Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Aldis 2
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Generally, people active in guilds harbored an inferiority complex about not becoming Heralds themselves, so they didn't dare treat Heralds rudely.
But Salem was a former Herald with a high rank and a prestigious family. In his eyes, Azadin was just a cocky upstart who had become a Herald through suspicious channels, so the mere act of trying to negotiate on equal footing with him was offensive.
However, Azadin was reaching the limit of his patience as well.
*I can't take this anymore. Should I just beat the crap out of this guy? With his personality, if I smack him around, he'll probably kill himself out of shame. But I really can't hold back.*
"Shall we step outside this awning and talk?"
"You planning to pick a fight? Even though I've got some years on me, I'm not at an age where I'd lose to a punk like you."
"If that's what you think, perfect."
Azadin stepped out from under the awning first, leaving Regional Manager Salem dumbfounded.
"You insolent brat! Fine by me. I'll kill you with my own hands."
It was right then, as the enraged Regional Manager Salem stormed out from under the awning, that a faint harp melody drifted in from somewhere.
"Is Azadin here by any chance?"
The voice of a young, beautiful woman rang out.
"Ah, Aldis?!"
Azadin gasped in shock upon hearing the voice.
*********
The one who intervened in the quarrel between Azadin and the regional manager was a lone female adventurer leading three horses on the verge of collapse. She appeared to be in her early twenties, tall and graceful, with a crescent bow slung at her waist—marking her as one of the Herald clan.
In her hand was a small harp, which had likely produced the melody from moments before.
At her hip hung a slender silver-decorated sword, and her traditional quiver was filled with elegant pheasant-feather arrows. Her mere stance exuded beauty and refinement.
Above all, her eyes... were a deep violet. Silver hair and violet eyes. Her elegant bearing made her look less like a human and more like a fairy.
"Ah, Lady Aldis."
"How did she come all the way to this backwater?"
All the merchants except the regional manager bowed their heads before Aldis. Even Regional Manager Salem showed her full courtesy.
While Herald ranks were simply filled by position, Aldis was the 1st Herald. It would be no exaggeration to say she stood at the pinnacle of skill and status among the 108 Heralds.
"Please don't. There are so many people watching...."
Aldis said this as she approached Azadin.
"Azadin, it's been a while. Now I have to look up to meet your eyes?"
"Ah, Aldis. What's going on?"
"I heard you got dismissed and rode nonstop from Arangi all the way here. To think you'd do something so foolish."
Aldis smiled at Azadin as she spoke.
"Don't worry. I pleaded with Grand Master. I told him you could never betray us. But he said the dismissal stands until the organization stabilizes—for now—and asked me to come reassure you."
The Grand Master was none other than Hatir, the current leader of the Herald clan.
He was the one who transmitted the *Huajopungwol Treatise* and taught magic, serving as chairman of the elder council that handled all decisions for the Herald clan.
To think Aldis had already petitioned the Grand Master....
Midiarm, who had been listening, clicked her tongue. What nonsense. They were cursed, and reassurance from a mere promise to lift it later, with no guarantee?
Yet Azadin actually let out a genuine sigh of relief.
"Ah, that's a relief."
"......"
From the looks of it, Azadin's trust in this woman named Aldis was nearly absolute.
*What the hell? His attitude toward her is completely different from how he treats everyone else?*
As Midiarm grew flustered, Aldis pulled a letter from her bosom.
"It's a pledge signed by Lord Hatir and the other elders. Notarized before the Emperor's Voice, guaranteeing the dismissal will be lifted in half a year. I pushed to cancel it immediately, but with the mess in the organization, they said reversing it right away was impossible, so I got this instead."
Aldis backed her words with action. For her to get such a signature from those arrogant elders—Aldis's influence within the clan was something even the prideful Midiarm had to acknowledge.
Azadin took the pledge and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Aldis. For going this far... putting yourself out like this."
"It's the right thing to do. I'm actually worried they might have unnecessarily insulted you with their old-fashioned ways. But forgive them, Azadin. They're all advanced in years, and we have our rank culture, so they're especially sensitive to hierarchy. Older folks can't just change their lifelong habits overnight."
*********
The Herald clan, the Aragasa, had always been a people excelling in martial arts and archery. But the power they were called Divine King Slayers came from the magical tome *Huajopungwol*, bestowed by the Emperor. The one who created the interpretive treatise for *Huajopungwol* was Harconia, the first leader of the Herald clan.
As a woman, the *Harconia Treatise* had greater effects on women. Thus, the Herald clan paired physically stronger men with women superior in magic, harmonizing to carry out missions together.
In other words, "Harconia's Reincarnation" was a title bestowed upon the strongest Herald of the era. Before Arael earned it, Aldis had been called "Harconia's Reincarnation."
Born with violet eyes—the eyes of Harconia—this girl hailed from the most prestigious Jedaha bloodline among the founding clan and displayed unmatched prowess in magic and archery beyond her peers.
Thus, the Herald clan's leader, Grand Master Hatir, took her as his direct disciple and from childhood thrust her into great endeavors. Namely, the interpretation of the Divine King True Scripture copy.
But midway, the Divine King True Scripture copy was stolen by Akre. Enraged, the elder council and leader invoked the Curse of Service on Akre and pursued him, but Akre ultimately escaped.
In the end....
*********
On a desolate highway, the cry of an infant echoed. People heard the sound coming from a corpse by the roadside and approached.
But upon seeing the gruesome sight, they crossed themselves in horror and fled.
"My God."
"A... a umbilical cord from a man's belly...."
"It's a curse! A curse!"
"O Divine King!"
The people recoiled in terror at the sight of a man's belly split open, with infants connected by umbilical cords emerging from within. Some screamed in unbridled fear.
Akre, the traitor of the Herald clan, had shaken off all pursuers for a full year but could not escape the curse in the end.
The corpse of a man who birthed a child roadside and died—that was the end of the Herald clan's traitor, Akre.
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"Akre...."
Aldis, a girl of barely twelve, dismounted her mountain goat and approached the dead Akre.
"Hmph. What a waste. To think a mere researcher, not even a Herald, was hiding this level of skill."
Another man gazing at Akre's corpse—Grand Master Hatir's amber eyes narrowed.
Akre wasn't a Herald but a researcher. A magical scholar with innate talent for interpreting and studying magic. For such a one to evade the Heralds' pursuit, fleeing again and again—it felt like a blow to the back of the head.
"So these children... are born of the curse."
"Indeed. The Curse of Service. We'd never used it before, but... its effects are certain. Foolish disciple. To betray the clan with such talent."
Grand Master Hatir made no effort to hide his disgust toward Akre.
"But are those kids okay? They look hungry."
"They're the curse's spawn. By the service contract... children born of the Curse of Service are said to possess greater talent than others."
"Then we should take them."
"But they could be Akre reincarnated. The blood of a clan traitor should be severed. And twins, no less! The service contract states only one is born from the Curse of Service."
"Still, let's check them out!"
When Aldis said this, Grand Master Hatir glared at her.
"The curse might affect you too."
"They're still nursing infants. If we leave them now, they might die."
Aldis rushed forward and checked the twins. One boy, one girl.
"Ah...."
"What's wrong? Ah!"
Grand Master Hatir, approaching, also frowned. One of the children had no eye. Where an eye should be was just smooth flesh.
"Twins are ill omens, as expected."
Hatir drew his sword. A steel blade glowing with long, blue energy.
"No, Master!"
Aldis blocked his path.
"Out of the way, Aldis. They're ill omens. They must be removed!"
"But... they don't deserve death just for lacking an eye!"
"Foolish talk. How can something that can't see survive? Considering the harsh fates of us Aragasa, it'd be better for it to die now!"
"But... wait a moment."
Aldis suddenly realized the infants in her arms were looking at her face.
"This child can see."
"What?"
"It seems like it can see even without eyes."
"'Seems like'? Are you lying to me now out of some pathetic pity?"
"But I feel its gaze."
"An infant can't open its eyes yet. Hm?"
No sooner had Grand Master Hatir spoken than he felt it too. The girl in Aldis's arms had opened her eyes and was staring at Hatir.
"Remarkable. Does this child have Harconia's eyes too?"
"Yes. Same color as mine."
Like Aldis, the newborn girl who had just opened her eyes possessed violet ones. Yet there was another gaze unmistakably felt—even Grand Master Hatir sensed it. The boy's gaze.
"Impressive. Truly children of the Curse of Service. A curse to forge a superior clan, is it?"
Grand Master Hatir, recognizing the extraordinary power in both children, clicked his tongue.
"Fine. You take responsibility, Aldis."
Grand Master Hatir sheathed his sword.
"We lost the Divine King True Scripture copy, so we need something to show for it."
*********
Thus, Aldis brought Azadin and Arael to the sanctuary. The elders who greeted her—after she'd endured nursing them roadside, feeding them goat milk, changing diapers, and every hardship along the way—threw a fit.
"These children might be incarnations of the Divine King True Scripture! Kill them! They'll turn into books if we do!"
"As if."
"I won't indulge the delusion they'll turn into books, but I agree they must die. Akre's blood, flesh, and soul cannot be forgiven, even if purified by the service contract. Punishment is necessary."
They were all distraught. To obtain the Divine King True Scripture copy, the Herald clan had endured immense sacrifices. Many died in Tarasar's royal succession war.
Having poured blood and gold to barely secure it, only for it to vanish into thin air—it was enough to drive them mad.