Azadin was enraged, but no matter how angry he was, the fact remained that if he did nothing, he would die in a year due to the Curse of Service.
"So in the end, the only way to survive is to ask the chief to revoke my dismissal."
"Y-Yeah. That's the wise choice."
"Of course. You just have to prove your innocence, right?"
"Tsk. This pisses me off. What kind of logic is this, telling me to die if I can't prove I'm innocent? Truly a genius method for driving people to desperation, huh?"
"W-We didn't do this."
"Don't take it out on us. We're not feeling great either."
"Hey, just the way you guys treated me like a dog when we were kids is enough reason to have you castrated, got it?"
"Hiiik…."
"C-Castration? Isn't that too cruel?"
"I devoted myself to the organization, and yet, without question, without hesitation, they're trying to kill me too just because of my sister. How am I supposed to be merciful in this situation? I was originally a sensitive boy, you know. A sensitive boy who worshipped the Archangel of Trinity! But if you keep treating me like this, you're the ones turning me into a ruthless, heinous killer!"
Azadin was so furious that he even considered whether he should kill his seniors, Kellivre and Adan. Even though they were his seniors, he had no fond memories of them whatsoever. Rather, their relationship was one of such deep resentment that it wouldn't be strange if he personally packed a lunchbox and followed them just to murder them.
However, thinking rationally, if he wanted to have his dismissal overturned and apply for reinstatement, he couldn't afford to kill his clan members. Moreover, they were in a village, a commercial area with caravans and many passersby.
"Ugh. I'll hold back."
"So what I'm saying is, if you just let us take you in…."
"No thanks. I have no desire to contribute to your accomplishments. I'll break through with my own strength."
"But orders have been given to either capture or eliminate you. Are you really planning to fight every single clan member you come across from now on?"
"I won't lie, the idea of earning merit is tempting, but if you want to be safe, you should surrender to us. Other clan members might try to kill you!"
Kellivre and Adan tried to persuade Azadin. However, he refused.
"No, do you think the chief or the elders will acknowledge me if I let myself get captured without resistance? They're not the kind of people who will admit they made a mistake. If anything, they'd rather just kill me and cover it up. So I'll walk to Salasma's regional head myself. If anyone tries to stop me on the way, I'll kick their ass. Now that I think about it, the only people in the clan I'd feel sorry about kicking are Aldis and my master. I don't give a damn about the rest! I'll kick them all the way to the moon if I have to!"
Midiam and Ishmael exchanged glances.
'This guy completely loses sight of everything when he's mad. This is bad.'
That's what Ishmael thought, but Midiam, on the other hand, shrugged with satisfaction.
"That's the spirit."
Before anyone knew it, Midiam had started siding with Azadin.
***
Kellivre and Adan watched Azadin warily.
"S-So."
"You're letting us go, right?"
"I will, but if you gather more people and come after me again, that's going to be a pain, isn't it? Judging by the looks of things, an official dismissal and arrest order has just been issued for me, hasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"We're already badly injured, so we're in no shape to fight again anyway."
"But you bullied me when we were kids, remember? When I think about that…."
He had more than enough reason to torment them in return. When Azadin said that, Adan and Kellivre bowed their heads.
"T-That was our fault."
"Please think of it as a mistake from our childhood and let it go."
"Hmm. A childhood mistake?"
Azadin shrugged.
"Alright. As it happens, I have something to ask of you."
He needed people to escort the children he had rescued from the firekeeper's house to Baroness Nord. When Azadin made this demand, both Kellivre and Adan quickly nodded. They didn't dare refuse, fearing what Azadin might do to them.
"Anyway, we'll also report that the Emperor's Voice spoke in your defense."
"Yeah, yeah. You, of all people, are a model herald. Otherwise, the Emperor's Voice wouldn't have gone out of its way to speak on your behalf."
"We'll testify to that."
Adan and Kellivre grovelled and scrambled to load the children onto a wagon from the peddlers' guild. Whether they were sincerely apologetic or just flattering him to save themselves, Azadin didn't know, but with their injuries, they were no longer a threat. So he let them go.
"Alright, let's hurry up and meet the regional head of Salasma first."
With the Curse of Service upon him, Azadin was now in a hurry.
"Don't worry, I'll guide you quickly, hyung-nim."
Tarkiev took the lead, navigating the way.
***
Even though Azadin called him a bastard child, Tarkiev was still a noble.
As the illegitimate son of Margrave of Salasma, Count Kazel, Tarkiev's mother was the daughter of a baron and wealthy. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to hire a mercenary group of around twenty men.
Because of this, Tarkiev held a far higher status than most other illegitimate children. Though he was born of a concubine rather than the legitimate wife, if all the legitimate heirs were to die, he could still become the head of the family.
That was why he always felt indignant when people called him a bastard. Thanks to his position, passing through the gates within Salasma's sphere of influence was a simple matter.
"I am Tarkiev, son of Count Kazel! We have urgent business, clear the way!"
The gate guards and militia didn't dare object to a knight like him. Since they had already seen him leading his mercenary band through when he first set out, they recognized him instantly.
'Ah, that bastard's back again?'
'What happened to his mercenaries?'
"I don't know. I just hope some monster got to him and killed him quickly."
"If not that, maybe he just ran off after scamming them out of their money?"
"Damn noble bastard. He just won't die, will he?"
The villagers and gate guards were cursing Tarkiev inwardly, but they still cleared the way for him quickly.
"Hohoho. Did you see that? The power of my noble status?"
At first, Tarkiev had been intimidated, but after passing through several gates using just his face, he started becoming more and more arrogant.
"It's certainly convenient."
Azadin acknowledged that point. He could also understand why Tarkiev was so bothered by the term "bastard."
"A noble knight, yet someone who tried to plunder the people? What a disgrace, truly the end of times."
Thanks to Tarkiev, their passage through the gates was faster, and naturally, their pace quickened. Before long, they had entered the vicinity of Salasma.
***
Salasma was a city of about three thousand households, with numerous surrounding farms. It had prospered for ages due to its vast copper mines.
As they neared the city and its surrounding villages and farms, the number of passersby increased dramatically. With more travelers came more merchants as well.
"...."
Azadin clicked his tongue as he sensed hostile gazes among the crowd.
'Korasar Peddlers' Guild. They must be aware of my killing order.'
Members of the Herald Clan passing through the area had spotted Azadin.
"Well, well, look who it is."
"Isn't that Azadin?"
They approached Azadin as if greeting an old acquaintance. Although they were senior to him, Azadin had never met them during training.
"Pardon me, but who are you?"
Azadin wasn't trying to mock them; he was genuinely asking. He was well-known among the Herald Clan, so he could recognize them, but they were not famous enough for him to know their names. That, however, seemed to trigger their inferiority complex.
"You little bastard…."
"Just because you got lucky and became a herald, don't you think you're acting too arrogant?"
They seemed to resent him, perhaps believing that an unworthy person like him had become a herald.
That was when Tarkiev stepped forward.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Do you even realize who I am? I am Tarkiev, son of Count Kazel of Salasma! And yet you dare speak so rudely?"
"...."
"How dare lowly merchants act up in front of me? Why are you harassing my companion?"
"N-No, sir."
"Our apologies."
Regardless of their true feelings, they were merchants in the eyes of the public. They couldn't afford to cause a scene in front of a knight like Tarkiev.
"Do you think an apology alone is enough? What do you think the king's law is for?"
"...."
"Ugh."
They looked around at the passersby. There were quite a few people nearby—farmers carrying vegetables on ox carts, shepherds herding goats, peasants moving farming tools on donkeys. Street vendors were also present, selling bread and tea with advertisement flags hanging from their backs.
Killing Tarkiev in front of all these people wasn't an option. Like proper merchants, they bowed their heads.
"Please forgive us."
"We were ignorant and failed to recognize the knight's authority."
"Hmm. Is that so? Well, as it happens, I am feeling a bit thirsty. Why don't you make a charitable offering? If you accumulate enough virtue, perhaps you'll be reborn as nobles in your next life?"
Tarkiev grinned shamelessly.
"...."
Azadin, Midiam, and Ishmael looked at him in surprise.
'This bastard is actually useful?'
Azadin had dismissed Tarkiev up until now, but this act was impressive. His performance was surprisingly convincing.
"...."
"H-Here, sir."
The peddlers, reluctant but helpless, pulled out money from their pockets in response to Tarkiev's blatant extortion.
"This is barely enough to wet my throat. But well, I suppose I can't expect much from you lot. Go on, I will be merciful and let this slide."
"T-Thank you, sir."
As the peddlers hurried away, Tarkiev glanced at the onlookers.
"What are you all staring at? Are you here to gawk? Or do you also wish to make a charitable donation?"
"N-No, sir!"
The bystanders, intimidated by Tarkiev's public display of extortion, quickly scattered.
"Not bad, bastard. I see you in a new light. That was some solid acting."
Azadin commented in admiration, and Tarkiev shrugged his shoulders smugly.
"What, this? I doubt this is even enough to cover the cost of fodder. Should I squeeze some more out of them?"
"No, that won't be necessary."
"What about that guy?"
"Huh?"
Azadin followed Tarkiev's gaze, realizing he was pointing at another merchant approaching from the opposite direction.
Unlike before, this one wasn't from the Herald Clan. He was just a regular trader.
It turned out that Tarkiev wasn't putting on an act to help Azadin—this was just his usual behavior. He had simply taken the opportunity to shake down some merchants for money, as he always did.
'Damn, I shouldn't have complimented him.'
Azadin had been furious when he was dismissed and cursed with the Curse of Service, but at his core, he was a devout follower of the Archangel of Trinity. Now that his anger had subsided, he had absolutely no interest in tormenting innocent people.
"Uh, Azadin?"
"Hm?"
Midiam suddenly called for his attention.
"Over there…."
"Ah."
Azadin turned his head and spotted an approaching armed group.
At the forefront, a young girl in full armor sat atop a horse, followed by three armed men and women.
They were aggressively bullying the passersby when they noticed Azadin's group and started heading straight for them.