Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: The Knights' Secret Weapon 2
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Azadin suddenly received a summons order, but he first calmly offered the supply unit members some drinks and food, and heated bathwater for them.
The supply unit's herald was ready to drag Azadin there in ropes right that instant, but as Azadin treated them with utmost hospitality, his mood immediately lightened.
"Then, since it's such a rare kindness, we'll bathe, eat, wash up, and rest. Sir Azadin, finish preparing for your journey and depart with us tomorrow."
"Understood. Please rest well."
Azadin said that to the supply unit members and left the room before calling for Camilla.
"What is it? Azadin?"
"Once the drinks have them loosened up a bit, try to get some information out of them."
"Information on what?"
"This summons order just says to come, but I want to know the real reason, the atmosphere there, and why they're specifically summoning me."
"Ah, got it."
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
Azadin asked Camilla to handle it and slipped away.
A short while later, Camilla finished talking with the supply unit members and came out.
"Azadin. Investigation's done."
"How'd it go?"
"Not good. Even the supply unit doesn't know why the Chapter Master called for you. But... summoning someone with just a few attendants like this is usually how they bring in suspects for crimes. They predict you'll lose Vermilion Fortress and get arrested. They say they never issue summons like this to someone with an assigned post."
"Did they find out I'm using undead?"
Azadin panicked a bit since that hit a sore spot for him.
"Doesn't seem like it. Which is why, Azadin, mind if I give you some advice?"
"What?"
"Take off the mask."
"The mask?"
"Yeah. You're handsome. Why not use that? Wandering around in a weird mask just makes you look suspicious even when you're doing nothing."
"This mask is a memento from someone precious to me."
"If it's that precious, don't hang it on your face—keep it somewhere safe. Why cover your face with it?"
"Uh... well..."
Azadin hesitated on how to explain.
Truth be told, he had never really thought about it himself. It was just a habit from always hiding his face.
Even beyond that, Azadin now considered his own face to be the one he had stolen from Arael.
Arael had definitely said, when dying, that he was returning what he had taken from Azadin, but Azadin couldn't accept it.
He hadn't properly reconciled with Arael in life and regretted it deeply, so he didn't want to acknowledge any reason to hate Arael.
That was why Azadin saw his current appearance as Arael's, and had no intention of profiting off it by selling it away.
And remarkably, a total stranger like Camilla had pierced right through that.
"Azadin. Face people without the mask, and they'll all treat you well."
"What kind of joke is that, Camilla? The situation's serious right now."
"I'm dead serious."
"Even though I'm from the Herald Clan?"
"Better a handsome guy from the Herald Clan than one wandering around in a weird mask. What, you want people to see past superficial stuff to your true inner worth? No way. Just use your good looks and push forward. You know the saying—might as well go for the prettier skirt if the price is the same. It's human nature to pick what looks good. You can charm people without spending a dime—why not use it?"
"...Hmm. I don't want more guys like Legion popping up."
"That one's exceptional. Anyway, he's on your side and things are going well because of him, right?"
In fact, thanks to Legion, controlling the soldiers had become much easier.
"When you go see the Chapter Master, try taking off the mask and acting all friendly. If that doesn't work, we can think of something else then. Just try it—consider it a scam if you have to. I'm not saying flirt with everyone, just go around with the mask off and your real face out."
"Alright. I doubt it'll do much, but I'll give it a shot."
Azadin decided to take Camilla's advice.
*********
The next day, Azadin prepared to head to Fireglyph with Camilla, Kuntachi, and Bernard.
He donned the most luxurious navy gambeson from the gear of the former squad leaders at Vermilion Fortress and, following Camilla's advice, removed his mask.
The supply unit's herald was startled.
"Uh... Sir Azadin?"
"Yes. Did you rest well yesterday? I'm sorry the preparations are so modest."
"Oh, no, not at all. You're a Hospitaller-Errant... Please, speak casually. I'm the junior here, so it's I who should be sorry for your kindness."
This was the same guy who had accepted Azadin's drinks, food, and bathwater without a second thought the day before, yet overnight he was treating Azadin with utmost deference and gratitude.
On top of that, he acknowledged Azadin as a Hospitaller-Errant.
Until now, those who knew Azadin was from the Herald Clan hadn't considered him part of the Relief Knights Order.
"Hm?"
Azadin was taken aback by the supply officer's sudden change in attitude.
And it wasn't just him.
The soldiers the supply officer had brought were shocked upon seeing Azadin, and even the people from Vermilion Fortress froze the moment they saw him.
To the people of Whubris, someone as tall as Azadin with such clear skin looked like nobility—no, royalty.
If the current Azadin claimed to be from some royal line, most people would believe him.
Even those who knew he was from the Herald Clan were awed into silence by his clear skin, imposing stature, and striking beauty.
'See? Told you.'
Camilla mouthed it silently.
'No way, they're reacting like this just to looks? And I'm a guy, not a woman?'
Azadin was puzzled by the supply unit's drastically improved treatment, but the more he watched, the more it seemed true.
The supply unit took the fine sake Azadin offered without quibbling over quality, and in exchange for various goods they brought—arrowheads, swords, farming tools, nails, and other metal items hard to get in the village—they paid more than the set price.
"Our load's heavy anyway, so it's perfect. We'll leave it here."
"Is that alright?"
"You treated us so well yesterday—this is fine. As supply manager, this is within my discretion."
Azadin couldn't help but be astonished at how quickly the man's attitude had flipped.
*********
With the supply unit's help, Azadin's group borrowed a raft from a nearby logging camp and arrived at Fireglyph.
"Is that Fireglyph?"
Where multiple rivers converged into one, there stood Fireglyph Fortress.
Watchtowers and spires dwarfing anything at Vermilion Fortress, and massive walls said to be built by giants, inscribed with powerful flame runes that served as a warning to any enemies daring to scale them.
"Remnants of the ancient giants. Impressive."
Azadin, well-versed in the Relief Knights Order's myths and legends, felt a surge of emotion seeing the flame runes on Fireglyph's walls.
As they neared Fireglyph and the river slowed, Azadin's group disembarked, mounted their horses, and reached the Fireglyph checkpoint.
The Fireglyph soldiers blocked their approach at first, but upon spotting Azadin on horseback, they were stunned and stammered.
"Wh-who are you?"
"I'm Azadin, Hospitaller-Errant and squad leader of Vermilion Fortress."
"Of Vermilion Fortress?"
"A Herald Clan member?"
Everyone was shocked that he was the rumored Herald Clansman, but flustered by his refined features and elegance, like an angel incarnate.
'See? It works.'
Camilla grew even more convinced of her choice as she watched everyone overwhelmed by Azadin's noble bearing.
"I've come due to the summons order. Might I meet Chapter Master Hexenmeyer?"
"Ah, yes. Pl-please wait a moment. We'll escort you to the reception room."
The soldiers politely welcomed the group and, without a second thought, led Azadin to the reception room.
"Huh."
"..."
But inside the reception room was an unexpected face: Decurion Zan and other Northern Aragasans.
In truth, Hexenmeyer had explicitly ordered no one else be allowed in the reception room, but the soldiers and servants, flustered by Azadin's dignified air(?), couldn't leave such a distinguished guest waiting in the street and ushered his group in.
Fireglyph had long been sidelined from the Knights Order's core administration and power struggles, so even the servants forgot Hexenmeyer's warning and let Azadin's group into the reception room.
"Ah, you!"
Camilla recognized Decurion Zan and shouted.
"Tch."
Zan first raised a hand to calm his men.
"Everyone, stay calm. Hm. Azadin, what are you doing here?"
"I've joined the Relief Knights Order."
Zan's subordinates were stunned at that.
"What?"
"Relief Knights Order?"
"Are you sane?"
But Zan knew Azadin meant it and clicked his tongue.
"So that's why you're at Chadra Plateau. The Relief Knights Order bastards are as scheming as the King's Church scum."
"Zan, why are you here?"
"Can't answer that."
"Refusing to answer already says a lot, doesn't it? Looks like you're not here to meet the Chapter Master yourself, but as an attendant to some high-ranking figure currently in private audience with him."
"Then be satisfied with that."
Zan was impressed by how Azadin grasped the situation from that brief analysis alone.
'So that means the Chapter Master is a traitor to the Knights Order. Damn. Though, thinking about it, it makes sense? Chadra Plateau's basically an exile post, so even a Chapter Master there would want to rebel. Plenty of grudges mean plenty of motive for treason.'
Azadin realized Chapter Master Hexenmeyer was colluding with the Northern Kingdom and clicked his tongue.
Just then, the reception room door opened, and a silver-haired giant of a Northern man entered.
"Hm? Who's this?"
"He's Azadin the Hospitaller-Errant, Your Highness."
Azadin guessed the man's status. He was clearly Zan's superior, with the unmistakable traits of a Northerner exuding from his whole body. Combined with the circumstances, it was easy to see he was of the Northern Kingdom's royal blood.
When Azadin called him "Your Highness," the man glanced at Zan.
"I didn't say he was that kind of guy."
"Ah, that kind of guy?"
The Northern prince quickly understood the situation.
"Pleased to meet you, Azadin. Yes, I am Karlintz Lionair, son of Northern Kingdom's Cohen Lionair."
He offered Azadin a handshake.