Chapter 87 : Chapter 87
Chapter 87: Hella (1)
“It was originally Hejel’s bellows-work.”
Simurtr walked side by side with Haryun. It was the main street of the territory where he had walked with Renate Noel.
Unlike the well-dressed Haryun, Simurtr’s attire was shabby to the extreme. His black martial uniform was tattered from training.
“However, due to the circumstances not being favorable, it fell to me.”
“It’s an opportunity.”
“That’s right.”
Haryun answered with a voice full of motivation.
The footstep that should have been Hejel’s would become Haryun’s. For Haryun, who was younger than Hejel and had started late, it was a bellows-work she had to seize.
She wanted to be recognized by her mother for her own skills, not as a means to win over Simurtr.
“What’s she been up to lately for it to fall to you?”
“She hasn’t come out of the North Palace.”
“Still?”
As soon as the birth banquet ended, Hejel Bahab had disappeared. They said she was holed up in the North Palace and wouldn't come out.
The cause was, of course, Simurtr. Because she had been overwhelmingly defeated by Simurtr at the banquet where she should have been the main character.
“Yes. That’s why many people in the castle are expressing their concern. Though it seems Mother doesn’t care.”
If you’re a Bahab, you should overcome that much on your own, is what she must be thinking. Simurtr nodded his head.
Akarr comforting someone? Even if that someone was her son, it was a scene that was not easily imagined.
“What’s with the grown-up bastard… He’ll crawl out on his own when the time comes.”
“Would you have said that if it were your own brother?”
“No? I wouldn’t. That bastard is all grown up.”
The siblings or Beden? The thought that Jahar would do that didn’t come to mind at all, but Ael or Beden might someday.
“You’re not really worried either, are you.”
Haryun called Hejel by his name when she wasn't facing him. She detested the expression ‘older brother’ and was fed up with Hejel’s personality of emphasizing the hierarchy by forcing it on her.
“If you two had been on good terms, I wouldn’t have gone this far. To put it bluntly, the current situation is truly a mouth-watering one for Hejel Bahab.”
They had left Bahab’s castle.
If there was a scheme to eliminate a competitor, it was an environment where it was bound to be executed.
“That’s impossible. He’s not the kind of person to go that far off the rails.”
“Who knows. That kind of judgment is usually made after everything is over.”
His past life was like that.
He had expected a backstab, but he had thought it would happen after the war ended. He had learned while dying that the traitors were even bigger trash than he had thought.
“Hejel has never been like that before.”
“You, this is your first bellows-work, you said.”
“Yes.”
“Then how can you be so sure whether she will keep you in check or not?”
The 17-year-old Haryun’s bellows-work was her first.
Just as Hejel’s first bellows-work was at 17, Akarr sent her children out into the world when they had grown to a certain extent.
“…If she were that kind of person, she would have attacked during that time at Pakun without needing to hold an underground banquet.”
She was young. So many extraordinary things happened in the world, but she hadn’t experienced them yet and was relying on common sense.
It was as if he was seeing his past self, so Simurtr smiled faintly. One ends up getting backstabbed and dying like that.
“The situation is very different from back then.”
“Pardon?”
“She’s lost what she had. It’s usually those kinds of people who suddenly lash out. Those who have, no, had things. They don’t know how to hold back because they’ve never been without.”
“There are cases where that’s not true, aren’t there? Just a while ago, the daughter of Baron Hepel was attacked by a maid…”
“That’s a case of pent-up anger exploding. What do you think, Sir Jeremiah?”
Simurtr looked back. A step behind, Haryun’s guard, Jeremiah Abolte, was following.
“…Given the place we are going to, I believe there is no harm in being cautious.”
“That’s right. The underworld is a place for that.”
Hella, the underworld of Bahab tacitly permitted by Akarr.
Haryun’s bellows-work was to be carried out there.
***
Originally Bahab’s territory.
The Ember of the Swelling Flame, which was once the Barony of Kerekeil.
If those areas were the front, then the Viscounty of Jakellen, which was further to the east, was the back of Bahab.
To use Akarr’s expression, it was the underworld where all the lowly, suspicious, but surprisingly useful things were gathered.
“It looks cleaner than I thought from the outside.”
“The Imperial Family wouldn’t stand by if it were done openly.”
Just walking on the main street, it didn’t look any different from other areas. Simurtr scanned both sides of the main street.
The gaps between buildings. The alleyways that must lead to somewhere inside were numerous even at a glance.
If one were to delve into them, the inside would be more intricately entangled than a spider’s web.
“But the fact that it’s being maintained, does that mean the Imperial Family doesn’t know?”
“No way, what kind of people do you think the Information Bureau is. They know everything.
It’s a place that tries to rival that Degrate.”
Its status had changed a lot compared to the past life.
The Information Bureau of Melken, which was called the Doves, was said to have slowly grown into a powerful armed group as well.
“Then why?”
“They’re pretending not to know. They don’t want to make a big deal out of it.”
Because their opponent was that Hero Family.
In the current era, the Hero Families were a burdensome existence even for the Imperial Family.
“But we have pledged our loyalty.”
“I know. Still, it’s burdensome.”
Mectera, Bahab, Basor.
Mectera had the deepest history, and Bahab the shortest.
But as if to mock that short history, when it came to loyalty to the Emperor, Bahab would take the lead.
To Bahab, which valued bloodlines, the blood of Melken, which was said to have descended from the son of a god, was the noblest in the world.
‘That’s why Akarr sucked up to the previous emperor and the princess so much.’
Bahab was Melken’s most devoted and loyal subject.
But separate from that, it was inevitable that they would be burdensome to Melken.
‘The princess. I don’t know how strong the current emperor’s power has become, but it probably isn’t as much as the heroes yet.’
It was like a dog one was raising had grown bigger than a beast.
One couldn't help but worry if it would eat its master if there was no food.
“There will probably be quite a few Information Bureau guys inside too. Though we won’t be able to recognize them.”
Simurtr touched his own face.
It was cold and hard. His reflection was visible on the glass wall next to the alley. He was wearing a plain white mask with no pattern.
“But aren’t you guys too obvious?”
Simurtr looked at the two who were similarly wearing masks.
It was the rule of Hella, the underworld permitted by Bahab. Even so, Haryun’s and Jeremiah’s were too much.
“Are you advertising that you’re from Bahab?”
On Haryun’s mask was a blue flame, the symbol of Bahab, and on Jeremiah’s was a red flame, symbolizing the rank below it.
Those two were Bahab, no matter who looked at them.
“Bellows-work is not done while hiding one’s identity.”
“He was a madman.”
To enter the Black Land without hiding his identity and kill five Doom Species worshipers?
They say ignorance is bliss. Simurtr saw Hejel in a new light.
“Entrance 5?”
“Yes. I hear there are up to 8.”
“You know that? You seemed to know nothing.”
“…I can’t go in a state of ignorance, can I?”
Everything was fine, but she had no knack. Simurtr thought, looking at Haryun. He looked to the side and Jeremiah was smiling bitterly. There was no way a guard wouldn't know the shortcomings of the one he served.
She coveted the position of heir, yet she didn’t know how to use that as a driving force. She was passive.
‘The underground banquet too.’
It would be different if she were enduring it with some scheme, but Haryun had no such thing. She just endured.
She didn’t suit Bahab, and Simurtr, while liking that, also found it frustrating.
“Pass.”
Entrance 5. The gatekeeper bowed his head as soon as he saw Haryun and Jeremiah. It meant that Hella recognized the masks symbolizing Bahab.
“Black Fox, Black Tiger.”
Haryun’s targets.
She hadn't seen their bare faces in person. She had only seen them through a picture Haryun had handed her.
“But what if they change their masks?”
“That won't happen. They won't be able to enter if it's not a registered mask.”
“They might have registered other masks too, you know?”
“That’s not allowed.”
“What about the masks overlapping?”
“They can be similar, but they can't be exactly the same.”
They identified all entrants through a strict mask registration. And yet, the streets were packed with people. It was a trust in the Hero Family Bahab.
Believing that their identities handed over to Bahab would not be revealed, the entrants hid themselves from each other through their masks.
‘It’s well made.’
A structure that was possible only with that much power, thoroughly in Bahab’s hands.
To think that the arrogant Akarr, who detested the Black Land, would create an underworld similar to the Black Land, and so meticulously at that.
“The Black Fox has a teardrop-shaped spot on his left cheek. The Black Tiger has the mark of three claws on his forehead.”
Haryun unfolded something she had neatly folded in her pocket. The shape of the masks was drawn on it.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Haryun nodded her head as if it were natural.
So this is bellows-work. They had to generate the wind themselves.
It wasn't simply feeding it to her children. It meant they had to figure out the rest on their own.
“So, what now?”
Simurtr asked Haryun.
Jeremiah’s role was to guard. What Akarr had requested of Simurtr was simple accompaniment.
But Simurtr was willing to help. The question was thrown out of mere curiosity. How would Haryun move? He wanted to hear it.
‘She has to show a side befitting of her bloodline.’
If one's bloodline was noble, their skills must also be lofty.
The bellows-work was to prove that. In fact, Hejel Bahab would have single-handedly defeated five in the Black Land.
“The Black Fox and the Black Tiger passed through Entrance 5.”
“That’s right.”
Simurtr nodded his head.
He looked to the side and Jeremiah was doing the same. It was her first bellows-work.
Moreover, this bellows-work was Hejel’s share.
He was hoping that his young lady would close the gap with Hejel through this opportunity.
“The closest areas to Entrance 5 are the gambling den. And the private duel arena.”
Haryun’s knowledge was based on education and learning, not experience.
“But if they were thinking of enjoying such things, they wouldn’t have come here. I hear that kind of entertainment is more active in the Black Land.”
Haryun quietly raised her gaze and observed Simurtr’s and Jeremiah’s reactions.
The two were repeatedly nodding their heads. It was the right flow. Haryun, having gained confidence, continued to speak.
“If we go further, there’s an assassin guild, a request office for information brokers, a mercenary guild with certain skills but rotten personalities… There are many, but I don’t think they are factors to consider.”
Simurtr did not know the structure of the underworld, Hella.
But it was generally similar to that of the Black Land, and Haryun’s words had a point.
Haryun was excluding all the things that could also be done in the Black Land.
“What’s left is the black market or the auction house. They came to buy. Or they came to sell. I see it as one of the two.”
Simurtr thought the former was more likely.
Something that had not yet flowed into the Black Land, or something that would never flow in. Weren’t the Black Fox and the Black Tiger here to obtain that something?
“…Am I wrong?”
“Huh? No. You’re accurate. I think so too.”
“I agree.”
Was it a valid inference? Haryun, who had been contemplating, brightened up. She was pleased with their reactions.
“So?”
“Pardon?”
But that was only for a moment.
Haryun was taken aback by Simurtr’s words.
“So what are you going to do now.”
“First, the auction house and the black market…”
“You want to search them? There are only three of us. If we do that, won’t they have already bought what they wanted and left for the Black Land?”
“Ah…”
“Right. Let’s say we found them. Then what? Are you going to charge right in? Without knowing what level the enemy is? Just because it’s a bellows-work given to you doesn’t mean the enemy’s level will be tailored to you.”
The Black Fox and the Black Tiger.
The only information was their masks and that they were from the Black Land. There was nothing else.
“Disposal might not be the answer. What if they’re stronger than you? You’ll have to find out what they wanted and what they obtained. An appropriate response according to the situation. Bahab will be hoping for that.”
Hejel, who had done his bellows-work in the Black Land, would have gone through such a process.
Through investigation, he would have judged that it was possible, and then executed it.
The noble were not foolish.
“That… I mean… Then first, gathering information…”
“Where will you gather it? Do you know a place?”
It was Haryun’s first time out in the world. She couldn’t possibly have connections outside the castle.
Moreover, the target was the Black Land. Even if she had connections, it was not information that could be easily obtained.
“No…”
There was none. Haryun lowered her head. No matter how much she thought, there was no way to get information.
Rely on Bahab’s authority? If such an act was permitted, her mother would have told her everything without hiding the information.
“There isn’t…”
Every time.
Every time she couldn’t answer a question and couldn’t meet expectations, her mother would let out a sigh and look for Hejel.
Haryun, with her head bowed, closed her eyes and shivered once. Haryun instinctively thought that Simurtr would let out a sigh. She guessed that he would refuse to accompany her and leave.
“That’s right. That’s normal.”
“…Pardon?”
But Simurtr did not.
At Simurtr’s words, Haryun raised her head.
“It’s normal. That’s why Hejel became the heir. Even though there’s no big difference in talent.”
Simurtr let out a small laugh.
She really didn't suit Bahab.
“You’re blaming yourself for what you lack.”
“Is that strange?”
“In Bahab, it is. Why don’t you think of using the family’s power?”
“Pardon? That’s because of course Mother…”
“Because she restricted the information?”
Haryun nodded her head.
“Do you think Hejel Bahab investigated on his own in the Black Land?”
No. Simurtr could be certain.
If it were Hejel, who was just like Akarr, there was no way. He would have had his subordinates do it.
“You should have complained. Akarr Bahab would have expected you to go to the person in charge here and demand information. Hejel Bahab would have done that.”
Bahab did not find fault in themselves. If there was a lack of information, it was because their subordinates had not performed their duties on time.
“…Are you telling me to become like Hejel Bahab?”
Contempt was contained in Haryun’s voice.
As far as she knew, Hejel was a person she truly did not want to be like.
“To be precise, it’s Akarr Bahab. You know, right? That the two of them are similar.”
“……”
She knew.
Compared to her mother, Hejel was far inferior, but the two were similar. Akarr had been pleased looking at Hejel.
Until he was defeated by Simurtr, she had been proud, calling him her alter ego.
She didn't want to admit it.
Bahab was such a position, and it desired such a type of person.
For Haryun, who had dreamed of being the master of Bahab since she was young, it was a difficult reality to accept.
“You or Hejel. In terms of talent, you’re about the same. The gap is due to age.”
“But the reason Hejel Bahab became the heir is simply because he is more suited for Bahab?”
“That’s right.”
“And yet, the reason a bellows-work was given to me is because there is still a chance for me?”
“Because she’s her own bloodline. She believes without a doubt that the same aspect is hidden within her. Probably?”
That reality became concrete through Simurtr.
“Do you also want me to be like that?”
“Who knows. That’s up to you. You said you wanted to become the Duke, didn’t you?”
Forcing her to face a reality she hated.
Simurtr’s voice was as if he was talking about something quite insignificant.
“…But why are you telling me all this?”
“You’re still at an age where you’re wandering. I’m telling you to think about it slowly.”
Even though you’re younger than me.
Haryun couldn't understand Simurtr, who had seen through Bahab in just a month.
“…For now, I want to try with my own abilities.”
“You want to?”
However, she could understand one thing.
Haryun thought, looking at Simurtr’s smile.
The right answer that Simurtr wanted was the exact opposite of what Bahab wanted.