Chapter 64. Kazan Rudrik (1)
One.
A barren desert full of sand.
In this place filled with only the desolate sound of the wind blowing, a group of people suddenly appeared from under the quicksand.
“Huh, huh!”
Seven men and women covered in sand.
These were the masters of the empire who moved underground to the desert in pursuit of Ludrick’s family.
Just before the underground space completely collapsed due to the fierce battle, they managed to get out and sat down in their seats, each breathing heavily.
“Whew, I almost got buried.”
Seorik breathes a sigh of relief.
If I had retreated just a little later, I would have been buried alive just a stone’s throw away from the ground.
He placed Barca, who was supporting him, lying nearby and immediately turned his head.
“I survived thanks to Count Dermore. “If it weren’t for your magic, they would probably all be buried inside by now.”
Because if he hadn’t used the magic of the earth to slow down the pouring sand, his escape would have been delayed and he would have been swept away by the quicksand and eventually buried.
Meanwhile, Demuel, smiling sheepishly, changed the subject by glancing at Barca, who was lying diagonally.
“How about Lord Varka?”
“Hmm. “I lost my mind, but it’s not life-threatening, so don’t worry.”
“Phew, that’s a good thing.”
Not only would losing Ludric’s family and heretics be enough, but losing Varka would also result in a significant loss for the empire.
However, fortunately despite the misfortune, Barca was safe, so DeMuel looked relieved.
Meanwhile, around that time.
Istan still looked at the quicksand with a confused expression. Then, as I continued to think about the Ulan group I encountered underground.
There was a voice that suddenly came out of nowhere.
“Sir Deorg.”
“… … hmm?”
“I have something I want to ask you sir.”
Limer Yen Lapidis.
She shook the sand off her head and flashed serious eyes.
It was with a little bit of hostility.
“About the battle with the heretics earlier, why didn’t you fight with all your might?”
“… … .”
Istan closed his mouth.
As she said, it was because he did not do his best underground. It was natural. Because the opponent was his daughter, Ibella Eleaad.
Meanwhile, as soon as Rimmer finished his question, Seoric entered the conversation with a shocked expression.
“Sir Radifis. That’s so rude… … .”
“No, it is an obvious fact. In fact, Lord Deorg didn’t even expand his territory.”
“… … what?”
Seorik’s eyes widened.
Soon he looked back at Istan. As if he were asking if what he just heard was true.
A situation where you have to answer something.
Istan sighed internally, thought for a moment, and then answered vaguely.
“I just did it because there was something on my mind.”
“Then tell me what it is.”
“Well, that’s… … .”
Seeing Rimmer persistently asking questions, Istan thought of a new excuse and rolled his head.
Then at that moment.
A voice was heard helping Istan.
“Leave it there.”
It was none other than Seorik.
At first, he too had some doubts like Rimmer, but now he shook his head and said that it was okay.
“Isn’t that because Lord Istan also had his own thoughts?”
“But I still can’t understand it…” … .”
“Or are you planning to claim that he, who has been guarding the southern front for a dozen years, is now in collusion with infidels?”
In response to Seorik’s subsequent retort, Rimmer closed his mouth as if momentarily speechless.
If the answer was yes here, it would be an insult to the honor and pride of Istan, which had protected the southern part of the empire.
Then, unexpected reinforcements appeared.
“I also agree with the Marquis’ opinion.”
It was Demuel.
However, rather than directly defending Istan, he attempted to change the topic by reminding the purpose of the group gathered here.
“Now is not the time to discuss right and wrong among ourselves. “Isn’t the most important thing right now to retrieve the queen candidate from the heretics?”
This is definitely correct.
Rimmer, who thought of Perticia with his words, put aside the momentary doubts and nodded silently.
On the contrary, unlike Rimmer, there was someone who had a new question: Seorik.
‘Come to think of it… … .’
As he glanced at Rimmer, he remembered the situation he had encountered with the heretic underground earlier.
Immediately after discovering Ludrick’s family.
Rimmer shouted this at the white-haired girl that the heretic was carrying.
“Oh, Perticia!”
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Perticia Yves Al Ruben.
The name was familiar to Seorik too.
Because she was the half-sister of Chartrand, the next emperor, and the hidden princess of the empire.
Up to this point, there was nothing particularly strange, but the real problem came next.
‘Count Dermore’s magic tool.’
The light of the crystal ball that detected the presence of the empress candidate pointed to Perticia. This meant that Pertichia was a candidate for her empress.
This is where a question arose.
About why the hidden princess of the empire is called a candidate for empress.
‘Are you trying to hide your identity?’
In principle, Perticia was a princess whose existence was unknown until now.
However, the doubts still remained.
If she really wanted to hide her identity, she would have disguised herself by creating a more inconspicuous identity than the Empress Candidate.
‘First of all, one thing is certain… … .’
Rimmer would know why Princess Perticia was called a candidate for empress. Unlike Seorik, the evidence was that he was unperturbed.
‘I’ll have to ask separately later.’
How on earth did this happen?
With these thoughts, Seorik buried the suddenly rising doubts in his heart.
It was a time when everyone had different questions.
An agent from the Crow Brigade, who had disappeared for a while, suddenly appeared.
“Don’t worry about tracking.”
“I told the other brothers to follow where Ludric’s family is headed.”
Ludric’s family and a group of pagans.
Upon hearing that they were following their tracks, Rimmer quickly got up from his seat. Demuel and Istan also stood up, supporting Barca.
“Then, let’s join the main unit first.”
“Well, that would be a good idea.”
It would be better to leave the tracking to the Crow Brigade and wait until Barka wakes up.
That’s the way to join the main unit.
Istan took a last glance at the quicksand that led to the desert’s basement. It was with eyes filled with anxiety and a hint of worry.
2.
Meanwhile, at that time.
Immediately after the tomb of Zartum collapsed, Ulan and his party were able to escape the collapse thanks to an underground passage created by a poisonous snake.
However, that did not make me feel at ease.
Because where they were, there were four masters of the empire, including Istan.
So the group moved on busily.
To escape from any possible pursuit.
But at that moment.
[Smurf! Whoosh!]
Suddenly, the poisonous snake stopped in place.
Why did it suddenly stop when it was going well?
Each member of the group looked at the poisonous snake in confusion. Immediately, Perticia’s answer came back.
“They say you can stop now.”
“what? but… … .”
“If we don’t hurry, they’ll track us down, right?”
“No, the trace is already gone.”
Perticia shook her head lightly.
According to the poisonous snake, before making a passage and entering, it created a pool of poison with a strong corrosive effect near the entrance.
“They also say that since the tomb has completely collapsed, they won’t be able to chase you down easily.”
Perticia, who interpreted the serpent’s words, smiled brightly. As they said, the only thing that could be felt here now was the presence of Ulan and his party.
“Phew, that’s a good thing.”
Immediately after realizing this.
Noah breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how many Ulan there were, being tracked by the Masters was a huge risk.
After the situation was resolved like that.
The poisonous snake, which was flicking its tongue, turned again and began to break through the passage. Just as his group was about to walk away with him.
Suddenly Muak spoke up.
“Why did you break the pillar?”
His gaze turned to Ulan.
Muak frowned and said that he couldn’t understand anything.
“If we had pushed a little harder, we could have defeated all of the Imperial Swords.”
A voice that conveys regret and regret.
In other words, with Ulan’s skills, he could have won against the Empire’s Master, so he asked why he chose to run away.
Ulan also understood what Muak was trying to say and quickly shook his head.
“They are not my purpose.”
“but… … .”
“Ulan is right. “It’s best to avoid unnecessary fights.”
Noah spoke as if supporting Ulan.
She wasn’t the only one who refuted Muak’s words. Ian and Sven, who were walking quietly, also added a word as if to help.
“Even if you neutralize another one, the others are also opponents who cannot let down their guard.”
“More than anything, if we eliminate even one of them, we will become targets of the empire. “There’s no reason to take that risk.”
A resolute answer that resonates throughout the hall.
This was also one of Noah’s greatest concerns. It was clear that even Ulan would have a difficult future if he became a target of the empire.
‘And one more thing.’
In the opposing camp is Ibella’s biological father, Istan El Deorg.
Of course, it is no different from the Desert Church’s archenemy, but that does not mean that Istan can be harmed or eliminated in front of Ibella.
‘So it’s better to run away.’
There was no need or reason to fight with the Empire’s masters in the first place. Meanwhile, Muak closed his mouth as if he was speechless due to the series of rebuttals.
A quiet atmosphere that came momentarily.
Then there was a voice that broke the silence.
“How on earth did they know where we were, anyway?”
It’s Perticia’s voice.
It was definitely a reasonable question.
As expected, Ulan and his party took the shortcut guided by Muak from where the Tower of Zartoum was to this place.
In other words, it is a situation where you cannot meet the Istan group unless you encounter them. It was Muak who answered Perticia’s questions.
“Probably because of the Crow Brigade.”
“If it’s that unit, it’s definitely… … .”
“A unit directly under Istan El Deorg. And it is also a group of renegades.”
Muak gritted his teeth reluctantly.
As the saying goes, the Crow Brigade is a unit made up of heretics who have been abandoned by the church or who voluntarily left the church.
“They are familiar with the desert. Therefore, it is highly likely that they somehow found and tracked the minor traces left behind without our knowledge.”
“Ugh, that’s a bit scary.”
Perticia made a disgusted expression.
According to Muak’s words, it meant that it would be difficult to avoid their pursuit as long as you were in the desert.
On the other hand, Muak’s expression was surprisingly bright.
Soon he revealed the reason.
“But there is nothing to worry about now. Since Shinsu is with us, we won’t have to be chased by those guys anymore.”
“Wow, I see! “Then I’m glad.”
Perticia laughed heartily.
As if my worries had diminished. Noah, on the other hand, scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.
‘I think it’s actually the opposite… … .’
Of course, the Ulan party knew in advance that the imperial army was advancing. So, I moved as carefully as possible and came here.
On the other hand, Ludrik’s family is different.
They left the church and came here simply to fulfill their oath with their old master, Kazan. This means that there is no need or reason to worry about the imperial army.
‘So, they probably came across us while following the route taken by Ludric’s family.’
Noah guessed so.
However, since there was no benefit to revealing the truth, I soon closed my mouth. That was when the conversation was coming to an end.
“Then let’s start again.”
Ulan said to the viper.
It was said that if we went up to the surface right away, we would most likely encounter a group of Istans, so we should go underground.
[Shrug! Smurmur!]
The viper also bobbed its head as if agreeing with Ulan’s words. They tried to resume their movement, but the group soon had no choice but to stop again.
“Yes? Delia?”
“what’s the matter? Is there any problem?”
It was because Delia didn’t move.
Delia, who was receiving all the attention, soon revealed the reason why she did not move forward.
“I have a question.”
“uh? suddenly?”
“okay. “I thought it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to clearly point it out and move on, so I’m going to tell you.”
Delia calmly nods her head.
Soon she looked at Perticia. Very serious eyes. Did she feel burdened by this? Perticia smiled awkwardly and asked back.
“why? “Is there something on my face?”
No sooner had she finished her question.
Delia pursed her lips.
“Perticia.”
“… … !?”
“Is that your real name?”
The real name suddenly came out.
And at that moment, Perticia’s face hardened without realizing it. The dark underground space was instantly covered with silence.
fantasy,
