# Chapter 136
—
The merchant Hajin let out a long yawn.
“Phewahm… this is making me drowsy.”
The vast plain.
The blazing sunlight streaming down.
Sitting atop the wagon, steering the horses while gazing at that picture-like scenery, his body grew sluggish on its own.
But no matter how well-paved the road, dozing off while driving was a dangerous thing.
To forcibly shake off the creeping drowsiness, Hajin hummed a tune.
“Great sword, great rose! Ahh—! As the heart of the Empire, Dormund marches forth\~”
The House of Roses, Dormund, who after long years had finally brought the Empire’s long-cherished wish—the conquest wars—to completion.
It was a song that praised their achievements, and it had gained such popularity that one could hear it in nearly every tavern.
Just as Hajin was humming the Dormund song to chase away his sleepiness, a sudden downpour burst forth.
“…Oh, heavens! What’s this all of a sudden!”
Startled, Hajin fumbled to grab his raincoat.
Meanwhile, the horses, frightened by the abrupt rain, let out long cries.
“Whiiiinny—!”
“Calm down, you rascals! It’s just rain!”
At his pull on the reins, the horses quickly settled.
Hajin sighed heavily and grumbled.
“Rain, out of nowhere in a clear sky… Huh?”
He blinked.
For in the middle of the road, there was a man standing, gazing up at the sky, letting the rain drench him.
‘What in the world? Why’s he standing in the middle of the road like that?’
Flustered for a moment, Hajin came to his senses and shouted.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing there!”
At his shout, the man who had been staring at the sky turned his head.
And muttered in surprise.
“Wow… a person.”
—
—
The first thing Arthur encountered after escaping the underground city was the vast plain.
‘So the underground city wasn’t in Arcane after all.’
When he first entered through District B, he had assumed it was located beneath Arcane, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
Breathing in the fresh air of the plains for a moment, Arthur stroked his chin and murmured.
“Hmm… I suppose I should head to Arcane first?”
In truth, he wanted to head straight to the Empire.
But considering the Imperial Capital’s distance from Arcane’s streets, he would need to take the train.
‘Walking would take at least three months.’
Just as Arthur resolved to return to Arcane and turned to leave, a sudden thought halted his steps.
“…Come to think of it, which direction is Arcane?”
Scratching his head, Arthur’s eyes brightened.
‘Maybe the gnomes would know?’
With that thought, he tried to rouse the bloodline of the Jeannie.
But nothing happened.
“…?”
Blinking, Arthur tried once again to awaken the Jeannie’s blood.
Again, no response.
Perplexed, he muttered.
“…What’s this? Why can’t I summon the spirits?”
At that moment, a sudden rain shower burst forth.
*Shhhhhh—!*
Arthur’s eyes widened at the sight of raindrops he hadn’t seen in so long.
‘Wow… rain.’
Perhaps because he had been trapped in that black space for so long, the pouring rain felt both strange and dearly welcome.
He stood there, blankly soaking in the downpour, when a voice called from afar.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing there!”
Startled, Arthur turned his head.
There was a middle-aged man leading a wagon.
Arthur narrowed his eyes and muttered.
“Wow… a person.”
The man shouted again.
“I said, what are you doing standing there!”
Arthur started to answer but flinched, his shoulders trembling.
‘How… how do you talk to people again?’
Had he truly been trapped in that black space too long?
He couldn’t recall how to converse properly.
After a brief struggle, he shouted back roughly.
“I’m… standing in the rain?”
“I mean why are you standing in the rain!”
“Uh… because it’s been so long?”
At Arthur’s reply, Hajin tilted his head in confusion.
‘What? Standing in the rain because it’s been so long?’
Suspicion flared in Hajin’s eyes at such an odd answer.
Then, Arthur shouted back this time.
“Excuse me, but is this the road to Arcane, sir!?”
After some hesitation, Hajin answered.
“Yes, this road does lead there…”
“Ah, I see. Thank you.”
Arthur bowed politely and began walking.
Watching him leave, Hajin called out, uneasy.
“If you’re headed to Arcane, why don’t you ride in the wagon for a bit!?”
Arthur turned.
“Oh? You’ll give me a ride?”
“You look too pitiful walking like that. How could I just ignore you?”
Arthur’s face brightened with a broad smile.
“Then I’d be grateful. But… I don’t have anything to pay you with.”
“For just a short ride? No need for payment. Just hop on.”
At his words, Arthur turned and approached the wagon.
As he made room for Arthur, Hajin found himself freezing for a second.
‘…What the—why is he this handsome?’
Handsome enough that Hajin could honestly say he was the most good-looking man he’d ever seen.
Flustered, Hajin muttered inwardly.
‘What, is he some noble’s son?’
But then why was a noble’s son standing in the middle of the road, letting himself be drenched?
Meanwhile, after drying himself with a towel Hajin had given him, Arthur smiled faintly.
“Thanks. My name’s Arthur.”
“…I’m Hajin.”
“Yes, Hajin. Nice to meet you.”
After a pause, Hajin asked.
“Why were you walking without saying anything, if you’re headed to Arcane?”
“Oh, I was… trapped somewhere.”
“…Trapped?”
“Yes. What about you, Hajin? Why are you headed to Arcane?”
Rolling his eyes, Hajin replied.
“Look at the wagon. Obvious I’m a merchant, isn’t it?”
“Oho. I see. What do you sell?”
“Hemp.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Hemp?”
“…Why so shocked? Arcane’s full of merchants selling hemp.”
Arthur blinked.
‘Merchants selling hemp all over Arcane? Did the number of addicts increase that much while I was gone?’
As Arthur watched him, Hajin cautiously asked.
“But… were you really trapped somewhere?”
“Ah, yes.”
“By who?”
“A black magician.”
“…A black magician?”
“Yes. Some black magician suddenly attacked the train, and thanks to his bizarre curse I was trapped. I just barely escaped.”
Hajin blinked at that.
A black magician attacked a train bound for Arcane and cursed him?
‘…What is this guy?’
Was it some modern youth’s joke?
But his expression said otherwise.
As Hajin pondered how to take his words—
*Bang—!*
A sudden gunshot rang out.
Both Arthur and Hajin turned their heads.
Ahead, a group was conducting inspections on the road.
They had wagons lined up, just like Hajin’s, and were checking them.
To those who refused, they shockingly pointed guns.
Seeing this, Hajin sighed.
“Ha… what rotten luck. To run into the Search Police’s inspection.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Search Police?”
“Yes. Hurry, prepare the tribute money.”
“…Tribute money?”
“Don’t say you don’t have any! If you offend the Search Police, you’ll end up in prison!”
Arthur tilted his head.
Search Police conducting road checks was odd enough, but collecting tribute money?
Just then, the group approached.
Arthur turned—and froze.
‘Oh… what? Aren’t those pirates?’
Blinking, he opened his eyes again, but it wasn’t a mistake.
The emblem on their chests was unmistakably the \[Pirates]—one of the factions that once ruled Arcane’s backstreets.
‘…What happened? Did the pirates rise in rank while I was gone?’
While Arthur tilted his head, one of the Search Police approached forcefully.
“Investigation in progress. Cooperate.”
At that, Hajin plastered on a servile smile.
“Of course, officers! Search all you like!”
The man extended his hand silently.
Naturally, Hajin slipped him a silver coin.
The officer grinned—then turned to Arthur.
Arthur blinked.
“…Do I have to give one too?”
Hajin panicked.
“Wh-what are you saying! Of course you do! They’re working hard for Arcane’s safety—give it quickly!”
At Hajin’s outburst, the officer frowned and stroked his chin, staring at Arthur.
But Arthur still didn’t move.
In the end, Hajin hurriedly paid for him.
“Haha! Forgive him, officers! This friend is new to Arcane….”
At that, the officer warned in a chilling voice.
“Even newcomers will be branded subversives if they fail to cooperate with investigations. Remember that.”
“Y-yes, thank you for your mercy!”
Thanks to Hajin’s fawning, the officers didn’t press further and moved on.
Arthur scratched his head.
“Hmm… no matter how I look, those are pirates. How did they become Arcane’s Search Police?”
At that, Hajin furrowed his brows and snapped.
“You! Are you crazy? Why didn’t you cooperate with the investigation?!”
Arthur tilted his head.
“…Wait, ‘cooperating’ meant paying money?”
“Of course! If you don’t pay during an investigation, they drag you to prison!”
Arthur blinked.
That wasn’t cooperation—that was a bribe.
At least, by his common sense.
But seeing Hajin’s utterly serious face, he missed the chance to ask.
Instead, one thought gnawed at him.
‘What happened in Arcane?’
No matter how he looked at it, pirates becoming Search Police made no sense.
Unable to hold it in, Arthur asked.
“Hajin, can I ask something?”
Still annoyed, Hajin snapped.
“Pay me 1 silver and ask.”
“…I don’t have money now. Can I pay later?”
“You can really pay later?”
“Of course. I’ll pay in gold, not silver.”
Hajin let out a laugh of disbelief.
“You… really are something else, in more ways than one.”
“I get that a lot. Anyway….”
Arthur’s eyes gleamed.
“What year is it now, in Imperial reckoning?”
Hajin shook his head.
“Really, were you locked away somewhere? Good grief…”
Grumbling, he dug into his coat and handed something over.
A newspaper, published by the most famous press in Arcane.
“Read it. You’ll see what year it is.”
—
—
Hajin stole glances at Arthur.
Since picking up the paper, the black-haired man’s face had gone utterly blank.
‘…What, was he really locked away somewhere? Why does he look so shocked?’
Hajin started regretting giving him a ride.
He hadn’t paid tribute in front of the police, claimed he’d been trapped by a black magician, and now this.
‘His face looks normal, but maybe he’s some lunatic… sigh.’
But he shook his head, brushing off the unease.
They were nearly at Arcane.
Soon they’d part ways, and no more strange incidents would follow.
Focusing back on driving, Hajin said to the still-absorbed Arthur.
“We’re at Arcane. Time for you to get off.”
Arthur blinked out of his thoughts.
“…Ah. Thank you.”
Bowing low, he stepped off.
Hajin gave a short farewell.
“Well then, take care. If fate allows, perhaps we’ll meet again.”
With that, Hajin drove into Arcane.
Watching his departing figure, Arthur muttered.
“…Not late, but not early either.”
Lifting his gaze—
Before him rose the largest city on the continent.
Arcane’s towering walls.
And atop them, the flag that fluttered bore the rose emblem—
The standard of \[Dortmund].
Arthur let out a dry laugh.
“The world’s gone mad. Or maybe I’ve gone mad again.”
