Chapter 200. The Traitor of the Clan (2)
When the wealthy kingdom of Bruma was seized, the greatest interest lay in who would claim its core businesses. It was like calculating the value of fur before the hunt succeeded, yet these young heralds brimmed with confidence.
“Sugar plantations and gold mines are the source of Bruma’s wealth. Our Aman wants to take the sugar plantations.”
At Haldun’s words, Midiam shook her head.
“Isn’t it a little hasty to act like we’ve already won? There are those called the Golden King’s Crows guarding this place. Perhaps even our former clan members will stand in our way.”
“Ah. Those traitors of the clan? They were either servants or idiots who barely managed to snatch the lowest rank of herald. They won’t be true enemies of us, true heralds.”
“We’re not real heralds either. We just happened to be lucky rich brats who slipped into the empty seats left by those who departed the clan with Arael.”
In the past, Midiam had been overconfident in her abilities. Now, however, she was almost excessively humble.
“You include yourself in that, as one of the Aether bloodline?”
“Yes. It’s true. My body isn’t fully grown yet. Maybe later, but for now I’m lacking.”
When Midiam Aether so readily admitted her shortcomings, Haldun clicked his tongue.
“Well? I think I’m no less than the adult heralds. Just watch.”
Haldun fitted a Blue Steel Arrow onto the Moon Horn Bow.
The figure of a Bruma army commander appeared, wearing splendid armor and riding atop a war elephant, wielding a massive crossbow against the Nagas.
The Nagas were helpless before Bruma’s army.
If they approached, the war elephants trampled them. If they stayed afar, the giant crossbows fired bolts so huge they split even Nagas apart like skewered meat.
The Nagas tried sending volleys of small arrows from a distance, but they bounced uselessly off the bamboo armor covering the elephants’ bodies, and the heavy armor worn by the commander.
Even curses and spells of malediction failed, for the blood mage had placed wards that absorbed magic. The talismans given by the blood mage devoured surrounding mana, nullifying magical attacks.
At that commander of Bruma’s army, Haldun loosed his arrow. The Blue Steel Arrow flew in a blue arc, piercing the commander’s armor and burying deep.
The armor that had deflected all the Nagas’ arrows was pierced as if paper by the arrow of the herald clan, and no less than a Blue Steel Arrow.
The commander, who had been cutting down Nagas with great skill, screamed and collapsed, shocking his soldiers.
All turned to search the direction the arrow had come from, but it was impossible to discern. Haldun had curved the arrow’s flight, bending it almost at a right angle. The soldiers shouted wildly while aiming at the wrong place.
“Hahaha. Look at them squirm.”
Haldun laughed cheerfully and turned to Midiam.
“Well? That commander who even those Nagas couldn’t touch, I took him down this easily, didn’t I?”
But Midiam’s expression was not good.
“Then we move. Our goal is to draw out the Crows and disperse the king’s guards as much as possible. If we stay here, we’ll certainly encounter them.”
“I’m not afraid of the Golden King’s Crows. In fact, good. We’ll call them here and catch them.”
“It would be better not to be so overconfident.”
Seeing Haldun’s overflowing self-assurance, Midiam felt ashamed.
‘So this is how Azadin must have felt when he looked at me in the past.’
Truly, it was a childish and pathetic sight.
“Let us relocate. Our mission is to keep moving and sow confusion. Catching the Crows comes after that.”
Ishmael, standing by Midiam’s side to assist her, stepped forward and spoke. At this, Haldun glared at him.
“What? A servant like you doesn’t know where to stick his nose? We were talking here.”
“Even so, while we’re standing here, the Crows will be drawing closer.”
“Exactly! And I told you, the Crows don’t scare me!”
Just as Haldun shouted this, a figure appeared on the rooftop beside them.
“What’s with all the noise?”
Astonishingly, Azadin had descended onto the roof.
“Azadin?!”
Midiam’s face brightened at the sight of him. But Ishmael stepped calmly in front of her, shielding her.
“Midiam, Ishmael? I thought you’d gone far, but you’ve come to Bruma?”
“Have you received the order?”
“What order.”
“All heralds are to gather in Bruma, overthrow Bruma’s false king, Manza-Zadek, and seize the throne of Bruma.”
“…No. Why haven’t I heard this? It doesn’t sound like an order conveyed through the Emperor’s Voice.”
Azadin was a rejected figure among the herald clan. If an order wasn’t transmitted through the Emperor’s Voice, he would have to receive it through the servants’ network, such as the Korasar Pedders’ Guild or the Bruma Merchants’ Guild…
But all of the clan rejected Azadin because of his ties to Arael. Even Aldis raising Azadin to the Second Herald had not prevented that rejection.
In fact, that reckless promotion, which reeked of Aldis’ favoritism, only inflamed others’ hostility.
“The Emperor’s Voice opposed this operation. So, orders were delivered separately through the network. Well, it’s good you’ve finally heard them, isn’t it?”
Though he knew the truth well, Ishmael replied smoothly.
“Oh really. So you’re Azadin the Eyeless? Hmph, rumor says you’re such a halfwit you can’t even speak, but you don’t stammer at all.”
Haldun puffed himself up, mocking Azadin.
“I am Haldun of the Aman bloodline. Azadin, I’ll grant you the honor of cooperating with me. Let us hunt the Golden King’s Crows together. Later, I’ll arrange a fine post for you.”
“What kind of post?”
“Well. Wouldn’t a small sugarcane plantation in Bruma be satisfying enough? You can trust me to see it done.”
Still young, and having just become a herald to fill a vacancy, Haldun treated Azadin like a servant.
Midiam, meanwhile, squirmed like sitting on a bed of thorns, glancing nervously at Azadin.
Judging by his attitude, he could not possibly be unaware of the herald clan’s assault on Bruma. And knowing his character, he would not look favorably on this.
There was no way he would condone raiding a city for selfish gain, causing countless sacrifices without justification.
“If the Golden King is deposed, who shall sit upon that throne? Korasar’s was claimed by Aldis. Who shall claim Bruma’s?”
“Likely Chief Hatir. Do you know? He is in fact the trueborn between the Emperor and Lady Harconia. He is the legitimate heir of the Yaegas royal line. If he claims the throne, the Emperor shall return, and we shall once more be the Emperor’s heralds.”
Haldun straightened proudly.
“Even a halfwit like you will regain the glorious title of the Emperor’s herald.”
“Then the Chief must be here as well.”
Though Haldun relied solely on his bloodline and ignored Azadin’s status as Second Herald, Azadin was grateful for how smoothly he answered every question.
On the other hand, Midiam, perhaps sensing Azadin’s heart, began to slowly distance herself.
“Azadin, what will you do?”
“The answer is clear. The Golden King, Manza-Zadek, has not committed such tyranny as to deserve removal from the throne. To drag him down and claim the throne through slaughter, the Emperor’s Voice cannot accept that. No…”
Azadin gave a bitter smile.
“I cannot accept it.”
“What?”
Only then did Haldun realize that Azadin intended not to join their mission, but rather had come to stop them. But after all, wasn’t this just the Eyeless Azadin?
“Ha… is this fool insane. No, no, this is perfect. Hand over the position of Second Herald, Azadin.”
“Which means you intend to challenge me to a duel?”
When Azadin asked, Haldun sneered.
“A duel with a traitor of the clan? Don’t be ridiculous! Hey!”
Haldun signaled his servants, and they all fired arrows at Azadin at once. But Azadin swung his cloak, blocking their path, and struck it with his palm.
With a booming sound like a drum bursting, a shockwave scattered, and the arrows lost their strength.
Some of the arrows had enchantments, but when their magic was drained away and they became nothing more than ordinary arrows, they were caught and tangled in the cloak Azadin swung.
At the same time, Azadin leapt forward, targeting Haldun first.
—Snap!
Azadin flicked his middle finger against Haldun’s brow. It was no more than the childish flick kids used to play with… but the result was astonishing.
The skin split open at his forehead, and blood spurted out in torrents, dyeing Haldun’s face red.
“Gaaahhh!”
“Young master!”
The servants rushed in with swords, but Azadin swung his blade faster.
The sword of Azure Steel danced, shattering their weapons with ease.
“Khk!”
“Damn it!”
And then, Grimslawn’s cudgel came flying at them. The weapon danced on its own, striking heads and chests, toppling the servants.
But then, a hand suddenly caught hold of Grimslawn’s flying cudgel.
It was Ishmael.
“Azadin. Will you betray the clan, for the people of Hubris?”
“It was the elder council who betrayed the clan first. The curse of service wasn’t cast by the Emperor. It was cast by the elder council.”
To stop the servants from acting rashly, Azadin seized Haldun as a hostage and turned.
—Kwarururung!
Thunder rolled in the storm.
“On what grounds do you spout such nonsense? That the curse of service wasn’t from the Emperor!”
“The Emperor’s Voice admitted it directly. Harconia was the one who slew the Emperor, and the curse of service was placed by the elder council to keep us under control.”
The rain fell heavier. Beneath the downpour, Ishmael, holding Grimslawn’s cudgel in one hand, glared at Azadin.
“What does it matter? Soon, the clan’s great wish will be fulfilled. Once we seize the throne, none will dare look down on us again.”
“It is nothing but ambition, trampling the innocent.”
“They are not innocent! All this time, they have mocked and scorned us! They are not our people!”
“But Harconia killed even the Emperor she loved, to save them. And she wasn’t the only one. We, the Emperor’s heralds, risked our lives for the people of Hubris. If now we claim not to care for their lives, that is what deserves to be called corruption.”
“So what if it is? What’s wrong with desiring power? Why shouldn’t we take it?”
Ishmael’s anger was burning. But was his fury truly aimed at Azadin?
To the Ishmael who could not control his emotions, Azadin spoke.
“First, obviously, killing and tormenting innocent people is wrong. Second… even if the clan rules everything, within it there will still be servants, and those who suffer persecution. Ishmael, do you really think you will be allowed to claim that power?”
“……”
“Third, the Age of Jupiter is coming. The king’s church is losing its strength, and in these times of approaching tribulation, if we protect the people, they will no longer be able to reject us.”
“Such….”
“This is the right way. We are strong enough to earn the respect of the people of Hubris! That is what the elder council feared, and that is why they shackled us with the curse of service! If we gain respect by our own strength, then their ambitions will never be fulfilled!”
“……”
“The elder council’s true desire is this! Invasion! That is why they bound us all this time. Do not justify this wickedness with hatred for the people of Hubris!”
“Damn it.”
Ishmael regretted his own actions, for he had listened to Azadin’s words. If only he had simply fought, but now that he had listened, he had no rebuttal. Even he himself had felt doubt about what the clan was doing now.
“Your tongue still runs smooth, Azadin. I detest you to the core.”
“Do you? As for me, I rather like you.”
“……”
Silently, Ishmael released his grip on the cudgel.
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