Chapter 84
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Unlikely Allies
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5.
The slaves held in the detention center beneath the knightly orders headquarters were freed.
This was the front yard of the Leven Knightly Orders headquarters.
Karron Leston! Friend of warriors! The Black Axe tribe does not forget its benefactors! I will help you free the slaves of this place!
Utulla, a giant who looked to be at least 2.5 meters tall, pounded his chest and shouted.
In fact, he was much shorter now.
When Karron had seen him in the basement earlier, he had been well over 3 meters tall, but he had shrunk himself upon coming outside.
It was a skill Karron had never seen before.
When Karron asked how he did it.
It is a technique of compressing muscles and bones! All adult giants must know how to do this. If you wish to learn, tell me! I will teach you.
Utulla answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
From a human perspective, his way of speaking might seem a bit odd, but at least they could communicate, right?
I will prove I am a great warrior!
Watching the spirited Utulla, Karron let out a small sigh before turning his gaze to the tiger-kin woman beside him.
She had introduced herself as Adina.
Unfortunately, Adinas situation was quite different from Utullas.
The moment he was freed from his restraints, Utulla had recovered most of his physical abilities through the giant races unique regenerative powers, but she had not been so lucky.
Her tendons and ligaments had been severely damaged during her capture.
If not for the high-grade potion Karron had given her, she might not have even been able to stand.
Karron glanced at the two daggers in Adinas hands and spoke.
You can rest if its too much. Even with the potion, those arent injuries that will heal in an instant.
Adina shook her head firmly.
I appreciate the concern, but I believe in earning my keep.
Is there someone you particularly want revenge on?
I just want to take the head of that bastard of a Knight Commander who dragged me here.
At Adinas words, Karron shrugged.
I already took it.
Hm, then could you perhaps find the body for me later?
Why the body?
Our tribe has a custom of desecrating the dead. I feel like plunging my sword into his corpse over and over.
Somehow, it seemed that even his newly made friends were anything but normal.
A half-crazed giant and a tiger-kin woman obsessed with corpses.
Should he call it the diversity of the different races?
Adina met Karrons gaze and slowly nodded.
You dont trust me?
Its not that. Well, its fine, actually. The ones youll be facing from now on arent thoroughly trained regular soldiers.
Freeing the slaves from this detention center was just the beginning.
According to the information he received from Cobbler, there were a total of fifteen slave dens located in Leven.
The number of people held in them easily exceeded five hundred.
Karron planned to erase every single one of those dens from this city today.
Most of the citys main forces are currently outside the walls. What little remains, my colleague has gathered in the city square. In other words, the rest of the city is an empty house.
Hearing that, Adina voiced a question.
It sounds like your colleague is in a dangerous situation.
Karron shook his head firmly and replied.
I guarantee you, the safest place in this city is right next to my colleague.
The 8-star knight, Mason, was with Rebellio.
None of the remaining forces in this city could so much as lay a hand on him.
By now, he was probably
Running his mouth off to the citizens.
Like a fish in water, he would be tirelessly inciting the populace.
So there was no need to worry about him at all.
As Karron was conversing with his new friends, Cobbler quickly approached him.
Young Master! Ive thrown all the knight bastards into the detention center! But in that short time youve made new friends?
Cobbler said, glancing over at Adina and Utulla.
Adina frowned slightly at Cobbler, but Utulla did not.
Utulla lifted Cobbler with both hands, nodded, and said.
You, for a human, are handsome. I am Utulla. Your name?
Co-Cobbler, sir.
Karron! Is this man also our comrade?
At Utullas booming voice, Karron reluctantly nodded.
For now.
Good. Handsome Cobbler! I look forward to working with you!
Guh-heok.
Dangling in the air, Cobblers face began to turn deathly pale.
Utulla was squeezing him far too tightly.
Utulla. Let Cobbler go. Youre going to kill him.
Utulla laughed heartily and set Cobbler back on the ground.
My apologies! I often forget how fragile human bodies are. Handsome Cobbler! You need to train your body.
Keck, keck, Ill Ill try! But this tiger-kin lady here
As Cobbler glanced at Adina, she expressed her strong displeasure.
You reek of a slave trader. Be grateful you are not my enemy.
A different kind of spiciness from Utulla.
Having sampled two flavors in the blink of an eye, Cobbler spoke cautiously to Karron.
Your new friends are all quite unique.
Karron casually ignored Cobblers remark and got straight to the point.
Well split into two groups from here. Cobbler, just give my side a guide. You can take Utulla. Take the soldiers who joined us, too. They should be more useful than your lackeys, right?
Then, Young Master, you will
A guide and Adina here are enough. Getting rid of those slave-trading vermin is easy anyway. Well smash all the dens as quickly as possible and regroup here. Simple, right?
At the mention of taking Utulla, Cobbler looked slightly terrified.
But Karron paid no mind to his reaction and spoke directly to Utulla.
Utulla. I want you to help Cobbler rescue the other slaves.
Utulla pounded his chest once more and nodded.
You helped me, so I will help you.
If any of them resist fiercely, you can kill them.
Battle! Blood! The two things that make a warriors heart pound. I will show them the power of my tribe! Handsome Cobbler! Let us move at once. Battle calls to us!
The decision was swift, and the action that followed was swifter still.
With Cobbler dangling on his back, Utulla strode forward.
Karron watched the rapidly departing figures of Utulla and Cobbler with a faint smirk.
Then he turned his head and said to Adina.
Now its your turn to hunt humans.
Adina ground her teeth and nodded.
Can I ask for one thing?
Anything.
Let me be the one to take the heads of the knights in this city.
Thats not a difficult request. I promise. The knights of the Leven Knightly Order are all yours. But can you handle them
It was then.
Rip, rip, rip.
The outer clothes she was wearing suddenly tore, revealing an arm covered in orange fur.
At the same time, her eyes transformed into those of a predator.
It felt like facing a wild beast.
Karron let out a small sound of admiration.
Thats cool.
Beastification, the sole power granted only to the beast-kin among the races of this land.
It was the first time Karron had ever seen a beast-kin use it in person.
At Karrons compliment, Adina furrowed her brow slightly and said.
My body isnt in good condition, so I can only use partial beastification. It infuriates me that I cant show you my full beastification! Thats my true strength!
You get worked up over the strangest things.
Ill be the one to rip out the lords throat. Dont you dare stop me.
She said, growling like a true beast.
Watching her, Karron slowly shrugged.
Be my guest.
It seemed that even the new friends he made here were anything but normal.
Well then, lets get to work.
After a light stretch, Karron took a step toward his next target.
6.
This was the main square of Leven.
The citizens of the city had gathered in the square to welcome the distinguished guest who had suddenly arrived in Leven.
My dear people of the Empire!
The Empires 6th Prince, Rebellio, stood on a hastily prepared dais in the square and addressed the citizens.
The amplification magic he cast carried his voice to every corner of the square.
Leven, this border city with its long and storied history, is without a doubt one of the most important places in our Orias Empire. You are the patriots at the Empires forefront, willingly sacrificing for our nation!
Rebellio delivered his impassioned speech, studying the faces of the citizens.
The deep shadows cast upon their faces.
The utter absence of hope.
All of it laid bare the reality of this city.
The citizens were busy watching the soldiers guarding the square, and the soldiers, in turn, were monitoring the citizens with sharp eyes.
Margrave Leandro.
Rebellio thought of the citys lord.
He had never met the man in his life, but he could tell everything just by the state of the domain he ruled.
The citizens were without hope, and a dark shadow was cast over the entire city.
And beneath this shadow, the cancer known as the slave tradeforbidden in the Empirewas growing.
Thats not all.
Margrave Leandro, far from cracking down on the slave trade, had even gone so far as to have his knightly order capture slaves from outside the Empire.
Was this truly the act of someone who governed an imperial border city?
Rebellio took a deep breath, then continued his speech in a powerful voice.
I came here because I received a crucial piece of intelligence. That intelligence was a report about those who are corrupting this city of patriots.
Rebellio nodded toward Mason.
Mason immediately brought Nurr, who had been waiting below the dais, up onto the stage.
The citizens of Leven did not seem to recognize Nurr.
However, the soldiers, specifically those in command positions, recognized him at once.
Nurr. Confess your sins here and now.
At Rebellios command, Nurr nodded and turned to the citizens.
My name is Nurr, Margrave Leandros confidant. Until now, I have carried out Margrave Leandros orders, my role being to sell the slaves he captured.
The citys open secret was being exposed in a public forum.
A deep darkness of the city that those who didnt know didnt even try to know, and those who did know were forced to keep silent about.
The truth that everyone had hushed up was now spilling from the mouth of the man who was said to be Margrave Leandros right hand.
But the revelation did not stop there.
I recently learned a critical secret. It was the fact that Margrave Leandro was plotting treason against the Empire.
As Nurrs confession continued, a stir went through the crowd.
It was not just the crowd, but also the soldiers who were monitoring them.
And it was at that very moment.
BOOOOOM!
A thunderous explosion roared from the distance, and a few startled citizens screamed.
Rebellio glanced in the direction of the sound and smiled faintly.
Looks like hes just getting started.
That explosion was a signal that the mad dog of the Azure Sea had begun his work in earnest.
Go and see whats happening!
Move it
In the sudden emergency, commanders began to issue orders to their soldiers.
But Rebellio had no intention of letting them go.
Halt at once.
Rebellio commanded the soldiers, and in that instant, those who had been moving in unison stopped in their tracks.
I ask you. Are you soldiers of the Empire, or are you soldiers of a traitor?
He posed the question to them in a grave voice.
But they dared not answer the question posed by a prince.
A prince, of all people, was personally declaring that Margrave Leandro was committing treason.
Could he be lying?
For a prince who should be in the Imperial Palace to come all the way here in person, could it be that the Margrave really was plotting rebellion?
The soldiers began to waver.
A few commanders tried to regain control, but their own minds were a tangled mess of thoughts.
BOOOOOM!
Another explosion thundered, and Rebellio shouted at the soldiers.
Margrave Leandro is a traitor! If you are true soldiers of the Empire, you must help me punish this traitor. That is what is truly for the good of the Empire! So choose! Will you remain soldiers of the Empire, or will you become traitors!
All of this was, in the end, a grand deception orchestrated by the Dukes youngest son and the Prince.
Yet no one in that place dared to even question the prince.
Patriots of Leven, awaken! Punish the traitor with your own hands and reclaim your great history!
As Rebellio shouted with all his might.
Waaaaaah!
Lets follow the Prince!
The agitators he had planted in the crowd began to respond, and following their lead, the rest of the citizens erupted in cheers.
In that single moment, the discontent of the citizens, which Margrave Leandro had suppressed with his army, burst forth.
Indiscriminate fabrications and baseless incitement.
Rebellio was committing acts unbecoming of a prince, but as for the man himself, he was enjoying this situation immensely.
Burn. Burn bright.
The flames ignited here would consume everything.
Everything.