Chapter 135
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: To the West (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The air froze solid.
Ilenia's low voice alone echoed softly between us.
"Delatria was one of the largest cities in the southeastern old empire. Duke Delat established the Kingdom of Delatria and crowned himself king."
"That's what I've heard too."
The Silver Guard Knight nodded.
"After the Troyan Empire fell apart, countless kingdoms sprang up on that land for a long time. Nobles who clung to the Demon Emperor gathered forces and tried to build their own kingdoms. Most ended in failure."
"Come to think of it, I hardly ever hear stories about new kingdoms being founded on old empire territory..."
I gently stroked Ash's head as she sat beside me, lost in thought.
We still called the vast lands of the Troyan Empire the "old empire." It meant no new power had taken root to replace that name.
"The old empire's nobles are all Denan, and they don't like non-humans. Trying to unite just among Denan makes it hard to get recognition from Arbat villages in the same region or the Loran Kingdom to the south."
There was a bitter truth to the Silver Guard Knight's words that I had to accept.
The old Troyan Empire had been a human nation, and non-humans were openly discriminated against.
Those outdated prejudices apparently lingered even after the empire's fall.
"The other Denan kingdom, Lesion, is beyond the Quint Mountains, so they can't ask for help. That's why these new Denan kingdoms usually end up isolated, clashing with local nobles and perishing."
"We can't help much, can we?"
"Our Prius Knight Order can't intervene in political or diplomatic matters, so it's hard to actively support unrecognized kingdoms. We provide humanitarian aid, though."
"That was the case this time."
Ilenia spoke darkly about the disaster that had swallowed the great city of Delatria.
"An unidentified plague started spreading in Delatria. People bled purple from their bodies and died. Holy mages gathered to find the cause but couldn't."
"Purple blood? That's a first."
Wedin grimaced as he spoke.
"Because it wasn't an existing disease. Many died from the plague, and then one day... the dead started attacking the living. Anyone injured by them caught the same plague."
"...Indus."
The Silver Guard Knight murmured with a hardened face.
Indus... I vaguely remembered reading about it in a book long ago.
Shuren seemed to know it too, but Wedin looked like he'd never heard of it.
The Silver Guard Knight explained to Wedin.
"The dead turned into magical beasts. It's rare. And if you're wounded by an Indus and die, you become one too."
"Ugh, that's horrifying."
Makina, who had been listening quietly, shuddered and stuck out her tongue.
Shuren added seriously about the Indus.
"Indus vary in size and form based on their appearance at death, so their attack methods and countermeasures differ each time. Physical attacks work, but they often get right back up unharmed."
"Must've been very advantageous for the Red Guard's fire Arbats. Fire would be effective."
Yes, Ilenia agreed.
"Mom mobilized all nearby knights, mages, and holy mages right after getting reports on the Delatria situation. She also requested help from mercenary bands operating in the area."
"Quite a large-scale response. Unusual."
The Silver Guard Knight seemed a bit surprised.
The Red Guard, with many fire Arbats, was a large, powerful unit—yet they still needed support...
"Yes, it was that serious. By the time the Red Guard entered Delatria, the kingdom had already fallen. Most people had fled, leaving only those turned into Indus."
"Were you there too?"
Ilenia shook her head at Shuren's question.
"I heard from the knights who went into the city. I was with the Red Guard, but Mom wouldn't let me enter."
She frowned briefly, clearly still resentful. After a short breath, Ilenia continued.
"The Red Guard and mercenaries pushed in, exterminating the Indus. They rescued survivors and reached the royal castle, but King Delat had already turned into an Indus."
Ilenia's story was so gruesome it hurt to hear.
The king's entire family had died, as had the maids and soldiers in the castle.
Thus, the new Kingdom of Delatria perished.
After the tale ended, no one spoke carelessly.
I suddenly recalled Shuren saying after his knight errantry that "Prion is peaceful and a great place to live."
How blessed we were that magical beasts didn't spawn or approach thanks to the barriers around Prion and nearby cities... I hadn't realized it then.
The Silver Guard Knight, lost in serious thought, finally spoke quietly.
"That plague bothers me. I've seen Indus elsewhere, but never with blood turning purple."
"That's why Prius and Feira's holy mages were fully mobilized. They might have found the cause by now."
"...Understood. We'll gather more info after exiting the mountains. First, focus on getting down safely."
Even so, the air thick with worry and fear didn't dissipate easily.
Makina clapped to lighten the mood.
"Alright, let's finish eating quickly."
At her words, we finally started moving.
The stew in the wooden bowls had gone cold, but we emptied them for tomorrow's journey.
Apart from the grim situation at our destination, the trip westward through the Quint Mountains proceeded smoothly.
Two days later, in the afternoon, we encountered a group of Bartans, but they were no match for us.
We even caught one of the wild boars following them—pure luck.
That evening, we feasted on roast boar and stocked enough for several days.
On the morning of the fourth day.
A massive wind hawk perched on the signal pole, making the yellowed old pole sway violently.
Ash, rolling in the grass below basking in the morning sun, puffed up in surprise.
Makina had filled the feeder at dawn, and the wind hawk had finally arrived, later than expected.
"Any news?"
The Silver Guard Knight approached, preparing to depart.
The note tied to the wind hawk's leg was quite thick.
I listened while packing my bag.
"From Outpost 3. About the Amadelia priestesses who visited the ruins."
Makina read the note, informing the Silver Guard Knight and me.
"They were from Elgrace. Two priestesses, two escorts. Planning to cross the Quint Mountains to Feira."
We held our breath, listening to Makina. She sat on a nearby stump with the note.
"The trip was smooth until they camped in Sector 281, where one priestess went missing. Hmm, 281 is north of the ruins."
"The escorts were with them."
"She apparently wandered off on her own. Hard for two escorts to watch four people."
The Silver Guard Knight nodded in understanding. Makina continued reading.
"The escorts left the others at the safe camp and searched. When they returned, the rest had vanished too."
"They really didn't listen..."
Makina smiled faintly without looking up from the note.
"The escorts followed tracks and found three near the ruins."
They said they spotted the first missing priestess at the ruins entrance. As they approached calling her... a Phaynax swooped from the sky, snatching her away."
A stunned silence fell.
A Phaynax... taking a person?
I'd read of such cases, but never seen one.
Phaynax are huge with loud wingbeats, easy to spot coming. They flock too.
Stroking his chin thoughtfully, the Silver Guard Knight spoke.
"The escorts didn't witness the Phaynax taking her?"
"No. Only the one priestess and two escorts saw it. Couldn't dive into the flock to save her, so they prayed for her soul per doctrine."
"The Phaynax was drawn by the ruins' mana, and the priestess, lured by the moon howl, came down and met her end."
If under the moon howl's influence... she might not have noticed the Phaynax diving.
A plausible theory.
"Outpost 3's team judged the same. Back then, moon howls were short and localized, stronger on mana-sensitive people. She might've been one."
"...Or they lied."
I couldn't shake the suspicion they fabricated it to escape trouble.
The Silver Guard Knight and Makina turned to me. Their expressions mirrored my doubts.
The Silver Guard Knight nodded gravely.
"Yes. One might've entered the ruins with a seed, while the other three deceived the escorts and slipped away."
"Well, we can't enter the ruins, so we have to take their word. Most avoid even nearing them anyway—bad vibes."
"Makina, no traces found near the ruins? Like someone entering or exiting?"
"None. Though magical beast tracks? Plenty, as always."
"...Got it. Anything else in the note?"
Let me see, Makina peered at it again.
"After that, they descended the mountains with the three. Headed to Feira as planned. Those people... Huh."
Her voice shifted in surprise.
"They'd been invited to Lesion Kingdom, visited Elgrace, and were heading back."
"Lesion invited Amadelia priestesses?"
The Silver Guard Knight asked, mildly shocked.
"Apparently. Weird, right? The priestess asked not to inform Elgrace of the tragic accident. Said it was their fault and didn't want needless strife."
Amadelia priestesses invited to Elgrace by Lesion Kingdom.
I replayed Makina's account in my mind.
This story felt familiar. An eerie sense of déjà vu.
"Kaela Hermes..."
I remembered.
"Liberic, what?"
My murmur was soft, but the Silver Guard Knight caught it.
I looked up at them.
"I heard Kaela Hermes connected Amadelia priestesses to Prince Raymond. Lesion was trying to expand the church's influence. But the prince botched it."
Barkus had mentioned it in passing. Who knew I'd hear it again here.
"Kaela? The court archmage? The one who tried overthrowing the kingdom with a dragon?"
"Yes, that's her."
Did the Amadelia priestesses know about Kaela Hermes?
Kaela Hermes, turned demon, and the seed with the sealing tool fragment...
Suspicion around their actions thickened.
"...Suspicious circumstances, but jumping to conclusions is dangerous. We need to investigate the priestesses."
The Silver Guard Knight nodded and stood.
"We're heading to Feira."