Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Distortion (1)
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Two years ago, after the Second Demon Invasion in Imperial Year 253, the western continent was completely burned to ashes, reduced to a barren wasteland. Of course, with tax reductions from the Imperial Central Office and aid from the various feudal lords, recovery efforts are underway, but the dissatisfaction and anxiety in the outlying towns and coastal villages show no signs of abating.
I can't speak for Sional, the dwarf nation in the northwest, but the western Helred continent is barely holding on amid conflicts with subhuman races and the terror of lingering demons. The line between subhumans and demons has grown blurry these days. Just a week ago, Ashen Wolf Humans massacred an entire family by the seaside.
Unlike other subhumans, they couldn't be reasoned with and worshipped a god other than Miflas. Isn't that proof of their demonic nature, as designated by the Sequella Church? We should have dispatched knights for such an incident.
I enclosed a statue from those heretics-evidence of their demonic ties-and sent a letter, but all we got back from the Central Office was another refusal to send knights.
In the end, all the subjects of Brnaun, myself included, could no longer stand by. As loyal subjects of the Empire, we have decided to head to the capital, Sonain. I'm not sure if we'll even be allowed through the gates, but that was precisely why I sent my letter. Please hear the petition of myself and all Brnaun's subjects.
If we, the subjects of Brnaun, cannot cross that long shadow of the city walls, we plan to hold a peaceful protest there, lanterns in hand.
However, to prepare for any unlikely mishaps, we humbly request a few priests be stationed along the walls. And if you could speak to the Central Office to ensure we pass through the gates peacefully, we would be even more grateful. I apologize for repeating myself, but if we cannot cross those walls, who can claim to be subjects of the Empire?
We earnestly hope you accept this. I shall end here.
Brnaun believes in the harmony of benevolent Miflas.
***
Iven finished reading Lije's letter and bolted for the walls.
The walls encircling Sonain's territory were so tall even a Mountain Giant couldn't reach them, and so sturdy they couldn't be breached, stretching on for what felt like forever-but he couldn't stop.
For Lije alone.
Iven had known it all along.
He knew the Empire's western unrest would explode if things continued like this. But that wasn't what mattered now.
Not Lije, nothing else-he just charged ahead blindly, one step at a time. For the first time, Iven abandoned his post, gasping for breath as he climbed the stone stairs inside the walls, higher and higher.
"What the...? Why's a 3rd Knight Order guy here?"
"Whatever. Just getting up here's a feat, man."
Finally reaching the top, the 2nd Knight Order sentries gawked and muttered.
"Huff... huff... Where's the 2nd Knight Order Captain right now?"
"Obviously in the watchtower."
Iven dashed toward the watchtower. A knight blocked his path, but Graveheim spotted Iven and lumbered down from the tower on those massive feet of his.
"Iven of Brnaun! Out of the way, you fools. What are you doing to a fine knight guarding the Empire just as steadfastly as you lot guard these walls!"
"Iven of the 3rd Knight Order, here on business with the 2nd Knight Order Captain."
"Skip the formalities. You could've waited for me to come down-so what brings you all the way up here? Don't tell me!"
As a messenger handling dispatches and more, Iven's arrival had the nearby 2nd knights tuning in, wondering if war had broken out.
"Did the special fruit wine from Haipoji Mountain arrive?"
But Graveheim just laughed it off heartily, stroking his now-white beard as he slung an arm around Iven's shoulders and led him to the inner office.
In the office, the dark-skinned Graveheim tossed his plumed helmet-evoking a brave black lion's mane-carelessly onto the iron desk and sank into a chair.
"Anyway, what's really going on, my messenger?"
"Graveheim, sir, about those wall-mounted cannons you mentioned last time. Didn't the activation conditions include violent protests or revolutions by assembled subjects?"
"Bah, not booze talk after all."
The hulking Graveheim turned his head like a sulking girl. No wonder-Iven's arrival in the knight order coincided with a new supply of special liquor from Sional, the dwarf city at the foot of Haipoji Mountain, reaching Sonain.
"You're my booze courier-makes me sad when you talk shop instead. Tch, now I really want a drink."
Iven insisted he had nothing to do with it, but Graveheim saw it differently. Desperate, Iven pressed on.
"The Haipoji special will arrive next week. Graveheim, sir, please answer."
"If booze is coming, I'll empty every guba I've got to buy you a round."
"Graveheim, sir."
"Fine, fine. The wall cannons... I'd have to check the regs again, but yeah, there was something about protests."
"Does that apply even to unarmed subjects?"
Graveheim bellowed a laugh at Iven's question.
"Armed or not, we don't fire on imperial subjects. Couldn't even if we wanted to!"
"What do you...?"
"It's the gun direction. The inner-wall cannons are just for show-big noise from empty barrels. Without an imperial decree, they're fixed skyward anyway, and no shells to boot. Speaking of, you holed up in the grand archives remembered that detail nicely, huh?"
Iven nearly collapsed in relief right there. But he pulled himself together, bowing deeply in thanks to Graveheim for his thorough answer.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"Not like you at all. Alright, I swear on Miflas and this week's booze shipment-no harm will come to a single subject while I'm on these walls. So what's the fuss?"
"Ah, sorry. It's not certain yet, but Brnaun folk are coming here soon about coastal defenses. Just checking, you know."
"Coastal defenses, eh... Makes sense you're worried, being from Brnaun yourself. Fair enough-we can't station knights to the continent's edge, so things must be rough there."
"Yes. I'll head to the cathedral now, if I'may."
"Rest up here first-why the cathedral?"
Iven answered, his heaving breaths not yet settled.
"Just... have a bad feeling. This time, I'll go in person to relay it."
"I see. Then I should head back to the watchtower. Take care, messenger."
Iven thanked him again. Graveheim always treated him kindly, regardless of origin or rank.
"We'll rest together when the booze arrives. Thank you."
Graveheim's booming laugh echoed from the office out across the walls.
***
"Halt!"
Riu's command silenced the 1st Knight Order's weary marchers, who had been cracking jokes and chatting. Emerging from a small forest near Sonain, the vast Baradd Plateau stretched out like a slice from another world-and far off, a chased figure on a wagon hurtled toward the city.
Definitely a beastkin.
"What the hell is that?"
Riu held the knights in place and said,
Trailing the beastkin were freakish creatures covered in flame-red fur, about ten of them-human-sized, but with charred-gray skin, fully armed.
Their fangs were huge and hooked, their facial ornaments savagely crude.
"Let it pass."
Riu decided to ignore the seemingly intelligent freaks.
They weren't demons threatening the Empire or the Saintess-just subhumans she didn't know. No knight order intervened in subhuman squabbles, so they would simply pass by.
"No way!"
But Bulki thought otherwise.
"Anyone can see it's being hunted down! Captain! We have to save them, quick!"
Hesitating now meant they might not make it back tonight-let alone fight. They'd camp on the open plain, nowhere near Sun Forest.
"We ignore everything else. It's the rules, knight."
"But... I have a bad feeling!"
"One more word, and it's insubordination."
Tension gripped the barren plain, dotted only by ancient pillars and fallen boulders from ruins.
A regular knight contradicting the captain mid-mission-without a special bond-was unthinkable. Especially from Riu.
All eyes turned coldly on Bulki. Some gaped in shock at the grave breach; Nia beside him floundered in confusion.
Then Bulki shook his head and stepped forward.
"Captain!"
As if resolved, he grinned and said,
"Remember what I said in training?"
Bulki glanced playfully back toward Sonain and continued.
"My sword told me to help anyone trembling in fear, no exceptions."
Bulki drew the blade from his back and bolted from the group. The knights gasped, piping up in surprise.
"Never seen such a fool pup."
Riu wasn't thrilled with Bulki's growing defiance, but she bellowed at the knights anyway.
"All hands, battle ready! Knight Order! Yerutsa Rahav!"
"Yerutsa Rahav!"
Riu drew her sword and spurred her mount into a gallop. Even so, she was definitely smiling.
"Pup acting more Hero than pup these days."