The Duke’s Madness - The Duke’s Madness chapter 136

Trader Ha Jin let out a long yawn.

“hahahaha… I’m tired of this.”

wide plains.

sunlight shining brightly.

Sitting on top of the carriage, looking at the picturesque scenery, and driving the horse, my body naturally felt languid.

However, no matter how well-polished the road is, you shouldn’t drive while drowsy.

Ha-jin hummed a song to drive away the drowsiness.

“Great sword, great rose! Ahh-! Dormund, the heart of the empire, is advancing!”

Dormund, the rose family, has completed the war of conquest, which was called the long-cherished wish of the empire, at the end of the past few years.

It was a song honoring their achievements, and it was so popular that you could hear this song at any bar.

Just like that, as Ha-jin hummed a Dormund song to get rid of the drowsiness, a sudden shower began to pour.

“… oh my! What’s happening!”

Surprised, Hajin took out her raincoat in a hurry.

In the meantime, the horses, startled by the sudden pouring rain, let out a long cry.

wheein-!

“Calm down you guys! It’s just rain!”

As soon as the reins were pulled, the horses calmed down.

Ha-jin grumbled, taking a deep breath.

“No, the rain is pouring in the dry sky… huh?”

Hajin narrowed her eyes.

In the middle of the road, a man was facing the sky in the rain.

‘what? Why are you doing that in the middle of the road?’

Ha Jin was taken aback for a moment, then came to his senses and shouted.

“What are you doing there!”

Looking up at the sky at his cry, the man caught in the rain turned his head.

and murmured in surprise.

“and… a person.”

* * *

The first thing Arthur greeted after escaping from the underground city was a vast plain.

‘The underground city wasn’t in Arcane.’

When I first visited, I thought it was located in the arcane basement after going into area b, but it seems it wasn’t.

After breathing in the fresh air of the plains for a while, Arthur stroked his chin and muttered.

‘hmm… Should I go to Arcane first?’

I wanted to go to the empire right away, but I had to take a train considering the distance of Arcane as the capital of the empire.

‘If I say I’m walking, it’ll take three months.’

It was when Arthur, who made the decision to return to Arcane, turned around.

A sudden question in my head made my feet stop moving.

“… Come to think of it, where is Arcane?’

Arthur scratched his head for a moment and his eyes lit up.

‘Wouldn’t it be possible to find out if I ask a gnome?’

With that thought, Arthur created the genie’s lineage.

However, there was no response.

“… ?”

Arthur, who blinked for a moment, raised the genie’s lineage once again.

But this time there was no response either.

Arthur muttered in bewilderment.

“… what? Why can’t the spirits be summoned?”

Then it rained.

Shoot-!

Arthur’s eyes widened at the rain he hadn’t seen in a long time.

‘and… be empty.’

Maybe it’s because I’ve been trapped in that black space for too long?

The pouring rain was unfamiliar but welcome.

As I was daze in the pouring rain, I heard a strange voice from afar.

“What are you doing there!”

Surprised, Arthur turned his head.

I saw a middle-aged man pulling a carriage.

Arthur raised his eyes and murmured.

“and… a person.”

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man shouted again.

“What are you doing there!”

Arthur’s shoulders trembled as he tried to answer his question.

‘How do you talk to people?’

Maybe it’s because I’ve been trapped in that black space for too long?

I couldn’t remember how to talk to people.

After thinking for a while, Arthur exclaimed moderately.

“Is it raining?”

“Then why is it raining!”

“hmm… Is it because it’s been too long?”

At Arthur’s answer, Hajin tilted her head.

‘what? It’s been too long and it’s getting rained on?’

It was when Ha Jin’s gaze narrowed at the questionable answer.

This time Arthur shouted and asked.

“Is this the right direction to go to Arcane, sir!”

At Arthur’s words, Ha Jin pondered for a while before answering.

“Going this way… That’s right.”

“aha. okay. thank you.”

Arthur bowed his head and turned around to start walking.

Ha-jin, who was watching the scene, shook off her uneasy feelings and shouted.

“If the way to go is Arcane, would you like to get in the carriage for a while!?”

At his words, Arthur turned his head.

“oh. Are you giving me a ride?”

“How can you pretend not to know when you are walking so pathetically?”

Arthur smiled brightly.

“Thank you for giving me a ride. By the way, don’t you have anything to give as an example?”

“What’s the point of buying a ride for a while? Come up first.”

At Hajin’s words, Arthur turned and approached the wagon.

Ha-jin, who gave up her seat, hesitated involuntarily.

‘… what? Why are you so handsome?’

As for how handsome he was, it was said that he was the most handsome man he had ever seen.

Because of that, Hajin muttered in embarrassment.

‘Uh, can I become a rich family’s youngster?’

But why is that rich boy in the middle of the road in the rain?

In the meantime, Arthur, who received a dry towel and wiped off the water, smiled.

“thank you. My name is Arthur.”

“… It’s Hajin.”

“Yes, Mr. Hajin. nice to meet you.”

Ha-jin pondered for a while and asked.

“Why are you walking silently on your way to Arcane?”

“Oh, because I was stuck somewhere.”

“… Are you locked up?”

“yes. Ha-jin, what are you going to Arcane for?”

Hajin rolled her eyes and replied.

“Looking at him pulling the wagon, he must be a trader, right?’

“Ohh. okay. What are you selling?”

“Hemp.”

Arthur’s eyes widened.

“Cannabis?”

“… why are you so surprised There are not just two merchants selling hemp in Arcane.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

‘Aren’t there just one or two merchants selling hemp in Arcane? Have drug addicts increased?’

At that time, Hajin, who was watching Arthur, asked a question quietly.

“But were you really locked up?”

“Ah yes.”

“To whom?”

“To the warlock.”

“… A black magician?”

“yes. Some warlock suddenly attacked the train. What is it? Thanks to you, I’ve just escaped being trapped in a strange curse.”

Hajin narrowed her eyes at Arthur’s words.

A warlock attacked Arcane’s train and cursed it?

‘… What is this guy?’

Could it be that young people these days are joking?

But looking at his expression, it didn’t look like a joke.

Because of that, as Hajin pondered over how to accept this, a sudden gunshot rang out.

bang-!

Surprised, Hajin and Arthur turned their heads.

Then I saw a group of gangsters inspecting the road.

They lined up the same wagons as Ha-jin and were inspecting them.

To the surprise of those who did not listen, the gun was pointed.

Ha Jin, who was next to him, burst into a sigh at the sight.

“under… Not bad luck either. Why did the search police stop me?”

Arthur’s eyes widened.

“Are you the search cop?”

“okay. You too, hurry up and prepare the reward money.”

“… Repayment?”

“Don’t say no, get ready quickly! You can’t go against the will of the search police! If you do something wrong, go to jail!”

At Hajin’s urging, Arthur tilted his head.

It’s also strange that the search police in charge of security in Arcane conduct inspections.

At that time, a group of gangsters who were checking the road approached.

Arthur, who belatedly turned his head, opened his mouth.

‘oh… what? Aren’t they pirates?’

I wondered if it was an illusion, so I closed my eyes and opened them, but it wasn’t.

Surprisingly, the mark engraved on the chest of the search police was the mark of [Pirate], one of the forces that divided the back streets of Arcane.

‘… what? While you were away for a while, did the pirates succeed?’

While Arthur tilted his head, the police officer who approached approached him with a coercive tone.

“I am investigating. Please cooperate.”

At their words, Hajin gave a servile smile.

“oh my! of course! Search anything!”

At that smile, the search officer held out his hand without a word.

Ha-jin handed over a silver coin as if it were natural.

The search officer smiled and looked at Arthur this time.

At that gaze, Arthur narrowed his eyes.

“… Should I give it to you too?”

At Arthur’s question, Ha Jin, who was next to him, exclaimed in surprise.

“Hey, what are you talking about! These are the people who are working hard for the security of Arcane, so I have to give it to you quickly!”

As if he was uncomfortable with Hajin’s words, the search policeman who had been stroking his chin looked at Arthur again.

However, even with that persistent gaze, he still did not intend to move.

In the end, Ha-jin, who could not stand it, handed over the money instead.

“hahahaha! Sorry Investigators! This friend came to Arcane for the first time… .”

At Ha-jin’s words, the search police warned in a bleak voice.

“Even if it is your first time, if you do not cooperate with the investigation, you will be branded as a reactionary, so be careful.”

“Aigo thank you! Thank you for giving me grace!”

At Ha-jin’s joke, the search police officers left without further questioning.

Arthur, who watched the scene, scratched his head.

“hmm… No matter how you look at it, they’re pirates, so how did you become the search police for Arcane?”

At that time, Ha Jin, who was next to him, frowned and shouted.

“you! Are you crazy! Why are you not cooperating with the investigation!”

At his words, Arthur turned his head and replied.

“… Uh, cooperation with the investigation was giving money?”

“of course! If you don’t pay to cooperate with the investigation, you’ll be taken to prison!”

Arthur narrowed his eyes at Hajin’s words.

Isn’t that about accepting bribes, not cooperating with the investigation?

Arthur’s common sense was like that, but seeing Hajin’s expression so serious, I missed the timing to ask a question.

Meanwhile, I had this thought.

‘What happened to Arcane?’

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No matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t make sense for a pirate from the back streets to become Arcane’s search police.

Arthur, who was worried, couldn’t stand it and eventually asked a question.

“Hajin, can I ask you something?”

Ha-jin, who was grumpy, answered Arthur’s question in a gruff voice.

“Give me 1 silver and ask.”

“… Oh, right now, I don’t have any money. Can I give it to you later?”

“Can you give it to me later?”

“Sure. I will give you gold coins, not 1 silver.”

Hajin burst out laughing.

“you… Is it truly unique in many ways?”

“I hear that often. So… .”

Arthur, who was speechless, brightened his eyes.

“What year is this on the imperial calendar?”

At Arthur’s question, Ha Jin shook his head.

“Where have you been imprisoned? Ha great… .”

Ha-jin, speechless, rummaged through his arms and handed him something.

It was a newspaper published by Arcane’s most famous magazine.

“Read it. What year is it now?”

* * *

Ha-jin glanced at Arthur.

After I started reading the newspaper, I saw a man with dark hair whose expression had disappeared.

‘… No, were you really locked up somewhere? What’s with that surprised expression?’

Because of that, I felt regret that I burned this person for no reason.

Don’t you pay the reward money in front of the search police?

‘The face looks fine, but it’s not like a crazy person… Whoa.’

However, he soon shook his head and brushed off his anxiety.

Anyway, Arcane was right in front of me.

It’s time to say goodbye to this man, and nothing more strange will happen.

Hajin, who was so focused on driving the carriage, said to Arthur, who was still unable to take his eyes off the newspaper.

“We are now arriving at Arcane. You have to get off.”

At Ha-jin’s words, Arthur, who escaped from his thoughts, answered.

“… ah. thank you.”

Ha-jin gave a short farewell to the appearance of bowing down to the waist.

“Then work hard. If I can see you next time… See you again.”

Ha-jin, who dropped off Arthur first, entered Arcane first.

Arthur, looking at the back, murmured.

“… It’s not too late, and it’s not too soon.”

With these words, Arthur raised his head.

The largest city on the continent.

The walls of Arcane were visible.

And the flag flying on the wall is a rose pattern.

Surprisingly, it was a flag symbolizing [Dormund].

Arthur, who was watching the scene, burst out laughing.

“The world is crazy. Or maybe I’m crazy again.”