Episode 725
How many truly know where they came from? I’m certain most people know who their parents are, but have no real understanding of what kind of people they were.
Thinking back even further, to their grandparents’ generation and beyond, about one’s own existence—that’s an almost impossible task.
Perhaps that’s why the man remained silent despite his suffering. It wasn’t willpower; it was simply beyond his control. Xiaoshi looked at him and thought just that.
“…Judging by the way he swallows his groans, it seems he has no trouble speaking.”
Crack!
At Xiaoshi’s glance, one of the subordinates cracked his whip again. The man’s body was becoming increasingly transparent.
They all understood now: this was a form of escape. A desire to vanish from the world, to slip away from reality, was erasing his very form.
“You dare attempt to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor? That’s a grave crime. If you want to see your sister’s corpse, you’d better start talking.”
“…Why—”
“What?”
“Is it a crime for us to try to kill the Emperor, but perfectly justifiable for you to kill us?”
“What a foolish question. We intended to march on the capital of Toorun, not your little village. You’re the ones who started the fire.”
Some shield or other? What a pathetic plan. And I’m ashamed that I failed to properly serve His Majesty because I was fooled by it.
Xiaoshi slowly rose and knelt before the man, lowering his posture—but his gaze was nothing short of intimidating.
“And yes, attempting to assassinate His Majesty is a crime worthy of death. I know Toorun has a king as well, but it’s strange you don’t understand that.”
No matter how remote or isolated they lived.
Suddenly, Xiaoshi sensed that these people had long been cut off from the royal court. Otherwise, how could they speak so carelessly?
“For them, the village chief is their king.”
Twellar, who had been quietly listening from behind, added. He uncorked a bottle, took a few refreshing sips, then disinfected his wounds.
“Seven of them. Descendants of the village chief, I’d guess. Judging by their ages, about two or three generations have passed. You don’t seem to call the chief ‘grandfather,’ do you?”
“…We’re all family. It doesn’t matter who’s descended from whom.”
“Hmm, fair enough. Anyway, since you’ve started talking, tell me about your grandfather. I cut his head off, so he can’t speak for himself. If his descendants tell me, I’ll be grateful even in the afterlife.”
“Enough insults! Shut up!”
“Hahaha! Insults, you say?”
Twellar chuckled lowly.
“Considering what your grandfather did to me, this is nothing. I met that man in Bariel, I’m sure of it.”
“B-Bariel?”
“Yes. But he chose Toorun as a place to hide. Strange, isn’t it? Back then and even now, Bariel was a much better place to live.”
How many people have tried to wash away their identities on the empire’s frontier? Surely some came from Bariel, and the place where Twellar met that man was far from Toorun.
Still, they chose to settle here after passing through the northern territories. That means there must be a reason why it had to be Toorun.
“…I really don’t know. The chief never gave any hints. Though he passed on his bloodline, he was still the village chief who cared for the town. All I got was a feeling that he longed for somewhere east…”
“East?”
Xiaoshi repeated softly. East of here would mean the northern edge of Bariel or beyond the great desert.
Tears fell from the man’s eyes, disappearing without a trace the moment they touched the ground. Xiaoshi glanced at Twellar, wondering what to do.
“Choose. If you confess more, I’ll grant any reasonable request you have. If not, you’ll die here.”
Despite Twellar’s cold warning, the man remained silent.
Then there was no choice. At Twellar’s nod, a soldier drew his sword, and Xiaoshi averted his gaze slightly.
Swish!
The man’s body, which had been fading, solidified again. Blood poured from his throat, but bound by shackles, he couldn’t collapse easily.
Twellar’s voice was like a hammer blow.
“He’s not just anyone—he’s a transparent man. Hard to manage, and if we lose him once, we may never catch him again. No loose ends.”
Twellar looked at Xiaoshi and said,
“Prepare to report to His Majesty. We might learn why they chose Toorun once we reach the capital. That initial talk of a false shield and the royal palace was suspicious.”
He brought up the palace so naturally. It might be unrelated, but the odds of a connection seemed higher. And above all—
“Surely some residents escaped toward the capital.”
They must have sent people to inform that Bariel’s army was advancing north. Someone other than the transparent man, carrying the chief’s orders. They’d know more than this young man.
“Clear the bodies.”
“Yes, Minister.”
“Ugh, day by day, my body isn’t what it used to be.”
Twellar struggled to rise, donned his armor, and looked at Xiaoshi.
“And Xiaoshi.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Lead the front line in the next battle.”
At those words, Xiaoshi’s subordinates’ eyes sparkled. Leading the front meant the fiercest clash with the enemy—a chance to prove themselves. And that would bring the greatest joy when they returned home.
To put it bluntly, it was a sign of hope for Xiaoshi’s next promotion to minister. Though Xiaoshi’s own reply was calm.
“Yes, Minister. I will do my best.”
“Good. Then move out.”
“Ah.”
Xiaoshi hesitated, and Twellar looked at him with a puzzled expression, as if to ask if something was wrong.
After a long moment of hesitation, Xiaoshi pulled something from his pocket. It was a healing potion Chloe had given him.
“Lady Chloe sent this out of concern for Minister Twellar. Please accept it.”
“Haha!”
The timing was odd. It wasn’t exactly a thank-you for being given the lead, but neither could he ignore the care of a lover.
Twellar laughed heartily and beckoned Xiaoshi closer.
“Will you marry her?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation in the answer. Good. Twellar stroked his beard with an amused look, and the subordinates quietly edged closer, ears perked.
“Considering Lady Chloe’s family, this union is significant. The Davion family wields great influence in the imperial palace, and you are a trusted aide of His Majesty. To put it positively, it’s a union of noble and vassal; to put it another way, one side might swallow the other whole.”
“I will never bring shame to His Majesty.”
“I know. I know. It’s just an old man’s worry. But if the Count of Davion tries anything foolish or acts against your wishes, come to me.”
Twellar flicked his finger, signaling Xiaoshi to lean in. The subordinates craned their necks, curious about what he would say.
Whisper, whisper.
“…!”
Xiaoshi’s eyes widened. Startled, he pulled away and asked,
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It is. I doubt even His Majesty knows. I’ve spent half my life crawling around the palace’s lowest depths, so I’ve seen and heard a lot. It’s times like these that knowledge is useful. Don’t you agree?”
Twellar patted Xiaoshi’s shoulder kindly.
A count born a slave. The Emperor’s favor alone won’t guarantee a warm welcome from the Davion family. Of course, once the war ends, His Majesty will grant you a new position.
“If it still doesn’t work out, come to me quietly.”
“…Thank you.”
“Consider it a repayment for Lady Chloe’s kindness. Judging by the ingredients, it’s a very high-quality potion. Since I took it from you, I owe you this much.”
With a nod signaling it was time, Twellar dismissed him. Xiaoshi saluted and left, his subordinates trailing behind, whispering questions.
“What did the minister say?”
“Seems the Davion family and the minister have a close connection.”
“Quiet down. If it were something to be shouted outside, the minister wouldn’t have spoken so discreetly.”
Just as Xiaoshi smiled faintly and told them to stop, the flag in front of the barracks suddenly fluttered violently.
Bwooo—
Bwo—
The low, short blast of a water buffalo horn. A signal that the enemy had been spotted.
Xiaoshi and his men dashed forward and soon received a report from the soldiers watching outside.
“Are those Toorun soldiers?”
“Ah, well, we don’t know yet. They haven’t been identified.”
“Not identified?”
“Their numbers are considerable, but there’s no Toorun royal flag, and above all, their uniforms are all different.”
What did that mean? Xiaoshi raised his telescope and scanned the horizon.
Clatter, clatter!
A large group was galloping toward them—several hundred, by rough estimate. But as the soldier said, no royal flags were flying, and their clothing wasn’t that of regular troops. Rather, those were…
“Bandits, aren’t they?”
“Surely not.”
Someone muttered in disbelief, but it was the perfect way to put it. Suddenly, Xiaosi recalled the information Ian had brought back from Tolrun.
“There’s a large slave market in Tolrun. Because of that, bandits have been rampant near the capital, and some of those involved in Filia’s kidnapping are among them. I don’t know if the royal palace is deliberately neglecting to manage this, or if they simply can’t—”
“Prepare yourselves.”
“The market is definitely sizable. I’m not sure what the Tolrun palace will decide to do. If the regular army’s deployment is delayed and Bariel’s forces advance faster than expected, they might try to use these bandits. After all, amnesty is probably what criminals want most. If the state offers freedom, they could easily band together.”
“Prepare for battle!”
At Xiaosi’s shout, the soldiers jumped, beating drums and blowing water buffalo horns. Jin, who had been reading a report inside the tent, looked up at the signal.
“Is it the enemy?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“This time, have the Imperial Palace Guards join the fight. We can’t let the Imperial Defense Department’s momentum overshadow us.”
It was too early for the regular army to have pushed this far, so it had to be another force. As Jin rose from his seat, his attendants prepared his weapons.
“We must be close to the capital now. From here on, the waves will come without end. I’ll take the opportunity to wield my sword myself.”
This was a crucial moment—not just that they had arrived by the power of mages and others, but that the emperor’s will stood firm. It was time to show Bariel’s soldiers that.
And in another sense, it was an opportunity. With the mages absent, he would imprint his authority on everyone.
Swish!
Jin drew his sword, and Barsabe bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, Eirin, who had been praying with her hands clasped, sensed something and opened her eyes.
Cedric, who had been lying face down on the floor, glanced up at her. The mage, hearing Ian’s voice, seemed overwhelmed with emotion, clutching a pillar and babbling noisily. Though, it seemed unlikely anyone below could hear him.
“Is something wrong?”
“…No, nothing.”
A chilling sensation stabbed beneath her chest. It was unsettling and strange to feel such pain while praying.
‘It’s probably just my imagination.’
Eirin shook her head to clear it and clasped her hands together once more, resuming her prayer.