Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: Northern Aragas 4
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As Azadin had guessed, the force behind the Northern Aragas that attacked the pilgrimage group was Northern Emperor Kohen Lionere.
"St-still, wouldn't it be better to take him prisoner?"
"Forget it. Even if we captured him, we'd have to keep watching him try to escape, and we don't have the luxury for that. It'd just be exhausting."
With that, Azadin tossed aside the longsword of the decurion he held in his hand.
-Shing!
The sword slid across the road like a spinning top, coming to a stop right in front of the decurion's feet.
The decurion was speechless.
Was Azadin really not taking him prisoner and just letting him go?
"D-don't mess with me! How could I live with myself accepting charity like this? Just take me prisoner instead!"
"Hey now. Such pride. Not taking you prisoner is partly because we can't manage one. We're barely taking care of ourselves right now."
"Then kill me!"
"Northern Aragas really have a strong sense of self-deprecation. Or maybe the whole group has depression? Makes sense—the North lacks sunlight, they say. Without enough sun, people get gloomy."
"......"
This was no joke—the decurion was in real danger now.
The fact that the Northern Emperor was behind the pilgrimage raid could not get out. He'd messed up by letting Azadin figure it out, so he couldn't just let Azadin and his group go free.
But charging at the guy who'd spared his life again?
Any race might feel this way, but Aragas especially valued honor.
If Azadin had tried to kill him, he'd have fought with everything he had gladly. If taken prisoner, he'd have waited for a chance to escape and counterattack.
But to be let go like this?
"Damn it! Fine! I get it!"
The decurion scratched his head and offered his sword to Azadin.
"I'm Zan of the Yakutsu clan of the Northern Aragas! From this moment, I join you!"
"What?"
Herald McDougal, unaware of the Aragas' complicated circumstances, jumped up in shock.
"What nonsense is that? No way! Ridiculous!"
But Azadin placed a hand on Zan's shoulder.
"Good. Smart choice. I welcome your voluntary enlistment."
"Damn. Voluntary, my ass."
"Isn't it voluntary? Then go home. I'm letting you go."
"No! It is voluntary! Totally voluntary!"
Zan, the decurion of the Northern Aragas, insisted with a face like he might cry that his choice was voluntary.
*********
Once Zan of the Yakutsu clan of the Northern Aragas surrendered to Azadin, his subordinates immediately fled.
They would report this to their superiors, reorganize, and come back with full force to crush Zan and Azadin.
Above all, Azadin had learned that the Northern Emperor was behind the pilgrimage attack.
Of course, it was a fact that would eventually become public knowledge.
Right now, the Northern Emperor planned to attack not just this pilgrimage group but all others—not just to seize the Salvation Knight Order, but to kidnap bishops and dismantle their organization.
With such a massive operation, it would leak eventually, but not now.
He couldn't reveal his hand this quickly and easily.
"You figured out the Northern Emperor was behind it and spread it around to screw me over. Big mistake on your part."
"I'm Azadin, the 108th Herald of the Emperor."
Azadin replied to Zan with a smile. Curious, Camilla asked,
"Hold on. Didn't you tell us you were the 1st Herald before? What was that about?"
"I didn't say anything wrong."
"What? You didn't say anything wrong?"
Hearing that, Zan finally pieced it together.
"Damn. Fooled. You're the only Herald of the Emperor?!"
"That's right."
"I heard the Hatir tribe was in chaos from some rebellion by a guy named Arael or whatever, but I didn't think all the Emperor's Heralds had fallen. The Herald clan is done for. So you're the 1st Herald and the 108th?"
"Yes."
"Ah, that's a relief."
"What is?"
"Well, it's true. I was embarrassed that I couldn't even compete with you, but if you're the only Herald of the Emperor left, it's not so bad. You must have been an outstanding talent even among the Hatir tribe, right?"
"......"
Azadin gave a wry smile at Zan's words.
From childhood, he'd been treated like a halfwit among the Herald clan. But no need to stir up Zan's feelings by saying that.
"Arael is my older sister. I'm her only blood kin."
"Ah...."
It was irrelevant, but Zan naturally assumed Azadin was just as formidable as Arael and felt reassured.
Then Herald McDougal, who'd been listening, sneered.
"To switch sides immediately and worry about honor? Hilarious. The epitome of a shameless turncoat—no need for a helmet to hide that face."
From his perspective, he couldn't understand Zan's flag-switching. It seemed dishonorable and brazen.
"What? This bastard?"
Zan glared at the herald.
"He switched sides for the sake of honor. That makes him an honorable man."
Azadin explained on Zan's behalf.
"The Aragas are a group where clan and bloodline matter greatly. Especially since coming from their homeland to this continent of Hybris, they've become even more precious. So when Aragas fight outsiders, that's one thing—but when Aragas fight each other, it's seen as a civil war tangled in clan, bloodline, and grudges. Think of it as rebellion against a commander's failings—easy enough to understand?"
Azadin's objective explanation struck Zan, who'd decided purely as an Aragas, like fresh insight.
"Of course, if this guy were a high-ranking officer or commander, it'd be different. But from a low-rank officer's view, he owes me his life. Staying with his group means he'd have to forget that debt and point a sword at me on orders from above—he saw that as dishonorable. So even when I offered to let him go, he surrendered. No one would blame him for ignoring such a shallow life-debt anyway."
"Ahh. So that's why...."
Everyone understood why Zan had surrendered to Azadin. Zan shook his head in warning.
"Don't get the wrong idea. The moment I surrendered, I considered most of that shallow life-debt repaid. I don't plan to stick with you forever. If you slip up, I'll escape."
"Telling me that is what's cute about you."
"Ugh."
Zan clamped his mouth shut as Azadin chuckled.
"By the way, is it true the Northern Emperor's behind this? Why's he after me?"
Izmera wondered about that point.
"I don't know."
Zan refused to answer.
He'd surrendered to Azadin, but he had no intention of spilling all the intel like a full ally. He just planned to repay the debt and bolt.
"Anyway, I'm the one here with the most experience making rational judgments and plans. Everyone agree?"
Azadin asked the group.
Of course, they'd all survived thanks to him, so they had nothing to say—even if they had ten mouths. But Herald McDougal objected.
"No! Lady Izmera should lead us!"
"Because she's the bishop's bastard?"
"No! Such a false accusation!"
"Then you must know something. What?"
"I-I don't know. I know nothing, but even so, let me say: squire knights of the order are noble and righteous. Here, the highest in status is Lady Izmera, so naturally she should lead. That's divine providence. If a heretic like you commands us and we obey, we'll be questioned on our faith and sincerity later."
"What do you think?"
"I'll delegate command to you."
The person in question, Izmera, handed command to Azadin.
"Then I'll make decisions as leader. I'll respect each member, of course. So don't ask Zan questions he can't answer. Even without him speaking, just having him with us gains us plenty."
"......"
In fact, Azadin had easily sniffed out that the Northern Emperor was behind them. Provoking Zan would just make him think his debt was paid sooner.
'This guy's slick.'
Azadin was experienced at this subtle push-pull—he'd reeled in the liquor mage Shati, squeezing out regeneration magic even humans struggled with.
If Shati were here, she'd genuinely worry for Zan, hooked by Azadin.
"Alright. Get some shut-eye now. We'll move at night. Camilla, you looted the bodies for food, right?"
"Yeah."
"Share it out and rest."
Azadin said that, then laid planks near the prisoner transport wagon to make beds.
*********
Night fell, and Azadin opened his eyes.
"Everyone rest well?"
"My little brother did."
The night thief Camilla replied.
Aside from the half-orc Kuntachi, everyone seemed too tense to have slept properly.
Azadin rolled up the blanket he'd used, tied it to his pack, and tossed it.
-Kururuk....
A translucent ghostly mountain goat appeared suddenly, catching the pack on its head and flipping it onto its back. The pack hooked perfectly onto the saddle ring.
"What is that?!"
"My mount. I can only summon it at night."
Azadin said with a wry smile.
This ghostly goat was formed from Arael's altered voice—being a ghost, only at night.
It was fast as flight, letting him reach Izmera's call quickly, but it looked bad to others. Superstitious commoners would see it as a demon riding a death spirit.
As expected, McDougal pointed it out.
"You're riding that? You'll give heart attacks to good folk on the road? Terrifying just to look at. Where'd you learn such evil tricks? Herald clan trait? Even if it's from a living being, openly binding and using a dead soul...."
"Not necromancy—artificial spirit. No living creature was harmed. If anything was... it's part of the soul of its creator."
Azadin said, feeling Arael's lingering trace within the ghostly goat.
Of course, the herald had a point. Perfect for scaring night travelers to death.
But they weren't in a position to be picky.
"Load all gear on the goat. Let's move."
They transferred everything to the goat, lightened their loads as much as possible, and set off. Otherwise, they'd never shake the pursuers.