madness

In the midst of the melee that began with Barance’s declaration, Cassel thought.

‘Who’s the biggest threat here?’

The worry didn’t last long.

Melee mercenaries, wizards, swordsmen, and brokers.

Everyone was dangerous, but the most dangerous was Dawn next to me.

‘The knife you showed me that day… It’s real.’

Because of that, the moment the melee started, they immediately widened their distance.

It didn’t look like he would suddenly throw a knife at the situation, but it was something he didn’t know.

‘We’re not colleagues, but we’re not in an employment relationship. I can put a knife through it enough.’

That’s when Cassel’s nerves were all focused on Dawn.

Arthur, who had been stroking his chin, muttered as he looked at the messy interior of the auction house.

“hmm… Wouldn’t it be better to sweep it up first?”

With these words, Arthur focused his mind.

Willet, who was watching from the side, was startled.

“… what? A high-ranking spirit?”

With an exclamation, a blue-haired woman appeared next to Arthur and bowed gracefully.

[How can I help you?]

“hmm… Shall we stop fighting for now, Undy?”

[As you wish.]

Undine nodded and gestured.

At that moment, a real miracle was born in her hands, not a fake one made with magic.

Kwakkwakkwak-!!

A huge stream of water shot up into the air.

It soon became a huge hurricane, and the brokers and mercenaries, who were in a death match to kill each other, were shocked to discover the disaster belatedly.

“That… what?”

“Wizard?”

“No, that… .”

One of the mute wizards shouted in horror.

“What, a higher level water spirit!?”

With that cry, a hurricane escaped Undine’s hands and hit the auction house.

bang-!!

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Nature’s wrath poured out with a huge explosion and put everything to rest.

“Turn it off… .”

The mercenary who had been holding a gun a while ago, and the broker who was wielding a sword.

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No one was an exception.

Only Barans looked at Arthur with surprised eyes and muttered.

“Oh my… How do C-rank mercenaries deal with higher-level spirits?”

In the silence that came with these words, Arthur glanced away.

“… … !”

Cassel, who was raising his sword, backed away without realizing it.

However, because of the remaining pride, it was time to stare at Arthur without being able to put down the knife he had raised.

Arthur said gently raising the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t be so intimidated, Cassel.”

“… … ?”

“I don’t eat it. I told you to leave two teams, so I will leave Cassel.”

With these words, Arthur turned around and walked forward.

Cassel, who was watching her back, murmured involuntarily.

‘… Did I look down on you?’

When Cassel’s mouth fell open in shock, Bonnie clicked her tongue.

‘I heard rumors and assumed it was a monster… Could it have been this much?’

He is a known elementalist who is more valuable than a wizard, but he handles even higher level spirits?

With this skill, it would not be strange to get a job at the royal palace.

‘How on earth did old Willett recruit that monster?’

As Bonnie ate her tongue with her thoughts, Willett looked at Arthur with a puzzled expression.

‘what… When the hell did he grow up like that?’

I had heard reports about Dawn, but to be honest, it wasn’t quite this far.

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No, weren’t the spirits that Dawn dealt with were intermediate level spirits, not high level spirits?

‘In that short time… My affinity with spirits has increased, so I can deal with higher spirits?’

Common sense didn’t make sense.

Isn’t affinity with spirits more difficult to raise than collecting magic power or mana?

Because of that, Willet’s gaze on Arthur’s back was narrowing.

Standing in the middle of the auction house that became a sea of water, Arthur said to Barance.

“I think it’s over, but why don’t you talk to me soon?”

At the question, one of Barance’s two necks tilted.

“I told you to kill me, didn’t I say to stun you?”

“no way. How do you cut a knife at someone you’ve never seen before?”

“… … ?”

“Is this enough? At first glance, wasn’t the reason for having such a boring death match to test your skills and keep your mouth shut?”

Barance burst into laughter in a voice full of phlegm.

“That’s right, but… Is your attitude impure?”

Instead of answering the question, Arthur smiled.

Barance, who was watching that smile, slowly got up from his seat and said.

“But it’s not bad. It’s okay if you have enough skills. It’s like seeing your broker in his younger days.”

With these words, Barance beckoned, and the goblins that appeared out of nowhere approached him.

“Let it go. Give me some memory-erasing medicine.”

“Chuckling… I see, master!”

With the answer, the goblins retreated.

Barance, who turned around in it, beckoned.

“Then let’s talk about the request. I can’t do it here, so please follow me to my room.”

* * *

Barance walked somewhere through the door at the back of the auction house.

Willet, who followed him, sighed and muttered.

“Now that I see it, it must have been a deliberate spread of rumors.”

Arthur, who was next to him, raised his head and said.

“Did you spread the rumors on purpose?”

“It’s a rumor about the highest-ranking spiritual group. I still thought it was strange, but I can’t believe it was leaked on purpose to gather mercenaries and brokers… .”

At his words, Arthur tilted his head.

“hmm… I don’t understand, sir. If you want to entrust a request, can’t you just point to a specific mercenary and broker?”

“Can’t do it. But then you will stand out in some way.”

“… Does it stand out?”

“This floor is narrower than you know. Because when you pass through one bridge, rumors spread in 10 other places on this floor.”

Arthur stroked his chin.

“hmm… So, there really is no supreme command, and it was a decoy?”

Willett didn’t answer.

Arthur didn’t bother to ask more questions.

‘sh*t… Even if I can’t eat it, I wanted to check the real thing.’

It was possible to obtain a high-level spiritual group, but the highest-level spiritual group was literally a legend.

‘Because it’s the highest level of spirituality that was made with ingredients like dragon hearts in the first place.’

And now is the era when dragons have disappeared.

The dragon slayer holding a sword aiming for a dragon heart has long since become an oral tradition.

‘Considering that… There’s no way that the highest level of leadership will come out in this era.’

It was when Arthur raised his head with his thoughts.

Barance, who was leading the way, stood still, but the moment his mouth opened, another hidden space was revealed.

“oh… .”

Arthur exclaimed and looked at the drawing room lined with luxurious materials.

‘Is it the same as the magic of the tombstone I saw before entering this place?’

Well, since the group that created this black market was the Seven Emperors, it was not surprising that Barance cast magic.

At that time, Barance appeared with a teacup and tea and smiled and recommended.

“Sit down comfortably.”

“… … .”

“Even if the invitation process was a little unkind, you are my guest now.”

At his words, Bonnie whistled.

“How can I sit comfortably without Barans of the Seven Emperors?”

“Are the two next to you already seated?”

“… … ?”

Bonnie looked away, staring at Cassel and Arthur, who were sitting in their seats, and blinked.

“… Uh, shouldn’t I sit down, Bonnie?”

“… no. Stay seated, Cassel.”

Bonnie sighed and sat down.

Willett also slowly bent down and sat down.

In the meantime, Barance, who handed over the tea cup, smiled again.

“It didn’t burn poison or anything like that, so don’t worry.”

Willett and Bonnie flinched, but Cassell and Arthur calmly drank their tea.

“Does it taste good?”

“It has to be good. It’s tea leaves grown by druids.”

“oh… If you’re a druid, aren’t you a caveman?”

“Once upon a time, I was also a priest who worshiped nature. what now… Although I became a failure who could not accept modern civilization.”

With these words, Barance picked up the two cups with both hands and drank the tea with both mouths.

As Arthur watched the scene with twinkling eyes, Willett opened his mouth.

“Now I want you to explain a little.”

“explanation?”

“Wouldn’t it be necessary to explain the contents of the request or the current situation?”

Barance burst into laughter.

“Your personality is still impatient, Willet.”

“Because I can’t stand an unreasonable situation.”

“Keuk… okay. You don’t deserve it either… . So what are you curious about?”

Willett’s eyes lit up.

“Why are you putting on a show like this?”

“show?”

“What is the reason for calling in mercenaries and brokers by spreading rumors using the highest level of command as bait?”

Barance stroked his two chins with both hands.

“Isn’t it to entrust the request?”

“Is that why?”

“It’s not like that… hmm.”

After thinking for a moment, Barance nodded.

“Well, it would be good to explain what happened. That way, you who will carry out the request will also understand the situation.”

Barance snapped his fingers.

At that moment, a flyer popped out of nowhere and floated in the air.

‘oh?’

As Arthur watched, his eyes lit up.

It was because the person drawn on the flyer was very familiar.

[Captain Marsius]

[Bounty: 32,000 gold]

Pirates, one of the forces that divides the back streets of Arcane.

It was because it was a wanted flyer for the captain who led the pirates.

In the meantime, Barance picked up the leaflet that floated in the air and handed it to Willet.

“… Was it related to pirates?”

“Rather than being entangled, they are targeting us unilaterally.”

Barance smiled brightly.

“I didn’t want to do a show like this either. But how many pirates are there? There are a lot of their spies in our organization too. It’s like a weed that will grow back no matter how much you pick it out.”

“… … .”

“So I set up a suitable stage. Numerous mercenaries and brokers exist in Arcane. Spread the word about the things they most want, so that they come to me.”

Willett’s expression darkened.

In the meantime, Barance, who burst into laughter, snapped his fingers.

“what… I explained it grandiosely, but the quest itself is simple. Escort my daughter safely to the [Prime Kingdom].”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

“The daughter of Lord Barance?”

“okay.”

“… Were you married?”

Barance tilted his head.

“why? Do you look like someone you can’t marry?”

Arthur apologized for hurting him.

“Oops, I made a mistake. Stop wondering if a person with two heads can get married… .”

“… … .”

“I apologize, Mr. Barance. You shouldn’t judge people based on their appearance, but… .”

Barance’s eyes widened, and Willet opened his mouth in amazement.

In that silence, Cassel nodded.

“yes. You can’t judge people just by their appearance.”

It was Bonnie who broke the awkward atmosphere.

“that that! First of all, can you introduce the escort target, Lord Barance?”

Barance, who was mesmerized by these words, flinched.

“… You guys must be in a lot of trouble.”

“Thank you for your understanding… .”

Barance clapped his hands at Bonnie’s words.

At that moment, the space shuddered, and a dark-haired woman slowly walked out.

Arthur, who was watching, unknowingly burst into exclamation.

Unlike Barance, the black haired woman had one head.

‘… is it your daughter? Does it look completely different?’

It was when Arthur, tilting his head, alternately watched the black-haired woman and Barance.

A black haired woman with a doll-like appearance lowered her head and said.

“hello everyone. My name is Sugar Haydn, Crown Princess of the Prime Kingdom.”