The Duke’s Madness

Arthur thought.

The present self has changed beyond compare to the self of the past life.

At the age of 15, he came out of his mute, achieved the first circle, and was in much better shape than the 30-year-old Arthur Bayern.

However, I couldn’t be satisfied.

It is true that we have grown remarkably in a short period of two years, but we have only grown.

In this state, none of the plans in my head could be carried out.

‘If a knight like Cadillac tries to assassinate my mother right away, I’ll have to be defeated.’

Because of that, Arthur made a decision to collect bloodlines earlier than planned.

Unlike mana, which takes a lot of time, the Bavarian bloodline can become stronger much faster, assuming only good blood is absorbed.

‘The problem was how to get that blood, but it was surprisingly easily solved.’

It was Arthur who got a hint from an article in a newspaper two months ago, at the recommendation of his mother.

It was the story that a rotting body was found among the alleys in B-21.

At first, I thought it was one of the many ghost stories in Harlem, but I was able to recall it after hearing the story that even the search police of the Empire moved from Yonel’s mouth.

‘Prakil, who was called the worst killer in the capital. Maybe it was around this time that he first showed his mark in the capital?’

He was a murderer with a fairly unique pedigree, a warlock who had grown in power by sacrificing beggars and gangsters in Harlem.

And the moment the power reached the desired point, it went beyond Harlem in the B-21 district and advanced into the city.

After that, he began to attack nobles, and eventually earned the nickname of the worst killer.

‘That was one year from now. It’s the moment when an ugly scar is engraved on my right arm.’

This daring warlock made no exceptions to the Bavarian duchy.

He attacked Yonel and Arthur in the past, who had been out for a while, and carved a wound across his shoulder.

‘Fortunately, I was caught by the Imperial police who arrived late… Thanks to Prakil, I became even more crazy and stopped going out.’

So the three letters of the name Frakil were deeply imprinted in Arthur’s mind.

Another word about his abilities and actions.

‘His pedigree… It was pretty good. It changed the skin of the whole body like a reptile’s skin, and it deflected the knight’s sword and the magician’s magic.’

Although he had achieved the 1st circle, it was an attractive ability for Arthur, who did not yet have a perfect defense method.

Because of that, Arthur, who set the lineage of Frakil as his first target, immediately began visiting the B-21 area.

However, it was impossible to find a black magician who only knew the appearance in Harlem, which was wider than any other district in the capital.

So it was Arthur who used beggars.

The capital of the empire boasted the highest population density on the continent, and there were proportionally many beggars.

And most of the tramps and beggars were gathered in this Harlem street.

Beggars are the rumors and information floating around this city.

knew all those things.

The relationship that was formed in that way was a gang of fools.

‘A strange relationship that was formed while trying to extort money.’

After that, with the help of Adun’s gang, they began to search for Frakil, and the results seemed to be finally revealed.

“The black skin and red eyes the customer said. A guy who looks almost the same has been staying with the gang since a few days.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow at Adun’s explanation.

“Where is your gang?”

“It is located in the underpass in Area B-21.”

“Is it very far from here?”

“Soon. We can go to their hideout in 10 minutes.”

Arthur nodded in response.

“I will give you 1 more gold as a reward. Can you guide me to the [Hardun gang]?”

“… Are you talking about the gang you used to play?”

“yes. Frakil has something to do with him.”

Adun rolls his eyes and asks cautiously.

“It can be presumptuous, but our Adun gang and Harudun gang are on very bad terms. customer.”

“So?”

“If I go there, there will be a fight. Harden’s gang is very sensitive to outsiders, so… .”

Arthur snapped his fingers.

“That means it’s dangerous, right?”

“Exactly! It’s not that I don’t know the skills of the customers, but the number of people who used to play is twice as many as ours…”

2 gold fell in front of Adun’s eyes as he explained.

“It’s a life allowance. When I’m done, I’ll give you another one for the same amount.”

“… .”

“Isn’t this not a bad condition? Adun?”

Adun thoughtfully nodded at the answer.

“If I hadn’t seen the customer’s skills, I wouldn’t have made a deal like this… I’ve already seen it, so I can’t deny it. I will guide you myself.”

Accepting the deal, Adun beckons to his men.

At the gesture of his hand, several beggars with soup flowing run out somewhere, and Adun bends over and says.

“Can I guide you now?”

“yes. We have a curfew, so we have to get in quickly.”

“… Curfew?”

“Exactly, the dinner time I promised my mother. So I hope you can guide me as soon as possible.”

At Arthur’s words, Adun blinked his eyes.

Although he didn’t show it off, he was terribly embarrassed.

‘… Curfew? Is it the humor of the elders? Or is it only for nobles?’

However, I didn’t think deeply.

The taste of the high-ranking people was so unique that it was impossible to understand them.

After finishing his thoughts, he immediately started moving.

Arthur followed him, and several beggars who had moved first at Adun’s gesture earlier were lifting the cover of the drain.

Because of that, a considerable stench pierced the tip of the nose.

Adun looks up and explains.

“This sewer is the fastest way to get to the underpass.”

“It’s good. We move quickly.”

At the answer, Adun takes another step.

Among them, Arthur muttered in a low voice.

‘Take care of Undine.’

At these words, Undine sits on the tip of Arthur’s nose.

At that moment, the stench that had been wafting up disappeared like a lie.

From nob le mt l dot com

Not only that, but Undine’s energy enveloped Arthur’s entire body, leaving no filth except for his shoes.

On the other hand, Adun, who was walking in the lead, spat out curses at the stench and filth peculiar to the sewers.

After walking for about 10 minutes, I heard whispers from far away.

“Is that the gang they used to play?”

“Yes that’s right. In terms of scale in this area, they are within three fingers.”

At Adun’s explanation, Arthur got up and approached the beggars.

“Cow, guest?”

Embarrassed Adun shouted, but Arthur did not stop.

Because of that, Adun muttered tremblingly.

‘No matter how confident you are in your skills, you’re going to openly say that? Thirty people?’

It was when Adun rolled his eyes with doubt.

Standing in front of 30 beggars, Arthur smiles.

“hello? I came to see a man named Frakil. Can you guide me?”

* * *

The Hardun gang, who were having a late lunch, blinked their eyes.

And I started to look for a man whose attire and appearance did not match this sewer.

“… who show? Doesn’t it look like a person here?”

“I’m here to find someone named Frakil.”

“Prakil? Who is Frakil?”

“Will you understand if I explain that you are a black magician?”

At Arthur’s question, the mood of the beggars changed.

They stared at Arthur with low, sunken gazes, then stood up one by one.

“Why would someone as great as a warlock be in a place like this?”

“And who else are you looking for that warlock?”

The beggars who picked up crude iron skewers with questions secretly drew a circle.

It’s centered on Arthur.

However, Arthur shrugged his shoulders, not paying attention.

“I’m a black magician, so I’m not here, right? Warlocks like places like underground and sewers.”

In response, a beggar suddenly swung an iron skewer.

It was a fairly sharp blow, but Arthur, who had predicted it, lightly bounced it off with the meteorite sword clad in his waist.

visor-!

The beggars shout with a resounding noise.

“catch-!”

“Even if you don’t know who it is, grab it and take a look!”

“If he knows, everyone dies! Go ahead and kill me!”

Arthur let out an exclamation at the cry.

‘Looks like you’ve come to the right place. I see him doing this.’

With thoughts, Arthur looks at Undine sitting on the tip of his nose.

At that silent gaze, Undine let out a small spirit.

At that moment, the filth comes to life on the scaffold the beggars were standing on.

“Uh, huh?”

Some beggars fell down with a scream, and Arthur jumped on top of them.

After lightly crushing the shoulder of a beggar who fell with the back of his meteoric sword, Arthur kicked the beggar in the chest from a blind spot without even turning his head.

Arthur, who defeated the two beggars in an instant, began to raise his senses in earnest.

olfactory, auditory, visual, tactile.

The movement, direction, and breath of 30 beggars using all four senses except taste.

Arthur, who synthesized and recognized all the information they gave, jumped between the remaining beggar paddles.

“… !”

The beggars, who did not expect to attack, lose their momentum and panic.

And that short break was enough time for Arthur to swing his sword.

“… aaagh!”

“Oh my arm!”

“It’s my leg!”

Along with screams, 10 of the 30 beggars shed tears.

All of them were injured as they were struck by Arthur’s sword.

The 20 beggars blinked their eyes at the horror that happened in an instant, and after belatedly grasping the situation, they were shocked.

“I-what is that?”

“Aren’t you a knight? Or the search police?”

Along with the whispers, the beggars who had not yet been attacked by Arthur turned around and started to run away.

Arthur looked at it with the meteorite sword slung over his shoulder and murmured.

“If you follow me, there will probably be Frakil, a warlock, right?”

Then he started running after the fleeing beggars.

It was when only 10 beggars were left groaning in such an empty circular space.

Adun, who watched Arthur’s battle in hiding, murmured in astonishment.

‘Isn’t that a real article? What kind of sword skill is magic… … .’

Adun, who was speechless, pondered, and his eyes flashed.

X foot? Maybe this is an opportunity?’

Adun knew how to look at himself coldly.

It was thanks to quick notice and judgment than others that they were able to form a fairly well-known gang even though they had insignificant skills.

And that notice and judgment were saying that this situation was an opportunity.

‘If that guest wipes out all his gang, this place will be our territory… Could it be?’

Adun, who raised the corner of his mouth with his thoughts, ran after Arthur.

The delicate chase that started like that was stopped only when the Harden gang, who ran the most, stopped.

The 20 beggars who joined the 30 beggars gathered in a large plaza hurriedly convey their words.

“Don’t look away and call him! There is an intruder! You’re not from here, you’re an intruder!”

Thirty beggars, unaware of the situation, raise their eyes.

And a few turn around and run into a huge cabin that doesn’t look like an underpass.

In the meantime, Arthur, who arrived at the plaza where the Harden gang gathered, murmured.

“oh···. Looks like you’ve come to the right place.”

The hobby of building such a hut in the sewer is probably rare, except for warlocks.

Arthur nodded and looked back at the beggars blocking his way.

‘But there are too many of them. It’s not impossible to defeat, but the Warlock Frakil. Thinking of that person, I have to conserve my strength… .’

A year later, Frakil has grown to the point where he can beat even a 5th circle knight.

However, the current Prakil was nothing more than a warlock with a fairly unique lineage.

‘Still, it’s good not to be vigilant. Magic is… In particular, black magic doesn’t work with common sense.’

It was time to think about how Arthur would deal with 50 beggars Paddle and Frakil.

The cabin door opens, and a man walks out.

“What is this fuss about?”

The dark circles under her eyes and the cloak on her shoulders gave her the appearance of a warlock.

And Arthur, he had the same appearance as the man in his memory.

However, it could be wrong, so Arthur shouted.

“Are you Mr. Frakil?”

“The name is Prakil, but it is correct. But why did the gentleman with the sword come here? You don’t seem to fit into a sewer like this, do you?’

“… ah. I have business for you.”

“you? Am I talking?”

“to. Mr. Frakil, the black magician. I have business for you.”

Frakil flinched at the word warlock.

After that, he stares at Arthur with a low, sunken gaze and murmurs.

“Are you a member of the church?”

“I respect God, but I don’t believe in God.”

“Then who is it? Could it be that the assassin sent by another school to kill me?”

“Not even that.”

Frakil yelled out loud.

“Stop talking and talk! What is your true identity!”

Surprised by the cry, the beggars retreat without realizing it.

In the meantime, Arthur shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you who you are.”

Frakil’s gaze sinks low.

“but… There’s no way a guy who came wearing a mask to hide his face would reveal his identity. Then what is your purpose?”

Arthur smiles softly.

“That is easy to answer. It is your neck.”

“what… ?”

“I want your powers and blood, exactly. So you must die. Mr. Frakil.”

Frakil narrows his eyes.

And he laughed and murmured.

“Are you crazy?”

“I used to hear things like that often. But not anymore.”

Arthur, speechless, draws out a meteorite sword.

“Then shall we begin? If I’m late for dinner, my mother scolds me. I have no intention of getting scolded by my mother yet.”