"...Forgive me. Because of my carelessness—"
The man standing in the darkness stopped him.
"It's fine." His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable, heavy weight. "That corrupted beast was simply stronger than expected."
Nothing more. No blame. No anger.
The black sword in his hand slowly began to shrink — the void-like energy collapsing inward until it formed the shape of a simple, expensive black walking cane.
The man stepped forward into the flickering light of the campfire, casually fixing the collar of his fine silk coat.
Arthur straightened up.
"Seeing that sword again... brought back memories. My Lord."
It was the merchant.
---
Leo had seen everything.
His wide eyes hadn't moved once.
The man he had been guarding this entire time —
Was the most powerful one among them all.
And none of them had known.
The merchant looked down at the silver handle of his cane for a moment.
"Yes." He said quietly. "It's been years since I last drew this blade."
The merchant and Arthur began moving through the mud toward the canopy.
Then Arthur looked down at his own sword — and lowered his head slightly.
"Sir."
"Yes."
"When will I..." He paused. "When will I reach that level? The black aura level?" He exhaled slowly. "Master always said very few ever touch it."
The merchant glanced at him.
The mild, polite trader was gone.
His eyes now held the sharp gaze of a ruler.
"Don't sell yourself short." He said. "At your age — reaching this level is no small thing." He paused. "And as for breaking your limits... it can happen in a heartbeat. Just like it did for Leo tonight."
Both of them looked at Leo at the same moment.
He was staring at them.
Eyes wide open.
Both stopped.
A moment of silence passed.
They had both forgotten the same thing at the same time —
In front of everyone else, he was just a merchant.
---
The merchant stepped closer to Arthur and said quietly — "He saw everything. You think he'll talk?"
Arthur's exhausted eyes carried a faint flicker of pride. "No, Sir. He's my apprentice. His mouth doesn't run without reason."
"If you say so."
---
The two of them settled near the fire.
Corpses lay scattered around them. The air was thick with the stench of rot and scorched flesh. Exhaustion had settled deep into their bones.
"No idea how long Clad's going to take." Arthur said, warming his hands over the flame.
Then Leo walked over and sat down directly beside the merchant.
The merchant glanced at him. "Yes?"
Leo's eyes were burning with curiosity — even in the middle of all this.
"Ahem... something on your mind, Leo?"
"Is that... the highest level knight aura? The one that can cut through anything?"
"Yes." The merchant said. "But—"
Leo hesitated. "But what, My Lord?"
The merchant thought for a moment.
His voice shifted — no longer the mild tone of a trader. It carried something heavier now. The quiet authority of a Lord.
"If you swear on your blade not to speak of what happened tonight — I'll tell you one more thing."
Leo immediately dropped to one knee.
"I, Leo — disciple of Arthur and servant of My Lord—"
"Enough." The merchant raised his hand. "I understand."
Leo blinked. He wasn't sure why the moment ended there — but he stayed quiet.
The merchant said quietly — "Leo. Do you know there's a level above this one? One with no limit to its power?"
Leo's eyes lit up instantly. "There's a level above that?!"
---
"Leo!"
A voice came from behind.
Jack.
Leo turned around with a look of pure irritation — like someone had yanked him out of a dream right before the best part.
"What?"
Jack shifted nervously. "It's just... Clad needs some medicine from the wagon. For the child."
"So?"
"Come with me man — I'm scared."
"Can't you see I'm—"
"Leo." Arthur's voice was quiet. Final.
Leo stopped.
"Go."
The merchant added — "Handle the work first. This conversation isn't going anywhere."
"As you wish."
---
Leo drew his sword and walked carefully toward the wagon with Jack. He returned with medicine and herbs — and passed them inside to Clad.
---
The storm had passed.
A cold, gentle wind moved through the trees. The fire crackled softly.
Arthur stared at the scattered monster corpses around them.
"Dawn's only a few hours away." He said. "But these monsters..."
He paused.
"They weren't at this level before."
The merchant nodded slowly. "These are first-rate corrupted beasts." He looked out into the dark treeline. "This forest is so vast it takes two full days to cross. Very few people ever pass through here — which means these creatures have lived undisturbed for years. No one hunts them. No one drives them back. Their numbers have only grown."
Arthur's gaze stayed fixed on the darkness. "But that's exactly why this doesn't sit right." He turned to the merchant. "Creatures like this don't leave their territory. So why did it come this far out?"
"You're not wrong." The merchant said quietly. "Something about this is off. I would have brought your Master along if I'd known — but this feels like something else entirely."
---
Then the tent flap moved.
Clad stepped out — wiping his bloodstained hands on a rag.
"You're right." He said, settling near the fire.
Arthur looked at him. "About what?"
"It's not just the monsters that are strange." Clad paused. He looked at both of them — his voice dropping low.
"This child. And his seal."
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.
Clad stared into the fire.
Then said quietly —
"That seal wasn't placed on this child to protect him."
Silence fell.
Nothing but the soft crackling of fire.
---
**[Chapter 3 End]**