Chapter 283
Chapter 283. Do Not Doubt (1)
Before the two princes convened, Yulian reflected upon the prowess of the "Twilight" members.
"Assassins of the Rahman tribe."
Indeed, their combat ability was extraordinary, befitting survivors of the harsh Suranun Desert.
Their prowess matched that of typical knights.
Furthermore, due to their experiences in the 'Suranun Desert', their aptitude for battling 'demons' surpassed even knights within the order.
"Moreover, they excel in stealth."
Operating a private force remained a cause for concern, yet they had come too far to be daunted by such matters now.
"They are all loyal to Sir Yulian,"
Pintel whispered as he approached, voicing Yulian's internal musings about the 'Twilight'.
"They will become your limbs, Sir Yulian, and would even leap into fire if commanded."
"... It would be troubling if they actually leaped into fire."
"Kuheum."
Pintel cleared his throat.
"It's a way of saying they are that loyal to your word, Sir Yulian."
Loyalty, indeed.
Mulling over Pintel's words, Yulian surveyed the kneeling Twilight individuals.
"Indeed."
These were soldiers who could move according to his will.
While lone soldiers were not unheard of until now, having an entire 'unit' follow him was unprecedented.
Whether it was the 'Blind Eyes', monsignor, or the Bishops, ultimately, they were bound to one organization which made them usable to him.
"I'll be able to move more freely."
Thinking thus, Yulian glanced at Pintel, who retreated a step back politely upon locking eyes with him.
There was a command. It seemed Pintel understood even through mere gazing.
"His Highness Eulsis will have prepared similar ritual sites in multiple locations to utilize the Demon's Horn."
"Yes, I agree."
"While tracking down the use for the resonance stones is plausible, it would require a lot of time."
Pintel nodded at Yulian's words.
"Thoroughly search the capital. If necessary, check even the slums."
"You're asking us to find these ritual sites, correct?"
"Yes, and I will assign one of the Imperial Knights to assist in the search."
"An Imperial Knight...!?"
Pintel looked at Yulian, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes."
"You've managed to bring an Imperial Knight to your side...."
Pintel looked at Yulian with eyes filled with admiration. It wasn't that Yulian brought them over; they were 'allies' from the beginning.
Though their allegiance was to the 'Black Knight', not to him.
"Hmm."
Yulian let out a short sigh and looked at Pintel.
'He probably doesn't know the Black Knight's true identity either.'
Would he remain loyal if he knew that the 'misfortune' that blocked his path was none other than Yulian himself?
If that were possible, this guy would indeed be one of a kind.
"Is something wrong, Sir Yulian?"
Sensing his gaze, Pintel inquired.
"It's nothing."
He must not get caught—never.
***
Al Hashar, a guard knight of Kolparan, thought.
"Something is amiss."
He was the one who recommended the "Rahman tribe" assassins to Yulian. Being from the same Suranun Desert, he had always hoped to help his compatriots.
Having stumbled into the empire, luck led him to enter Kolparan's service.
Without luck, he would have suffered like his compatriots at Suranun Desert.
'I was just fortunate. Thus, with this luck, I should help my brethren.'
Being someone who cherished his brethren and compatriots, Al Hashar, after Gerard, the 'Demon of the East', was killed, brought the "Rahman tribe" into the empire.
He utilized connections with the "Dawn Society" to facilitate an easy entry for them.
For his brethren and further beyond.
'To assist Sir Kolparan.'
That's what he believed he was doing.
'The Liberator has bestowed a divine command.'
Seeing the gathered Twilight individuals engage in conversation, Al Hashar thought.
"It's gone way off course."
For some reason, the compatriots of the "Rahman tribe" he brought into the empire had become enamored with Yulian.
Seeing him as the 'Liberator', a transcendent being from the 'Suranun Desert', they were willing to risk their lives, exhibiting strong faith in Yulian.
"Azim, ol Azim."
"Azim! Ol Azim!"
Why on earth!?
Perplexed by his brethren's devout voices chanting in the Rahman dialect, Al Hashar fell into a pit of doubt.
"Rim Hashar."
Finally unable to hold back, Al Hashar called the only blood-related brother among his compatriots. Upon hearing his name, a man with black hair and amber eyes emerged from the crowd.
"What's the matter, Al Hashar?"
"Did Sir Yulian issue any commands?"
In an attempt to calm his twin brother, Rim Hashar, Al Hashar cautiously asked, witnessing Rim clenching his fist.
"He commanded us to deal with the traitors."
"Traitors?"
As Rim Hashar nodded fervently, Al Hashar extended his hand. He intended to verify the official document from above.
"This is for the Twilight's eyes only."
However, Rim Hashar waved his hand, refusing his request.
"As expected, something is wrong."
Though they hadn't shared a lengthy time together, there were no secrets between him and his twin brother, Rim Hashar.
Yet, his refusal to share information just because he was not part of the "Twilight" was unsettling.
"Yes, it's our duty to protect this, Al Hashar."
"Azim, ol Azim."
The others of the "Rahman tribe" reacted similarly. They sealed their lips tightly, treating Yulian's words as part of a divine oracle.
"You're misunderstanding!"
Al Hashar shouted at his brothers, blinded by this peculiar faith.
"Sir Yulian isn't our liberator!"
The expressions of his brethren twisted. Despite that, Al Hashar shouted louder.
"What led you to think so? What was the trigger?"
"He killed the Eastern Demon so we could survive."
"It's a coincidence!"
Was it a coincidence, though?
Despite the question arising in Al Hashar's heart, he chose to stubbornly deny it.
"As the real owner of the Dawn Society, he gave us a place to stay in the empire, not the Suranun Desert."
"He's merely using us!"
By leveraging the "Dawn Society"'s power, they infiltrated the capital without any surveillance or checks, yet it was solely to utilize the Rahman tribe.
"Like the scripture written by the Seer Maham-ud, he made the Shahatans kneel without any force!"
His brothers shouted in unison, and Al Hashar clutched his head, tormented by their noise.
When they said 'Shahatans', they meant "demons" in the common tongue of the continent.
"Just as written in the scriptures...?"
"Indeed!"
"As the Seer Maham-ud stated, the Shahatans knelt before him as if worshiping their god!"
"That's the clear evidence that he is the liberator, Al Hashar, my brother."
What kind of magic did he use? Al Hashar wondered first and foremost.
'... It's not something words can sway.'
Having left the Suranun Desert with a chance while still fairly young, Al Hashar lacked the deep-rooted belief in faith compared to his other brethren.
Thus, he realized it was nearly impossible to sway them with reason.
"Don't trust him too much."
All he could do was leave behind a warning.
'He isn't just lofty and pure like the liberator of Suranun Desert.'
Warn his brothers, that was all he could do.
***
Al Hashar's twin brother, Rim Hashar, understood that his brother never uttered useless words.
Though he remained unaware of his life due to long periods apart, Al Hashar exuded that aura and embodied such a character.
"What is Al Hashar worried about?"
Truth be told, Rim didn't fully believe Yulian was the reincarnation of the "Liberator" recorded in the legends of the Suranun Desert.
It was more of a half-belief. Still, he had no qualms about aiding him as the Rahman tribe had indeed been assisted by Yulian.
"... I'm confused."
Closing his eyes to sort his thoughts, Rim pondered.
"The liberator doesn't impose belief. They do not bind anyone in the name of 'faith'. They merely offer the choice to those who would follow them."
"... Gruesome."
The moment of choice arrived soon after.
During one of the sabotage missions to destroy a 'ritual site' as commanded by Yulian, a horrifying scene unfolded before Rim Hashar.
"Are the mages of the capital entirely devoid of humanity?"
"Not all mages are like that."
"Even so...."
Among the four hidden ritual sites in the capital, the "Twilight" split into groups of three to locate them and were left in disbelief.
The site, named the 'Gu Poison Hall', was a place where humans were fed to nurture demons.
Even children weren't spared.
"... Is it for personal gain, or for what cause are they committing such acts?"
"I do not know, Rim Hashar."
A fellow sibling approached Rim, who was murmuring to himself, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It seems the humans of this empire do not fully realize how perilous the Shahatans... the demons are."
He raised his curved sword in response to his siblings' words.
"No, they must know. These people are merely blinded by their pursuit of personal gain."
Al Hashar, my brother, even if you don't utter false words, witnessing the misconduct of these ignorant individuals and asking me to bear it is akin to renouncing my identity as part of the 'Rahman Tribe'.
"Indeed."
"The liberator has placed us at a crossroads."
Rim Hashar raised his curved sword, and the assassins of the Rahman tribe and "Twilight" began preparing for battle alongside him.
"Who are you?"
"Wait a minute, what happened to the guards at the entrance... Ugh!"
As the mages completing the Gu Poison Hall were bewildered by the sudden appearance of the Twilight, Rim Hashar thrust his curved sword into the nearest mage.
Without even a final cry, the mage slumped silently, and as Rim Hashar pushed away the lifeless mage, something caught his eye.
A worn-out plush toy, possibly belonging to a detained child, discarded in the corner.
Rim Hashar's eyes turned cold as he glanced at the dusty and battered toy.
― He's just using us for his own purposes!
His brother Al Hashar's words resurfaced.
When reprimanded by his twin, he had hesitated to answer, but now, seeing the current scene, a firm answer emerged in him.
"We are merely tools for the grand cause he is to achieve, and this is the highest honor for the Rahman tribe."
Uttered in a small voice, yet seemingly heard by the brethren as they dashed towards the mages.
Blood sprayed through the air. The mages fought back, but it was impossible to resist the assassins of the Suranun Desert.
"Azim Ul Azim!"
Clacky's Corner:
Yep, Yulian has a cult. lololol
17 chapters left.