Chapter 157. The Usurper (3)

"You didn't tell Zion Aether about what happened with the Wendigo, did you?"

"..."

"If you and Midiam had reported it, there's no way Zion Aether would be reacting so indifferently. You refusing to follow me right now—isn't that just your own decision? Normally, whatever you do, you're bound to follow Midiam. Wasn't your role to follow her here after she followed me, and then continue persuading her?"

"So you knew."

Ishmael had originally been a subordinate of Zion Aether. Though he acted like Midiam's servant, he was also responsible for regularly reporting her activities to the higher-ups.

Ishmael, who was always expected to act in accordance with the will of the House Aether, had chosen to keep Azadin's miracle a secret. Furthermore, he was now purposefully expressing the suspicions and doubts the House Aether held toward Azadin—delivering a clear warning.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I truly despise you. I find someone like you physically repulsive."

Ishmael declared this directly to Azadin's face.

"But Midiam follows you. I'm simply doing my best to ensure no harm comes to her."

By following Azadin, harm could come to Midiam—that's what Ishmael was saying.

"I see. Understood. Then Midiam, let's say our farewells here."

Azadin decided not to let Midiam and Ishmael accompany him any further.

"As a herald, you should've trained and guided the servants to build experience, but looking back… I realize I didn't teach you much. I'm sorry I was such a lacking herald."

"N-no, you were the best teacher, Azadin."

"Come on now. That's a stretch, no matter how generous you're trying to be."

Azadin smiled.

"But if I may ask something of you, Midiam—within Aether, please do your part to ensure that the name of Aragasa is not tainted with the blood of the powerless."

The training of the Aragasa instills hatred for the weak and defenseless. Whenever someone drops out during training, the entire group is punished—fostering resentment toward the weak and encouraging private retribution.

Even among their own kin, the Aragasa people are merciless toward the weak—how much more brutal would they be toward the Hubris people who persecuted them?

Azadin feared just that.

"Why do you care about them so much? Is it because you follow the faith of the angels?"

When Ishmael asked, Azadin shook his head.

"When I was young… I was afraid."

"Afraid?"

"I couldn't bear the thought that there was no one in this world who could understand me. If only they could show just a little kindness... But among the Aragasa, my way of thinking was seen as weak and cowardly. Of course, I understood that since I had dropped out of training, asking for kindness toward the weak sounded like I was just asking them to be nice to me."

As a dropout of the Aragasa training, Azadin had likely been ostracized and tormented by everyone.

It was so severe that the young Azadin began to doubt whether those around him were even truly human, if they shared the same blood.

"That's when I encountered the faith of the Knights of Salvation. The stories of the Archangels of the Trinity who devoted themselves to humanity, and the holy knights who protected the weak by following their teachings… that alone was salvation to me."

"Because you believed you'd be saved if you believed in them?"

"No. More than that, it was the affirmation of shared humanity. The fact that stories of goodness and beauty could move everyone. That others, just like me, longed for the good and the beautiful—that's what turned it into faith, into a vast order."

Azadin said this, then turned to Midiam.

"That's why I believe in you, Midiam."

Midiam had resonated with Azadin's aesthetic—his belief that persecuting the powerless Hubris people was an act of ugliness.

To Azadin, that shared value was a bond beyond measure.

"Yes, Azadin. Oh, right—"

Midiam raised her hand and pointed toward the stables beside the city wall.

"I've prepared a horse, a goat, and your supplies. I left them in the stable that wasn't flooded."

She had retrieved the luggage they had entrusted to Zion Aether. Especially for Zebeck, whose armor was part of the load, it was crucial cargo.

"You went out of your way to bring all that? Thank you."

"I've also packed enough food. And in addition, this…"

Midiam took a sword from a box nearby.

"This is…"

Azadin gave a wry smile when he saw it. It was the Azure Steel Longsword once owned by Aldof.

"Elder Kazas asked me to give it to you as a gift."

"From my teacher?"

"Yes."

"That's… problematic."

Azadin looked troubled.

The Azure Steel Longsword was a priceless treasure. But its original owner had been Aldof—despite losing his arm, he was still the nephew of Ansethus IV, an extremely influential figure.

Carrying such a man's sword could lead to serious political fallout.

And what if Aldof was still alive?

Though their relationship hadn't been hostile, Aldof would surely take issue with Azadin walking around with his sword.

'No… I'll just tell people I'm borrowing it and will return it to someone who knows its rightful owner later.'

If Azadin refused the sword now, it would only signal to Kazas or Aldis that he held resentment or disapproval.

"R-right. Please thank him for me. Then… farewell. If fate allows, let's meet again."

With that, Azadin parted ways with Midiam and Ishmael.

***

As they emerged onto the high ground beyond the city walls—untouched by the flooding—the entire city of Coral Sahar came into view.

The rain had stopped, and the water was rapidly receding. Pillars of dawnlight were pouring from the sky, forcibly draining the floodwaters that had engulfed the city.

The Sea Snake Nagas, their momentum broken, were now retreating from the Coral Sahar royal castle. But just then, a small high-speed boat charged toward them.

"Fire!"

On board were archers of the Herald Clan. They loosed their arrows at the retreating Nagas.

Normally, firing arrows from a boat is difficult even for a master archer due to the rocking of the waves. But the Herald Clan, famous for their archery, lived up to their reputation—each shot found its mark, striking the Nagas with lethal precision. The Nagas couldn't withstand it.

Some Nagas dove underwater to avoid the arrows and attempted to climb the sides of the boats. But soldiers armed with long, hooked scythes were already waiting, striking down the climbing Nagas and rendering them helpless.

The same Nagas who had stormed Coral Sahar Castle with terrifying force were now being swept away in futility.

"At the very least, the people of Coral Sahar must be cheering in triumph."

Zebeck marveled at the sight of the high-speed boats dealing with the Nagas.

What had once left Ansethus IV helpless was now being resolved swiftly and decisively, the moment Aldis Jedaha took the throne. To the citizens of Coral Sahar, who had resigned themselves to death, this must seem like a miracle.

"They probably used every copy of the Book of the Divine King the Elder Council had."

"Huh?"

"Zion Aether and Elder Kazas had gathered copies of the Book of the Divine King and were waiting nearby. When the Arael Faction approached the throne and used sorcery to extract white magic from it, the nearby copies were naturally saturated with that white magic."

That was why Azadin had felt an unusually potent surge of power when he received energy from the Book—it had been supercharged by the white magic leaking from the throne.

When white magic is drawn from the throne, any nearby copies of the Book of the Divine King absorb that power and grow stronger.

By giving Aldis, the throne's rightful heir, all of those books and having her sit upon the throne, she was able to activate the light of the king's virtue and unleash miraculous power.

Such a dramatic spectacle would easily enrapture the people of Coral Sahar.

"I can't allow the Elder Council to keep the copies of the Book. I'll have to control them all myself."

Azadin intended to keep every single copy of the Book of the Divine King, including the ones he had just obtained.

"But before that—Scott, could you examine this bracelet in detail?"

Azadin handed over the bracelet that stored the copy of the Book Aldis had given him.

"Not exactly something you do on the move, Captain. But... well, there don't seem to be any tracking spells or anything like that."

"Yeah?"

Azadin relaxed a bit at the news that the bracelet wasn't enchanted.

Maybe it was the sight of Aldis suddenly usurping the throne and becoming empress? It had stirred all kinds of suspicions about her—but it seemed, at least for now, she hadn't done anything overly sinister.

But then—

[Azadin...]

A voice called to him from the shoreline.

A giant crab crawled up from the water. On its shell was a large eyeball and mouth.

"Arael, is it? How's it feel—having your prize snatched right out from under you?"

Azadin taunted the voice of Arael.

'Ah, this isn't the time for gloating…'

Azadin had wanted to talk to Arael in detail. But she had been a source of deep wounds for him—and the chance to mock her was too tempting to resist.

'Then again, when else would I get the chance to laugh at Arael like this?'

Ignoring his taunt, Arael's voice replied.

[Given how quickly you left the castle, I assume you, too, are suspicious of Aldis's actions? Head to the Bruma Kingdom. Let's discuss the future there. And don't bring any other Aragasa with you.]

The Aragasa, like the Korasar Pedders' Guild, had established regional firms across various nations to serve as intelligence networks.

"Understood. Where in Bruma should I go?"

[Now's not the time to give specifics. I'll stay in touch. See you then!]

With a pop, Arael's voice vanished, and the massive mud crab exploded into pieces.

"Ugh. Smells kinda tasty though."

Scott sniffed the air as the shattered crab released a sweet, meaty aroma.

"Don't eat it."

Azadin warned him sternly.

***

Originally, Coral Sahar had conducted trade with Bruma via sea routes, with regular and merchant ships traveling between them.

But due to the Naga attacks, both the regular and merchant vessels were out of service. Azadin had no choice but to travel by land. Waiting for the ships to be repaired would only give Zion Aether time to send more new observers after him.

As Azadin followed the coast, he used every rest stop as an opportunity to absorb white magic from the Book of the Divine King copies whose powers had recovered. By accepting the accumulated white magic into his body, he strengthened the power of Kazas Haeseo even further.

Around midday, the group set up a cooking pot on a sandy stretch of the coast. While Shati prepared a meal, Azadin once again activated a Book of the Divine King for mana enhancement.

"Damn it! Why the hell am I the one stuck cooking because of some damn Orc!?"

"Because rations are expensive. And sorry, but it turns out Sir Zebeck has no sense of taste."

After trying his cooking once, they discovered Zebeck's culinary skills were catastrophic. However, he was an exceptional fisherman and remarkably skilled at preparing fish.

Unfortunately, even perfectly prepped fish couldn't salvage things once he began cooking. Whether boiling or grilling, the results were always disastrous.

Shati even began to suspect that Zebeck was sabotaging the food just to avoid cooking duties.

"I-I'll fetch water."

Feeling guilty about his disastrous cooking, Zebeck volunteered to help, even without being asked.