Night of the Soulless Heathens – 125



#125. Lantarik Entry 4

“Actually this weapon was at the murder scene. I picked it up because it looked good…”

“That’s a really funny excuse. The thieves left a weapon behind and you brought it back? Didn’t you claim earlier that the weapon had nothing to do with the body?”

“Wouldn’t it be a shame to throw away your weapon on the side of the road? That’s why I just brought it with me but I was afraid there would be a misunderstanding so I ended up making an excuse.”

The members of the Korasarr Bobusang Guild were saying that but even Azadin heard it as an excuse that made no sense.

“Sir Guillaume Wald?”

In the end if Guillaume Wald who has the highest status in this place conducts a trial even if it is informal there is a chance of resolving the issue without any bloodshed.

“Well let me look at the letter first. Please hand it over.”

Guillaume Wald asked for the letter.

“oh!”

Then the armed merchants were startled.

“That letter contains our secrets…”

Guillaume Wald gave Brand a quick nod. Brand then shouted in excitement.

“How impertinent. The reason why Count Lantaric is investigating your letters is to properly understand the case and make a fair judgment. But you merchants are now questioning the honor of Count Lantaric?”

“….”

It’s as if he’s been practicing all the time and he’s just letting out old-fashioned yells.

The merchants silently looked at each other…

‘Huh?’

Azadin noticed a glint in their eyes.

Even if I didn’t know what the letter contained it seemed like it was something I couldn’t bear without killing the person who read it. Even if it was the knight Guillaume Wald.

The problem is… there aren’t many people in Azadin’s party. Even if the Telvarin armored merchants are numerous they probably aren’t confident enough to fight against knights and paladins.

But they still clung to life.

‘What are these kids?’

Azadin felt that these were no ordinary merchants.

‘Since it seems like the elf is the leader should we talk?’

Azadin first tried speaking to the elf in the elven language he had learned clumsily. When he tried to use the elven language he had learned from Kazas the elf was surprised.

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“I can’t believe there’s someone here speaking Elvish….”

He answered Azadin in Elvish.

The people around them were curious about what the elf and Azadin were talking about but Azadin deliberately did not explain anything to them and continued talking to the elf.

“Hmm. Okay. Let me show you the letter.”

The elf persuaded by Azadin ordered his subordinates to show the letter.

“Yes? But the boss….”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll show you.”

The merchants reluctantly handed their letters to Guillaume Wald. When Guillaume Wald examined them he saw that the wax seal was broken and stained with blood. The recipient of the letters was Prince Adler.

“ah.”

Now I understand why these merchants were lying low and not giving me the letters even though I asked for them.

The letter was a sort of invoice listing the supplies that Prince Adler had ordered including bone saws hooks surgical knives antiseptics pure opium and various magical and alchemical materials along with the expected delivery date and unit price.

Judging from the fact that it also contained a request for cooperation when entering the city as several prohibited items including opium were being brought in it seemed that this was not the first time they had dealt with Adler.

“You guys were dealing with Adler. And this item….”

Guillaume Bald gave Azadin a letter. Azadin frowned when he saw the letter.

‘These are the materials for creating undead.’

Prince Adler was gathering materials that a necromancer would use. Like Count Garnahair of Lantaric Prince Adler was clearly a corrupt noble who dabbled in evil black magic.

Guillaume Wald ignored alchemical materials and magical ingredients and took issue with drugs.

“Bringing drugs into the Rantarik compound with such brazenness. Even if it was Adler’s request this is something that cannot be overlooked.”

“So what I’m saying is….”

The elf the leader of the armed merchants spoke.

“How much would you give me if I sold Prince Adler to you?”

“what?”

“The moment you enter Lantarik you will be killed. I guarantee it.”

The elf said so and pointed to Azadin and Zibek.

“You two are probably capable of easily dealing with any thief or scoundrel by now. I can tell just by looking at your breathing and gait. However under Adler’s lord there are monsters even greater than you.”

“….”

“If it were me I would make sure you can capture Prince Adler safely.”

Guillaume Wald heard this and looked at Azadin in surprise.

“What on earth were you talking about in Elvish with that elf just now?”

“No I just said that I wouldn’t hold you accountable no matter what happened…”

However the elf decided to trust Azadin as soon as he spoke Elvish and showed him without hesitation evidence of their dealings with Adler even evidence of drug dealing.

“First of all why are you trying to betray Adler? Is it really because of the compensation?”

Azadin asked about that.

“Because I know what he’s buying. I’ve seen cases where nobles buy things for their magical research or noblewomen buy cosmetics for their skin or things like the Atra Altar but this is beyond that.”

“Why do you say that we will die if we enter Lantarik? What is your basis for saying that with such confidence?”

“Prince Adler has a family of messengers attached to him. They are all incredibly skilled.”

“ah….”

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“Ugh.”

When the elves of Telvarin praised the heralds both Azadin and the members of the Korathar merchant guild were embarrassed.

“And those messenger bastards are blasphemously declaring… that a new goddess has been born.”

“goddess?”

“The goddess’s name is Arael.”

“Haha. Arael?”

Azadin couldn’t help but laugh when he heard those words.

Not only is your own bloodline the leader of the traitors of the Herald Clan but now you are claiming to be a god?

Of course she was projecting her power by spreading her voice in all directions like an emperor. In an era where even the light of the royal flower is weakening and even angels are losing their power she alone is rising as a new force.

If there are those who know and fear the Age of Jupiter they might gladly worship the newly emerging being Arael as a goddess.

‘The wound… hurts.’

Azadin felt the old wounds he had inflicted on Arael begin to ache and he became angry.

Arael who trampled on his cherished heart when he was at his most miserable and suffering became a goddess. I absolutely cannot accept it.

“Hmm. I guess there are circumstances.”

The elf took a step back as he sensed the anger coming from Azadin.

“Well I don’t know if they’re real gods or not but it’s true that they’re really powerful. I’ve never been so sloppy as to say that I’ve never heard of a goddess or anything you serve while dealing with them.”

“Are you so afraid that you would betray Prince Adler?”

“Because the messenger clan is only interested in what Prince Adler has. When Prince Adler dies they will not seek revenge on me but rather go after what Prince Adler had.”

“Okay I understand. Then you can get us into the Lantaric Castle without being detected by those messengers?”

“Yes. If we disguise you and sneak among our porters you should be able to enter Lantarik without any problems. But I can’t guarantee anything after that.”

Guillaume Wald examined Azadin’s intentions.

“What do you think?”

“Perhaps… it seems true.”

Upon hearing what the elf had to say Azadin realized that Adler had used the Emperor’s treasury as an excuse to recruit the Arael tribe.

“then….”

“Before that just a moment….”

Azadin gestured to the members of the Korasaar guild of merchants and asked them directly.

“You guys killed them right?”

“Oh please speak properly. Even if you are a messenger isn’t this too much?”

The members of the peddler union objected to Azadin’s words.

“Then what happens if you speak properly? It doesn’t seem like what the elf is saying is a lie.”

“It is true that the handle of this Blackjack slightly stuck into the head of that bald man over there just as the elf said.”

“….”

“Please know that we have no murderous intent for the handle of the blackjack not the tip was hit.”

“So you were trying to knock him out by hitting him with the pole but the pole had a hook attached to it and it accidentally went into Pabal’s head? Cracking his skull.”

“That’s it.”

“Ha. Well I guess that’s okay since I just gave them money and supplies…”

Those elf merchants and their armed merchant subordinates are no ordinary guys.

The Telvarin Guild is originally known as a group of slave traders and they also deal in drugs smuggle various types of goods and use force to overwhelm their competitors.

“What does it mean for Arael to become a goddess?”

“Literally.”

“Just like that.”

“He gives strength and protection to those who follow him. With this he intends to become a living god.”

“Him…?”

I can sense that the merchants are having a hard time with Arael. The fate of the messenger clan’s power has not yet been decided but if this is the case Arael’s authority and reputation must be growing.

‘And… it’s a wise god strategy. It’s possible….’

Azadin recalled Arael’s voice.

An artificial spirit that performed functions similar to the Emperor’s voice but unlike the Emperor’s voice it had a strong scent of Nether magic.

But that alone was enough power to be called a god.

If a God who looks after the people drives out demons and wild beasts when they appear provides safety distributes supplies to each region well and ensures that no one starves to death… isn’t that the kind of God that the people of this world desire?

“Why did Arael hold hands with Adler?”

“….”

The merchants did not answer Azadin’s questions.

The heralds of the Korasarr guild of traders are weighing the options of the Arael tribe and the Senate and are trying to join the one that will win. With both sides involved is it because they don’t want to give away that information for free?

“Tell me. I’ll pay your damages too.”

It was only after Azadin handed them the gold that they began to speak.

“It is said that Prince Adler holds the key to the Emperor’s treasury.”

“And they say they’re also researching powerful Nether magic.”

“Those guys he deals with. Aren’t they the Telvarin Guild guys smugglers assassins and slavers who will do anything for money?”

“….”

Azadin couldn’t help but laugh at those words.

The merchant group of the messenger clan the Korasarr Peddler Guild also does assassination and smuggling. They don’t do slave trading but they can look down on their opponents to this extent because of that one difference. It’s amazing.

‘As the saying goes people can’t see the log in their own eye but they can see the speck in someone else’s eye.’

But what’s more surprising is that the story of the Emperor’s treasure trove is now reaching them as well.

“I see the Emperor’s Treasure House story is going around like that. I see. So what do you think? About doing whatever that elf tells you to do?”

“That’s fine…..”

The members of the Corasar Peddler Guild looked awkward. They had their feet on both the Arael tribe and the Senate and they could not take sides with either one.

But just by the way he spoke Azadin could tell that the elf was at least trustworthy.

‘If they were just scammers there would be no reason for them to hesitate in giving me advice.’

Wouldn’t it be better to refrain from speaking since it could actually harm the tribe of Arael?