Episode 29: Two Figures Clad in Black
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Time rewinds slightly.
About ten kilometers south of where Sharka and the others were, on a small hill, stood a pair of figures cloaked in black, their faces hidden deep within their hoods.
“Lynx, did you see that light just now?”
“Yeah, I saw it.”
“Kukuku, who would have thought that the fool of Ortenos was a Demonbane Warrior.”
“Didn’t you already know, Aquila?”
The figure in black called Aquila was peering into a long, cylindrical device, aimed at the distant point. The figure in black called Lynx looked at Aquila with a slightly dubious expression.
“No, I thought Sharka was the least likely.”
“…Then why did you tell Barbat to leak information about Sharka? It turned out that Sharka was the one, though.”
“Life is all about gambling, isn’t it? It’s most satisfying to hit the jackpot with a long shot like this.”
Aquila proudly presented his theory.
Lynx sighed at Aquila and said, “Haa, I wish you’d consider what it’s like to be the one infiltrating Ortenatris because of your gambling.”
Aquila chuckled at Lynx’s exasperated expression.
“Ah, this is a great achievement, Lynx. Knowing about his existence early on is a big deal. With Barbat dead, we’re the only ones who know his true identity for now. This allows us to take countermeasures before any other country.”
“Hmm, but won’t Sharka notice us?”
“We’re far enough away that he won’t pick us up with Magical Power Detection. We’re not even within visible range.”
Aquila, being a Stella-Class himself, understood the capabilities of Stella-Class individuals to a certain extent. Therefore, he had absolute confidence that Sharka was unaware of his presence.
“I can see him just fine, though.”
“Seriously, I envy your body, Lynx.”
“I don’t like the way you said that.”
“No ulterior motive. I prefer human women.”
Lynx glared at him while clutching her chest. Aquila nonchalantly brushed off the gaze.
“Whatever. So, what are we going to do now?”
“I’m returning to the Azalash Union Headquarters.”
The Azalash city-state was located southeast of Ortenos, bordering the Erschein territory. Currently, the central part of its territory was devastated for a certain reason, and Stella-Class individuals were declaring themselves kings all over the place, creating a chaotic situation.
“The Union Headquarters? You mean that ruined, desolate castle?”
“Yes?”
“Why is that place the Union Headquarters? There are plenty of more suitable places.”
“That’s precisely why it’s suitable for us. Ending the trivial world of nobles and creating a new order. Isn’t it the perfect place to advocate for such ideals?”
Lynx didn’t have good feelings about the “Union” she belonged to. However, she was tired of hearing the same words as Aquila whenever she mentioned it to the others.
“I don’t know how the boss can stand living in such a country. It’s constantly being attacked by the six nations, and the country is in a state of warring factions. I don’t understand why he can live and sleep in that ruined castle.”
“Let them fight over the pie as much as they want. The more chaotic it is, the easier it is for us to operate.”
“Is that how it is?”
“That’s how it is. If we had our headquarters in a specific country, the nobles would find us and wipe us out. In that respect, Azalash is a nation that was destroyed by a Demon Beast Disaster relatively recently. It’s the perfect place to hide.”
The “Union” was an organization governed by ideology. Therefore, it didn’t have a permanent headquarters, and its current base was only a temporary shelter.
“Still, I think there are limits.”
“You’re new, so you probably don’t understand. Well, having a base in a land destroyed by a Demon Beast Disaster like Azalash is something of a tradition for us.”
“Tradition?”
“Yeah. It’s said that you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for in such places.”
“What are you looking for?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Someone like us—a Hero.”
“…”
“Hero” was a general term for individuals who appeared as sudden mutations throughout the Atla Continent. For example, Stella-Class individuals were said to be born only from the mating of Stella-Class individuals, but very rarely, they could be born from Dust individuals. Such unique individuals were called “Heroes.” The conditions for the birth of unique individuals were unclear, but Aquila felt that what he said was quite credible.
“Discovering Heroes is the top priority for the Union. We must secure them before the nobles find them. That’s why we’re desperately searching for individuals with Hero factors in Azalash.”
“…Is that necessary to destroy the nobles?”
Lynx’s expression clouded over.
“? Ah, of course.”
“…Then, are you going to kill Sharka too?”
“Of course, we’re going to kill Sharka. Or rather, killing Demonbane Warriors is our supreme mission. That power should be wielded by the Union.”
Aquila’s speech became more forceful.
“I don’t think Sharka is such a bad noble…”
“Huh?”
The moment Lynx muttered that, Aquila’s eyes turned crimson.
“Hey, do we really have to kill all the nobles? Maybe some of them are… Ngyah!”
Aquila, with a furious expression, began to strangle Lynx.