Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Naga's Island 4
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Dehasuram felt a subtle displeasure at Azadin's words spoken between bites, but he was a naga raja who lived by putting on a convincing merchant act.
‘As expected of a hero, strong pride. Yes, a man should have this much arrogance.’
With the leisure of the strong, Dehasuram laughed off Azadin's remarks.
“Either way, you've accomplished some impressive feats. Even if the world doesn't know, if you explain what you've done to the Herald clans, they'll have to admit you have the skills and deserve the status. Why haven't you done that?”
“Because... of my stubbornness.”
“Stubbornness?”
“I don't want to bow my head first to a clan that won't accept me and beg them to like me by proving all I've done. More than that, I don't agree with what my clan is doing right now. To gain their recognition, I'd have to help with their work and act their way, right? But that's one thing I absolutely can't tolerate.”
“What exactly can't you tolerate?”
“The expansion of unnecessary slaughter. Massacring residents who aren't even enemies.”
“The Herald elders and the Arael tribe wouldn't think that slaughter is unnecessary. I don't either. Those who serve the King's Church won't tolerate us taking the Royal Throne. So why not strike first, kill them preemptively, and weaken their forces?”
“Even so, I think it's unnecessary. Even irredeemable villains deserve careful consideration before killing, but just because of a difference in position, I don't want to slaughter people we have no grudge against—farmers, merchants, fishermen, innocents who know nothing—in droves.”
“So you're saying you've been heading to Btuma alone, without joining the elders or the Arael tribe, just to stop and warn them against the Btuma invasion. Using your position as a Qing Gandang Taoist, which you happened to acquire while guarding against the naga invasion, to organize the Qing Gandang and block our naga invasion as effectively as possible?”
“That's right.”
Azadin said as much and drew the azure steel longsword strapped to his back. The blade wailed coldly.
“You're not planning to cut through all these nagas and escape, are you? Haha.”
“It's not about whether I can. It's about whether I must.”
“I invited you as a guest. Since then, I've kept every courtesy—I haven't disarmed you, poisoned your food. We've followed the laws of hospitality to the letter, and now you're going to break them?”
Dehasuram gazed at Azadin with a smile.
Dehasuram's guards drew their weapons warily, hissing threats at Azadin, but Azadin was confident he could slit Dehasuram's throat far faster than they could move.
Yet, as Dehasuram said, the problem was that he had upheld the laws of hospitality impeccably.
Killing someone who had hosted him with goodwill and honored those customs—that went against everything. How could Azadin, who was rushing to Btuma to prevent unnecessary slaughter, commit such a shameless act?
On the other hand, attacking Dehasuram and the nagas here aligned perfectly with Azadin's goal of protecting Btuma from slaughter.
Break the laws of hospitality and attack Dehasuram to defend Btuma?
Or uphold the laws of hospitality.
Azadin let out a long sigh and looked at Dehasuram.
“Dehasuram. Is there something else you want? If there is, let's make a deal. Relying on the laws of hospitality to stall and prolong my life is something I can't stand right now. I want to get to Btuma as soon as possible.”
“You think I'd make some kind of deal with you, meat already in my grasp?”
“If you want more from talking with me, then surely there's room for a deal.”
Azadin couldn't be entirely sure, though. From what he'd seen, Dehasuram was a curious human—no, naga.
If Azadin's logic held, Dehasuram definitely wanted something beyond Azadin's past tales.
‘Normally, I'd bluff first...’
Azadin felt sweat beading on the hand gripping his azure steel longsword 'Blue'.
‘Killing a host who's treated me sincerely and breaking hospitality... it'd be too regrettable.’
In other words, he was fully prepared to lop off Dehasuram's head if necessary.
At that moment, Dehasuram spoke up.
“If that's what you think, then you've read me right. Heh heh. Lucky for you, I do have a deal to propose.”
“Ah. Good.”
“Isn't it? I think it's good too.”
Dehasuram flashed a meaningful smile.
‘Good, because I don't have to cut your head off.’
Azadin thought as much but saw no reason to voice it and sour Dehasuram's mood.
*********
Naganaga originally served Kurt God-race Cobra Queen Debislinn and took pride in having fought the wicked ancient gods of the Nether who once threatened the Hybris continent.
Yet Nether worship was spreading among the nagas.
The ones most susceptible to Nether influence were the sea serpent naga clans, who dwelled in the ocean depths. Already large and powerful, these sea serpent nagas became utterly ferocious under the Nether's blessings, leaving other naga tribes powerless against them.
Naturally, the other nagas were dissatisfied with this state of affairs. They took pride in having protected civilization by battling the Nether.
And now they had to admit these corrupted kin, who worshipped Nether's emissaries, were stronger than them?
“So we try to pit the sea serpent nagas against Hybris humans or the Herald clans as much as possible to thin their numbers. It might not sound great from a human perspective, but it's no loss for us.”
“Aren't they suspicious of such blatant scheming?”
“The sea serpent nagas who've become Nether's kin have dulled judgment. It's not hard to sweet-talk and deceive them. But...”
“But?”
“They've lost all reason, turning into beasts that demand whatever they want. They're so rude and stupid, they won't listen. Even now, after I told them not to touch my servants, they've snatched the gardener's son.”
“......”
“Gardener.”
“Yes, sir.”
A middle-aged man approached, carrying small shoes and a dog leash.
“My boy went out looking for his missing dog and... got caught by the nagas.”
“You want us to rescue the child, or avenge him if he's dead.”
“Yes. Please. If you succeed, I'll officially claim you escaped. I'll provide a small boat. And I'll teach Shati water current control magic, so she can pilot it for your getaway.”
“What if we fail and get caught midway?”
“Then I'll play dumb. You'll be seen as a rogue who abused hospitality for spying and assassination, dishonored and executed. Can't be helped.”
“Hmm. Got it. I'll do it.”
Azadin agreed to Dehasuram's request.
“R-Really, Azadin Taoist? With all those nagas?”
Jisswa was bewildered. No matter how he looked at it, Dehasuram's commission was insane.
The naga encampment housed at least hundreds of sea serpent nagas, with keen senses and formidable combat prowess.
Rummaging through their tents to find the gardener's child or exact revenge? Even with Azadin and Scott's skills, this tiny group couldn't pull it off.
“It's not that hard, so don't worry, Jisswa. More importantly, prepare the supplies.”
“Supplies?”
“To flee by boat from here to Btuma, we'll need food and water. Pack them neatly in backpacks.”
“...Huh? Yes?”
In other words, Jisswa wouldn't join the infiltration mission scouting the naga camp nearby—he was to stay back and pack luggage.
Jisswa was flustered by Azadin's attitude, as if success was already assured.
“You sure it'll be okay? I'm glad to avoid danger, but without me, you'll be moving with just Scott...”
“Want to fight, Jisswa? Show off your bravery?”
“N-No, not that. I am a blood mage, but not at a high level...”
Jisswa blushed in embarrassment.
“A larger group just draws more eyes. For infiltration, fewer is better. Ready to start, Scott?”
“Yeah, boss. Rested up, mana recovered—good to go anytime. But no corpses, so I can't start.”
“Corpses? I'll make some quick.”
Azadin said and glanced at the sky. The sun was setting.
Jisswa warned Azadin.
“Sea serpent nagas see fine even after dark. They live in lightless ocean depths, and everything on them—their skin mucus, blood—is poison to humans...”
“Doesn't matter.”
Azadin bade Jisswa a brief farewell.
“Then let's get started.”
*********
After parting with Jisswa, Azadin and Scott advanced into the darkness toward the sea serpent naga encampment.
“Emperor's Voice.”
[You want me to find the human boy and dog?]
“Were you listening? What do you think?”
[I shall search.]
Moments later, the Emperor's Voice responded.
[...Found them. But he's dead. Not a sight for parents.]
“Which one?”
[The fourth tent down from the ridge you're on. Both boy and dog eaten.]
“Then it's execution.”
Azadin approached the sea serpent naga tents.
“Oh, boss, if we're sneaking in, I can't follow.”
Scott said this while trailing Azadin.
Azadin might slip past undetected to the fourth tent with his agility, but Scott couldn't.
Azadin looked puzzled at the comment.
“What are you talking about? We're killing everyone from the nearest tent to the fourth.”
“Huh?”
“The kid and dog didn't stroll to the fourth tent. They were snatched at the first and butchered there. Everyone along the path is complicit.”
“Ah. So we're holding them accountable. Got it, boss. But kill them all? Did I hear right?”
As Scott wondered, Azadin nocked an arrow on Grimsrowne's bow. He strung the pellet bowstring for the first time in a while and loaded a stone.
The pellet bow used leather straps midway between double strings to launch stones with tremendous power. But would it pierce the thick hides, scales, and venomous mucus of sea serpent nagas?
Scott's doubt resolved instantly.
*Thwack!*
A gruesome sound rang out, and a naga's head exploded clean off.