The Rampage Of The Thralls (4)

Moreover, the fact that Azadine, despite being an Aragasan, still cared about the Hubris people made him seem strange to them—and that weighed heavily on his heart.

“It seems the people of Vthuma are weighing on your mind, Azadine. But when the Age of Jupiter comes, people will die anyway. We’re simply acting based on reason.”

“You sacrifice people willingly and feel nothing about the cost of their lives? That’s a disgusting kind of rationalism. Do you even realize that your so-called rationalism is actually irrational?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t disregard human emotion. Emotions captivate people and can draw out their full potential. If you dismiss and insult those emotions just because they’re not ‘rational,’ their resentment will always be watching for a chance to bite you. Maybe everything’s fine while you’re riding high, but even tripping on a tiny rock might turn you into carrion for a pack of starving jackals. What part of that smug attitude of yours is rational? That’s not rationalism—it’s just a rotten character.”

“That’s an interesting way to put it.”

Arael genuinely admired Azadine.

“You really are unlike most Aragasa. Listen, Azadine. Aldis and Kazas in the Senate may care for you, but they still have to be mindful of the other elders. And the one with final authority is Chief Hathir. You haven’t even had a real conversation with him, have you? Meanwhile, I’m the highest decision-maker on our side. If I win the struggle against the Senate, it’ll help your goals more.”

Arael continued to try persuading Azadine based on rational logic.

“You think I care about your power struggles?”

“That’s exactly why you need to care. You want to save the Hubris people, don’t you? If you want to save someone, you need power. Even if you have no interest in power struggles, you have to force yourself to care—learn, study, and seize power. Yes, if you have the ability and the opportunity but refuse to take up power to protect others, that’s just laziness.”

“You’re ridiculous. Arael, I’m sure your argument makes perfect sense within your ‘rationality.’ But that’s exactly why I can’t accept people like you.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m going to prevent that massacre from happening in Vthuma.”

“You little—now you’ve really said it.”

“Lord Arael. Even if we don’t kill him, shall we capture him? Lock him up and release him after it’s all over—by then he might be convinced. He’s only mouthing off now because he hasn’t tasted defeat yet.”

The four of Flowers, Birds, Wind, Moon flared up when Azadine said he would stop what was to happen in Vthuma. But Arael shook his head.

“No, leave him. If Azadine tries to prevent what happened at Coral Sahar from happening in Vthuma, he’ll inevitably clash with the Senate, which is aligned with the Naga Empire. He says he’s not on my side, but he’ll end up fighting the Senate anyway. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

“Let him fight the Senate first all he wants. Go ahead, Azadine.”

In the end, Arael had revealed both their original plan and the Senate’s next steps to Azadine.

“Hey, Holy Knight. Let him go alive.”

Indim growled at Zebec, who had crossed swords with her.

“You’re the group called Flowers, Birds, Wind, Moon, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And you’re clearly Indim of the Rentpayer’s Moon?”

“?”

Zebec deliberately addressed Indim like that. For a moment, Indim couldn’t grasp what was happening.

She hadn’t imagined that Zebec, with such a stone-cold face—someone who looked like he’d never joke—was actually mocking her.

“……”

“You seem to be of high status in the Messenger Clan, but it’s disgraceful how you bark out your emotions like a common thug. If you hold a key position in your clan, you should at least try to show some decorum.”

“You bastard!”

“…Let’s go, Zebec.”

Azadine once again stepped between Indim and Zebec and declared a retreat.

Since Arael had agreed to let Azadine go peacefully, Indim could only stew in frustration over Zebec’s insult.

“Oh, right.”

Azadine, who had started walking away, suddenly turned around.

“What now?”

“What about the Blue Turban Party? What if they go on another rampage?”

“Tell the ones who’ve become thralls not to gather together. Especially not in the swamps. And…”

Arael tossed a small medicine vial to Azadine.

“If they rampage again, dip your arrowhead lightly in this and shoot them. It’s the undiluted stuff, so even a tiny bit should be effective.”

“What is this?”

“The blood of the Shadow Shark King. Since it’s undiluted, handle it with care.”

“…Did you drink it too?”

“No. I’m just holding onto it. It’s evidence the Senate’s been researching Nether magic.”

Arael spoke cryptically and turned to gaze toward the waterfall.

Azadine retrieved both keys to the emperor’s treasury that had been inserted outside the door as he exited.

–Krrrrumble!

The door to the treasury began to close again.

“So that’s how it works.”

Azadine stowed away the treasury keys.

“…Are you sure about this, Captain? Your sister’s…”

“Little sister.”

“Your little sister’s going to be trapped inside?”

When Scott asked, Azadine shrugged.

“There was a waterfall, remember? She shouldn’t have trouble escaping. There’s probably a one-way passage inside.”

“Can you really be that careless with things?”

Shati asked out of curiosity, but Azadine seemed fairly confident.

“The Aragasans already looted this treasury, right? So why were the keys still outside? It must be designed so that people who entered couldn’t just take the keys and leave easily. The emperor probably never imagined he and his supporters would fall. He must have always assumed he’d be in total control of the region and that enemies wouldn’t even come near. So he thought it was safe to open and close it like that.”

“But won’t you end up fighting your sister later, Captain? I mean, she… she did care about you in her own annoying way.”

At that moment, everyone except Scott let out a bitter smile.

Scott, of all people, calling Arael’s tone annoying?

“It’s fine. Outside the baron’s castle, the Blue Turban Party members and Coral Sahar refugees are probably waiting. It wouldn’t be a good idea for Arael to run into them. Can’t you hear the noise outside?”

“Not at all.”

“I don’t hear anything either.”

Even Shati, a Naga with excellent hearing, tilted her head in confusion.

“If I were really going to trap her by taking the keys, Arael would’ve taken precautions. She would’ve left someone to guard the keys. But since she didn’t, it must mean she’s fine with me taking them.”

Azadine placed the emperor’s keys into his backpack and stepped outside.

Just as Azadine had predicted, outside the Baron of Adirov’s castle, a priest of the Blue Turban Party stood waiting with those who had regained their sanity.

To be more precise, those who had lost family and then went berserk as thralls—only to kill their own kin with their own hands—had turned into furious rioters. The Blue Turban priest and his followers, now drenched and pale, looked utterly cowed like beaten dogs in the rain.

“Y-you’re safe. What happened? That woman…?”

All eyes turned toward Azadine and his group.

“Hey. Priest. Can we talk for a minute?”

Azadine beckoned to the Blue Turban priest.

“What is it?”

“It’s just that, according to that woman, when too many of your thralls gather in one place, they go berserk. Especially in swamps and marshes—it gets even worse.”

“What?”

“She said that in the Age of Jupiter, when Nether forces are stronger, the thralls of Grimslawn of the Swamp naturally go berserk if they gather in swamps. It’s like holding a cult rally for a death god. And if that’s true—if that fact gets out—then today’s rampage becomes the Blue Turban Party’s responsibility for handing out stimulants so carelessly. What do you think?”

It wasn’t a matter of opinion. If the furious crowd learned that the accident was the Blue Turban Party’s fault, they would tear the priest limb from limb.

“Th-that’s not true! It’s a ridiculous accusation. That woman must’ve tricked us somehow.”

“First off, is it true that this Nether being is called Grimslawn of the Swamp?”

“…Y-yes.”

“Then did that woman feed you something or cast a spell on you?”

“I-I’m not sure. M-maybe she laced the food with something?”

The priest insisted it was all Arael’s fault. From his point of view, believing that was far more convenient.

“Sigh. Pathetic. Anyway, I’ve locked her up in there. Tell the people she’ll starve to death without food.”

“What? But will they believe that without proof? They’ll want a body at least.”

“You already told them she caused all this while we were gone, didn’t you? You can’t take that back now. Are you going to try capturing her yourself? Let me be clear—she’s a real Heavenly Kingslayer. If everyone here rushed her at once, she’d probably kill half and walk away without a scratch. Can you deal with that?”

“Ah… no, I…”

He had already been helplessly subdued by Arael and her subordinates. The Blue Turban priest already knew it was impossible to overpower them.

“You seem to be in quite a bind. How about letting me handle this? I’ll take care of it properly.”

“You will?”

“Yeah. Let me. I’ll make sure it doesn’t come back to hurt you.”

When Azadine spoke with the priest, Zebec objected.

“They’re a cult. No, worshippers of a Nether god—Grimslawn of the Swamp? They’re not just a cult but a heretical sect. If they caused this rampage, then they’re clearly responsible. And they’ve already looted from people. It’s time they paid for their crimes.”

“I agree with you, Zebec. But outside, we’ve got a volatile crowd that’s seen humans turn into thralls—monsters. If we damage the Blue Turban Party’s authority now, the people will riot. They’ll kill the cultists and then start murdering each other out of fear of the thralls among them. Can you really control that chaos?”

“Ah.”

Zebec admitted that Azadine’s reasoning made sense. To resolve things peacefully, they had to preserve the Blue Turban Party’s authority and even reinforce it.

“I’m ashamed. I was short-sighted.”

“I don’t like these bastards either. But fine, let’s get to work. First, we need to disperse the crowd peacefully.”

Azadine walked toward the square in front of the Baron’s castle with the priest at his side.