Night of the Soulless Heathens – 181



#181. Naga’s Island 3

Naga Merchant Deha joked about Azadin and then started laughing himself.

But for Azadin it was no laughing matter.

“It’s not a very good joke. It’s more frowning than funny.”

“It’s a good joke for us isn’t it?”

When Deha asked the Nagas the Nagas burst into laughter.

“It looks like he had no choice but to smile because his boss told him to.”

“Shati you come this way. Aren’t you me?”

“…yes?”

“no.”

Then Azadin stopped him.

“If you’re going to call Shati at least ensure her safety. I’ll stake my honor on it.”

“Yes? Why do you set such a condition?”

“In any case Shati would never betray her people. From my perspective I can’t ask Shati to fight against my people for me. In that case at least in exchange for the salary I’ve been receiving from Shati I can testify that she’s innocent and has always tried to be loyal to the Nagas.”

“Huh? I don’t understand anymore. What are you talking about? Why do you care so much?”

“I think this is the best choice I can make in this situation. If I take care of you to this extent wouldn’t you hate me less even if you force me to help you?”

“It’s as if she thinks she can kill us all and then use her again. Can’t you see these numbers?”

“Well people need to be positive.”

“Pfft.”

The merchant who went out burst into laughter.

“Understood Shati. I on the honor of Nagaraja Dehashram will not hold you accountable for your past mistakes. Come here.”

“Tch. If you say it like that I have no reason to stop you.”

Azadin removed the hand that was blocking Shati’s path.

“….”

Shati hesitated and slowly walked towards Deha Ani Dehashram.

“Okay then.”

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With Shati gone Azadin’s group was left with only Scott Azadin Zis and three others. With fewer targets to attack the Nagas’ situation was much better. Even for Azadin it didn’t seem like it would be easy to get out of here alive.

But Dehashram said something unexpected.

“I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. Will you fight here heroically and die? Or will you accept my invitation?”

“invite?”

“Yes. I would like to have a serious talk with you. I will treat you as a guest according to the custom of hospitality. How about that?”

When Dehashram said this his subordinates were startled.

The custom of hospitality. It was a kind of promise that even if they were mortal enemies if they were welcomed as guests the guest would be polite to the host and the host would provide them with food and a place to sleep and never poison the guest’s food or attack the guest while he was sleeping.

It was an old custom that if you invited someone as a custom of hospitality you could harm each other again only after you returned to the same situation as before the invitation.

Breaking this custom is seen as dishonorable and while it may not be so bad for a street urchin a person who is worthy of being called Nagarajana has too much to lose by breaking this custom.

In other words inviting Azadin means that they won’t harm him for at least a while.

Naturally it seemed difficult for the Nagas to accept Dehashram’s choice. However Dehashram’s status was such that he could suppress even such a minor objection so he was unable to say a word and waited for Azadin’s answer.

“Before that I want to ask what is your relationship with Dehares?”

“He’s my cousin. Aren’t I more handsome than him?”

“I will… accept the invitation.”

*********

Azadin and his party accepted Dehashram’s invitation and headed to their court.

The path from the dock to the palace was lined with elegant gardens. The stone-paved paths decorated with linden and flaming trees would require constant care by gardeners and laborers to maintain in the often-stormy climate of Btuma.

“The gardener and the servants are human.”

Azadin realized that the gardeners were human.

“There are no people among us who are interested in landscaping. Oh and our cooks are human too. At least they don’t do rude things like serve human meat to guests.”

“however….”

As I walked up the road to the palace I saw tents pitched here and there on the hillside. The Naga army was camping on this island to invade Btuma.

‘Now that you’ve shown me this they won’t just let me go. Of course not. These guys knew me.’

Considering that they know that Azadin has interfered with the Nagas’ work so far it would not be surprising if they tried to kill Azadin right away.

Why do they have to welcome me as a guest and guide me to the palace?

“Why on earth did you invite me? What did your subordinates say?”

“The Nagas’ social status is greater than that of humans. When I make a decision no one can say anything.”

Dehashram said so and smiled.

“The reason I invited you is because I like heroes. If I say that you might not believe me right?”

“okay.”

“I want to hear your story. In fact the reason I found out about your whereabouts was because there was a messenger clan that sold information about you.”

“Sell my information?”

“To be exact Count Salasma died but none of the agents returned alive so I asked the messenger clan and they said that you were the messenger in charge of Salasma. When I tracked your movements in that way I found out that you are truly an amazing hero.”

Dehashram was saying that he had figured out Azadin’s movements by combining the information from the messenger clan and the Nagas.

“It’s embarrassing. It’s nothing serious.”

“No. That’s not true. You’ve ruined a lot of our work so we’re all angry and on guard. It’s not a trivial matter. I’m surprised that this is such a great achievement for one person. Did you really do all of this?”

“that….”

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“Oh let’s talk about it later. First take a bath to relieve your fatigue. Then let’s have tea and a meal and talk.”

Dehashram called his human servants and guided Azadin and his party to the bathhouse.

*********

After bathing and changing into new clothes Azadin and his party explored Dehashram’s palace.

Perhaps because it was a place of trade it was not a Naga-style building but a thoroughly human-style mansion in the Yaegasu style overlooking the sea.

Food and refreshments were served in an elegant garden overlooking the sea.

“Welcome.”

In the pergola of the garden Dehashram was waiting for Azadin with his servants accompanied by bodyguards of course. Nagas armed with tridents and nets were making their appearance.

It may not be harmful because of the custom of hospitality but from the Nagas’ point of view the honor of Nagaraja Dehashram can be trusted but the honor of Azadin cannot be trusted.

Azadin also trusted only in the honor of Dehashram and did not lay down his weapons so this armed escort was insignificant.

“Okay. Okay then.”

Azadin accepted the invitation and took his seat.

“Shall we talk?”

Azadin asked tearing at the bread on the table before the meal.

“You plan to invade Btuma? But didn’t the Heralds already take the throne of Coral Sahar? And yet you plan to ride in the palanquin that the Heralds are carrying you? If you enjoy riding in the palanquin that others are carrying you you’ll end up getting thrown off the cliff with the palanquin in your hand.”

“Do you really think so? Hmm. From the Naga Empire’s perspective this situation is very good.”

“Why?”

“Will the Yaegas clan really acknowledge that the messenger clan has taken the throne?”

“but.”

Azadin immediately understood what Dehashram was saying.

The war between the Messenger Clan and the Eight Kings Clan is about to begin.

The usurpation of Coral Sahar is a very good trigger for dividing the humans.

“So you plan to attack Bthuma too? Are you on the Senate’s side? Or on Arael’s side?”

“It doesn’t matter either way. If the Herald Clan is divided that’s fine.”

“If it’s so good either way why did you invite me?”

“That’s because the things you’ve done are worthy of being called heroic deeds from our perspective. You’ve appeased the Wendigo’s wrath defeated Count Salasma and performed well in Coral Sahar. I wanted to see a hero like that.”

“You want to split my heart open and eat it?”

“That’s not possible. In fact there is a petition from the messenger clan asking that you be dealt with secretly if you are seen.”

“….”

“It is strange that petitions have come from both the Arael tribe and the Senate. You are the sister of their goddess from the Arael tribe and you have a high-ranking figure in the Senate as your guardian. So those who regard you as a thorn in their side have submitted a request to us Naga… It is something we do not quite understand.”

“So you want to satisfy that curiosity? Hmm good. Since you showed me sincerity I should show you sincerity too.”

Azadin took off the helmet that was covering his face.

“ah.”

It was only then that Dehashram realized that Azadin had no eyes.

“I am called Azadin of Muan. Another name is Azadin the Cursed.”

Azadin told the story of his birth.

He talked about why the Heralds hate Azadin and why they look down on him and how the other Heralds were jealous of the position Arael gained as she grew up thanks to the grace of Aldis and Kazas who raised her.

“It’s amazing. I wondered why the Heralds didn’t leave and still live as the Emperor’s Heralds but there is such a powerful curse and you are a product of it! Even Arael is a product of it? It’s truly an amazing story. Oh can I tell this story to others? It would be very appealing to people when I tell them about it while I’m a merchant.”

“You’re embarrassed so why don’t you endure it?”

“Then later when your fame has grown so much that you can no longer hide it then I will tell you. Right now I am hiding my face and not being talked about so it is not yet the time. However later when everyone wants to know about you then I will tell you about Azadin of Muan. Please forgive me if I tell you about your past.”

“If we survive here we will have a chance to make a name for ourselves. Aren’t you and I both going to have to survive in the future?”

“Hahaha. I guess that’s true.”

Dehashram laughed at Azadin’s words then suddenly looked surprised.

There is some truth to Azadin’s words. Both of them should be alive in the future?

Aren’t you saying that it’s not just Azadin who’s life is currently under threat but Dehashram as well?

Of course Azadin didn’t disarm but what could three people do?