The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 108

“Damn it! Kill Guillaume Valt first!”The Sellsword Guild members decided to focus on Guillaume Valt, their primary target. Rather than being distracted by arrows coming from who-knows-where, they figured they’d quickly complete their mission and escape.”You bastards! You dare ignore me! Traitors!”Guillaume Valt grabbed his sword and clashed with the Sellsword Guild mercenaries.-Clang!In a single exchange, the mercenary’s sword was deflected by Guillaume Valt’s, and then struck Guillaume Valt’s neck. If he hadn’t been wearing a neck guard, he would have died instantly.”Guh?!””Huh?!”Everyone watching was shocked. The sword had gone for Guillaume Valt’s neck so easily, as if it were being sucked in.’What the heck? Is he really a noble?”Usually, nobles are good at sword fighting.’Midiam and Ismael, who were observing the situation while moving through the reeds, clicked their tongues.Unlike commoners who are busy making a living and have little time, nobles, especially wealthy high nobles, can afford to have sword masters and receive all sorts of education from a young age. Moreover, don’t they have the blood of the Yaegas gods flowing through them? [Yaegas gods are a reference to a divine lineage or pantheon within the story’s world.]So how could he get hit the moment he exchanged blows with a mercenary?”…Sir Guillaume Valt is a swordsmanship dunce.”Brand provided a clear answer to everyone’s question. Then, he grabbed a short spear and stepped forward, striking the Sellsword Guild mercenary in Guillaume Valt’s place.”What’s this, old man!”The mercenary who had defeated Guillaume Valt immediately tried to parry Brand’s attack with his sword, but…-Thwack!Surprisingly, Brand’s short spear bent and then lashed out, striking the mercenary’s upper arm. The force was so strong that even though it hit over his armor, his arm was broken.”Agh!”The mercenary who had defeated the knight Guillaume Valt in a single exchange was now lying on the ground after being struck once by a former scribe’s spear. It was unclear whether Guillaume Valt was weak or Brand was naturally strong.’It’s probably both.’Everyone watching thought the same thing.”It seems like we can’t resolve this peacefully by making me look like a madman. Should I get to work too?”When Scott, who was sitting in his wheelchair, asked this, Jibek objected.”No! Don’t use necromancy in front of me!”Jibek was wary of Scott using necromancy and instead drew his sword and stepped forward.”What? You think we’re scared of a paladin!””You think we’ve only fought one or two paladins?”Sword light danced among the mercenaries who had rushed in with great momentum. Jibek swiftly subdued four soldiers with his fluid swordsmanship.With a series of crisp thuds, the mercenaries fell to the ground. Some were bleeding from both nostrils as their armor and helmets were crushed, while others were busy trying to stop the bleeding from deep cuts on their calves.”Huh?!””…He’s unbelievably strong!””Damn it!”As Jibek stepped forward to protect Guillaume Valt, the Sellsword Guild members realized that things were not going as planned. Six of them had been taken down in an instant, and arrows were still flying at them from all directions. About a third of their force of 20 men had been wiped out in a moment.The morale of the mercenaries plummeted, and they began to flee. But arrows flew and pierced their backs and legs.”Agh!”The Sellsword Guild members, who had clearly had the numerical advantage, were defeated by Azadin’s small group.”Hmm… watching this, I’ve realized something.”Scott McGreene looked at Shati, who was sitting quietly beside him.”I think I know why you couldn’t escape and got captured. If you try to run away clumsily, you’ll end up as a human pincushion, right?””Shut up. How dare you betray the Naga Empire. You won’t die peacefully.”Shati was furious with Scott and snapped at him.”But wouldn’t the Nagas who returned alive think you’re a traitor to the Naga Empire too?””……”Scott’s words were true.’Unless I return with the Divine King’s Scripture as a gift, I’m dead.’*********”This is absurd.”Guillaume Valt shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what had happened to him.”What happened, teacher? Why did the mercenaries betray me?””When news of the Count was cut off, Duke Adler began to sort out the ranks to become the next Count of Lantark. All the vassals have already sided with Duke Adler.””But why Adler… These were the men I hired. Not vassals!””Sir Guillaume Valt, you didn’t go to the Sellsword Guild with the money yourself, did you?””Well, I hired them through my steward, but… wait, what?””It’s best to assume that not only the vassals but also the steward and servants are all on Duke Adler’s side.””Wait a minute? Why is that?””Because Duke Adler is the true heir designated by the Count.””I heard that. What I’m asking is why. Is it because Adler is handsome? Because my father favored Adler and they shared meals together since childhood?””What? Shared meals?”Azadin clicked his tongue as he listened.”Okay, okay, calm down and let’s leave this place.”Azadin packed up the campsite and prepared to depart.”But I’m the eldest son. Even if I’m ugly, how could they do this?”Guillaume Valt was still grumbling, unable to understand what had happened to him.”Sir Guillaume Valt, you don’t know the Count’s true nature. That’s because you’re the eldest son in name only. The real Count is…”Brand sighed and said,”A black magician.””What?”Guillaume Valt was enraged by those words.”How dare you insult my father?!””Sir Guillaume Valt, I know the Count better than you do. No, I’ll say it definitively. No one knows the Count as well as I do, and no one knows the Count as little as you do.””Take it back! Teacher! Even if it’s you, that’s too much!””Be glad that my words are too much. Reality will be even harsher than my words.””Has this old man gone mad!”Guillaume Valt drew his sword and tried to swing it, but Brand reached out and grabbed the hilt of Guillaume Valt’s sword, stopping him.”Let go of this! How dare you call a descendant of the Yaegas gods a black magician!”But Brand, still holding the hilt, tilted Guillaume Valt.”Uh! Uh-uh-uh-uh!”Guillaume Valt staggered and fell to the side. A young, vigorous knight had been overpowered by a former scribe.’Why is he so weak?’Azadin was appalled by Guillaume Valt’s miserable state.”Sir Guillaume Valt, I discovered the Count’s secret and fled, but I was captured by Donair, who was ordered by the Count, and I lost my entire family. No, it wouldn’t be so bad if I just lost them. Donair tortured me and fed me my family. Do you understand what that means?””Uh.””The Count is my mortal enemy. That’s why I like you. Because you’re the child the Count loved the least. Even so, just imagining the Count’s blood flowing through your veins…”Brand’s breathing became ragged. He was growling like a rabid dog, and Guillaume Valt was terrified. He looked like he would tear him apart alive. And the strength he felt when he grabbed Brand’s hand…’This old man is more than capable of tearing me apart.’Guillaume Valt was terrified as he felt Brand truly becoming violent. Then Azadin stopped him.”Wait. Calm down, Brand…””Hmm?”Brand suddenly lifted his head. The worry disappeared from his face, which had been worn down by hardship and pain, and was replaced by pure, innocent joy.”Where am I? Oh!”Brand smiled brightly and grabbed Azadin’s hand.”Aren’t you the young man who knows chivalry well!””Huh?”Azadin was confused by the change in Brand’s expression.”That young lady Shati is here too. What happened to the others? I remember escaping from Donair’s lair safely…””Ah.”The madness had left Brand. He had returned to being the brass knight.”Ah, I guess I got too excited.””This is what happens when you bring in a madman.”Ismael scoffed as he cleaned a pot with a bamboo brush and placed it on his goat’s saddle.”We need Brand to guide us to the Emperor’s mint, right? What should we do?”Midiam also asked, flustered.”There’s nothing we can do. We’ll have to wait until he regains his senses. Until then…”Azadin looked at Guillaume Valt.”Sir Guillaume Valt, it seems like you’ll have to guide us to Lantark.””No, do you really think my father is a black magician?””I’m not sure if he uses black magic. But I definitely saw him massacre the people of Salasmar. He wasn’t a good person.””But, but…”Guillaume Valt was tearing at his face with his hands.”Wait a minute.”Midiam stepped forward.”Why do we have to take this guy with us? We can just go to Lantark, and this guy is no help to our goal. In fact, if we bring him along, his enemies will come after us.”When Midiam asked that, Azadin shook his head.”No, that’s not true. This guy is a big help.””Huh? Why? Even though the vassals of the Count of Lantark and the youngest son’s faction, whom he cherishes, won’t leave him alone?””Instead, we gain justification.””Justification?””Yes. Officially, Sir Guillaume Valt is the rightful heir, so if other vassals and sons attack us, they are traitors. We can dispose of them.””Ah.”Midiam understood what Azadin was saying.”We have to take an orc in a wheelchair with us. We’re bound to attract attention. In that case, we need a strong justification.””Can’t we just put him on a horse instead of a wheelchair?””No. His leg muscles will get too big.””……”Usually, people say they’ll gain weight, not that their muscles will get too big. But Scott was firmly refusing.”Well, why don’t you tell him to endure the leg muscles getting too big since he’s a prisoner?”Midiam ignored Scott and asked Azadin.”That’s what he says.””No. Can’t I just change my appearance?”Scott said that and made a hand seal.Jibek, startled, placed his hand on his sword hilt. He was wary of Scott, a necromancer, who could do anything at any time. But Azadin stopped Jibek.Soon after, Scott transformed into a human, a muscular blond man, and sat in his wheelchair.”How is it?””Hmm. I can’t recognize you.””Don’t fall for my charming looks. It’s a bit… insulting to be with a low-intelligence species like humans.””……”At that moment, Ismael jumped out and punched Scott in the face.-Thwack!”Agh!”Scott, who was muscular all over but had no talent for hand-to-hand combat, screamed and clutched his face as he fell to the ground.”Hey. Go easy on him.”Azadin stopped Ismael, but he didn’t tell him not to hit him.