Chapter 199. Traitor of the Clan (1)
“Karcen, if it were me, I could take down the approaching assassins.”
“You, the one who was famous for being a dullard, think you can handle our Aragasa, and other heralds?”
“I’ve already defeated many active heralds in duels, besides that, I’ve achieved many merits, so now I am the Second Herald.”
“Second Herald?”
At the claim that Azadin had obtained such a high position, Karcen was doubtful.
“So please, entrust the assassins to me.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, how am I supposed to trust you? If you end up trying to harm Manza-Zadek, then we lose our employer and we’re completely ruined. A life of wandering, insulted by everyone as soulless blasphemers—that life of humiliation is enough for me. I don’t want my children to suffer such a wretched fate!”
“……”
Hearing Karcen’s words, Azadin understood why so many heralds quit and devoted themselves earnestly to the Golden King.
The life of the Emperor’s herald was harsh and humiliating. Even if it was honorable, even if it was indispensable, who would wish to pass that pain down to their children?
It was only because the curse of service was forcibly inherited, that they had no choice but to continue.
If there was a way to escape from that fate, then it was natural to pledge loyalty to Manza-Zadek, who offered such benefits.
‘When I didn’t know the circumstances, I disparaged them, saying how could they betray the herald clan to serve such a wretch—but knowing the truth now, I can fully understand their feelings.’
When he considered the heart of a parent who wished to grant their children a life free from persecution, he could see why Karcen and the other herald clan served the Golden King, Manza-Zadek.
Azadin felt a sincere desire to help Karcen and her subordinates. So he humbled himself, and with utmost sincerity, began to persuade her.
“If I were to directly kill Manza-Zadek and seize that throne, how do you think the other clans would view me?”
“They would revere you, of course.”
“Do you think the top of the elder council would want that? I am Azadin of Muan, the one whom all clans despised and looked down on. Do you think they would ever want such a person to suddenly gain merits and rise in a flash?”
“You said you’re already Second Herald?”
“And that’s the problem, it was my patron Aldis who decided it unilaterally. Everyone is dissatisfied with it.”
Karcen was taken aback by his words. She had heard people say, “trust me,” but never had she heard someone say, “trust my infamy.”
“If you can’t trust me, then trust my ill repute. Many clansmen loathe me, there’s no way they would tolerate me rising in status now, is there?”
“What a bizarre way to persuade someone.”
“And apart from that, at least trust that I have the skill. I have defeated several active heralds through strength alone. If I stand on your side, you’ll be able to end this with minimal damage.”
Karcen knew very well that with only their strength, they could never block a proper assassination attempt by heralds… Azadin’s words pierced right into the fear and anxiety that made her want to run away.
“Fine then, Golden Herald, I’ll trust in His Majesty’s insight, the one who entrusted you with the golden decree. He is not someone who accepts others lightly, so He must have had something in mind when He accepted you.”
***
On the rainstorm-swept roof of the royal castle, Karcen, captain of the royal guard, gathered her officers.
It seemed as though they might try to deal with Azadin together, but since Karcen decided to trust him, the other guards were relieved.
“If that young man full of vigor is willing to face active heralds, then at least we can breathe easier.”
“I was just a servant, not even a herald, so the thought of heralds attacking kept me awake at night. This is at least some comfort.”
“But isn’t Azadin of Muan famous as a dullard? Can he really face active heralds?”
Among the guards, there were three Aragasa. But they were all quite old, and had always been of low rank, or not heralds at all. So they dreaded the prospect of heralds invading. When Azadin volunteered to stand against them, they welcomed it wholeheartedly.
“Now, listen, our royal guards are not only Aragasa, but also necromancers, blood mages, and all sorts of heretical magi that the king’s church wants to slaughter. We’ll mobilize every one of them to support you. Azadin, you stay at the center of the castle, on the roof, and when we spot assassins, we’ll call for you to assist.”
“Will that be alright?”
That way, the guards would scatter in all directions, while Azadin would take position closest to Manza-Zadek.
He had asked them to trust him, but he hadn’t expected them to trust him so thoroughly.
“Ah, whatever, a gamble is a gamble, so you might as well bet it all. But you’ll have to hold your end well. You don’t mind fighting your fellow clansmen, right? You’ve been scorned and insulted by them all this time, so this is your chance to cut them down and then take service under Manza-Zadek.”
“Take service, you mean?”
“Why not? How long will you keep clinging to the phantom of a dead Emperor, wandering as ordered? Settling down here wouldn’t be so bad.”
“It’s hot, humid, the insects are venomous, but at least you can live without bowing to the king’s church.”
The Aragasa in the guard, having enjoyed life in Bruma, all spoke in praise.
“But if he’s a Golden Herald, doesn’t that mean he’s rising too fast? If he settles here, won’t we end up ruined?”
At that, Karcen clicked her tongue, realizing it too late. She had first approached Azadin because she resented him being made bearer of the golden decree, the Golden Herald, the Emperor’s proxy.
But now, somehow, she found herself speaking of the joy of living settled in Bruma.
“Well, let’s think about that after we survive this crisis. Talking of factional strife already—our bellies must be full.”
“That’s true.”
“Then, Joan.”
The young sorcerer with a crow wrought of wax on his shoulder jumped in surprise.
“Yes!”
“Stay at his side, assist him.”
“Understood.”
“Who is that?”
“Joan, he’s on our team, a blood mage, but he faints at the sight of blood.”
“……”
“Still, he’s useful as a contact. Let’s go!”
Karcen and the royal guards each moved to their assigned positions.
***
The storm surged in, but the Nagas’ assault was sluggish.
The Nagas’ strategy was first to flood the city, and then, when the city’s defenses were crippled by the inundation, to strike all at once.
They were used to fighting in water, but humans, once submerged, could hardly move properly, so it was a very rational and effective tactic.
But this also meant they would not launch a proper attack until the storm raged and the flooding advanced.
The problem was that Bruma, even in ordinary times, often suffered squalls, so its sewer systems were always fully prepared, and this time, the flood zones had even been revealed in advance, with thorough defensive measures.
Coral Sahar was submerged right away before the storm and lost its footing, but Bruma drained quickly, so flooding did not progress well.
Even if the Nagas entered through the waterways, Bruma’s army, which already had the channels mapped out, responded with concentrated strikes.
Warriors of the Sea Snake Tribe, several times larger than ordinary humans, leapt from the watercourses, but they were torn apart by war elephants, and the corpses thus created were immediately raised as corpse-soldiers by necromancers in Bruma’s army, and hurled back at the Nagas.
The Nagas also employed necromancy actively, but since they had to fight uphill, they could only suffer one-sided losses.
***
“…That is the report.”
Joan, the blood mage attached to the royal guard, received the battlefield news through the wax-formed crow on his shoulder, and relayed it to Azadin.
Azadin’s group was waiting under a statue that adorned the roof of the royal castle, sheltering from the storm.
“The Bruma army fights too well.”
“Isn’t that why they’ve won victory after victory under the Golden King? Isn’t it great, Captain?”
Shati fretted over the Bruma army’s success, but Scott rejoiced as if it were his own achievement.
“I knew they’d fight well from the start, the way they evacuated the city and set up their defenses was no ordinary feat.”
Azadin’s heart was conflicted. The better the Bruma army fought, the sooner the herald clan would intervene.
But was he truly ready to fight his clansmen? Azadin was unsure of his own resolve.
Judging from the circumstances, even Aldis, even Kazas, were taking part in this horrific slaughter.
Knowing their nature, he wanted to believe it could not be so, but Kazas had once been called Demon King, once serving in the Naga Empire, Azadin could not swear he knew his every secret.
And the same would hold true for Aldis.
“What about this, why not take service under Manza-Zadek and settle here? Everyone seems to be living happily. How long will you keep wandering? The king seems to favor you, and judging by the rank he’s conferred, it’s quite high.”
Shati seemed pleased that Manza-Zadek had promised them satisfying rewards and positions.
A wealthy and benevolent king, to serve him as an attendant surely was the happy, stable life that all desired. And it was within arm’s reach.
But….
“What, you don’t seem so happy? You told me to betray my own kind, and now when it’s your turn, it pains you to betray yours?”
“That’s…”
“How strange, you were discriminated against by your people, treated poorly, and now betraying those same people pains you so much?”
Shati sneered at him, and at that moment Joan, the blood mage whom the guards had assigned to Azadin, gasped.
“Ah, it’s serious.”
“Serious? What do you mean?”
“An assassin has infiltrated the eastern sewer defense outpost, they say he’s a formidable fighter, likely of the herald clan. They’re requesting reinforcements.”
“Hmm.”
Whether Azadin was ready or not, the time had come to begin fighting his clansmen.
***
At the sewer behind Bruma’s eastern gate, Nagas infiltrating through the narrow drains were being cut down instead.
A waterway had opened that barely allowed a single Naga to pass, and through it the Nagas pushed in, but soldiers waiting above responded with spears.
It was an obvious trap.
But the Nagas, hungry for blood, longed to push through that small gap and claim glory.
So they sent in squads of mummies, embalmed and strengthened with necromancy. While the mummies absorbed the spears and blades, the Nagas forced their way through, succeeding in projecting a contingent of troops inside.
But when the gate guard of the east, with war elephants at the fore, charged in, the tide turned again.
“So it’s our turn now.”
“Good, I was sick of tiptoeing around those stinking creatures.”
Many heralds had split due to the clans’ internal strife. Those newly made heralds were starved for merit.
Haldun, descendant of Aman, one of the five great bloodlines of Aragasa, joked.
“So, what do you think, Midiam Aether? Surely the Aether family isn’t planning to devour all of Bruma, are they?”
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