Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: The Malaria Elixir 4
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“There are a lot of refugees here. With all these mosquitoes, diseases are bound to spread.”
“That’s right. It’s a dire situation.”
The clerk said this before turning to Azadin.
“Brother. What’s your name?”
“I’m Adan.”
Azadin gave a false name.
The Herald Tribe, the Aragasa, had mingled blood with the Hubris folk and thus bore names in various styles. But in Azadin’s case, his was an ancient Aragasa traditional name, so he decided to use an alias to hide his roots.
“Brother Adan. As you can see, everyone’s in a tough spot right now. Amid this chaos, our Green Turban Society is protecting the refugees and fending off bandits and monsters.”
The refugees’ living conditions were abysmal, and malaria, dysentery, and fevers—Btuma’s endemic diseases—were spreading among them.
Green-Turbaan-clad Btumans moved through the crowds, distributing something.
“Here! Medicine from the Green Turban Society! It’s the grace of the Heavenly Lord—take this, and any disease, malaria or dysentery, will be cured!”
Azadin flinched at the words.
According to the pharmacology passed down to Heralds, the only medicine that worked on all diseases was narcotics. Potent painkillers could only ease the suffering of illness, not cure the disease itself.
‘Narcotics? But the magic feels faint…?’
[Nether magic.]
The Emperor’s voice answered in his place.
‘Nether magic?’
[The power emanating from that medicine. And not just that—I can sense latent Nether power in many people around here. Probably those who’ve taken the drug.]
The Emperor’s voice carried a warning.
[False prophets swarm in these chaotic times. Be cautious. It won’t addict you immediately if you take it, but don’t readily accept Nether magic.]
‘That’s trouble.’
Just then, the guiding clerk halted.
“We’re here, Brother Adan. Best watch your words from now on.”
“We’re meeting the cult leader?”
“The cult leader isn’t here. This is the Daoist master in charge of missionary work in Adiroph.”
“The Daoist master…”
“Leave your weapons.”
“Understood.”
Azadin set down his weapons and entered the audience chamber to meet the Daoist.
*********
The so-called audience chamber was just a few large tents pitched like a field camp.
But since it stood before Baron Adiroph’s castle, it showed the close ties between the acting baron and the Green Turban Society.
“This place…”
“The acting baron shows great interest in our Green Turban gospel.”
The society members strutted proudly, but Azadin gave a wry smile.
‘Of course. With your cult rampant in the area, he wouldn’t want to sour relations. An acting baron’s just a bureaucrat—he’s not about to pick a fight to the death with you.’
The Daoist was a noble-looking man in his twenties who, by appearance alone, could pass for a merchant or scholar, with an elegant poise. His androgynous features even made one wonder if he was a woman in disguise.
“First, remove your helmet. Won’t you show your face? How can we judge your character if you talk with it on?”
“My apologies. I hid it only because it’s an unsightly sight.”
As Azadin spoke and removed his helmet, the Daoist and surrounding Green Turban members jumped in shock.
“Eek?”
“His eyes?”
“Amazing. Blind? How, then?”
“I use magic in place of sight.”
“Ah, a mage. Impressive. We’d heard you had skill, but a mage? How do you travel with a holy knight?”
“That holy knight recently saw upheavals across Korasar Kingdom and grew hesitant. Plus, he had a falling out with his superiors and was expelled from the order.”
“Ah, I see.”
They all nodded in understanding at the mention of the superior’s mishap.
“Then, will you share the Green Turban teachings with me? What does the society follow? What are its goals?”
“Before that…”
The Daoist opened his mouth shyly.
“As you see, people are sick and starving—it’s a hard time. You seek our teachings, but salvation in the Green Turban isn’t for one alone. Helping the people, and the people helping us—that’s the world the Heavenly Lord desires, no? So, if you could contribute a little…”
“Ah, yes. Money?”
“Of course. It’ll buy the medicine and food we need—a great help.”
“Hmm, understood.”
If they’d just demanded it, it’d feel like robbery, but using the suffering masses as an excuse made Azadin pay willingly.
The Daoist marveled as Azadin handed over three gold coins.
“Quite a sum. Thank you, brother. I recognize you as one of us in the Green Turban Society. Initiation is next week, so this is provisional, but take this.”
“This is…”
Azadin took the blue turban. It smelled bitter.
“We dyed it simply with fruit from trees. It’s not proper dye, so don’t let it get wet or it’ll run.”
“Then share the teachings. What is the Heavenly Lord?”
“The Heavenly Lord is our cult leader. He was originally a Btuma merchant who survived a lightning strike one day and attained enlightenment.”
“Lightning… enlightenment?”
“Yes. So he wears the green turban, gathers people to prepare for the era of Jupiter, and bestows grace on those plagued by disease. Our duty is to spread his teachings and convey the Heavenly Lord’s voice to the people.”
“I see. I want to learn even more about the Heavenly Lord.”
Azadin’s words were sincere.
A cult using Nether magic to expand during the coming era of Jupiter.
As a Herald charged by the Emperor to protect the people’s lives, and as the pure human Azadin, he couldn’t ignore it.
“To meet the Heavenly Lord in person, you must devote yourself to our Green Turban Society accordingly.”
“Of course.”
“On that note… that holy knight with you—is he reliable?”
“I told you already. He’s been expelled from the order.”
“We know, but holy church priests and knights are often high nobles. Even faced with Korasar’s heavenly punishment, they cling to their church’s flawed ideals and won’t accept the green turban. Even those expelled often balk at swearing oaths to us.”
To the Green Turbans, Zivek looked like a ticking time bomb.
This Daoist was moderate enough to phrase it this way; hardliners would be itching to kill him.
“Hmm. Thanks for the concern. I’ll talk to him.”
“Be careful. Oh, and we’ve heard you’re quite capable, so I have a request.”
“A request?”
“Truth is, a group approached us before you. We took their donations to save the people… but they seem like spies.”
“Spies?”
“Yes. Our curing of malaria and aid to the people is the Heavenly Lord’s grace and miracle, yet they call it sorcery and try to dig into it.”
Azadin felt a pang of guilt.
He’d thought the same and planned to investigate—were others with the same idea already here?
“Whether they’re from the royal church or something else, won’t you look into them?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Church folk are easy to tail. Think of it as your initiation rite.”
“Ah, understood.”
Azadin accepted the Daoist’s proposal half-heartedly.
*********
Scott waved at Azadin returning to the group.
“How’d it go, boss?”
Scott, Zivek, and Shati had stayed back while Azadin met the Daoist. Azadin glanced around and whispered to Scott.
“They fleeced me.”
“Eh?!”
“And it’s no small matter.”
Azadin explained the investigation the Daoist requested.
“Wow, next time some new guys show up, we’ll have them investigate these ones for us.”
“Right?”
“What’ll you do, Azadin? Take it on?”
Shati asked curiously.
“Hmm. I need to meet these investigation targets first. Not sure if they’re royal church or some new faction… I should talk it over with them.”
“Why not ignore this and head to Btuma to meet Arael?”
Zivek asked. Azadin was surprised by the unexpected response.
“They’re spreading heresy here?”
“Calling it heresy just for collecting donations and bullying civilians seems excessive. The royal church and relief knight orders do the same. Besides, they’re actually treating malaria and dysentery.”
Zivek spoke with unusual sharpness.
Malaria and dysentery were usually death sentences.
Seeing these so-called heretics treat people and win hearts made Zivek doubt.
The self-proclaimed true faith of the royal church had weakened healing magic, saving people based on status and wealth, abandoning most to die. Their true faith was worse than heresy.
And after seeing Dimia cleanly use restoration healing magic, his inner conflict had intensified.
“Still, I’m investigating the Green Turbans. Since they originated in Btuma, establishing ties before going there seems wise.”
Azadin said this and asked a nearby Green Turban soldier about the group he needed to investigate.
*********
The Green Turban soldiers led him to a traveling troupe’s wagon.
Atop the four-horse cart, two dancing girls sold smiles to the crowd’s attention, surrounded by peddlers hawking medicines and trinkets.
But one dancer looked familiar to Azadin.
“…It’s Jenis and Dimia.”
Flower’s Dimia and her sister Jenis danced as wandering performers.
Below them, selling goods: Bird’s Seraph and Wind’s Aleph. The driver was Moon’s Indim.
The Four of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon.
The four strongest Heralds of the current generation had become traveling merchants and infiltrated the Green Turban headquarters.
‘Come to think of it, they escaped Koral Sahar by land.’
Azadin’s group had started late but ridden naga ships, arriving in Adiroph around the same time.
Which meant Arael was likely nearby too.
“Perfect. No need to go to Btuma—we can meet here.”
As Azadin spoke, Indim—disguised as the driver—approached. Cloaked head to toe in black robes with a leather black mask over his face, he looked suspicious to anyone.
“Azadin…”
“Adan, right now. Green Turbans are watching—be careful.”