Chapter 85
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: A Man of Great Soul
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85
A Man of Great Soul
Sarshan, a Class 1 administrator in Karzan, opened his eyes to someone nudging him. It was Gweber, another Class 1 administrator.
“It’s almost time for the Mayor to make his appearance.”
“...”
Sarshan gave a small nod and rubbed his eyes.
*That crazy bastard of a Mayor.*
After all that chaos, he’d claimed he was sleepy and gone back to bed, keeping the Class 1 administrators waiting until sunrise.
The city was in shambles, with a mountain of issues to deal with, yet he had to wait in this stuffy place until the pot-bellied man woke up.
Still, it had given him time to prepare his report.
*...Not that he’ll listen.*
Bul Bastein, the Mayor of Karzan, was a typical Imperial official. Arrogant, lazy, and greedy.
“The Mayor is summoning you.”
Just then, a man with an impressive mustache looked down at Sarshan and spoke.
Sir Benghar.
*If he had just sent a few Imperial knights sooner...*
Karzan would never have ended up in such a mess.
*...But then it wouldn't be the Empire.*
Sarshan grumbled internally and rose to his feet.
They headed toward a luxurious room.
At the far end, a pig of a man was seated on a magnificent chair fit for a king. Sagging jowls and a greasy face. It was Bul Bastein, the Mayor of Karzan.
Beside him, a woman once famous for her beauty in Karzan was wiping his face with a damp cloth.
As Sarshan and Gweber bowed their heads deeply in greeting, Bul Bastein casually waved the woman away.
Sarshan quickly reviewed his prepared points in his mind. The damage Karzan had sustained, the progress of events, information about the enemy. And on top of that, a plan for recovery and...
Bastein, rising from his seat with apparent difficulty, pointed to the window. A soldier standing nearby rushed to open it.
“Long live the Empire! Down with the Black Blood!”
The spirited voices of the crowd flooded into the room.
*What is this?*
Sarshan was startled by the thunderous chant, which sounded as if the entire city were shouting. What had happened outside while he was in here?
“To think that loyalty to the Empire has soared so high. It is true what they say—hardship binds people together.”
Bastein nodded as if the sounds from outside were praise directed at him.
“How dare they declare war on the Empire... Sir Benghar?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give you two knights and fifty soldiers. Arrest everyone associated with the Black Blood. People will be coming from the capital, so you’d best move quickly to prepare for their arrival.”
“Yes.”
The knight gave a long reply and stepped back.
The dull thud of footsteps faded into the distance.
Sarshan had a feeling the city was about to erupt into chaos once more.
“And Count Behardt, what was that friend of mine doing while things got this bad? He must have gotten stupid in his old age. That’s not why he was given that territory. Tsk...”
Bastein then shifted the blame for the incident to Count Behardt. Sarshan was dumbfounded but nodded. If an Imperial official said it was so, then it was so.
“That is correct. We sent several letters to Count Behardt but received no significant response.”
“...That is correct.”
Sarshan agreed with Gweber’s statement.
“Yes, it’s a good thing I intervened in time. The citizens of the Empire have also united in their loyalty. Is that not so?”
“Yes.”
This time, the reply was very long.
“By the way, I heard that a man called the vampire hunter played a remarkable role. I’m curious.”
With that final word, Bastein waved his hand.
A dismissal.
Rage welled up inside Sarshan at the brief conversation that crumpled up his all-night wait like a piece of trash, but he gave a deep nod and retreated.
After all, the man was an Imperial official.
If he said it was so, then it was so.
***
*My throat’s a little sore.*
I soothed my raw throat, hoarse from all the shouting, with a sip of lukewarm beer.
Thanks to my efforts, the streets were now echoing with chants of “Long live the Empire! Down with the Black Blood!” Of course, the one leading the charge at the forefront was Dylan.
Like a true patriot, Dylan had shouted until his throat was raw. He had even found a small drum somewhere and was running through the streets, beating it to a rhythm.
Later, watching him gather some men and compose a song with a melody, I clicked my tongue softly. In a way, he was a truly remarkable fellow.
*Should this be enough?*
I muttered, glancing toward the inner castle. The gates, which had been firmly shut until now, were opening, and soldiers clad in steel armor bearing the Imperial seal were emerging.
*Imperial bastards and their way of handling things...*
They would undoubtedly rush to round up anyone involved. Anyone with the slightest connection to the vampires would surely be arrested.
*Karzan is about to change completely.*
It was the Imperial way of doing things—not just squeezing out the pus, but cutting off the infected area entirely. And the amputated part would surely be divided and devoured by the survivors, who would then conveniently rise in status.
*Hmm... Not bad.*
I nodded in satisfaction, thinking of the new workshop I had acquired.
“Ah, Takgu-nim. The Mayor is looking for you.”
A man with an awkward expression pointed behind him.
Behind the man stood five armed soldiers.
I quickly sized them up.
Their expressions weren't pleasant, but if they were here to punish me, they wouldn't have been so civil.
*A reward from the Empire...*
Like the taciturn vampire hunter Takgu, I simply nodded.
“I’ll be back. Go buy some cake and eat while you wait.”
I took a few silver coins from my pocket, handed them to the rejects, and followed the soldiers.
The chant of “Long live the Empire! Down with the Black Blood!” grew louder throughout the city. It seemed everyone was shouting all the louder, knowing that getting wrongly implicated now would be disastrous.
I formulated a plan for my meeting with the Mayor.
The most bothersome part was my face being known, but I had a way to prevent that.
The soldiers escorted me, looking slightly tense as they watched me. They were dressed in steel armor, as befitting the Imperial army. It looked so sturdy that it would be difficult to tear with one hand.
Their movements and posture spoke of excellent training. Facing the Imperial army after so long made my hands tingle with an old tension.
The central authorities would likely get involved due to the Black Blood's declaration of war, but that was a problem for the Black Blood to handle.
Takgu, the legendary vampire hunter, was scheduled to receive his reward and then vanish like mist.
“Leave your sword here.”
At the soldier’s words, I nodded and handed over my sword without protest.
I had a dagger hidden inside my clothes anyway. The soldier, looking disgusted and clearly not wanting to search my blood-and-flesh-splattered body, simply took the sword and politely stepped back.
Or perhaps it was the typical confidence of the Imperial army, assuming I couldn't do anything even if I had a hidden weapon.
Next, I came face to face with a man with a goat-like beard. He looked me up and down, his brow furrowing.
“Lord Bastein enjoys the company of men with great souls. Your appearance is splendid, but the smell is too strong. We’ll have to spray some of this.”
The goat-bearded man took out a glass bottle and spritzed it on me. The scent wasn't bad, so I didn't refuse.
As if two sprays weren't enough, the sycophant sprayed me once more before nodding and rattling off various warnings.
I already knew most of it, so I gave a half-hearted nod.
To summarize, Mayor Bastein enjoyed inviting and mingling with men of great souls like himself.
This term, "men of great souls," was something the Imperials often used. It had a similar feel to "great hero."
The goat-bearded man emphasized the word "appropriately" several times. He was a shameless bastard demanding I be "appropriately good," but I just nodded.
He seemed to think I was some kind of barbarian, repeating the same things over and over. I felt a surge of indignation and wanted to pluck out his beard, but a glance down at my own state forced me to admit he had a point.
“Let me say it again. Choose your words carefully when you speak, so as not to displease the Mayor. It will be tiring for both of us.”
The goat-bearded man, still anxious, stressed the point once more.
We then entered a large room. At the far end, a pig of a man was seated. Puffy cheeks and a greasy shine. A typical Imperial official.
My eyes were drawn not to him, but to the knight standing behind him.
Short in stature, a sword slightly shorter than mine, heavy-looking steel armor of good quality. The armor seemed a bit too large for his frame, suggesting he wore something underneath. An experienced man.
*I'll have to stab a little deeper.*
I resolved that if, for some unavoidable reason, I had to swing my sword at him, I would need to put more force into it than usual.
Two daggers at his thigh, a sharp gaze assessing me.
*Somewhere between that royal knight Kunsten and Adela.*
I couldn't be sure without actually fighting him, but his presence alone suggested he was around that level.
And there was another knight behind me. He seemed less skilled than the one in front, but a knight was a knight.
*Two knights and eight armed soldiers in the room. This room has a force comparable to Casedic's.*
Remembering that I had left my sword behind, my hands began to itch slightly. I had anticipated this, but facing it in person, I couldn't help but feel tense.
I mentally ran through a plan for any potential mishaps. I could probably escape this room, but the situation would become incredibly complicated. Still, assuming the worst put my mind at ease a little.
One must always assume the worst to be satisfied in any situation.
“Ooh... Are you the vampire hunter, Takgu?”
The pig shot up from his seat and asked. A gaudy sword hanging from his waist swung back and forth.
It was studded with jewels, but the way it swung from the bottom suggested its center of gravity was off—a classic piece of trash.
An official who invited men of great souls like himself.
What a man like that wanted was obvious.
For a brave man to acknowledge him.
An easy task. And for me, in the rapidly changing landscape of Karzan, it was quite a good opportunity.
I came up with a suitable method and mentally rehearsed it. It had a high chance of success.
“That I am!”
After a brief calculation, I answered forcefully.
In a complex situation like this, the best approach was to be "a brave and ignorant fool who has achieved great things, a typical warrior." An individual who was a bit crude and uncivilized to keep around, but a good-natured fellow nonetheless.
“How dare this man speak so...”
The goat-bearded man scowled and was about to say something, but the pig himself nodded in satisfaction, so he shut his mouth.
Now for the next step.
*With a sycophant like that by his side, he must be immune to most flattery... I need to be different.*
I glanced at the goat-bearded man out of the corner of my eye and opened my mouth.
He looked like a technical flatterer, even at a glance.
In that case, I would be...
“If I had known a brave man like you was in Karzan, I would not have come! I feel sorry for taking what you were meant to hunt!”
Simple, ignorant, and crude praise.
And therefore, all the more delicious.
The pig’s nose twitched, and his cheeks quivered.
The sight was familiar. After a moment's thought, I realized he looked like Karzan's "Praise Vending Machine."
This Praise Vending Machine was Imperial-made. No matter how influential the Order was, it couldn't compare to the Empire.
*Shudder-.*
As expected of an Imperial-made Praise Vending Machine, the reaction was immediate.
“Hmm... I was planning to deal with them soon, but... there’s no need to be sorry. After all, you were just doing your job, were you not?”
The pig said, wearing an expression of genuine disappointment.
I could have bet ten gold coins that he had no such plan, but I opened my mouth regardless.
“I am truly sorry! But my profession is hunting vampires, so I could not simply pass by! I sincerely apologize! Had I known a man of such a great soul was here, I would not have interfered!”
*Ugh...*
The goat-bearded man beside me turned his head so only I could see, making his displeasure abundantly clear, but I paid him no mind.
“Ho ho... This is quite something... A great soul... It seems you can see such things.”
The corners of the pig's mouth quivered, showing in real-time that the rewards were piling up.
The pig needlessly shifted his posture, puffing himself up. He still just looked like a pompous pig, but I feigned intimidation and took a step back.
“Th-this... such spiritual pressure in a place without water! Unbelievable! I wondered who the master of this massive city was, but it was you!”
Feigning astonishment, I used deliberately incomprehensible words to praise him intensely. For a moment, I wondered if it even made sense, but judging by the pig's expression, it was working.
“Ahem... So, as a legendary vampire hunter, you must be able to sense things others cannot. To react so strongly.”
The pig nodded, a pleased smile on his face.
*Should I go further? Push it more?*
I looked at the pig's face and considered it for a moment.
It was risky, but there was a chance it would work, so I decided to go for it.
“Damn it! Didn't I say I was sorry! Stop pressuring me! I have already felt the greatness of your soul most keenly!”
Praise mixed with profanity, which made it feel all the more sincere, was always the most delicious. However, I had to be careful not to use profanity that was too harsh, as it might get censored. "Damn it" or "blast it" was just about right.
My reaction, which went beyond mere intensity, seemed to startle the pig, who stared at me with a strange expression.
“You scoundrel! What is this insolence?!”
The goat-bearded man, sensing a crisis, immediately raised his voice. His eyes gleamed as if he saw an opportunity.
“It’s fine. It’s fine. Haha! My apologies. You know as well as I that the size of one’s soul is not something that can be freely controlled, don’t you? It may be difficult, but I would appreciate it if you could bear with it for a little longer.”
The pig, out of breath after his long speech, took a deep breath and put on a handsome expression that didn't suit him at all.
“But Your Honor, those coarse words just now...”
The goat-bearded man tried to speak again, but...
“Silence! I said it’s fine! How can we apply our standards to a man who has spent his entire life hunting vampires in the wild! Were you always such a small-minded person?”
The pig scowled and roared.
At that, the goat-bearded man flinched and ducked his head.
I hastily added "lived in the wild" to Takgu's backstory. The defeated-looking goat-bearded man forced a smile and stepped back.
The praise of an uncivilized medieval man versus the refined flattery of a modern man—there was no contest. The winner had been decided from the start.
“I... understand... I don’t know if I can bear it, but...”
I replied, panting as if I were truly struggling.
“By the way, isn't that helmet stuffy?”
The pig, whose face had turned into a mass of collagen at my panting, tilted his head and asked.
This was the most crucial moment. I nonchalantly grabbed the bottom of my helmet and, raising it very slowly, said.
“I was cursed while hunting vampires. Everyone who has seen my face has met a terrible end. Since your soul is greater than mine, it shouldn't matter, but...”
I trailed off, lifting it just enough to reveal the tip of my chin.
“Haha! It’s fine to keep it on! How could we force our customs on you, a man raised in the wild?”
The pig, his face now filled with fear, said in a strained voice. The knight behind him had already turned his head away.
*Superstitious, uncivilized fools.*
I clicked my tongue and pushed my helmet back down firmly.
“Then, would you care to share some stories about vampire hunting?”
The pig’s expression softened considerably once my helmet was back in place, and he casually asked.
I nodded and began to tell him some basic stories about vampire hunting, making them sound profound.
“So, you can tell they're a vampire by pulling out their fangs?”
The pig, a certified vampire genius in Takgu's eyes, nodded repeatedly, completely engrossed in my story, as if trying to memorize it.
*What's the payout rate on this Imperial vending machine?*
I stared into that disgusting face and continued to shove praise coins into it.
At one point, the goat-bearded man, sensing a crisis, tried to intervene, but he was harshly scolded by the Mayor and teared up a little.
After talking for a long while, the pig laughed heartily and gestured.
Two women struggled to bring in a luxurious chest.
*...So much gold that it's heavy!*
It was enough to start a new life. For a moment, a wide grin spread across my face. It was a good thing I was wearing a helmet.
“Is this all! It may not match the size of my soul, but you should at least give him half of half of that! Bring more!”
Startled by the pig's roar, the women scurried away and returned with their hands full of gold coins, which they poured into the chest.
The chest now gleamed with a radiant light, as if it had just been pulled from a pirate ship.
*This bastard is a good bastard.*
I was so genuinely moved that tears welled up in my eyes. I considered lifting my helmet to show him my tears, but the pig's look of horror made me reconsider.
“I have never met a man with a soul greater than my own! From this moment on, I will consider you my big brother! Brother!!”
I threw out the words, filled with sincerity and laced with crudeness.
The pig roared with laughter, and the goat-bearded man's body trembled.
Afterward, the pig, now addicted to my praise, asked if I had any intention of staying in Karzan, but...
“As you know, my brother, whose soul is greater than mine, we each have our own duties! Yours may be to carry on the great work of the Empire, but I, raised in the wild, cannot stop hunting vampires until the day I die!”
The pig, whose soul was greater than mine, nodded gravely with a very serious expression, as if he understood completely.
*Wow, this Imperial vending machine works great.*
Hugging the treasure chest, which must have contained at least fifty gold coins, the word "brother" came naturally to my lips.
***
*My divine power...*
Brighton gritted his teeth against a headache. There were so many people crying out in pain, and he felt a pang of guilt for his inability to heal them.
The monastery was filled with patients.
Some were grateful that the vampires had been driven back to this extent, but Brighton couldn't agree.
Fortunately, the Inquisitors had joined in caring for the patients, so the situation was slowly coming under control.
*Where is Abbot Benghardt?*
Brighton wiped the wound of a patient whose shoulder had been torn off and looked around. Abbot Benghardt had been nowhere to be seen for a while now. With all this chaos, where was he and what was he doing?
Just then, soldiers bearing the Imperial seal entered the monastery. The place was already so crowded that the soldiers shouted and pushed the patients aside.
“Hold this tightly.”
Brighton handed a cloth to the patient and approached the soldiers.
“What is the meaning of this?”
The monks, who had been at a loss, spotted Brighton and stepped back.
“We have testimony that the abbot of this place is involved with vampires.”
Brighton thought it was absurd, but they were adamant. There was no way to stop them, so Brighton made a path for them.
“Everyone, don't get distracted. Tend to the patients first.”
Brighton spoke sternly to the frightened monks and priests and returned to the patients.
Brighton's own mind was in turmoil. He wondered if a clergyman could really have made a deal with a demon, but he had seen such things before, which left him with a heavy heart.
A short while later, Brighton frowned at the wretched sight of Benghardt being dragged out by the soldiers.
“Let go of me! Cardinal Brighton! I am innocent! How could I ever...!”
At the word "Cardinal" from Benghardt's lips, the soldiers froze.
*A moment ago, he was calling me a fellow abbot.*
Brighton let out a long sigh and rose to his feet.
“Could you give us a moment?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. But we can’t give you much time.”
The soldier, now much more docile, nodded and released Benghardt.
“Cardinal Brighton! I am truly innocent! How could I have made a deal with such unholy beings!”
Benghardt's trembling eyes were not those of an honest man, but Brighton nodded. Right now, he needed every available hand.
“Yes, I know. If you use all your strength to heal the patients before you go, I will do my best to ensure you receive a proper trial.”
“...A proper one.”
Benghardt's face contorted at Brighton's words.
However, he quickly changed his expression and nodded.
Benghardt knelt before the patients and began to emit a light. It was unmistakably the manifestation of divine power.
As if to prove his innocence, the light was truly brilliant. Thanks to it, the patients' conditions improved noticeably.
*How...*
Watching this, Brighton swallowed a bitter-tasting saliva.
Soon, Benghardt, having exhausted his divine power, was dragged away by the soldiers. As he was being taken, he kept looking at Brighton and shouting "Cardinal."
Even without Brighton saying anything else, Benghardt would surely receive a proper trial with a thorough investigation.
First, he was a member of the Order, and he had mentioned a Cardinal, so he was guaranteed a meticulous and detailed investigation worthy of a nobleman.
Benghardt knew this, which was surely why he had deliberately mentioned the Cardinal. And just in case, he had likely used up all his divine power.
Whatever his intentions, thanks to Benghardt's efforts, the monastery was now stabilizing.
Brighton felt a wave of fatigue wash over him.
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair and looked up at the sky, where the brilliant sun hung overhead.
The sunlight warmly illuminated the shattered city, but Brighton, unlike his usual self, did not recite a prayer and simply closed his eyes.
“Abbot! My brother is about to depart!”
A flippant voice came from beside him. He turned his head to see the vile man named Dylan.
*...He shouldn't be able to leave Karzan right now.*
With the Imperial flag burned, they wouldn't just let it go.
They would surely seal the city and investigate everyone. Honorary Abbot Aron couldn't possibly be unaware of this...
“Ah, if you have more work to do and need to stay longer, he said he’ll go on ahead...”
“I will go for now.”
At Dylan's words, Brighton followed him.
They arrived at the same clean carriage as before. It was a wonder how it had been maintained, without a single speck of black soot on it despite the chaos. When he opened the carriage door, the strong smell of alcohol wafted out. It was so strong it made him dizzy just to breathe.
Aron's face was bizarre. His lips were curled into a silly grin, and his eyes kept forming crescent moons, making for a truly grotesque sight.
Brighton, who thought he had grown somewhat accustomed to Aron's appearance, realized his own arrogance and averted his gaze.
Inquisitor Joanna, her face strangely flushed, desperately avoided eye contact. Her armor was dirty, but there were no visible injuries.
Aron and Joanna's conditions were strange, but for now, they both seemed to be all right.
“Didn't you have work left to do?”
Just then, Aron, whose eyes met Brighton's, asked in a displeased tone.
“The work I can do for now is finished. And there is much to be done in Casedic as well.”
Brighton forced down the smile that threatened to form at Aron's surliness and replied.
At that moment, to Aron's right, he saw a luxurious chest that clearly belonged to a nobleman. At Brighton's gaze, Aron covered the chest with his hand and grinned foolishly again.
*Did he steal it? Or take it by force?*
As Brighton was trying to recall a suitable scripture passage for the situation...
*Hic...*
Inquisitor Joanna let out a tiny hiccup and clapped a hand over her mouth in alarm.
Brighton frowned at the faint smell of wine. Then, Honorary Abbot Aron let out a rough belch.
*Such an uncouth...*
Brighton hastily opened a window and waved his hand.
Aron's ignorance and crudeness were new every time.
The carriage began to move, much more smoothly than when they had first set out.
The scenery of the city, which seemed to have calmed down a little, came into view.
It was still in ruins, but the faces of the residents cleaning it up were bright.
At this, Brighton smiled bitterly.
“We can’t leave Karzan right now, can we?”
When he turned his head again, Honorary Abbot Aron was wearing that helmet of his.
“My new big brother is powerful, so it’s fine.”
A thick voice rumbled from within the helmet.
*Is there a way?*
The answer made no sense.
Waaaaah-!!
Just then, a cheer erupted from outside.
He turned his head to see residents gathered, waving their hands and cheering. Fatigue was etched deeply on all their faces, but they shouted until their throats were raw.
“Long live the Empire! Down with the Black Blood!”
A simple chant.
*Clap!* A clapping sound.
As they neared the city gate, the number of people grew until they filled the road. The disheveled residents cheered as if they were seeing off a hero.
Behind them were some rough-looking men, and upon closer inspection, Brighton saw that the residents were glancing at them nervously as they cheered.
In the center of the rough-looking men were three individuals.
They seemed to be the leaders by their demeanor, and they were clapping with different expressions.
Two of the men seemed to be watching the man in the very front. One of them, who had no hands, was slapping his own forehead, making a *clap!* sound. The sight was comical yet somehow desperate.
It felt like they were seeing off their gang boss, which made Brighton feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
At the end of the procession were soldiers bearing the Imperial seal.
“The legendary vampire hunter and brother of Mayor Bul Bastein...”
A man with a goat-like beard and a sour expression shouted continuously, while a fat man in luxurious clothes beside him nodded.
It looked as if the entire city of Karzan was cheering.
Aron had not just leaned out the window but had climbed onto the roof. Brighton hastily stopped Inquisitor Joanna, who was trying to follow him out the window.
“Black Blood! You bastards! Be warned! The legendary vampire hunter Takgu, brother of Mayor-brother, is coming! Stop right there, vampires!”
Aron chanted repeatedly in a deep voice.
“My brother’s brother is my brother... Brother’s brother! I love you!! I am the younger brother of your younger brother! Dylan! Brother’s brother!”
And then there was the flimsy voice from the driver's seat.
Brighton gripped his scriptures and squeezed his eyes shut.
They reached the city gate, but no one stopped the carriage.
Contrary to Brighton's expectations, they were able to leave Karzan smoothly without any hindrance.
*...What in the world is all this.*
As they passed through the gate, the sound of fervent cheers from behind them made Brighton mutter a prayer.
***
“A failure?”
Pros Heisenthar, the master of the Black Blood, muttered, pressing his temples.
The blood and power he had sent out were returning to him.
The meaning was clear.
Failure.
The takeover of Karzan had failed.
Pros repeated the nonsensical sentence several times.
“How could it have failed?”
He couldn't understand why it had failed.
Had the Bureau noticed? No, he had already confirmed that. The probability of the Bureau making a move now was minuscule.
Then did the Mayor's side make a move? No, if the Bureau didn't move, that pig wouldn't have lifted a finger. Bermunt couldn't leave the castle, and that great darkness was gone.
No matter how he thought about it, there were no variables that could have caused the plan to fail.
It was a plan he had prepared meticulously over a long period.
If he had intended to take it by force, he would have moved himself long ago. However, he had taken his time to avoid drawing attention, and he had been on the verge of success...
*Why on earth?*
The incomprehensible situation made Pros's nerves extremely frayed. It was just like when that great darkness had disappeared...
*...It’s similar.*
It had felt like this back then, too. When that great darkness had suddenly vanished, it felt as if some hooligan had appeared and flipped the entire board.
Just then.
*Bang!!*
The door burst open, and his subordinate rushed in.
The loud noise made Pros's brow furrow even more.
All his children knew that the thing Pros hated most was loud noises.
“The Karzan plan has failed!”
“...”
He already knew that.
If he dared to make such a loud noise in front of him for something so obvious...
“A-and because we declared war on the Empire, the Mayor of Karzan’s side made a move...”
“Declared war?”
Pros, who had been about to draw blood, paused at the strange words coming from the man.
“My lord declared war on the Empire...”
He couldn't understand what he was saying at all.
The reason he had been acting so cautiously was to avoid provoking the Empire as much as possible... and he had declared war on the Empire?
What kind of crazy talk was this?
“Th-that... following my lord's orders, we blew up the inner fortress of Karzan and burned the Imperial flag...”
The man added more detailed explanations, but...
*I ordered what?*
Question marks just kept popping up in Pros's mind.
After making the man repeat it about ten times, he finally understood his words, but his mind was still full of question marks.
*I did that to the Empire?*
Me?
Why?
When?
Pros understood the man's words, but at the same time, he couldn't understand at all.
***
“...Isn't this a bit much?”
“Hmm.”
Berman let out a low hum at Kel's question.
Thanks to the kid named Kanna, the wall was rising at a rapid pace. The problem, however, was the pictures that had been recently drawn on it.
Deokgu holding his hands up as if he had done something wrong, Deokgu being pelted by ice, and so on...
“That’s right! Your emotion is the fuel for your magic! Faster, sharper! If you were more skilled in magic, he would have taken you with him! The reason you couldn't go with him is because you are lacking! The lacking are abandoned. That is life.”
And next to her, a man was cheering and spouting strange words.
It was a total mess.
“...Besides, if the Lord's castle isn't stopping it, how can we?”
“They said they’re busy preparing for the Young Lady's birthday. Maybe they don't know yet?”
Kel's answer was plausible, but Berman shook his head.
“Didn't you see Nova laughing as she looked at the wall earlier?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Berman shook his head, recalling how Nova had laughed out loud while looking at the wall. Nova was a representative figure from the Lord's castle.
“Anyway, with the Young Lady's birthday, it's going to be busy for a while.”
Berman nodded at Kel's murmur.
“The weather is starting to cool down.”
Berman said, looking up at the sky.
The sweltering heat was beginning to recede, but the sky looked as if it might rain.