Episode 113

Azadine stopped Zebec.

“Calm down. I asked around a bit, and it seems that man’s wife became a cultist and caused this mess. If he admits it, not only will he have to kill his own wife, but he’ll also be interrogated for being connected to her. That’s why he’s keeping it a secret.”

“Oh… That’s the reason? A cultist, huh…? Well, if his family is involved, I suppose Sir Brock had little choice.”

Guillaumevalt clenched his fists.

“Now that we know the reason, let’s help him. We don’t know what kind of tricks the cultists used to deceive Sir Brock’s wife, but she may still have a chance to return. If we can persuade her and bring her back safely…”

“Hmph.”

Azadine clicked his tongue at Guillaumevalt’s words.

“Are you even thinking straight?”

“What?”

This time, the entire group turned to Azadine in surprise.

‘Wait, isn’t this guy supposed to be a chivalrous fool?’

Mediam had thought Azadine was the kind of person who always leaped to help others, so his rejection shocked her. Even Ismail was caught off guard.

‘Sure, he has a habit of mutilating his enemies’ genitals, but I thought he actually liked helping people?’

Azadine refusing to help was unexpected, but Ismail welcomed his decision.

“For once, I agree with you. I was worried you’d insist on helping recklessly again.”

“But… isn’t saving people a beautiful thing to do?”

Mediam was genuinely curious why Azadine was rejecting the idea.

“Fine. Let me explain it properly. Mediam, of course, saving people is a beautiful thing. But blindly allowing yourself to be used by others just because they know you’re kind—that’s nothing but foolishness. Do you think that’s too harsh?”

“I… I don’t quite understand your reasoning.”

Mediam was still struggling to grasp Azadine’s logic.

‘Sometimes he helps people for free without hesitation, and other times he’s incredibly strict about it…’

Azadine understood why she was confused. She was a teenage girl, meaning she was easily influenced by others. Plus, as a proud member of the Ethar Family, it was natural for her to obsess over honor and aesthetics.

“Mediam, I appreciate your commitment to aesthetics. But if you uphold aesthetics, you must also protect them from being exploited. That’s why I won’t act recklessly here. Look around. There are a lot of refugees here, aren’t there?”

“Yes.”

“How many horses, oxen, donkeys, and wagons do you see compared to the number of people?”

“Hmm… Not many.”

“That means most of these refugees fled on foot. Whatever disaster occurred, it was something they could escape from by running. That’s a reasonable assumption, right?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, the chances of innocent people being trapped in the mist are low. If they could flee on foot, they likely already did.”

“But what about Sir Brock’s wife? She’s still in there, isn’t she?”

“That man is a vassal knight. He and his wife are responsible for their fief and its people. If Sir Brock’s wife helped summon this mist as part of a cult ritual, then she’s not a victim—she’s a perpetrator. But Guillaumevalt is saying we should help her just because she’s someone he knows. Our help isn’t something so cheap.”

“Oh… I see now. That makes sense. This isn’t the time to waste effort here—we need to get to Lantarique quickly, install that man as Count, and find clues about the Imperial Treasure Vault….”

Mediam, after hearing Azadine’s explanation, was convinced. Even Sir Brand, despite being in his Brass Knight state, agreed.

“It is the duty of a knight! If his wife became a cultist and brought harm to others, then he has failed in his knightly responsibilities.”

“And more importantly, we don’t have time to waste. Now then, Sir Guillaumevalt, let’s take a detour and keep moving.”

Just as Azadine said this…

“Hmph. You actually do think things through. Let’s go.”

Shati urged them forward.

“……”

“What?”

Seeing the stares directed at her, Shati asked in confusion. Scott muttered under his breath.

“How did you even function as an agent with that body?”

“What?”

“Hey, come here. You see this place? This used to be the southeastern branch of the Naga.”

Scott gestured at the area around them.

“When Shati’s mission in Salasma failed, this is probably where she was supposed to bring the Heavenly King’s Book of Truth for delivery.”

“Y-you bastard! How dare you—!”

“I was trying to keep your secret. But your clumsy actions just made you even more suspicious. And for the record, I may be a highly intelligent being, but I still don’t enjoy watching even a dumb Naga get tortured. I’m saying this to avoid that.”

Scott was essentially warning Shati that if he hadn’t spoken up, Azadine would have tortured her for answers.

“No way…”

Even as a prisoner, Shati seemed oddly convinced that Azadine wouldn’t torture her.

“W-wait, are we really going to trust this orc?”

“Tsk, your behavior is only reinforcing the trust people have in me. Foolish Naga woman. But very well. I shall now make the greatest pledge to prove my reliability.”

“…What is it?”

Azadine asked, curious despite himself.

‘Damn it. Why did I ask? This guy always says something ridiculous whenever you give him a chance. I should’ve known better.’

Azadine regretted his curiosity, but it was too late.

“This.”

Scott extended his thumb and index finger, pinching his nose.

“What does that mean?”

“This is an orcish hand signal. It means, ‘If what I said is false, you may call me a human half-blood.’ It’s a pledge of honor—‘I, a Half-Orc.’”

“……”

“Of course, you all know there isn’t even a one-in-a-million chance that a genius orc like me could have any of your lowly human blood mixed in.”

“Please, just shut up. Why do you always have to ruin everything with unnecessary comments?”

“Oh? Are you going to hit me? Hah! Your only counter to my intellect is violence? How predictable. Such barbarism is all one can expect from humans.”

“For the love of—just shut up.”

Azadine silenced Scott and turned to Guillaumevalt.

“Well, since things have come to this, let’s help him.”

“W-who are you people, really?”

Guillaumevalt finally asked the question he should have asked much earlier.

“As you can see, I’m from the Messenger Clan, this one is a Holy Knight of the King’s Church, this one is an agent of the Naga Empire, and this guy is…”

“A supremely loyal and ever-dedicated genius orc.”

“……”

It was truly an absurd and bizarre combination of individuals.

“Don’t look at me like that. Even I have feelings, you know.”

Azadine said this to Guillaumevalt before pointing at Sir Brock, who was still dazed, drunk, and standing near the mist.

“Let’s ask him to guide us.”

“Oh, Sir Brock. I’ve heard about the situation from the soldiers and others.”

“Huh? T-that’s just nonsense.”

“No need to be so defensive. Hmm… Well… How should I put this? Look…”

Guillaumevalt struggled to convince Sir Brock and eventually turned to Azadine for help. In the end, Azadine stepped forward.

“Have you heard that Count Garnahaer went missing during battle?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. But if that’s true…”

“Yes. That means Sir Guillaumevalt is now the acting Count. He is on his way to Lantarique to take on his duties. However, even if he hasn’t arrived yet, as the acting Count, he has the authority to make decisions regarding all matters in Lantarique. Would you agree?”

“……”

‘This guy already knows that Adler is the real designated heir.’

Azadine immediately noticed Sir Brock’s lukewarm reaction.

‘Of course, a man entrusted with a fief along the Imperial Highway must be someone the Count trusts. That means he was likely informed about the succession plans.’

Realizing the situation, Azadine cleared his throat.

“It’s already well known that Count Lantarique had chosen Lord Adler as his successor and informed some of his vassals. However, recent discoveries have overturned that decision.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Do you know the real reason your wife became a cultist?”

“…Wh-what?!”

“Lord Adler has been in close contact with cultists. Otherwise, how could cultists have infiltrated Saenopi Fortress, which is located on the Continental Road?”

“?!”

Hearing this, Zebec clicked his tongue.

‘I knew Azadine was a good liar, but this is something else….’

For Sir Brock, who was already on the verge of losing everything, hearing that Adler was involved with cultists was nothing short of earth-shattering.

“Well, if you’d rather ignore this and continue siding with Lord Adler, we’ll simply take a detour and leave.”

“W-wait! Are you saying Lord Adler invited cultists in?”

“Shh.”

Azadine signaled for him to be quieter.

“As you know, when a person’s spouse is revealed to be a cultist, the husband is also subjected to intense interrogation. Even if you survive, your tendons and bones would be broken, leaving you crippled. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Ugh…”

“But Sir Guillaumevalt holds you in high regard for your diligence. He believes that a faithful and hardworking knight like yourself shouldn’t be punished simply because you were too busy handling governance to notice your wife’s corruption. Losing such a talent would be a great mistake for Lantarique.”

“T-then…?”

“We will investigate the situation and resolve it. And, while we’re at it, we might adjust the evidence slightly to ensure you aren’t implicated. In return….”

“I-I swear my loyalty!”

Sir Brock knelt and offered his sword to Guillaumevalt, formally pledging his allegiance.

“Sir Brock…”

Guillaumevalt’s eyes welled up with tears at the gesture.

‘How much rejection has this guy faced in life for him to be so touched by something this obviously manipulated?’

As Azadine stared at Guillaumevalt in disbelief, he noticed that someone else was also tearing up—Sir Brand, the Brass Knight.

“Ah, what a beautiful display of knightly loyalty.”

“……”

What loyalty? Azadine thought. He had practically grabbed Sir Brock by the throat and forced him into this situation. If this was an example of “knightly aesthetics,” then someone could probably watch a pig being led to slaughter and be moved to tears by its noble sacrifice.

“Well then, Sir Brock. Please guide us. The mist itself is imbued with magic, so ordinary soldiers won’t be of much use. We should only bring knights and clerics.”

“There aren’t many such individuals available. It seems I’ll have to lead the way myself. However…”

“Rest assured, anything that happens inside the mist will not be publicly disclosed. If you become Sir Guillaumevalt’s vassal, then we are all in the same boat. Why would we seek to create discord among allies?”

“……”

Hearing this, Zebec let out a quiet chuckle.

Since when did Azadine become Guillaumevalt’s vassal? And now he was acting like they were bound by fate?

But perhaps it was the sight of Sir Brand crying in joy that swayed Sir Brock. Whatever the reason, he had completely fallen for Azadine’s scheme.