Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Entering Rantaric 4
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“That weapon was actually at the murder scene. I picked it up because it looked nice…”
“What a ridiculous excuse. Bandits leave a murder weapon behind and you just pick it up? Didn’t you just claim it had nothing to do with the body?”
“C-Come on, isn’t it a waste to just leave a weapon by the roadside? I picked it up, but I didn’t think it’d cause a misunderstanding like this… so I ended up making excuses.”
Even to Azadin’s ears, the excuses from the Korasar Peddler Guild members sounded utterly implausible.
“Sir Guillaumevalt?”
In the end, the only way to resolve this without bloodshed was for Guillaumevalt, the highest-ranking person present, to conduct at least a cursory trial.
“Hmm. Let’s see the letter first. Hand it over.”
Guillaumevalt demanded the letter.
“Eek!”
The armed merchants flinched in surprise.
“T-That letter contains our secrets…”
Guillaumevalt gave a subtle glance toward Brand, who immediately puffed up with enthusiasm and bellowed.
“How insolent! The acting Earl of Rantaric wishes to inspect your letter to properly understand the incident and deliver a fair judgment. Are you merchants now questioning the honor of the acting Earl of Rantaric?”
“……”
It was as if he’d rehearsed it a hundred times—the archaic reprimand poured out flawlessly.
The merchants exchanged silent glances…
‘Oh?’
Azadin noticed a glint of murderous intent in their eyes.
Whatever was in that letter, it seemed they couldn’t let anyone live who had seen it. Even if that someone was a knight like Guillaumevalt.
The problem was… Azadin’s group wasn’t small in number. Even if the Telbarin armed merchants outnumbered them, they wouldn’t have the confidence to take on knights and holy knights.
Yet the killing intent lingered in their eyes.
‘What the hell are these guys?’
Azadin sensed these were no ordinary merchants.
‘For now, since the elf seems to be the leader, maybe I should talk to him?’
Azadin tentatively addressed the elf in the crude Elvish he’d picked up.
When he used the Elvish Kazas had taught him, the elf looked astonished.
“To think there’s someone here who speaks Elvish…”
He replied to Azadin in Elvish.
The people around them grew curious about what the elf and Azadin were discussing, but Azadin deliberately didn’t explain and continued the conversation with the elf.
“Hmm. Very well. Show us the letter.”
Convinced by Azadin, the elf ordered his men to hand over the letter.
“B-Boss, but…”
“It’s fine. Show them.”
Reluctantly, the merchants passed their letter to Guillaumevalt. Sure enough, the wax seal had been broken, and there were bloodstains on it. The recipient was Young Lord Adler.
“Ah.”
Azadin finally understood why these merchants had resisted handing over the letter even with knights present.
The letter was essentially an invoice listing the goods ordered by Young Lord Adler—bone saws, hooked surgical knives, preservatives, high-purity alcohol, opium, and various magical and alchemical reagents—along with estimated delivery dates and unit prices.
Since it included forbidden items like opium, it also contained a plea for cooperation upon entering the city, suggesting this wasn’t their first dealings with Adler.
“So you were trading with Adler. And these items…”
Guillaumevalt handed the letter to Azadin, who frowned as he read it.
‘Materials for making undead.’
Young Lord Adler was stockpiling reagents typical for a necromancer. Just like Earl Rantaric Garnahair, it was clear Adler was a depraved noble dabbling in dark sorcery.
Guillaumevalt ignored the alchemical and magical reagents and focused on the narcotics.
“Smuggling drugs into Rantaric territory so brazenly. Even if Adler requested them, this is something we can’t overlook.”
“That’s why we’re saying…”
The elf, leader of the armed merchants, spoke up.
“What if we sold out Young Lord Adler to you? How much would you pay?”
“What?”
“The moment you enter Rantaric, you’ll be killed. I guarantee it.”
The elf said this while pointing at Azadin and Zibek.
“You two probably handle bandits and thugs with ease. I can tell just from your breathing and footwork. But under Adler are monsters far beyond you, swarming like maggots.”
“……”
“I can get you to capture Adler safely.”
Guillaumevalt looked stunned at Azadin.
“What did you say to that elf in Elvish earlier?”
“I just said we wouldn’t pursue your crimes no matter what…”
But the moment Azadin spoke Elvish, the elf had decided to trust him, freely revealing evidence of their dealings with Adler—even the drug trade.
“First off, why betray Adler? Just for the reward?”
Azadin asked.
“Because we know what he’s buying. I’ve seen nobles buy magic research materials or cosmetics that noble ladies swear are good for their skin, or even procure things like Atra altars. But this goes way beyond that.”
“Why are you so sure we’ll die if we enter Rantaric? What makes you say it so confidently?”
“Young Lord Adler has Heralds attached to him. Every one of them is an incredible powerhouse.”
“Ah…”
“Tch.”
When the Telbarin elf praised the Heralds, both Azadin and the Korasar Peddler Guild members looked disconcerted.
“And those Heralds are blasphemously declaring… that a new goddess has been born.”
“A goddess?”
“Her name is Arael.”
“Haha. Arael, you say?”
Azadin couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing that.
Not content with his own blood kin leading the Heralds’ rebels, now she was claiming divinity?
Of course, she was projecting her voice everywhere like the Emperor, wielding power. In an era where even the Light of King’s Transformation was fading and angels were losing strength, she alone was rising brilliantly with new power.
Those who knew and feared the era of Jupiter might willingly worship the newly ascendant Arael as a goddess.
‘The wound… it stings.’
Azadin felt the old scar from Arael aching and burned with rage.
For her—the one who had trampled his most cherished feelings when he was at his most tormented and pained—to become a goddess? He could never accept it.
“Hmm. You have your reasons, I see.”
The elf stepped back, sensing Azadin’s fury.
“I don’t know if she’s a real god or not, but those guys are undeniably powerful. I wasn’t arrogant enough to claim I’d never heard of your goddess or whatever while facing them.”
“If you fear them that much, why betray Adler?”
“The Heralds are only interested in one thing Adler has. If he dies, they’ll go after what he possesses rather than retaliate against me.”
“Got it. So you can sneak us into Rantaric Castle without the Heralds noticing?”
“Exactly. We’ll disguise you and hide you among our porters; you should make it inside Rantaric without issue. After that, you’re on your own.”
Guillaumevalt checked Azadin’s thoughts.
“What do you think?”
“It seems… to be true.”
Listening to the elf, Azadin realized Adler had used the Emperor’s treasury as bait to win over Arael’s Herald tribe.
“Very well…”
“But first…”
Azadin beckoned the Korasar Peddler Guild members aside and asked bluntly.
“You did kill them, right?”
“Hey now, watch your words. Even if they’re Heralds, that’s going too far.”
The guild members bristled at Azadin’s accusation.
“And if I do watch my words? What then? The elf’s story doesn’t sound like a lie.”
“Well, it’s true that this blackjack pouch lightly embedded into that courier’s skull, as the elf said.”
“……”
“But it hit with the handle end, not the tip—proof we had no intent to kill.”
“So you meant to knock him out with the handle, but the hook on it accidentally pierced his skull? Cracking it open.”
“Exactly.”
“Sigh. Well, you settled it with money and goods, so that’s fine…”
Those elf merchants and their armed escorts weren’t ordinary folk either.
The Telbarin Guild was infamous for slave trading from the start, dealing in drugs, smuggling all sorts of goods, and crushing competitors with force—so that made sense.
“What’s this about Arael becoming a goddess?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“She grants power and protection to her followers. That’s how she aims to become a living sage-god.”
“She…?”
Azadin could sense the merchants’ reverence for Arael. Even before the Heralds’ power struggle was decided, if they were already like this, her authority and fame must be growing by the day.
‘And… the sage-god strategy. It could work…’
Azadin recalled Arael’s voice.
An artificial spirit mimicking the Emperor’s voice, but steeped in the stench of Nether magic unlike the Emperor’s.
Yet that alone was power enough to be called divine.
If she looked after the common folk, repelled beasts and monsters to ensure safety, and distributed resources fairly so no one starved… wouldn’t that be the god people of this age desired?
“Why has Arael allied with Adler?”
“……”
The merchants didn’t answer that question.
The Korasar Peddler Guild’s Heralds were weighing Arael’s tribe against the council of elders, ready to join whichever won. With feet in both camps, they weren’t about to give away such info for free.
“Tell me. I’m even covering your compensation.”
Only after Azadin handed over gold coins did they speak.
“Young Lord Adler has a key to the Emperor’s treasury.”
“And he’s researching powerful Nether magic too.”
“Those guys we trade with? The Telbarin Guild—famous as smugglers, assassins, and slave traders who’ll do anything for money.”
“…….”
Azadin couldn’t suppress a smirk.
The Korasar Peddler Guild, a Herald merchant group, dabbled in assassination and smuggling too, didn’t they? They didn’t deal in slaves, but that one difference let them look down on rivals like this. Astonishing.
‘People never see the beam in their own eye but spot the speck in others’ all too well.’
But more surprising was that the Emperor’s treasury rumor had spread even to them.
“So the Emperor’s treasury story has gotten around that much. Understood. What do you think about going along with the elf’s plan?”
“Well…”
The Korasar Peddler Guild members looked troubled. With ties to both Arael’s tribe and the council, they couldn’t openly side with one.
But their hesitant attitude alone told Azadin the elf was at least trustworthy.
‘If he were a total con artist, they’d have no reason to hold back advice to me.’
They were wary because they could actually suffer real losses from Arael’s tribe, right?