Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46 "The Necromancer King, you say…"
The origin of the title 'King' dated back to ancient times, referring to the non-human overlords who once ruled over humanity.
After the fall of the Old Empire, several human nobles had declared their territories kingdoms and styled themselves kings, but the title never truly gained popular traction. This was largely because most figures called 'King' throughout history played the role of villains destined to be purged by the Frea Divine Clan and their descendants.
In other words, any non-human bold enough to claim the title of King could be assumed to possess prowess worthy of the history books. Since it was a title they held sacred, they did not permit just any common rabble to bear it.
"Is he really strong enough to deserve that title? I heard he was pathetically driven back and forced to flee."
When he had spoken with Meisa previously, hadn't she treated the creature like prey that was already as good as caught?
"He was quite powerful to begin with, but he's become even more troublesome lately. Did the Young Lady tell you that a surviving faction of Dark Elves has joined forces with the dwarves in their lair?"
"I heard it was a possibility."
"We launched a large-scale assault after locating their hideout, but we suffered catastrophic losses. Eight nobles and over two hundred knights were killed."
"Wait a second. Wasn't the size of the subjugation squad…?"
"Counting those from the main house and the vassal families, it was forty nobles and seven hundred knights. We lost three nobles and about a hundred and twenty knights during the campaign in the central region, but this single trap claimed more lives than the entire previous operation. We tried to recover as many bodies as possible, but a significant number of them are likely being used as undead thralls by now."
Losses on that scale were arguably greater than what the Zahar family had suffered at the Tomb of the Gods. Of course, considering the high-ranking noble Perga was among the fallen there, it wasn't a simple one-to-one comparison, but still…
"How on earth did it come to this?"
"The dwarves' lair was outfitted with a massive quantity of mysterious magic devices. They were of a design we've never seen before, but every single one of them was utterly lethal."
Why were magic devices suddenly entering the picture?
Had some mage family conspired with the non-humans to attack the Arabion army? If such a thing had truly happened, one candidate immediately came to mind.
"Could it be… Zahar?"
"The Young Lady believes that isn't the case. She says they seem to be excavating and using ancient dwarven relics, though I don't exactly understand what that implies."
According to the books Turan had read, dwarves were a race known for being exceptionally violent, primitive, and less intelligent than other non-humans, with their only redeeming quality being their superior physical strength.
The most sophisticated thing such creatures could make should have been a bone necklace; they shouldn't have been a threat to nobles. However, if Meisa had said it, she likely knew something. As the heir to a Great House, she was privy to far more information than most.
"I understand the situation for now. But there's a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"Do you happen to know who Talis Zahar is?"
"I'm not sure. I know it's not the name of their House Head, at least."
Turan gave Keorn a brief account of his travels through the Enril Desert—how the head of a vassal family had seen the face of Talis, Zahar's current second-in-command, in Turan's own features.
"There might be someone among the Arabion nobles who feels something is off when they see my face."
Back when he was staying with the Berk family, they were an Enchanter bloodline and hadn't sent a single person to the war. Meisa, too, had been a mere infant during the conflict, so she wouldn't have been able to recognize Zahar traits in Turan's face.
However, there was a high probability that someone in the subjugation squad could see the resemblance to Talis.
Upon hearing this, Keorn let out a boisterous laugh.
"I see what you mean, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. During the war, every single Zahar noble wore identical clothing and masks. We heard from prisoners that they did it to erase their individuality and swap places using stealth magic to cause confusion. There were many testimonies from our nobles who were caught off guard when the strength of the enemy they were fighting suddenly changed."
"Then…"
"It's safe to say almost no one in Arabion knows what the Zahar nobles actually look like. Even when the peace pact was signed, it was just the knights from both sides exchanging documents. More importantly, the second-in-command of Zahar? Don't tell me he's your father?"
"I'm not sure. I was actually in the middle of looking for clues about that here."
Turan didn't mention that he had somehow ended up devouring the mana of ten Zahar nobles. If he started down that path, he'd have to explain everything, including the strange phenomena related to the Night Hunters.
"Besides, if I were actually working for Zahar, wouldn't this be too dangerous for you?"
It would be a disaster if Turan entered the camp and suddenly slaughtered a group of sleeping nobles before vanishing into the night.
Keorn gave a bitter smile at the remark.
"In my experience, people who would actually do such a thing don't go around announcing that they could."
"I've felt this for a while, but you really think too highly of me."
"Don't I know better than anyone that you lived a life completely unrelated to Zahar until just six months ago? You're also my life-saver. Regardless of how Zahar might have tried to entice you in the meantime, I trust you wouldn't commit such a dishonorable act."
Even after being told Turan had traveled as far as the Enril Desert, Keorn still held such faith.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Turan looked away for a moment before asking something he was curious about.
"By the way, can't you request additional support from Arabion?"
If the House Head himself came, wouldn't he be able to crush the Necromancer King and the dwarven relics alike? Even if not him, Arabion surely had the capacity to muster more reinforcements.
"There are two main issues. First, given the structure of the enemy's stronghold, sending in a large number of weaker mages would likely just result in more casualties. Second, the Young Lady is in a position where it's difficult for her to ask the main house for help."
"Lady Meisa is?"
If there were a rival like in the Zahar family, she might have to worry about her reputation, but what problem could there be for a firm successor to receive support from her own family?
Sensing his confusion, Keorn replied with a somewhat troubled expression.
"It's a bit difficult to go into detail because it involves internal family politics… but being the heir doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. If the Young Lady were to ask the main house for reinforcements, there are things she would have to concede to them in return."
In short, they needed powerful reinforcements, but for various reasons, they couldn't ask the main house. And since a powerful noble friend happened to be right nearby, they wanted to borrow his strength.
Having said his piece, Keorn rummaged through a pouch at his hip and pulled something out. Thanks to the senses of his Mimic Relic, Turan already knew it was a magic device. This was likely the reward Meisa had prepared to recruit him.
However, the true nature of the item was even more impressive than he had anticipated.
"It's a High-Capacity Pouch. A Holy Relic."
"A Holy Relic…? Do you mean the kind of Holy Relic I'm thinking of?"
"Indeed. Though it's considered one of the lowest-ranked among Holy Relics. I hear there are quite a few similar items out there."
What Keorn held out was a cloth pouch no larger than a palm. As Turan took it, Keorn handed him a leather water bottle as if telling him to test it out.
"I'm told it can hold a hundred times its own volume."
Just as he said, the leather water bottle, which was much larger than the pouch, slid easily inside. The wrinkled pouch didn't even bulge, and when he reached back in, he could feel the water bottle.
"I can't believe she entrusted such a precious item to you, sir. I mean, it's not that I don't trust you, but…"
"It would have been a disaster if I'd been ambushed and had it stolen. Don't worry. I traveled with Lady Meisa until we were close to here. I only walked the rest of the way alone once the city was in sight."
True, she wouldn't be so careless as to send a single knight off with a Holy Relic.
Turan turned the pouch over in his hands several times.
A High-Capacity Pouch.
How many times had he been annoyed by the bulk of his backpack while traveling alone? If he packed enough food, it became heavy and cumbersome, and if he earned a lot of money, it was a pain to carry around. This tiny pouch solved all those problems, and it was the kind of thing money couldn't buy.
However…
What exactly would she have to concede to the main house that makes her choose to give away an item like this instead of asking for support?
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't imagine what an heir to a Great House would find so difficult to sacrifice.
After a moment of contemplation, Turan asked bluntly.
"If I join, will we be able to successfully complete the subjugation?"
"The Young Lady believes so."
Hearing the answer, Turan fingered the High-Capacity Pouch before tying its drawstring to his waist.
"Understood. I don't want to see Lady Meisa get hurt either."
If Turan turned a blind eye here, one of his few friends would either have to make a worse choice or a more dangerous one. Besides, he hadn't yet repaid her for the Thought Acceleration Magic.
If you owe a debt, you have to pay it back.
*
After informing Daruk that he would be out of the city for anywhere from a few days to a week, Turan flew west on Bije with Keorn.
Turan gripped Bije's leg with one hand and held Keorn's hand with the other. The old knight burst into laughter at the sight of the golden eagle carrying them through the sky.
"Haha… A golden eagle! Where on earth did you get a means of transport like this?"
At Keorn's words, Bije let out a dissatisfied chirp and twisted her body. She seemed offended at being treated as a mere 'means of transport.'
"She says not to call her a means of transport."
"Oh, my apologies. Bije… um, is it a male or a female?"
"Female."
"Miss Bije."
Whether she was pleased by the polite apology, Bije let out a satisfied cry and stabilized her flight.
Before long, they made contact with Meisa, who was waiting for Keorn on a hill.
"Should I take your presence here to mean you'll help us, Turan?"
"Yes. More importantly… you're injured."
"It's nothing serious."
Meeting Meisa again, he saw she had bandages wrapped around her neck and shoulders.
"Did all the healers die?"
"No, but there are many whose needs are more urgent than mine. Mana for healing is limited, so it must go to those who need it most first."
She was prioritizing those on the brink of death over her own minor injuries.
While nodding, Turan took a subtle, deep breath.
The sharp scent of blood, the smell of water and soap as if she had recently washed, and a faint body odor…
It's definitely not a trap.
He didn't detect the scent of tension or excitement typical of a creature facing a hostile target. While other emotions were often ambiguous to read through scent, fear, tension, anger, and excitement were almost impossible to miss if one was paying attention.
"I assume Keorn explained everything?"
"Yes, he did."
"Then let's move immediately. I want to attack before they can recover their strength."
"Shouldn't you recover from your injuries first, Lady Meisa?"
"I'm fine. I don't really feel much from minor injuries anyway."
Turan didn't think not feeling pain from injuries was a positive sign, but it was awkward to say anything when she insisted she was fine.
A short while later, the three of them and the golden eagle arrived at the Arabion camp, which had been set up some distance away.
"Ugh…"
"Bring more water over here!"
"Damn it, these bandages are so itchy."
The place was filled with wounded mages, but surprisingly, it wasn't a makeshift camp of tents; it was a well-constructed building. The knights had likely thrown it together using stone and wood.
Brightly glowing magic device orbs were embedded everywhere, seemingly to prevent anyone using stealth magic from infiltrating. It was a paranoid measure typical of a family hostile to Zahar.
As the three of them landed in front of the camp, the Arabion nobles, including Kadram whom he had seen before, approached them. Naturally, the looks they gave Turan were far from friendly. It wasn't outright hostility, but they were clearly suspicious.
"This is the person from last time, Meisa."
"Yes. As I said, he is my friend and a friend of the Berk family. That should be enough to trust him at our backs. You already know about his mana."
"His strength is sufficient, but the problem is his background. A fallen noble who doesn't even know his own bloodline ability? It's suspicious. What if he's a Zahar insect in disguise?"
At this remarkably sharp observation, Turan raised his hand. Every eye turned toward him.
"If you wish, I can show you my bloodline ability."
"Hmm?"
The Arabion nobles merely looked curious, but Meisa, who knew he supposedly didn't know his bloodline ability, was visibly surprised, and Keorn even looked flustered. Keorn was the only one among them who knew Turan actually possessed Zahar blood.
In front of them, Turan lightly snapped his fingers to conjure a flame, then stretched it out into a long line.
The flame vanished shortly after, but a single, long strand of mana remained in its place. No one but him could see it.
When he picked up a long branch from nearby and tossed it toward the spot, a burst of flame erupted, incinerating the wood.
To anyone watching, it was the perfect demonstration of a magic trap unique to the Barrier Master bloodline.
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