Shepherd Wizard (Novel) - Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Discord
“The Lich King…”
The title of king traces back to ancient times, to the rulers of other races who governed humans.
After the fall of the old empire, some human nobles declared their territories kingdoms and proclaimed themselves kings, but this never gained widespread acceptance.
This was because most historical figures called kings ended up being villains defeated by the divine race and their descendants.
Thus, any non-human who claimed the title of king could be assumed to possess abilities worthy of historical records.
Since it was such a noble title to them, they wouldn’t easily grant such names to just anyone.
“Is he really strong enough to deserve that title? I heard he was thoroughly defeated and ran away.”
Hadn’t Meisa seemed to treat him like already-caught prey when they spoke before?
“He was quite strong to begin with, but he’s become more troublesome recently. Did you hear from the young lady about the surviving dark elf faction possibly joining the dwarves’ lair?”
“I heard that might be possible.”
“We found their hideout and launched a major invasion, but suffered devastating losses. Eight nobles and two hundred knights died.”
“Wait, wasn’t the subjugation force’s size…?”
“Forty nobles and seven hundred knights combined from the main family and vassal houses. Three nobles and about 120 knights died in the central region subjugation, but this one trap claimed even more lives. We tried to recover as many bodies as possible, but many are likely being used as undead now.”
Those losses were even greater than what the Zahar family suffered at that gods’ tomb.
Though it couldn’t be compared one-to-one considering the sacrifice of Perga, who was a top noble…
“How did that happen?”
“The dwarves’ lair was filled with unidentified magical devices. Never seen their type before, but every single one was absolutely lethal.”
Why are magical devices suddenly involved here?
Could some magic family be cooperating with other races to attack Arabion’s army?
If such a thing really happened, there was one candidate that came to mind.
“Could it be… Zahar?”
“The young lady said it probably wasn’t them. Apparently they’re using excavated relics of ancient dwarves, though I’m not sure exactly what that means.”
According to books Turan had read, dwarves were a race particularly lacking in intelligence among other races, with only superior physical abilities as their advantage while being violent and primitive.
Whatever items such beings made should be no more than bone necklaces, which couldn’t possibly threaten nobles.
But if Meisa said that, she probably knew something others didn’t.
As the heir of a great family, she likely knew more than others.
“I understand the situation. But there’s a problem.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know who Talis Zahar is?”
“I’m not sure. I know it’s not the family head’s name.”
Turan briefly told Keorn about his travels in the Enril Desert.
How the head of a vassal family saw in Turan’s face the features of Talis, the current second-in-command of Zahar.
“Some nobles in Arabion might find my face strange too.”
While staying with the Berk family previously, there were no war participants as they were a retired family, and Meisa was just a baby during the war so she couldn’t recognize traces of Zahar nobility in Turan’s face… But there was a high chance someone in the subjugation force could read traces of Talis in his face.
Hearing this concern, Keorn burst into laughter.
“I understand your meaning, but there’s no need to worry. During the war, all Zahar nobles wore similar clothes and masks. From what we heard from prisoners, they covered their faces to erase individuality and used concealment magic to switch places and cause confusion. Many nobles testified to being caught off guard when their opponent’s strength suddenly changed.”
“Then…”
“Almost no one in Arabion knows what Zahar nobles look like. Even the peace treaty was just exchanged between knights from both sides. More importantly, second-in-command of Zahar… could he be your father?”
“I’m not sure about that. I was actually trying to find traces of that here.”
Turan didn’t mention how he had somehow devoured the magical power of ten Zahar nobles.
That would lead to all sorts of strange phenomena related to night hunters and other stories.
“Besides, wouldn’t it be too dangerous if I were recruited by Zahar?”
It would be catastrophic if Turan entered their camp and suddenly killed sleeping nobles one night before escaping.
Hearing this, Keorn smiled bitterly and replied:
“In my experience, people capable of such things don’t announce they could do it.”
“I’ve felt this before, but you see me too favorably.”
“Well, I know better than anyone that you lived unrelated to Zahar until just half a year ago. You’re also my lifesaver. Whatever way Zahar might have persuaded you since then, I believe you wouldn’t do such a dishonorable thing.”
Such faith even after hearing he’d been to the Enril Desert.
Turan awkwardly averted his gaze before asking something he was curious about.
“Can’t Arabion request additional support?”
Surely if the family head himself came, he could crush everything from the Lich King to dwarven relics.
Even without that, Arabion should have enough capacity to gather more support troops.
“There are two main problems. First, given their stronghold’s structure, pushing in many weak magicians would likely just increase casualties. Second, the young lady’s position makes it difficult for her to request reinforcements from the main family.”
“Miss Meisa?”
If there were competitors like in Zahar, she might have to accept losing face, but what problem could there be for a confirmed heir to receive family support?
Reading this nuance, Keorn replied with a somewhat awkward expression.
“This involves internal family politics so it’s difficult to discuss in detail… but being heir doesn’t mean you can do everything as you please. To request reinforcements from the main family, the young lady would have to make concessions to that side.”
So while powerful reinforcements were needed, various reasons made it difficult to ask the main family for help, and conveniently there was a powerful noble friend right next door whose help they wanted to borrow.
Having said that much, Keorn rummaged through the pouch at his waist and took out an item.
Thanks to the Imitator Holy Relic’s sense, Turan had already perceived it was a magical device.
This was probably the reward Meisa had prepared to draw him in… But the item’s identity revealed shortly after exceeded his expectations.
“It’s a high-capacity pouch. A holy relic.”
“A holy relic…? You mean the holy relic I’m thinking of?”
“That’s right. Though it’s considered the lowest grade among holy relics. There are quite a few similar items?”
What Keorn held out was just a cloth pouch barely larger than a palm.
When Turan received it, Keorn pulled out a leather water flask from the pouch and held it out.
“I heard it can hold a hundred times its size in items.”
True to his words, the leather flask much larger than the pouch easily went inside the cloth pouch.
The wrinkled pouch didn’t even bulge, and when he reached in again, he could grab the leather flask.
“I can’t believe she entrusted such a precious item to you, sir. No, I don’t mean I don’t trust you…”
“It would have been troublesome if I was attacked and it was stolen. Don’t worry. I came this far with Miss Meisa. I only walked alone from where the city came into view.”
Well, they wouldn’t be careless enough to simply send a holy relic with a single knight.
Turan turned the pouch in his hands over several times.
‘A high-capacity pouch.’
How annoying it had been to travel alone with just one backpack at his side?
If he packed some food it became heavy and bulky so he couldn’t carry much, and it was inconvenient to carry even if he earned a lot of money.
All those problems would be solved with this small pouch, and this wasn’t something you could buy anywhere with money.
However…
‘What could she possibly have to concede to the main family that she’d rather give away something like this than request support?’
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine what an heir to a great family would need to sacrifice.
After pondering, Turan casually asked:
“Would my participation be enough for successful subjugation?”
“The young lady believes so.”
Hearing the answer, Turan fiddled with the high-capacity pouch before tying its string to his waist.
“Alright. I also don’t want Miss Meisa to get hurt.”
If Turan turned away here, one of his few friends would have to make either a worse choice or a dangerous one.
Besides, he still hadn’t repaid her for the acceleration magic.
If you owe a debt, you should pay it back.
* * *
After notifying Daruk he’d be away from the city for a few days to a week, Turan flew west with Keorn riding Bije.
He held Bije’s leg with one hand and Keorn’s hand with the other.
The old knight burst into laughter at the sight of a black eagle carrying two people through the sky.
“Haha… a black eagle! Where did you get such a means of flight?”
At Keorn’s words, Bije twisted her body with an unhappy cheep.
She seemed displeased at being treated as a means of transportation.
“She says don’t call her a means of flight.”
“Oh, my apologies. Bije… um, is it male or female?”
“Female.”
“Miss Bije.”
Satisfied with the polite apology, flight normalized with one content chirp.
They soon made contact with Meisa, who was waiting for Keorn on a hill… “Should I take your coming this far as meaning you’ll help, Turan?”
“Yes. More importantly… you’re injured.”
“It’s not too severe.”
Meisa, whom he met again, had bandages wrapped around several places including her neck and shoulders.
“Don’t tell me all the healers died?”
“That’s not it, but there are others who need it more urgently than me. With limited magic power for recovery, it should go to those who need it most.”
They were focusing on treating those near death rather than Meisa who was less injured.
While nodding, Turan discreetly took a deep breath.
Quite a strong blood scent, the smell of water and soap as if recently washed, and a faint body scent…
‘Definitely not a trap.’
Meisa didn’t give off the tension or excitement characteristic of facing a hostile target.
While other emotions could be ambiguous to detect by smell, fear, tension, anger and excitement were rarely missed if properly noticed.
“You heard the explanation from Keorn?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Then let’s move right away. I’d like to attack before they recover their forces if possible.”
“Shouldn’t Miss Meisa recover from her injuries first?”
“It’s fine. I barely feel minor injuries anyway.”
Though it didn’t seem like a positive sign that injuries don’t hurt, it was awkward to say anything when she claimed it herself.
Shortly after, the three people and one black eagle arrived at Arabion’s camp set up some distance away.
“Ugh…”
“Bring more water here!”
“Damn, these bandages are so itchy.”
Rather than roughly set up tents, the place full of injured magicians was unexpectedly a well-constructed building.
Probably quickly built by knights using stone and wood.
Brightly glowing magical orbs were embedded everywhere, seemingly to guard against anyone trying to infiltrate using concealment magic.
Indeed, a paranoid measure befitting a family hostile to Zahar.
As the three landed in front of the camp, Arabion nobles including Kadram whom they’d met last time approached.
Naturally, their eyes weren’t very kind looking at Turan.
While not hostility, they seemed suspicious.
“The person we saw last time, Meisa.”
“Yes. As I mentioned, he’s my friend and an ally of the Berk family. That should be enough to trust him with our backs. You know his magical power.”
“His power may be sufficient but the problem is his background. Isn’t it suspicious that a fallen noble doesn’t even know his bloodline ability? What if he’s a Zahar vermin in disguise?”
At the surprisingly sharp point, Turan raised his hand.
Everyone’s attention turned to him.
“If you wish, I’ll show you my bloodline ability.”
“Oh?”
While the Arabion nobles just showed an “I see” expression, Meisa who knew he didn’t know his bloodline ability was visibly surprised, and Keorn even showed a panicked expression.
He was the only one among them who knew Turan was of Zahar bloodline.
Turan lightly snapped his fingers in front of them to create a spark and spread it out before his eyes.
Soon the spark disappeared, but a long line of magical power remained there.
While others besides him couldn’t see it… he threw a long twig he brought from nearby, and flames burst up burning the twig.
It was unmistakably a magical trap characteristic of the barrier caster bloodline.