Chapter 46

This is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictitious and have no relation to any real entities.

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044 - The Duke's Request

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The characteristic of a dual job is that you can use all the skills from both jobs. Furthermore, the sub-job's abilities are added at 50%, so in simple terms, your abilities become 1.5 times stronger. However, it's not that simple.

For example, if you have a main job of Swordsman Level 1 and set a sub-job of Swordmaster Level 25, your abilities will be around those of a Swordsman Level 16. Moreover, because there are separate skill ability corrections, your actual abilities will be even higher. I think this is genuinely impressive.

Now, I decided to think about the optimal job combination.

For high ATK and DEF values, the best choices are Swordmaster or Hero of Two-Handed Swords. The Swordmaster is slightly better, but the Hero of Two-Handed Swords has a good balance.

The only choice for a Mage is Enchanter, but since they are weak to physical attacks, it's scary to make it the main job. For now, it's only a sub-job option.

The most versatile is the Assassin. The Assassin's AGI value is the highest, and with the combination of Stealth and Critical Strike (Medium), it can achieve a 100% Ultra Critical (4x damage). You can hide your presence, change your appearance and stats, and disappear. You can run fast, and in a pinch, you can rely on it the most.

Even if the opponent is Balcan, there's a chance they might notice you while Stealth is active, but escaping with a quick activation of Godspeed after being caught should be easy. I'm fully prepared to run!

So, when walking outside, I'll have the main job as Swordmaster and the sub-job as Assassin. In the dungeon, I'll change according to the situation.

Today is the 59th day since my reincarnation. While I was leveling up, the Knights, led by Balcan, have been patrolling the town day and night. Since the Knights started patrolling, the Headcutter Nest hasn't appeared.

The patrols have also reduced other crimes, and there are requests from the residents to continue the patrols.

The reason I know this is that I was summoned by the Duke and heard the story at the castle.

"By the way, there's no present this time, right?"

"I don't understand what you mean by 'this time,' Duke."

I won't admit it, no matter what.

Besides, there's no way I could have such convenient information about criminals. Think about it, Duke.

"Really..."

I don't understand why he's sighing. It makes me feel bad, so please stop.

"Do you know about the criminal called the Headcutter Nest?"

That's sudden.

"Yes, I know."

"I want to catch the Headcutter Nest."

"...What do you want me to do about it?"

"I want you to lend a hand in the search."

I had a feeling this was coming, but really?

"Can I even do that?"

"If you can't, who can?"

Don't answer a question with a question.

"Hasn't the Headcutter Nest moved to another town since the Knights started patrolling?"

I've heard that they've been lying low because of the Knights' patrols recently.

"It would be fine if they never appeared again, but there's no guarantee. How about it? I'll assign a Knight squadron to you. Will you do it?"

Why is the Duke being so humble? What's going on?

When I was ennobled, it was said as if it was a done deal, but after thinking about it, I realized I was manipulated.

The Duke made it seem like he was giving an order by offering a reward, but it wasn't an order. He was just explaining his convenience, and I accepted it, so he gave me a title. It was a negotiation, but it was hard for me, just a high school student, to judge at the time.

This time, he's not giving an order but asking for help because he's in trouble.

I could refuse, but it would leave a bad taste in my mouth. Is he trying to figure out my personality and asking this way? It's not a good feeling, but I have no proof.

I can't feel safe living in a town with a serial killer. I want the Headcutter Nest to be caught quickly. I've heard that they only kill prostitutes, but there's no guarantee that's true. It's an unstable situation that needs to be improved.

Looking at the Duke's face, he has an indescribable expression. It looks expressionless, but it also seems like he's pleading. It might be my twisted personality, but it looks like he's telling me to solve it quickly.

This is probably a crisis for the Duke's family. If the death toll increases and the territory becomes unstable, it would be bad.

Catching a criminal isn't a bad thing, so I'll help the Duke this time. Of course, there's no guarantee I can catch the Headcutter Nest.

"I don't know what I can do, but I accept the mission."

The scene shifts to a room in the Knights' barracks, where I meet the squadron assigned to me.

All the Knights are more muscular than me. Will my body grow? I wish I could be at least 170 cm tall.

Among them, the squadron leader is a giant over 2 meters tall with a face that could be a weapon. I feel like I've seen him somewhere, but if I met him in the dark, I might mistake him for the Headcutter Nest.

"I am Locke Balcan, the 13th Squadron Leader."

"Hmm, Balcan?"

"My father is the Honorable Baron Footsickle."

This... this is Balcan's son!?

That explains why he's so big and has a menacing face. Good genes at work.

"I always appreciate the help of the Knight Commander."

Thinking he's Balcan's son makes me feel intimidated. No, that's not good. I need to get over it. I have to take down Balcan.

"My father always says sorry. He doesn't discriminate when he likes someone."

Do I have his approval? I've almost been killed several times.

"Ah, sorry. Can I speak to the squad members?"

I need to keep my cool. He's not Balcan, but a different Balcan.

"I am Toi Footsickle. The Duke has ordered me to search for the Headcutter Nest. I know it might be a burden to work under a young man like me, but please bear with it."

There's no applause. Are they ignoring me?

"Then, Honorable Baron Footsickle, I'll explain the current situation."

Locke smoothly handled the situation. He has a good personality.

"Please call me Toi. You don't need to use the title."

"...Alright. I'll call you Toi."

Locke and the squad members explained the current situation.

"Can I see a map?"

"Map...? We don't have one."

"What?"

What is Locke talking about?

"Map, you mean?"

"Yes, a map."

It seems he understood.

"There are several reasons why we don't have a map."

Let's hear them.

"First, the map is kept in a safe, and we lower-ranking members don't get to see it. Second, the cityscape changes over a decade or so, so it's not worth making one. Third, we can't draw an accurate map. Fourth, to prevent the map from falling into enemy hands."

I only understand the fourth reason.

The first one: the Duke or Zaygen could just take it out of the safe.

The second one: if you don't like the cityscape changing, you could do urban planning and regulate new construction. The Duke should be able to do that. It's not even worth discussing.

The third one: you could train mapmakers. Even if they're not professionals, someone with a good sense of distance and drawing skills could do it.

I didn't expect the map situation in this world to be so poor.

"So, there are no maps of Kelneffi or its surroundings?"

"There are simple maps of the surrounding areas."

"Can I see them?"

"Yes."

Locke sent a subordinate to fetch the map. The subordinate returned quickly and spread out a piece of leather paper about A2 size (twice the size of A3).

"..."

No words. This looks like a child's drawing. If this is a map, almost anything could be a map.

It reminded me of a travel show I saw on TV. In a remote area, the locals drew a map to find a Japanese person, but it was terrible. This one is even worse.

"This shows the direction and the positions of towns and villages."

"Is the map of Kelneffi in the safe like this?"

"As I said, we don't get to see it, so I don't know."

That's right.

Now, I'm in a bind. The Explorer job has a Mapping skill, so I can draw a map by walking around. But if I can't draw the map itself, it gets complicated.

I requested a meeting with Zaygen.

"You want to see the map?"

"Yes. I heard that the only map of Kelneffi is in the safe. I want to see it."

Zaygen frowns. He doesn't need to look so troubled. I understand it's a strategic resource, but is it that valuable to keep in a safe?

"Is this related to the Headcutter Nest case?"

"It's to confirm that."

"...Alright. I'll show you the map."

Do I need the Duke's permission?

Zaygen opened the safe in his office. That's the safe.

"This is the map of Kelneffi."

It's quite rough. I can't believe they keep such a map so carefully.

"Excuse me."

I examine the map spread out on the desk. It shows street names and prominent buildings like the Exploration Guild, so I can understand it roughly.

"Captain Locke, where was the first victim?"

"Ah, yes. It was 45 Arms Street."

I place a marker at 45 Arms Street. I'm using something from Zaygen's desk without permission (laughs).

"Where was the second one?"

"128 Year Street."

I place a marker there as well.

I do this for all the crime scenes.

"Th-this is..."

I ignore Zaygen's attempt to speak and stare at the markers on the map. The markers are concentrated within a 1-kilometer radius. This suggests that the next crime is likely to occur in this area. However, the crime scene could change due to the Knights' patrols.

"From this, the crime scenes are concentrated in this area. This means the Headcutter Nest either lives nearby, targets prostitutes in this area, or is familiar with the area."

"This area doesn't have a particularly high number of prostitutes..."

The possibility that he lives nearby or is familiar with the area increases.

"You know this well."

"Before joining the Knights, I was in the Guard and was responsible for an area near here."

I see, even Balcan's son had to start from the bottom.

I heard that many Knights were originally guards. They work hard in the Guard, and the excellent ones are recruited into the Knights.

"I didn't expect the map to be used like this..."

No, if it's a strategic resource, it should be used for defense planning. A map is not something to be kept as a treasure but to be used effectively. Zaygen seems smart, but he's missing something.

"Captain Locke, what are the patrol routes and what do the guards and Knights wear during patrols?"

"The routes are left to the individuals, so there's no set route."

So, there's no organized investigation.

"They wear armor and swords provided by the Duke's family."

It might be effective for deterring criminals and reducing crime rates, but it's not suitable for searching for criminals. People would run away if they saw soldiers in such gear.

"I think this area is suspicious. Tonight, we'll patrol in plain clothes, or at least in explorer-like attire. The dirtier, the better."

"That means if they recognize us as Knights, they won't come out."

You understand, don't you? Then why not do it from the start?

"That's right. If the Knights patrol continuously, it would be hard on them, so we need to create a situation where the Headcutter Nest is more likely to appear. Please arrange for other Knight patrols to avoid this area."

"Understood."

I asked Locke to do other necessary tasks and decided to return to my mansion to change into explorer gear and meet at a nearby Guard station in the evening.

Thank you for reading.

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