The long chase is over.
After leaving Black Cross City, Arthur headed straight to the Bavarian Mansion.
Arriving at the mansion, Arthur had dinner with Anna and immediately fell asleep.
Arthur woke up the next day and had dinner with Anna again.
and fell asleep again
After spending days and nights just sleeping and eating, Anna started nagging me.
“Confucius! No matter how Arcane University is on vacation, that’s the case! You have been too lazy!”
Reluctantly, Arthur got out of bed and headed to the yard of the mansion.
The sunlight I hadn’t seen in a long time was so warm.
I fell asleep again and fell asleep.
Anna, who was watching him, shook her head.
That was when a few days passed again.
Arthur, who was sleeping on the bed as usual, opened his eyes.
“I slept.”
Arthur gently raised his lips and got down from the bed.
After that, I moved my body and opened the closed window.
The bright sunlight hit Arthur as if he had been waiting for it.
“oh… .”
Arthur, who exclaimed, smiled brightly.
While I was sleeping, summer was fast approaching.
* * *
When I returned from the city of the Black Cross, Arcane University was on vacation.
The reason is, of course, Yenika Hazel.
The accident she committed at Arcane University was thanks to her.
Because of that, the midterm exams were suspended for the first time, and vacation was taken much earlier than the originally scheduled date.
‘hmm… Too bad. I wanted to study a little more at Arcane University.’
Arthur shrugged and lay down on a rocking chair in the yard.
Seeing the green leaves in the warm sunlight made me hum.
Arthur, entrusted to the excitement, hums an unknown rhyme and pours in coffee while Anna presents a plate of refreshments.
“Have some coffee together, Gongja-nim. It will be delicious.”
“Oh thanks Anna.”
Arthur picked up a cookie and put it in his mouth.
Tok, the broken cookies melted in my mouth.
A smile naturally came to Arthur’s lips.
Anna, who was watching the scene, smiled softly and asked a question.
“By the way, Gongja. When are you leaving?”
“huh? Where?”
“The capital, the capital! You have to go slowly! It’s vacation, so you should visit His Excellency the Duke!”
At Anna’s words, Arthur raised his eyes.
‘oh… Come to think of it, is that so?’
I was on vacation, and I had plenty of time, so it was a great opportunity to go up to the capital and meet my mother and younger sister.
Arthur nodded and said.
“Good? When are you going?”
“Probably not this week. All the tickets were sold out because the children of other aristocrats were also rushing to the capital.”
“hmm… Shall I ask your mother a favor?”
“Then it’s possible, but… Do we really need to go fast?”
Arthur tilted his head.
“why? Any reason?”
“Confucius, you have to say hello to your friends and prepare a present for the Duke!”
Arthur’s eyes widened at Anna’s words.
“gift? It’s not even my mother’s birthday. Why?”
“yes~!? What do you mean! How sad the Duke would be if his son, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, went to Arcane and came back empty-handed and without a gift!”
Arthur scratched his head.
‘is it? hmm… but. It must be nice to have a present.’
So, what should I give my mother as a gift?
Thoughtful, Arthur raised his eyes.
Come to think of it, it’s because I already had the best present ever.
Arthur remembered Ian Dormund’s neck and smiled.
“I’m sorry, Anna. I have already prepared a present for you.”
“… Did you prepare a present?”
“huh. So I think only Anna needs to prepare.”
Suspicion crept into Anna’s gaze.
However, without further questioning, he nodded his head.
“… Still, I’ll reserve tickets for a week later. Both I and Confucius have things to take care of.”
Anna bowed her head and walked away.
Arthur, who was watching the scene, muttered, chewing on the cookies Anna baked.
‘I have already prepared a present for my mother… hmm. Who are the people I need to meet personally?’
A few people popped into my head.
The first thing that came to mind was Leon and Genie.
‘But Leon said he had work to do and went back to the capital first… .’
As soon as he heard the news that Ian had died, he headed for the capital in a very busy state.
Ginny was also exhausted physically and mentally, so she disappeared after leaving the words that she would go on vacation for a while.
‘Then, is Elin the only thing left?’
Elin Leverkusen.
Arthur, thinking of her as the only friend he could call, exclaimed.
‘Professor Chizui is here too. Then, should we go see Professor Chizui first?
Arthur pondered a little more and then flinched.
Come to think of it, I left out the most important person.
Arthur smiled softly and stood up.
“Old Willett… How are you doing?”
The familiar scent was already tickling the tip of my nose.
* * *
Willett drank the tea.
Hororok…
It was jasmine tea, but I’ve been drinking it instead of liquor these days.
He took a cup of jasmine tea in one hand and an arcane newspaper in the other and laughed.
“… Dormund says the army is missing?”
An article that appeared on the front page of the Arcane newspaper.
It was hard to believe even after seeing the contents of the article with my own two eyes.
[The missing Dormund!]
[A large number of Arcane combat police officers are dispatched… .]
[Watch out for discord between the Empire and Arcane… .]
What kind of family is Dormund?
It is the most powerful family in the current empire, and is not it a place where its prestige is evaluated to cover the sky?
However, an article was published saying that Dormund had disappeared while chasing the fanatics.
‘Moreover, the one who brought the army to Arcane this time… Wasn’t that Ian Dormund?’
A genius born in the empire.
A noble swordsman who reached the 7th circle at the age of less than 40.
In addition, he handles higher-level spirits, and is regarded as the next generation of power following Kane Dormund.
Willett could not easily believe the story that the army led by such a knight had gone missing.
‘No matter how Yenika Hazel… Does it make sense even if she’s the head of a cult?’
Willett shook his head in thought.
In his common sense, it didn’t make sense.
But the nonsense actually happened, and I had no idea how the aftermath would grow.
War between the Arcanes and the Empire? Or a Dormund show of force?
Anything could have happened.
For Willett, now determined to retire, the change was not very welcome.
“I haven’t had a quiet day lately… Tsk.”
Willett, who clicked his tongue, folded the newspaper he was reading.
And just as I drank the remaining jasmine tea, the bell rang.
Looking away, Willett’s eyes widened slightly.
“… you?”
The man standing in front of the door nodded.
“Hello, old man. It’s a nice lunch.”
* * *
Arthur’s appearance narrowed Willett’s gaze.
‘Couldn’t it be?’
Every time a mercenary called Dawn came to visit me, I felt like my stomach was shrinking these days.
Every incident that exploded, it was not so strange because it was at the center of it every time.
However, Willett prayed that his prediction would be wrong this time.
‘This case… Even if the scale is large, it is too big.’
If he did something wrong, he didn’t know that he would die, as well as all the people involved with Dawn.
At that time, Arthur burst into exclamation and asked a question.
“oh. Have you stopped drinking, old man?”
Willett looked at Arthur’s question.
I saw the jasmine tea I was drinking a while ago.
“… For health reasons, I am reducing it little by little.”
“thank god. Every time I see you, you get caught drinking, so I was worried.”
Willett’s lips twitched.
“you… .”
“yes?”
“… no. Let’s go downstairs and talk.”
Willett got up from his seat.
Arthur shrugged and followed.
click.
The door to the secret passage opened.
Going underground like that, I saw a tavern.
As is customary for some mercenaries, they were sitting and drinking.
Some of them found Arthur and shook their shoulders.
“… Did you buy it?”
“You were really a mercenary for Mr. Willett?”
Along with the whispers, all the eyes of those in the tavern turned to Arthur.
“… … .”
Along with the atmosphere that had changed from a moment ago, the mercenaries’ glasses were put down on the table one by one.
Their weapons were quietly held in those empty hands.
Seeing this, Willett let out a deep sigh.
‘… I don’t know if he’s not going to collapse from a nervous breakdown.’
How many times have I warned you not to start a fight inside the bar, and you still reacted like that?
But Willett wasn’t expecting too much.
‘These bottom mercenaries will definitely quarrel when they see the same mercenary with a reputation.’
It was because of the fighting spirit unique to mercenaries and customs.
Surprisingly, most of the guys obsessed with these things were called veterans.
‘There are two ways to raise the ransom on this floor… One is carrying out a ridiculous request, and the other is stealing the reputation of another mercenary.’
If you had to choose the easier one among the two, it would be the one that took away the reputation of another mercenary.
So, arguing with a famous mercenary was like saying hello on the floor.
Of course, from Willet’s point of view, it wasn’t very pleasant.
Aside from hitting and f*cking with mercenaries in the same office, I couldn’t open my eyes to see the inside of the bar being destroyed.
Because of that, I tried to warn them before the accident happened, but it was already too late.
One of the mercenaries who was drinking alcohol blocked Arthur’s way.
“… Ohh. You meet such a celebrity here.”
Surprised, Willet looked at the mercenary blocking Arthur’s way.
‘B-class mercenary’s strength’
On this floor, he was a mercenary with a lot of bones, and he was also a troublesome lump that was difficult to control because of his strong desire to win.
Willet, frowning, hurriedly warned his cheeks.
“Look back. If you get into an accident in the tavern, your relationship with you will end.”
“Ah, that’s it again, old man. But just look at it this time.”
“What are you watching?”
Cheeky raised the corner of his mouth.
“With such a celebrity, how can you just ignore it? Then I go somewhere else and curse. The thing I’m swearing at is swearing at the elder Willet.”
Willett trembled slightly, as if his expression was absurd.
Then Arthur opened his mouth.
“Are you famous? who?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Arthur.
In such a situation, the cheeky giggle burst out.
“Whoever bought it is you.”
“oh… Are you a Shinigami?”
Arthur’s eyes twinkled.
Come to think of it, it seemed like I had heard the same nickname on the train heading to Arcane.
‘But why did I die? I don’t know if it’s an angel.’
At that moment, the cheeky patted Arthur on the shoulder.
At that rather rough touch, Arthur tilted his head.
“What is on my shoulder?”
“Dust, it was dusty, so I brushed it off.”
Willet’s expression distorted at the cheeky provocation.
The mercenaries inside the tavern looked at the two with curious eyes.
In the meantime, Arthur nodded.
“hmm… okay. By the way, your hands are pretty sharp for dusting off, right?”
I said while grabbing my greatsword that was hung on my waist.
“That is what I want. Are you feeling bad? Come on.”
Arthur’s eyes widened at the cheeky words.
“Are you going to fight?”
“yes. It’s not polite to look at a big guy like you and walk away.”
“oh… That’s why it’s novel.”
“What is the reason for fighting on this floor?”
Arthur burst into laughter.
“Yes. There is no reason to die.”
Arthur’s words widened his cheeky eyes slightly.
At that moment, Arthur’s eyes, which were facing each other, were stained red.
“… !”
The cheeky mouth fell open.
However, the already hardened body did not move easily.
‘What, what?’
As if she had become a cat in front of a mouse, only her legs trembled.
In the midst of that primal fear and terror, Arthur’s hand moved when he couldn’t hide his astonishment.
Looking at that hand, the look made me think involuntarily.
‘Die?’
At that moment, Arthur’s hand suddenly changed direction.
“what? There’s even dust on his cheeky shoulders.”
Arthur laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
“Ugh… Why is there so much dust?”
“… … .”
“I need to do some laundry properly. There are also stains here.”
Arthur shook his head.
“Then, have a good time at work.”
With these words, Arthur passed the look and entered Willett’s office.
“… … .”
The mercenaries tilted their heads at the situation that ended more blandly than expected.
However, some of the mercenaries burst into exclamation at the sight a moment ago.
It was no different for Willett.
‘… what? Did you just subdue the look with just your eyes?’
It was hard to believe even when I saw it.
How the hell did you subdue a B-class mercenary with just your eyes?
At that moment, the hardened look collapsed.
Willet, who had come to his senses, stiffened his expression and warned against such a sight.
“you. see me later.”
“… … .”
Bolpum did not answer.
Willett didn’t even ask for an answer, but went into the office.
I saw Dunn sitting quietly in his seat.
Willett said, sitting across from him.
“You handled it in a pretty gentlemanly way?”
Arthur blinked at Willett’s question.
“Gently?”
“okay. To be honest… I knew you were going to kill me.”
“yes? Why am I killing Mr. Plump? Not even a psychopathic killer.”
“… … .”
“what? Elder Willet, what kind of expression is that?”
Instead of answering, Willett brought out a bottle of wine and milk.
The alcohol is on his desk, and the milk is handed over to Arthur, asking a question.
“so… Why did you come?”
At Willett’s words, Arthur grabbed a glass of milk and said,
“I don’t think I will see you for a while, so I came to say hello.”
“… greeting?”
“yes. I’m going back to the capital of the empire.”
Arthur’s words widened Willett’s eyes.
“The capital of the empire? Are you leaving Arcane?”
“No, because Arcane University is on vacation. That’s why we return to the capital of the empire.”
At Arthur’s explanation, Willet ah… He let out a low exclamation.
Come to think of it, I heard that Arcane University was also involved in the Dormund incident, so I took a vacation earlier than planned.
Thanks to that, numerous nobles who stayed in Arcane were returning to their home countries, and it seemed that Arthur Bavaria was no different.
“But won’t you be back soon?”
“It should be.”
“… It’s hard to contain the word farewell, so shall we have a drink?”
Willett raised his glass.
Seeing that, Arthur answered with his eyes wide open.
“Uh huh. I can’t. I’m still a minor, senior.”
“… … .”
“No matter how much I like the elderly, I can’t offer alcohol to minors.”
Arthur’s words widened Willett’s eyes.
‘Is it okay for that minor to slit a person’s throat?’
However, he soon shook his head and organized his thoughts.
When I was embarrassed in this way in a conversation with Arthur Bayern, I had to be embarrassed endlessly.
Willet asked a question as he calmed down his face.
“Then can you do one favor of me?”
“Please?”
“okay. It’s a very difficult, esoteric request.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
‘Difficult and esoteric request? suddenly?’
Arthur tilted his head and asked.
“What’s the matter, old man?”
Willett replied slowly.
“Julie is an adolescent.”
“… yes?”
“Julie is a puberty.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
Meanwhile, Willett murmured as he tilted his glass.
“I don’t listen to you at all these days. So, you go and see your face. Julie is a child who would die if it were you.”