Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Unexpected Guest
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The Julius family had plunged into a cauldron of chaos.
By the time the sun rose, the people had regained their calm.
Arthur went to Medlin and gave her a brief explanation of the commotion that had erupted at dawn before returning to his office.
Millerph was waiting.
"Is the lady alright? She must have been quite startled."
"She's fine now."
"That's a relief."
Millerph approached Arthur with a kind smile.
Arthur sat at his desk, reviewing the construction progress report from Ban that had come up that morning, and asked,
"You look like you have something to say."
"I'm thinking of heading out for a day or two."
"……?"
Arthur set down the documents he was reading and looked at Millerph with eyes full of questions.
Millerph met his gaze with a serious expression.
"I plan to look into Marquis Valtre."
"That doesn't seem to be the only reason."
"I'll also check on Altros and his ties to the Magic Tower."
"Hmm."
Arthur stroked his chin.
Nothing was set in stone yet, but both were targets he needed to watch closely.
They were already enemies of the emperor, making Altros, his closest confidant, the most dangerous figure of all.
Their intel was necessary, but with the defensive wall construction underway, they couldn't afford to lose his skills right now.
If he left, it could cause major delays.
Millerph seemed to know exactly what Arthur was worried about and spoke calmly.
"I asked Ban, and he said we can manage fine without me for a couple of days."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, so I'm planning to move now."
"Then go ahead."
Arthur readily approved and continued,
"If you have time, look into the emperor too."
"What specifically?"
Millerph's eyes gleamed.
"Anything unusual—like if he's changed, or suddenly thinking differently, or acting out of character."
"What do you mean……."
Millerph looked puzzled.
Arthur answered with a grave expression.
"Doesn't it seem odd that he suddenly pinned the 'devil worshipper' label on us?"
"Didn't you say it was due to Altros's advice?"
"I can't understand how the emperor of an empire would try to wipe out a loyal house based on a few words from a subordinate. If I were emperor, I'd dispatch investigators to each family first to verify the facts."
"Uh……."
Hearing it laid out like that, his point made sense.
The whole affair had been unilateral, with no prior notice.
Even calling them 'devil worshippers,' they should have confirmed the truth first.
Rushing in troops to erase them without that? Plenty suspicious.
"Got it."
"You know we have mountains of work ahead?"
"I'll return as fast as I can."
"That's also a reminder to be careful."
"Thank you."
Millerph bowed his head and left.
Arthur stared at the door after him, thinking about Marquis Valtre and Altros.
He only knew the barest scraps of info, so there wasn't much to ponder deeply.
The real issue was the emperor.
If his suspicions proved true……
"No."
Arthur shook his head vigorously.
For now, he focused on building the territory's defenses before the emperor could launch a second assault.
***
"Just over that mountain, and we'll hit their base."
Blyzan nodded at Skevin's words.
His heart pounded at the thought of reuniting with his family soon.
Skevin stood after the short break, and as the squad members rose to move out in unison—
One of the scouts came racing back like an arrow.
"Captain, they're on the move."
"What?"
Skevin's eyes widened sharply.
"Seemed like they were heading somewhere else."
"Enemy numbers?"
"About fifty soldiers, and over two hundred women and kids."
Skevin swiftly mounted his horse and shouted,
"Move out!"
No sooner had he spoken than Blyzan spurred his horse and shot forward.
At that moment.
Hazan decided to lead his remaining forces and slaves toward the harbor.
He planned to board the ships he'd prepared there, cross to the South Shar Empire, sell off the slaves, and regroup his troops.
"I'll pay back this debt."
Hazan ground his teeth thinking of Arthur.
Horcamun tribe warriors were golden geese, invaluable beyond measure.
And now even Yarve Count was captured by that bastard, voiding their deal.
Massive losses.
But he had a chance to rebound.
Women and children from the Horcamun tribe held value rivaling the men.
Women as sex slaves, children who would grow into prime warriors or bed toys.
Enough to fund a full rebuild.
"Hurry! We have to reach the harbor by tonight!"
Hazan stuck his head out the carriage and bellowed irritably.
Then he leered at Cersei, who rode with him.
"Not trudging like the other bitches? Nice and comfy, right?"
"Shut up."
Cersei snapped back fiercely.
"You little—!"
Hazan slapped her cheek.
Smack!
Her head whipped around, but she didn't even groan.
Instead, she glared at him with even fiercer eyes.
Hazan grabbed her hair and yanked her face toward his.
"I'll say it again: the more you act up, the more your husband suffers."
"You bastard……."
Cersei gnashed her teeth.
"Eyes down."
"Urgh……."
As Cersei growled in defiance, Hazan forced her head down with brute strength.
She resisted at first, then went limp and bowed her head between his legs.
"Foolish woman."
Hazan smirked, leaned back in his seat, and continued.
"I offer you a life of comfort, and you refuse. I just don't get it."
"Horcamun women serve only one man from birth to death."
"Enough with the ancient crap. Make me happy, or your husband won't sleep easy tonight."
"I'll never forgive you."
Cersei glared murderously at Hazan, then unbuckled his belt and pulled down his pants.
As the grotesque thing began to rear its head—
"Master!"
One of the knights rushed up.
"What?"
Hazan, just on the verge of pleasure, scowled like he'd been doused with cold water and stuck his head out.
"Look over there!"
The man pointed toward eleven o'clock.
Dozens of cavalry were charging, kicking up clouds of dust.
"What the hell are they?"
"No banners, so I'm not sure."
"Don't know? Then find out who they are, fast!"
"Y-yes……."
The knight made a dumb face and galloped toward his comrades.
Hazan shook his head at the sight.
His proper troops had all been deployed elsewhere, leaving only sentries at base.
Chosen for loyalty over combat skill to watch the slaves, they were unreliable as hell.
"Run for it first!"
Hazan shoved Cersei aside, hastily pulled up his pants, and yelled at the driver.
"Go!"
"Yah!"
The driver whipped the reins hard.
As Hazan's carriage bolted away, the trailing soldiers panicked.
"Where's the master going?"
"He wouldn't ditch us and run, right?"
The man who'd taken Hazan's orders scowled and barked,
"Quit yapping and check who they are!"
"Are you nuts? We don't even know who—"
"So we just sit here and get slaughtered?"
"Damn it!"
As they scowled and dithered—
One paled and stammered,
"Th-there……."
"What's with you?"
They glanced at him, then forward.
Now the enemies came into clear view.
Knights in blue armor.
"……!"
Their eyes locked on the massive man charging alongside.
The horse carrying him looked pitiful, but everyone knew who it was.
Blyzan, chieftain of the Horcamun tribe!
The guy they'd heard died, leading mystery knights right here.
"Block them! No—run!"
They scattered in terror.
Skevin, leading the charge, saw Hazan's men fleeing and shouted,
"Assault team!"
His knights surged past toward the enemy.
"Don't leave a single one alive!"
Raaah—!
The knights bellowed like thunder.
Blyzan, riding beside Skevin, spotted a distant fleeing carriage.
"That's mine."
He wheeled his horse toward it, and it thundered ahead.
The advance scouts reached Skevin and reported.
"No other groups nearby. Looks like that's all of them."
"Check on the captives you guys were held with."
Yes sir!
The scouts raced to the slaves.
Meanwhile, the assault team mercilessly cut down the foes, clearing the area.
It was borderline slaughter.
"Should be over quick."
Skevin nodded and glanced toward where Blyzan had gone.
"Blizan!"
Cersei spotted him and screamed loud enough to shatter the air.
"Quiet!"
Hazan slapped her viciously.
Thwack!
She slammed into the wall and passed out.
Chasing the carriage, Blyzan heard Cersei's cry cut short, a bad premonition flashing through his mind.
"Cersei!"
He roared and spurred his horse harder.
Blizan's mount gave its all and soon overtook the carriage.
He snatched the driver by the head with a pot-lid hand, hurled him aside, boarded, and halted the horses.
"What the—!"
Hazan yelped, poking his head out as the carriage stopped.
"Why the fu—Gah!"
His eyes bulged.
Face drained white like he'd seen the grim reaper, body shuddering.
Blyzan glared at him with fierce eyes.
"Where do you think you're going!"
He punched toward the carriage.
Boom!
The wooden roof splintered.
Blyzan ripped away the wreckage, seized Hazan's head, and slammed him to the ground.
Then he swept both hands like parting brush toward the wall.
Crash!
It shattered, revealing Cersei collapsed on the floor.
"Cersei!"
He rushed to her, embracing her.
Her clothes half-torn, breasts fully exposed. Clear what had been happening.
"That Hazan bastard……."
Suppressing his boiling rage, he checked her.
Bruise on her head—she'd just blacked out.
Blyzan scooped her up and carried her from the carriage.
He spotted Hazan crawling away like a dog.
"You……,"
Gripping his fist, Skevin approached with a cloth.
"Finish him later."
"Yes."
Blyzan gently laid Cersei down, wrapped her in the cloth from Skevin.
Then strode toward Hazan.
"Eeek—g-gotta live."
Pale as a ghost, Hazan drooled like a dog, crawling blindly in frenzy.
Scraped hands and knees screamed, but better than limbs torn off.
"Huff, huff, huff."
He crawled far with no pursuit.
Too quiet—strange. He peeked back.
"Huh?"
No Blyzan.
Distracted by Cersei, he'd forgotten to chase.
Tension shattered; Hazan sighed in relief.
Then pain throbbed from palms and knees.
"Damn it!"
Scowling, he stood and stretched his back.
Then his eyes met Blizan's—standing like a death god radiating killer intent.
"Gah!"
Hazan collapsed in shock.
The man advanced, exuding unprecedented menace.
"D-don't come closer……."
Fear choked Hazan's words.
Blyzan loomed silently, glaring.
The pressure bored into his bones.
Heart hammered like it'd burst the ribs.
The pounding echoed in his ears, drowning him in terror.
"Urgh……."
Blyzan eyed the convulsing Hazan and spat one line.
"I've endured all this time, waiting for today."