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Upon arriving in Miltobern, Diel headed straight for the blacksmithing district.

“It’s still running smoothly, I see.”

“Well, isn’t it because you’ve been paying a lot of attention to it, Diel-nim?”

Jeran, a staff member of the Hamel Trading Company who was directly supporting Torrel, responded with a smile.

With his large, sturdy frame befitting someone who managed blacksmithing operations, Jeran made Diel, who stood in front of him, seem noticeably smaller.

Diel nodded with a faint smile.

“Please continue to offer your support. He’s a skilled man, and the more support he gets, the further he’ll grow.”

“Understood.”

As Jeran responded, Diel glanced casually toward the interior of the forge.

“By the way… it seems that Torrel isn’t in the workshop right now?”

It was rare, as Diel had heard that Torrel was almost always at the forge.

In response to Diel’s question, Jeran answered,

“Damian-nim has arrived in Miltobern. He left with him a short while ago.”

“Oh, he arrived today?”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, Diel let out a small sigh of relief.

“Good thing I’m not late. I rushed here as soon as I got the letter.”

“…Is that so?”

Jeran glanced at Diel with a hint of surprise but quickly hid his reaction.

At this point, it was no exaggeration to call Diel the de facto leader of the Hamel Trading Company.

The Hamel Trading Company had grown so large that it ranked among the top three trading companies in the Baroque Kingdom.

For someone of such stature to rush all the way here just because of a single letter…

‘…Just who is this person?’

Jeran had only heard fragments of the story and didn’t know the full details, which made him even more curious.

Why would someone as important as Diel show such deference to a mere soldier?

Perhaps sensing Jeran’s thoughts, Diel spoke in a low voice.

“Jeran, how long has it been since you joined the company?”

“…About three years.”

“Ah, you joined when the Hamel Trading Company was beginning to grow.”

Three years ago, when the Hamel Trading Company had been experiencing rapid expansion, they had recruited a large number of new talents.

Jeran was one of the people brought in during that period.

Because of that, there was something he might not have known.

He might not have been aware of the person who had played a pivotal role in the company’s meteoric rise or the circumstances behind it.

While Diel couldn’t reveal all the details, he still spoke firmly.

“Whatever you may be thinking, Damian-nim is more than just a benefactor to the Hamel Trading Company. You have no need for doubts.”

“Y-yes, I will be careful!”

Was this man a mind reader?

Realizing that Diel had seen right through his thoughts, Jeran replied hurriedly with a stiff expression.

Seeing that, Diel shook his head.

“It’s fine. More importantly, could you guide me to where Damian-nim is now?”

“R-right this way.”

With Jeran leading the way, Diel quickly began to move toward Damian’s location.

“My weapon?”

“Yes.”

Hearing Torrel’s unexpected words, Damian’s eyes widened.

He had only recently received a new weapon, and now they were talking about another one?

Torrel hummed a cheerful tune as he moved to the back of the warehouse.

Then—

Ssshhk.

Torrel pulled out a long box.

However, the box wasn’t long enough to contain a spear.

Damian tilted his head in confusion.

“Didn’t you say it’s my weapon? I use a spear.”

“Open it and see for yourself.”

With a confident grin, Torrel gestured toward the box.

Still puzzled, Damian opened the box.

Click.

“…?”

As the lid of the box lifted, Damian saw what was inside.

A cylindrical rod, just under one meter in length.

At first glance, it resembled the shaft of a spear, and Damian’s eyes wavered slightly.

“Don’t tell me… is this?”

“Yes, you’re right.”

When Damian glanced at Torrel and asked, Torrel nodded.

Ever since Damian left, Torrel had been constantly thinking about how he could be of more help to him.

Torrel spoke up.

“Press the button on the side while infusing it with your magic power.”

With that, Torrel stepped back. Damian, understanding his intention, pressed the button on the staff-like rod and infused his magic.

Woooong.

Clang!

In an instant, the rod extended into a spear.

Both ends shot out, and the spear, which was now more than twice as long as its original form, had a unique shape. The blade was slightly curved, making it suitable for both slashing and thrusting.

“Huh?”

“I asked Lord Diel about you and the Caion Unit. I figured that moving swiftly through areas with lots of obstacles would be troublesome with a long spear.”

“…”

It was true.

Whenever Damian had to move through dense undergrowth or forested areas, he had to constantly keep the length of his spear in mind.

“To revert it to its original form, just twist the shaft to the left while holding the button.”

This was to prevent the spear from retracting unexpectedly if the button was accidentally pressed during battle.

Following Torrel’s instructions, Damian twisted the shaft slightly to the left.

Clang!

The spear returned to its original form, a short rod.

With this length, he could carry it on his waist or his back while running.

A smile spread across Damian’s face.

“Thank you so much. I never expected such a thoughtful gift.”

“Don’t mention it. Even if I worked for a lifetime, I couldn’t repay the debt I owe you, Damian-nim.”

Seeing Damian’s joyful reaction, Torrel beamed with a wide smile. Damian then looked over at Dianal.

“…”

Dianal was still staring at the sword in his hands, his eyes filled with amazement.

It seemed that Torrel’s gift had struck a chord with him.

“Not yet.”

“…Pardon?”

“You’ve got that greedy look in your eyes like you want to swing it around right away.”

“…You noticed, huh?”

“Once you’re fully healed, I’ll spar with you, so hold out until then.”

Dianal’s injuries hadn’t fully healed yet.

Of course, he was probably dying to test the new sword, but now was not the time.

Dianal nodded, acknowledging the reality of the situation.

With that, Damian casually lifted the rod in his hand and said to Torrel,

“Thank you so much. I feel like I’m always relying on you.”

“Don’t say that. I’m just happy that you like it.”

Torrel laughed heartily.

At that moment—

“Ah, so this is where everyone’s gathered?”

A voice called out from outside, causing Torrel to turn his head.

“Lord Diel!”

“It’s been a while, Master Torrel. And… Damian-nim as well.”

At Diel’s greeting, Damian broke into a grin.

“You got here quickly.”

“Because someone kept rushing me.”

It seemed that they’d grown close enough to exchange lighthearted banter.

Soon, Damian and the others moved to a quieter location.

After settling into a more private spot, Diel turned his attention to Dianal.

“You’re Vice-Captain Dianal of the Caion Unit, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m Diel, Vice Leader of the Hamel Trading Company. I work with Damian-nim.”

“Ah, I believe I saw you back in Erkal.”

“Yes, that’s when things properly began for us. By the way, how’s your injury?”

Diel asked casually, as if he already knew all the details.

Dianal nodded in response.

“It’ll still take a bit more time, but I’ve recovered a lot.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Since it was their first time meeting properly, they engaged in light conversation for a bit. Then, Diel shifted his gaze to Damian.

Her eyes were more serious now, unlike before. Damian noticed the change and kept his mouth shut, waiting for Diel to speak.

Diel began.

“You’re already aware of the current progress, but I’ll update you. We’ve purchased land in the southern region of the Baroque Kingdom and started cultivating crops. By autumn, we expect our first harvest. We plan to rotate the crops, so by next spring, we should have another yield.”

“Has the price of food changed yet?”

“No, but in the northern regions, there’s already been a significant shift in food prices. The same is happening in the western regions along the coast.”

It seemed that in areas with a high risk of war, food prices were already on the rise.

At this rate, the price of food could easily double or triple within a year.

Damian nodded.

“What’s the current movement of the empire?”

“Well… We’re still investigating, but it’s clear that something’s off after the recent battle. Their movements have been abnormal.”

“…The empire?”

“…”

When the word “empire” left Diel’s mouth, a heavy silence fell over the room.

The atmosphere grew heavy in an instant due to that single word.

Dianal and Torrel both turned their attention to Diel, their faces tense with seriousness.

Nod.

Damian nodded as if to signal that it was fine, and Diel continued.

“It seems the appearance of Duke Hainel had the greatest impact. Since he hadn’t shown himself on the battlefield for so long, there were plenty of rumors. But now that Duke Hainel has returned to the battlefield, the empire has begun to take new measures as well.”

“New measures… What do you mean exactly?”

“Alexandro and Calon… are about to move.”

At those words—

“…!”

Damian’s eyes shook violently.

Dianal and Torrel glanced back and forth between Damian and Diel, looking confused as if they didn’t understand.

Sensing their confusion, Diel offered a brief explanation.

“They’re the Empire’s 1st and 2nd Aura Masters.”

“Th-The Aura Masters?!”

“H-Huh?!”

It wasn’t until then that Dianal and Torrel’s faces filled with shock. However—

“…”

The sudden, overwhelming bloodlust that emanated from Damian’s body made everyone present swallow nervously.

Just feeling that intense bloodlust against their skin left them with the sensation of being pierced by needles.

“Da-Damian-nim.”

“…Sorry.”

Realizing he had momentarily lost control of his emotions, Damian quickly apologized.

Diel, who was trying his best to act calm, was visibly pale, his complexion having turned stark white from the shock.

Damian slowly rose from his seat.

“Just a moment.”

He stepped outside.

Once outside, Damian tightly shut his eyes.

‘Calon… Xanthos.’

An unforgettable name.

The moment he heard it, emotions surged uncontrollably within him.

But it was only natural.

Calon Xanthos, the Empire’s 2nd Aura Master.

He was the very man who had slaughtered Damian and the conscripted soldiers he had led in the past.

Damian still vividly remembered it.

The blood-red aura that enveloped Calon.

That burning flame that engulfed his comrades, consuming them in an inferno, only to grow stronger by absorbing their blood.

Grit.

His teeth clenched so hard that his jaw creaked, and his tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.

So… he was finally going to move.

‘So it’s finally begun…?’

No, in fact, the movements were faster than he had anticipated.

He hadn’t yet reached the point where he could defeat him.

‘I have no choice but to use aura if I’m going to face an Aura Master.’

Damian had already advanced beyond the 5th star of the Delft Mana Training Technique, and thanks to his training with Hainel, his mana control had reached a peak state.

But even so, when he unleashed a large amount of mana, the strain on his body was still considerable.

There were too many challenges he needed to overcome.

“…It seems your thoughts are weighing heavily on you.”

It was at that moment that Diel, who had quietly followed him outside, spoke up.

Damian forced a small smile.

“Looks like I showed an unsightly side of myself.”

“Not at all. I’m sure there’s a story behind it.”

Diel was curious as to what sort of story could exist between Damian — who wasn’t even a fully grown adult — and the Empire’s Aura Masters.

‘Well, he’s always been someone with a lot of secrets.’

He figured there must be a reason for it.

For now, all he had to do was offer whatever support he could.

Diel spoke to Damian.

“And there’s one more thing I should tell you.”

“…What is it?”

“Lord Duke Hainel has reached out to the Hamel Trading Company.”

“…Duke Hainel did what?”

What was going on?

At Damian’s question, Diel nodded and replied.