Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Kidnapping
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"Halt!"
At the border between Neruman and the Habis Kingdom.
Knights and soldiers from Neruman had set up a temporary checkpoint and blocked a caravan loaded with heaps of orc hides.
'These inspections are brutal.'
It was already the fifth inspection for the caravan.
The mercenaries wore exhausted expressions.
It was the first time they'd been inspected five times while traveling just a bit over ten days' distance.
All within the same territory, no less.
'That important, huh. Heh heh.'
They'd promised a hefty bonus if the job went off without a hitch.
Chaireya, a top-tier kidnapper from Hapispah, the kidnapping specialists among assassin guilds.
She reined in her inner amusement and stepped forward with a fawning expression.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Just orc hides?"
"Yes, milord."
"Hmm..."
The Neruman knights and soldiers were worn out from the relentless searches.
"We've already been inspected five times. Did you lose something important?"
She cautiously mentioned the five inspections, pretending utter ignorance to the knight.
"No suspicious cargo?"
"Of course not, milord. We're not rookies at this trading business—what kind of suspicious stuff would we carry?"
Chaireya waved her hand dismissively.
"Hmm..."
The rainy season had ended, and in the sweltering heat, the orc hides reeked.
Even treated with chemicals, the rotten stench unique to orc hides was enough to drive away flies.
Dozens of wagons piled high with half-dried hides.
The fatigued soldiers all cast pleading glances at the knight.
"Shall we unload the hides?"
Chaireya tossed the suggestion to the deliberating knight.
"No, never mind. Let them through."
"Thank you, milord. We nearly missed our deadline because of the inspections."
Chaireya bowed her head repeatedly.
She looked every bit the groveling small-time merchant.
"Let them pass!"
There was nothing to hide on the open plain surrounding the temporary border checkpoint, where everything was in plain view.
The heat-exhausted knight and soldiers watched the orc-hide wagons depart.
'Idiots.'
They'd been inspected five times, and once at night, they'd even unloaded all the hides.
Yet the Neruman knights and soldiers hadn't spotted Priestess Armis.
Hidden in a special box at the bottom of a wagon, covered in orc hides, the black box had evaded detection.
A daytime inspection might have risked exposure, but the late-night one, though thorough, had its flaws.
'It's over now. Heh heh.'
It had been a tricky kidnapping.
Hapispah had frequently snatched pretty girls from Neruman in the past to sell them off.
They'd never faced inspections like this before.
Even kidnapping the princess of Gapitz Kingdom hadn't been this intense.
"Go slow. Don't let the wheels rattle!"
Chaireya scolded the drivers loud enough for the knights and soldiers to hear, as if urging caution.
Clatter, clatter.
The orc-hide-laden wagons lumbered onward laboriously.
Carrying within them the body of one woman, Neruman's hope.
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Whirrrrrrrrr.
"Haa..."
He'd left the imperial palace and crossed the Bazran Empire's territory on Bebeto at breakneck speed, eyebrows whipping in the wind.
Pushing through recklessly without rest, he'd crossed the Rual Mountains in just four days of flight.
'Did that crown prince take the wrong medicine?'
If his wyvern had been taken down, I'd have gone berserk and settled things regardless.
Yet he hadn't attacked me even once.
Several Bazran territorial wyverns on patrol had spotted him en route, but all ignored him.
'Whatever, suits me fine. Heh heh heh.'
Even in his haste, he hadn't forgotten to retrieve the air plates and wyvern armor taken from Count Artman's Sky Knights.
Treasures buried in a magic pit at a spot only he knew.
Now they dangled from Bebeto's talons as he soared through the sky.
Swoooooosh.
Bebeto, now king of the skies.
He knew the paths of the wind, spreading his wings wide to ride them.
'The scent of autumn already...'
A life lived in constant busyness.
Summer was already waning.
Especially in the rugged Rual Mountains with their many peaks, trees below the eternal snows were turning red.
'Nice...'
Intoxicated by the autumn breeze, he soon reached the end of the Rual Mountains.
Flash!
The mountains abruptly ended, and Neruman's vast plains filled his view.
Kuuuoooooo!
Bebeto, who loved Neruman as much as he did.
He let out a mighty roar and flew toward it.
'Derbal, Armis... hope everyone's okay.'
He'd tried not to worry, but he couldn't help it.
The messes he'd caused weren't few, and the monsters, Temir bastards, and even Raviter Empire forces might still be gnashing their teeth for the prince's revenge.
Swoooooosh.
Bebeto caught the wind from the mountains on his wings and shot across the plains.
Then Siyaris Fortress, at the territory's southwestern edge, came into view.
The fortress, its walls crudely repaired with cement.
The golden territory flag with Bebeto emblazoned on it fluttered atop, easing his worries.
Bwooooooom! Bwooooooom!
'Huh? That conch horn!!'
A deep conch blast echoed as he flew toward the fortress.
The warning signal for emergencies in the territory.
'Something's happened in the territory!!'
They'd clearly spotted him and sounded the horn.
"Bebeto, to the fortress."
Swoooooosh.
He urged Bebeto sharply toward the fortress.
His heart suddenly pounded.
He prayed it was nothing serious.
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"Good work."
"Heh heh. This was nothing..."
Clank.
A golden cross within a circle, emblazoned on the white holy robes symbolizing Neran's holy knights, goddess of mercy.
Chaireya, in merchant guise, stood before the holy knight.
The knight tossed a heavy pouch at Chaireya with a look of disgust.
"A gold plaque issued by the continent's five great trading companies."
"You stuffed it generously, huh?"
"300,000 gold."
"Heh heh. Just my style."
In Kabaron Earldom, linking Habis Kingdom and Neruman.
A secret deal unfolded in the stables of the lord's castle.
"Hand it over now."
Clap, clap.
At the holy knight's demand to hand over the saintess, Chaireya clapped twice.
Step, step.
Four men emerged carrying a small black box.
Hoods of their robes pulled low.
The air in the stables grew dank and sinister, befitting assassin guild members.
"Hmm..."
A faint groan escaped the holy knight.
He could tell at a glance they were opponents too much for him.
"It's our guild's kidnapping-specialized magic box, equipped with special purification, insulation, and breathing devices. She'll stay alive and healthy for a fortnight without food or water."
A small but highly practical magic box.
"Is she unharmed?"
"Naturally. Though..."
"Though?"
The assassin guild member trailed off.
"The problem is she can hear and think inside it. Heh heh heh."
"W-what?!"
"Ah, no worries. She can't speak a word while inside."
"..."
The holy knight's face twisted in horror at Chaireya's words.
If she'd heard everything without speaking, Priestess Armis likely knew the gist.
No way that felt good.
"Scram."
"Yes, yes. We'll vanish even without you saying so. And if you need us again, just call. We'll serve you as a top client."
"Shut up!"
The holy knight exploded at Chaireya's slimy words.
'Heh heh, they'll call us again for sure.'
Chaireya knew this world's nature all too well.
Those who raged red-faced like that often returned two or three times.
Once they'd tasted the easy fix of darkness.
It was a temptation like drugs for black-hearted souls.
Ssshh.
The assassin guild members vanished into the shadows of the stable at the holy knight's command to shut up.
"Huu..."
A long, self-mocking sigh escaped the holy knight.
He sold his conscience under High Priest Hedor's orders to play holy knight, but days like this pricked it.
'Forgive me.'
He inwardly prayed for absolution.
He carefully lifted the box containing Armis.
Holy knights waited outside.
They'd formally transport Priestess Armis by carriage to the lord's residence.
Armis's holy power as a novice priestess was known to most Neran priests and holy knights.
Even high priests paled in comparison, and they all knew it.
No matter how much they'd sold their consciences to the devil's temptations, it was holy power worthy of deep respect.
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Crash!
Crack, crackle.
The desk in the office shattered.
Papers stacked atop it scattered everywhere.
"Say it again."
A heavy voice rumbled through the room.
"P-please kill me, my lord! Due to my failure... ugh... I couldn't stop Priestess Armis's kidnapping."
"My lord! Punish us!"
Thud. Thud.
Derbal knelt, followed by the knights.
"..."
No words came out.
He'd heard roughly about Armis's kidnapping at Siyaris Fortress.
The news hit him like a hammer to the head.
Who was Armis?
The grateful woman who'd rushed to Neruman on just his letter.
God's envoy who'd soothed the people with her warm heart he lacked.
And she'd been kidnapped.
"Which bastards... Just who the hell kidnapped her?!"
Boom.
Mana surged, vibrating the air violently. Doors and windows rattled as if about to shatter.
"Ugh!"
"Gah!"
The knights paled from the mana shock.
"P-probably... the assassin guild..."
Derbal, blood trickling from his mouth, forced out words.
'Assassin guild...'
Parasites birthing crimes from the shadows.
He knew their infamy well enough.
'Am I really losing Armis like this?! Just like this?!'
Kidnapped while he was in the empire.
It was all his fault.
His own guilt was no small thing, punishing the kneeling knights.
Tap, tap, tap!
"M-my lord!"
A knight's call pierced the silent office.
"What is it?!"
Sedlian shouted toward the door.
"Th-that man is here. Smience, the info guild master who's been in hiding, seeks you!"
"W-what?! Smience?!"
"That bastard... showing up now after hiding?!"
The knights' faces filled with rage.
They'd likely tried tracking Armis via the info guild.
"Let him in."
"Yes!"
His rage cooled to ice.
Hardened like water droplets freezing solid.
Creak.
The door, on the verge of breaking, opened to reveal a familiar face.
Smience, mid-30s, piggish body.
He entered with oily eyes gleaming.
"Greetings, my lord."
Smience bowed politely.
But he saw it.
The glee hidden in those beady eyes.
The info broker's glint, uncaring of his or Neruman's people's pain.
Likely appraising the value of his intel now.
"Speak."
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
The filthy sort's feigned innocence.
Tremble.
His fists shook.
He wanted to smash the heads of those profiting from others' suffering.
"How much."
He restrained his emotions and spoke.
Money or pride meant nothing now.
Only Armis's location and safety.
"Ah... Priestess Armis's location?"
The pig Smience dragged it out despite knowing.
"100,000 gold."
"Well... if the assassin guild finds out, we'll have headaches..."
Smience rejected the offer.
"200,000."
"Well, sometimes you gotta take a headache. Haha."
The gutsy pig.
Misreading the mood, he chuckled at 200,000 gold.
"..."
But the chilling killing intent shut him up quick.
"She's in Neruman."
"Actually... our info guild's findings say... Priestess Armis is not in Neruman, but elsewhere."
"Derbal, prepare 200,000 gold immediately and hand it over."
"Yes... my lord."
Who knew what Armis endured now, yet Smience dawdled.
His face twitched with barely contained glee at the instant payment order.
"Latest info via lumicar contact: Neran's holy knights appeared in Kabaron Earldom. The lord's castle is fortified—no ant could enter—and an unfamiliar female priestess is imprisoned there."
"Those damn bastards!"
"Holy knights, of all people..."
Rage exploded from the knights.
"Which assassin guild?"
"That's..."
"100,000 more."
Smience's eyes bulged at the sum.
"Heh heh. Chaireya, top kidnapper from Hapispah, kidnapping specialists."
The info guild knew everything.
"Thanks."
"No p-problem. My lord, we're your guild's top... Gah!"
Smience gasped mid-sentence.
He slowly looked down at the sword piercing his gut, body trembling.
"Pull it out now, and your blood will drain till it floods this office. You'll bleed a lot—you're so fat."
Even to his own ears, his voice dripped chills.
No mercy killing through the heart.
The blade sliced between organs, protruding jaggedly from his back.
"Wanna live?"
He asked the wretch with a cold smile.
"Y-yes... cough."
Smience spat blood, barely whispering yes.
Gone was the glee; only terror filled his eyes.
"But here's the thing. Saving you requires precious top-grade potion... and I have zero intention. Why bother for trash like you?"
The wicked rage in his heart stirred him.
"Ugh..."
Smience groaned in despair, vomiting red.
"But I feel generous. We were once client and guest, after all."
Hope flickered in Smience's fading eyes.
"300,000 gold. Use the money you got for selling me that info to cover the potion saving your life. Got the guts? More precious than your neck, handing cash to me. Heh heh."
"..."
Smience's blood-filled mouth worked, desperate to answer.
But no "yes" emerged.
Only his eyes, pleading for life, locked on his.
"Oh, rejection? Fair enough. 300,000 hard-earned gold—why risk it on a dog's life. I'd do the same."
"S-spare... me..."
On death's edge, Smience mustered a final plea.
"Yeah? As you wish. 300,000 gold flushed on a worthless life."
Smience's face contorted in agony from the blade between his guts.
He slowly withdrew it.
Spluuuurt.
Blood fountained across the office.
"Ugh..."
The pig groaned, collapsing as life ebbed.
'Hope you get it, even a little. Others' lives are as precious as your own.'
Sizzle.
He poured emergency holy water from the desk over the wound.
Glug, glug.
Then forced the bottle down the pig's throat.
God's grace to save any who didn't die.
He'd curse him if he survived.
For devouring 300,000 gold on one holy water vial.
"Derbal, prepare every available Sky Knight now."
"My lord, that's Habis Kingdom territory."
Jenice warned in surprise, confirming the Habis land.
"Scared?"
"No. But friction with Habis could spark war, and block all Neruman trade."
Jenice's pragmatic judgment.
Valid, yes.
But that was Jenice's view.
"Even if the empire kidnapped you all, I'd act the same. Those living hot-blooded today worry tomorrow when its sun rises! I won't ignore my heart's burning cry. Not till I die..."
"M-my lord!"
"Ugh..."
His genuine shout reddened the knights' eyes.
But it was truth.
He couldn't ignore his loved ones' pain in his lifetime.
Etiquette to those calling him lord.
He'd guard it even in death.
"Prepare now! Armis awaits us."
"Raaaah!"
The knights roared in response.
'Just hold on a bit, Armis...'
Thinking of her stung with guilt.
Her pure eyes, asking nothing of him, chilled his chest.
'I won't forgive! Anything tormenting me!'
The filthy schemes and desires blocking his path.
He vowed to shatter them all.
He had no desire to breathe the same sky as his enemies.
Not for a single moment...