#Chapter 152
—
When Arthur realized that Willet was not in the underground prison, he immediately headed for Jeannie.
She had been cleaning up the hidden search police, but when she heard Arthur’s words, she couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Is that true, young master?”
“Yes. What on earth is going on here?”
Jeannie frowned, her long ears twitching.
“…I can only guess, but I think this whole thing was a trap.”
“A trap in itself?”
“Yes. The rebels rushing into the underground prison to rescue Willet Christol… locking us up here was their trap from the beginning.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Huh? Then doesn’t that mean we still have a chance?”
At Arthur’s words, Jeannie smiled slyly.
“Exactly. There’s still a chance. After all, only *two* rebels came down here to rescue Willet Christol.”
Arthur raised a question.
“But how do we let them know? The distance is quite far, isn’t it?”
“Don’t worry about that. If I use a Sylph, I can send word quickly. More importantly…”
Her voice trailed off, tinged with worry.
“Young master, are you all right?”
“…Me?”
“Yes. Your shoulders are trembling.”
Arthur flinched at her words.
‘My shoulders were shaking?’
He turned his head to look at them. Sure enough, just as Jeannie had said, his shoulders were trembling.
Arthur blinked and muttered.
“Huh? They really are. Why are my shoulders shaking?”
Jeannie closed her mouth at that.
‘…He must be deeply shaken by Elder Willet’s absence.’
It struck her as both curious and troubling.
Arthur Bayern.
The man more consumed by madness than anyone she had ever seen—showing such fragility?
At the same time, it showed just how precious Willet was to Arthur.
Caught between that contrast, Jeannie let out a heavy sigh.
“Young master.”
“Yes?”
“There’s nothing selfish about this. You understand what I mean, right?”
With those words, Jeannie suddenly pulled him into an embrace.
Arthur couldn’t resist the sudden hug and fell into her arms.
Jeannie stroking his back, she whispered.
“Don’t worry. Elder Willet must still be alive.”
“……”
“Think about who he is. Before you, he was the one already known as a legendary mercenary. He’s not someone who would die at the hands of the likes of them.”
Arthur’s eyes widened at her words. At the same time, his violently trembling shoulders gradually stilled.
Arthur let out a soft exclamation of wonder at the change.
“You’re right. He must still be alive.”
“Of course.”
“Really, if it’s Elder Willet, even with both arms cut off, he’d still be alive.”
Jeannie blinked at that.
“…What did you just say, young master?”
“Yes?”
“You said Elder Willet had both arms cut off?”
Arthur smiled brightly.
“Yes. His arms were lying in the underground prison.”
Jeannie’s jaw dropped in horror.
‘T-this lunatic! Why are you only saying this now?!’
Even Willet Christol couldn’t survive long at that age with both arms severed.
Panicked, Jeannie pushed him back and shouted.
“Y-young master! You must leave at once!”
“…Why all of a sudden?”
“Why else? We must rescue Elder Willet!”
Arthur scratched his head.
“And how do you know where he is?”
“The Sylph will find him. Now hurry!”
“What about you?”
“I’ll handle things here! I still have to get word to the rebels!”
Arthur blinked at her sudden urgency but soon nodded.
She was right—he believed Willet was still alive, but if asked whether he was unharmed, the answer was no.
Following her advice, Arthur left the underground prison. A gust of wind swept past, brushing his hair.
He instinctively knew it was the will of the Sylph.
‘So if I follow this wind, I’ll reach him… The only problem is *how* to get there.’
Should he just run?
He could, but it would take too long. He needed a faster, freer way to move.
As he pondered, his eyes suddenly lit up.
‘Right—I can use Julie’s ability.’
The little girl had grown into a young maiden. And with her, her bloodline power had matured into that of Julie Prosky he once knew.
With her lightning-fast speed, distance would be no issue.
Having decided, Arthur awakened Julie’s bloodline.
*Fwoosh!*
His body transformed into light.
In that strange sensation, his consciousness seemed to soar skyward.
*Whoosh!*
The wind blew again, pointing the way.
Arthur planted his feet firmly and followed.
*Flash!*
The scenery changed in an instant, and the whole of Arcane spread out before his eyes.
Breathing in the exhilarating sensation, Arthur marveled.
‘So this is how the world looks when you become lightning.’
Then, the metallic tang of blood pricked his nose.
Turning his gaze, he saw familiar figures.
“Kill the search police—!”
The rebels.
Mercenaries of the backstreets who had risen against Dormund’s rule.
“Slaughter those criminals—!”
The search police.
Pirates who had bowed to Dormund and now leeched off Arcane.
Two opposing forces pointed blades and guns at each other.
Watching, Arthur lifted his head.
And then, unconsciously, his lips curled upward.
“…!”
The one he had so longed to see was kneeling and shouting:
“For Arcane—!”
At that cry, the executioners beside him raised their axes.
Arthur’s eyes gleamed as he leapt into the air.
*Crash!*
Lightning struck in sync with his leap.
With a thunderous roar, the two executioners fell, blackened and charred.
“…!”
The crowd gasped in shock.
Taking advantage of the moment, Arthur landed lightly, returning to his original form.
“……”
There stood an elderly man, once a dignified middle-aged gentleman, now a white-haired elder, staring at him.
Arthur swallowed back the swell in his chest and spoke.
“At last, we meet again, elder. You promised to teach me how to drink—so where did you leave your hands?”
After seven years, his greeting made his teacher’s eyes quiver.
—
—
Willet could not believe what he was seeing.
‘What’s this? Did I die and end up in hell?’
Having stolen so many lives, he could never expect heaven—so surely this was hell.
But why was Arthur Bayern in hell with him?
Had Arthur also died seven years ago and fallen here?
Lost in disbelief, Willet froze. Then the Arthur before him suddenly embraced him.
The warmth of breath against his neck, the steady heartbeat, and living heat jolted Willet’s senses awake.
“……”
Feeling Arthur Bayern’s heartbeat, Willet knew.
He was not dead yet.
The man holding him was truly Arthur Bayern.
Etching that truth into his mind, Willet murmured.
“Arthur Bayern… is that really you?”
Arthur answered.
“Yes. It’s been a while, Elder Willet.”
“…You came late.”
“True. I regret it already.”
“Why did you come to save me?”
“Why *wouldn’t* I?”
Willet chuckled.
“Were we that close?”
“Of course. We even had a drinking promise.”
“…A drinking promise?”
Arthur let go and smiled.
At that grin, Willet’s eyes widened slightly. Then came the unexpected words.
“You said so yourself. Once I returned to Arcane, we’d share a drink. You’d teach me then.”
“……”
“Isn’t that close enough? Elder Willet?”
Willet’s lips trembled.
“…You remembered that?”
“Of course I did.”
Arthur’s answer silenced him.
‘……’
Arthur Bayern, reappearing after seven years.
There were so many questions Willet wanted to ask, but he didn’t know where to start.
Where had he been?
Why only now?
Did he know how much Julie longed for him?
As Willet wrestled with those thoughts, suddenly, black blood gushed from his mouth.
“…!”
Arthur jolted, and Willet himself was startled.
Staring at the mass of blood soaking his chest, Willet thought:
‘…I don’t have much time left.’
He raised his head again.
Arthur Bayern stood there, dumbstruck.
Willet gazed at him with shining eyes.
‘But there’s still something I can do.’
Resolute, he spoke.
“Arthur Bayern… no, Mercenary Donn of *Manners Make the Man.*”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“…Yes, speak, elder.”
“A commission. Will you accept one?”
Arthur nodded.
“Of course. What’s the request?”
Willet smiled faintly.
“Save Arcane. Your payment will be a drink with me.”
Arthur’s eyes widened at that smile. But then, just like Willet, he smiled as well.
“A tempting commission. I’ll accept.”
Hearing his reply, Willet closed his eyes.
He slumped forward, and Arthur caught him in silence.
The countless scars of torture etched into Willet’s body were revealed.
“……”
Torn, gouged, rotting—
It was a wonder he still lived.
Imprinting the sight in his mind, Arthur stood up.
The rebels and search police facing each other all turned their eyes on him.
After watching them briefly, Arthur spoke.
“Everyone.”
“…!”
A low, heavy voice.
And yet, somehow, every word carried clearly through the square.
Drawing his blood-forged sword, Arthur muttered.
“Anyone who moves from now on dies. This isn’t a warning—it’s a threat.”
A man’s fury seeped into the blade.
—
—
For a moment, silence reigned. Then one of the search police let out a scoff.
“Son of a bitch.”
“…?”
“What are you, a magician? Appearing out of nowhere, spouting nonsense?”
Arthur’s gaze shifted to him.
The man who had spoken strode forward arrogantly.
Arthur’s lips curled into a bright smile.
“Oh? You moved?”
He pulled the trigger of the beast-gun in his hand.
In that instant, the search officer’s head vanished.
“…!”
The crowd gasped in horror.
Arthur leapt down from the scaffold with effortless grace.
Landing softly, he turned his head.
There, Julie and Kyeon were watching.
Julie’s eyes welled with tears as she whispered:
“Donn… uncle.”
Arthur smiled gently and nodded.
Julie stepped back, holding back both her sobs and her joy.
Then, Kyeon, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
“You… what are you?”
Arthur tilted his head.
“I’m a man.”
“…A man?”
“Yes. And you? A dog?”
The three-headed hound gave a bitter laugh.
“You bastard… you’re calling *me* a dog?”
“What else would I call a dog but a dog?”
Kyeon let out a beastly snarl.
Arthur twirled the blood-soaked sword in his hand.
“Hey, Mr. Dog.”
“Silence! I am Kyeon!”
“Fine, Mr. Kyeon. How do you want to die?”
“…?”
“When I kill someone, I usually don’t let them die in pain. No matter how deep the grudge, I keep one last line—out of respect.”
Arthur stopped spinning his sword and tilted his head.
“But with you… I’m not sure I should. So let me ask—how do you want to die?”
Kyeon blinked, then burst into laughter.
“You think you can kill me?”
“Yes.”
“Ha! Even Willet Christol, whom you all worshipped, couldn’t kill me. He had to hide away. And now *you* show up and claim you can kill me?”
He spread his arms wide, shouting.
“Ridiculous! I am one of Dormund’s Thirteen Fiends!”
Madness gleamed in his eyes.
“I am one of the thirteen vassals personally acknowledged by Lord Cain Dormund! To kill me, you’d need a Sword Master!”
With that, the three jaws of his three heads opened wide.
*Whoosh!*
Black flames erupted from them.
Watching, Arthur scratched his head.
“Hm… As expected of a dog. You really don’t understand human speech.”
And then, a sharp grin spread across his face.
“Well then… I’ll just handle this my way. Don’t blame me afterward.”
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