Chapter 118 : Chapter 118

Chapter 118: A New Path

I had decided how to spend the remaining time.

Not that it was anything grand.

It was just a matter of visiting the connections I’d made here one last time.

Who was there?

Since it’d be hard to see them at the coronation, I needed to say my goodbyes now.

‘The Empire’s refugees.’

It was almost funny.

In my past life, I wouldn’t have spared a thought for people like them.

Back then, the word “jerk” was too kind for me.

I didn’t care about others, only myself—a rotten, selfish bastard.

Anyway.

The fact that I was now thinking about meeting them, even worrying about how to approach them…

Clop, clop.

Enough with the sentimentality.

Truth be told, while the Empire’s refugees were important, there was someone I needed to meet more urgently.

‘Gaff.’

Canchester’s finest blacksmith.

Ever since the uprising, I kept meaning to visit him, but the timing was always off and then, the Imperial Sword broke.

People, things—when there’s a problem or even a hint of one, you have to act immediately.

Saying “it’ll be fine” isn’t optimism; it’s just an excuse for laziness.

Swish.

I pulled back my cloak slightly and glanced down at the hilt of the Imperial Sword hanging at my waist.

It seemed to glare at me with sharp eyes, as if saying:

The Empire’s swordsman, playing around with Kingdom weapons and abandoning me? Traitor! It’s too late now!

…Or something like that.

I quietly closed my cloak again.

And so, I arrived in Canchester.

Thankfully, there was no checkpoint inspection.

No, it was a good thing.

Not because I was worried about my identity being exposed, but because, thinking back to when the Roxley Family was double-charging tolls, this was a sign things were finally normalizing.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blacksmith district.

The sound of hammers striking and the metallic scent in the air seemed to welcome me.

“For repairs? This sickle is done for. The blade’s completely shot. Times are tough enough—don’t ruin your wrist before the harvest. Buy a new one. Come in here.”

“If you need new horseshoes, I’ll check your stirrups too. It won’t be a wasted trip. Our tack’s the best around!”

“Look at this! The anchor ring’s all bent. Whoever made this must’ve been out of their mind. One big wave, and you’re straight to a watery grave.”

Now that I noticed, the blacksmith district wasn’t chaotic.

From the entrance, tools for farming, ship parts, and tack were neatly divided by section.

Browsing the wares on display was surprisingly fun.

Some forges even had smooth-talking hawkers to drum up business.

‘It’s lively.’

Compared to Easton, Canchester bore fewer scars from the civil war.

Sure, it couldn’t have escaped the Archduke’s ruthless requisitions early in the conflict, but the war hadn’t dragged on long enough to cause major damage.

‘This way.’

Recalling the route, I headed toward Gaff’s forge.

The bustling crowd and haggling voices made the street feel like a boiling marketplace.

“Oh.”

I let out a sigh without realizing it.

No wonder it felt like the crowd was growing—it was so packed there was barely room to step.

“Light training swords for apprentices, this way! You with the kid! Over here!”

“Line up…”

“Beginners shouldn’t focus on swords—find armor that fits first! We specialize in custom orders! Come get measured!”

“Sir…”

“Swords are fine, but for Kingdom warriors, it’s all about spears! We’ve got all kinds of polearms too! Take a look! Plenty of space inside!”

“Line up!”

Gaff’s forge was in the weapons-specialized section.

The lines at each forge twisted chaotically in the middle of the street, making it dizzying.

“Man, as soon as the war ended, it went wild.”

A middle-aged man next to me said this.

Like me, he was on his tiptoes, scanning the surroundings.

“First time here?”

He suddenly asked me.

Even with my face covered, he must’ve sensed my confusion.

I pulled my hood lower and answered,

“More or less.”

“I see. This is my third day coming back empty-handed.”

“Three days?”

“It’s been like this since dawn. Half the people here are middlemen. They buy cheap here and sell for a profit elsewhere. With shortages everywhere, prices are two or three times higher. Just folks chasing margins.”

He must’ve been desperate for a chat, as he kept talking unprompted.

“That’s not all. Imperial-style weapons are trending now, thanks to Bihen Benkou. Even nobles come in person from far away for ceremonial pieces. They say well-crafted one’s worth whatever you ask.”

“Hmm.”

Another side of war, I suppose.

Thinking about it, the “Conwell Civil War” wasn’t quite a full-scale war in scope or impact.

Except for places like Easton that got heavily caught up, the ripple effects on civilians weren’t too deep.

You can’t weigh suffering, but not all of Conwell endured the same tragedy. Not everyone felt the war’s weight equally.

“Is this Gaff’s forge?”

A kid suddenly spoke up, holding a numbered wooden tag.

He wasn’t asking because he knew me—it seemed like he was saying to take a number and wait if I was in the right place.

I nodded, and as expected, he handed me a tag and walked off.

Number 87.

The middle-aged man next to me, who’d been sneaking glances, chuckled.

“You’re out of luck. I had a number in the 60s yesterday at this time and didn’t even get close. Gaff’s forge isn’t for off-the-shelf buys—most people are here for custom orders. It takes a lot of time.”

“…”

“Don’t waste your time. Go grab a meal and relax.”

Just then, a voice from Gaff’s forge called the next number.

18.

The man suddenly gave me a fist pump of encouragement and scurried toward the forge.

‘I should’ve gone when he told me to.’

What can I do? It’s already done.

Swish—

‘…?’

Then, a strange sensation hit my back. Something brushed by quickly.

I immediately reached for the empty spot.

I’d hung a few coin pouches, slightly larger than my palm, on the belt under my cloak—one was gone.

‘Well, damn…’

I looked up, impressed despite myself.

A bold kid disappearing into the crowd caught my eye.

‘Pickpocketing a master swordsman.’

Even if the kid’s small size slipped past my senses, this was no ordinary talent.

‘The future thief king is right here.’

With a thrill, I followed the kid.

After tailing him for a while…

The kid ended up in a dingy alley behind the plaza, past the blacksmith district.

A group of scruffy kids was gathered, looking suspiciously like the Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats.

The bold kid who’d stolen my pouch joined the group casually, opening it secretly and swallowing hard.

‘I see you, kid.’

I decided to watch the kid and the group for now. Something told me if I approached too quickly, they’d scatter like bugs under a light.

So, I observed from a distance for a while…

On closer look, the ragtag kids were gathered around one person sitting on the ground.

All I could see was their back, but their build was clearly larger than the others—not a peer.

“…No, listen to the end. It’ll be useful for you guys too. Learn it, and it’ll come in handy.”

A familiar voice.

I glanced back instinctively.

The Roxley Family’s hideout loomed in the middle of the plaza.

Right, that’s where it happened.

Where that kid showed his grit. I remember it clearly.

“Twelve stolen apples, five boxes to hide them in. But two of those boxes are randomly checked by guards every day. So, how do you hide the apples to lower the chance of getting caught?”

Unlike that day, the voice was calm and measured.

‘Henry.’

He said he was busy, so what’s he doing here?

“Why hide them? Just eat them all!”

“Sure, stuffing them in your stomach is one way, but it’s not a great long-term plan.”

“I’ll put them all in one box! Hope I don’t get caught!”

“Hmm, let’s say the apples are your lives, and the guards are demonic beasts. If all twelve get found, you’re eaten. If you save even one, you live. You still want to gamble like that?”

“No.”

“Exactly.”

I was already perched on a wall, puzzling over the problem Henry posed to the kids.

It sounded simple, but the answer was tricky.

“I’ll split the twelve evenly and hide them in two boxes!”

“Why?”

“It’s either caught or not, a fifty-fifty chance, right? So I’ll split them fifty-fifty too.”

Hmm, makes sense.

“Man, I’m jealous—you seem like you’ll live worry-free.”

…Why?

“But, wrong. Strictly speaking, it’s not the best odds. Alright, I’ll give you the answer.”

I meant to keep watching, but my head was starting to ache, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

I slowly approached.

Step, step.

As expected, they were sharp.

Some kids, spotting me from a distance, shrank back or subtly moved closer to Henry.

Henry, with his back to me, didn’t seem to notice.

“Skulking around teaching thieves? Planning to steal the whole country?”

Henry’s shoulders flinched.

He turned slowly. I lifted my hood slightly.

His expression shifted in an instant—wariness, surprise, then relief.

It ended with a slight frown, but a genuine, welcoming smile.

“Bihen…!”

I returned a small smile.

* * *

We caught up briefly, not far from where the kids had been gathered.

“The Archduke… no, Callence is locked up in the dungeon under the government office. He’ll probably be executed before the coronation. As you wanted, His Grace will personally issue the order.”

“Hmm.”

“Nothing else special. The captain’s busy reorganizing Conwell’s regular army, and I’m helping my master with public duties.”

When I woke from my long slumber, I had a ton of questions, but now, sitting here… I don’t know, it felt like I didn’t need to ask anything.

“What’s with those kids?”

I pointed at the children.

They were hiding in the alley’s corner, sneaking glances at us.

The bold thief kid was among them. Cheeky little guy.

“Oh, I’ve been coming to Canchester often, so I got to know them. Just teaching them this and that.”

“Busy as you are, playing teacher to street kids?”

Henry chuckled.

“Street kids? Orphans with no home—if you call them that, then yeah, street kids. But some of them are the Empire kids you brought from Ludglen.”

My face might’ve turned red.

This damn habit of blurting things out—I can’t seem to fix it.

“Here to see Uncle Gaff?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him tonight. Visit early tomorrow, and he’ll see you.”

“Thanks. Are you heading back now?”

Henry stretched his arms overhead, his back cracking.

“Coming here was just a quick stop to check if the army supply list’s budget matches local prices. The Sage doesn’t let a single coin slide.”

It reminded me of when Roland showed up for a surprise inspection at Easton Guard’s barracks.

Jayden was out, so Henry had to deal with him. He was on edge watching Roland back then, but connections between people are unpredictable.

We exchanged a few more casual words and stood up.

I couldn’t keep a busy guy tied up.

Thoughtfully, Henry told me about a place to stay tonight, and I could feel his newfound status.

“Oh, and.”

Henry, walking away, turned back with a grin.

“If you can, visit before the coronation. She’ll be thrilled.”

“Who?”

“Who else?”

Henry pointed his thumb skyward, then waved once without looking back and disappeared.

‘Adeline, huh? Could’ve just said so.’

I turned sharply.

The kids peeking from the alley’s corner met my eyes and scattered in a panic.

Someone once said human intuition dulls as you grow up.

If so, kids must have the purest survival instincts.

They know danger instinctively.

So, it’s only fair to respond in kind.

“Hraaagh!”

I landed right in front of the future thief king who’d pickpocketed me.

He screamed like he’d seen a ghost.

But honestly, I was a bit startled too. The kid had the eye color of an Imperial.

‘Well, doesn’t matter now.’

Whether this kid was from the Empire or the Kingdom.

“Hand it over.”

I wagged my finger in front of his face.

Trembling and teary, the kid held out the pouch with both hands.

“S-sorry…”

He hung his head.

I snatched the pouch, swapped it for a heavier one, and left.

Glancing back, the kid was still standing with his head down, hands outstretched like a scolded child.

It’d take a bit for him to notice the pouch had been swapped.

I’m not as smart as Henry or good with words, so I’m not cut out to teach anyone…

But, in my own way, I taught the future thief king a lesson.

* * *

The lodging Henry arranged was quite cozy.

It was hard to believe such a warm atmosphere existed in iron-scented Canchester.

After a rare hot bath, I sat in meditation.

It’d been a while.

‘Benkou Vision.’

I’d been so focused on sleeping that I’d neglected even my mental training.

Now that rest was over, it was time to resume practice.

As I passed through the wraith-filled corridor and entered the altar of the abyss—

I realized my heart could stop unconsciously.

“Why… are you here?”

At the center of the altar.

The sorceress Kuhn stood.

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