Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Arael's Voice 3
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Derek cleared his throat, aware of why Azadin was eyeing him with suspicion.
"Take a look at this."
Derek removed his boot and extended his ankle. Fresh, tendon-like strands had sprouted and adhered to it, their crimson hue reminiscent of the spirit called "Arael's Voice" that Azadin had seen attached to the crow moments ago.
"It's tougher and stronger than before, and the pain is gone. I'm back in fighting shape."
"After betraying the clan?"
"I didn't betray the clan. Leader Hatir and the elders did. They were researching black magic. Elder Kenahan... he was a vampire. That's why Arael herself executed him."
"Is that what Arael claims? You couldn't have seen it with your own eyes."
"But everyone knew Leader Hatir was delving into black magic. It's common knowledge that the leader and the council have pursued their selfish desires and forbidden magics for years. It's just..."
"You lacked a rallying point for your uprising, and Arael became that focal point? Is that what you're saying?"
"Exactly."
"But I sense black mana in this too."
Azadin pointed at Derek's ankle. An ominous mana emanated from the muscles clinging to his severed tendons.
"This is the power of green mana. It governs the essence of life."
"It's mostly green mana, sure... but there's black mana mixed in."
"You're treating me like a fool. What would you know about magic when you can't even cast spells?"
"......"
"Even if Arael has dabbled in black magic, it's because the Graces of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon alone are insufficient for us to become rulers. Those graces were bestowed by the emperor precisely to enslave our clan. True power embraces everything."
He condemned the former rulers—the leader and elders—for touching black magic, yet defended Arael potentially doing the same as a necessary means for the clan's sake.
Azadin gave a wry smile at Derek, who was spouting such nonsense.
"You've completely lost it. When exactly did you meet Arael and pledge yourself to her?"
"Right after we parted ways. I didn't meet Arael herself—I encountered her voice."
"Arael, is it? Since when do you address her with such reverence? Didn't you used to curse her name?"
"That was back when I was ignorant. Now she is a living goddess, the savior of our clan."
"Quite the loyalist. Or should I say fanatic."
Azadin clicked his tongue at Derek's brazen about-face. But it also spoke to Arael's tremendous influence.
Just her "Arael's Voice" was proof of power bordering on divine incarnation. It was no wonder the oppressed Heralds and Arakasa saw her as the long-awaited savior.
'No.'
Yet Azadin couldn't accept Arael. Because she'd inflicted permanent damage on him? That was part of it, but...
'Arael is too dangerous.'
Her nature was cruel and destructive.
One word to describe Arael's personality: tyrant. She trampled anything in her path to霸道. If such a figure harbored ambitions to conquer the entire Hubris Continent, a storm of blood would follow.
'Still, I'm curious what conditions she offered.'
Azadin asked Derek.
"So why did you want to see me? To tell me to join Arael's side? There must be more to the story."
"I received a letter."
"A letter?"
"It said to show it only to you."
"Let's see it."
Azadin reached for the letter from Derek but flinched. An unsettling mana emanated from it.
'What is this? This is Arael's letter?'
As Azadin hesitated, Derek sneered.
"What's wrong? Afraid of your sister's letter?"
"I'm not afraid."
The eerie power from this letter, and Arael's Voice.
Arael's abilities grew ever more potent; Azadin now doubted she was even human. If she claimed to be a living goddess, there'd be no denying it.
Azadin took a deep breath and opened the letter. In that instant, darkness swallowed him.
*********
"......"
When Azadin finally regained his senses, nothing around him had changed. He'd been drawn into the letter's mana and conversed directly with Arael.
But neither Derek nor anyone else noticed his alteration. Azadin crumpled the letter.
"You bastard! How dare you!"
"He didn't even read Her letter before crumpling it!"
To the others, it looked like Azadin had crumpled it without reading.
"I've already read it. The conditions were utterly unacceptable, so I refused. And so what if I crumpled it? Can't I crumple my little sister's letter?"
Derek snorted.
"Isn't she your older sister?"
"I said little sister."
To those who couldn't comprehend the spell on the letter, it appeared Azadin had insulted it. Those around Derek gripped their weapons.
"What should we do, Derek?"
"Let's kill the bastard now."
"We can't accept a wretch like Azadin as our superior just because he's Arael-sama's blood kin. For the organization's hierarchy, we need to eliminate the incompetent beforehand."
The vast majority of the Herald Clan—practically all—shared the same view of Azadin.
They hated him as the traitor's spawn,
scorned him as incompetent,
and raged that he'd become a Herald through backdoor means despite it all.
Yet now Arael herself extended an olive branch to Azadin.
No matter the rift between the siblings, was blood thicker than water? Just as Azadin had risen via Elder Kazas's connections before, would he now lord over them through Arael's?
This was intolerable to all the Heralds who had sided with Arael in rebellion.
"Ha, ridiculous. You've just launched a revolt and can barely hold the organization together, yet you're already fretting over hierarchy. So, you want to kill me? Did Arael order it? Or is this your own initiative? Either way, fine. You've underestimated me, and you'll pay with your lives."
Azadin circulated Kazas's breathing technique alongside the Graces of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon through his aching body.
Excruciating pain like limbs being sliced paralyzed him, but the technique eased it, restoring strength to his muscles.
He could fight.
Though worse fatigue and soreness would crash over him afterward.
But Derek held back his subordinates.
"Stop. We're not here to fight."
"Yes? But..."
"Derek-sama."
"We mustn't fight him. Arael-sama truly cherishes her 'little brother.'"
Derek forbade combat with Azadin.
"What? This mongrel?"
Azadin bristled at Derek invoking Arael.
That she cherished him?
Absurd. Countless had insulted and beaten Azadin before, but none inflicted wounds as horrific as Arael's.
And now this fool broadcasted such drivel to everyone? How much more humiliation would satisfy them?
Yet even as Azadin radiated naked killing intent, Derek seemed intent on not engaging.
"I have no intention of fighting you, Azadin. If you attack, we'll flee with all our might."
"That cautious? Unexpected."
Azadin was puzzled by Derek's lack of hostility.
'I was going to use this chance to discipline him, so why won't he bite?'
Azadin had deliberately crumpled the letter after reading it, provoking Derek's group to teach them a lesson. But Derek was too prudent.
Wary of Azadin? Following Arael's orders? Or some other scheme?
Either way, Azadin as a Herald couldn't initiate the fight.
"Negotiations are off. But for your sake, Derek, I won't fight. Leave."
"You bastard! You're not the one sparing us—it's us sparing you!"
"Incompetent fool!"
"Traitor's blood!"
"Aren't you the ones rebelling against the clan? And if it's traitor blood, then Arael is too. Isn't your precious Arael herself traitor blood who's now rebelling again?"
Azadin pointed that out, but the fanatical clan servants ignored him.
"This is revolution!"
"We are the true clan."
"You lot have a conveniently twisted worldview."
Azadin mocked Derek's subordinates.
"Enough. Understood. We'll withdraw. But beware, Azadin. This place—Salasma—isn't right. Even the regional chief fled with excuses, so you know. I don't wish for you to receive Arael-sama's grace, but nor do I want you dying in my absence and me bearing false blame."
"Just go already."
Azadin shooed Derek's group away like flies.
*********
Derek's subordinates, having delivered the letter to Azadin and been dismissed, seethed with rage. They saw it as Azadin brazenly insulting them.
"Arrogant prick!"
"Are we really letting that Azadin bastard get away with it?"
"That idiot couldn't even draw a bowstring as a kid. He wet the bed until he was eight!"
Cast out of the mansion, Derek's men fumed at Azadin's haughtiness.
Among the Herald Clan, Azadin was lowest-born: a dropout who failed basic training, son of a traitor. Yet he'd lucked into becoming Kazas's disciple and a Herald, now lording over them.
That perception prevailed.
"Fools."
Derek reined them in.
"Do you know Azadin took down over ten of Atra's kin?"
"What?"
"At the easternmost relay village, Azadin wiped out half the mercenary band led by the count's bastard son—without our help."
"Th-that..."
"And Kozel the Young Master we were transporting? He fell to Azadin too."
Derek recounted Azadin's exploits. Biases from his childhood caused them to dismiss his post-Herald achievements, but cold facts were undeniable.
Evidence that Azadin had at least competently fulfilled his duties as the emperor's Herald.
Even so, childhood prejudices ran deep, and Derek's men pushed back.