Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Even If I Lose the Light 4
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‘That’s incredible power!’
Even to the Herald Clan, who were accustomed to enchanting arrows with magic before firing them, this was magic of staggering might.
“Well, now…”
Standing where the arrow had come from was a young female member of the Herald Clan. She had long black hair and purple eyes, and her tall stature made her resemble a statue of a goddess.
“Ah, Arael!?”
“As expected.”
The Heralds realized that the arrow that had just flown in was Arael’s handiwork.
Indeed, Arael—with abilities like that, it was no wonder she dared to rebel against the Council of Elders. And to boldly reveal herself in a situation like this.
‘No way… she exposed herself just to save someone captured by the Nagas? Impressive. She’s the enemy, but she’s so dignified and beautiful.’
‘Magnificent.’
Thus, the Heralds found themselves admiring Arael’s beautiful and resolute figure, despite her being their foe.
*********
Of course, Arael had no intention of saving them.
But Azadin had fired the first arrow at the Nagas.
Indim, who already saw Azadin as a thorn in his side, was outraged by this reckless, unilateral charge without consulting the others. Arael, however, swiftly issued a command.
“Covering fire!”
“Huh? Ah!”
Arael’s subordinates, including Indim, reluctantly provided covering fire for Azadin, and the Nagas fell like leaves in the autumn wind.
The Naga shamans pushed forward undead to form a barrier against the volley of arrows, but Azadin plunged in and charged straight at the Naga shamans.
“Grraaak!”
As the Nagas moved to block him with their naga scimitars and bone spears, Azadin swung the axe-spear forged from Azure Steel, the ‘Azure Executioner.’
A blue glow flashed as the Nagas’ limbs flew into the air.
“Kraaak!”
But Azadin’s attacks were too grand and flashy. The wide, windmill-like swings of the axe-spear left openings.
‘Oh no!’
This axe-spear was sharper than Azadin had anticipated.
The Azure Executioner was enchanted with magic that drew mana from Azadin himself, repelling anything that touched the blade to either side with its center.
It was a magical axe-spear that left gruesome wounds with even a mere graze, without blood or flesh clinging to the edge.
Azadin, using it in real combat for the first time, was caught off guard by the unexpected feel.
“Now’s our chance!”
The Nagas aimed for that gap and thrust their spears at Azadin. But in that instant, Azadin released his grip on the Azure Executioner.
His hand naturally shifted via the leather strap attached to the end of the axe-spear.
Azadin swung his body wildly, gripping the leather strap to wield the Azure Executioner.
The blue glow traced an even wider arc than before, severing the heads of the charging Nagas.
‘Swinging it by the strap instead of the handle, and it still cuts through bone! It consumes some mana, but what a fantastic weapon.’
With power to spare, the axe-spear continued spinning through the air before being drawn back to Azadin’s hand like a magnet.
The sight of him sweeping away Nagas and undead like autumn leaves with just two swings left not only the Nagas but even the watching Heralds stunned.
Moreover, while Azadin held the front line, Arael cast powerful magic to annihilate the Nether spawn the Nagas had summoned—flesh-lump serpents.
In the end, they rescued the people with no significant casualties, just a bit of arrow expenditure.
However, the Four of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon were furious at Azadin for conducting the unauthorized rescue.
“You bastard! Acting on your own!”
Indim was ready to lunge at Azadin, but Arael held him back.
“Our clansmen are still out there.”
Arael addressed the Herald Clan members who had been observing loosely from the rear, without charging in like the Nagas.
“So, what will you do?”
“We…”
They were the ones who had been retching at the sight of humans being massacred. With the beautiful Arael acting arrogantly yet with such poise, they couldn’t help but be overawed by her elegance.
Moreover, Arael’s prowess was unparalleled even among the clan; those who hadn’t seen it firsthand knew she was called a living goddess for her fearsome abilities.
“We’ll look the other way, Arael.”
“Will words alone suffice? Hand over your arrows.”
At Arael’s demand, the Heralds tossed their quivers to her. Arael’s group, who had already burned through arrows shooting at the Nagas, collected them.
“Talk about special treatment.”
Ismail smirked at the sight.
If Azadin had stepped up, even with good intentions to save people, they might have turned hostile.
But with the beautiful and renowned Arael overwhelming them with high-level Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon magic, everyone gazed at her with admiration.
It was a reaction possible only because she was a beauty with an established reputation as a powerhouse among the Herald Clan.
Azadin understood why Ismail said that and gave a wry smile.
“Avoiding fights when possible is always good.”
“For someone like that, didn’t you start the fight yourself? It was one we could have avoided.”
Though Ismail said this, he fell silent upon seeing Azadin pick up the infant’s swaddling cloth from the ground.
Azadin returned the child to its mother, who was trembling violently from the shock just before execution.
“Here, get out of here quickly.”
“Uuuugh…”
The woman snatched the child and recoiled from Azadin, shaking. The terror of death and the horror of the massacre made her body and soul quake deeply.
“Ungrateful wretches—not even a thank you!”
The Aleph of the Wind approached Azadin, venting his irritation.
“To them, Nagas and the Herald Clan are allies holding hands. They can’t grasp the situation.”
“So you acted on your own for these ingrates who don’t even recognize the favor?”
“Don’t sweat it. We took no real damage, right? Saving lives with minimal effort isn’t bad.”
“They’re Hybris citizens. If the tables were turned and we were in danger, they’d be the ones throwing stones at us.”
“Were you maybe the type tormented by delusions as a kid, like your mom actually trying to kill you or something?”
“What?”
“You seem to have a habit of twisting unproven events into self-pitying negativity.”
“You little… I outrank you in cohort and age—how dare you spout such nonsense!?”
The Four of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon outranked Azadin in cohort and were actually older.
The Herald Clan, or Aragasa, upheld traditions revering age and rank, which made Azadin’s provocations all the more effective.
Azadin still didn’t like Arael’s group, but they were among the few he could rely on now, so alienating them wouldn’t help.
“Fine. I’m sorry for jumping the gun without a word. It wasn’t procedurally right. I apologize.”
“Apologizing with words is easy for you.”
The Four seemed intent on seizing this chance to put Azadin in his place, especially since they already disliked him. But this wasn’t the time.
Far off, the Nagas atop the spires had spotted the disturbance here and blown their conch-shell horns.
-Bwooooo!
The sound was deafening.
“Damn it! We’re made!”
“It’s because you pulled that pointless stunt!”
“No, we would’ve been spotted coming this far anyway. There are Foresight Birds everywhere, and detection spells too.”
“Quit making excuses! It’s your fault!”
Outraged by Azadin’s cheeky attitude, the Four had no choice but to move quickly before the enemies swarmed.
*********
Azadin and Arael’s group relocated to the rooftops of Btuma’s buildings.
The highly mobile Herald Clan could traverse rooftops like flat ground, so even if Nagas or undead lunged, few could block their path.
The problem was the Herald Clan. They had apparently finished analyzing Btuma’s terrain and stationed themselves at key infiltration points.
Yet no Heralds blocked Azadin’s path. They fired arrows half-heartedly, then retreated appropriately when his group approached, avoiding direct clashes. It was blatant slacking.
“No blocking is nice, but why are they acting like that?”
When Azadin voiced his curiosity, Seraph shrugged.
“It’s because of Lady Arael’s lofty reputation. Even if she’s sided with the Council, they don’t want to stand in her way.”
Azadin eyed Seraph skeptically.
‘This guy rags on me for being young and low-ranked, but he’s all polite honorifics with Arael.’
Conversation with the Four of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon, who held absolute loyalty to Arael, was futile. Whatever was said circled back to their devotion and fondness for her.
The subject herself, Arael, who had been listening, spoke up.
“They all agreed to seizing the Royal Throne and usurping the kingdom. But none imagined it would lead to allying with Nagas, massacring the populace, and summoning Nether emissaries. Hatred or grudges against Hybris folk aside, no one wants to burn the world and bring about its end.”
“Then why not purge the leaders?”
“That’s not feasible.”
“Why? Living in the sanctuary, I hardly ever saw the leaders.”
Azadin had spent over a decade with his master Kazas but had only glimpsed the leaders a handful of times.
Leader Hatir rarely emerged, showing little involvement in Aragasa events—yet wielded such immense influence?
“Because he’s the one supplying the Aragasa with divine blood.”
“What do you mean?”
“Most elders live over a century while retaining youthful vigor. Know why? They all carry the blood of Leader Hatir—the blood of Emperor Yaeslat.”
“What… are you sure?”
“Yes. That’s the main reason I rebelled. They said my exceptional birth made me perfect for bearing Leader Hatir’s child—like it was some grand favor.”
Arael shuddered as if the nightmare of that day resurfaced just from speaking of it.
“What?”
Azadin was stunned.
If Arael’s birth was exceptional, so was his own. Yet this was news to him.
“When did this happen?”
“Back when we were young, before I wounded you.”
“That far back…”
Azadin rummaged through old memories and was shocked.
Had such overt expectations been placed on Arael even in their childhood?
“I don’t want to become livestock. And most clan children born from now on probably wouldn’t want that treatment either. That’s why I’ve been preparing my rebellion since then.”
As Arael said this, she suddenly glanced at her subordinates.
“My, I’ve prattled on uselessly. Let’s keep moving. We need to reach the Royal Throne as fast as possible while the clan slacks off. Hatir hasn’t recovered his strength spent seizing it yet.”
Arael turned to Azadin as she spoke, as if about to say something more, but resigned and pressed forward.
‘What’s that about? Asking me to understand her childhood hardships? But…’
Learning that Arael had endured her own struggles in ways he hadn’t known left Azadin bewildered.