Chapter 44: Into the Den of Deceivers

“It’s in Gerond Village. By carriage, it’s about half a day’s journey.”

Ethan hadn’t heard of the village, but a merchant guild’s presence suggested it was sizable.

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes.”

Clad in a black robe, Ethan boarded the carriage.

After half a day’s travel, it reached Gerond Village.

Unlike the smaller villages he’d seen, Gerond was large—definitely “big” if villages were ranked by size.

Smaller than a city, but it had everything needed.

As he stepped out—

“I greet the Archduke!”

Tailrun, the village administrator, rushed out barefoot to bow.

From the Archduke seizing the Romenton Baron’s Family to his visit today—

He’d been informed via message hawk by the Archduke’s Strategist.

Fresh news, not even a day after the Baron’s capture.

Thank goodness I got the message early.

Had he relied on rumors, it’d have taken days. Even by horse, it was half a day’s ride.

Tailrun bowed deeply.

The Romenton Barony’s new ruler was here.

Ethan pulled a book from his cloak.

“The Mimilon Guild, was it?”

Tailrun’s eyes widened.

The Dragon God Scripture! Trouble!

It was a secretly distributed item.

Mercenaries clamored for it.

Naturally, he knew it was circulating. Since Baron Jifron had ignored it, so had he.

But the Archduke?

Heir to the heroic house that repelled the Dragonkin.

He wouldn’t smile and overlook a book praising the Dragonkin in a land his ancestors died for.

Damn it!

One misstep, and heads would roll.

Tailrun dropped to his knees.

“I’m… sorry! I’ve committed a grave sin! Archduke, I failed to stop this vile book’s spread!”

Tears welled in his eyes, pleading for mercy.

Ethan nodded.

“Even the Baron ignored it. What could a mere administrator do?”

Was he spared?

Tailrun brightened at the unexpectedly lenient response.

“However.”

“Even if you ignored it, that doesn’t erase the fact.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Lead me to the Mimilon Guild. Your actions today decide whether you live or die.”

“It’s… that way! I’ll guide you!”

Tailrun sprang up, rushing ahead.

Pleasing the Archduke was paramount.

Ethan followed, as did Tailrun’s soldiers.

At the commercial district’s third sector, the panting administrator shouted.

“Here!”

He pointed to a three-story building.

[Mimilon Guild]

Though nearing evening, light spilled from within. Someone was inside.

Ethan opened the door without hesitation.

“Who—”

The guild employee’s greeting halted, eyes wide.

A noble in ornate attire was one thing.

But the administrator and soldiers behind him? Trouble was brewing.

“You.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Know this book?”

Ethan held up the Dragon God Scripture.

The employee’s eyes darted.

A title impossible to miss—one the guild distributed.

Seeing his hesitation, Tailrun erupted.

“You fool! Do you know who stands before you? This is Ethan Ardan, Archduke of the Ducal Territory! Answer quickly if you want to live!”

The employee’s face paled.

“I-I know it! The guildmaster brought it!”

“Where’s the guildmaster?”

“Probably on the third floor…”

“Everyone, wait here.”

“Yes!”

The administrator and soldiers replied loudly.

Ethan moved, ascending past the second floor to the third.

“Hey! We booked first!”

A hoarse voice rang out. Ethan turned, expressionless.

Rough faces, scarred, laden with throwing weapons.

Mercenaries.

“Booking?”

The cold tone made them flinch. They noticed his attire.

Clearly a noble.

And the massive greatsword on his back?

A knight?

An ornate greatsword, likely wielded by a skilled knight. Fighting over a turn was a losing game.

Mercenaries were tough on the weak, meek to the strong.

Their aggression faded instantly.

One hesitated, mumbling.

“Uh… Sir Knight, you go first. We can wait…”

“What’s this booking?”

“Don’t you know the rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“The book here has a mana breathing technique.”

“Is it well-known?”

“Well… those in the know, know? That’s about it…”

The mercenary scratched his head, dandruff falling.

“One more question.”

“What?”

“Know any other places like this? If you do, I’ll give you this.”

Ethan produced a gold coin. The mercenaries’ eyes widened.

Greed flickered, then faded. The knight’s aura was too calm.

Despite no mana, they’d survived countless battles.

Picking a fight with a knight in town—especially one who seemed formidable—was unwise.

After a pause, a bald mercenary raised his hand.

“I’ve heard something. It’s just a rumor, not certain… is that okay?”

“Fine.”

“Some western territories distribute these books… I heard the Dekun Viscount’s Family does too.”

The Dekun Viscount’s Family.

One of the ten branch families.

Part of Cheimon’s faction.

Nodding, Ethan tossed the coin.

“Thanks, Sir Knight!”

“In return, a piece of advice.”

“?”

“Don’t learn that mana breathing technique. It’ll shorten your life.”

Ethan climbed the stairs.

Shorten my life?

The mercenaries’ eyes gleamed.

Knights understood mana breathing techniques.

It likely wasn’t nonsense. The bald mercenary stood.

“I’m out. Felt off from the start. Mana breathing techniques are rare—why give them to us?”

“But didn’t you hear? Kernen learned it and beat a 2-star knight!”

“That’s one thing. Doesn’t it seem odd there’s no side effect to something spread so freely?”

“…”

“Anyway, I’m leaving.”

With unexpected gold, the bald mercenary planned to drink heartily.

As he descended—

His eyes widened.

Tailrun and the soldiers stood in formation on the first floor.

“What’s going on?”

“You! You didn’t disrespect the Archduke, did you?”

“…What?”

“Never mind. Get out.”

Tailrun waved him off like a fly.

Cursing inwardly, the bald mercenary left.

He learned the knight was the Archduke an hour later.

Bang!

Ethan kicked open the third-floor office door.

At the head sat a man, likely the guildmaster. He wasn’t alone.

Several mercenaries sat in chairs.

“What—”

Their startled glares faded upon seeing Ethan’s attire.

“You the guildmaster?”

“…Who are you?”

“You’re distributing an interesting book.”

Ethan strode forward.

One mercenary scowled.

Even if a knight, they were mid-conversation with the guildmaster.

“Hey, respect the order—”

Bang!

A fist slammed into his abdomen.

The mercenary flew, crashing into the wall, trembling. The others paled.

“Get out.”

The growled command made them shudder.

The knight’s aura was overwhelming.

Eek!

They hadn’t even seen his move.

A punch too fast for battle-hardened eyes?

A high-ranking knight!

Crossing him meant annihilation.

Quick-witted ones grabbed their fallen comrade, fleeing.

Only Ethan and the guildmaster remained.

“Where’d you get that book?”

The guildmaster’s lips sealed.

He couldn’t speak.

It was the item that saved his failing guild.

Seeing Ethan, he shouted.

“Cause a scene, and Tailrun won’t stand idle!”

“He might.”

Ethan replied flatly, gripping the guildmaster’s shoulder.

Crunch!

“Argh!”

Bones shattered beyond dislocation, eliciting screams.

“Where’d you get it?”

“Argh!”

“Need your whole body broken to talk?”

The guildmaster trembled.

Administrator or not, silence meant ruin.

No more hiding.

“I’ll… talk! Let go!”

“Speak.”

Grind!

“Argh!”

“Vermin, giving orders?”

A low voice burned with fury.

The guildmaster shouted.

“There’s a printing press!”

“Where.”

“Not far… from the village… deep in the mountains! Hard to pinpoint! I… I know the exact location! I’ll guide you, please spare me!”

“Lead the way.”

The knight’s hand released. Sighing in relief, the guildmaster looked at Ethan.

“Guiding you isn’t hard, but…”

“What.”

“That press has dangerous criminals and Order inspectors… Just the two of us? We’ll die! We need backup!”

Order inspectors. The press was a key stronghold.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t deploy such defenses.

“Good. Lead on.”

The guildmaster, eyes darting, moved slowly.

On the first floor—

His eyes widened.

Tailrun and the soldiers stood in formation.

Hope surged.

If they touched him, they wouldn’t let this knight be.

I didn’t bribe Tailrun, but…

Hadn’t the Baron ignored this?

Unaware Jifron was imprisoned, he spoke.

“Administrator! This man—”

“You fool! Who do you think you’re glaring at?”

Tailrun slapped him hard.

“Ugh!”

“Archduke, I swear I took nothing from him! The former Baron ignored it, so I had no choice!”

Archduke?

The guildmaster’s eyes bulged.

The situation dawned on him.

Ethan looked at Tailrun.

He’s relatively clean for the Barony.

No bribes, collecting only ordered taxes. Among the Barony’s corrupt officials, he was decent.

“Past is past.”

“Thank you! I’ll work myself to the bone!”

“Don’t forget that resolve. I’m heading out.”

“Thank you! May blessings follow the Archduke!”

Tailrun shouted fervently.

Ethan and the guildmaster boarded the carriage.

Without a single village soldier.

The guildmaster’s heart sank, as if heading to his doom.

“Where’s the place?”

“Erankel Mountain. Head straight, you’ll see it.”

He had to answer.

The carriage raced toward the mountain.