Night of the Soulless Heathens – 8



#8. Bold Challenger 4

The angle of the bow is so large that the object being shot from the bow will not hit your hand. However it requires tremendous grip strength forearm strength and a very good sense of timing.

Azadin used his bow like a catapult and fired a stone with that ancient method and the bullet tore through the air and flew towards Midiam.

“Ugh!?”

Unlike an accurate arrow it is a stone that cannot be predicted where it will fly.

As Medium flinched in confusion the stone hit the ground bounced and broke into many fragments all aimed at Medium.

-‘Flowers birds wind and moon! Moon halo!’

Medium spread out a soft moonlight shield to block the debris and stepped back. It was nothing more than stone dust and debris but the sharp split stones flew at me with a frightening force that sent chills down my spine.

‘uh?!’

Midiam realized that Azadin had disappeared from sight. Azadin had detoured toward the sandstone rocky path of the desolate wasteland and disappeared from sight.

Another stone flew in.

-Wedge!

Medium was startled by the flying stone twisting its body freely in the air.

‘Flowers Birds Wind Moon and Cranes? You say you can’t use magic?’

The herald clan’s specialty of casting magic to bend projectiles was being demonstrated by Azadin.

However Azadin is not using magic; he is simply using his incredible skill to spin the projectiles creating a magical effect.

“What is this!”

Medium panicked and started to dodge. Even though his opponent was out of sight rocks were flying in strange orbits from all directions.

“Medium! Left!”

Ismail unable to stand by and watch warned.

[How rude!]

The Emperor’s voice flared. Ismail had committed the folly of giving advice during a duel.

“Don’t interfere Ismail! If you defile the duel you will be punished too!”

Midiam reached out to pull out the sword he was holding on his waist but Azadin had already jumped in. Azadin’s fingers flew in to gouge Midiam’s eyes!

Medium instinctively cut with her sword but what she cut was Azadin’s afterimage. Surprisingly Azadin twisted his body in the air and easily dodged Medium’s attack as if he had expected it.

In fact since Azadin’s eye poke was much faster he could have gouged out Medium’s eyes if he wanted to. However Azadin deliberately showed off his eye poke waited for Medium to counterattack and then snatched her wrist.

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and….

“It’s the end.”

“what?”

At that moment Azadin’s fist struck Medium’s torso.

“ah!”

Her hand was grabbed and there was nowhere to run! Azadin grabbed her and then punched her in the face.

-Bang!

There was a loud noise.

“Whoa!”

Medium screamed and shut his eyes tightly.

“Medium!”

Ismail who was watching couldn’t hold back and came running.

The duels of the Herald Clan are sacred. But even so how can a traitorous bloodline kill the most noble and powerful of the founders’ bloodlines?

‘I will never forgive you this lowly thing that dares!’

Ismail gritted his teeth at Azadin and rushed to save Midiam.

*********

Medium shut his eyes tightly. This loud noise was not something that could hit a person.

‘Ah I’m dead. Is it because the loud noise and the force is so great that it shatters me into pieces that I don’t feel any pain?’

I closed my eyes like that… but nothing happened.

“huh?”

When the surprised Medium opened his eyes Azaddin had already shaken his hand and turned around to leave. He reached out his hand to Ismail who was rushing in in anger.

“Stop Ismail. Or are you going to challenge it too? It seems like you’ve already done something reckless.”

“No wait! I’m fine. It’s not over yet!”

Medium took a step forward insisting as he did so but at that moment something strange happened.

-Kurururung.

The sandstone pillar behind her broke and collapsed instead.

“uh?”

It was clear that the medium had been hit but the impact had passed through her and bounced off the rocks behind her.

What kind of technique is this?

Medium tried to recall the magic used by the Heralds from his memories.

‘It seems similar to the Suwolpa of Hwajopungwol? But I heard this guy can’t use magic?’

One thing is certain: if that power had been focused entirely on Medium she would not have survived.

[The duel is over.]

The voice of the Emperor who had attended the duel declared that the match was decided.

[Midiam of the House of Etar. As a servant you challenged the herald and were defeated so your fate belongs to the herald Azadin. Unless he frees you you will not be a free man. And Ismail you too have joined the fight so become the herald’s slave along with Midiam.]

The Emperor’s voice announced the end of the duel.

“Ugh!”

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Medium sank to the floor.

slave?

Are you saying that the children of Ethar one of the five great families of the Aragasa people known as the Herald Clan have become slaves to that traitorous child?

A momentary blow ruined my life. However the skills that Azadin showed were certainly great. I was too complacent. I believed only the rumors and ignored the warnings of my instincts as I saw the aura that Azadin gave off.

Thinking about it like that I felt so pathetic and foolish that I couldn’t stand it.

“How could I suffer such humiliation!”

She pulled out a dagger and stabbed herself in the neck.

“Medium!”

Ismail was embarrassed and tried to stop Medium but before that…

-Ting!

The dagger flew out of Medium’s hand with a clang. Azadin had thrown the stone knocking the dagger out of Medium’s hand.

“Why did I think that would happen?”

Azadin also predicted that Medium who lost the duel would attempt suicide.

“I’m sorry little miss but your life is mine right now. But what good is it if you try to destroy my property without permission?”

“….”

“Is that all you’re prepared to do to challenge me to a duel?”

Medium calmed his trembling hand by pressing it with the other hand.

‘What the heck is that rock….’

It flew in as if it was fired from a crossbow and it was accurate. Azadin approached her.

“Since you lost the duel you are no longer worthy of death. You will only die when your life is over or when I wish. Furthermore you are no longer a servant but a slave and you must faithfully follow my personal orders not the orders of your job.”

“Ugh.”

Medium shuddered. As he said Medium’s very existence was now Azadin’s property so he had no right to die as he pleased.

She now groaned at the terrible consequences of her defeat in the duel. She had thought she would definitely win but she had never expected that she would be defeated so easily by someone known among the entire herald clan as a weakling.

‘What shall I do next? Should I kill Iza for my freedom? But the Emperor’s voice will always be watching the messenger.’

It was when Medium was worried about his harsh future.

*********

‘What an absurd kid?’

Azadin snickered as he watched Medium’s expression change from crumpled to smooth as he fantasized about all sorts of things.

“Is this enough of a lesson? Enough. I will liberate you Midiam of the Etar clan. And you Ismail are free.”

“what?”

“yes?”

Ismail who was watching was also surprised. The reason that the servants and other messenger clansmen are allowed to challenge the messenger is because the position of the messenger is one that can only be supported by skill.

However if everyone were allowed to easily challenge the hierarchy of the organization would be in disarray. If the challenger could not prove that he was right he would become a slave.

But didn’t Azadin release the Medium who had rudely challenged him?

“Not only that let’s pretend that this duel that happened today never happened. After all it would be bad if there were records of you picking a fight with the messenger right?”

“Oh no why?”

Medium didn’t understand why Azadin was doing that.

“You made a beautiful and talented girl like me your slave and you released her the same day without her doing anything?”

“Beauty and talent?”

Azadin snorted.

“I don’t know about your looks but don’t you think that if you had talent like Arael you wouldn’t have ended up like this?”

“Ugh.”

Medium’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“But don’t you think she’s pretty? You were like that to me just now….”

“It was to threaten you. What do you think? Weren’t you a little scared by my threat just now? You little girl with no sense of humor.”

“….”

“I’m fine with it but there are many men in the world who like young girls and there are many places where early marriages are practiced so think carefully before doing things like duels. No never duel again for the rest of your life. If there’s someone you need to kill assassinate them. Don’t challenge them to a duel head-on.”

“But why are you letting me go?”

“Because it’s annoying.”

“yes?”

“I hate taking care of kids it’s a hassle.”

‘What the heck is this guy?’

Medium was taken aback by Azadin’s attitude. It was refreshing.

“We are not children!”

“Enough said. I warned you several times not to act so stubbornly but you ignored me and ended up challenging me to a duel. And that guy….”

Azadin pointed to Ismail a boy with droopy eyes.

“You’re trying to get in the middle of a duel and become my slaves. You’re both like brats.”

“Ugh.”

It is an undeniable fact. But doesn’t that mean that even Azadin the most despised member of the Herald Clan says that they are not needed?

It was so insulting that Medium tried to appeal to his needs instead.

“But you still say you wouldn’t keep a talented person like me by your side?”

“Are you saying with your own mouth that you are overflowing with talent?”

“It’s an objective fact!”

“Subjectively and objectively you are a kid.”

“I don’t deny that I am a bit too young but if you wait just a little longer wouldn’t it be of great help to you? Besides it’s Etar. If you take me as your slave all the clan members will see you again.”

Azadin was astonished by Midiam’s words.

“Are you now offering me to take you as a slave? Is it because you want to be a slave?”

“That’s not it but I find your actions hard to understand. I would rather suffer losses in a way I understand than gain for reasons I don’t understand!”

“That’s a really stupid idea. What would you do if I actually took back my offer to let you go?”

Azadin tilted his head puzzled by Medium’s persistence.

“So if I tell you the reason why I am freeing you you will understand?”

“yes!”

“That’s exactly what it means to have no concept. Since you are of the Etar bloodline you have no iron will.”

Azadin burst into laughter at Medium’s impudent attitude.

“Think about it yourself.”

Azadin said so and started walking up the road.

“….”

“Oh what should I do?”

Medium asked Ismail in confusion.

“What can I do? Since you say that I should just go back.”

“That’s a bit.”

Medium was confused and followed after Azadin.