He learned the name of the Knight of Death.
Nathaniel. He was a single father whose daughter died a few weeks ago from heatstroke.
Nathaniel always had a hollow look in his eyes, as if he had given up on living. That was the only thing different between him and other farmers.
Isaac lightly engaged him and other farmers in conversations to fish out information. He got nothing useful.
Two weeks later, a letter from Princess Vera arrived.
The Mana Breathing Technique had thrown noble society into chaos. Nobles were vehemently protesting against citizens’ right to purchase it.
Duke Falcon supported Princess Vera and crushed all opposition.
Or so Isaac would’ve liked to hear.
But even Duke Falcon had trouble when almost all nobles banded together against him. The capital was thrown into a political storm.
Merlin—the official creator of the Mana Breathing Technique—was at the center of it all.
The news confirmed that Isaac’s choice to not have the patent in his name was correct. Otherwise, he would have had no time to train and would’ve been swamped by nobles.
The letter came with the first batch of Isaac’s earnings from the Mana Breathing Technique.
He told Strider to take this money and bring him items with rich mana content, and to tell the Princess to send similar items from next time instead of money.
Strider refused to leave his side, saying he was now a ’national asset,’ and she had to guard him.
In the end, Isaac sent Hazel away to buy him things.
Two weeks later, two letters came.
The first was from Duke Falcon. He told him about the dangerous situation in the political court and the disaster that occurred during the search and excavation for Darjeen Ore.
The soldiers had encountered a monster tribe living in empty Veins of World. It delayed their digging. Fortunately, there were no casualties yet, due to a brave scout who found the monster tribe before they found him.
There was no monster tribe in that location in the last life.
Isaac realized this happened because of Low Tides.
In his last life, Low Tides must have forced the monster tribe to relocate. But since the Low Tides had not yet arrived, the monster tribe were at their original location.
The second letter was from Merlin. He was complaining about the nobles and the communication technology’s difficulty.
Isaac was confused why Merlin sent him a letter. They were not friends in this life.
Then he realized this greedy protagonist was building rapport so that he could later ask for a share when the communication technology was completed.
Isaac was slightly exasperated by the shamelessness of the protagonist.
Another two months passed and he finally got some good news.
The Darjeen Ore was discovered. Isaac would soon start earning money from it.
Isaac kept observing Nathaniel, the Knight of Death. Nathaniel would often sit under the shade of a tree near his house and spend entire evenings staring at its lowest branch.
Except for that strange behavior and his hollow eyes, he was as normal as a farmer could be. If he was a spy from Human King’s side who was watching over the poisoned farms, he was an Oscar-worthy actor.
Isaac remained vigilant around him. He would kill him as soon as there was even the slightest hint of problematic behavior.
While Isaac wanted to find the other Knights through Nathaniel, he would not risk it by allowing Nathaniel to escape with his life.
Four months passed.
Isaac made a breakthrough.
[Weapon: First Layer (Beginner) → First Layer (Intermediate)]
He could feel the power coursing through him had increased several folds. The rush of strength was exhilarating. Now, he could strengthen his body with Weapon Element.
’I’m now as strong as Court Mages and Royal Knights.’
He reached this level four months faster in this life.
Last time, it took him twelve months, but this time, he only needed 8 months.
’Now, I need to focus on reaching Awakened (Intermediate) in Magic Core.’
’It shouldn’t take as long as my last life, since I have many more resources this time, and my mana control is better.’
One month later, Merlin and Princess Vera came to visit Isaac.
Merlin had completed the communication technology, which was surprising. In the last life, it had taken him twelve months to build it, then another five months to create a modified version that did not rely on elven magic formations.
’Maybe he was able to finish it faster this time because the foundation I gave him was originally created by him,’ Isaac thought.
It made him wonder. Merlin had already improved the communication technology further in this life. Did that mean he would create it even faster in next life?
Unfortunately, this was where the good news ended.
Merlin asked Isaac for a share of the Communication Technology. Isaac refused, since he needed money for his future plans regarding the war. Then, Merlin threatened—by begging—Isaac.
He told him he wouldn’t leave Isaac’s side until he got a share.
Isaac ignored him. He shouldn’t have.
Merlin was the official creator of the Mana Breathing Technique and the Communication Technology.
Nobles were running after him. Since Merlin was sticking to Isaac, he was also dragged into countless political meetings.
Vera was worse. As soon as she confirmed the Darjeen Ore deposit was real, and Isaac was the one who created the foundation of Communication Technology, she started asking him for marriage.
He refused.
But she would still do things like trying to feed him at noble banquets, washing his clothes, and preparing food for him.
All of it made Isaac wonder if he should revert to his old habits and kick everyone out and live alone.
He only stopped himself because of Merlin’s request to create bonds. But...
’Is it really the correct choice to treasure these bonds?’
’I will still die, whether in war, or at the end of my natural lifespan.’
’Am I not just sharpening a knife that will one day be driven into my heart when everything rewinds?’
Isaac crushed those thoughts as soon as they arrived. He was beginning to think of useless things because he had free time on his hand.
He decided to throw himself into hasher training.
Since he needed time alone for it, he agreed to give a share to Merlin. The protagonist was so happy that he hugged Isaac, then ran away before Isaac changed his mind.
Isaac gave Vera the book he had been writing for the past year. The book contained all the information about the poisons he knew. He told her to get scribes, make copies of the book, then sell it.
Books were expensive, but mages were rich enough to afford them. Moreover, the kingdom’s poison research was poor, so poison mages were weak due to a lack of knowledge.
They would happily gobble the book written by Isaac.
Isaac told her to sell it in her name, as it would be more credible. She must use the money earned from the books to hire Poison Element mages to deal with poisoned rivers and farms.
’The Knight of Famine is just one man, and he is poisoning rivers and farms secretly, so his progress is slow.’
’If Vera uses the kingdom’s forces to break the poison to a level where it’s not useful, the Knight of Famine wouldn’t be able to keep up with them.’
’The poisoned rivers and farms will also serve as proof that a war is about to begin,’ Isaac thought.
"Do you understand what you need to do?" Isaac asked Vera.
"I do. Also, thank you for allowing me to publish the book in my name. I know it’s your ’dowry’ for our marriage!"
She ran away before Isaac could say anything. The corner of his lips twitched. It seemed she had learned from Merlin.
Time passed.
One night, Isaac sensed Nathaniel—the Knight of Death—leaving his hut in the dead of night.
It was an odd behavior, something he never did. Coupled with the fact that Yilla Barony would be slaughtered this month, Isaac believed today was the day he had been waiting for.
"Wake up," Isaac said to Strider, sneaking into her room.
She woke up instantly and became alert upon seeing his expression. By now, she was almost sure his visions were true.
"What is happening?" she asked.
"A fight might break out soon. Hurry to the next town and get everyone we have stationed there," Isaac said.
The soldiers were in the other town because he didn’t want to risk alerting anyone who came to this barony and met Nathaniel.
Of course, today might not be the day the meeting happened between Nathaniel and the person on the side of Human King.
It might happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Nathaniel might just be leaving the hut to take a stroll.
But Isaac was not going to take the risk.
"Stay safe, and don’t do anything stupid. I will be back quickly," Strider said, then moved swiftly.
She left the barony whereas Isaac followed Nathaniel secretly.
He had kept an eye on the Knight of Death for almost a year. His patience finally bore fruit.
Nathaniel carried a rope. He moved to the tree that he always used for shade.
’Is he crying?’ Isaac thought, narrowing his eyes.
Isaac kept looking around, wondering if the Knight of Famine or someone else from Human King’s side was already nearby.
Nathaniel climbed the tree, and tied the rope to the lowest branch he always stared at.
He slipped the noose around his neck, then jumped.