The Duke’s Madness

A semester at Arcane University consisted of midterm and final exams.

And now that half of the semester has passed, the midterm season was approaching.

‘Among them, Professor Chizui’s lecture was replaced with group assignments, and the rest were just written tests. The swordsmanship lesson… ‘

According to Elin, it seemed to be decided by sparring.

And the match opponent is Elin Leverkusen in front of you.

After thinking this far, Arthur could understand why Elin had come to him.

“It’s ambiguous.”

“yes?”

“yes. What do you think of Elin?’

Elin raised an eyebrow.

“It’s good and it’s bad.”

“… … ?”

“Do you think Arthur will defeat you in sparring?

At her words, Arthur narrowed his eyes.

‘oh… Are you certain of victory, Elin?’

For some reason, she seemed unwilling to lose in this match.

‘Funny… . hmm.’

Of course, it’s confidence with valid grounds.

The granddaughter of the only 3 sword masters in the empire.

It was also strange that the granddaughter of the Leverkusen family, who were known for their swordsmanship, did not show this level of confidence.

‘But I have no intention of losing either.’

He is now the heir to a full-fledged Bavarian family.

Putting aside Yonel’s expectations, it means that you need qualifications that match him.

And for that qualification, Arthur was aiming for the head of Arcane University.

‘The family that I will inherit someday… There’s nothing more suitable than graduating from Arcane University as a qualification for that position.’

In that sense, the sparring with Elin could not be defeated.

With that thought, Arthur raised the corner of his mouth.

“It’s fun. I have no intention of losing either.”

Elin smiled and suggested.

“In that sense, how about betting?”

“A bet?”

“Isn’t it a waste to just settle in sparring? whopping… .”

Elin, who was speechless, brightened her eyes.

“It’s a rematch after two years.”

Arthur nodded.

“Good. What bet should I make?”

“hmm… One wish that can be granted with common sense. It’s corny, but how is it?”

“oh? Isn’t that bad?”

Elin raised a finger.

“Then what do you do with this? Aren’t you going to say anything else later?”

“sure. Elin won’t say anything later, right?”

At Arthur’s words, Elin sighed inwardly.

‘good! … not bad!’

In an unexpected situation, a fairly neat board was laid.

‘Crisis as opportunity… It’s an old adage.’

Along with a murmur, Elin laughed.

In fact, she had a lot of worries when Arthur was decided as the opponent.

I had no choice but to mix swords with someone I liked because it wasn’t very enjoyable.

However, now that the situation has come to this, I thought that maybe it was better.

‘Leave what you like, and as long as you hold the sword, you must not lose.’

In fact, she hadn’t lost once since holding the sword.

It was Arthur Bayern who gave Elin his first defeat.

‘Even if I accidentally lost my eyes at that time… Losing is losing. Arthur was better in Dalian that day.’

And now, when they met again, she could feel another defeat in a different sense.

‘That blow I showed you in the first class… What was that blow?’

From nob le mt l dot com

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand Arthur’s sword that day.

In the test of cutting minerals with a wooden sword, such a flexible blow?

However, when he saw the blow, he felt the mineral split in half.

As a result, it ended in an illusion, but the blow of that day was not erased from her mind.

I don’t know if it’s because of this, but I often thought that Arthur’s sword might not be superior.

Of course, Elin was not used to these feelings.

‘It’s a good chance to shake it off. Through this sparring.’

Of course, it is meaningless if it ends only with the revenge of defeat.

Her throat vibrates with the thought.

‘If you win in Dalian, then as a wish… .’

It was when she, who was speechless, raised a smirk.

Arthur, who was sitting across from him, also stroked his chin and pondered.

‘hmm… What should I receive as a wish?’

In fact, from Arthur’s point of view, Dalian’s victory or defeat was already decided.

It was because no matter how Elin was, the future in which she would lose to someone sword-to-sword could not be imagined.

So the remaining question was what to receive when you win Dalian.

Arthur, who was thinking about it, soon came up with something suitable.

‘Is it possible to repair the meteorite sword?’

He wasn’t the type to give affection to things, but the sword was different.

Even more so, his father’s only keepsake, the meteorite sword, was even more affectionate.

That’s why I still kept the broken meteorite sword, and it seemed like a good opportunity had arrived.

‘I won’t be able to use it for actual combat like before, but I think the Rebekusen family can do it if it’s just making it whole… .’

Arthur nodded his head along with the thought.

Leverkusen, known as a renowned swordsman, would be able to repair a meteoric sword.

Having finished thinking like that, Arthur raised the corner of his mouth.

“I’m looking forward to it, Elin.”

“So do i.”

“I won’t look at you.”

“What am I going to say?”

With these words, the two stood up and headed to their respective classrooms.

“The midterm exams have finally begun. Next week’s brief test description… .”

The rest of the lecture also explained the midterm process.

Fortunately, there was no exam method as unique as Professor Chizui’s lecture or swordsmanship lecture.

Of course, even if that was the case, the scope to study was enormous, just like Arcane University.

‘Doesn’t it look easy?’

Along with his thoughts, Arthur whirled the pen.

‘So I guess I’m lucky… .’

Arthur, speechless, recalled past memories.

‘The black market date Mr. Willett mentioned was probably this weekend, right?’

* * *

About three months ago, Willett gave himself a black market ticket as a gift.

‘I heard it’s the biggest black market in Arcane, right?’

The largest black market in Arcane, built with huge capital, was said to be the best black market on the continent.

In my last life, through this black market, a usable lineage, an elixir.

Furthermore, since he was Arthur who had experience in purchasing various items, he was quite interested.

‘If I do well, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get not only bloodlines and elixirs, but also a sword.’

When I was crazy, I didn’t think that equipment was very important.

However, now that he has returned to his senses, Arthur realizes how great an artifact or equipment can change the game of battle.

‘Even if you only see BEAST right now. It’s the biggest black market, so can’t we get something useful?’

Because of that, Arthur decided to set up the black market for the last outside schedule before preparing for the midterm exam.

‘After the midterm exam, I have to go hunting again in earnest, so if I get to fix the broken knife and meet old Willett… It won’t be bad.’

The weekend morning that came like that.

Arthur woke up early in the morning and visited ＜Manners Make a Man＞, a tailor shop located in A-1 District.

“Hello, Mr. Willett?”

Willet, who was reading the newspaper, blinked at Arthur’s greeting.

“… Dunn. Is it you?”

“yes. It’s Dawn.”

“… Isn’t it in vain?”

At his words, Arthur tilted his head.

“Have you been drinking since morning?”

“… I’m sorry, but I’m sober.”

“Then why do you look at me and call me vain?”

Willett sighed instead of answering.

“It’s because it’s strange that you’re alive.”

“… omg. Did you want me to die?”

“It’s not like that, but I thought it was dead. After hearing about the accident you caused.”

Arthur burst into laughter.

“hmm… It was risky, but I handled it well.”

“Did you handle that well?”

Willett laughed and shook his head.

“what… Go to the detailed story below. You came here for the black market, right?”

Arthur nodded and Willett headed for the underground tavern.

Following him, more mercenaries than usual were sitting in an underground tavern and drinking.

However, the moment Arthur entered the tavern, the countless mercenaries all stopped and looked away.

‘oh… Is it because of the influence of the last accident?’

With a murmur, Arthur raised the corner of his mouth.

Interest, anxiety, and anticipation in the gaze.

And even the not-so-good feelings.

The gazes he had seen countless times in his previous life were buried in the eyes of the mercenaries now.

Arthur murmured at that familiar yet unpleasant gaze.

‘Thanks to you, I’ve become troublesome… I don’t think there were people who didn’t get into trouble with people who gave me that kind of look.’

And all the people who got into that accident died at my hands.

Arthur entered Willett’s office, hoping that would not happen.

“Did you feel it?”

“yes.”

“Then you understand why I was surprised to see you.”

Arthur nodded.

Willett didn’t ask any further, and took out a glass of wine.

It was a cup covered in gold that I had seen before.

“When I first heard about it, I couldn’t believe my ears. So I want to ask, is that your intention?”

Arthur tilted his head at the question I asked while pouring vodka.

“well.”

“… … ?”

“Maybe it was intended, maybe it wasn’t.”

Willett’s hand holding the glass trembled.

“… You’ve become quite clever while you haven’t seen it?”

Arthur raised an eyebrow at the question.

“I didn’t become smart, I learned. to the elderly.”

“I don’t remember teaching you, didn’t you steal it?”

Willett bursts out with a good laugh and finishes pouring his drink.

“good. What would you offer me to pass that information on to me?”

“hmm… Can I buy the information later, not right now?”

“It’s difficult if the value doesn’t match, right?”

“no way. It’s the inside story of a case where an entire slave market disappeared, so it’s difficult if you say it that way.”

Willet said, shaking off the full vodka at once.

“It’s not that I’ve become clever, but now that I see it, I’ve become mean. yeah what… Let’s talk.”

Arthur began to explain his answer.

If it had been someone else, I would have heard a little more confirmation, but because it was Willet, I didn’t need that kind of verification.

In the meantime, Willet’s expression became ambiguous as he listened to Arthur’s explanation.

“… So you exploded the magic power plant?”

“yes.”

“you… Are you insane?”

Arthur shrugged.

In the meantime, Willet gave advice while frowning.

“Don’t you know that it’s the rule of this town not to touch poetry?”

“Oh, of course I know. So, originally, I was going to just do a blackout, but that’s it! It exploded, what is it? But fortunately, it ended well. It’s about poetry.”

“… Are you finished?”

“yes. So don’t worry.”

Willett’s lips twitched.

“… When I see you like this, I’m really scared of you.”

“Me?”

“Aren’t you afraid? I need to do some sudden action… But to see that he survived despite these actions, I envy his luck.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“If you see luck repeating itself, isn’t it skill?”

Willett burst out laughing at his confident answer.

“well… what. Maybe not.”

“yes. So this is my story. Nothing special after that.”

Arthur replied, deliberately hiding his encounter with Whitebeard.

Fortunately, Willett didn’t ask anymore.

He pounded on the table with a worried look on his face, then muttered.

“… As I said before, our office cannot protect you.”

“yes. are you okay.”

“But I can give you this much information… Your work this time caused quite a stir in this town.”

Arthur tilted his head.

“Wavelength? What wave?”

Willett took out a cigar and put it to his mouth.

“The titans of the underworld are starting to take an interest in you.”

Arthur raised his eyes.

“[Seven Emperors] or [Pirates], even [Pilot] or [Bond]. They asked for information about you.”

At his explanation, Arthur came to mind.

‘The Seven Emperors and pirates are people I’ve met before.’

They were the two giant organizations that practically ruled the back streets of Arcane.

Of course, the Sky Islands were also included here, but they were the organizations that ruled the entire continent, not Arcane, so these two organizations were the real power.

In the meantime, Willett blew smoke and explained.

“I didn’t hand it over, but… They’ll get word about you one way or another. And they will come in contact with each other in their own way.”

Arthur nodded.

“After that, you’ll have to take care of yourself, that’s what you’re saying.”

“There are ways to retire.”

“Because I’m not yet that old.”

Willett burst out laughing.

“Then you might be forced into retirement. what the hell… What I’m saying is, wouldn’t it be better to skip this black market?”

Arthur tilted his head.

“Why? Is it a hard-earned ticket?”

“Because the organizations I just talked about are planning to participate in this black market.”

Arthur groaned.

“oh… Now that you’ve stood out too much, let’s take a little self-reflection, shall we?”

“To put it bluntly, yes. The subject of the black market this time is [Chilhwang].”

Willett snapped his fingers.

“One of the underworld organizations interested in you. Personally, I think it would be better not to participate.”

Arthur stroked his chin.

‘hmm… If you look at it rationally, old Willett’s words are right.’

There was no need to stand out any more.

If the chilhwang or the pirates he knows are correct, it’s an organization full of extremely dangerous people, even if it’s not white beard.

‘But should I do that?’

With the thought, Arthur raised the corner of his mouth.

If you didn’t want to stand out, you shouldn’t have caused this explosion in the first place.

But the incident had already happened, and if so, I shouldn’t have complained about this inconvenience.

‘And I need to get a good knife… . With that in mind, it makes sense to participate.’

When Arthur, having made his decision, raised his head, Willet murmured.

“Looks like you’ve decided to go?”

“what? You didn’t even answer, how did you know?”

“Looking at your expression, it looks just like that.”

Arthur grinned.

At that smile, Willett shook his head.

Surprisingly, just by looking at that smile now, I could predict what kind of answer would come out.

‘I hate myself for adapting… .’

With a murmur, Willett hands over the note.

Arthur, who accepted it, tilted his head.

“Area B-13? Is there a black market here?”

Willett replied.

“that’s right. exactly… One of many passages to the black market.”

“You mean there are other places besides here?”

“Most of the places where the Black Bell Towers are built are passages to the black market.”

Arthur was about to nod, then paused.

‘what?’

Black Bell Tower?

Where did you hear that word?

Arthur, who was muttering and thinking, soon remembered.

‘The white beard of Sky Island.’

If he wanted to see himself, the place he asked to come was this ‘black bell tower’.