Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Massacre of the Paladins 6
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There was the following ruling regarding the promise made with the Herald Clan.
If someone makes a promise to a roadside stone, should they be punished for breaking it?
A promise with the Herald Clan is no different. They are beings without souls, indistinguishable from roadside stones.
No, even a roadside stone wouldn't dare defile the King's Radiance, so as followers of the Emperor, they are far worse trash than mere stones. Any serious promise made with such trash holds no meaning whatsoever, so breaking it or acting dishonorably against them is exempt from blame if the target is the Herald Clan.
In this way, the people of Hybris claim the Herald Clan are soulless beings and reject even the minimal principles that honor and law ought to uphold.
In such a situation, even if Azadin promises them something, who knows if they would truly become Penitent Knights? And yet, Azadin pitied the people of Hybris.
"The people of Hybris will be in trouble if they're not handled according to Hybris's principles. These folks chose to retaliate against the Paladins and now have to abandon their farm and flee as the price. That'll be a harsh life. So I can't make that call."
"For all that, you seemed pretty reluctant to kill the Paladins."
When Ismail asked, Azadin nodded.
"It's one thing if I have to kill them because I'm exhausted from fighting a tough opponent and have no choice, but killing foes I know I can beat easily is agonizing. It means committing needless murder."
"......"
Absolute confidence. Even the Emperor's Heralds rarely show such confidence against the King's Church Paladins.
In fact, the King's Church Paladins had ghostly deflected arrows shot by Midiam or Ismail, and dodged Azadin's javelins if they saw them coming. The Squire Knight hit by a javelin had only been caught by a surprise attack from the rear.
To face such high-level Paladins overall while maintaining that composure?
"Since living as nomads is too grueling, you wanted to handle it under Hybris's systems and laws as much as possible, right?"
"Exactly. Hmm, but the funerals are all done—where'd this guy go?"
A short while later, Tarky, who had fled from the farm, slunk back, furtively checking the mood.
"Ah, looks like it's over."
"He's back already? I figured he'd just keep running."
"Well, from my position, I couldn't fight the King's Church Paladins."
"That attitude makes traveling with us a problem too."
Midiam sharply criticized him. Associating with the Emperor's Heralds was blasphemy too, enough to get killed for... From Tarky's standpoint, traveling with Azadin wasn't ideal either.
When Midiam pressed him on it, Tarky had nothing to say and looked awkward. In truth, Tarky stuck with Azadin because, with his mercenary band gone, he feared traveling alone and running into highway robbers, monsters, or even assassins from his half-brothers.
But Azadin needed Tarky too.
'His mother provided the Emperor's gold coin, right? And hired that mercenary band. Needs investigating. Besides, he's the petitioner for the gold coin now, so he can't easily betray us. Avoiding combat with the Paladins—well, he's Hybris nobility, so unavoidable.'
Azadin understood Tarky's position and gave orders.
"For now, let's wrap up preparations as best we can. Wash up, change clothes... pick up the arrows. Wonder if these can be laundered."
While the villagers handled the bodies, Azadin had everyone tidy up as much as possible.
*********
The farm's survivors were packing valuables and preparing to leave. Having joined in killing the King's Church Paladins and dealt with Herald Clan member Azadin, they could no longer stay.
"This is all because of you!"
A young girl tending sheep suddenly accused Azadin.
"If you hadn't come to our farm! Mom and Dad wouldn't have died!"
"Shh."
A youth who seemed to be her brother clamped her mouth shut.
"Sorry about that. She's just a kid..."
The farmer's son eyed Azadin fearfully, worried about retaliation for the girl's outburst. But Azadin paid little heed to her emotional words.
"So what now?"
Midiam asked the farmers, her pure curiosity piqued.
"We'll head to relatives nearby and lay low. Marry off the ones we can, find jobs for those who can work. The fields... the drought's worsening anyway, making it hard to farm."
The farmer's son pointed the way they were headed—southwest, opposite Salasma.
"Then we part ways here. We'll be off."
"Yes. May the Emperor's blessing be upon you, Herald."
At the farmer's son's words, the children gasped and stared at their brother. It seemed a polite mention of the Emperor's blessing, but to Hybris folk children, even that was frightening and ominous.
[The people treat me like some plague. I've striven to give them civilization and wisdom.]
The Emperor's voice sounded indignant at their reaction.
"A ruler who hasn't settled succession gets hate, no matter how sage or enlightened."
[I concede that. But the peace I achieved for one generation alone is priceless. And for the Yaegas divine race, a generation is truly long.]
"I suppose so."
*********
From the party's current position, routes to Salasma were north or west then north along the Gray River crossing Corasar plain. Azadin chose west, then north along the Gray River.
"It's a bit longer, but lots of refugees will take this way, so easy to blend in. We can gauge the drought's severity by how low the river is. Gathering info is key for a Herald."
Azadin set the route and walked along it.
East of the 'Spine of the Desert' mountains felt the drought less, but even here its effects showed. Spring, yet grasses and trees by the road were withered and twisted in places.
Tarky, perhaps uneasy about fleeing during the Paladin fight, fawned over Azadin even more diligently.
"Impressive, sir. They say King's Church Paladins are most vigorous as Squire Knights, and you took them all out."
"Did you see it? How you fought?"
Midiam asked curiously.
"No, well, not directly, but..."
"Too busy running away, huh."
"Ugh."
Rebuked by the girl, Tarky was flustered. Normally he'd snap back, but in his position, he couldn't lash out at Midiam, who reeked of high Herald Clan status.
"Hmm, quiet down. I'm tired."
Azadin, burdened with arms and gear, couldn't ride the Kerim goat the whole way or it'd be too strained. So he walked holding the reins; even with better stamina than average, back-to-back fights had worn him down.
"Lots of other travelers, so no loose talk. Nothing about killing Paladins or whatever..."
Azadin mimed slitting his throat. Then merchants called out to the group.
"Hey, travelers. Care for some tea?"
Roadside tea vendors.
Tea was popular across the Eight Kingdoms, almost a necessity. Except in clear-water spots, most water had lime or impurities that caused illness if drunk raw.
Boiling leaves attached impurities to them, purifying the water— so Yaegas divine race promoted tea cultivation and drinking.
Thus, vendors along roads brewed tea for travelers for pay. They had portable water carriers on carts with braziers to boil and steep. Some sold candy-hawthorn treats too.
The vendor calling Azadin's group had... a small flag of the Corasar Merchants' Guild.
"Come on, long road and water's scarce. Have some tea before you go."
He set out tiny wooden stools by the road from his cart. Azadin nodded and sat.
The merchant glanced at Tarky.
"And that knight?"
"Petitioner for the gold coin. It's fine. No info leaks."
Azadin stated firmly. The gold coin oath was potent binding magic; users couldn't betray Heralds at will. Common knowledge among Heralds. Otherwise, Azadin wouldn't tolerate a looter like Tarky.
"Ah, is that so?"
The merchant's sales smile, just moments ago, hardened into relief—no need for pretense.
"So, the one who became a Herald three months ago, ignoring procedure—where to?"
Blatant sarcasm. Heralds normally rotated every two years at midsummer festival.
Then the aged or injured retired, vacancies from deaths or retirements filled by young talents or herald servants' recommendations.
But Azadin skipped procedure via special exception three months back, thanks to Elder Kazas's push—though known as traitor's spawn, dropout, incompetent among Heralds.
Enough that 'marry you to Azadin' scared crying kids.
So even this mere tea vendor servant sneered at him.
'With Azadin's skills, they couldn't dismiss him like that.'
Midiam thought so, but she'd heard no rumors of his prowess either—just tales of childhood ineptitude persisting, so even servants scorned him.
"Heading to Salasma. Something up?"
"Yes. You can refuse. But you've already rejected the regional chief's tasks so much you're in his bad books, right? Why be a Herald if you refuse the chief's missions?"
"Busy with the Emperor's gold coin matter."
"Hah. Not that many gold coin cases."
"......"