The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 67 - Find The Missing Fox Kin

Chapter Sixty Seven

[Alert!]

[Quest Triggered: Find The Missing Fox Kin]

[Objective: Host Must Find the Fox Kin]

[Reward: Recovery Exilir S Grade]

[Would you like to accept the quest?]

[Yes]/[No]

Yes.

[Ping!]

[Host is advised to move promptly. All The Best.]

Haah... You knew about this too, huh. You could have told me Lune was it danger. But, all you do is play round a bout games.

I turned to Selia, who was breathless and pale. "Selia. Tell me exactly what’s going on."

"Your Grace, I was bringing in the evening snacks for the ladies," she stammered, wringing her apron with trembling hands. "When I entered the Princess’s room, she was sobbing on the floor. And... Lady Lune wasn’t there."

Lily stumbled toward me, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She threw her arms around my legs, burying her face in my coat. "Daddy! Daddy! Bring Big Sis Lune back. Please, Daddy!"

I knelt, placing my hands on her small shoulders to steady her. "Baby, calm down. Take a deep breath. Tell Daddy what happened first."

"I-I was sleeping beside Big Sis Lune," she sobbed, her voice hitching. "Then, I felt someone enter the room... but I just couldn’t open my eyes. It felt like my eyelids were made of stone. When I finally managed to open them up, Big Sis Lune was gone. It’s all my fault, Daddy! I should have woken up!"

"No, baby. It isn’t." I brushed a stray hair from her face, my heart tightening. "Daddy will find Big Sis Lune. I promise. Do you still have that sketch she drew?"

She nodded frantically. "In my room, Daddy."

"Go with Lady Selia and fetch it right now."

As they hurried off, Garrow stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "My Liege, I’ll send the scouts immediately—"

"No," I cut him off, my voice cold. "That will just alert whoever took her. If they’re panicked, they might do something drastic. We can’t afford that."

Zein stepped into the light, his expression grim. "It could be the mage who cast the curse. I already warned you, Duke. This can’t be a coincidence."

I stood up, the air around me beginning to hum with suppressed mana. "Zein, go stay with Lily. Garrow, protect them. Keep the castle on lockdown. Do not leave their side."

"But—"

"No further words. Eatassh," I barked, ignoring the protest, "monitor the patrols in the fief. Kaelen, go finish your mana circuit and your first circle like how I told you to. Come find me only after it is done."

Kaelen stepped forward, his face etched with worry. "But, Master, I need to protect you—"

"It’s an order, Kaelen. Go." I turned back to Eatassh. "Anyone who seems even slightly suspicious? Put them in the dungeons. No questions, no explanations. Just lock them down."

"Yes, My Liege," Eatassh bowed, his eyes sharp.

Lily came running back, clutching a crumpled piece of parchment. "Daddy, here!"

"Thank you, baby." I took the sketch, feeling the lingering trace of Lune’s energy on the paper.

Zein frowned at the drawing. "What are you planning to do with a sketch?"

"I’ll teleport," I answered shortly. "If she’s anywhere within the borders of this fief, I can find her."

[Ping!]

[Using teleportation so frequently is not advised in Host’s current state.]

Then what do you suggest, Your Majesty? Should I leave Lune be?

[Ping!]

[Try the tracking spell. Host already possesses the sketch.]

It’s the same problem, Sysi.

I countered, my eyes narrowing as I stared at the drawing.

’It’s a gift for Daddy. Big Sis Lune drew it.’

’Krrshhh.’

Ugh... Teleportation drains me in one go. Tracking drains me slowly but continuously. Neither is ’advisable’ for a Circle One mage.

[Ping!]

[How about Host travels to the center of the fief first? Then, initiate the tracking spell.]

Sysi, what if something happens to Lune in the time it takes me to get there? Is that delay worth it?

...

I thought so. I’ll take care of this. Stay out of it.

Withdraw the Grade B Bow. How much are the Thunder Arrows in Trade Shop.

[Ping!]

[Searching...]

Faster, Sysi!

[Ping!]

[1 Matches Found...]

[B Rank Thunder Arrows : 10,000 Trade Points]

Purchase five. Withdraw all.

[Ping!]

[B Rank Thunder Arrows x 5 Purchased!]

[50000 Trade Points Consumed!]

I raised both my hand, palm upside closing my eyes as I imagined the bow appearing in my palm. And, the arrows in a bag on my back.

Simultaneously, I felt the reassuring weight of a quiver settle against my shoulder, the fletching of five arrows brushing against my neck.

"My Liege? That weapon..." Garrow started, his jaw dropping as he stared at the bow that radiated a faint, azure mist.

"Didn’t I tell you all to go!? What are you all standing here for? Is there some show ongoing?"

My voice cracked through the courtyard like a whip, laden with a killing intent that made even Garrow flinch.

The usual warmth and playfulness they expected from me had vanished, replaced by a suffocating pressure.

"O-On it, My Liege!" Garrow stammered, saluting with a trembling hand before grabbing Zein by the shoulder and ushering the confused Lily and Lady Selia back inside.

Kaelen lingered for a fraction of a second, his eyes locked on the familiar bow in my hand, but one look at my expression sent him sprinting toward the training hall.

Probably recognised it.

Within heartbeats, the courtyard was empty of everyone but me.

Lune, please be alright.

[Ping!]

[We are sorry, Host.]

I don’t believe in that word, Sysi. It’s a useless word. A thin veil the incompetent drape over failure, hoping emotion might excuse outcome. In this world, actions are truth. Everything else is just simple noise.

If you’re truly sorry. Prove it. I have nothing else to say to you.

I closed my eyes solving the mana spell to take me to the place where Lune’s energy is abundant in the current moment. My body felt weak as huge amounts of mana circulated around my body.

Just a little more... Almost there... I can feel it.

"Keugh!"

"Your Grace!? What are you doing here?"

"...Miss Thorne?"