The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 126.1

“Tyranny?”

“…I assumed you wouldn’t know. It’s something the Magic Tools Association has been carefully covering up.”

With a bitter look, he muttered the words and began explaining before Grace could ask anything further.

“Only artificers who pass the Association’s screening are allowed to join. Originally, this system was created to prevent unqualified artificers from distributing dangerous or substandard tools.”

Artificers outside the Association could still craft and sell magic tools, but the difference in credibility was overwhelming. That didn’t mean uncertified goods were cheap, mana stones were still required, and research alone cost a fortune.

That was precisely why artificers sought Association membership. They were supplied with the most expensive, highest-grade mana stones, and most research expenses were covered by the Felton Duchy.

Since the majority of the Association’s operating funds came from House Felton, it was only natural that Benjamin enjoyed considerable authority within it.

“But the Magic Tools Association today is exploiting that very system.”

“…!”

At those words, Grace immediately grasped how the artificers’ tyranny must have manifested.

‘…It’s similar to what happened with the textile workshops.’

Except in this case, unlike the textile incident—which had only affected the capital and its surroundings—this was a monopoly targeting the entire Empire.

“There must be corruption in the Association’s screening process.”

“Yes. Just as you suspect, Duchess. The Association no longer accepts truly qualified artificers.”

Facing that truth left Grace with a sour feeling. The thought that this man might be lying also crossed her mind and that made it worse.

“Why tell me this?”

“I heard about you from Miss Cleta. Didn’t you help people who had been ignored by everyone else, without asking for anything in return?”

“…”

“And as a result, you were briefly dragged into a scandal. If you’re willing to pass our situation on to Duke Felton and help us, I’ll give you the information I have.”

To be honest, Grace hadn’t expected whatever information he offered to be of much use to her.

But if what he said was true, then helping them was the right thing to do, regardless of compensation.

“I know why the man who died in the fire spoke as if he were targeting you, Duchess.”

“…!”

That was information Grace had never expected, something genuinely shocking.

“…How do you know that?”

“Under the name of regulation, the Magic Tools Association suppresses unaffiliated artificers, preventing us from selling uncertified goods within the capital. But obtaining Association certification requires an enormous sum. So we usually sell our tools in the back alleys.”

“So he was in the back alleys?”

“Yes. I met him while selling magic tools there. Until recently, I didn’t know he was connected to you. But I learned the truth after meeting Miss Cleta.”

The artificer looked up at Grace with a grave expression.

“I’m sorry for trying to bargain with the Duchess over like this. But the situation was that desperate for us…”

Grace studied him more carefully. The robe he wore—the Association’s—looked new, but everything else was worn and frayed. His fingernails were cracked and dirty, his face dry and haggard.

‘Can I really judge this on my own?’

Fear flickered at the thought of acting on her own authority. But she steadied herself, bent down slightly, and met his eyes.

“Are there others? Other artificers involved in this?”

“…! Yes, there are! We’re all staying in a single building in the back alleys.”

“How do I find them?”

At her question, he pulled out a compass with no visible arrow and handed it to her.

“If you press the button here, the compass will indicate the path you should take.”

Grace accepted the unfamiliar device with curiosity.

“Did you make this too?”

“Yes. It uses low-grade mana stones, so it can’t be used many times.”

‘It would be incredible if this were distributed across the Empire.’

In essence, it was a fixed-navigation tool. After fiddling with it for a moment, Grace slipped it into her inner pocket. Then, glancing around, she suddenly realized something and looked back at him.

“Wait, how did you get in here in the first place?”

“Oh. We’re familiar with the Association’s internal passages. Since the furniture layout changes frequently, we’ve used those moments to infiltrate before. We also know where the magic tools are installed.”

‘…The Association’s security is shockingly bad.’

“But getting in still required extensive planning. It was only possible because my comrades outside helped me.”