The Usurper (2)

“You supposedly care for the people of Hubris. From what Mediam told me… you truly believe in the faith of the Rescue Knights, don’t you?”

“I’d rather not talk about that.”

“Lady Aldis is merciful. But most of our kin are unlike her—they’re starved for blood. Many want to avenge their pent-up rage by slaughtering the people of Hubris. So someone must understand Lady Aldis’s will, don’t you think?”

“You mean me?”

“Yes. Someone needs to support her words and be her comfort. Honestly, it’s not an easy role. Only you can do it.”

Sion Ethar’s words were quite persuasive.

Though Aldis held a high status, her ideals were far removed from the average sentiment of the Messenger Clan. In the end, she would be forced to take a hardline stance, just as the people wanted.

Someone needed to support her, and Azadine was the only one who could.

The followers were demanding tyranny from someone who should never become a tyrant. If no one supported her, it would end in tragedy.

And that… was a deeply compelling story for Azadine.

To become a source of comfort for Aldis.

To repay her grace.

To become someone more meaningful in her life than a powerless child.

How desperately he had wished for that.

It was a dream he had held since the days when he was just a helpless boy.

But…

“What about you, Sion Ethar? Are you also starved for blood?”

When Azadine asked this, Sion smiled.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. The people of Hubris persecuted us. We only obeyed the emperor’s orders. And look at them. Lady Aldis declared herself a descendant of the emperor. And yet, they didn’t even dare to oppose her. Why?”

“Because she’s of the Yaegas God Tribe.”

“No. Because they’re base and vile in nature. They submit to absolute power and are cruel to the weak.”

“We are not weak.”

“No. We were weak! We were few in number! That’s why, from childhood, we trained harshly in martial arts and used the exotic spellbook known as Flowers, Birds, Wind, Moon to strengthen ourselves! We went to extremes to overcome the weakness of being few!”

There was heat in Sion Ethar’s voice.

“In other words, our twisted lives were persecution itself. Because the people of Hubris rejected us, we had to do all this just to survive.”

“So… you also want to kill the people of Hubris?”

“Yes. But I also know that this emotion is wrong. That it’s not suitable for governing this world. That’s why I need you, who are free of it. I never thought there’d be someone from Aragasa who truly believes in the angels of the Rescue Knights’ faith.”

Sion Ethar genuinely needed Azadine.

Indeed… this was meaningful.

Azadine, from within Aragasa, soothing and mediating their rage. It could prevent countless sacrifices.

But…

“Let’s deal with the Nether and the Nagas first, then talk.”

Azadine said this and stepped away from Sion Ethar.

“Then that bracelet…”

“Hm?”

“Hand over the copies of the Heavenly King’s Book of Truth and the bracelet. Isn’t it too much for one Messenger to carry? We need them for translation…”

“Do you really need the copies now that you’ve claimed the throne?”

“Of course we do. That version has already undergone partial translation.”

“Fine. I’ll return it—directly to Lady Aldis.”

“……”

“Well then. First, we must drive out the Nagas.”

With that, Azadine moved away from Sion.

The sky was clearing.

The Light of the Crown was driving away the storm clouds and repelling the power of the Nether.

When the thunder and storms had raged, the Nether had appeared like the shadow of a giant… but under the Light of the Crown, it merely looked like a massive cumulonimbus cloud.

“Whoa, what the heck. Did we see it wrong? It definitely looked like a huge reaper before. I guess we were just so scared, we mistook some clouds.”

Shati clicked her tongue as she stared at the distant storm under the Light of the Crown.

“No way.”

Azadine shook his head.

That reaper of the Nether had launched its minions from its body, which then fused with the sea serpent Nagas to create a new kind of monster.

Under the Light of the Crown, it was just a thundercloud. But without that light, it was the reaper of the Nether.

“It was definitely the reaper of the Nether. That’s what it was.”

“The Light of the Crown is truly incredible.”

Scott the orc was amazed.

With the light weakening the Nether’s minions, the thick armor that once deflected heavy crossbows turned soft and their movements slowed.

Now, even simple stabs from spears were enough to fight them off, and the soldiers and holy knights were overflowing with energy.

As the Light of the Crown grew stronger, morale in Coral Sahar soared. Hope and courage spread among the people.

Even the criers, the heralds reading out proclamations, were delivering messages of hope.

“Everyone, listen well! Aldis Jedaha, granddaughter of Emperor Yaeslat, has claimed the throne of Coral Sahar!”

“Huh? Emperor?”

“If she’s the emperor’s granddaughter, shouldn’t she already be dead?”

“No! That’s how strong the blood of the Yaegas God Tribe is! The rightful ruler of the Coral Sahar throne has taken her place, and the Light of the Crown is with us!”

“All hail the Empress!”

The criers were stirring the crowd, praising the new empress, Aldis Jedaha.

“……”

Azadine walked away, avoiding the criers.

However, among the criers—and even hidden among the crowd—some members of the Messenger Clan recognized Azadine.

“Congratulations.”

“Second Herald, Azadine Jedaha.”

“I always knew you’d succeed.”

He had once been called Cursed Azadine, Azadine of Disgrace—mocked and persecuted by all.

But now, the Messenger Clan knew that Aldis backed him, and she was rising as a central figure of power. They offered him their congratulations, bordering on flattery.

Azadine responded to their words with only half-hearted nods.

It was a good thing, after all. It was Arael who had summoned the beings of the Nether and massacred people—not Aldis.

Although Aldis had ended up claiming the throne, it was Arael who had bloodied his hands.

Aldis’s hands remained clean.

Wasn’t that good?

She had seized everything in one stroke, without compromising her morality.

If Aldis were to offer a pardon to those who had abandoned the senate, seduced by Arael’s vision, they would gladly return to her side.

So everything had gone well. And yet, why did Azadine feel such an urge to leave this place immediately?

“Let’s get out of here. Sion Ethar won’t just leave us alone.”

Azadine quickened his pace. His head spun, his vision blurred, and a suffocating, indescribable weight pressed on his chest.

And then—

“Azadine.”

A girl with a solemn expression called out to him. Mediam and Ismail, who had been firing arrows from the ramparts at the sea serpent Nagas, turned around upon seeing him.

“Mediam. Ismail.”

“I don’t really know what to say.”

Mediam understood well. She knew Azadine loved Aldis—and that Aldis suddenly claiming the throne and declaring herself the emperor’s heir was throwing him into turmoil.

It must be complicated. Not something one could simply celebrate.

So she tried to comfort him.

But Ismail, indifferent, simply performed a fist-over-heart salute.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Azadine Jedaha. Second Herald—this is a fitting recognition of your abilities.”

“Ismail!”

Mediam scolded Ismail for carelessly congratulating Azadine.

“Hey, little lady. Was it really okay that you let us go?”

Scott asked Mediam. When Scott, Zebec, and Shati had been captured, she had secretly released them—and now he was asking if she got in trouble for it.

“It was fine. That wasn’t an issue. I’m an Ethar, after all. But more importantly… what do you plan to do now?”

“What do I plan to do? Only Lady Aldis can stop the Age of Jupiter. For the glory of Aragasa, and the people of Hubris as well, we must pledge loyalty to the new Empress, Lady Aldis.”

Ismail answered for her. But Azadine shook his head.

“I plan to speak with Arael. But it’s dangerous for her here. We can’t meet in this place. I intend to move somewhere more secluded.”

Azadine spoke frankly of his intentions to Mediam.

“…I see.”

“Everyone probably knows that and will try to chase me, right?”

“Yes. Actually… I’m supposed to approach you now and ask you to take me back as your servant.”

Meaning Mediam had been sent as a spy to approach him again. Ismail flinched as Mediam revealed this.

“You can come along if you want.”

“R-really?”

“Hah. Boss, the bruises I got from these kids still ache, you know?”

Scott said that, but he didn’t object to their company. The one who did was Zebec.

“I object, Azadine. You shouldn’t let them come.”

“Why not?”

“If you reject their company for any reason, Sion Ethar will take it as a sign of rebellion and will begin to hunt and watch you. He doesn’t trust you.”

“I think so too.”

“If Miss Mediam truly holds affection for you, then taking her along will only cause her pain as she’s torn between her kin and you. It’s better to confront their suspicions directly.”

Zebec wanted Azadine to face the doubt and suspicion head-on, rather than burden Mediam. A sentiment true to his holy knight’s upright nature.

Azadine gave a bitter smile.

“And what about me? Isn’t it time to let me go?”

Shati asked, but Azadine ignored her request and said,

“Mediam. You decide. Will you follow me, or return?”

“Of course I’ll follow.”

“I object.”

Ismail shook his head.

“Mediam. This man will betray our clan in the end. He truly believes in the faith of the angels. Didn’t you see him work miracles?”

“……”

“Because he believes wholeheartedly, he will absolutely betray our people. And you’re an Ethar.”

“Ismail.”

At that moment, Azadine called Ismail’s name.

“What?”

“You’re kind. You know that?”

“Huh?”

Ismail was momentarily flustered. What was this man trying to say? Was he mocking him?

But judging from Azadine’s face, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Though his eyes were hidden and most of his face was obscured by a mask, Azadine’s mouth wore an expression that somehow looked… sympathetic.