# Chapter 158
—
A festival was underway.
“Waaaaah—!”
“Drink till you die!”
“Die and drink!”
“Drink even in death!”
Even in the long history of Arcane, never before had such a massive celebration been held.
Street vendors handed out all their food and alcohol for free, and for the first time in seven years, fireworks were launched into the night sky above Arcane.
“It’s a historic day!”
“If you don’t enjoy tonight, there won’t be another chance!”
“Drink till your nose bends! Let’s drink ourselves to death!”
Everywhere, cheerful songs rang out, and the clinking of glasses echoed.
Watching it all while sipping at a glass of milk, Arthur thought to himself:
*‘This feels… familiar?’*
A city brimming with joy and freedom—Arcane.
Just looking at this scene alone, it felt as though he had finally returned to the city he once knew.
A smile tugged at his lips at the thought.
Then Jeannie’s voice reached his ears.
“Young master, what are you doing here?”
Arthur lifted his glass in reply to her question.
“Drinking milk.”
Jeannie’s face soured.
“…Milk, at a festival? Didn’t you learn drinking from Sir Willet?”
“Yeah, I learned. But it’s not really my style. Milk tastes better.”
Jeannie blinked.
“…I don’t get it, but that’s just like you, young master.”
With that, she plopped herself down beside him.
Arthur turned his eyes back toward the square, where fireworks continued to bloom in the sky.
Some people, drunk already, had begun to show off their dancing around a campfire.
As Arthur watched with interest, Jeannie suddenly rose to her feet.
“I was trying to set the mood, but this won’t do.”
“…?”
“A festival should be enjoyed. Come on, young master.”
She grabbed Arthur’s hand firmly and began pulling him along.
And soon, the very campfire he had just been watching filled his vision.
“Oh.”
Before the flames, several couples were dancing together.
Those without partners paired off with one another.
On the other side, a woman in a dress burst into girlish laughter.
Men and women, young and old—all mingled freely in the festive space.
Just then, Jeannie shrugged off her leather jacket.
Beneath it, a simple but stunning crimson dress was revealed.
Arthur blinked and asked,
“…Why are you suddenly undressing, Jeannie?”
“Undressing? No, I’m just saying—I can enjoy myself for one night, can’t I?”
Her lips curled upward.
“Have you ever danced, young master?”
“No. Not once.”
“Good. I haven’t either.”
“…?”
“It’s more fun when beginners do things together. Take my hand.”
Somewhat caught off guard, Arthur clasped her hand.
Naturally, Jeannie drew him toward the campfire.
As Arthur, half-bewitched, gazed at her, Jeannie began to dance—clumsily.
Arthur snapped out of his daze and let out an exclamation.
“Jeannie, you’ve got two left feet!”
“I told you I’m a beginner.”
“For a beginner, you’re *really* bad.”
Jeannie’s eyes narrowed at his words.
Arthur chuckled softly, then glanced around.
Most people’s dancing was awkward, but one couple in particular stood out for their skill.
After watching them briefly, Arthur tightened his grip on Jeannie’s hand.
Startled by the sudden strength, Jeannie gasped—only for her waist to bend sharply, ninety degrees.
“…!?”
Her mouth fell open.
Arthur’s hand supported her back, and he grinned.
“Let’s begin.”
“…??”
And with that, Arthur started to dance.
Jeannie, wide-eyed, could only be swept along by his movements.
Yet the result wasn’t bad at all.
The missteps and tangled feet from moments ago vanished, and even difficult movements flowed easily as Jeannie let herself be led by Arthur’s hands.
So much so that Jeannie, stunned, muttered inwardly:
*‘W-what? Why is he so good?’*
Was this really his first time?
Dancing like this wasn’t something one could pull off with talent alone.
Meanwhile, Arthur thought to himself as the steps grew more familiar:
*‘This is easy.’*
At first, he’d simply copied the best couple’s movements. But soon enough, he no longer needed to.
*‘Dancing… it’s just like swinging a sword, isn’t it?’*
The only difference was that instead of a blade in hand, he held a partner, and rather than cutting, they moved in harmony.
For Arthur, who had already reached the pinnacle of mastery, that difference was negligible.
As his steps grew lighter and surer, whistles broke out around them.
“Wooo—!! Look at that couple! Amazing!”
“Hey, give them room!”
“Over here, man! Take the center, don’t just circle around!”
The drunken crowd, not recognizing Arthur, shouted with delight.
Spurred on, the other couples stepped aside, leaving Arthur and Jeannie in the center.
Fwoooosh—!
At that moment, the campfire flared high, warmly embracing them and the other dancers.
Cheers erupted all around.
Watching from a rooftop, wine glass in hand, Willet murmured:
“…Youth.”
Beside him, Angelina whispered,
“I envy it. That youth.”
“…Madam Mayor, aren’t you still in your prime?”
“Oh my, me? At best, I’m about your age.”
“……”
Willet’s eyes widened.
No matter how he looked, she couldn’t be more than her early thirties.
Angelina chuckled.
“The age of a mage can’t be judged by appearances, Sir Willet.”
Willet gave a wry laugh.
Then—BOOM!—fireworks burst across the night sky.
Angelina, gazing up at them, murmured,
“Once tonight ends, things will get busy, won’t they?”
Willet replied calmly.
“They will. Countless pressures will come bearing down.”
Her hand tightened around her glass.
The annihilation of the Arcane Governor’s Office—its significance was immense.
*‘We’ve handed Dormund the perfect excuse to invade Arcane again.’*
And Cain Dormund would not overlook this.
He would demand retribution for losing one of his Thirteen Ghosts.
That price, even at its mildest, would be the destruction of Arcane.
*‘Hard to believe… but that madman is more than capable of it.’*
Which made the coming days critical.
They would need allies. Strong patrons. A coalition.
It wouldn’t be easy, but Angelina was determined.
If only to prevent these citizens, who had reclaimed their smiles, from falling into sorrow again.
As that resolve firmed within her, Willet’s voice broke in.
“…May I make a proposal, Madam Mayor?”
“What kind of proposal, Sir?”
“It’s about Arcane’s future.”
“…?”
“From here, Arcane has only two paths. To perish as it is… or to regain its former glory.”
His lips curled.
“And for that future… I’m considering an investment. Would you hear me out?”
Angelina’s eyes widened.
—
—
The festival went on.
People drank, sang, and laughed as fireworks exploded across the sky.
Though exhaustion should have come, Arcane’s citizens kept celebrating.
From beggars of District D to the wealthy of District A—no matter the class, everyone threw arms over each other’s shoulders.
But everything must end.
At last, the festival closed with a grand firework show, and people returned to their daily lives.
When that normalcy returned, Willet summoned Arthur.
Still soaked in the afterglow of the festival, Arthur made his way to Willet’s room.
“Oh…? The mayor is here too?”
Angelina waved lightly.
“Did you enjoy the festival, young master?”
“Yes, it was a lot of fun. What about you, Madam Mayor?”
“I only worked, aside from the first day.”
Arthur gave her a sympathetic look.
“Work’s fine, but you should rest, too.”
“I’d like to… truthfully, I wish I could retire already.”
With that, she glanced at Willet.
He turned from the window to Arthur.
“You’ve come, Arthur Bayern.”
Arthur bowed his head lightly.
Willet rose.
“Water? Coffee? Or milk?”
“Milk, please.”
Without a word, Willet poured him a glass. Then he sat across from Arthur, lighting a cigar.
“Did you spend time with Julie at the festival?”
“Julie?”
“Yes. She seemed to be looking forward to it.”
Arthur nodded.
“Well… instead of joining the crowds, we had a barbecue party.”
“With the Angel’s House children?”
“Yes. And with two professors from Arcane as well…”
Willet puffed on his cigar and listened quietly.
Arthur explained for a long while, until suddenly realizing:
“Oh? …But I didn’t get to enjoy the festival with you, Sir.”
Willet chuckled.
“What would a geezer like me do at a festival?”
“Come on, there’s no age for festivals. How about a drink now?”
“No need. The festival’s already over.”
Arthur shrugged.
Then Willet stood, fetched several documents, and placed them before him.
Arthur tilted his head.
“What’s this, Sir?”
“Papers authorizing the Arcane railway to move again.”
“…!”
Arthur’s mouth fell open.
Willet smiled faintly.
“As much as I’d like to keep you here in this city, you have things you must do, don’t you?”
Arthur composed himself and nodded.
“Yes. I do.”
Willet pressed further.
“Those things… are they related to Dormund?”
“…?”
Arthur fell silent. The smile that had lingered on his lips vanished, and Willet felt a chill.
*‘…Terrifying, at times.’*
But he couldn’t retreat now.
Feigning nonchalance with his cigar, he waited.
Arthur’s lips curved.
“Why do you ask that, Sir?”
“No reason. I only wanted to confirm.”
“Confirm?”
“Yes, confirm.”
Willet exhaled smoke.
“If our goals are the same… then what about letting Arcane back you?”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean, Sir?”
“To put it simply—”
Willet smiled broadly.
“Arcane will lend its strength to you.”
—
—
Arthur tilted his head.
“Arcane will back me?”
“That’s right.”
“…What kind of strength?”
“Everything related to the conflict between Bayern and Dormund.”
Arthur’s eyes widened further.
Willet’s gaze gleamed.
“Arcane has already crossed the line by defying the Governor’s Office. There’s no retreat now.”
“……”
“Survive or kill. One of the two. And in that situation…”
He let his words trail before smiling again.
“…the best choice is to side with you, the heir of Bayern.”
Arthur’s eyes lit with genuine admiration.
“Oh… so you’re saying, with Dormund as our common enemy, we join hands?”
“Precisely.”
Arthur stroked his chin.
“That does sound appealing.”
“…So, your thoughts?”
“Hm… I’m interested, but let me clarify one thing.”
He raised a finger.
“Why do you think I’m opposing Dormund in the first place?”
Willet grinned.
“What do you take me for?”
“…?”
“I’m Arcane’s greatest broker. Nothing escapes my eyes here.”
“……”
“I might not know all your movements, but I know the big ones. If you want, I could list them one by one.”
Arthur chuckled.
“With you putting it like that, I can’t argue. Hm…”
Angelina interjected.
“Young master, this is not a bad proposal for Bayern either.”
Arthur asked,
“And why’s that?”
“Even though Arcane’s been quiet these past seven years, it’s still one of the continent’s foremost commercial cities.”
Her eyes gleamed.
“If you take Arcane under your wing, you’ll gain its vast finances. That would undoubtedly benefit Bayern.”
Arthur whistled.
“Oh-ho… that’s true.”
“Exactly. So this is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Depending on your choice, it could be an opportunity for both.”
“Hm…”
Arthur fell silent, lost in thought.
Angelina and Willet watched him expectantly.
*‘…He won’t be able to refuse.’*
*‘It benefits Arcane, yes—but also Arthur Bayern. No sane man would turn this down.’*
Accepting Arcane would raise Bayern’s prestige immensely.
And with Bayern’s weight behind it, Arcane could resist Cain Dormund.
Both sides would gain enormously.
No one in their right mind would refuse.
So as Willet and Angelina waited confidently for his answer—
Arthur finally opened his mouth and declared:
“Alright. I’ll decide.”
“…!”
Their eyes shone with anticipation.
Arthur held their gaze for a moment, then smiled warmly.
“Sorry, Sir. But I must decline your offer.”
“…!”
