Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Judge Zekt 2
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He couldn't even pick up a nearby water bowl, he who could perform the precise feat of shooting an arrow at the fletching of another arrow in flight.
Azadin realized his current condition was extremely poor and let out a wry laugh. In this state, he couldn't catch even a single chick.
At that moment, the door opened.
“You're awake, benefactor!?”
It was a child dressed in a maid's outfit. The child Azadin had rescued from the bakery owner.
The child saw Azadin sitting up and let out a delighted “waa,” then ran out into the hallway and shouted. Moments later, a swarm of orphans came rushing in.
“You're awake!”
“Are you okay, benefactor?”
“I brought some food.”
The children were genuinely thrilled that Azadin had woken up.
Unlike their filthy, sickly appearance under the bakery owner, the children now looked well-nourished, with clean clothes and bodies. It was clear that living as servants under Baroness Nort was a far better environment.
“Now, now, everyone calm down.”
Azadin held back the children who were all trying to crowd around him.
“How long was I asleep?”
“You slept straight through for a full day.”
“Ah, that explains why I'm so hungry. Okay, got it. Ungh.”
Azadin tried to get up, but his body wouldn't cooperate.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, yeah. I'm fine. Is there a staff or something around?”
“A staff?”
“We'll fetch one!”
The children rushed out like an ebbing tide, only to return moments later like a flood, each carrying a different staff.
Azadin picked one out, gripped it, and with great effort stood up. He drank some water first and then went to the bathroom. Even during this, the children trailed after him nonstop.
“Ahahaha. Azadin, you're up?”
Midiam and Ismail, who had been tending to their bows and leather armor, spotted Azadin being chased by the children and called out to him.
“You two are safe too.”
“All thanks to you, Azadin.”
“But could you do something about these kids first?”
“Let's call the head maid.”
At Midiam's words, the children flinched in surprise and scattered in all directions like rats in a suddenly lit warehouse, moving with perfect coordination.
“The head maid must be scary.”
Azadin chuckled at the sight.
“Have you eaten?”
“I will. I'm still sleepy, though. Anyway, what happened after that?”
“There are rumors that the count turned into a monster.”
“What about the count's palace?”
“After monsters poured out following the count's death, the church took control. Baroness Nort said there's a tense standoff between the church and the countess.”
“Hm. What about the naga who fled with the New King Formation Scripture copy? Did you pursue her?”
“We did, but we couldn't find her. She slipped away into the refugee crowds and hid. We can't use this wand in crowded places anyway. It's obviously made of bone, and using something like this would get you branded a heretic.”
“I see. So, what happened when you tried using the wand again?”
“Well...”
As Midiam hesitated, Ismail stepped forward.
“She got farther away, but then suddenly changed direction. It seems the naga sorceress used some method to hide the New King Formation Scripture copy from the tracking.”
Azadin had ordered Midiam and Ismail to pursue the naga who took the New King Formation Scripture copy, but they had arbitrarily abandoned the mission and returned. If Azadin had ordered them to track until death, this would have been dereliction of duty as retainers, deserving punishment with no room for argument.
Was it okay that Midiam had made the call independently?
“You did well. Better than putting yourselves in danger. If you'd kept pursuing, it probably would have been risky. The naga forces are extremely powerful. The count was even planning to get additional support from the nagas.”
Azadin said this and fell into thought.
“If the countess and the church are clashing for power, this place has gotten dangerous. We should leave here soon. But first, we need to collect our pay.”
Azadin had agreed to 50 gold coins from the countess in exchange for killing the count. Well, even without her commission, he would have infiltrated the count's residence anyway to find the New King Formation Scripture copy.
“We did the job, so we get the money.”
Azadin said this and sat down before the meal the children had prepared.
********
But after eating, Azadin washed up and collapsed back into bed. When he woke again, it was the next day.
“Wow, two days flat on my back like an invalid? For real? Wait, thinking about it, I really am an invalid right now.”
Azadin tried to rise from the bed, but...
“Huh?”
Today hurt even more than yesterday.
“Ugh... ow.”
Moments later, Midiam entered the room and laughed at the sight of Azadin writhing on the bed.
“Rest. Do you know what your body looks like right now? It's covered in bruises.”
“R-really? Did you check?”
“If you go to Kozel or the countess's place looking like that, forget the soldiers—even the dogs they keep there might bite you, and you'd get killed for it.”
“Fair point.”
“Rest up properly and recover first. Want a massage?”
When Midiam asked, Azadin shook his head.
“No. Don't.”
“Why not? It's necessary for quick recovery. You don't get a say.”
Midiam began forcibly massaging Azadin's body.
“Argh!”
Azadin screamed, but in his current state, he couldn't even push Midiam away.
*********
In the end, it took four days for Azadin to be able to move around like a functioning human. He spent those four days eating, washing, sleeping, and lying down.
Even after all that rest, he was still plagued by muscle pain and bruises, but considering his deathmatch with the count, this was exceptionally good. He'd toppled a bell tower and fought a house-sized naga—and he was alive. He should be grateful.
“Hmm.”
Azadin polished his crescent bow and strapped it to his waist.
“Wasted too much time.”
“Wandering around in that condition is dangerous.”
“I know.”
He could regret the lost time, but pushing himself in that state would have been even riskier. It was necessary. Some things had to be let go.
“Then, shall we go meet Kozel and the countess?”
“You're really going just for the money?”
“Money aside, I'm curious about the situation.”
“Why bother collecting it? What's important for you now is meeting the elders or the chieftains to revoke your dismissal, right?”
“Or gathering more New King Formation Scripture copies,” Ismail added, still hung up on them.
“I don't like my little sister, but I won't deny her abilities. With her power and influence right now, the Herald Clan is probably in turmoil. A major internal conflict.”
“Huh?”
“The elders and chieftains are likely on the run. If they'd stayed in the sanctuary, Arael would have killed them.”
“No way...”
Ismail was shocked by Azadin's words.
In the Herald Clan's hierarchy, the council elders and chieftains were lofty existences above the clouds. Of course, those of low status dissatisfied with the class system disliked the council or chieftains.
Yet, having witnessed their magical knowledge and overwhelming power, it was hard to even think of defying them.
“So, even if we report through the clan's normal chain of command now, there's no guarantee it would work. Aldis went out of her way to persuade me not just because she's my guardian, but because no one else could independently act as chieftain proxy.”
The Herald Clan's command structure had likely collapsed due to Arael's rebellion. Rushing from the bottom now would be pointless.
“And we probably won't get support from the merchant guilds anymore. There's a good chance of traitors like Derek among their members. Derek betrayed us despite being backed by the Saba family. So we need to earn activity funds for the future, don't we?”
Azadin selected weapons from the saddlebag on his mountain goat. He packed the two swords in poor condition as backups, left Baroness Nort's mansion, and headed for the Blue Rose Pavilion.
*********
The streets were filling up with holy knights from the King's Church, their subordinates, and church soldiers. The atmosphere was chaotic. The friction between regular soldiers and church folk was palpable just walking around.
“Need to be careful.”
Azadin arrived at the Blue Rose Pavilion while staying vigilant and asked an employee there to fetch the blond Belldon.
“...Belldon, you say? Hm, alright. Will you wait inside?”
“Yes.”
After confirming the employee move, Azadin immediately left the Blue Rose Pavilion. If Belldon reported Azadin's group to the holy knights, staying in such a building would make them easy to surround.
“Then, wait in the alley. Ow, my aching body.”
“Shouldn't you rest more?”
“I want to, but there's no time, and plenty to do.”
“True, lying around too much isn't good when you're not alone. Might be better to move a bit, for the baby inside.”
Midiam nodded to herself in agreement.
“Hey, that's seriously creepy, okay? That only happens when you die from the curse of service. Are you praying for my death?”
Azadin recoiled at Midiam's joke. Even as a joke, it wasn't funny at all.
Moments later, Belldon appeared walking toward the Blue Rose Pavilion. Fortunately, he seemed to be coming alone to the meeting spot without alerting anyone.
“How've you been?”
Azadin jumped out from the alley and quickly sidled up to Belldon.
“Y-you're alive.”
“Guess you were hoping I'd died.”
“N-no, it's just.”
“Just what?”
“Did you really... do in the count?”
“You don't think he died of natural causes after something that huge happened, do you?”
“No, but...”
Belldon, of course, knew what had happened to the count's palace.
Its completely shattered state, the traces of countless monsters and fierce battles, the rumors that the count had turned into a monster and been crushed under the bell tower—it all pointed to at least dozens of armed assailants killing him.
And this man did it alone?
“What, don't believe me? Recognize this?”
“......”
Belldon was speechless at the ring Azadin showed him. It was the count's signet ring.
“A sword or other jewelry would have been nicer, but I met the count naked, so this was all I could grab.”
“My god. Who are you? Rumors say the Herald Clan killed the count. Surely not?”
“If it was the Herald Clan, they'd demand imperial gold. If you have imperial gold, that works too. It's worth way more than regular gold.”
Azadin joked dryly.