diam and Ismail followed behind Azadine and walked while observing him. At that mont, the two rembered what they had been entrusted with.
Ah, wait, Azadine.
.
Azadien didnt answer them.
Mr. ssenger?
.
The nice guy walking on the road?
Pfft.
Ismail burst into laughter while Azadine sighed and stopped.
What now?
There was sothing I forgot. I have a letter for you.
A letter? Who sent it?
Salasma, the district chief.
Tch.
Azadine was clearly disappointed to hear that the letter was from the district chief.
I guess you were expecting a letter from soone else?
No.
Azadine shook his head.
Sigh. Fine, give that here.
Azadine received the letter from Ismail and opened it. The content mainly was a reprimand for omissions to his report and information about a voice stating that the copies of the Heavenly Kings Book of Truth had been appearing around the world recently. Recovery of these copies would be reflected as part of the ssengers personal evaluation.
If they wrote it down in a letter, then all the other ssengers would already know.
Azadine sighed again after he read the letter.
Do you people know of the contents too?
Uh? We didnt read the letter, though?
I heard that copies of the Heavenly Kings Book of Truth have been appearing worldwide recently.
Ah! I know of that news. If its that book, it must be the one your father betrayed the clan for and dispersed around the world ouch!
As diam had spoken without tact, Ismail responded by stepping on her foot.
What is it with you? What is it?
Yet she still didnt grasp the situation.
Ah, enough. So, you people know, too, right?
A lot of the mbers of the ssenger Clan would also know of the book if they knew soone who was a candidate for ssenger. That ant even kids who werent formally trained would get the information from sowhere.
How much are you getting? It said that it would be reflected in your personal evaluation, but in what form?
The pages? That, well?
Do you not know? Hmm, I guess I need to see the district chief then.
Azadine lanted that he had to go see the chief to discuss the letter.
Good. Thank you for getting this letter to . I received it properly.
Then, can you give an acknowledgnt of the letter?
Acknowledgent?
Yes, please take in as your servant.
No, that is a no.
Why?
First of all, your motives for coming to are very impure.
What motives?
Didnt you co to challenge to a duel because I looked like an easy target? Why should I take you in as my servant?
Right, that is my fault. But the ssenger does need a servant anyway, right?
That is the second reason. In principle, the relationship between the ssenger and their servant is a matter only for those involved. But customarily, it is sothing that is considered and arranged by their families. Little lady, will the Ethar really recognize as your master? I am Azadine, the one who is hated and mocked within the clan. Did you tell your family head that you were coming to serve and receive his permission to co here?
Ah, I-I didnt.
diam had simply rushed onward without a second thought as she was confident of beating Azadine and becoming a ssenger. When Azadine pointed that out, she was shocked.
Right? I dont want to be involved with a ss of your own making.
Then is it because I am of the Ethar that you wont accept as a slave?
Its a contributing factor, but I dont normally like slavery.
I-I see.
diam was speechless at Azadines words.
So, since you understand now, can you back away?
Uh. Hmm.
diam, still in shock, then asked.
Then, can I not be your companion all the way there?
Companion? Why should I?
Yeah I can also tell you about what happened in the clan.
Ismail watched with wonder as diam began to beg. diam of the Ethar was originally an arrogant child. Yet, after Azadine had ignored her, she tried hard to go along with Azadine.
Since the path, well be taking is the sa, cant we just go there?
Well, I didnt make this road, so feel free to do whatever you please.
And with that, Azadine began to walk forward.
In addition to the 108 ssengers, the ssenger Clan also included those who accompanied the ssengers and ordinary people making their livelihoods.
Among them, those engaged in comrce were spread out and ford guilds all around the world to support the ssengers. Among those guild branch offices was the regional headquarters.
A ssenger stationed there would be referred to as the local chief.
While it was originally created to support the ssengers, comrce couldnt be done clumsily.
The guild began to operate where good business opportunities were available. The structure has changed to the point where he wondered if the ssengers now only existed to support the guild as its main objectives changed.
The system now worked like this.
Because we are doing business for the first ti here, the attitude of the territory and existing guilds is a bit severe. I will have to kidnap the families of existing guilds and use them as collateral.
The controller for access to Area XX demanded a bribe and seized the goods. If you bribe them once, then you will have to continue it in the future. I want you to warn them by killing them. Kill their whole family brutally and put it on display.
These offices would send ssengers on such missions. Azadine didnt like it. Although the entire clan was bound by the Curse of Service, what the Emperor wanted from the clan was to maintain the peace, not perform assassinations, kidnapping, blackmailing, or intimidation.
Wouldnt that make them no different than a hired assassin?
After Azadine had refused several requests made by the chief in Salasma, the whole district began to treat him differently. Since he was also the son of a traitor, he was treated with anger each ti he visited. Inevitably, his relationship with the chief deteriorated.
That was why he always avoided coming to this place. However, the letter he received about the spread of the magic book seed to make it a priority for the whole clan.
He had been ordered to head for and et with the chief. Still, Azadine was currently located at a place that was on the border of the Margraves territory. Even if he walked along the road, he wasnt sure how long it would take to reach Salasma.
Additionally, nearby villages were also abandoned, perhaps due to the dry weather of the past month. All of the tea houses and inns along the road were empty. As they continued walking down the road, the temperature began to cool as the sun went down. Azadine decided to camp by the road and began making preparations for it.
He had been in a hurry to leave alone, so he hadnt bothered to prepare proper supplies. He laid his cloak down and sat down by a rock, sheltering himself from the wind. However, diam and Ismail stayed close to their goats.
Co here.
No.
Azadine responded to diam and Ismails offer to approach, but he refused to move. Seeing this chance, diam told Azadine.
We are of the sa clan. Isnt it strange that people of the sa clan would et each other in this faraway town of Manita and choose to stay apart?
.
Ismail was shocked at her words. Was this the sa arrogant girl he knew?
He had been regretful that she was defeated by Azadine, but now he threw those feelings away. diam had never treated anyone like that before, and here she was, trying to appeal to Azadine.
You dont need water? I have so in the can.
.
Azadine sighed and moved slowly closer to the Kerim Goats. Just approaching them filled him with warmth.
Well, since Ive t my family here, this much should be fine.
Uh?
diam laughed aloud and handed the can to Azadine.
Ah, I feel sleepy. Shall we set a night watch rotation?
The Emperors Voice will give a warning, so ssengers dont need to stay alert.
Azadine answered as such. diam then glanced over at him and looked up at the night sky.
She looked back at Azadines face. Under the bird-shaped mask, which was the standard feature of a ssenger, his lower visage looked quite youthful, and his skin was smooth with almost no beard. Looking at his appearance under the mask, she could assu he was handso.
I dont know what he has hidden under that mask. The part thats visible, though he must be really handso. I want to see whats behind that mask.
diam went to sleep with such thoughts.
They were tired from the long journey. When their eyes opened, the morning sun was already streaming in. They must have had a good and dreamless sleep.
Now, now, little lady and droopy eyes. Wake up now.
Azadine had woken up first and was now warming up. He had an amazing sleep wrapped in the warm fur of the Kerim Goats.
At first, he had clung to the goat as he woke up and ca to his senses. He was slightly embarrassed and cleared his throat while he looked at the sunrise.
Little lady. My na is diam, but if that is an affectionate nickna, I will accept it happily.
Right, diam.
If he continued to call her that now, she would continue saying the sa thing. Azadine, therefore, decided to call her by na.
Ah, I am Ismail. You can call .
You shut it, droopy eyes.
Ismail had followed diam for so reason but could not make the efforts worth the journey. Azadine then looked at the goats and said.
Last night, I really slept warmly, thanks to the goats. Thank you.
For what? I t my own people by chance in Manita. That is all.
diam laughed at that.
But these goats dont have shoes.
Horseshoes?
If you put it in, the goats will not be able to go up the mountain trail, right?
But you two followed the Emperors Path, right?
Azadine pointed this out.
If you walk along the paved road with bare hooves, they will quickly beco worn out. There are horseshoes among our belongings, so for now, walk without riding them. The goats seem thirsty, so if we dont quickly get over the mountain and return to a place with plenty of water, they will die.
Azadine began to speed up.
Ah, the-then?
As diam excitedly chased after him, Azadine drew a line.
Until we et other people nearby, you two can continue, got it?
Ah. Yes.
diam looked at Azadine with stiff eyes.
Azadine walked along the path, his steps swift. Each step was also large enough that there was no difference in speed compared to the two riding the goat. diam continued to stare at Azadines face while urging the goats to move at the sa speed.
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